washingtontimes--2020-12-31--NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week .
None of these are legit , even though they were shared widely on social media .
The Associated Press checked them out .
Here are the facts : Nashville explosion was caused by a bomb , not a missile CLAIM : Video shows that Nashville explosion was caused by a missile or some kind of directed energy weapon .
THE FACTS : The explosion was caused by a bomb inside a parked recreational vehicle in downtown Nashville .
Social media users shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion , and pointed to a streak of smoke to falsely claim that the blast was caused by a bomb or a directed energy weapon .
“ Looking like a missile strike now .
Video proof .
Explains why the airspace was locked down , ” wrote one Twitter user on Dec. 26 .
Similar false claims circulated widely on Twitter , Facebook , Reddit and Parler .
Police were responding to a report of shots fired when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warner , 63 , who was killed in the explosion , as the person responsible for the blast .
A motive has not been determined .
Surveillance video from a Metro Nashville Police Department camera at the intersection of 2nd Avenue North and Commerce Street captured the explosion and offers proof that the blast came from the parked recreational vehicle .
Social media users were sharing a different grainy , black-and-white surveillance video from a local business that showed the explosion from a distance .
WKRN-TV , a Nashville television station , aired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to be a streak of smoke captured in the video , falsely asserting it was a “ missile trail ” from a strike in the area .
Other posts said a directed energy weapon caused the damage .
A frame-by-frame review of the video revealed the smoke was ascending from the source of the blast .
“ That is not a missile strike .
Missiles don ’ t leave smoke trails as they come back down , ” Jeffrey Lewis , an expert at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press in an email .
The explosion outside an AT & T ; building in downtown Nashville , interfered with communications in several Southern states , damaged dozens of buildings and injured three people , the AP reported .
Some posts falsely alleged a missile targeted AT & T ; because the company got a contract to do a forensic audit of Dominion Voting Systems machines and those machines were recently moved to the AT & T ; building in Nashville that was damaged in the explosion .
CLAIM : AT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a forensic audit of Dominion Voting Systems machines and those machines were recently moved to Nashville , Tennessee - to the same AT & T ; building that was damaged in a Christmas morning explosion .
THE FACTS : AT & T ; did not have a contract to audit Dominion machines and was not holding Dominion machines in its Nashville building , both companies confirmed to The Associated Press .
But as federal officials work to piece together a motive for the Christmas morning blast that rattled downtown Nashville , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building , social media users have made baseless claims connecting the explosion to voting machines used in the Nov. 3 election .
“ AT & T ; got a contract to do forensic audit on Dominion voting machines and those machines were being moved to Nashville this past week , ” read one post .
“ So , the explosion ‘ just happened ’ to be at the AT & T ; location where they ‘ just so happen ’ to control the cooling system for the super computer and house the dominion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Another groundless post reads : “ Wait , the bombing in Nashville was at the AT & T ; data center right after they got the contract to audit the Dominion voting machines ?
That ’ s an interesting coincidence.
” Spokespeople for AT & T ; and Dominion confirmed to the AP that AT & T ; had no contract to audit Dominion machines , and no Dominion machines were to be sent to Nashville .
Some of the posts attempted to further link AT & T ; to Dominion by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & T ; building was a board member of a firm that owns Dominion .
Cerberus Capital Management , the firm named in the posts , does not own Dominion , nor does it own the company that does own Dominion , Staple Street Capital .
“ Dominion has no connection to AT & T ; , the building , Nashville , family members of the Bidens or the Clintons , and Staple Street is not owned by Cerberus , ” said Tony Fratto , a partner at the public relations firm Hamilton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behalf of Dominion .
“ These are conspiracies manufactured out of whole cloth.
” Dominion has been the target of a wide range of false posts since American voters chose Joe Biden as their next president , despite no evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities in the 2020 election .
Brother of Georgia SOS is not a Chinese tech firm executive CLAIM : Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has a brother , Ron , who works for a Chinese tech firm , Huawei .
THE FACTS : Social media posts and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top election official in Georgia has a brother named Ron , who works as an executive for the Chinese tech giant Huawei .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger does not have a brother named Ron , his office confirmed Wednesday .
He has three sisters and a brother , his office said .
A 2018 family obituary the AP reviewed also confirms his brother is not named Ron .
Social media posts making the false claim suggest Raffensperger should be investigated because of his brother ’ s Huawei connection .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising tensions between the U.S. and Chinese over technology security .
President Donald Trump ’ s administration has imposed restrictions on the Chinese company , cutting off its access to U.S. components and technology .
Trump also tweeted out the false claim about Raffensperger ’ s brother on Tuesday night .
“ Now it turns out that Brad R ’ s brother works for China and they definitely don ’ t want ‘ Trump ’ .
So disgusting !
” Trump said in his inaccurate tweet .
Raffensperger , who oversees Georgia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of death threats and misinformation since President Donald Trump ’ s presidential race loss in Georgia by more than 11,000 votes .
A spokesman for Huawei did not immediately respond to AP ’ s request for comment .
CLAIM : University of Florida researchers found “ no asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread of Covid ” in a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association .
THE FACTS : Social media users are misrepresenting a recent study , leading to the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 .
A false post that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Florida researchers have found no asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread of Covid .
The study was published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association .
This could change everything.
” The post had amassed more than 35,000 retweets a day later , and was also shared widely on Facebook .
Social media users shared the false post to justify arguments that shutting down businesses and schools during the pandemic was unnecessary .
But a spokesperson for the network of journals published by the Journal of the American Medical Association confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with such conclusions had been published by the network .
“ Numerous reports support transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by individuals who are asymptomatic , ” Deanna Bellandi , media relations manager for JAMA Network wrote in an email .
“ Claims that any JAMA Network journal has published evidence to the contrary is incorrect and misleading.
” The false claims follow the release of a study by University of Florida researchers that was published on Dec. 14 on the website of JAMA Network Open , one of the journals in the JAMA network .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies about household spread of SARS-CoV-2 , and found rates of transmission to other household members was higher if the infected person had symptoms rather than was asymptomatic .
The analysis also found transmission was higher between adults rather than children , and between spouses rather than other family contacts .
The study did not conclude there is no asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread of COVID-19 as social media users claim it does .
“ No , no we didn ’ t say that , ” said Natalie E. Dean , a co-author of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistant professor of biostatistics “ This is a misinterpretation of our message of our scientific findings and conclusions.
” Dean said it is important for the public to understand her study was only analyzing household studies and there is limited data at this point .
She said “ there does seem to be evidence that people who never have symptoms do appear to be less infectious , ” but she said that does not mean that people without symptoms can not transmit the virus that causes COVID-19 .
“ Certainly we are seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dean said , a point that is also made clearly in the article text .
She called presymptomatic transmission “ an important feature of this virus ” and said “ our policies need to reflect that.
” People who are infected with COVID-19 but are not experiencing symptoms can not know whether or not they will develop them .
Dean noted that even if it is the case that people who have symptoms and are coughing are more infectious , someone without symptoms could wind up spreading the virus more if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The published study says “ important questions remain ” about household spread , including how infectious asymptomatic , mildly ill and severely ill cases are .
There were not more votes than voters in Pennsylvania CLAIM : There were 205,000 more votes than voters in the 2020 election in Pennsylvania .
THE FACTS : A misleading claim about election results based on incomplete data is circulating widely on social media a week before Congress meets to reaffirm Joe Biden ’ s decisive presidential win .
The claim emerged in a Monday press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including state Rep. Frank Ryan .
“ A comparison of official county election results to the total number of voters who voted on Nov. 3 , 2020 , as recorded by the Department of State shows that 6,962,607 total ballots were reported as being cast , while DoS/SURE system records indicate that only 6,760,230 total voters actually voted , ” the release said .
The claim then spread to several right-wing websites and social media influencers , including Trump , whose tweet claiming Pennsylvania had 205,000 more votes than voters was retweeted more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims rely on incomplete data , according to Wanda Murren , communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of State , who called the lawmakers ’ release “ obvious misinformation.
” It was not immediately clear where the numbers cited in the release originated and Ryan did not respond to a call seeking comment on Tuesday .
However , the apparent reference to SURE ( Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors ) in Pennsylvania points to state data on the voting history of registered voters , which some large counties have not finished uploading yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philadelphia , Allegheny , Butler and Cambria , would account for a significant number of voters , ” Murren told The Associated Press in an emailed statement .
“ The numbers certified by the counties , not the uploading of voter histories into the SURE system , determines the ultimate certification of an election by the secretary.
” The numbers certified by Pennsylvania counties in November show that more than 6.9 million voters cast ballots in the 2020 election , electing Biden the winner by more than 80,000 votes .
Social media users @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that there were more votes counted than registered voters in battleground states and key cities .
Those claims are easily debunked .
In Pennsylvania , for example , there were nearly 7 million votes cast .
The total number of registered voters in 2020 was just over 9 million .
“ This obvious misinformation put forth by Rep. Ryan and others is the hallmark of so many of the claims made about this year ’ s presidential election , ” Murren told the AP in an emailed statement .
“ When exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at every level have found these and similar conspiratorial claims to be wholly without basis.
” Posts falsely claim there are only 133 million registered voters in the US CLAIM : There are 133 million registered voters in the United States so if President Donald Trump got 74 million votes , President-elect Joe Biden could not have received 81 million votes .
THE FACTS : The number of registered voters in the U.S. is much greater than 133 million .
But false claims about the 2020 presidential election persist online , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential race don ’ t add up because they exceed the total number of registered voters in the country .
“ Donald Trump got 74 million votes and There are 133 million registered voters in the USA , ” reads a popular but inaccurate tweet that was shared thousands of times on both Twitter and Facebook .
“ If every single registered voter went out and voted there would only be 59 million votes left for Biden .
How did he get 81 million votes ?
” The posts are false because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered voters .
A survey of election officials from all over the country by the Election Assistance Commission found there were 211 million Americans on voter rolls ahead of the 2018 election .
The 133 million figure shared on social media is also far lower than the more than 136 million ballots cast in the 2016 election .
“ The number of 133 million registered voters is plainly false , ” said Michael McDonald , a University of Florida political scientist who runs the election data site , U.S. Election Project .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is far too low for 2020 , coming up with the precise number of American registered voters at a given moment is not straight forward .
Each state manages its own voter rolls , and people are constantly registering , dying and moving to new states , leading to changes in the totals and duplications .
Furthermore , states differ in how they manage their rolls .
For example , some states have a category of registered voters who are marked as “ inactive ” and North Dakota does not have voter registration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Catalist , which provides voter data and other services to civic and progressive organizations , said it is challenging to pinpoint the number of registered voters in the U.S. “ These numbers are ever-evolving , there really isn ’ t one number , ” Robinson said .
Robinson estimates the number of registered voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election was somewhere between 195 million and 215 million , depending on how the data is analyzed and which suspected duplicate or ineligible voters were excluded .
Brandi Travis , a spokesperson for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AP that the company has more than 215 million registered voters in its database .
L2 , another voter list vendor whose customers include the AP , estimated the number at eligible registrants at 200 million before the Nov. 3 election .
Paul Westcott , L2 senior vice president , said that figure accounted for removing duplicate voters , people who have died and people who appeared on the rolls of more than one state due to a recent move .
Most election researchers calculate voter turnout based on the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were registered to vote .
The U.S .
Elections Project estimates 239 million Americans were eligible to vote in the 2020 election based on their age , citizenship and criminal record , and that more than 159 million - or 67.7 % - participated .
According to Dec. 18 data from the AP , Biden received 81,281,888 votes and Trump received 74,223,251 votes .

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:
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Nashville explosion was caused by a bomb, not a missile
CLAIM: Video shows that Nashville explosion was caused by a missile or some kind of directed energy weapon.
THE FACTS: The explosion was caused by a bomb inside a parked recreational vehicle in downtown Nashville. Social media users shared grainy surveillance video from the Dec. 25 explosion, and pointed to a streak of smoke to falsely claim that the blast was caused by a bomb or a directed energy weapon. “Looking like a missile strike now. Video proof. Explains why the airspace was locked down,” wrote one Twitter user on Dec. 26. Similar false claims circulated widely on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and Parler. Police were responding to a report of shots fired when they encountered the RV blaring a recorded warning that a bomb would detonate in 15 minutes. Police have identified Anthony Quinn Warner, 63, who was killed in the explosion, as the person responsible for the blast. A motive has not been determined. Surveillance video from a Metro Nashville Police Department camera at the intersection of 2nd Avenue North and Commerce Street captured the explosion and offers proof that the blast came from the parked recreational vehicle. Social media users were sharing a different grainy, black-and-white surveillance video from a local business that showed the explosion from a distance. WKRN-TV, a Nashville television station, aired the footage. Posts pointed to what appears to be a streak of smoke captured in the video, falsely asserting it was a “missile trail” from a strike in the area. Other posts said a directed energy weapon caused the damage. A frame-by-frame review of the video revealed the smoke was ascending from the source of the blast. “That is not a missile strike. Missiles don’t leave smoke trails as they come back down,” Jeffrey Lewis, an expert at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies told The Associated Press in an email. The explosion outside an AT&T building in downtown Nashville, interfered with communications in several Southern states, damaged dozens of buildings and injured three people, the AP reported. Some posts falsely alleged a missile targeted AT&T because the company got a contract to do a forensic audit of Dominion Voting Systems machines and those machines were recently moved to the AT&T building in Nashville that was damaged in the explosion.
- The Associated Press
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AT&T not conducting voting machine audit near Nashville explosion site
CLAIM: AT&T got a contract to do a forensic audit of Dominion Voting Systems machines and those machines were recently moved to Nashville, Tennessee - to the same AT&T building that was damaged in a Christmas morning explosion.
THE FACTS: AT&T did not have a contract to audit Dominion machines and was not holding Dominion machines in its Nashville building, both companies confirmed to The Associated Press. But as federal officials work to piece together a motive for the Christmas morning blast that rattled downtown Nashville, including damage to an AT&T-owned building, social media users have made baseless claims connecting the explosion to voting machines used in the Nov. 3 election. “AT&T got a contract to do forensic audit on Dominion voting machines and those machines were being moved to Nashville this past week,” read one post. “So, the explosion ‘just happened’ to be at the AT&T location where they ‘just so happen’ to control the cooling system for the super computer and house the dominion voting machines and drives for forensic audit…” Another groundless post reads: “Wait, the bombing in Nashville was at the AT&T data center right after they got the contract to audit the Dominion voting machines? That’s an interesting coincidence.” Spokespeople for AT&T and Dominion confirmed to the AP that AT&T had no contract to audit Dominion machines, and no Dominion machines were to be sent to Nashville. Some of the posts attempted to further link AT&T to Dominion by claiming a former owner of the AT&T building was a board member of a firm that owns Dominion. Cerberus Capital Management, the firm named in the posts, does not own Dominion, nor does it own the company that does own Dominion, Staple Street Capital. “Dominion has no connection to AT&T, the building, Nashville, family members of the Bidens or the Clintons, and Staple Street is not owned by Cerberus,” said Tony Fratto, a partner at the public relations firm Hamilton Place Strategies who emailed the AP on behalf of Dominion. “These are conspiracies manufactured out of whole cloth.” Dominion has been the target of a wide range of false posts since American voters chose Joe Biden as their next president, despite no evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities in the 2020 election.
- Associated Press writer Ali Swenson reported from Seattle.
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Brother of Georgia SOS is not a Chinese tech firm executive
CLAIM: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has a brother, Ron, who works for a Chinese tech firm, Huawei.
THE FACTS: Social media posts and a fictitious story circulating online falsely claim that the top election official in Georgia has a brother named Ron, who works as an executive for the Chinese tech giant Huawei. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger does not have a brother named Ron, his office confirmed Wednesday. He has three sisters and a brother, his office said. A 2018 family obituary the AP reviewed also confirms his brother is not named Ron. Social media posts making the false claim suggest Raffensperger should be investigated because of his brother’s Huawei connection. The company has been at the center of rising tensions between the U.S. and Chinese over technology security. President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed restrictions on the Chinese company, cutting off its access to U.S. components and technology. Trump also tweeted out the false claim about Raffensperger’s brother on Tuesday night. “Now it turns out that Brad R’s brother works for China and they definitely don’t want ‘Trump’. So disgusting!” Trump said in his inaccurate tweet. Raffensperger, who oversees Georgia’s elections, has been the target of death threats and misinformation since President Donald Trump’s presidential race loss in Georgia by more than 11,000 votes. A spokesman for Huawei did not immediately respond to AP’s request for comment.
- Associated Press writer Amanda Seitz reported from Chicago.
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Posts misrepresent study examining household coronavirus transmission
CLAIM: University of Florida researchers found “no asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread of Covid” in a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.
THE FACTS: Social media users are misrepresenting a recent study, leading to the spread of misinformation about COVID-19. A false post that was shared on Dec. 27 reads: “University of Florida researchers have found no asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread of Covid. The study was published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association. This could change everything.” The post had amassed more than 35,000 retweets a day later, and was also shared widely on Facebook. Social media users shared the false post to justify arguments that shutting down businesses and schools during the pandemic was unnecessary. But a spokesperson for the network of journals published by the Journal of the American Medical Association confirmed to The Associated Press that no study with such conclusions had been published by the network. “Numerous reports support transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by individuals who are asymptomatic,” Deanna Bellandi, media relations manager for JAMA Network wrote in an email. “Claims that any JAMA Network journal has published evidence to the contrary is incorrect and misleading.” The false claims follow the release of a study by University of Florida researchers that was published on Dec. 14 on the website of JAMA Network Open, one of the journals in the JAMA network. The study analyzed data from 54 previous studies about household spread of SARS-CoV-2, and found rates of transmission to other household members was higher if the infected person had symptoms rather than was asymptomatic. The analysis also found transmission was higher between adults rather than children, and between spouses rather than other family contacts. The study did not conclude there is no asymptomatic or presymptomatic spread of COVID-19 as social media users claim it does. “No, no we didn’t say that,” said Natalie E. Dean, a co-author of the study and a University of Florida assistant professor of biostatistics “This is a misinterpretation of our message of our scientific findings and conclusions.” Dean said it is important for the public to understand her study was only analyzing household studies and there is limited data at this point. She said “there does seem to be evidence that people who never have symptoms do appear to be less infectious,” but she said that does not mean that people without symptoms cannot transmit the virus that causes COVID-19. “Certainly we are seeing presymptomatic transmissions before they develop symptoms,” Dean said, a point that is also made clearly in the article text. She called presymptomatic transmission “an important feature of this virus” and said “our policies need to reflect that.” People who are infected with COVID-19 but are not experiencing symptoms cannot know whether or not they will develop them. Dean noted that even if it is the case that people who have symptoms and are coughing are more infectious, someone without symptoms could wind up spreading the virus more if they are continuing to interact with other people. The published study says “important questions remain” about household spread, including how infectious asymptomatic, mildly ill and severely ill cases are.
- Associated Press writer Jude Joffe-Block reported from Berkeley, Calif.
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There were not more votes than voters in Pennsylvania
CLAIM: There were 205,000 more votes than voters in the 2020 election in Pennsylvania.
THE FACTS: A misleading claim about election results based on incomplete data is circulating widely on social media a week before Congress meets to reaffirm Joe Biden’s decisive presidential win. The claim emerged in a Monday press release from Pennsylvania Republican state lawmakers, including state Rep. Frank Ryan. “A comparison of official county election results to the total number of voters who voted on Nov. 3, 2020, as recorded by the Department of State shows that 6,962,607 total ballots were reported as being cast, while DoS/SURE system records indicate that only 6,760,230 total voters actually voted,” the release said. The claim then spread to several right-wing websites and social media influencers, including Trump, whose tweet claiming Pennsylvania had 205,000 more votes than voters was retweeted more than 117,000 times. However, these claims rely on incomplete data, according to Wanda Murren, communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of State, who called the lawmakers’ release “obvious misinformation.” It was not immediately clear where the numbers cited in the release originated and Ryan did not respond to a call seeking comment on Tuesday. However, the apparent reference to SURE (Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors) in Pennsylvania points to state data on the voting history of registered voters, which some large counties have not finished uploading yet. “These counties, which include Philadelphia, Allegheny, Butler and Cambria, would account for a significant number of voters,” Murren told The Associated Press in an emailed statement. “The numbers certified by the counties, not the uploading of voter histories into the SURE system, determines the ultimate certification of an election by the secretary.” The numbers certified by Pennsylvania counties in November show that more than 6.9 million voters cast ballots in the 2020 election, electing Biden the winner by more than 80,000 votes. Social media users in recent weeks have also made similar claims that there were more votes counted than registered voters in battleground states and key cities. Those claims are easily debunked. In Pennsylvania, for example, there were nearly 7 million votes cast. The total number of registered voters in 2020 was just over 9 million. “This obvious misinformation put forth by Rep. Ryan and others is the hallmark of so many of the claims made about this year’s presidential election,” Murren told the AP in an emailed statement. “When exposed to even the simplest examination, courts at every level have found these and similar conspiratorial claims to be wholly without basis.”
- Ali Swenson
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Posts falsely claim there are only 133 million registered voters in the US
CLAIM: There are 133 million registered voters in the United States so if President Donald Trump got 74 million votes, President-elect Joe Biden could not have received 81 million votes.
THE FACTS: The number of registered voters in the U.S. is much greater than 133 million. But false claims about the 2020 presidential election persist online, including the bogus allegation that vote tallies in the presidential race don’t add up because they exceed the total number of registered voters in the country. “Donald Trump got 74 million votes and There are 133 million registered voters in the USA,” reads a popular but inaccurate tweet that was shared thousands of times on both Twitter and Facebook. “If every single registered voter went out and voted there would only be 59 million votes left for Biden. How did he get 81 million votes?” The posts are false because they rely on an incorrect number of total registered voters. A survey of election officials from all over the country by the Election Assistance Commission found there were 211 million Americans on voter rolls ahead of the 2018 election. The 133 million figure shared on social media is also far lower than the more than 136 million ballots cast in the 2016 election. “The number of 133 million registered voters is plainly false,” said Michael McDonald, a University of Florida political scientist who runs the election data site, U.S. Election Project. While experts all agree the 133 million figure is far too low for 2020, coming up with the precise number of American registered voters at a given moment is not straight forward. Each state manages its own voter rolls, and people are constantly registering, dying and moving to new states, leading to changes in the totals and duplications. Furthermore, states differ in how they manage their rolls. For example, some states have a category of registered voters who are marked as “inactive” and North Dakota does not have voter registration. Jonathan Robinson, lead research scientist at Catalist, which provides voter data and other services to civic and progressive organizations, said it is challenging to pinpoint the number of registered voters in the U.S. “These numbers are ever-evolving, there really isn’t one number,” Robinson said. Robinson estimates the number of registered voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election was somewhere between 195 million and 215 million, depending on how the data is analyzed and which suspected duplicate or ineligible voters were excluded. Brandi Travis, a spokesperson for the voter list vendor Aristotle, told the AP that the company has more than 215 million registered voters in its database. L2, another voter list vendor whose customers include the AP, estimated the number at eligible registrants at 200 million before the Nov. 3 election. Paul Westcott, L2 senior vice president, said that figure accounted for removing duplicate voters, people who have died and people who appeared on the rolls of more than one state due to a recent move. Most election researchers calculate voter turnout based on the number of eligible voters, rather than how many were registered to vote. The U.S. Elections Project estimates 239 million Americans were eligible to vote in the 2020 election based on their age, citizenship and criminal record, and that more than 159 million - or 67.7% - participated. According to Dec. 18 data from the AP, Biden received 81,281,888 votes and Trump received 74,223,251 votes.
- Jude Joffe-Block
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washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Both newspapers in Utah's capital print final daily editions

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - Salt Lake City ’ s two major newspapers have printed daily editions for more than a century , but now the presses will only be whirring once a week as they join other news organizations nationwide in shifting their focus online to stay afloat .
The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News printed their final daily newspapers Thursday as they joined others like the Tampa Bay Times and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that made the same decision in response to declining print and circulation revenues that have upended the industry and led to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting in 2017 , will continue to publish breaking stories online every day but do only one print newspaper each week on Sunday .
The newspaper had printed daily for 149 years .
The Deseret News will also post news stories daily on its website , print one newspaper every weekend and also offer a monthly magazine , which will debut in January .
The newspaper had printed papers daily throughout its 170-year history .
The newspapers announced they would stop printing daily in October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication is expected to showcase the reporters ’ best enterprise work and in-depth stories , as well as obituaries and expanded editorial content .
“ It won ’ t be exactly the same .
And we hope you think it is better , ” the paper wrote in a statement .
“ We assure you that our commitment to the news hasn ’ t wavered.
” The decision came after two recent ownership changes : the paper was purchased in 2016 by Paul Huntsman , son of the late billionaire industrialist Jon Huntsman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jon Huntsman Jr. Last year , Paul Huntsman shepherded the Tribune into becoming a nonprofit in hopes of ensuring its long-term viability amid declining newspaper revenues nationwide .
He cited continued declines and economic upheaval related to the coronavirus pandemic when he announced the decision to newsroom staffers , calling it a painful but necessary concession .
The decision also ends a joint operating agreement with the Deseret News , which is owned by the state ’ s predominant faith - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
The agreement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspapers , had the two publications cooperating on printing , delivery and advertising but not stories .
The Deseret News is named after the territory ’ s early title .
The newspaper was born three years after pioneers arrived in 1847 .
The newspaper has worked to expand its digital offerings for a decade , appealing to church members and others outside the state , and now its digital readership is nearly 500 times greater than the number of local print subscribers , said Jeff Simpson , its president and publisher .
Deseret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue its “ national leadership role as the watchdog of the family and of faith in the public square.
” “ Change is never easy , particularly when you ’ re changing a readership habit , ” he wrote in a statement .
“ But our commitment to providing a strong news report with fresh commentary , analysis and opinion remains constant .
”

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Salt Lake City’s two major newspapers have printed daily editions for more than a century, but now the presses will only be whirring once a week as they join other news organizations nationwide in shifting their focus online to stay afloat.
The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News printed their final daily newspapers Thursday as they joined others like the Tampa Bay Times and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that made the same decision in response to declining print and circulation revenues that have upended the industry and led to a new era of journalism.
The Tribune, which won the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting in 2017, will continue to publish breaking stories online every day but do only one print newspaper each week on Sunday. The newspaper had printed daily for 149 years.
The Deseret News will also post news stories daily on its website, print one newspaper every weekend and also offer a monthly magazine, which will debut in January. The newspaper had printed papers daily throughout its 170-year history.
The newspapers announced they would stop printing daily in October.
The Tribune’s new weekly publication is expected to showcase the reporters’ best enterprise work and in-depth stories, as well as obituaries and expanded editorial content.
“It won’t be exactly the same. And we hope you think it is better,” the paper wrote in a statement. “We assure you that our commitment to the news hasn’t wavered.”
The decision came after two recent ownership changes: the paper was purchased in 2016 by Paul Huntsman, son of the late billionaire industrialist Jon Huntsman Sr. and brother to former U.S-Russia Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr.
Last year, Paul Huntsman shepherded the Tribune into becoming a nonprofit in hopes of ensuring its long-term viability amid declining newspaper revenues nationwide. He cited continued declines and economic upheaval related to the coronavirus pandemic when he announced the decision to newsroom staffers, calling it a painful but necessary concession.
The decision also ends a joint operating agreement with the Deseret News, which is owned by the state’s predominant faith - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The agreement, once common when many cities had two newspapers, had the two publications cooperating on printing, delivery and advertising but not stories.
The Deseret News is named after the territory’s early title. The newspaper was born three years after pioneers arrived in 1847.
The newspaper has worked to expand its digital offerings for a decade, appealing to church members and others outside the state, and now its digital readership is nearly 500 times greater than the number of local print subscribers, said Jeff Simpson, its president and publisher.
Deseret News Editor Doug Wilks said the publication will continue its “national leadership role as the watchdog of the family and of faith in the public square.”
“Change is never easy, particularly when you’re changing a readership habit,” he wrote in a statement. “But our commitment to providing a strong news report with fresh commentary, analysis and opinion remains constant.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for February delivery rose 12 cents to $ 48.52 a barrel Thursday .
Brent crude oil @ @ @ @ @ cents to $ 51.80 a barrel .
Wholesale gasoline for January delivery was little changed @ @ @ @ @ .
January heating oil fel 1 cent to $ 1.48 a gallon .
February natural @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.54 per 1,000 cubic feet .
Gold for February delivery rose $ 1.70 to @ @ @ @ @ Silver for March delivery fell 16 cents to $ 26.41 an ounce and March copper @ @ @ @ @ 3.52 a pound .
The dollar was unchanged at 103.27 Japanese yen .
The euro @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.2290 .

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for February delivery rose 12 cents to $48.52 a barrel Thursday. Brent crude oil for March delivery rose 17 cents to $51.80 a barrel.
Wholesale gasoline for January delivery was little changed at $1.41 a gallon. January heating oil fel 1 cent to $1.48 a gallon. February natural gas rose 12 cents to $2.54 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Gold for February delivery rose $1.70 to $1,895.10 an ounce. Silver for March delivery fell 16 cents to $26.41 an ounce and March copper fell 3 cents to $3.52 a pound.
The dollar was unchanged at 103.27 Japanese yen. The euro fell to $1.2211 from $1.2290.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Census: Early analysis shows falsifying data was rare

Responding to criticism that a shortened schedule jeopardized data quality , the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday said less than a half percent of census takers interviewing households for the 2020 head count may have falsified their work , suggesting such problems were few and far between .
The statistical agency said in a statement that a preliminary look at the data suggests 0.4 % of the hundreds of thousands of census takers , also known as enumerators , may have either falsified data or performed their jobs unsuccessfully .
“ Therefore , enumerators who may have falsified data or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the statement said .
The Census Bureau issued its statement after a report from their watchdog agency Wednesday that expressed concerns over lapses in quality control checks on the data used for deciding how many congressional seats each state gets and how $ 1.5 trillion in federal funding is distributed each year .
The lapses raised concerns about the quality of the census data , according to the report by the Office of Inspector General .
The report said the Census Bureau failed to complete 355,000 reinterviews of households to verify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not conducted with more than a third of the census takers who completed a household interview , and 70,000 cases that were red-flagged for reinterviews were given a pass even though a census clerk was unable to determine if the original interview data was correct , the report said .
About a third of the nation ’ s 130 million households required visits from census takers , while residents in the remaining two-thirds of households self-responded either online , by phone or by mail .
Because of the failure to conduct the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t provide a full picture of the falsification that may have taken place , said Rob Santos , president of the American Statistical Association .
“ Just like with COVID testing , you won ’ t find it if you don ’ t look for it , ” Santos said Thursday in an email .
Plus , there are other concerns about data quality besides falsification , such as inconsistent responses and the reliance on getting information from neighbors or landlords when residents of a household were unavailable , he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of quality ?
” Santos said .
“ They are arguably more important than falsification because they will be more prevalent.
” The Associated Press has documented cases of census takers being pressured to enter false information into a computer system about homes they had not visited so they could close cases during the waning days of the once-a-decade national headcount .
Other census takers told the AP that they were instructed to make up answers about households where they were unable to get information , in one instance by looking in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basing a guess on the number of cars in a driveway or bicycles in the yard .
The Census Bureau announced it will miss Thursday ’ s deadline for turning in the numbers used for divvying up congressional seats but aims to deliver a population count of each state in early 2021 , as close to the missed deadline as possible .

Responding to criticism that a shortened schedule jeopardized data quality, the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday said less than a half percent of census takers interviewing households for the 2020 head count may have falsified their work, suggesting such problems were few and far between.
The statistical agency said in a statement that a preliminary look at the data suggests 0.4% of the hundreds of thousands of census takers, also known as enumerators, may have either falsified data or performed their jobs unsuccessfully.
“Therefore, enumerators who may have falsified data or performed poor quality work were very rare,” the statement said.
The Census Bureau issued its statement after a report from their watchdog agency Wednesday that expressed concerns over lapses in quality control checks on the data used for deciding how many congressional seats each state gets and how $1.5 trillion in federal funding is distributed each year. The lapses raised concerns about the quality of the census data, according to the report by the Office of Inspector General.
The report said the Census Bureau failed to complete 355,000 reinterviews of households to verify their information was accurate. Reinterviews also were not conducted with more than a third of the census takers who completed a household interview, and 70,000 cases that were red-flagged for reinterviews were given a pass even though a census clerk was unable to determine if the original interview data was correct, the report said.
About a third of the nation’s 130 million households required visits from census takers, while residents in the remaining two-thirds of households self-responded either online, by phone or by mail.
Because of the failure to conduct the reinterviews, the Census Bureau can’t provide a full picture of the falsification that may have taken place, said Rob Santos, president of the American Statistical Association.
“Just like with COVID testing, you won’t find it if you don’t look for it,” Santos said Thursday in an email.
Plus, there are other concerns about data quality besides falsification, such as inconsistent responses and the reliance on getting information from neighbors or landlords when residents of a household were unavailable, he said.
“Where are the assessments of these aspects of quality?” Santos said. “They are arguably more important than falsification because they will be more prevalent.”
The Associated Press has documented cases of census takers being pressured to enter false information into a computer system about homes they had not visited so they could close cases during the waning days of the once-a-decade national headcount. Other census takers told the AP that they were instructed to make up answers about households where they were unable to get information, in one instance by looking in the windows of homes and in another by basing a guess on the number of cars in a driveway or bicycles in the yard.
The Census Bureau announced it will miss Thursday’s deadline for turning in the numbers used for divvying up congressional seats but aims to deliver a population count of each state in early 2021, as close to the missed deadline as possible.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Sheriff's Office: 4 shot at party in Portland suburb

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - Four people were shot at a party in the Portland suburb of Happy @ @ @ @ @ Sheriff ’ s Office said .
Around 12:30 a.m. Thursday , deputies responded to reports @ @ @ @ @ just east of Interstate 205 , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
The sheriff ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ “ several people ” were attending a party there and four had been shot .
@ @ @ @ @ for treatment and are expected to survive , the sheriff ’ s office said .
@ @ @ @ @ anyone had been arrested .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Four people were shot at a party in the Portland suburb of Happy Valley, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said.
Around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to reports of gunfire at a house just east of Interstate 205, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
The sheriff’s office provided few details but said “several people” were attending a party there and four had been shot. They were taken to hospitals for treatment and are expected to survive, the sheriff’s office said.
Officials did not say whether anyone had been arrested.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--2 new officers identified in death of Black man

SEATTLE ( AP ) - At least two new law enforcement officers have been identified as having participated in restraining Manuel Ellis , a Black man who died after his airways were restricted in March .
The new records were released by the Washington State Patrol on Wednesday .
They identified an off-duty sheriff ’ s sergeant who helped shove Ellis ’ leg to hogtie him while he was handcuffed and prone on the ground and a fifth Tacoma police officer who placed a spit guard over Ellis ’ head after he had complained that he could not breathe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins , Christopher Burbank , Masyih Ford and Timothy Rankine were placed on leave as the investigation into Ellis ’ death continues .
The Washington State Patrol named the newly identified officers as Pierce County Sheriff ’ s Office Det .
Sgt .
Gary Sanders and Tacoma Police Officer Armando Farina .
Neither has faced suspension .
Both officers have been classified as witnesses and not as targets of the investigation .
Ellis , 33 , was walking home from a convenience store on March 3 with a snack when Tacoma police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a car as it made a turn .
Police said Ellis charged at one officer , lifted him up and violently threw him to the ground , but video of the incident filmed by two witnesses contradicted the police narrative , the Times reported .
Sara McDowell and Samuel Cowden , both of whom drove by and filmed parts of the death , characterized the officers as aggressors .
They said and videos indicate Ellis was placed in a chokehold and shocked with a Taser .
His head or neck was pinned under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eyewitness was interviewed during the Sheriff ’ s investigation , but the two later spoke to state patrol investigators .
The Pierce County Medical Examiner ’ s Office later determined that Ellis ‘ cause of death was oxygen deprivation caused by restraint and ruled it a homicide .
Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Officer Wendy Haddow said the department would not comment until it has reviewed the investigative records released Wednesday by the state patrol .

SEATTLE (AP) - At least two new law enforcement officers have been identified as having participated in restraining Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died after his airways were restricted in March.
The new records were released by the Washington State Patrol on Wednesday. They identified an off-duty sheriff’s sergeant who helped shove Ellis’ leg to hogtie him while he was handcuffed and prone on the ground and a fifth Tacoma police officer who placed a spit guard over Ellis’ head after he had complained that he could not breathe, the Seattle Times reported.
Officers Matthew Collins, Christopher Burbank, Masyih Ford and Timothy Rankine were placed on leave as the investigation into Ellis’ death continues.
The Washington State Patrol named the newly identified officers as Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Det. Sgt. Gary Sanders and Tacoma Police Officer Armando Farina. Neither has faced suspension. Both officers have been classified as witnesses and not as targets of the investigation.
Ellis, 33, was walking home from a convenience store on March 3 with a snack when Tacoma police said they saw him trying to get inside a car as it made a turn. Police said Ellis charged at one officer, lifted him up and violently threw him to the ground, but video of the incident filmed by two witnesses contradicted the police narrative, the Times reported.
Sara McDowell and Samuel Cowden, both of whom drove by and filmed parts of the death, characterized the officers as aggressors. They said and videos indicate Ellis was placed in a chokehold and shocked with a Taser. His head or neck was pinned under an officer’s knee. Neither eyewitness was interviewed during the Sheriff’s investigation, but the two later spoke to state patrol investigators.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that Ellis’ cause of death was oxygen deprivation caused by restraint and ruled it a homicide.
Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Officer Wendy Haddow said the department would not comment until it has reviewed the investigative records released Wednesday by the state patrol.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Coronavirus puts Honduras' coffee harvest in jeopardy

TEGUCIGALPA , Honduras ( AP ) - The coronavirus pandemic is threatening Honduras ’ coffee harvest by keeping Hondurans who would normally travel for the work at home and preventing foreign harvesters from entering the country , local coffee producers say .
The risk to one of Honduras ’ most important crops is just one of the many devastating economic impacts of the pandemic .
Mobility restrictions meant to slow the virus ’ spread caused widespread job losses in the already struggling country .
Two destructive November hurricanes that hit Honduras ’ most economically productive region in the north only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Honduras ’ gross domestic product , according to the Honduran Coffee Institute .
In El Paraiso , one of Honduras ’ main producing areas , coffee growers say they need about 70,000 workers for the harvest , but so far this year only have about 40,000 .
In the region , which borders Nicaragua , the harvest began Dec. 15 and will continue into mid-February .
Coffee grower Fredy Pastrana said that many workers who typically come from the cities have not traveled this year over COVID-19 fears .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where Honduran officials are requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test before allowing foreigners to enter .
“ I ’ ve spoken with producers in other regions and I believe the problem is nationwide , ” Pastrana said .
There is minimal testing in Nicaragua and the $ 24 cost is out of reach for many of the harvesters .
Coffee growers are trying to convince Honduras ’ government to set up low-cost testing facilities at border stations to help speed the Nicaraguan workers across the border .
Costa Rica , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on foreign labor for its harvest .
It anticipated a problem due to the pandemic and the Costa Rica National Coffee Institute launched a campaign months before the harvest to recruit Costa Ricans to work .
The campaign played on nostalgia by a generation that may have spent time in the coffee groves as children but hadn ’ t worked there as adults .
It also hoped unemployment hovering above 21 % could make the work more attractive .
But the recruitment drive did not produce the desired results , so officials worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an orderly arrival of workers from that country .
The coffee institute estimates that about 75,000 workers were needed for the harvest .
The Nicaraguan workers were tested for COVID-19 at the Costa Rican border and required to quarantine on their assigned plantations for 14 days before starting to harvest .
The agriculture ministry said that about 45,000 foreign workers were needed .
Costa Rica used a similar system at its southern border with indigenous Ngobe-Bugle workers from Panama who carry dual Costa Rican citizenship .
They also had to isolate before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring their children as they traditionally do .
Costa Rica is anticipating a much larger harvest this year than last .
In Honduras , coffee producers are harvesting with the personnel they have , but there is concern that if rains come before the coffee is picked , much of the crop could be lost .
In far western Ocotepeque , grower Virgilio Pacheco said he had to go to Guatemala to find workers , convince them to come and pay for their COVID-19 tests .
Alexander Welcher , a coffee grower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of labor for the harvest is nationwide .
“ The problem is generalized , ” Welcher said .
“ There are producers whose coffee is ripening and drying because they don ’ t have the capacity to cut it in time .
”

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) - The coronavirus pandemic is threatening Honduras’ coffee harvest by keeping Hondurans who would normally travel for the work at home and preventing foreign harvesters from entering the country, local coffee producers say.
The risk to one of Honduras’ most important crops is just one of the many devastating economic impacts of the pandemic. Mobility restrictions meant to slow the virus’ spread caused widespread job losses in the already struggling country. Two destructive November hurricanes that hit Honduras’ most economically productive region in the north only compounded the problem.
Coffee represents 3% of Honduras’ gross domestic product, according to the Honduran Coffee Institute.
In El Paraiso, one of Honduras’ main producing areas, coffee growers say they need about 70,000 workers for the harvest, but so far this year only have about 40,000. In the region, which borders Nicaragua, the harvest began Dec. 15 and will continue into mid-February.
Coffee grower Fredy Pastrana said that many workers who typically come from the cities have not traveled this year over COVID-19 fears. But the bigger problem has been at the border, where Honduran officials are requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test before allowing foreigners to enter.
“I’ve spoken with producers in other regions and I believe the problem is nationwide,” Pastrana said.
There is minimal testing in Nicaragua and the $24 cost is out of reach for many of the harvesters. Coffee growers are trying to convince Honduras’ government to set up low-cost testing facilities at border stations to help speed the Nicaraguan workers across the border.
Costa Rica, another important coffee producer, also relies heavily on foreign labor for its harvest. It anticipated a problem due to the pandemic and the Costa Rica National Coffee Institute launched a campaign months before the harvest to recruit Costa Ricans to work.
The campaign played on nostalgia by a generation that may have spent time in the coffee groves as children but hadn’t worked there as adults. It also hoped unemployment hovering above 21% could make the work more attractive.
But the recruitment drive did not produce the desired results, so officials worked out an agreement with Nicaragua in October for an orderly arrival of workers from that country. The coffee institute estimates that about 75,000 workers were needed for the harvest.
The Nicaraguan workers were tested for COVID-19 at the Costa Rican border and required to quarantine on their assigned plantations for 14 days before starting to harvest. The agriculture ministry said that about 45,000 foreign workers were needed.
Costa Rica used a similar system at its southern border with indigenous Ngobe-Bugle workers from Panama who carry dual Costa Rican citizenship. They also had to isolate before working and this year were not allowed to bring their children as they traditionally do.
Costa Rica is anticipating a much larger harvest this year than last.
In Honduras, coffee producers are harvesting with the personnel they have, but there is concern that if rains come before the coffee is picked, much of the crop could be lost.
In far western Ocotepeque, grower Virgilio Pacheco said he had to go to Guatemala to find workers, convince them to come and pay for their COVID-19 tests.
Alexander Welcher, a coffee grower in central Yoro, said the lack of labor for the harvest is nationwide.
“The problem is generalized,” Welcher said. “There are producers whose coffee is ripening and drying because they don’t have the capacity to cut it in time.”
__
Cordoba reported from San Jose, Costa RIca.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Cowboy and his bride of 6 decades: 'We've had lots of fun'

PEEPLES VALLEY , Ariz. ( AP ) - Down a dirt lane just past the center of Peeples Valley is a house with a stone fireplace , a front porch bird feeder shaped like a cowboy boot and an indoor wreath that welcomes guests : “ HOWDY.
” The owners of the 10-acre ranch cradled by mountains and long stretches of grassland suitable for horses , cattle and other wild critters are a humble , happy couple who rejoice in gratitude for a life most known only from legend - think cowboy movie stars Will Rogers , John Wayne , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate our life right out here , ” declared Susie Welsh who pulls up a chair next to her real-life cowboy and rodeo performer husband , Wayne , 97 , whose face breaks into a broad smile .
Sitting in the cozy hub of their six-decade home where they raised three children - two sons , Waco and John , and a daughter , Mona , who have since enriched their lives with eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren , one born just this past month - this still-in-love couple almost giggle as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve had lots of fun ( over 63 years ) , ” Susie said to her husband ’ s “ Oh yes !
” All around their rambling home are framed photographs - some aged black-and-whites of Wayne standing on the back of a large white horse he jumped in a trio at a rodeo show with his handy lasso flying above his head - that speak to a rare , adventurous life , The Daily Courier reported .
Wayne and Susie ’ s story inspired a family friend and novice poet/songwriter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write a series of ballads turned into a Nashville-produced CD highlighting their escapades .
One includes the day when Wayne lassoed a bobcat .
“ The story of how Wayne Welsh became a cowboy is a fascinating , near unbelievable one of a man who had enough faith in himself and enough independence of spirit to leave home … to pursue his dream of being a cowboy , ” Webb said of the man he met about two years ago through Webb ’ s eldest son .
With just “ spunk and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up working on the largest ranch in Texas and landing a photo in “ Life ” magazine of him performing with his lasso and riding for the White Horse Troupe in Sand Hills , Nebraska , a “ remarkable feat , ” Webb declared .
Wayne and Susie are not the limelight type .
Susie seems embarrassed by Webb ’ s effusive praise .
Yet Susie is more than happy to boast about her husband ’ s feats .
“ It ’ s just wonderful what he ’ s done his whole life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who beyond ranching and rodeo learned to braid and knot leather he crafted into jewelry he gave to her as gifts .
Then he shares his secret : “ I ’ ve had a good life with a good woman .
That ’ s the answer.
” Wayne ’ s first memory of chasing his rodeo dream was rejection - he couldn ’ t land a job .
With only a small suitcase and a few dollars to his name , Wayne ended up accepting work at an East Coast riding academy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ some horses to Jacksonville , Florida , where he ended up teaching horseback riding lessons at a private girl ’ s school .
A friend rescued him .
The two road-tripped to Tucson before he returned to the family farm .
His cowboy/rodeo wanderlust not yet abated , Wayne ’ s father loaned him the family car so he and a friend could drive to Wyoming for more ranch work .
From there , Wayne ended up at the White Horse Ranch in Nebraska where he learned how to become a trick rider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was there he earned his rodeo stripes .
“ It really was very simple , ” said the man who ended up also performing at a California circus where he counts himself “ fortunate ” to endure a harrowing fall with no serious injury .
To this very day , Wayne said he is grateful he was able to fulfill his childhood ambition - and do it for an audience .
“ It was fun , ” he said .
Between rodeos , Wayne worked on ranches across the western United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He makes it clear the “ camp job ” he had chasing after 1,000 herd of cattle for one of the largest ranches in Texas was far from glamorous .
Much of it “ was boring , ” he admits .
The flame of Susie and Wayne ’ s six-decade love affair was sparked at a Saturday night square dance in Wickenburg .
In his mid-30s at the time , Wayne was bringing a batch of horses to a dude ranch in Wickenburg where Susie was working as a waitress .
Asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s eyes twinkle : “ A woman who will tell her age will tell anything.
” What Susie happily recalls of their first date is how “ he could dance like a dream.
” “ I liked him .
We made a pretty good connection , ” she said .
“ I was a man of few words , ” said Wayne , who followed her back to Colorado where they married six weeks later .
“ He ’ s such a gentleman and a great dancer , ” Susie said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wayne landed a 25-year job as a state brand inspector - he retired at age 70 - and Susie retired as an assistant branch manager after 21 years with Valley National Bank in Yarnell .
Susie briefly mentions her connection to a notorious crime .
She and her daughter were at the bank in 1977 during an attempted armed bank robbery .
The robbers , a boyfriend-girlfriend pair , died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds .
She then quickly changes the topic .
Too painful .

PEEPLES VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) - Down a dirt lane just past the center of Peeples Valley is a house with a stone fireplace, a front porch bird feeder shaped like a cowboy boot and an indoor wreath that welcomes guests: “HOWDY.”
The owners of the 10-acre ranch cradled by mountains and long stretches of grassland suitable for horses, cattle and other wild critters are a humble, happy couple who rejoice in gratitude for a life most known only from legend - think cowboy movie stars Will Rogers, John Wayne, or Clint Eastwood.
“We do appreciate our life right out here,” declared Susie Welsh who pulls up a chair next to her real-life cowboy and rodeo performer husband, Wayne, 97, whose face breaks into a broad smile.
Sitting in the cozy hub of their six-decade home where they raised three children - two sons, Waco and John, and a daughter, Mona, who have since enriched their lives with eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, one born just this past month - this still-in-love couple almost giggle as they travel memory lane together.
“We’ve had lots of fun (over 63 years),” Susie said to her husband’s “Oh yes!”
All around their rambling home are framed photographs - some aged black-and-whites of Wayne standing on the back of a large white horse he jumped in a trio at a rodeo show with his handy lasso flying above his head - that speak to a rare, adventurous life, The Daily Courier reported.
Wayne and Susie’s story inspired a family friend and novice poet/songwriter in Ohio, Ned Webb, to write a series of ballads turned into a Nashville-produced CD highlighting their escapades. One includes the day when Wayne lassoed a bobcat.
“The story of how Wayne Welsh became a cowboy is a fascinating, near unbelievable one of a man who had enough faith in himself and enough independence of spirit to leave home … to pursue his dream of being a cowboy,” Webb said of the man he met about two years ago through Webb’s eldest son.
With just “spunk and a frayed piece of rope” Wayne ended up working on the largest ranch in Texas and landing a photo in “Life” magazine of him performing with his lasso and riding for the White Horse Troupe in Sand Hills, Nebraska, a “remarkable feat,” Webb declared.
Wayne and Susie are not the limelight type. Susie seems embarrassed by Webb’s effusive praise.
Yet Susie is more than happy to boast about her husband’s feats.
“It’s just wonderful what he’s done his whole life,” Susie said of the man who beyond ranching and rodeo learned to braid and knot leather he crafted into jewelry he gave to her as gifts.
A friendly, humble man, Wayne smiles at is wife’s adulation.
Then he shares his secret: “I’ve had a good life with a good woman. That’s the answer.”
Wayne’s first memory of chasing his rodeo dream was rejection - he couldn’t land a job. With only a small suitcase and a few dollars to his name, Wayne ended up accepting work at an East Coast riding academy. From there, Wayne volunteered to transport some horses to Jacksonville, Florida, where he ended up teaching horseback riding lessons at a private girl’s school.
He lasted a winter.
A friend rescued him. The two road-tripped to Tucson before he returned to the family farm.
His cowboy/rodeo wanderlust not yet abated, Wayne’s father loaned him the family car so he and a friend could drive to Wyoming for more ranch work.
From there, Wayne ended up at the White Horse Ranch in Nebraska where he learned how to become a trick rider and tame a bucking horse. It was there he earned his rodeo stripes.
“It really was very simple,” said the man who ended up also performing at a California circus where he counts himself “fortunate” to endure a harrowing fall with no serious injury.
To this very day, Wayne said he is grateful he was able to fulfill his childhood ambition - and do it for an audience. “It was fun,” he said.
Between rodeos, Wayne worked on ranches across the western United States, including California, New Mexico and Arizona. He makes it clear the “camp job” he had chasing after 1,000 herd of cattle for one of the largest ranches in Texas was far from glamorous.
Much of it “was boring,” he admits.
The flame of Susie and Wayne’s six-decade love affair was sparked at a Saturday night square dance in Wickenburg.
In his mid-30s at the time, Wayne was bringing a batch of horses to a dude ranch in Wickenburg where Susie was working as a waitress.
Asked about their age gap, Susie’s eyes twinkle: “A woman who will tell her age will tell anything.”
“Coward,” her husband teases.
What Susie happily recalls of their first date is how “he could dance like a dream.”
“I liked him. We made a pretty good connection,” she said.
“I was a man of few words,” said Wayne, who followed her back to Colorado where they married six weeks later.
“He’s such a gentleman and a great dancer,” Susie said. “He’s just a wonderful guy.”
In Peeples Valley, the Welsh family flourished.
Wayne landed a 25-year job as a state brand inspector - he retired at age 70 - and Susie retired as an assistant branch manager after 21 years with Valley National Bank in Yarnell.
Susie briefly mentions her connection to a notorious crime. She and her daughter were at the bank in 1977 during an attempted armed bank robbery. The robbers, a boyfriend-girlfriend pair, died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. She then quickly changes the topic. Too painful.
“I was worried,” her husband whispers.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Virginia concealed gun permit law changes requirements

RICHMOND , Va. — A new state law in Virginia will change the requirements for obtaining a concealed gun permit @ @ @ @ @ that Virginians will need to attend firearm trainings and safety courses in-person for a concealed @ @ @ @ @ law takes effect Jan. 1 .
The old law said that people who live in @ @ @ @ @ the age of 21 could take an online course to satisfy application requirements .
The @ @ @ @ @ option and requires in-person classes .
Legislators who supported the new law said the online @ @ @ @ @ and easy.
” But some residents and lawmakers worry it will complicate the application process @ @ @ @ @ .

RICHMOND, Va. — A new state law in Virginia will change the requirements for obtaining a concealed gun permit.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that Virginians will need to attend firearm trainings and safety courses in-person for a concealed handgun permit.
The new law takes effect Jan. 1. The old law said that people who live in Virginia and who are over the age of 21 could take an online course to satisfy application requirements. The new statute removes the online option and requires in-person classes.
Legislators who supported the new law said the online courses were “too quick and easy.” But some residents and lawmakers worry it will complicate the application process, especially during the pandemic.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Julian Assange case: British judge to rule soon on U.S. extradition request

WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange is set to soon learn whether a British court believes he should be sent to the U.S. to face charges related to the infamous secret-spilling website he started .
A judge in London is scheduled to announce her decision Monday in the extradition case surrounding Mr. Assange , 49 , an Australian citizen wanted in the U.S. for multiple felonies involving WikiLeaks .
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser is expected to deliver the verdict from London ’ s Central Criminal Court , where lawyers on both sides of the extradition battle made their cases earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open the door for Mr. Assange to be sent there to face charges related to soliciting , receiving and sharing classified military and diplomatic materials .
Her ruling may be appealed either way , however , making a final decision on the fate of Mr. Assange , who risks spending the rest of his life in prison if extradited to the U.S. , still a way off .
Defenders of Mr. Assange have recently sought to spare him the possibility of being extradited or imprisoned by pushing for President Trump to grant him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The White House press office referred to the National Security Council when asked about the push for Mr. Trump to pardon Mr. Assange before President-elect Joseph R. Biden succeeds him on Jan. 20 .
A spokesperson for the National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Mr. Assange helped launch WikiLeaks in 2006 , and he was at the helm of the site during the years that followed as it released material damaging to various governments around the globe .
Eric Holder , former President Barack Obama ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. was investigating WikiLeaks shortly after it published classified State Department diplomatic cables in 2010 .
A military court later convicted Chelsea Manning , a former U.S. Army analyst , in connection with supplying WikiLeaks with those cables and a multitude of Department of Defense material as well .
Ms. Manning was subsequently ordered to spend 35 years in prison , but she had most of that sentence commuted by Mr. Obama during the final days of his presidency and was released early in May 2017 .
In the interim , in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ecuadorian Embassy in London .
He stayed for seven years before he was ejected and arrested in April 2019 and has been jailed ever since .
Although the Obama presidency ended without federal prosecutors charging Mr. Assange , the Trump administration made it clear right away it hoped to put him in prison .
Jeff Sessions , Mr. Trump ’ s first attorney general , said in April 2017 that arresting Mr. Assange was a “ priority.
” That goal was ultimately achieved roughly two years later .
Mr. Assange faces 17 counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one count of conspiring to commit computer hacking .
He argues he acted as a journalist while the Justice Department disagrees .
Among material Ms. Manning gave WikiLeaks to be released were detailed reports about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq , as well as evidence of U.S. airstrike that killed two journalists for Reuters .

WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange is set to soon learn whether a British court believes he should be sent to the U.S. to face charges related to the infamous secret-spilling website he started.
A judge in London is scheduled to announce her decision Monday in the extradition case surrounding Mr. Assange, 49, an Australian citizen wanted in the U.S. for multiple felonies involving WikiLeaks.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser is expected to deliver the verdict from London’s Central Criminal Court, where lawyers on both sides of the extradition battle made their cases earlier this year.
A decision favoring the U.S. would open the door for Mr. Assange to be sent there to face charges related to soliciting, receiving and sharing classified military and diplomatic materials.
Her ruling may be appealed either way, however, making a final decision on the fate of Mr. Assange, who risks spending the rest of his life in prison if extradited to the U.S., still a way off.
Defenders of Mr. Assange have recently sought to spare him the possibility of being extradited or imprisoned by pushing for President Trump to grant him a pardon before leaving office soon.
The White House press office referred to the National Security Council when asked about the push for Mr. Trump to pardon Mr. Assange before President-elect Joseph R. Biden succeeds him on Jan. 20.
A spokesperson for the National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Assange helped launch WikiLeaks in 2006, and he was at the helm of the site during the years that followed as it released material damaging to various governments around the globe.
Eric Holder, former President Barack Obama’s first attorney general, announced the U.S. was investigating WikiLeaks shortly after it published classified State Department diplomatic cables in 2010.
A military court later convicted Chelsea Manning, a former U.S. Army analyst, in connection with supplying WikiLeaks with those cables and a multitude of Department of Defense material as well.
Ms. Manning was subsequently ordered to spend 35 years in prison, but she had most of that sentence commuted by Mr. Obama during the final days of his presidency and was released early in May 2017.
In the interim, in 2012, Mr. Assange sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. He stayed for seven years before he was ejected and arrested in April 2019 and has been jailed ever since.
Although the Obama presidency ended without federal prosecutors charging Mr. Assange, the Trump administration made it clear right away it hoped to put him in prison.
Jeff Sessions, Mr. Trump’s first attorney general, said in April 2017 that arresting Mr. Assange was a “priority.” That goal was ultimately achieved roughly two years later.
Mr. Assange faces 17 counts of violating the U.S. Espionage Act and one count of conspiring to commit computer hacking. He argues he acted as a journalist while the Justice Department disagrees.
Among material Ms. Manning gave WikiLeaks to be released were detailed reports about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as evidence of U.S. airstrike that killed two journalists for Reuters.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--AP Week in Pictures: Asia

AP Week in Pictures: Asia

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Asia and @ @ @ @ @ curated by AP photo editor Shuji Kajiyama in Tokyo .

Dec. 25-31, 2020
This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Asia and Pacific.
The gallery was curated by AP photo editor Shuji Kajiyama in Tokyo.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--D.C. area rings in year with new laws set to take effect

Beginning Friday , Virginians can no longer hold a cellphone while driving , Maryland workers will be paid a higher minimum wage and D.C. retailers can no longer sell packing peanuts .
These are some of the new laws in the D.C. area that take effect early in the new year .
Virginians who are caught holding a cellphone while driving may face a fine of up to $ 125 for the first offense under a new law .
Subsequent offenses and violating the law in a highway work zone may result in a $ 250 fine .
Exceptions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone to report an emergency and select safety officials operating vehicles while on duty .
The restriction expands upon an existing law that bans reading and typing while driving , as well as holding a mobile device in a designated work zone while behind the wheel .
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reported 128,172 crashes in 2019 , and proponents of the new law hope it will reduce the number of crashes each year .
Distracted driving is linked to 80 % of all collisions in the commonwealth , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Institute .
Virginia is one of more than 20 states and the District that have hands-free driving laws .
Also , Virginia gun owners seeking to obtain a concealed carry permit will not be allowed to demonstrate competence by passing a safety course offered online , electronically or via video .
Applicants must take an in-person course that is taught by a state-certified entity or the National Rifle Association .
Supporters of the new law said virtual courses were “ too quick and easy , ” while opponents feared it would “ complicate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , the odor of marijuana will no longer be a substantial basis for law enforcement officials to search or seize a person , place , or thing .
The new law comes as Gov .
Ralph Northam plans to introduce a bill to legalize marijuana in the upcoming legislative session .
Medical marijuana is already legal in the commonwealth , and the governor signed off on a bill in May to decriminalize simple marijuana possession , which went into effect in July .
Recreational marijuana has been legalized in more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several states also allow commercial sales of the substance .
In addition , the minimum wage for all Virginia employees will increase in May from the federally mandated rate of $ 7.25 an hour to $ 9.50 .
The minimum wage will gradually increase until it reaches $ 15 an hour in 2026 .
The pay hike was approved by the state legislature and Mr. Northam .
Maryland also is gradually increasing its minimum wage until all employees are paid $ 15 an hour in 2026 .
This year , businesses with 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them 75 cents more an hour , raising the minimum to $ 11.75 .
Those fewer employees will pay $ 11.60 an hour .
The pay increase is the second installment of annual increases that began in 2019 , when the sum rose from $ 10.10 to $ 11 an hour .
Gov .
Larry Hogan had vetoed the wage hike , but the General Assembly overrode his veto .
Beginning Jan. 13 , businesses in Baltimore will be required to charge customers at least 5 cents if they use a paper , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store .
One cent of the surcharge will go to the city .
The initiative is part of an effort to reduce the area ’ s carbon footprint by encouraging shoppers to bring their own bag .
Officials are issuing a “ limited number ” of cost-free reusable bags to residents with accessibility challenges , according to the Baltimore Office of Sustainability .
Similar bag charges are in place in localities throughout the state , as well as in the District and Virginia .
The District also is implementing new green initiatives on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retail establishments from selling styrofoam storage containers such as coolers , as well as packing peanuts .
The new rule builds on the city ’ s 2016 ban of disposable styrofoam-based food service ware .
Moreover , building energy performance standards set by the city will become stricter for structures that are 10,000 square feet or more in size .
The D.C. Department of Energy and Environment is set to announce the tightened requirements by Jan. 1 , and new requirements will be put in place every six years thereafter .
The changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 50 % decrease in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 2032 .

Beginning Friday, Virginians can no longer hold a cellphone while driving, Maryland workers will be paid a higher minimum wage and D.C. retailers can no longer sell packing peanuts.
These are some of the new laws in the D.C. area that take effect early in the new year.
Virginians who are caught holding a cellphone while driving may face a fine of up to $125 for the first offense under a new law. Subsequent offenses and violating the law in a highway work zone may result in a $250 fine. Exceptions to the rule include drivers who use a phone to report an emergency and select safety officials operating vehicles while on duty.
The restriction expands upon an existing law that bans reading and typing while driving, as well as holding a mobile device in a designated work zone while behind the wheel.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles reported 128,172 crashes in 2019, and proponents of the new law hope it will reduce the number of crashes each year.
Distracted driving is linked to 80% of all collisions in the commonwealth, according to a recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Virginia is one of more than 20 states and the District that have hands-free driving laws.
Also, Virginia gun owners seeking to obtain a concealed carry permit will not be allowed to demonstrate competence by passing a safety course offered online, electronically or via video. Applicants must take an in-person course that is taught by a state-certified entity or the National Rifle Association.
Supporters of the new law said virtual courses were “too quick and easy,” while opponents feared it would “complicate” the permit request process.
In March, the odor of marijuana will no longer be a substantial basis for law enforcement officials to search or seize a person, place, or thing.
The new law comes as Gov. Ralph Northam plans to introduce a bill to legalize marijuana in the upcoming legislative session.
Medical marijuana is already legal in the commonwealth, and the governor signed off on a bill in May to decriminalize simple marijuana possession, which went into effect in July.
Recreational marijuana has been legalized in more than a dozen states and the District, and several states also allow commercial sales of the substance.
In addition, the minimum wage for all Virginia employees will increase in May from the federally mandated rate of $7.25 an hour to $9.50. The minimum wage will gradually increase until it reaches $15 an hour in 2026. The pay hike was approved by the state legislature and Mr. Northam.
Maryland also is gradually increasing its minimum wage until all employees are paid $15 an hour in 2026.
This year, businesses with 15 or more employees are required to pay them 75 cents more an hour, raising the minimum to $11.75. Those fewer employees will pay $11.60 an hour.
The pay increase is the second installment of annual increases that began in 2019, when the sum rose from $10.10 to $11 an hour.
Gov. Larry Hogan had vetoed the wage hike, but the General Assembly overrode his veto.
Beginning Jan. 13, businesses in Baltimore will be required to charge customers at least 5 cents if they use a paper, plastic or compostable bag provided by the store. One cent of the surcharge will go to the city.
The initiative is part of an effort to reduce the area’s carbon footprint by encouraging shoppers to bring their own bag.
Officials are issuing a “limited number” of cost-free reusable bags to residents with accessibility challenges, according to the Baltimore Office of Sustainability.
Similar bag charges are in place in localities throughout the state, as well as in the District and Virginia.
The District also is implementing new green initiatives on Jan. 1, including prohibiting stores and retail establishments from selling styrofoam storage containers such as coolers, as well as packing peanuts.
The new rule builds on the city’s 2016 ban of disposable styrofoam-based food service ware.
Moreover, building energy performance standards set by the city will become stricter for structures that are 10,000 square feet or more in size.
The D.C. Department of Energy and Environment is set to announce the tightened requirements by Jan. 1, and new requirements will be put in place every six years thereafter. The changes are part of a plan to achieve a 50% decrease in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 2032.
• Emily Zantow can be reached at ezantow@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Graffiti on Brooklyn synagogues leads to hate crime charge

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A 39-year-old man was charged with burglary and criminal mischief as a hate crime @ @ @ @ @ graffiti found on four Brooklyn synagogues , police said .
Emil Benjamin of Brooklyn was @ @ @ @ @ a marker pen in the early morning hours of Saturday .
Police said he also @ @ @ @ @ two cabinets and stole $ 20 .
It was unclear if Benjamin has an attorney @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Cuomo directed the state police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the New York @ @ @ @ @ .
Benjamin was the victim of an anti-Semitic crime himself in 2011 , according to @ @ @ @ @ was stabbed after being subjected to anti-Semitic taunts on a Brooklyn subway train .
Two @ @ @ @ @ , but not a hate crime .
Benjamin was charged in 2016 with stealing four @ @ @ @ @ burglary , the Daily News reported .
The scrolls were returned and Benjamin got a @ @ @ @ @ to petty larceny .

NEW YORK (AP) - A 39-year-old man was charged with burglary and criminal mischief as a hate crime Thursday in connection with derogatory graffiti found on four Brooklyn synagogues, police said.
Emil Benjamin of Brooklyn was accused of scrawling graffiti with a marker pen in the early morning hours of Saturday. Police said he also entered one synagogue, damaged two cabinets and stole $20. It was unclear if Benjamin has an attorney to comment.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the state police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the New York Police Department in the investigation.
Benjamin was the victim of an anti-Semitic crime himself in 2011, according to the Daily News. He was stabbed after being subjected to anti-Semitic taunts on a Brooklyn subway train. Two men were charged with assault, but not a hate crime.
Benjamin was charged in 2016 with stealing four Torah scrolls during a synagogue burglary, the Daily News reported. The scrolls were returned and Benjamin got a conditional discharge after pleading guilty to petty larceny.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--North Korea's Kim thanks people in rare New Year's cards

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un thanked the public for their trust and support “ in the difficult times ” and wished them happiness and good health in his first New Year ’ s Day cards sent to his people .
Kim usually gives a televised speech on Jan. 1 , but he is widely expected to skip the speech this year since he will address the country ’ s first ruling party congress in five years sometime in early January .
“ I will work hard to bring earlier the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our people will come true , ” Kim said in his letter , according to the Korean Central News Agency .
“ I offer thanks to the people for having invariably trusted and supported our party even in the difficult times , ” he said .
“ I sincerely wish all the families across the country greater happiness and beloved people , good health.
” North Korea is one of the world ’ s most cloistered countries , and it ’ s virtually impossible to independently confirm whether its 25 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cards reportedly were the first a leader sent to North Koreans since 1995 .
Kim , who succeeded his father as North Korean leader in 2011 , is facing the toughest challenges of his nine-year rule due to the pandemic , several natural disasters last summer and the stalemate over U.S.-led sanctions and his nuclear weapons program .
Kim will likely use the Workers ’ Party congress as a venue to muster a stronger unity and lay out new development goals for the next few years , experts say .
The congress , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is officially the party ’ s top decision-making body though real day-to-day decisions are made by Kim and his close associates .
The rubberstamp body of delegates to the congress is expected to endorse Kim ’ s new initiatives without major debates .
State media said North Korea planned to hold the congress early this month but didn ’ t specify the dates .
In 2006 , the congress was held for four days .
Marking the new year ’ s start , a large crowd of people packed Pyongyang ’ s main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a flag-hoisting ceremony .
State TV showed the people , wearing masks and heavy coats , waved their hands while standing close together .
North Korea has steadfastly claimed to coronavirus-free - an assertion doubted by outsiders .
But experts also say any outbreak likely wasn ’ t widespread and so North Korea considered it safe to hold big events like the party congress in Pyongyang .

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un thanked the public for their trust and support “in the difficult times” and wished them happiness and good health in his first New Year’s Day cards sent to his people.
Kim usually gives a televised speech on Jan. 1, but he is widely expected to skip it this year since he will address the country’s first ruling party congress in five years sometime in early January.
“I will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true,” Kim said in his letter, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
“I offer thanks to the people for having invariably trusted and supported our party even in the difficult times,” he said. “I sincerely wish all the families across the country greater happiness and beloved people, good health.”
North Korea is one of the world’s most cloistered countries, and it’s virtually impossible to independently confirm whether all its 25 million people received Kim’s letter.
KCNA said the letter was handwritten by Kim. The last time the North Korean leader sent such a letter to ordinary citizens was on Jan. 1, 1995, by Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry.
Kim, who succeeded his father upon his death in late 2011, is facing the toughest challenges of his nine-year rule due to the pandemic, several natural disasters last summer and persistent U.S.-led sanctions amid a diplomatic impasse over his nuclear program.
Kim will likely use the Workers’ Party congress as a venue to muster a stronger unity and lay out new development goals for the next few years.
North Korea’s pandemic-related border closure with China, its biggest trading partner, is hurting the economy. Bilateral trade volume in the first 11 months of 2020 plunged by about 79% from the same period in 2019, analyst Song Jaeguk at Seoul’s IBK Economic Research Institute said.
The congress, the first since 2016, is officially the party’s top decision-making body though real day-to-day decisions are made by Kim and his close associates. The rubber stamp body of delegates is expected to endorse Kim’s new initiatives without major debates.
State media didn’t say when exactly the meeting will take place. In 2016, the congress was held for four days.
Ushering in the new year, a large crowd packed Pyongyang’s main square to watch fireworks, a concert and a flag-hoisting ceremony. State TV showed people wearing masks and heavy coats, waving and standing close together.
North Korea has steadfastly claimed to be coronavirus-free - an assertion doubted by outsiders. But experts also say any outbreak likely wasn’t widespread and so North Korea considered it safe to hold big events like the party congress in Pyongyang.
Also Friday, North Korea said it has successfully completed “an 80-day battle,” a productivity campaign it often launches to press citizens to work extra hours and report bigger production numbers ahead of major political events. During the congress, experts say North Korea will likely underscore building a stronger self-reliant economy to tackle the difficulties in an attempt to squeeze people to work harder.
KCNA said “the all-people advance by dint of self-reliance” achieved “a proud victory of the historic 80-day battle.” It said the North Koreans have either fulfilled or exceeded newly set quotas at factories, mines, farms, flooding recovery works, anti-coronavirus steps and various other areas.
___
This story corrects the year of the last ruling party congress.