washingtontimes--2020-11-18--The Latest: Tokyo records single-day high in virus cases

NEW YORK - Pfizer announced more results in its ongoing coronavirus vaccine study that suggest the shots are 95 % effective .
The company says the vaccine appears to protect older people most at risk of dying from COVID-19 .
The surprise announcement , just a week after it first revealed promising preliminary results , comes as the company is preparing within days to formally ask U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of the vaccine .
The company says it has accumulated 170 infections in the study and 162 of those were in volunteers who got a dummy shot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ volunteers who got the actual vaccine and one of those eight developed severe disease .
The company has not yet released detailed data on its study .
The results will be analyzed by independent experts and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
The study has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the U.S. and five other countries .
The trial will continue to collect safety and efficacy data on volunteers for two more years .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : - FDA allows first rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley , 87 , says he has tested positive for the coronavirus - Watchdog says Britain spent billions for pandemic supplies without proper transparency HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : LONDON - The World Health Organization says nearly 4 million new coronavirus cases were reported globally last week , with Europe accounting for nearly half of all cases .
In its latest epidemiological report on the COVID-19 pandemic , the U.N. health agency said for the first time in more than three months , cases in Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that recent lockdown measures across the continent are having an effect .
Still , WHO said that the number of deaths in Europe “ increased substantially , ” with more than 29,000 deaths last week .
Significant spikes in cases and deaths were also seen in the Americas ; Southeast Asia was the only region that saw a drop in cases and deaths .
In European countries , WHO said the sharpest rise in coronavirus cases was in Austria , which saw a 30 % increase compared to the previous week .
WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country in the region to record more than 50,000 deaths .
Globally , the countries with the biggest number of cases were : the U.S. , India , Italy , France , and Brazil .
GAZA CITY , Gaza Strip - Gaza ’ s Health Ministry has reported 600 new coronavirus cases and four deaths over the last 24 hours , the highest daily increase of both since the pandemic reached the isolated Palestinian territory .
Gaza has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system has been severely degraded by years of conflict and isolation .
Authorities have reported more than 12,000 coronavirus cases and 54 deaths so far .
Hamas has periodically ordered the closure of schools , businesses and mosques to contain the spread .
A prolonged lockdown would compound the economic woes of the territory ’ s 2 million Palestinian residents .
LONDON — Dido Harding , who leads the National Health Service ’ s test and trace program in England , has been told by the service she runs that she needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who has tested positive .
In a tweet Wednesday , Harding showed a screenshot of an app notification carrying the message “ you need to self-isolate ” through Nov. 26 .
She added : “ Nothing like personal experience of your own products.
” Harding , a former chief executive of the British telecommunications company TalkTalk , has faced widespread criticism for apparent failings in the test and trace service .
Her husband , John Penrose , a Conservative Party lawmaker , had previously been told to self-isolate .
British Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a meeting with another Conservative lawmaker who later tested positive .
TOKYO - Authorities in Tokyo have announced nearly 500 new cases of the coronavirus , the biggest daily increase in the Japanese capital since the pandemic began , amid a nationwide spike in infections and as the country discusses with Olympic officials how to safely host next summer ’ s games .
The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 493 new cases on Wednesday , surpassing the city ’ s previous high of 472 recorded on Aug. 1. International Olympic Committee President Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discuss with Japanese Olympic officials how to safely host the games , which were postponed until next July due to the pandemic .
Japan has seen a steady climb in new cases nationwide in recent weeks , and experts have urged officials to step up preventive measures .
Japan has confirmed 120,815 cases , including 1,913 deaths .
LONDON - Britain ’ s public spending watchdog says the government spent billions of pounds , without proper transparency , in a scramble to secure protective equipment early in the coronavirus outbreak .
The National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday that companies with links to politicians were fast-tracked and had more chance of getting a contract than other applicants .
Like many countries , the U.K. was caught without enough masks , gowns , gloves and other equipment to keep health care workers and the public safe as coronavirus cases skyrocketed .
In the push to build up stocks , the government awarded 8,600 contracts worth18 billion pounds ( $ 24 billion ) between March and July , most without a competitive tender process .
The auditor said in a sample of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to document key decisions , such as why they chose a particular supplier or used emergency procurement , and failed to document their consideration of risks , including how they had identified and managed any potential conflicts of interest.
” HARARE , Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe has closed a school after 100 students tested positive for COVID-19 , state media reports , as authorities warn of the risk of a new wave of infections in a country that has so far recorded few cases .
The John Tallach Secondary School in the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine center , the Herald newspaper quotes Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri , chair of the country ’ s COVID-19 taskforce , as saying .
She says 73 students are asymptomatic and 27 show mild symptoms .
An undisclosed number of teachers also tested positive .
Authorities suspect that a pupil who recently traveled to neighboring South Africa infected the others , the paper reports .
South Africa , with more than 750,000 recorded infections , has the highest confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa .
BEIJING - China reported one new local coronavirus infection on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility the virus might be spread on frozen food packaging .
The National Health Commission said the new case was detected in the northern port city of Tianjin just east of Beijing .
The confirmed case , along with another person who tested positive without showing symptoms , were both previously quarantined under suspicion of having the virus .
Another seven cases were brought from outside the country , the commission reported , raising China ’ s total to 86,369 with 4,634 deaths since the virus was first detected in the central Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authorities in several cities and provinces have reported detecting the virus on packaging of frozen seafood and meat imported from countries ranging from Germany to India .
SYDNEY - The Australian state of South Australia will begin a six-day lockdown at midnight Wednesday , with schools , universities , bars and cafes closed .
Only one person from each household will be allowed to leave home each day , and only for specific reasons .
The restrictions also require most factories to close , nursing home facilities to go into lockdown , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold .
Outdoor exercise is banned , and wearing masks is mandatory .
Officials announced the severe move Wednesday after a cluster of new coronavirus cases grew to 22 .
Premier Steven Marshall says he believes the lockdown will act as a “ circuit-breaker ” and reduce the risk of the outbreak spreading further .
Officials plan a further eight days of restrictions following the lockdown .
SEOUL , South Korea - South Korea has recorded its largest daily rise in coronavirus infections in about 80 days as officials prepare to tighten social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday reported 313 new daily virus cases , the first time the daily caseload exceeded 300 since late August .
South Korea is struggling to contain a spike in new cluster infections since it eased stringent physical distancing rules last month .
Under rules taking effect Thursday for two weeks , no more than 100 people can attend rallies , festivals and concerts .
People will have to sit at least one seat apart at theaters , concert halls and libraries , while sporting events are limited to 30 % capacity .
LOS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new restrictions on businesses and is readying plans for a mandatory curfew for all but essential workers if coronavirus cases keep spiking .
The county of 10 million people has seen daily confirmed cases more than double in the last two weeks to nearly 2,900 .
On Tuesday , officials ordered non-essential retail businesses to limit indoor capacity to 25 % and restaurants to 50 % capacity outdoors .
All such businesses must close by 10 p.m .
The changes take effect Friday .
If daily cases rise to 4,500 and hospitalizations top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-week lockdown that will restrict people to their homes for all but essential trips .
A nighttime curfew would run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. WASHINGTON - The White House coronavirus task force is warning of the “ aggressive ” and “ unrelenting ” spread of the coronavirus as the nation heads into the Thanksgiving holiday .
A senior administration official said Tuesday that scientists and public health experts sounded alarm about the spread of the virus , which is on the upswing across the entire nation .
In its weekly report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ aggressive , unrelenting , expanding broad community spread across the country , reaching most counties , without evidence of improvement but rather , further deterioration.
” It says existing efforts to slow the spread “ are inadequate and must be increased to flatten the curve.
” The panel also says Thanksgiving travel and gatherings could “ amplify transmission considerably.
” The guidance is a departure from the public comments of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , who have emphasized progress in vaccine development .
But experts warn that tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is widespread distribution of a vaccine .
CHICAGO - Public schools in Chicago will resume in-person learning beginning in January , with officials saying remote learning instituted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic has not well-served many students .
Officials said Tuesday that pre-kindergarten and students enrolled in intensive and moderate cluster classrooms will begin in-person learning on Jan. 11 .
Kindergarten through 8th grade students will return to classrooms on Feb. 1 .
A return date for high school students is still under consideration .
The school district will allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children to return to school .
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says that many students did well with remote learning but the youngest children , Black and Hispanic students , and highest-need learners haven ’ t been served .
NEW ORLEANS - The raucous Mardi Gras parades where riders on elaborate floats toss trinkets to adoring throngs have been canceled in New Orleans because the close-packed crowds could spread the coronavirus .
At least for the 2021 season , the pandemic has put an end to the New Orleans Mardi Gras as it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tidwell said Tuesday that no parades will roll during the weeks leading up to and including Fat Tuesday because they can ’ t meet restrictions meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
The cancellation is based largely on a 250-person cap on outdoor crowds .
Tidwell says : “ You can ’ t have traditional parades with that small a group .
”

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea has reported more than 300 new coronavirus cases for a second consecutive day as authorities begin enforcing toughened social distancing rules in some areas to fight a resurgence of small-scale clusters of infections.
The 343 new cases announced Thursday raised the country’s case total to 29,654 for the pandemic, with 498 deaths from COVID-19.
On Thursday, elevated physical distancing rules took effective in the greater Seoul area, the southern city of Gwangju and some parts of Gangwon province. In those areas, no more than 100 people may attend rallies, concerts and other events, while sporting events and religious services are limited to 30-50% capacity. Dancing at night clubs and drinking at karaoke rooms are prohibited.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
- Pfizer seeks regulatory review of vaccine candidate within days
- Europe has half of world’s 4M new virus cases tallied last week
- FDA allows first prescription rapid coronavirus test that gives results at home
- Surge of coronavirus cases U.S. sends people back to stores to stockpile again, leaving shelves bare and forcing retailers to put limits on purchases.
- Health experts say masks are useful tool for arresting spread of the coronavirus. Studies show they help in multiple ways and work best when everyone wears one.
- Athletes at the postponed Tokyo Olympics won’t have the luxury of hanging around once they’ve wrapped up their event. No late-night parties or nights on the town.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - The small Pacific nation of Samoa is reporting its first positive test for the coronavirus, although officials say a second test on the same patient came back negative.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi went on television and radio Thursday urging the nation’s 200,000 people to stay calm but remain vigilant with their virus precautions.
Samoa was among a dwindling handful of nations to have not reported a single case of the virus.
According to the Samoa Observer, officials say the patient is a sailor who has been in quarantine since flying in from New Zealand on Friday. The sailor tested positive four days after arriving, but a second test Thursday was negative.
The Cabinet was to meet to discuss the situation.
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DENVER - Publics schools in Denver will go to fully remote learning for all grades for the rest of the semester as the coronavirus surges.
Officials said Wednesday that remote learning will begin for more than 90,000 students in Colorado’s largest school district on Monday and run through the end of winter break. The district’s decision also applies to special education students.
In September, the district reported about 13 new coronavirus cases weekly, mostly involving teachers and staff, when it first opened early childhood education classes. It says new cases now have surpassed 300 per week, causing teacher and staff shortages and forcing individual schools to close.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Five Florida mayors are expressing concern about the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state, and are urging Gov. Ron DeSantis to change his approach to the pandemic.
Following a months-long decline from a huge summer spike in coronavirus infections, Florida has seen a mid-autumn climb in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Still, the governor has resisted a return to statewide restrictions in place earlier in the year.
The mayors of Miami Beach, Hialeah, Miami Shores Village, Sunrise and St. Petersburg called Wednesday for consistency in statewide regulations, implementation of a mask mandate and restoration of state testing sites to full capacity.
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TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a new mask mandate in hopes of lessening the spread of the coronavirus after the state again reported another record seven-day increase in new cases.
State law allows Kansas’ 105 counties to opt out of the order. Most did when Kelly issued a similar order in July. But the state’s rolling seven-day average for new coronavirus cases was more than nine times higher Wednesday than it was than when her first order took effect.
Kelly’s order takes effect Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving, and only in counties that don’t yet have their own mask mandates. That is a majority of the state’s counties.
The governor says she is giving counties a week to work out their own mask rules.
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WASHINGTON - Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is trying to tamp down concerns the stalled transition of power to President-Elect Joe Biden will scramble the government’s efforts to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to Americans.
At a vaccine news briefing Wednesday, Azar says “in the event” of a transition, the vast majority of the HHS and Pentagon officials working on vaccine distribution are all career government employees and “there is really just total continuity that would occur.”
The Biden campaign has raised concerns that President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede defeat will only add to the suffering as the coronavirus spreads in many parts of the country.
Azar says HHS cannot begin the transition process until allowed by an obscure agency called the General Services Administration, headed by a Trump appointee.
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RICHMOND, Va. - Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday urged Virginians to stay home for the Thanksgiving holiday, saying it would be “an act of love” to help keep people safe amid steadily rising coronavirus cases.
If people must get together, Northam said, they should keep gatherings small and celebrate outside.
The Democratic governor’s comments come a few days after he announced substantial new statewide restrictions on gatherings and certain businesses in an effort to slow rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
The state’s cap on gatherings will be reduced from 250 people to 25, the mask requirement will be applied to younger children, the number of spectators allowed at athletic events will be reduced, and alcohol sales will be prohibited at dining and drinking establishments after 10 p.m.
In Virginia, case counts have been increasing with particular intensity in the state’s southwest, where cases were sparse early in the pandemic.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In western Tennessee, The Jackson Sun newspaper reported that a key hospital in Madison County was no longer accepting patient transfers due to a rise in coronavirus patients.
Calling it a “sobering day,” West Tennessee Healthcare CEO James Ross said the hospital, which serves as the health care hub for the region, typically accepts 50 to 60 ambulance transfers outside of the county a day.
As of Wednesday, the hospital had reported 573 patients, approaching its maximum 642-bed capacity. More than 100 patients are being treated for COVID-19.
Tennessee has seen just over 4,000 COVID-19 related deaths to date, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. That death count is the 19th highest in the country overall and the 27th highest per capita at 59.0 deaths per 100,000 people.
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NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city will close schools to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The mayor and the Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza say the nation’s largest public school system will temporarily halt in-person learning Thursday.
The city has said schools would close if the coronavirus positivity rate reached 3% citywide over a seven-day period. As the rate neared that point last week, de Blasio advised parents to prepare for a possible shutdown within days.
The city’s more than 1 million public school students will be taught entirely online. As of the end of October, only about 25% of students had gone to class in school this fall, far fewer than officials had expected.
Even as the school system stayed open, nearly 1,500 classrooms went through temporary closures after students or staffers tested positive. Officials began instituting local shutdowns in neighborhoods where coronavirus cases were rapidly rising.
More than 2,300 students or staff at public schools had tested positive since the start of the school year.
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BATON ROUGE, La. - Louisiana has surpassed 200,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The Louisiana Department of Health added another 8,900 cases on Wednesday, pushing the confirmed total to nearly 201,000.
Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards cautions the current trajectory of cases raises the risk that hospitals could become overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
There have been more than 5,900 confirmed deaths from the virus.
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AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan has reported 7,933 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest daily amount since the start of the pandemic.
The numbers were pushed higher by an outbreak at a garment factory in southern Jordan, where 1,623 foreign workers tested positive for the virus.
Health Minister Nathir Obeidat says a “procedure was taken to isolate the factory.”
Jordan has reported a total of 163,926 confirmed cases. Obeidat says 60 more people have died, raising the confirmed death toll to 1,969.
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MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz plans to announce new coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday.
The plan will shut down indoor dining at bars and restaurants, close gyms and fitness centers, and put organized youth sports on hold for four weeks. Bars and restaurants will still be allowed to offer takeout, according to a person with knowledge of the governor’s plan. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak ahead of the governor’s Wednesday night announcement.
In a call with reporters Tuesday, Walz said the state is trying to ease the strain on hospitals. He said restrictions would be targeted and based on data.
There were 1,423 new cases per 100,000 people in Minnesota over the past two weeks, putting Minnesota seventh in the country for cases per capita. One in every 119 people in Minnesota tested positive in the past week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
There were 5,102 cases reported in Minnesota on Wednesday, along with 67 deaths. The state totals stand at more than 242,000 cases and 3,010 confirmed deaths.
- By Doug Glass
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NEW YORK - Vaccine maker Pfizer says it’s already in regular communication with the president-elect Joe Biden’s transition team as part of ongoing efforts to keep all interested parties updated on its coronavirus vaccine and its distribution.
“There is no room for politics in this process,” said Pfizer spokeswoman Sharon Castillo.
Last Sunday, Biden chief of staff Ron Klain said the transition team planned to meet with Pfizer and other vaccine makers, as President Donald Trump continues to stall the formal transition process to a new administration.
Castillo said Pfizer maintains ongoing communication with the Trump administration, state governors, and leading lawmakers of both parties in Congress. The Biden team is part of that effort.
“We’re in the middle of a transition and we’re communicating with both sides,” she said.
There’s no word yet on a formal meeting between Biden and the pharmaceutical chiefs.
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NEW YORK - Vaccine maker Pfizer says it’s already in regular communication with the president-elect Joe Biden’s transition team as part of ongoing efforts to keep all interested parties updated on its coronavirus vaccine and its distribution.
“There is no room for politics in this process,” said Pfizer spokeswoman Sharon Castillo.
Last Sunday, Biden chief of staff Ron Klain said the transition team planned to meet with Pfizer and other vaccine makers, as President Donald Trump continues to stall the formal transition process to a new administration.
Castillo said Pfizer maintains ongoing communication with the Trump administration, state governors, and leading lawmakers of both parties in Congress. The Biden team is part of that effort.
“We’re in the middle of a transition and we’re communicating with both sides,” she said.
There’s no word yet on a formal meeting between Biden and the pharmaceutical chiefs.
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The largest group representing South Dakota doctors is supporting a statewide mask mandate as several cities have moved to require masks in public.
The South Dakota State Medical Association has been urging people to voluntarily wear masks but updated its stance to “strongly support” a statewide mandate.
South Dakota is second in the nation in new cases per capita over the last two weeks.
There were 2,089 new cases per 100,000 people, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That’s roughly one out of 48 people in South Dakota testing positive in the last two weeks.
Republican Gov. Kristi Noem has opposed statewide mask mandates, arguing they have not been proven to halt the spread of infections. She plans to give an update on the state’s coronavirus status later Wednesday.
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washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Maine's "Christmas Prelude" event scaled back due to virus

KENNEBUNKPORT , Maine ( AP ) - One of southern Maine ’ s signature holiday events will be scaled back @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
The “ Christmas Prelude ” event often draws visitors from around the @ @ @ @ @ merriment .
Organizers said in a statement the event ’ s 39th year has been @ @ @ @ @ eye toward safety during the coronavirus pandemic .
This year ’ s Prelude will focus @ @ @ @ @ said Kennebunkport Business Association President Paul Humphrey .
That includes all of the Prelude ’ @ @ @ @ @ as the Dock Square and Cape Porpoise tree lightings , caroling at the monastery and @ @ @ @ @ boat , organizers said .
Organizers said some activities will take place in person and @ @ @ @ @ the guidelines set by state public health authorities .
Maine Center for Disease Control and @ @ @ @ @ said it ’ s important for residents to be selective and cautious about group events @ @ @ @ @ the recent growth of coronavirus cases in the state .

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Maine’s minor league hockey team is going to skip the upcoming season along with all the other franchises in its division.
The Maine Mariners and the other five members of the ECHL North Division said Wednesday they are suspending the 2020-21 season and planning to return in 2021-22. The Mariners play in Portland, the largest city in a state in which ice hockey is a longstanding winter tradition.
“With the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, the increasing rates in our region, and after consulting with local officials, we did not see a clear path toward hosting fans at Mariners games,” said Danny Briere, vice president of hockey operations for the Maine Mariners. “We want to thank our fans for their passion and loyalty as we continue to navigate returning to the ice.”
The other teams in the division are the Adirondack Thunder, Brampton Beast, Newfoundland Growlers, Reading Royals and Worcester Railers.
In other pandemic-related developments:
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HOSPITAL SAFETY
Maine’s largest hospital is putting in place new visitation restrictions in response to a surge in COVID-19 in the state.
The number of visitors and the length of visitation hours were being reduced effective Wednesday in most parts of Maine Medical Center. But visitation is not changing for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, pediatrics or obstetrics, officials said.
“We understand that support from families is an important piece of healing for our patients,” said MMC President Jeff Sanders. “Our goal is to balance that need for family connection with the importance of reducing density in the hospital to keep all of our patients and care team members safe.”
The hospital continues to screen all health care providers, patients and visitors for COVID-19, to require universal masking and to encourage social distancing and hand-washing.
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THE NUMBERS
The Maine Center for Disease Control reported four deaths and more than 150 additional infections on Wednesday.
It’s the second time in little more than a week that four deaths have been recorded in a single day. The seven-day average for daily cases is now above 190, the highest to date.
In all, there have been more than 9,500 virus cases and 170 deaths since the pandemic began, the Maine CDC said.
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HOLIDAY PRECAUTIONS
Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Wednesday that residents of the state should be judicious about holiday gatherings and other trips because cases of coronavirus are rising in the state. She said Maine families should avoid large in-person holiday celebrations unless they are completely necessary.
“I’m very concerned about this alarming increase especially as we enter the holiday season,” Mills said. “I don’t want COVID-19 to be the uninvited guest in our home.”
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CHRISTMAS PRELUDE
One of southern Maine’s holiday events will be scaled back this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The “Christmas Prelude” event often draws visitors from around the country to Kennebunkport for Yuletide merriment. Organizers said in a statement the event’s 39th year has been “reimagined” with an eye toward safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
This year’s Prelude will focus on prerecorded virtual programming, said Kennebunkport Business Association President Paul Humphrey.
That includes all of the Prelude’s beloved events, such as the Dock Square and Cape Porpoise tree lightings, caroling at the monastery and Santa Claus arriving by lobster boat, organizers said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Prosecutors want 2017 arrest of teen in Floyd death trial

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Prosecutors in the upcoming trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd want to introduce evidence of a 2017 arrest in which they say the officer held his knee on the back of a 14-year-old boy and ignored his pleas that he couldn ’ t breathe .
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank , in a memorandum filed in Hennepin County District Court , said the body camera video that captured the boy ’ s arrest shows that Derek Chauvin uses unreasonable force when dealing with a suspect who does not immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tribune reported .
“ As was true with the conduct with George Floyd , Chauvin rapidly escalated his use of force for a relatively minor offense , ” Frank wrote in the filing .
“ Just like with Floyd , Chauvin used an unreasonable amount of force without regard for the need for that level of force or the victim ’ s well-being.
” Chauvin ’ s attorney , Eric Nelson , argued that the force used in the 2017 arrest was in keeping with department ’ s then-policy on dealing with uncooperative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was handcuffed , died in May after Chauvin , who is white , pressed his knee against Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes while Floyd said he couldn ’ t breathe .
His death sparked a renewed sense of outrage over the deaths of Black people at the hands of police and sparked mass demonstrations .
In the 2017 arrest , the 14-year-old was slow to comply with Chauvin and another officer ’ s instructions , so Chauvin grabbed the child by the throat , forced him to the ground and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s neck before placing him in a prone position with a knee in his back , prosecutors said .
The boy told Chauvin “ he could not breathe .
And just like with Floyd , Chauvin ignored those pleas and refused to provide medical assistance , ” Frank wrote .
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill has yet to rule on Monday ’ s memorandum .
Chauvin and his co-defendants , Thomas Lane , J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao , were all fired the day after Floyd ’ s death .
Chauvin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges , while the other three former officers are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter .
The four former officers are expected to stand trial in state court in March .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Prosecutors in the upcoming trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd want to introduce evidence of a 2017 arrest in which they say the officer held his knee on the back of a 14-year-old boy and ignored his pleas that he couldn’t breathe.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank, in a memorandum filed in Hennepin County District Court, said the body camera video that captured the boy’s arrest shows that Derek Chauvin uses unreasonable force when dealing with a suspect who does not immediate comply with his orders, the Star Tribune reported.
“As was true with the conduct with George Floyd, Chauvin rapidly escalated his use of force for a relatively minor offense,” Frank wrote in the filing. “Just like with Floyd, Chauvin used an unreasonable amount of force without regard for the need for that level of force or the victim’s well-being.”
Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, argued that the force used in the 2017 arrest was in keeping with department’s then-policy on dealing with uncooperative suspects.
Floyd, a Black man who was handcuffed, died in May after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for several minutes while Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. His death sparked a renewed sense of outrage over the deaths of Black people at the hands of police and sparked mass demonstrations.
In the 2017 arrest, the 14-year-old was slow to comply with Chauvin and another officer’s instructions, so Chauvin grabbed the child by the throat, forced him to the ground and put his knee on the boy’s neck before placing him in a prone position with a knee in his back, prosecutors said.
The boy told Chauvin “he could not breathe. And just like with Floyd, Chauvin ignored those pleas and refused to provide medical assistance,” Frank wrote.
Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill has yet to rule on Monday’s memorandum.
Chauvin and his co-defendants, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, were all fired the day after Floyd’s death. Chauvin is facing second-degree unintentional murder and manslaughter charges, while the other three former officers are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter.
The four former officers are expected to stand trial in state court in March.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Europe has half of world's 4M new virus cases but sees hope

GENEVA ( AP ) - Europe made up almost half of the world ’ s 4 million new coronavirus cases last week but recorded a nearly 10 % fall in infections compared to the week before , thanks in part to strict government lockdown measures that have fanned some discontent , the World Health Organization reported Wednesday .
In the German capital of Berlin , violent clashes between those protesting coronavirus restrictions and police erupted Wednesday near the center of the city after protesters disregarded police advice to wear masks and social distance .
The latest weekly tally from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 54-nation European region continued to report most new cases worldwide - 46 % - but the decline in cases followed “ the strengthening of public health and social measures ” in the region .
But as new cases fell , though , the tally of deaths rose “ substantially ” in Europe over the last week to more than 29,000 reported virus deaths .
WHO said .
WHO ’ s Americas region saw a 41 % increase in new cases , suggesting that a higher weekly death toll could soon follow there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw a drop in cases and deaths .
In Europe , WHO said the sharpest rise in coronavirus cases was in Austria , which saw a 30 % increase in new cases compared to the previous week .
WHO also noted the U.K. was the first country in the region to record more than 50,000 deaths .
Pockets of Western Europe have shown signs of turning a corner , particularly in the lowlands near the English Channel .
Belgium said Wednesday it had taken a major step in containing the resurgence of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily death count for the first time since the latest COVID-19 wave hit the continent this autumn .
Virologist Steven Van Gucht , from the government ’ s Sciensano health group , said the daily average of deaths in the country now stood at 185 people , a 5 % decrease compared to the average a week ago .
Over the last week , the daily average of hospital admissions dropped 24 % and new infections fell 39 % .
Officials in the Netherlands , to the north , were easing coronavirus restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poised to reopen public venues like cinemas , museums , libraries , zoos and swimming pools - still with limitations on how many people can visit - after a two-week closure .
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte hailed a “ positive ” downward trend but said cases counts were still too high .
He warned the country to remain on a partial lockdown .
In mid-October , Dutch rates of infections were among the worst in Europe .
Meanwhile , some people in Germany were growing increasingly restive about increasing lockdown measures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday at demonstrators and carried away some who were protesting coronavirus restrictions near the famed Brandenburg Gate and the seat of the federal government .
The melee erupted after crowds ignored calls to wear masks and keep their distance from one another in line with pandemic rules .
It came as German lawmakers were debating a bill that could provide the legal groundwork for the government to issue social distancing rules , require masks in public and close stores and other venues to slow the spread of the virus .
Most people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vocal minority has staged regular rallies arguing that the restrictions violate the constitution .
“ We want our lives back , ” read one sign carried by protesters in Berlin .
Germany was praised for its handling of the first wave of the virus , but like many parts of Europe has seen a sharp uptick in new infections in recent weeks .
Overall the country has seen 833,000 coronavirus cases and more than 13,000 virus-confirmed deaths , a death toll one-fourth that of Britain ’ s .
Maria Cheng in London , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Berlin , and Mike Corder in The Hague , Netherlands , contributed to this report .

GENEVA (AP) - Europe made up almost half of the world’s 4 million new coronavirus cases last week but recorded a nearly 10% fall in infections compared to the week before, thanks in part to strict government lockdown measures that have fanned some discontent, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday.
In the German capital of Berlin, violent clashes between those protesting coronavirus restrictions and police erupted Wednesday near the city center after protesters disregarded police advice to wear masks and social distance.
The latest weekly tally from the U.N. health agency found its 54-nation European region continued to report most new cases of any region worldwide - 46% - but its decline in cases followed “the strengthening of public health and social measures.” But as new cases fell, the tally of virus deaths still rose “substantially” in Europe over the last week to more than 29,000 new deaths, WHO said.
WHO’s Americas region saw a 41% increase in new cases, suggesting that a higher weekly death toll could soon follow there. Southeast Asia was the only region that saw a drop in cases and deaths.
In Europe, WHO said the sharpest rise in coronavirus cases was in Austria, which saw a 30% increase in new cases compared to the previous week. WHO also noted the U.K. was the first country in the region to record more than 50,000 deaths.
Pockets of Western Europe have shown signs of turning a corner, particularly in the lowlands near the English Channel.
Belgium said Wednesday it had taken a major step in containing the resurgence of the coronavirus, reporting a drop in the daily death count for the first time since the latest COVID-19 wave hit this autumn.
Virologist Steven Van Gucht, from the government’s Sciensano health group, said Belgium’s daily average of virus deaths now stood at 185, a 5% decrease compared to the average a week ago. Over the last week, the daily average of hospital admissions dropped 24% and new infections fell 39%.
Officials in the Netherlands, to the north, were easing coronavirus restrictions amid falling infection rates, and were poised to reopen venues like cinemas, museums, libraries, zoos and swimming pools - still with limitations on how many people can visit - after a two-week closure.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte hailed a “positive” downward trend but said case counts were still too high. He warned the country to remain on a partial lockdown. In mid-October, Dutch rates of infection were among the worst in Europe.
Switzerland, which has registered some of the highest transmission rates in the world in recent weeks, on Wednesday stepped up government support to help people affected by the virus and by lockdown measures - including a extra 1 billion Swiss francs in state aid - even as case counts eased back from recent peaks.
The Alpine country counted over 6,000 new cases over the last day, down from a peak of more than 10,000 daily cases in October. Economic Affairs Minister Guy Parmelin cited a “more optimistic horizon” in Switzerland on Wednesday.
Regional officials in Geneva noted a “plateau” in positive COVID-19 tests in recent days and on Wednesday eased some restrictions on hairdressers, tattoo parlors, therapists and personal trainers, among others.
Meanwhile, some people in Germany were growing increasingly restive about the prospect of increased lockdown measures.
In Berlin, police fired water cannons Wednesday at demonstrators and carried away some who were protesting coronavirus restrictions near the famed Brandenburg Gate and the seat of the federal government. The melee erupted after crowds ignored calls to wear masks and keep their distance from one another in line with pandemic rules.
It came as German lawmakers were debating a bill that could provide the legal groundwork for the government to issue social distancing rules, require masks in public and close stores and other venues to slow the spread of the virus. Most people in Germany support such rules, but a vocal minority has staged regular rallies arguing that the restrictions violate the constitution.
“We want our lives back,” read one sign carried by protesters in Berlin.
Germany was praised for its handling of the first wave of the virus, but like many parts of Europe has seen a sharp uptick in new infections in recent weeks. Overall the country has seen 833,000 coronavirus cases and more than 13,000 virus-confirmed deaths, a death toll one-fourth that of Britain’s.
Europe has seen over 338,000 confirmed virus deaths in the pandemic, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
___
Maria Cheng in London, Raf Casert in Brussels, David Rising in Berlin, and Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands, contributed to this report.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Half of Republicans think Trump 'rightfully won' the election: poll

About half of Republicans said they think President Trump “ rightfully won ” the 2020 election on the belief that state vote counters put their thumb on the scale for presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden , according to polling released Wednesday .
Nearly three-quarters of overall respondents - 73 % - said they agreed that Mr. Biden won the election , compared to 5 % who said they think Mr. Trump won , according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll .
But 52 % of Republicans said they think Mr. Trump “ rightfully won , ” compared to 29 % who said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-thirds of GOP respondents said they were concerned the election was “ rigged ” - a phrase repeatedly employed by Mr. Trump as he challenges the results - compared to 16 % of Democrats and one-third of independents who said the same .
Fifty-five percent of U.S. adults said they think the Nov. 3 presidential election was “ legitimate and accurate , ” down 7 points from a poll taken shortly after the 2016 election .
Multiple media outlets projected Mr. Biden as the winner on Nov. 7 , though many states still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat holds a projected 306-232 lead over Mr. Trump in the Electoral College and leads the president by more than 5.7 million votes in the national popular vote , according to unofficial results .
It takes 270 electoral votes to clinch the presidency .
Mr. Trump ’ s team has generally come up empty in the various legal challenges they ’ ve filed in close states like Nevada , Arizona , Pennsylvania , and Georgia.Mr .
Trump has not taken public questions from the press about the results since Election Day .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 13-17 and has a “ credibility interval ” of 5 percentage points .

About half of Republicans said they think President Trump “rightfully won” the 2020 election on the belief that state vote counters put their thumb on the scale for presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden, according to polling released Wednesday.
Nearly three-quarters of overall respondents - 73% - said they agreed that Mr. Biden won the election, compared to 5% who said they think Mr. Trump won, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll.
But 52% of Republicans said they think Mr. Trump “rightfully won,” compared to 29% who said the same for Mr. Biden.
About two-thirds of GOP respondents said they were concerned the election was “rigged” - a phrase repeatedly employed by Mr. Trump as he challenges the results - compared to 16% of Democrats and one-third of independents who said the same.
Fifty-five percent of U.S. adults said they think the Nov. 3 presidential election was “legitimate and accurate,” down 7 points from a poll taken shortly after the 2016 election.
Multiple media outlets projected Mr. Biden as the winner on Nov. 7, though many states still need to certify their results.
The Democrat holds a projected 306-232 lead over Mr. Trump in the Electoral College and leads the president by more than 5.7 million votes in the national popular vote, according to unofficial results. It takes 270 electoral votes to clinch the presidency.
Mr. Trump’s team has generally come up empty in the various legal challenges they’ve filed in close states like Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.Mr. Trump has not taken public questions from the press about the results since Election Day.
The survey of 1,346 respondents was taken from Nov. 13-17 and has a “credibility interval” of 5 percentage points.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Deputy convicted of menacing involving former girlfriend

OREGON CITY , Ore. ( AP ) - A Clackamas County Sheriff ’ s Office deputy pleaded guilty this month to a misdemeanor menacing charge in connection with domestic violence charges involving his former girlfriend .
Brandon Kearns , 36 , was initially charged with strangulation and harassment in connection with a Jan. 15 , 2019 , incident .
He was sentenced to 24 months of probation on the menacing charge .
John Wentworth , a chief deputy district attorney in Clackamas County and the incoming district attorney , said Tuesday that his office consulted with the victim and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Clackamas County case with nothing and decided making a criminal record of Mr. Kearns ’ behavior with a meaningful charge was the most important outcome.
” The case was one of two Kearns faced in connection with the same victim , who also worked for the Sheriff ’ s Office .
In May 2019 , Kearns was accused by Las Vegas authorities of domestic battery by strangulation and domestic battery .
In that case , Kearns was convicted of disorderly conduct and violating a restraining order , and received a suspended jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to a Clackamas County Sheriff ’ s Office report , the woman said he assaulted her in her Oregon City home .
She also told the investigators she met Kearns in Las Vegas where he allegedly grabbed her arm , causing “ a large bruise.
” According to court records , the next day , he hit and strangled her .
She sought medical treatment and was diagnosed with bruised vocal cords , according to court records .
Kearns , who started with the agency in 2008 , was placed on unpaid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
Sheriff ’ s Office spokesman Sgt .
Marcus Mendoza said Kearns has resigned .
Kearns on Tuesday told The Oregonian/OregonLive that “ the incidents that were alleged weren ’ t 100 % accurate.
” He said the Sheriff ’ s Office should have handed off the criminal investigation of one of its own to an outside agency .
According to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards & Training website , Kearns ’ state law enforcement certification remains active .

OREGON CITY, Ore. (AP) - A Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office deputy pleaded guilty this month to a misdemeanor menacing charge in connection with domestic violence charges involving his former girlfriend.
Brandon Kearns, 36, was initially charged with strangulation and harassment in connection with a Jan. 15, 2019, incident. He was sentenced to 24 months of probation on the menacing charge.
John Wentworth, a chief deputy district attorney in Clackamas County and the incoming district attorney, said Tuesday that his office consulted with the victim and “weighed the risks of coming away from the Clackamas County case with nothing and decided making a criminal record of Mr. Kearns’ behavior with a meaningful charge was the most important outcome.”
The case was one of two Kearns faced in connection with the same victim, who also worked for the Sheriff’s Office.
In May 2019, Kearns was accused by Las Vegas authorities of domestic battery by strangulation and domestic battery. In that case, Kearns was convicted of disorderly conduct and violating a restraining order, and received a suspended jail sentence, according to court records.
According to a Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office report, the woman said he assaulted her in her Oregon City home. She also told the investigators she met Kearns in Las Vegas where he allegedly grabbed her arm, causing “a large bruise.”
According to court records, the next day, he hit and strangled her. She sought medical treatment and was diagnosed with bruised vocal cords, according to court records.
Kearns, who started with the agency in 2008, was placed on unpaid administrative leave after he was indicted in 2019. Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Marcus Mendoza said Kearns has resigned.
Kearns on Tuesday told The Oregonian/OregonLive that “the incidents that were alleged weren’t 100% accurate.” He said the Sheriff’s Office should have handed off the criminal investigation of one of its own to an outside agency.
According to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards & Training website, Kearns’ state law enforcement certification remains active.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Homes sales soar on North Carolina's Outer Banks

NAGS HEAD , N.C. ( AP ) - Home sales on North Carolina ’ s Outer Banks are booming in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and low interest rates .
The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that homes and lot sales from Corolla to Ocracoke reached $ 1.18 billion through October .
That ’ s the most since the all-time record of $ 1.5 billion set in 2005 , according to Dan Sutherland , director of multiple listing services for the Outer Banks Association of Realtors .
Sutherland said that nearly 1,000 properties valued at $ 435 million are under contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s end .
He also said that sales will likely pass $ 1.6 billion and set a new record .
Officials had closed access to the Outer Banks in March when the virus spread .
It reopened in May , and thousands of tourists flocked to the open spaces of the Outer Banks .
More people are also working from home , and they realized they did not need to live in high-tax , high-traffic cities , said Willo Kelly , chief executive officer of the association .
She added that a slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep interest rates below 3 % .
That also boosts home sales .

NAGS HEAD, N.C. (AP) - Home sales on North Carolina’s Outer Banks are booming in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and low interest rates.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that homes and lot sales from Corolla to Ocracoke reached $1.18 billion through October.
That’s the most since the all-time record of $1.5 billion set in 2005, according to Dan Sutherland, director of multiple listing services for the Outer Banks Association of Realtors.
Sutherland said that nearly 1,000 properties valued at $435 million are under contract and expected to close by year’s end. He also said that sales will likely pass $1.6 billion and set a new record.
Officials had closed access to the Outer Banks in March when the virus spread. It reopened in May, and thousands of tourists flocked to the open spaces of the Outer Banks.
More people are also working from home, and they realized they did not need to live in high-tax, high-traffic cities, said Willo Kelly, chief executive officer of the association.
She added that a slow economy during the pandemic has helped to keep interest rates below 3%. That also boosts home sales.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Five Marinette County deputies cleared in fatal shooting

MARINETTE , Wis. ( AP ) - Five Marinette County deputies involved in fatally shooting a suspect last month have @ @ @ @ @ Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow says the deputies ’ use of deadly force was @ @ @ @ @ evidence shows they acted appropriately .
According to Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation reports and @ @ @ @ @ received a call from a man who told dispatchers he had just killed his best @ @ @ @ @ , WLUK-TV reported .
The man also made threats to shoot police if they came @ @ @ @ @ home in Goodman where the man was seen with a gun in his hand .
@ @ @ @ @ in his vehicle and was pursued by deputies .
Shortly after , the suspect stopped @ @ @ @ @ and and pointed his gun at deputies just before he was shot , according to @ @ @ @ @ identified as John Lipski of the Milwaukee area , died from the gunshot wounds .
@ @ @ @ @ male , identified as Richard Gibbs , in the Goodman home .

MARINETTE, Wis. (AP) - Five Marinette County deputies involved in fatally shooting a suspect last month have been cleared by prosecutors.
Marinette County District Attorney DeShea Morrow says the deputies’ use of deadly force was justified under the circumstances and evidence shows they acted appropriately.
According to Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation reports and statements, Marinette County dispatch received a call from a man who told dispatchers he had just killed his best friend and wanted to die, WLUK-TV reported.
The man also made threats to shoot police if they came. Deputies arrived at a home in Goodman where the man was seen with a gun in his hand. The suspect left the house in his vehicle and was pursued by deputies.
Shortly after, the suspect stopped the vehicle, got out and and pointed his gun at deputies just before he was shot, according to investigators.
The suspect, identified as John Lipski of the Milwaukee area, died from the gunshot wounds.
Deputies also found a deceased male, identified as Richard Gibbs, in the Goodman home.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Iraqi FM condemns Baghdad rocket attack as 'terrorist act'

BAGHDAD ( AP ) - Iraq ’ s foreign minister Wednesday condemned a rocket attack in the capital a day earlier , calling it a “ terrorist act , ” and said combat operations by the U.S.-led coalition will cease once troop withdrawals take place in the coming weeks .
Fuad Hussein ’ s comments came hours after seven rockets struck Baghdad , four of them exploding inside the heavily fortified Green Zone , the seat of Iraq ’ s government and home to the U.S. Embassy .
The rockets , which killed a child and wounded five other civilians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truce announced by Iran-backed militias in October to halt attacks targeting the U.S. presence in Iraq .
One rocket landed just 600 meters ( 2,000 feet ) from the U.S. Embassy compound , Iraqi security officials said .
U.S. troops invaded Iraq in 2003 and left in 2011 but returned in 2014 after the Islamic State group overran large parts of Iraq .
Frequent attacks targeting the U.S. Embassy and vehicles transporting equipment for U.S. troops have led Washington to threaten to close its Baghdad diplomatic mission .
Hussein called the attack against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and terrorist ” in comments to reporters following a meeting with the U.S. ambassador and U.S. military leaders .
“ It is an attack on the Iraqi government and Iraqi people and we condemn such operations , ” Hussein said .
The Pentagon this week announced a reduction of troops in Iraq from 3,000 to 2,500 .
Hussein said that following the departure of the 500 personnel , coalition combat operations against the Islamic State group would officially end .
The number of coalition troops had already been reduced from 5,200 to 3,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several Iraqi military bases .
No one claimed responsibility for Tuesday ’ s attack but the U.S. has directly accused Iran-backed Shiite militias for past attacks on its interests in Iraq .
Iraqi officials questioned the timing of Tuesday ’ s attack .
The militias had conditioned their truce on a scheduled withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops in line with a non-binding resolution in Parliament passed in January .
That resolution was passed by predominantly Shiite lawmakers when Iraq-U.S. tensions soared following the Washington-directed strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani outside Baghdad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group the U.S. believes has launched rocket attacks in the past , denied responsibility for Tuesday ’ s barrage .
One official from the group told The Associated Press it was a “ mistake ” and said the group wants to see a “ full withdrawal , not a partial one ” of U.S. troops .
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to brief media .
Remnants of IS are still active in northern Iraq and continue to target security forces in the provinces of Diyala and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the U.S. drawdown announcement , Hussein said : “ Our dialogue is ongoing and we are following the situation and political changes in the U.S. , and there are ongoing meetings to assess the coming stage .
”

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq’s foreign minister Wednesday condemned a rocket attack in the capital a day earlier, calling it a “terrorist act,” and said combat operations by the U.S.-led coalition will cease once troop withdrawals take place in the coming weeks.
Fuad Hussein’s comments came hours after seven rockets struck Baghdad, four of them exploding inside the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq’s government and home to the U.S. Embassy.
The rockets, which killed a child and wounded five other civilians, indicated an end to an informal truce announced by Iran-backed militias in October to halt attacks targeting the U.S. presence in Iraq.
One rocket landed just 600 meters (2,000 feet) from the U.S. Embassy compound, Iraqi security officials said.
U.S. troops invaded Iraq in 2003 and left in 2011 but returned in 2014 after the Islamic State group overran large parts of Iraq.
Frequent attacks targeting the U.S. Embassy and vehicles transporting equipment for U.S. troops have led Washington to threaten to close its Baghdad diplomatic mission.
Hussein called the attack against the Green Zone “blatant, criminal and terrorist” in comments to reporters following a meeting with the U.S. ambassador and U.S. military leaders. “It is an attack on the Iraqi government and Iraqi people and we condemn such operations,” Hussein said.
The Pentagon this week announced a reduction of troops in Iraq from 3,000 to 2,500. Hussein said that following the departure of the 500 personnel, coalition combat operations against the Islamic State group would officially end.
The number of coalition troops had already been reduced from 5,200 to 3,000 in line with a planned drawdown from several Iraqi military bases.
No one claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack but the U.S. has directly accused Iran-backed Shiite militias for past attacks on its interests in Iraq.
Iraqi officials questioned the timing of Tuesday’s attack. The militias had conditioned their truce on a scheduled withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops in line with a non-binding resolution in Parliament passed in January. That resolution was passed by predominantly Shiite lawmakers when Iraq-U.S. tensions soared following the Washington-directed strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani outside Baghdad airport.
Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group the U.S. believes has launched rocket attacks in the past, denied responsibility for Tuesday’s barrage. One official from the group told The Associated Press it was a “mistake” and said the group wants to see a “full withdrawal, not a partial one” of U.S. troops.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to brief media.
Remnants of IS are still active in northern Iraq and continue to target security forces in the provinces of Diyala and Kirkuk.
Asked if he was concerned about the U.S. drawdown announcement, Hussein said: “Our dialogue is ongoing and we are following the situation and political changes in the U.S., and there are ongoing meetings to assess the coming stage.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Officials: Tulalip fishing boat capsized near Everett

EVERETT , Wash. ( AP ) - There are reports that a rogue wave caused a Tulalip Fisheries boat to @ @ @ @ @ to the Everett Fire Department .
Reports say the Tulalip Fisheries boat was providing assistance @ @ @ @ @ took on a rogue wave and overturned , according to KING5 News .
Just before @ @ @ @ @ person was rescued alive and was transported to Tulalip Bay for care .
That person @ @ @ @ @ .
Crews were still searching for any other possible victims .
The status of the @ @ @ @ @ The fire department said Navy Everett has radio contact with the Tulalip boat .
The @ @ @ @ @ search with one of their vessels and a helicopter .
Heavy rain and high winds @ @ @ @ @ making the water around coastal areas rough .

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) - A Tulalip Fish and Wildlife police officer is missing and presumed dead after a rogue wave hit a patrol vessel, causing it to capsize, Tulalip police said Wednesday.
Officer Shawn Edge, the boat’s captain, and Officer Charlie Cortez had followed another boat into the Everett Marina on Tuesday night to ensure it returned safely and were heading to the Tulalip Bay Marina when the 24-foot (7.3 meters) vessel was hit by a wave and capsized, police said in a press release.
Both men were thrown into the water. Officer Edge was located and rescued near Hat Island by a Tulalip Tribal fisherman. He’s recovering in the hospital, police said.
Officer Cortez was still missing on Wednesday and presumed dead. He’s the first Tulalip police officer to die in the line of duty, police said.
“As our search and rescue effort transitions to a search and recovery, we are heartbroken,” said Tulalip Chairwoman Teri Gobin. “Our people are connected to the water and we know what we risk when we go out. Today we lost a good man, a father, brother and son,.”
“Our hands go up to the many fishermen and rescue workers who answered the call to find our missing officer. In the face of tragedy, our community came together and we will continue to come together as we take care of his family.”
Tulalip Police Chief Chris Sutter said the department is devastated by this loss. He said the search would continue until their missing officer is brought home.
Heavy rain and high winds hit Washington on Tuesday, making the water around coastal areas rough.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Raimondo: More coronavirus restrictions coming for holidays

PROVIDENCE , R.I. ( AP ) - It will be nearly impossible for Rhode Island to make it through the remainder of the year without additional restrictions to help control the spread of the coronavirus , Gov .
Gina Raimondo says .
“ It ’ s safe to say that there are going to have to be some changes in order for us to safely make it through the holidays , ” the Democratic governor told WPRI-TV on Tuesday .
Her biggest concern is shutting down businesses again , something she doesn ’ t want to do .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid that or put it off as long as possible , but I may not have an option given the trend that we are on , ” she said .
She also welcomed the news that Rhode Island is one of four states partnering with Pfizer for its U.S. COVID-19 Immunization Pilot Program .
She said she reached out to Pfizer and asked if Rhode Island could be part of the program .
“ There ’ s a ton of planning that goes into the process of getting everybody vaccinated , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a leg up on that planning because we are starting to work closely with the company already , ” she said .

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - It will be nearly impossible for Rhode Island to make it through the rest of the year without additional restrictions to help control the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Gina Raimondo said.
“It’s safe to say that there are going to have to be some changes in order for us to safely make it through the holidays,” the Democratic governor told WPRI-TV on Tuesday.
Her biggest concern is shutting down businesses again, something she doesn’t want to do.
“I am going to do everything I can to avoid that or put it off as long as possible, but I may not have an option given the trend that we are on,” she said.
She also welcomed the news that Rhode Island is one of four states partnering with Pfizer for its U.S. COVID-19 Immunization Pilot Program.
She said she reached out to Pfizer and asked if Rhode Island could be part of the program.
“There’s a ton of planning that goes into the process of getting everybody vaccinated, so it means we have a bit of a leg up on that planning because we are starting to work closely with the company already,” she said.
___
SCHOOL TESTING
Rhode Island is planning a coronavirus testing system for teachers, students and families who are not showing symptoms, state officials said.
The partnership between the state Department of Education and Department of Health will be rolled out in three pilot communities at first - Providence, Central Falls and Lincoln, The Providence Journal reported.
The results will provide guidance for a statewide testing program to be launched next year, state Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said Tuesday during meeting of the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education.
The program is still in its planning stages, and further details about testing locations and dates will be announced at a later date, said Emily Crowell, a spokesperson for the commissioner.
___
DAILY RECORD
A single-day record of 1,280 Rhode Island residents tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, the state Department of Health said Wednesday.
The new confirmed cases were out of more than 18,400 tests administered, a daily positive rate of 7%.
The seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Rhode Island has now risen over the past two weeks from 3.35% on Nov. 3 to 5.83% on Tuesday.
State health departments are calculating positivity rate differently across the country, but for Rhode Island the AP calculates the rate by dividing new cases by test encounters using data from The COVID Tracking Project.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Rhode Island also soared over the past two weeks from almost 443 on Nov. 3 to nearly 819 on Tuesday.
The health department said there were 284 patients in the hospital with COVID-19 as of Monday, the latest day for which the information was available, up from 265 the previous day and the highest number of hospitalized patients since May 13.
The state also reported six new deaths for a total of 1,284 fatalities.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Police: Weed killer used to write "Trump" on Delaware lawn

LEWES , Del .
( AP ) - Police in Delaware are investigating after weed killer was apparently used to write the word “ Trump ” on a front lawn that has had signs supporting Joe Biden and the Black Lives Matter movement .
The Delaware State News reports that the incident was reported Friday in the city of Lewes .
Charlotte King and Aimee Wiest live at the home .
They said they had a poster supporting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris outside the home until shortly after the election .
They also have a Black Lives Matter flag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the case is not being investigated as a hate crime .
But King said it is “ today ’ s version of a cross-burning.
” King chairs the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice .
She said the incident has prompted many in the state to reach out in support .
The office of Attorney General Kathy Jennings said it ’ s coordinating with law enforcement and will “ proceed appropriately after a full investigation is complete.
” The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice said a webinar is scheduled for Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Sussex County and “ what we can do to bring people together .
”

LEWES, Del. (AP) - Police in Delaware are investigating after weed killer was apparently used to write the word “Trump” on a front lawn that has had signs supporting Joe Biden and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Delaware State News reports that the incident was reported Friday in the city of Lewes.
Charlotte King and Aimee Wiest live at the home. They said they had a poster supporting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris outside the home until shortly after the election. They also have a Black Lives Matter flag outside their house.
Delaware State Police said the case is not being investigated as a hate crime. But King said it is “today’s version of a cross-burning.”
King chairs the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice. She said the incident has prompted many in the state to reach out in support.
The office of Attorney General Kathy Jennings said it’s coordinating with law enforcement and will “proceed appropriately after a full investigation is complete.”
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice said a webinar is scheduled for Saturday where community stakeholders will discuss recent incidents in Sussex County and “what we can do to bring people together.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Home construction up 4.9% in October

Home construction up 4.9% in October

CHARLOTTE , N.C. ( AP ) - The number of newly issued permits to build fresh housing remained steady in @ @ @ @ @ 4.9 % , and are up 14 % higher than a year ago , the @ @ @ @ @ to an annualized rate of 1.53 million .
Building permits remained at a seasonally adjusted @ @ @ @ @ units , effectively unchanged from September .
The figure remains up 2.8 % from a @ @ @ @ @ strong the housing market did over the summer despite the pandemic .

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Home construction rose 4.9% in October as home building remains as one of the bright spots of the economy.
The increase pushed home construction to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.53 million homes and apartments and followed a more modest gain of 1.9% in September.
Building permits, a good barometer of future activity, remained at a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.55 million annualized units, effectively unchanged from September. The figure remains up 2.8% from a year earlier, showing how strong the housing market was over the summer despite the pandemic.
“Strong demand, low inventory, and record levels of homebuilder confidence continue to support new home construction,” wrote Nancy Vanden Houten, an economist with Oxford Economics.
Several reports over the last two months have shown the housing market cooling off after a tremendous summer, but that is not surprising. The fall and winter are typically slow times for home buying and home construction, mostly due to the weather.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Police: Mother shot child, self in St. Louis murder-suicide

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - A mother fatally shot her 5-year-old son before turning the gun on herself in @ @ @ @ @ a south St. Louis neighborhood , police said .
Officers were called around 6 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ Carondelet Park for reports of a shooting , police said .
Arriving officers found the @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
Police did not immediately release the names of the woman or @ @ @ @ @ has seen a surge of gun violence this year , including shootings involving children .
@ @ @ @ @ been victims of gun violence in St. Louis this year , including several fatal shootings @

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A mother fatally shot her 5-year-old son before turning the gun on herself in a murder-suicide early Wednesday in a south St. Louis neighborhood, police said.
Officers were called around 6 a.m. Wednesday to an area near Carondelet Park for reports of a shooting, police said. Arriving officers found the woman and her child dead, police said.
Police did not immediately release the names of the woman or her son.
St Louis has seen a surge of gun violence this year, including shootings involving children. More than 100 children have been victims of gun violence in St. Louis this year, including several fatal shootings.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Rick Bright: Trump's lack of cooperation 'very likely can' delay vaccine roll-out

Rick Bright , a member of presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden ’ s COVID-19 advisory board , said Wednesday that the delayed presidential transition process “ very likely ” could hamper the effective roll-out of a coronavirus vaccine .
“ It is absolutely critical that the transition team is able to sit down with the current administration today to be able to discuss the protocols of the trials , the technical aspects of the vaccine and the roll-out and the distribution campaigns , ” Mr .
Bright said on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe.
” He said they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the current administration .
“ We do not even have direct access to the data , ” he said .
The General Services Administration has not yet recognized Mr. Biden as the apparent winner of the election , which would unlock additional resources for the transition and enable Mr. Biden ’ s team to coordinate directly with the Trump administration .
Multiple media outlets projected Mr. Biden as the winner on Nov. 7 , but Mr. Trump hasn ’ t conceded and is challenging the results in a handful of close states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay is causing “ significant delays with this critical time point with the data and the vaccine availability.
” “ It very likely can ” delay proper vaccine distribution , he said .
“ It is not something that is trivial , ” he said .
“ We need to sit down immediately.
” Mr .
Bright praised as “ very encouraging news ” the latest developments in the race for a vaccine .
Pfizer and BioNTech announced Wednesday that their vaccine candidate was 95 % effective in a final analysis in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apply for emergency use authorization from the federal government within “ days.
” Mr .
Bright said there still needs to be a distribution plan and a proper hand-off .
“ A vaccine doesn ’ t save your life , but vaccination does , ” he said .
“ Vaccines don ’ t deliver themselves.
” Mr .
Bright headed the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ) from 2016 to 2020 .
He had feuded with Mr. Trump toward the tail end of his tenure and filed a whistleblower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t serious enough about the public health crisis in the early days .

Rick Bright, a member of presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board, said Wednesday that the delayed presidential transition process “very likely” could hamper the effective roll-out of a coronavirus vaccine.
“It is absolutely critical that the transition team is able to sit down with the current administration today to be able to discuss the protocols of the trials, the technical aspects of the vaccine and the roll-out and the distribution campaigns,” Mr. Bright said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
He said they have “no insight” on the plans from the current administration.
“We do not even have direct access to the data,” he said.
The General Services Administration has not yet recognized Mr. Biden as the apparent winner of the election, which would unlock additional resources for the transition and enable Mr. Biden’s team to coordinate directly with the Trump administration.
Multiple media outlets projected Mr. Biden as the winner on Nov. 7, but Mr. Trump hasn’t conceded and is challenging the results in a handful of close states.
Mr. Bright said the GSA delay is causing “significant delays with this critical time point with the data and the vaccine availability.”
“It very likely can” delay proper vaccine distribution, he said.
“It is not something that is trivial,” he said. “We need to sit down immediately.”
Mr. Bright praised as “very encouraging news” the latest developments in the race for a vaccine.
Pfizer and BioNTech announced Wednesday that their vaccine candidate was 95% effective in a final analysis in their Phase 3 study. The companies plan to apply for emergency use authorization from the federal government within “days.”
Mr. Bright said there still needs to be a distribution plan and a proper hand-off.
“A vaccine doesn’t save your life, but vaccination does,” he said. “Vaccines don’t deliver themselves.”
Mr. Bright headed the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) from 2016 to 2020.
He had feuded with Mr. Trump toward the tail end of his tenure and filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that the administration wasn’t serious enough about the public health crisis in the early days.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--China calls for action from Australia amid worsening ties

BEIJING ( AP ) - China on Wednesday called on Australia to take action to stem worsening relations between the two countries , in the latest indication that Beijing will offer few if any compromises to resolve their disputes .
Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian ’ s comments came the same day that China ’ s embassy in Canberra delivered a list of 14 areas of disagreement between the sides in which China expects Australia to change direction , Australian media reported .
Zhao made it clear China holds Australia responsible for the deterioration in ties , saying that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I want to stress that the Australian side is completely aware of the crux of the decline of the bilateral relations , ” Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing .
“ We hope the Australian side should do more to improve the mutual trust and cooperation and enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
” Relations have been strained in recent years amid Chinese anger over a range of issues , including Australia ’ s crackdown on perceived political interference by Beijing , Chinese investments and a call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic that was first detected in China late last year .
China has retaliated mainly by barring Australian exports including barley , wine and coal , throwing billions of dollars of trade into question .
In a move likely to further irk Beijing , the leaders of Australia and China ’ s historic rival Japan reached a basic agreement Tuesday on a bilateral defense pact that would allow their troops to work more closely , part of a push to bolster their ties and counter China ’ s growing assertiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint statement , Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Japanese counterpart , Yoshihide Suga , expressed “ serious concerns about the situation ” in the South and East China Seas and “ strong opposition ” to militarizing disputed islands and other unilateral attempts to change the status quo , without identifying China - signaling their sensitivity toward their biggest trading partner .

BEIJING (AP) - China on Wednesday called on Australia to take action to stem worsening relations between the two countries, in the latest indication that Beijing will offer few if any compromises to resolve their disputes.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s comments came the same day that China’s embassy in Canberra delivered a list of 14 areas of disagreement between the sides in which China expects Australia to change direction, Australian media reported.
Zhao made it clear China holds Australia responsible for the deterioration in ties, saying that “whoever started the trouble should end it.”
“I want to stress that the Australian side is completely aware of the crux of the decline of the bilateral relations,” Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing. “We hope the Australian side should do more to improve the mutual trust and cooperation and enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.”
Relations have been strained in recent years amid Chinese anger over a range of issues, including Australia’s crackdown on perceived political interference by Beijing, Chinese investments and a call for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic that was first detected in China late last year.
China has retaliated mainly by barring Australian exports including barley, wine and coal, throwing billions of dollars of trade into question.
In a move likely to further irk Beijing, the leaders of Australia and China’s historic rival Japan reached a basic agreement Tuesday on a bilateral defense pact that would allow their troops to work more closely, part of a push to bolster their ties and counter China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a joint statement, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Japanese counterpart, Yoshihide Suga, expressed “serious concerns about the situation” in the South and East China Seas and “strong opposition” to militarizing disputed islands and other unilateral attempts to change the status quo, without identifying China - signaling their sensitivity toward their biggest trading partner.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Utility truck kills woman, 70, riding bicycle in Milton

MILTON , Mass .
( AP ) - A 70-year-old woman riding a bicycle died after being struck by a @ @ @ @ @ authorities said .
The woman was struck by an Eversource truck around 3 p.m. on @ @ @ @ @ Blue Hills Parkway and Eliot Street , state police told The Patriot Ledger .
The @ @ @ @ @ at the scene .
The 62-year-old male driver of the truck was taken to a @ @ @ @ @ police .
No names were released and no charges were announced .
The investigation is @ @ @ @ @ an absolutely tragic accident .
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victim ’ s @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll support and assist with the investigation to understand how this accident took place @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
The utility also pledged to provide emotional support to employees “ who @ @ @ @ @ ”

MILTON, Mass. (AP) - A 70-year-old woman riding a bicycle died after being struck by a utility truck in Milton, authorities said.
The woman was struck by an Eversource truck around 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of Blue Hills Parkway and Eliot Street, state police told The Patriot Ledger.
The bicyclist was was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 62-year-old male driver of the truck was taken to a hospital, according to state police.
No names were released and no charges were announced. The investigation is ongoing.
“This was an absolutely tragic accident. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends. We’ll support and assist with the investigation to understand how this accident took place,” Eversource said in a statement.
The utility also pledged to provide emotional support to employees “who were overtaken with grief.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Crews stop wind-driven wildfire in Reno; cause unknown

RENO , Nev. ( AP ) - A wind-driven wildfire destroyed or damaged a dozen homes and other buildings in southwest Reno before being stopped by firefighters , authorities said .
Investigators on Wednesday would try to determine what started the fire reported Tuesday afternoon , Fire Chief David Cochran said during a Tuesday evening briefing .
The fire grew to have a perimeter of 1,200 acres ( 5 square kilometers ) before crews from multiple fire departments stopped its forward progress but not all of that area was burned , Cochran said .
Officials said up to 500 homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reported .
Winds gusting over 50 mph ( 80 kph ) drove the flames but later subsided and rain fell in the area late Tuesday and into Wednesday .
Authorities cut power to about 7,000 customers as a precaution , and numerous roads were closed .
Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak has declared a state of emergency in response to the fire following similar declarations from the City of Reno and Washoe County .
The declaration makes resources from the local , state and federal level are available to assist as needed @ @ @ @

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A wind-driven wildfire destroyed or damaged a dozen homes and other buildings in southwest Reno before being stopped by firefighters, authorities said.
Investigators on Wednesday would try to determine what started the fire reported Tuesday afternoon, Fire Chief David Cochran said during a Tuesday evening briefing.
The fire grew to have a perimeter of 1,200 acres (5 square kilometers) before crews from multiple fire departments stopped its forward progress but not all of that area was burned, Cochran said.
Evacuations of affected area remained in place overnight.
Officials said up to 500 homes were threatened. No deaths or injuries were reported.
Winds gusting over 50 mph (80 kph) drove the flames but later subsided and rain fell in the area late Tuesday and into Wednesday.
Authorities cut power to about 7,000 customers as a precaution, and numerous roads were closed.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has declared a state of emergency in response to the fire following similar declarations from the City of Reno and Washoe County.
The declaration makes resources from the local, state and federal level are available to assist as needed during this emergency.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Top prosecutor for Indiana's Southern District is resigning

INDIANAPOLIS ( AP ) - The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana , Josh Minkler , announced Wednesday that he is resigning and plans to take a job with a private law firm in the Indianapolis area .
Minkler said in a statement that he will step down as U.S. Attorney on Saturday , after which First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Childress will become the Southern District of Indiana ’ s acting U.S. attorney .
Minkler has been a federal prosecutor with the Southern District , which covers roughly the southern two-thirds of the state , for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was appointed by President Donald Trump to the U.S. Attorney post in 2017 and was sworn in on Oct. 10 , 2017 , after being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate .
He had previously been the interim U.S. attorney based in Indianapolis since June 2015 .
U.S. Sen. Todd Young , R-Indiana , said Minkler has had an “ outstanding career in public service.
” “ Josh Minkler has earned praise from people of all political persuasions who are working to keep our cities and our state safe , ” Young @ @ @ @ @

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Josh Minkler, announced Wednesday that he is resigning and plans to take a job with a private law firm in the Indianapolis area.
Minkler said in a statement that he will step down as U.S. Attorney on Saturday, after which First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Childress will become the Southern District of Indiana’s acting U.S. attorney.
Minkler has been a federal prosecutor with the Southern District, which covers roughly the southern two-thirds of the state, for more than 26 years beginning in 1994.
He was appointed by President Donald Trump to the U.S. Attorney post in 2017 and was sworn in on Oct. 10, 2017, after being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He had previously been the interim U.S. attorney based in Indianapolis since June 2015.
U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, said Minkler has had an “outstanding career in public service.”
“Josh Minkler has earned praise from people of all political persuasions who are working to keep our cities and our state safe,” Young said in a statement.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Second person has died from injuries in Filley house fire

FILLEY , Neb .
( AP ) - A second person has died from injuries received in a southeastern Nebraska @ @ @ @ @ Tyler Reed , 20 , of Filley , died in a Lincoln hospital Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ the Oct. 24 fire in Filley that also killed 20-year-old Courtney Knepp , of Beatrice @ @ @ @ @ .
A third person , Jayden Maguire , 21 , of Filley , also was @ @ @ @ @ .
Knepp died at the scene of the fire ; Reed and Maguire were found @ @ @ @ @ flown to CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln with critical injuries .
The State Fire @ @ @ @ @ that a propane leak caused the fire .
Filley is about 36 miles south of @ @

FILLEY, Neb. (AP) - A second person has died from injuries received in a southeastern Nebraska house fire last month.
Tyler Reed, 20, of Filley, died in a Lincoln hospital Sunday, more than three weeks after the Oct. 24 fire in Filley that also killed 20-year-old Courtney Knepp, of Beatrice, radio station KWBE reported.
A third person, Jayden Maguire, 21, of Filley, also was critically injured in the fire. Knepp died at the scene of the fire; Reed and Maguire were found outside the burning home and flown to CHI St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln with critical injuries.
The State Fire Marshal Agency last month confirmed that a propane leak caused the fire.
Filley is about 36 miles south of Lincoln.


washingtontimes--2020-11-18--Pfizer seeks approval for 95% effective COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer said Wednesday it will ask the Food and Drug Administration for emergency approval of its coronavirus vaccine “ within days ” after the shots proved to be 95 % at the conclusion of its late-stage trial .
The New York company said it counted 170 cases within its 43,000-member trial and that all but eight of the infections were in the placebo group .
The results are a slight improvement over preliminary results that showed 90 % efficacy and on par with early results from Moderna , another front-runner in the race for a vaccine that can bring COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the shots were effective across age , gender , race and ethnicity groups .
The trial didn ’ t run into safety concerns , with small percentages of participants getting a headache or fatigue .
The Trump administration says it expects the FDA to approve vaccine candidates quickly , allowing them to dispatch the shots within 24 hours of emergency-use authorization as part of its Operation Warp Speed .
Health workers will be first in line as states finalized their distribution plans , followed by other essential workers , seniors and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should get a crack at immunization by April , according to federal timelines .
Pfizer says it can produce 50 million doses — it is a two-dose vaccine , so enough for 25 million people — in the U.S. by the end of the year , so the government is hoping to bring multiple vaccine candidates to market to maximize production .

Two drugmakers in the race for a COVID-19 vaccine are on track for emergency approval before the end of the year, the Trump administration said Wednesday, with Pfizer reporting its shots were 95% effective in a final analysis and Moderna set to follow close behind.
Pfizer, of New York, said it counted 170 cases within its 43,000-member trial and that all but eight of the infections were in the placebo group. It plans to request authorization from the Food and Drug Administration “within days,” after the shots were effective across age, gender, race and ethnicity groups.
The results are an improvement over prior data that showed 90% efficacy and on par with initial results from Moderna, of Massachusetts, which will probably count enough cases to report final efficacy results from its own messenger-RNA vaccine soon, given widespread transmission of the coronavirus.
“It is very likely Moderna will shortly be obtaining that number and announcing it,” said Moncef Slaoui, who is overseeing vaccine development for the White House.
The administration said it expects the FDA to grant emergency-use authorization to both vaccines by next month, putting them in a position to distribute 40 million doses — enough to vaccine 20 million people with the two-dose vaccines — before the new year.
Army Gen. Gustave Perna, a logistics expert in charge of President Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed,” said shots will go out the door within 24 hours of the FDA giving the green light. He said 64 jurisdictions — the 50 states, eight territories and six metropolitan cities — will tell his operation where to send the vaccines, which will be distributed based on population.
“We implement their plan,” Gen. Perna said.
The U.S. and world desperately need a vaccine to bring the coronavirus down to manageable levels. The nation is recording over 150,000 new infections per day, as the overall death toll approaches a quarter million in the U.S.
New York City said its schools would revert to online learning again, as the city’s test-positivity rate reached 3%, raising fears it was on the brink of another wave after getting slammed last spring. Parents grumbled that other establishments were still open even as their kids lose out on in-person learning.
In better news, the FDA approved the first COVID-19 test that can be fully completed at home. The handheld test from Lucira Health spits out results from a nasal swab within 30 minutes, although it can only be acquired with a prescription and likely won’t be widely available for online order until spring.
Health Secretary Alex Azar told Americans to wear masks, maintain their physical distance from others and wash their hands while they wait for promising solutions, namely the vaccines.
“Even as we face daunting epidemiological trends around the country, we have reason for optimism,” he said. “Right now is not the time for anyone to let their guard down.”
Officials said they’re working through the thorny logistics of delivering the vaccines, including ways for hospitals, clinics and chain pharmacies to pick the best storage options for their distribution plans.
The Moderna shots can be refrigerated for up to a month, compared to five days for the Pfizer shots, which for longer storage must be kept at minus-94 degrees Fahrenheit in ultra-low freezers or packed in dry ice within proprietary “thermal shippers” created by the company.
Operation Warp Speed officials said distributors will be well-trained in how to manage the dry ice and they expect minimum waste of doses overall, as areas figure out how to distribute doses before they degrade.
Health workers will be first in line for the vaccines, as states finalize their distribution plans, followed by other essential workers, seniors and people with high-risk conditions. The general public should get a crack at immunization by April, according to federal timelines.
Rolling out a vaccine for a brand-new disease in less than a year is unprecedented.
Mr. Slaoui, a former pharmaceutical executive, said the record pace was made possible by the creation of flexible new platforms that allow scientists to input a pathogen’s genetic information.
He likened it to a cassette player that received a tape of the new coronavirus’s material and “played the right music.”
Mr. Slaoui also appealed to people to volunteer for ongoing vaccine trials.
He said they’d be combating the pandemic and giving themselves a 50% chance of obtaining a promising vaccine (as opposed to placebo) before it is approved for general use, so there are benefits “both from altruistic standpoint and personal standpoint.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.