washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Health officials beg people to be cautious at Thanksgiving

MONTGOMERY , Ala. ( AP ) - Doctors and health officials on Monday pleaded with people to take precautions during Thanksgiving - such as skipping large indoor gatherings - as the state and nation experiences an unchecked spread in COVID-19 .
“ Please do everything you can possibly do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe .
We don ’ t want this to be the last ever Thanksgiving for someone in your family like your parents or grandparents , ” Harris said .
Harris said Thanksgiving , and how it is handled , will determine what December and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to get a do-over on this… .
please be careful , please be safe.
” The state is seeing the highest number of daily new cases since the pandemic began and an increase in hospitalizations , he said .
As of Monday , about 1,400 people were in state hospitals with COVID-19 , slightly below the summer peak of about 1,700 .
According to the COVID Tracking Project , the 7-day rolling average of daily new cases in Alabama has risen over the past two weeks from 1,386 new cases per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases per day on Nov. 22 .
“ Alabama is seeing its numbers go up , just like every other state in the country right now .
We are not headed in the right direction .
We are adding a couple thousand new cases a day at least , ” Harris said .
Harris said the state ’ s overall mortality rate from COVID-19 is about 1.5 % .
He said while that may sound low , it is about 15 times the mortality rate from the flu and the risk increases dramatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate for people over age 75 is about 20 % .
Dr. Kierstin Kennedy , the chief of hospital medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital , said the traditions of Thanksgiving - gathering indoors and eating , talking and laughing - are ripe for spreading the virus .
“ It ’ s the perfect set-up for us to spread COVID , ” Kennedy said .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued holiday guidelines and noted that celebrating virtually or with members of your own household poses the lowest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of attendees as much as possible so people from different households can remain at least six feet apart , moving events outdoors and avoid gatherings in crowded , poorly ventilated spaces with persons who are not in your household .
Harris and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mary McIntyre discussed how they are handling the holiday .
Harris said he and his wife will be at home on their own .
McIntyre said she is limiting her gathering to a total of seven people and will visit with other family members via Zoom , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are thankful for this year .
They will use masks and temperature checks .
McIntyre said she will serve all the food instead of having the normal buffet .
Since the pandemic began more than 230,000 people in Alabama have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 3,400 people have died .
Alabama has developed a distribution plan for the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available .
Frontline health workers and those at highest risk for poor outcomes from COVID-19 will be the first groups eligible to get the vaccine .
“ As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a scarce resource at first , ” Harris said .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Doctors and health officials on Monday pleaded with people to take precautions during Thanksgiving - such as skipping large indoor gatherings - as the state and nation experiences an unchecked spread in COVID-19.
“Please do everything you can possibly do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. We don’t want this to be the last ever Thanksgiving for someone in your family like your parents or grandparents,” Harris said.
Harris said Thanksgiving, and how it is handled, will determine what December and Christmas look like. “We are not going to get a do-over on this…. please be careful, please be safe.”
The state is seeing the highest number of daily new cases since the pandemic began and an increase in hospitalizations, he said. As of Monday, about 1,400 people were in state hospitals with COVID-19, slightly below the summer peak of about 1,700.
According to the COVID Tracking Project, the 7-day rolling average of daily new cases in Alabama has risen over the past two weeks from 1,386 new cases per day on Nov. 8 to 2,097 new cases per day on Nov. 22.
“Alabama is seeing its numbers go up, just like every other state in the country right now. We are not headed in the right direction. We are adding a couple thousand new cases a day at least,” Harris said.
Harris said the state’s overall mortality rate from COVID-19 is about 1.5%. He said while that may sound low, it is about 15 times the mortality rate from the flu and the risk increases dramatically with age. He said the mortality rate for people over age 75 is about 20%.
Dr. Kierstin Kennedy, the chief of hospital medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, said the traditions of Thanksgiving - gathering indoors and eating, talking and laughing - are ripe for spreading the virus.
“It’s the perfect set-up for us to spread COVID,” Kennedy said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued holiday guidelines and noted that celebrating virtually or with members of your own household poses the lowest risk. Recommendations include limiting the number of attendees as much as possible so people from different households can remain at least six feet apart, moving events outdoors and avoid gatherings in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces with persons who are not in your household.
Harris and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mary McIntyre discussed how they are handling the holiday. Harris said he and his wife will be at home on their own.
McIntyre said she is limiting her gathering to a total of seven people and will visit with other family members via Zoom, including their tradition of saying what they are thankful for this year. They will use masks and temperature checks. McIntyre said she will serve all the food instead of having the normal buffet.
Since the pandemic began more than 230,000 people in Alabama have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 3,400 people have died.
Alabama has developed a distribution plan for the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Frontline health workers and those at highest risk for poor outcomes from COVID-19 will be the first groups eligible to get the vaccine.
“As you know, it is going to be a scarce resource at first,” Harris said.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--ACLU of Indiana sues school officials over T-shirt dispute

SOUTH BEND , Ind .
( AP ) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is suing officials at a northern Indiana school , alleging that they violated a Black student ’ s constitutional rights by sending him home for wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the text , “ I hope I don ’ t get killed for being Black today.
” The federal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in South Bend names the principal and assistant principal of Manchester Jr.-Sr. High School as defendants .
The complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in South Bend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principal of Manchester Jr.-Sr. High School as defendants .
The suit was filed on behalf of the male junior , who is identified only as D.E .
in court documents .
It alleges that in August he was called to the school ’ s administration office after someone purportedly complained about his T-shirt , The Indianapolis Star reported .
“ That is not going to fly , ” principal Dr. Jon Lippe told the student when he saw the shirt , according to the lawsuit .
The student was then given another T-shirt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he refused to do so , it states .
Assistant Principal Dorey Mobley then told the student that his mother would have to come and take him home for the day , it alleges .
The ACLU of Indiana ’ s lawsuit alleges that Lippe and Mobley violated the student ’ s First Amendment rights and asks that the court award him damages and direct administrators to allow him to continue wearing the shirt at school in North Manchester , about 35 miles ( 56 kilometers ) west of Fort Wayne .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school are allowed to wear T-shirts that have Confederate flags and “ Blue Lives Matter ” slogans and describes the plaintiff as one of the few students at the school who identifies as Black .
According to the lawsuit , the student has “ been subjected to racial epithets in the school in the past from fellow students and he believes that the message of the t-shirt is an important one to transmit to students and staff and that the t-shirt makes an extremely important statement.
” “ Schools can not selectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through messages on their clothing , ” Ken Falk , the ACLU of Indiana ’ s legal director , said in a statement .
“ Students do not lose their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse doors.
” Mark A. Franz , the general counsel for Manchester Community Schools , told The Indianapolis Star that the school will not be commenting on the lawsuit .

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is suing officials at a northern Indiana school, alleging that they violated a Black student’s constitutional rights by sending him home for wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the text, “I hope I don’t get killed for being Black today.”
The federal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in South Bend names the principal and assistant principal of Manchester Jr.-Sr. High School as defendants.
The complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in South Bend names as defendants the principal and assistant principal of Manchester Jr.-Sr. High School as defendants .
The suit was filed on behalf of the male junior, who is identified only as D.E. in court documents. It alleges that in August he was called to the school’s administration office after someone purportedly complained about his T-shirt, The Indianapolis Star reported.
“That is not going to fly,” principal Dr. Jon Lippe told the student when he saw the shirt, according to the lawsuit. The student was then given another T-shirt to change into for the day, but he refused to do so, it states.
Assistant Principal Dorey Mobley then told the student that his mother would have to come and take him home for the day, it alleges.
The ACLU of Indiana’s lawsuit alleges that Lippe and Mobley violated the student’s First Amendment rights and asks that the court award him damages and direct administrators to allow him to continue wearing the shirt at school in North Manchester, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of Fort Wayne.
The complaint also alleges that students at the school are allowed to wear T-shirts that have Confederate flags and “Blue Lives Matter” slogans and describes the plaintiff as one of the few students at the school who identifies as Black.
According to the lawsuit, the student has “been subjected to racial epithets in the school in the past from fellow students and he believes that the message of the t-shirt is an important one to transmit to students and staff and that the t-shirt makes an extremely important statement.”
“Schools cannot selectively choose which social issues students can support through messages on their clothing,” Ken Falk, the ACLU of Indiana’s legal director, said in a statement. “Students do not lose their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse doors.”
Mark A. Franz, the general counsel for Manchester Community Schools, told The Indianapolis Star that the school will not be commenting on the lawsuit.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Transgender woman sues Georgia corrections officials again

ATLANTA ( AP ) - A Black transgender woman on Monday sued Georgia prison officials , saying they have failed to protect her from repeated sexual assaults behind bars and failed to provide her with adequate medical treatment .
The Center for Constitutional Rights and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of 42-year-old Ashley Diamond , who is imprisoned at Coastal State Prison in Chatham County .
Diamond previously sued Georgia corrections officials in 2015 over similar allegations .
Diamond has identified as female since she was a child and began hormone therapy when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , softer skin and a feminine appearance , her lawsuit said .
Shortly after her previous lawsuit was filed , the U.S. Department of Justice got involved , filing a brief that said prison officials must treat a gender identity condition just as they would treat any other medical or mental health condition .
The filing said the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires them to provide individualized assessment and care for the condition .
Georgia prison officials then implemented a policy to ensure that prisoners with a possible gender dysphoria diagnosis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health professionals , including an assessment of treatment and experiences before entering prison .
The policy also said a treatment plan would be developed to address physical and mental health .
Diamond was paroled in August 2015 after serving about a third of her 12-year sentence for burglary and other convictions , according to prison records .
She settled her lawsuit against the state in February 2016 .
Diamond was sent back to prison on a parole violation in October 2019 .
Her lawyers said she has faced similar unconstitutional conditions since being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having been sexually assaulted more than 14 times in the past year , enduring constant sexual harassment and being denied treatment she needs for her gender dysphoria .
The Associated Press doesn ’ t generally identify victims of sexual assault , but Diamond has repeatedly come forward publicly to put a spotlight on the treatment of transgender people in prison .
Georgia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Joan Heath said the agency hasn ’ t received the lawsuit and doesn ’ t comment on pending litigation .
“ We sued Georgia prisons on Ashley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we ’ re having to sue again to end the abhorrent treatment of transgender people , particularly transgender women of color , in Georgia ’ s prisons , ” Beth Littrell , senior attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center , said in an emailed news release .
“ Five years after changing its policies in response to our first lawsuit , GDC tragically continues to flout its legal obligations to protect transgender people in its custody.
” The lawsuit seeks damages and legal costs and asks a judge to order prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment for her gender dysphoria and to take steps to protect her from sexual assault , including by placing her in a women ’ s prison .

ATLANTA (AP) - A Black transgender woman on Monday sued Georgia prison officials, saying they have failed to protect her from repeated sexual assaults behind bars and failed to provide her with adequate medical treatment.
The Center for Constitutional Rights and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of 42-year-old Ashley Diamond, who is imprisoned at Coastal State Prison in Chatham County. Diamond previously sued Georgia corrections officials in 2015 over similar allegations.
Diamond has identified as female since she was a child and began hormone therapy when she was 17, giving her full breasts, softer skin and a feminine appearance, her lawsuit said.
Shortly after her previous lawsuit was filed, the U.S. Department of Justice got involved, filing a brief that said prison officials must treat a gender identity condition just as they would treat any other medical or mental health condition. The filing said the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires them to provide individualized assessment and care for the condition.
Georgia prison officials then implemented a policy to ensure that prisoners with a possible gender dysphoria diagnosis are evaluated by qualified medical and mental health professionals, including an assessment of treatment and experiences before entering prison. The policy also said a treatment plan would be developed to address physical and mental health.
Diamond was paroled in August 2015 after serving about a third of her 12-year sentence for burglary and other convictions, according to prison records. She settled her lawsuit against the state in February 2016.
Diamond was sent back to prison on a parole violation in October 2019. Her lawyers said she has faced similar unconstitutional conditions since being returned to prisons housing men, including having been sexually assaulted more than 14 times in the past year, enduring constant sexual harassment and being denied treatment she needs for her gender dysphoria.
The Associated Press doesn’t generally identify victims of sexual assault, but Diamond has repeatedly come forward publicly to put a spotlight on the treatment of transgender people in prison.
Georgia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Joan Heath said the agency hasn’t received the lawsuit and doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
“We sued Georgia prisons on Ashley’s behalf before and, unfortunately, we’re having to sue again to end the abhorrent treatment of transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, in Georgia’s prisons,” Beth Littrell, senior attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said in an emailed news release. “Five years after changing its policies in response to our first lawsuit, GDC tragically continues to flout its legal obligations to protect transgender people in its custody.”
The lawsuit seeks damages and legal costs and asks a judge to order prison officials to provide Diamond with medically necessary treatment for her gender dysphoria and to take steps to protect her from sexual assault, including by placing her in a women’s prison.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Vermont police say man found dead in
 hotel shot to death

RUTLAND , Vt. ( AP ) - A man found dead in a Rutland hotel room was shot to death @ @ @ @ @ ruled a homicide , Vermont State Police said Monday .
The victim was identified as @ @ @ @ @ of Holyoke , Massachusetts .
An autopsy determined Houghton died of a gunshot wound to @ @ @ @ @ called to the Quality Inn at about 3:40 a.m. Sunday to investigate a report of @ @ @ @ @ the body of the man who was later identified as Houghton .
No arrests have @ @ @ @ @ they believe it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the general @ @

RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - A man found dead in a Rutland hotel room was shot to death and his death has been ruled a homicide, Vermont State Police said Monday.
The victim was identified as Jonathon Houghton, 35, of Holyoke, Massachusetts. An autopsy determined Houghton died of a gunshot wound to the torso.
Police were called to the Quality Inn at about 3:40 a.m. Sunday to investigate a report of a disturbance. Officers found the body of the man who was later identified as Houghton.
No arrests have been announced.
Police say they believe it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the general public.
The investigation is continuing.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Colorado Gov allows hospitals to transfer, deny patients

DENVER ( AP ) - As Colorado experiences its highest hospitalization rate of COVID-19 patients , Gov .
Jared Polis issued an executive order authorizing the state health department to order hospitals and emergency departments to transfer and cease admitting new patients in order to deal with the influx of coronavirus cases .
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment , as of Sunday the state had over 1,500 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations .
On Friday , Polis said full hospital capacity was reached in Mesa County on the state ’ s western slope and nearing the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with only three intensive care beds available .
The order allows for those hospitals which have reached capacity to transfer patients to another facility without obtaining their consent .
It also states that health care providers who comply with the order and transfer patients are “ immune from civil or criminal liability for any action taken.
” “ The transfer of patients from hospitals that have reached capacity to other specified care facilities will combat the current public health emergency due to COVID-19 and promote public health , ” the order states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order to temporarily stop voluntary or elective surgeries and procedures in order to preserve personal protective equipment and ventilators as Colorado experienced its first big wave of coronavirus cases .

DENVER (AP) - As Colorado experiences its highest hospitalization rate of COVID-19 patients, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order authorizing the state health department to order hospitals and emergency departments to transfer and cease admitting new patients in order to deal with the influx of coronavirus cases.
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, as of Sunday the state had over 1,500 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations. On Friday, Polis said full hospital capacity was reached in Mesa County on the state’s western slope and nearing the same fate in Weld County in northeast Colorado with only three intensive care beds available.
The order allows for those hospitals which have reached capacity to transfer patients to another facility without obtaining their consent. It also states that health care providers who comply with the order and transfer patients are “immune from civil or criminal liability for any action taken.”
“The transfer of patients from hospitals that have reached capacity to other specified care facilities will combat the current public health emergency due to COVID-19 and promote public health,” the order states.
Back in March, Polis issued an executive order to temporarily stop voluntary or elective surgeries and procedures in order to preserve personal protective equipment and ventilators as Colorado experienced its first big wave of coronavirus cases.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Teen girl found dead after driving into Skagit River

MOUNT VERNON , Wash. ( AP ) - A teenager ’ s body was recovered Saturday from inside a vehicle @ @ @ @ @ police said .
The Skagit Valley Herald reports police believe 15-year-old Taylor Bentley called 911 @ @ @ @ @ she had driven a car into the Skagit River from the boat ramp at Edgewater @ @ @ @ @ Mount Vernon Police Department .
The search for the girl , and the vehicle , @ @ @ @ @ of hazardous conditions.
, police said .
Crews on Saturday morning recovered her body from @ @ @ @ @ boat launch .
As of Monday morning , the vehicle remained in the river , @ @ @ @ @ remove it , according to police .
The Mount Vernon School District , where Bentley @ @ @ @ @ the Anacortes School District , where she was previously enrolled , have counselors available for @ @ @ @

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - A teenager’s body was recovered Saturday from inside a vehicle in the Skagit River, police said.
The Skagit Valley Herald reports police believe 15-year-old Taylor Bentley called 911 on Friday night to report she had driven a car into the Skagit River from the boat ramp at Edgewater Park, according to the Mount Vernon Police Department.
The search for the girl, and the vehicle, was suspended late Friday because of hazardous conditions., police said. Crews on Saturday morning recovered her body from the vehicle downstream from the boat launch.
As of Monday morning, the vehicle remained in the river, with no immediate plans to remove it, according to police.
An investigation is ongoing.
The Mount Vernon School District, where Bentley was a student, and the Anacortes School District, where she was previously enrolled, have counselors available for students and staff.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Utah relaxes gathering restrictions ahead of Thanksgiving

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - Utah Gov .
Gary Herbert on Monday relaxed restrictions on social gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving weekend as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge .
There were 545 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Utah on Monday , and referral center ICU beds reached 91.9 % occupancy statewide , according to state data .
The increased number of hospitalizations has prompted doctors and public health officials to advise against attending large Thanksgiving gatherings .
Herbert , a Republican , said he will not extend his previous two-week order that required people to limit social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but urged caution .
He recommended masks , social distancing and smaller gatherings for the holiday .
“ You increase the risk when you bring people into your home , ” he said during a press briefing .
“ That ’ s just the harsh reality.
” Rich Saunders , the interim director of the state health department , recommended that people in high transmission areas , which include 26 of the state ’ s 29 counties , limit social gatherings to 10 or fewer .
The state ’ s mask mandate will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dean of the the University of Utah ’ s David Eccles School of Business , also urged Utah residents to wear masks to help boost the state ’ s “ fragile ” economy .
He cited a new university study which found that mask mandates lower COVID-19 infections while increasing consumer mobility and spending .
In Utah , 1 in 135 people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past week , and the state is ranked tenth in the country for new cases per capita , according to data from Johns Hopkins .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new daily cases continued to climb to 3,349 per day .
In the past week , 23.6 % of people tested have received a positive result .
State Epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said the positivity rate is starting to stabilize because of a push to increase testing .
There have been over 179,000 reported virus cases in Utah and 797 known deaths related to the virus , according to state data .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah Gov. Gary Herbert on Monday relaxed restrictions on social gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving weekend as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge.
There were 545 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Utah on Monday, and referral center ICU beds reached 91.9% occupancy statewide, according to state data. The increased number of hospitalizations has prompted doctors and public health officials to advise against attending large Thanksgiving gatherings.
Herbert, a Republican, said he will not extend his previous two-week order that required people to limit social gatherings to people in their immediate household but urged caution. He recommended masks, social distancing and smaller gatherings for the holiday.
“You increase the risk when you bring people into your home,” he said during a press briefing. “That’s just the harsh reality.”
Rich Saunders, the interim director of the state health department, recommended that people in high transmission areas, which include 26 of the state’s 29 counties, limit social gatherings to 10 or fewer. The state’s mask mandate will remain in place.
Taylor Randall, dean of the the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, also urged Utah residents to wear masks to help boost the state’s “fragile” economy. He cited a new university study which found that mask mandates lower COVID-19 infections while increasing consumer mobility and spending.
In Utah, 1 in 135 people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past week, and the state is ranked tenth in the country for new cases per capita, according to data from Johns Hopkins.
The state’s seven-day average of new daily cases continued to climb to 3,349 per day. In the past week, 23.6% of people tested have received a positive result. State Epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn said the positivity rate is starting to stabilize because of a push to increase testing.
There have been over 179,000 reported virus cases in Utah and 797 known deaths related to the virus, according to state data.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
___
Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Florida postpones popular waterfront parade due to pandemic

TAMPA , Fla. ( AP ) - A popular waterfront festival in Tampa has been postponed amid a surge in confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Florida .
The annual parade Gasparilla Pirate Fest that attracts about 200,000 people to Tampa ’ s downtown waterfront is typically held every January but is now planned for mid-April amid continuing health care concerns .
Organizers said they consulted with city leaders and health care providers and decided to postpone the festival until next spring to restrict events that attract large crowds .
On Monday , there were 3,748 people hospitalized with COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were hospitalized on Sunday .
Health officials reported 6,331 new confirmed cases and 96 new deaths in the state , raising Florida ’ s coronavirus death toll to 18,310 .
Officials at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are pleading with Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving and not to spend the holiday with people from outside their household .
The Miami Herald said Miami Beach hotels are experiencing last-minute bookings for the holiday week that may get them near full occupancy for the first time since they were forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus in March .
Other events in the state that attract large crowds in the winter such as Art Basel have already been scrapped .
The prestigious December art fair draws collectors , socialites and celebrities from around the world .
In February , Tampa will host the Super Bowl at the Raymond James Stadium , where a limited number of fans have been allowed for the games played so far this season .

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A popular waterfront festival in Tampa has been postponed amid a surge in confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Florida.
The annual parade Gasparilla Pirate Fest that attracts about 200,000 people to Tampa’s downtown waterfront is typically held every January but is now planned for mid-April amid continuing health care concerns.
Organizers said they consulted with city leaders and health care providers and decided to postpone the festival until next spring to restrict events that attract large crowds.
On Monday, there were 3,748 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Florida, up from the 3,618 who were hospitalized on Sunday. Health officials reported 6,331 new confirmed cases and 96 new deaths in the state, raising Florida’s coronavirus death toll to 18,310.
Officials at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are pleading with Americans not to travel for Thanksgiving and not to spend the holiday with people from outside their household.
The Miami Herald said Miami Beach hotels are experiencing last-minute bookings for the holiday week that may get them near full occupancy for the first time since they were forced to shut down to curb the spread of coronavirus in March.
Other events in the state that attract large crowds in the winter such as Art Basel have already been scrapped. The prestigious December art fair draws collectors, socialites and celebrities from around the world.
In February, Tampa will host the Super Bowl at the Raymond James Stadium, where a limited number of fans have been allowed for the games played so far this season.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Michael Studeman visit shatters another Taiwan taboo

The Trump administration is stepping up pressure on China with the unprecedented visit to Taiwan by a senior military intelligence officer and the transit of a guided missile destroyer through the Taiwan Strait .
U.S. officials said Rear Adm. Michael Studeman , director of intelligence for the Pentagon ’ s Indo-Pacific Command , arrived unannounced in Taipei on Sunday for intelligence-sharing talks with the island ’ s government , which has been a major target of Chinese military intimidation attempts in recent months .
In the past senior military officers were blocked from visiting Taiwan over concerns the visits might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taiwan a renegade province that will eventually join the mainland .
A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on the visit that was first reported by Taiwan news media based on the arrival of a charter aircraft at Taipei ’ s Songshan Airport on Sunday evening .
“ The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Nov. 21 in accordance with international law , ” said Navy Lt. Joe Keiley , 7th Fleet spokesman .
“ The ship ’ s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The U.S. Navy will continue to fly , sail and operate anywhere international law allows.
” Asked if the warship was shadowed by Chinese ships or aircraft , a military official said the passage was not disrupted .
The visit by Adm. Studeman and the passage by the Barry comes at a time of political uncertainty in the United States over the still-disputed presidential election .
Last weekend ’ s moves by the administration appear designed to avoid any miscalculation by China .
China in recent months has stepped up both naval and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a what U.S. officials have called military coercion .
Large-scale military exercises were held near the island in September in what Chinese officials said could be used as a prelude for an invasion of the island .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Nov. 11 that “ Taiwan has not been a part of China , ” a comment that also angered Beijing .
Additionally , the administration has arranged for more than $ 5 billion in arms sales to Taiwan to bolster its defenses .
The sales include F-16 jets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these things are designed to live up to the promises that have been made between , frankly , China and the Taiwanese people , ” Mr. Pompeo said in a radio interview .
China ’ s government voiced anger at the admiral ’ s visit and promised an unspecified response .
“ China firmly opposes any form of official exchange and military contact between the U.S. and the Taiwan region , ” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian .
“ China will make legitimate and necessary responses in light of the developments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jim Fanell said the visit is a breakthrough , reversing the past policy of limiting visits to Taiwan by senior military officers .
Adm. Studeman ’ s visit to Taiwan “ reflects the seriousness of the PRC ’ s military threat to Taiwan , ” Capt .
Fanell said .
If the visit is confirmed officially , it would be “ unprecedented and would highlight the importance of intelligence-sharing between the U.S. and Taiwan as Beijing has dramatically increased its military operations and threats to Taiwan , ” he said .
Strategically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military official would reconfirm the importance of maintaining the status quo in the cross-strait standoff given 20 years of Chinese military modernization and operations against Taiwan , he said .
“ Such a visit is testament to the correctness of this administration ’ s China strategy , something previous administrations never articulated and have certainly never had the intellectual capacity to formulate , ” Capt .
Fanell said .
The visit by Adm. Studeman highlights the U.S. strategic and moral interests in bolstering Taiwan , which is facing the threat of a Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five decades , said Rick Fisher , a China affairs analyst .
“ Sending high military and intelligence officials like Rear Adm. Studeman to Taipei to confer with counterparts would be consistent with the defense of those interests , ” said Mr. Fisher with the International Assessment and Strategy Center .
“ Signaling American willingness to help defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion by sending U.S. Navy warships through the Taiwan Strait is also consistent with the defense of American high interests.
” Mr. Fisher said the Trump administration has succeeded in elevating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It helps to assure the people of Taiwan as it serves to demonstrate to China ’ s Communist Party leadership that its threats against Taiwan will only serve to further strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan relationship , ” he said .
The Studeman visit was disclosed after Taiwan media initially reported that the visit included CIA Director Gina Haspel .
That report was later corrected to state that Adm. Studeman was the visitor .
The Taiwan Foreign Ministry denied Ms. Haspel had come and said in a statement that it would not comment on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a “ senior U.S. official ” would not be made public .
The ministry added that interaction and exchanges between the two countries are common and that U.S. officials ’ visits are welcome .
The Studeman visit is the first by a senior military officer following two earlier visits by high-ranking Trump administration officials .
In September , Keith Krach , undersecretary of state for economic growth , traveled to Taiwan , and in August , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II visited the island .
Environmental Protection Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taiwan next month .
The visits and warship passages are designed to warn China against taking any action against Taiwan while the U.S. is distracted over the election outcome and a possible transfer of power in the White House , a U.S. official said .
China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and has stepped up threatening military maneuvers near the island in recent months .
China ’ s Communist Party-affiliated Global Times outlet denounced the visit as part of “ ramped-up collusion ” between Washington and Taipei .
The outlet reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in policies toward Taiwan before a Biden administration takes office .
“ Trump has less than two months in his term , ” Global Times stated .
“ How bold would the U.S. and Taiwan be to perform the ‘ final madness ’ ?
” Both the U.S. and Taiwan fear China will resort to military action against Taiwan , Global Times said .
“ The Chinese mainland ’ s air force and navy have normalized their flight and navigation around the island , ” it stated .
“ Fighter jets of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line ’ of the Taiwan Straits multiple times .
Fighter jets of the Chinese mainland flying over the island may take place at any time.
” Mainland military drills by China ’ s armed forces “ are no longer merely a warning , but a combat exercise , ” the Global Times wrote .
“ All these have produced actual deterrence .
Neither the U.S. nor Taiwan can afford to take [ them ] lightly .
”

The Trump administration is stepping up pressure on China with the unprecedented visit to Taiwan by a senior military intelligence officer and the transit of a guided missile destroyer through the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. officials said Rear Adm. Michael Studeman, director of intelligence for the Pentagon’s Indo-Pacific Command, arrived unannounced in Taipei on Sunday for intelligence-sharing talks with the island’s government, which has been a major target of Chinese military intimidation attempts in recent months.
In the past senior military officers were blocked from visiting Taiwan over concerns the visits might upset relations with Beijing, which considered Taiwan a renegade province that will eventually join the mainland.
A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on the visit that was first reported by Taiwan news media based on the arrival of a charter aircraft at Taipei’s Songshan Airport on Sunday evening.
A day earlier, a Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed through the disputed Taiwan Strait.
“The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Nov. 21 in accordance with international law,” said Navy Lt. Joe Keiley, 7th Fleet spokesman.
“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.”
Asked if the warship was shadowed by Chinese ships or aircraft, a military official said the passage was not disrupted.
The visit by Adm. Studeman and the passage by the Barry comes at a time of political uncertainty in the United States over the still-disputed presidential election.
Last weekend’s moves by the administration appear designed to avoid any miscalculation by China.
China in recent months has stepped up both naval and air force activities near Taiwan as part of a what U.S. officials have called military coercion. Large-scale military exercises were held near the island in September in what Chinese officials said could be used as a prelude for an invasion of the island.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Nov. 11 that “Taiwan has not been a part of China,” a comment that also angered Beijing.
Additionally, the administration has arranged for more than $5 billion in arms sales to Taiwan to bolster its defenses. The sales include F-16 jets and long-range land-attack missiles.
“All of these things are designed to live up to the promises that have been made between, frankly, China and the Taiwanese people,” Mr. Pompeo said in a radio interview.
China’s government voiced anger at the admiral’s visit and promised an unspecified response.
“China firmly opposes any form of official exchange and military contact between the U.S. and the Taiwan region,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
“China will make legitimate and necessary responses in light of the developments,” he added.
Retired Navy Capt. Jim Fanell said the visit is a breakthrough, reversing the past policy of limiting visits to Taiwan by senior military officers.
Adm. Studeman’s visit to Taiwan “reflects the seriousness of the PRC’s military threat to Taiwan,” Capt. Fanell said.
If the visit is confirmed officially, it would be “unprecedented and would highlight the importance of intelligence-sharing between the U.S. and Taiwan as Beijing has dramatically increased its military operations and threats to Taiwan,” he said.
Defending the status quo
Strategically, a visit by such a senior military official would reconfirm the importance of maintaining the status quo in the cross-strait standoff given 20 years of Chinese military modernization and operations against Taiwan, he said.
“Such a visit is testament to the correctness of this administration’s China strategy, something previous administrations never articulated and have certainly never had the intellectual capacity to formulate,” Capt. Fanell said.
The visit by Adm. Studeman highlights the U.S. strategic and moral interests in bolstering Taiwan, which is facing the threat of a Chinese military invasion for the first time in five decades, said Rick Fisher, a China affairs analyst.
“Sending high military and intelligence officials like Rear Adm. Studeman to Taipei to confer with counterparts would be consistent with the defense of those interests,” said Mr. Fisher with the International Assessment and Strategy Center. “Signaling American willingness to help defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion by sending U.S. Navy warships through the Taiwan Strait is also consistent with the defense of American high interests.”
Mr. Fisher said the Trump administration has succeeded in elevating the strategy dialogue with Taiwan. “It helps to assure the people of Taiwan as it serves to demonstrate to China’s Communist Party leadership that its threats against Taiwan will only serve to further strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan relationship,” he said.
The Studeman visit was disclosed after Taiwan media initially reported that the visit included CIA Director Gina Haspel. That report was later corrected to state that Adm. Studeman was the visitor.
The Taiwan Foreign Ministry denied Ms. Haspel had come and said in a statement that it would not comment on the reported visit, noting that the schedule for a “senior U.S. official” would not be made public. The ministry added that interaction and exchanges between the two countries are common and that U.S. officials’ visits are welcome.
The Studeman visit is the first by a senior military officer following two earlier visits by high-ranking Trump administration officials. In September, Keith Krach, undersecretary of state for economic growth, traveled to Taiwan, and in August, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II visited the island.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler is expected to visit Taiwan next month.
The visits and warship passages are designed to warn China against taking any action against Taiwan while the U.S. is distracted over the election outcome and a possible transfer of power in the White House, a U.S. official said.
China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and has stepped up threatening military maneuvers near the island in recent months.
China’s Communist Party-affiliated Global Times outlet denounced the visit as part of “ramped-up collusion” between Washington and Taipei. The outlet reported that the Trump administration is seeking to lock in policies toward Taiwan before a Biden administration takes office.
“Trump has less than two months in his term,” Global Times stated. “How bold would the U.S. and Taiwan be to perform the ‘final madness’?”
Both the U.S. and Taiwan fear China will resort to military action against Taiwan, Global Times said.
“The Chinese mainland’s air force and navy have normalized their flight and navigation around the island,” it stated. “Fighter jets of the Chinese mainland have crossed the ‘median line’ of the Taiwan Straits multiple times. Fighter jets of the Chinese mainland flying over the island may take place at any time.”
Mainland military drills by China’s armed forces “are no longer merely a warning, but a combat exercise,” the Global Times wrote. “All these have produced actual deterrence. Neither the U.S. nor Taiwan can afford to take [them] lightly.”
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for December delivery rose 91 cents to $ 43.06 a barrel Monday .
Brent crude oil @ @ @ @ @ 1.10 to $ 46.06 a barrel .
Wholesale gasoline for December delivery rose 3 cents @ @ @ @ @ .
December heating oil rose 2 cents to $ 1.31 a gallon .
December natural @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.71 per 1,000 cubic feet .
Gold for December delivery fell $ 34.60 to @ @ @ @ @ Silver for December delivery fell 73 cents to $ 23.63 an ounce and December copper @ @ @ @ @ 3.26 a pound .
The dollar rose to 104.49 Japanese yen from 103.84 yen .
@ @ @ @ @ 1.1841 from $ 1.1858 .

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for December delivery rose 91 cents to $43.06 a barrel Monday. Brent crude oil for January delivery rose $1.10 to $46.06 a barrel.
Wholesale gasoline for December delivery rose 3 cents to $1.20 a gallon. December heating oil rose 2 cents to $1.31 a gallon. December natural gas rose 6 cents to $2.71 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Gold for December delivery fell $34.60 to $1,837.80 an ounce. Silver for December delivery fell 73 cents to $23.63 an ounce and December copper fell 3 cents to $3.26 a pound.
The dollar rose to 104.49 Japanese yen from 103.84 yen. The euro fell to $1.1841 from $1.1858.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--U.S. is biggest cybertheft target in world as pandemic shifts people online, study finds

The United States is the largest data theft target in the world and Americans are the most likely victims , a new study has found .
The COVID-19 crisis forced more people onto unsecured Wi-Fi and exposed more data to attacks , said Nick Baker , a broadband expert at Uswitch , a price-comparison service that conducted the study .
Uswitch found more than 6 billion recorded data breaches in the U.S. since 2013 , or nearly 1.88 million breaches per every 100,000 Americans .
The next biggest cyber victims are South Korea and Canada with 446,129 breaches per 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Baker said the U.S. tops the list because of several factors , including Americans ’ high levels of internet use that means the vast majority of the population shares information online consistently .
Several of the world ’ s largest corporations and the government , as a preeminent political power , also make the U.S. a top target for cybercriminals .
Cybersecurity experts say Americans concerned about hacks and data breaches have a multitude of options to defend themselves : • Activate multi-factor authentication to log in to sensitive networks ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose to connect on a home network .
Still , the coronavirus pandemic made the cyberthreat environment worse .
“ The sudden shift to remote and home working by companies that may not have been fully prepared to roll out said infrastructure has left many opportunities for cybercriminals to gain access to data and information , ” Mr. Baker said .
“ Regulating employees no longer based in an office or no longer using a company intranet , for example , becomes an increasing and expensive challenge for many businesses , something which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The latest high-profile victim was GoDaddy , the largest web domain registrar .
Hackers allegedly manipulated the company ’ s employees into handing over access of various websites to cybercriminals .
GoDaddy said Monday that a “ small number ” of customer domains and account information had unauthorized changes .
“ Our security team investigated and confirmed threat actor activity , including social engineering of a limited number of GoDaddy employees , ” a GoDaddy representative said in a statement .
“ We immediately locked down the accounts involved in this incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accounts , and assisted affected customers with regaining access to their accounts.
” The spokesperson said GoDaddy is constantly educating employees about new security measures to take against sophisticated and aggressive attacks aimed at the employees .
Among the affected users were cryptocurrency trading platforms , such as Liquid and NiceHash , which said that GoDaddy incorrectly turned over control of their domains to malicious actors this month .
Liquid CEO Mike Kayamori wrote on the company ’ s blog that the access GoDaddy gave a bad actor provided the actor with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records , control internal email accounts , gained access to document storage , and “ partially compromise ” the company ’ s infrastructure .
NiceHash froze all wallet activity on its platform for 24 hours after it discovered the problem and then resumed service except for withdrawals , which it said would resume after an internal audit .

The United States is the largest data theft target in the world and Americans are the most likely victims, a new study has found.
The COVID-19 crisis forced more people onto unsecured Wi-Fi and exposed more data to attacks, said Nick Baker, a broadband expert at Uswitch, a price-comparison service that conducted the study.
Uswitch found more than 6 billion recorded data breaches in the U.S. since 2013, or nearly 1.88 million breaches per every 100,000 Americans. The next biggest cyber victims are South Korea and Canada with 446,129 breaches per 100,000 and 243,311 breaches per 100,000, respectively.
Mr. Baker said the U.S. tops the list because of several factors, including Americans’ high levels of internet use that means the vast majority of the population shares information online consistently. Several of the world’s largest corporations and the government, as a preeminent political power, also make the U.S. a top target for cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity experts say Americans concerned about hacks and data breaches have a multitude of options to defend themselves:
• Use high-quality antivirus software;
• Choose obscure passwords;
• Activate multi-factor authentication to log in to sensitive networks;
• Back up important information in multiple locations;
• Be mindful of what devices you choose to connect on a home network.
Still, the coronavirus pandemic made the cyberthreat environment worse.
“The sudden shift to remote and home working by companies that may not have been fully prepared to roll out said infrastructure has left many opportunities for cybercriminals to gain access to data and information,” Mr. Baker said. “Regulating employees no longer based in an office or no longer using a company intranet, for example, becomes an increasing and expensive challenge for many businesses, something which cybercriminals have looked to exploit during 2020.”
The latest high-profile victim was GoDaddy, the largest web domain registrar.
Hackers allegedly manipulated the company’s employees into handing over access of various websites to cybercriminals. GoDaddy said Monday that a “small number” of customer domains and account information had unauthorized changes.
“Our security team investigated and confirmed threat actor activity, including social engineering of a limited number of GoDaddy employees,” a GoDaddy representative said in a statement. “We immediately locked down the accounts involved in this incident, reverted any changes that took place to accounts, and assisted affected customers with regaining access to their accounts.”
The spokesperson said GoDaddy is constantly educating employees about new security measures to take against sophisticated and aggressive attacks aimed at the employees.
Among the affected users were cryptocurrency trading platforms, such as Liquid and NiceHash, which said that GoDaddy incorrectly turned over control of their domains to malicious actors this month.
Liquid CEO Mike Kayamori wrote on the company’s blog that the access GoDaddy gave a bad actor provided the actor with the ability to change domain name service records, control internal email accounts, gained access to document storage, and “partially compromise” the company’s infrastructure.
NiceHash froze all wallet activity on its platform for 24 hours after it discovered the problem and then resumed service except for withdrawals, which it said would resume after an internal audit.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--US judge voids permits for Columbia River methanol plant

SEATTLE ( AP ) - A judge on Monday voided permits needed for a massive methanol plant on the Columbia River in southwestern Washington , agreeing with conservation groups that the project needs a more thorough environmental review .
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had granted the permits for the construction of an export facility that is part of a $ 2 billion NW Innovation Works plant proposed in Kalama .
The plant would take natural gas from Canada and convert it into methanol , which would be shipped to China to make olefins - compounds used in everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical equipment .
Conservation groups including Columbia Riverkeeper , the Sierra Club and Washington Environmental Council challenged the permits in U.S. District Court in Tacoma , saying the Corps of Engineers conducted only a summary review that failed to account for the project ’ s full environmental effects .
U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan in Tacoma agreed , ordering the agency to conduct a full environmental impact statement as required by federal law .
He also told the Corps to assess whether the project is in the public interest , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed under the Endangered Species Act .
“ It ’ s absurd to think that a massive fracked-gas refinery wouldn ’ t pose a catastrophic risk to the fragile Columbia River ecosystem , ” Jared Margolis , a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity , said in a news release .
“ These dirty fossil fuel monstrosities only accelerate climate change , and we can ’ t continue to allow companies to pretend otherwise.
” NW Innovation Works , which is backed by the Chinese government , has said the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 30 million to $ 40 million in annual tax revenue .
The company also says it will offset any emissions produced directly or indirectly in Washington state as a result of its project .
“ We ’ ve been at this now for almost seven years , and the ongoing support of the Kalama community and the labor community means so much to us , ” said Vee Godley , the company ’ s chief development officer , said in an emailed statement .
“ We think this is a project that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To the extent more process is found to be appropriate and necessary to robustly inform regulators and the public , we will participate fully and see this process through.
” The ruling was the latest setback for the project , which if built would be one of the world ’ s largest methanol plants .
Last year , the Washington Department of Ecology demanded additional environmental analysis , saying that after five years of planning , its backers had failed to provide enough information about its greenhouse gas emissions and how they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that additional review came out in September , confirming the facility would be one of the 10 largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the state .
The state Ecology Department determined that despite the company ’ s insistence that its product would be used in plastics production - not burned for fuel - increasing the global supply would in fact lead to more methanol being burned for fuel .
That said , it also found that making methanol at the plant would be more efficient than making it from coal or some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project ’ s backers , including the Port of Kalama , have emphasized .
Ecology is weighing whether to approve the project .

SEATTLE (AP) - A judge on Monday voided permits needed for a massive methanol plant on the Columbia River in southwestern Washington, agreeing with conservation groups that the project needs a more thorough environmental review.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had granted the permits for the construction of an export facility that is part of a $2 billion NW Innovation Works plant proposed in Kalama. The plant would take natural gas from Canada and convert it into methanol, which would be shipped to China to make olefins - compounds used in everything from fabrics and contact lenses to iPhones and medical equipment.
Conservation groups including Columbia Riverkeeper, the Sierra Club and Washington Environmental Council challenged the permits in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, saying the Corps of Engineers conducted only a summary review that failed to account for the project’s full environmental effects.
U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan in Tacoma agreed, ordering the agency to conduct a full environmental impact statement as required by federal law. He also told the Corps to assess whether the project is in the public interest, but he rejected their argument that further review was needed under the Endangered Species Act.
“It’s absurd to think that a massive fracked-gas refinery wouldn’t pose a catastrophic risk to the fragile Columbia River ecosystem,” Jared Margolis, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a news release. “These dirty fossil fuel monstrosities only accelerate climate change, and we can’t continue to allow companies to pretend otherwise.”
NW Innovation Works, which is backed by the Chinese government, has said the project will create 1,000 well-paying jobs and generate $30 million to $40 million in annual tax revenue. The company also says it will offset any emissions produced directly or indirectly in Washington state as a result of its project.
“We’ve been at this now for almost seven years, and the ongoing support of the Kalama community and the labor community means so much to us,” said Vee Godley, the company’s chief development officer, said in an emailed statement. “We think this is a project that deserves to go forward on the merits. To the extent more process is found to be appropriate and necessary to robustly inform regulators and the public, we will participate fully and see this process through.”
The ruling was the latest setback for the project, which if built would be one of the world’s largest methanol plants. Last year, the Washington Department of Ecology demanded additional environmental analysis, saying that after five years of planning, its backers had failed to provide enough information about its greenhouse gas emissions and how they would be offset.
The results of that additional review came out in September, confirming the facility would be one of the 10 largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The state Ecology Department determined that despite the company’s insistence that its product would be used in plastics production - not burned for fuel - increasing the global supply would in fact lead to more methanol being burned for fuel.
That said, it also found that making methanol at the plant would be more efficient than making it from coal or some other sources - an argument that the project’s backers, including the Port of Kalama, have emphasized.
Ecology is weighing whether to approve the project.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Loeffler to return to campaign after negative COVID-19 test

ATLANTA ( AP ) - U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler said Monday that she will return to public campaigning after she got a second straight negative coronavirus test .
The Georgia Republican is facing a Jan. 5 runoff in one of the state ’ s twin U.S. Senate races .
Loeffler took a rapid COVID-19 test Friday evening that came back positive , a day after she campaigned with Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. David Perdue , who also faces a Jan. 5 runoff .
A test Saturday came back inconclusive and a test Sunday came back negative , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had isolated after the Friday test and said she was consulting with medical experts and following guidelines of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “ She continues to feel great , and has no symptoms , ” spokesperson Stephen Lawson said in a statement .
“ She looks forward to getting back out on the campaign trail.
” Perdue said before Loeffler ’ s negative test was announced Sunday that he would remain at home as he awaited Loeffler ’ s results .
He returned to public campaigning on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Griffin , south of Atlanta .
At that event , when questioned by a bystander , Perdue backed up his previous call for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to resign over claims by Perdue and Loeffler that Raffensperger mishandled the presidential election in the state .
“ We called for the resignation of our secretary of state , ” Perdue said at event at a shooting range .
“ We ’ re calling for lawsuits right now .
We ’ re doing a lot .
Every legal vote should be counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ?
They should be counted for me , too .
Absolutely.
” Neither Perdue nor Loeffler has detailed what they think Raffensperger did wrong , although they want election officials to re-examine the signatures on envelopes of mailed-in absentee ballots , a move Raffensperger says is pointless because the ballots can not be traced back to envelopes once separated .
Perdue and Ernst are scheduled to appear Tuesday in Cordele , Thomasville and Hahira as part of a Perdue bus tour .
Pence staffers did not indicate whether he was tested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he would isolate .
Loeffler has held several rallies in recent weeks with crowds packed into close quarters and many audience members not wearing masks .
Loeffler is facing Democrat Raphael Warnock in a Jan. 5 runoff election - one of two races that will determine which party has control of the Senate .
The other race will feature Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff .
If the Republican wins either race , then the party will keep control of the U.S. Senate .

ATLANTA (AP) - U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler said Monday that she will return to public campaigning after she got a second straight negative coronavirus test.
The Georgia Republican is facing a Jan. 5 runoff in one of the state’s twin U.S. Senate races.
Loeffler took a rapid COVID-19 test Friday evening that came back positive, a day after she campaigned with Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Sen. David Perdue, who also faces a Jan. 5 runoff.
A test Saturday came back inconclusive and a test Sunday came back negative, Loeffler’s campaign said. She had isolated after the Friday test and said she was consulting with medical experts and following guidelines of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“She continues to feel great, and has no symptoms,” spokesperson Stephen Lawson said in a statement. “She looks forward to getting back out on the campaign trail.”
Perdue said before Loeffler’s negative test was announced Sunday that he would remain at home as he awaited Loeffler’s results. He returned to public campaigning on Monday, appearing with Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst in Griffin, south of Atlanta.
At that event, when questioned by a bystander, Perdue backed up his previous call for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to resign over claims by Perdue and Loeffler that Raffensperger mishandled the presidential election in the state.
“We called for the resignation of our secretary of state,” Perdue said at event at a shooting range. “We’re calling for lawsuits right now. We’re doing a lot. Every legal vote should be counted for Donald Trump. And you know what? They should be counted for me, too. Absolutely.”
Neither Perdue nor Loeffler has detailed what they think Raffensperger did wrong, although they want election officials to re-examine the signatures on envelopes of mailed-in absentee ballots, a move Raffensperger says is pointless because the ballots cannot be traced back to envelopes once separated.
Perdue and Ernst are scheduled to appear Tuesday in Cordele, Thomasville and Hahira as part of a Perdue bus tour.
Pence staffers did not indicate whether he was tested for the coronavirus after campaigning with Loeffler or whether he would isolate.
Loeffler has held several rallies in recent weeks with crowds packed into close quarters and many audience members not wearing masks.
Loeffler is facing Democrat Raphael Warnock in a Jan. 5 runoff election - one of two races that will determine which party has control of the Senate. The other race will feature Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff.
If the Republican wins either race, then the party will keep control of the U.S. Senate.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Lisa Montgomery has new execution date scheduled by Justice Department

The Justice Department on Monday night rescheduled the execution date for the only female on federal death row after a judge postponed her death because her lawyers contracted COVID-19 .
Lisa Montgomery is now scheduled to be executed on Jan. 12 , nearly a month after the original date of Dec. 8 .
A federal judge last week postponed her execution because her lawyers tested positive for the coronavirus after visiting her in prison .
The delay was to give her attorneys time to recover from the virus and file a clemency petition on her behalf .
Kelley Henry and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said earlier this month they tested positive for COVID-19 .
An attorney arguing on their behalf described them as “ not functional ” because of their serious symptoms .
The new execution date would make Montgomery one of three federal inmates set to die that week .
Cory Johnson and Dustin Higgins are scheduled to be executed on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15 .
Sandra Babcock , an attorney representing Montgomery , said in a statement that her client ’ s mental state has been declining since the government first set an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lisa ‘ s deteriorating mental health and a much deeper understanding of the trauma she endured , the government plans to kill her .
No other woman has been executed for a similar crime , because most prosecutors have recognized that it is inevitably the product of trauma and mental illness , ” Ms. Babcock said .
Montgomery was convicted of killing Bobbie Jo Stinnett in 2004 .
She used a robe to strangle Stinnett and then cut the baby from her womb with a kitchen knife .
Montgomery kidnapped the child , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survived the ordeal .
Since the Trump administration resumed the use of capital punishment after a 17-year hiatus , eight inmates have been put to death .
Another inmate is scheduled to die at the end of the year , in addition to Montgomery and three other inmates with January execution dates .
If all the scheduled death sentences are carried out , the Trump administration will have executed 13 federal inmates in under a year , the most in U.S. history .
Democrats and advocacy groups have demanded the Trump administration halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden takes over in January .

The Justice Department on Monday night rescheduled the execution date for the only female on federal death row after a judge postponed her death because her lawyers contracted COVID-19.
Lisa Montgomery is now scheduled to be executed on Jan. 12, nearly a month after the original date of Dec. 8.
A federal judge last week postponed her execution because her lawyers tested positive for the coronavirus after visiting her in prison. The delay was to give her attorneys time to recover from the virus and file a clemency petition on her behalf.
Kelley Henry and Amy Harwell, who are representing Montgomery, said earlier this month they tested positive for COVID-19. An attorney arguing on their behalf described them as “not functional” because of their serious symptoms.
The new execution date would make Montgomery one of three federal inmates set to die that week. Cory Johnson and Dustin Higgins are scheduled to be executed on Jan. 14 and Jan. 15.
Sandra Babcock, an attorney representing Montgomery, said in a statement that her client’s mental state has been declining since the government first set an execution date.
“Now, despite Lisa’s deteriorating mental health and a much deeper understanding of the trauma she endured, the government plans to kill her. No other woman has been executed for a similar crime, because most prosecutors have recognized that it is inevitably the product of trauma and mental illness,” Ms. Babcock said.
Montgomery was convicted of killing Bobbie Jo Stinnett in 2004. She used a robe to strangle Stinnett and then cut the baby from her womb with a kitchen knife. Montgomery kidnapped the child, but the girl was later recovered and survived the ordeal.
Since the Trump administration resumed the use of capital punishment after a 17-year hiatus, eight inmates have been put to death. Another inmate is scheduled to die at the end of the year, in addition to Montgomery and three other inmates with January execution dates.
If all the scheduled death sentences are carried out, the Trump administration will have executed 13 federal inmates in under a year, the most in U.S. history.
Democrats and advocacy groups have demanded the Trump administration halt federal executions during the transition period before presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden takes over in January.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Thanksgiving travel hits highest level since pandemic began, well below 2019 mark

Americans are still hitting the road and taking to the sky for the Thanksgiving holiday , though in smaller numbers than in years past , amid health officials ’ warnings about spreading the coronavirus .
And many of those travelers apparently are getting tested for COVID-19 before they leave , with several states reporting an uptick in testing amid a surge of infections and hospitalizations across the country .
The Transportation Security Administration reported Sunday that this past weekend was the “ busiest ” for airline travel since the beginning of the pandemic in March , with more than 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s less than half of the 7 million passengers TSA screened during the weekend before Thanksgiving last year .
“ We have been handling passenger volumes reaching more than 900,000 a day frequently since early October , ” the agency said in an email to The Associated Press .
What ’ s more , AAA Travel estimates that about 47.8 million people will travel by automobile and nearly 2.4 million by aircraft this holiday .
But the travel insurance firm says those figures represent huge declines from just last year , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ AAA anticipates at least a 10 % drop in travel — the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008 , ” the firm said last week in its annual national survey .
In addition , Mike Compton , CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike , said that the managers of the controlled-access roadway anticipate “ fewer cars on our roadway than in prior years ” during the Thanksgiving holiday , which traditionally begins Tuesday evening and lasts until Sunday .
On Monday , Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn told reporters that ridership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that for last Thanksgiving , which saw the “ greatest level of demand ” ever for the holiday .
“ It ’ s softened a little bit just in the last several days , ” said Mr. Flynn , whose railway announced a $ 800 million operating loss on Monday due to a steep decline in ridership during the pandemic .
“ Part of that is a result of the CDC recommendations.
” On Thursday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines for Thanksgiving to limit the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited travel , social distancing , mask wearing and minimal consumption of alcohol .
While acknowledging that travel “ may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 , ” the CDC suggests a range of precautions for those Americans who are risking a trip home , such as getting a flu shot and using hand sanitizer .
Survey data suggest that most Americans are planning to stay close to home for turkey and football .
About 144 million Americans aged 18 or older — more than two-thirds the adult population of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans more than 100 miles from home , according to demographer Cheryl Russell ’ s Demo Memo blog , analyzing data published by the U.S. Census Bureau ’ s Household Pulse Survey .
Sen. Ed Markey , a Massachusetts Democrat who has pushed for cash refunds for skipped flights during the pandemic , said people who dropped their Thanksgiving travel are doing the right thing and following public health guidance .
“ Airlines , which have already received billions in government bailouts , should provide passengers cash refunds when they are spending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mr. Markey said in an email to the AP .
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases as Thanksgiving approaches , many states and localities have reported long lines for testing .
More than 300 people stood in line Sunday in a Jacksonville mall parking lot for COVID-19 testing , according to the Florida Association of Public Information Officers .
Meanwhile , the state of Nebraska has boosted free-of-charge testing by 25 % this month in advance of the holiday , according to TestNebraska , performing 26,695 tests in a week ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swabbed in all of July .

Americans are still hitting the road and taking to the sky for the Thanksgiving holiday, though in smaller numbers than in years past, amid health officials’ warnings about spreading the coronavirus.
And many of those travelers apparently are getting tested for COVID-19 before they leave, with several states reporting an uptick in testing amid a surge of infections and hospitalizations across the country.
The Transportation Security Administration reported Sunday that this past weekend was the “busiest” for airline travel since the beginning of the pandemic in March, with more than 3 million passengers screened. Still, that’s less than half of the 7 million passengers TSA screened during the weekend before Thanksgiving last year.
“We have been handling passenger volumes reaching more than 900,000 a day frequently since early October,” the agency said in an email to The Associated Press.
What’s more, AAA Travel estimates that about 47.8 million people will travel by automobile and nearly 2.4 million by aircraft this holiday. But the travel insurance firm says those figures represent huge declines from just last year, which saw 55 million travelers for Thanksgiving.
“AAA anticipates at least a 10% drop in travel — the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008,” the firm said last week in its annual national survey.
In addition, Mike Compton, CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, said that the managers of the controlled-access roadway anticipate “fewer cars on our roadway than in prior years” during the Thanksgiving holiday, which traditionally begins Tuesday evening and lasts until Sunday.
On Monday, Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn told reporters that ridership demand this year was about 20% that for last Thanksgiving, which saw the “greatest level of demand” ever for the holiday.
“It’s softened a little bit just in the last several days,” said Mr. Flynn, whose railway announced a $800 million operating loss on Monday due to a steep decline in ridership during the pandemic. “Part of that is a result of the CDC recommendations.”
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines for Thanksgiving to limit the spread of the virus — suggesting smaller outdoor gatherings, limited travel, social distancing, mask wearing and minimal consumption of alcohol.
While acknowledging that travel “may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19,” the CDC suggests a range of precautions for those Americans who are risking a trip home, such as getting a flu shot and using hand sanitizer.
Survey data suggest that most Americans are planning to stay close to home for turkey and football.
About 144 million Americans aged 18 or older — more than two-thirds the adult population of the country — said they have canceled overnight plans more than 100 miles from home, according to demographer Cheryl Russell’s Demo Memo blog, analyzing data published by the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.
Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who has pushed for cash refunds for skipped flights during the pandemic, said people who dropped their Thanksgiving travel are doing the right thing and following public health guidance.
“Airlines, which have already received billions in government bailouts, should provide passengers cash refunds when they are spending the holiday without both family and economic certainty,” Mr. Markey said in an email to the AP.
Amid a surge in coronavirus cases as Thanksgiving approaches, many states and localities have reported long lines for testing.
More than 300 people stood in line Sunday in a Jacksonville mall parking lot for COVID-19 testing, according to the Florida Association of Public Information Officers.
Meanwhile, the state of Nebraska has boosted free-of-charge testing by 25% this month in advance of the holiday, according to TestNebraska, performing 26,695 tests in a week ending Nov. 14, or double the rate swabbed in all of July.
• Christopher Vondracek can be reached at cvondracek@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Australia airline boss wants vaccine passport for travelers

SYDNEY ( AP ) - The boss of Australia ‘ s largest airline said Monday that once a coronavirus vaccine becomes widely available , it may require passengers use it before they can travel abroad .
Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said he ’ s been talking to his counterparts at other airlines around the world about the possibility of a “ vaccination passport ” for overseas travelers .
“ We are looking at changing the terms and conditions to say for international travelers that we will ask people to have the vaccination before they get on the aircraft , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nine television .
Australia has imposed some of the most severe border restrictions in the world since the pandemic began .
It has closed its borders to most international visitors and only allowed its own citizens to travel internationally under special circumstances .
Those restrictions have helped the nation of 26 million people tame its outbreak .
Australia has reported nearly 28,000 cases and just over 900 deaths since pandemic began , fewer than many other nations of its size .
Joyce said creating a vaccination passport for inbound and outbound travelers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thought and logistics , and may need government intervention .
“ But certainly for international visitors coming out and people leaving ( Australia ) , we think that ’ s a necessity , ” he told Nine .
“ What we are looking at is how you can have a vaccination passport , an electronic version of it , that certifies what the vaccine is , is it acceptable to the country you are traveling to.
” Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters Tuesday there had not been a decision on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Our task is to provide the vaccine to all Australians , ” he said .
Several companies have been testing virus vaccines with encouraging early results .
Many are hoping that vaccinations will become widely available next year , paving the way for a broader reopening of international air travel .

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - International air travel could come booming back next year but with a new rule: Travelers to certain countries must be vaccinated against the coronavirus before they can fly.
Encouraging news about vaccine development has given airlines and nations hope they may soon be able to revive suspended flight routes and dust off lucrative tourism plans. But countries in Asia and the Pacific, in particular, are determined not to let their hard-won gains against the virus evaporate.
In Australia, the boss of Qantas, the country’s largest airline, said that once a virus vaccine becomes widely available, his carrier will likely require passengers use it before they can travel abroad or land in Australia.
Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said he’s been talking to his counterparts at other airlines around the world about the possibility of a “vaccination passport” for international travelers.
“We are looking at changing our terms and conditions to say for international travelers, that we will ask people to have the vaccination before they get on the aircraft,” Joyce told Australia’s Network Nine television.
He said they were looking at ways to electronically verify that people have the necessary vaccine for their intended destination, a difficult task.
“But certainly for international visitors coming out, and people leaving the country, we think that’s a necessity,” he said.
South Korea’s largest airline has a similar message. Jill Chung, a spokesperson for Korean Air, said Tuesday there’s a real possibility that airlines will require that passengers be vaccinated. She said that’s because governments are likely to require vaccinations as a condition for lifting quarantine requirements for new arrivals.
While Korean Air is reviewing several possibilities for screening, any change by the company or other airlines would be the result of coordination with governments, Chung said.
“This is not something for airlines to independently decide,” she said.
Air New Zealand echoed Chung’s position.
“Ultimately, it’s up to governments to determine when and how it is safe to reopen borders and we continue to work closely with authorities on this,” Air New Zealand said in a statement.
Australia, South Korea and New Zealand have all managed to minimize the spread of the virus. They are seen internationally as success stories, and a big part of their containment effort has focused on keeping infectious people out.
Australia has imposed some of the most severe border restrictions in the world since the pandemic began. It has closed its borders to most international visitors and allowed its own citizens to travel internationally only under special circumstances. New Zealand has also closed its borders, while South Korea has imposed a two-week quarantine on all arriving passengers.
Australia, with 26 million people, has reported about 900 deaths since the pandemic began, fewer than many nations its size. South Korea, with 51 million people, has reported a little over 500 deaths. And New Zealand, with 5 million people, has reported just 25 deaths.
Chung said there are already a variety of discussions within the industry to ensure safer travel during the pandemic. These include trials of “Common Pass,” an app endorsed by the World Economic Forum that aims to provide a standardized format for airlines to evaluate the coronavirus test results of passengers to determine whether they should travel.
“With the world coming closer to coronavirus vaccines and negative tests also becoming requirements for lifting travelers from self-quarantines in countries across the world, airlines are feeling the need for an effective system to screen passengers for vaccinations and tests,” Chung said.
Several companies have been testing possible virus vaccines with encouraging early results. Many people are hoping that vaccinations will become widely available next year, paving the way for a broader reopening of international air travel.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters Tuesday there had not been a decision yet on border or re-entry rules around potential vaccines.
“Our task is to provide the vaccine to all Australians,” he said.
___
Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Saudi, Israeli leaders reportedly in secret talks during Mike Pompeo visit

JERUSALEM — A Gulfstream private jet secretly ferried Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a precedent-shattering meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the weekend , the latest in a series of U.S.-brokered breakthroughs that could re-write the strategic map of the Middle East .
News of the Sunday evening meeting , which also included the head of Israel ‘ s intelligence service and visiting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , leaked almost immediately in the Israeli press , followed by a denial from Saudi Arabia that it had ever taken place .
And less than a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trip was clouded in controversy as he was accused of not informing his political coalition partners .
Coaxed strongly by the Trump administration , Israel and two Gulf states , the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain , made peace in September , signing the “ Abraham Accords ” as a pathway to diplomatic normalization .
Sudan , which announced a separate easing of relations with Jerusalem last month , hosted an Israeli delegation to discuss the path forward on Monday .
The agreements were seen as a vindication of Mr. Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region , sideline the Palestinians as an obstacle to peace , and , most important , forge an alliance of Arab states and Israel to contain and roll back Iran and its regional allies .
There were strong U.S. hints that more peace deals could come on the next months , but the tumultuous Nov. 3 election has cast doubt on subsequent deals .
The hard-charging Saudi crown prince has long been seen as one ready to break with the oil-rich kingdom ’ s traditional policies , but was reportedly being held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Netanyahu flight departed at seven in the evening and returned after midnight .
Israel , which often censors sensitive information about flights to countries with which Israel has no relations , did not censor the details of the trip .
Israel ‘ s Channel 10 said that national security chief Meir Ben Shabbat , Israeli Defense Forces Brig .
General Avi Blot and others were on the delegation .
The Associated Press reported that Mr. Pompeo traveled with a small group of American reporters on his swing throughout the Mideast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crown prince in Neom .
Unlike the Saudis , Mr. Netanyahu did not deny that he travelled to Saudi Arabia , saying only that he never comments on such issues “ I will not start now.
” “ I ’ ll just say that I am working on broadening the circle of peace , ” he added .
But Mr. Netanyahu aide Topaz Luk appeared to affirm the trip by suggesting Mr. Netanyahu ‘ s own coalition partners from the rival Blue and White Party had been “ doing politics ” at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ making peace.
” The trip ’ s publicity appears to have led to more friction between Mr. Netanyahu and his main coalition partner , Defense Minister Benny Gantz .
Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi , according to a report by Walla News correspondent Barak Ravid , was also not informed of the meeting .
In the past , Mr. Netanyahu has kept his coalition in the dark about his most daring diplomatic initiatives .
During the UAE negotiations , he was accused of consenting to the sale of U.S. F-35s to the UAE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later acquiesced to the sale and has said it will not erode Israel ‘ s qualitative military edge in the region .
For Saudi Arabia , custodian of Islam ’ s holiest sites and the most influential and powerful of the Gulf Arab states , public acknowledgement of the Netanyahu visit would be very uncomfortable .
The Saudi foreign minister , Prince Faisal bin Farhan , denied on Twitter that the meeting took place .
“ No such meeting occurred .
The only officials present were American and Saudi , ” he wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would love to have a Saudi normalization deal nailed down before Democrat Joseph R. Biden is set to take office Jan. 20 , to cement Mr. Trump ’ s approach in place and as a warning to Tehran.. “ I think there ’ s a message to Iran , ” said Yoel Guzansky , a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies , a prestigious Israeli think tank .
“ ‘ Look , there ’ s a front against you .
There ’ s two months to go to the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same page .
’ ”

Seth Frantzman — Special to The Washington Times

JERUSALEM — A Gulfstream private jet secretly ferried Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a precedent-shattering meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the weekend, the latest in a series of U.S.-brokered breakthroughs that could re-write the strategic map of the Middle East.
News of the Sunday evening meeting, which also included the head of Israel’s intelligence service and visiting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, leaked almost immediately in the Israeli press, followed by a denial from Saudi Arabia that it had ever taken place.
And less than a day after he returned, Mr. Netanyahu’s trip was clouded in controversy as he was accused of not informing his political coalition partners.
Coaxed strongly by the Trump administration, Israel and two Gulf states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, made peace in September, signing the “Abraham Accords” as a pathway to diplomatic normalization. Sudan, which announced a separate easing of relations with Jerusalem last month, hosted an Israeli delegation to discuss the path forward on Monday.
The agreements were seen as a vindication of Mr. Trump’s push to end Israeli isolation in the region, sideline the Palestinians as an obstacle to peace, and, most important, forge an alliance of Arab states and Israel to contain and roll back Iran and its regional allies.
There were strong U.S. hints that more peace deals could come on the next months, but the tumultuous Nov. 3 election has cast doubt on subsequent deals.
The hard-charging Saudi crown prince has long been seen as one ready to break with the oil-rich kingdom’s traditional policies, but was reportedly being held back by the more cautious King Salman.
The Netanyahu flight departed at seven in the evening and returned after midnight. Israel, which often censors sensitive information about flights to countries with which Israel has no relations, did not censor the details of the trip.
Israel’s Channel 10 said that national security chief Meir Ben Shabbat, Israeli Defense Forces Brig. General Avi Blot and others were on the delegation.
The Associated Press reported that Mr. Pompeo traveled with a small group of American reporters on his swing throughout the Mideast, but went alone to his visit with the crown prince in Neom.
Unlike the Saudis, Mr. Netanyahu did not deny that he travelled to Saudi Arabia, saying only that he never comments on such issues “I will not start now.”
“I’ll just say that I am working on broadening the circle of peace,” he added.
But Mr. Netanyahu aide Topaz Luk appeared to affirm the trip by suggesting Mr. Netanyahu’s own coalition partners from the rival Blue and White Party had been “doing politics” at a time when the prime minister was “making peace.”
The trip’s publicity appears to have led to more friction between Mr. Netanyahu and his main coalition partner, Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, according to a report by Walla News correspondent Barak Ravid, was also not informed of the meeting.
In the past, Mr. Netanyahu has kept his coalition in the dark about his most daring diplomatic initiatives. During the UAE negotiations, he was accused of consenting to the sale of U.S. F-35s to the UAE, which Mr. Netanyahu denied. Israel later acquiesced to the sale and has said it will not erode Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.
For Saudi Arabia, custodian of Islam’s holiest sites and the most influential and powerful of the Gulf Arab states, public acknowledgement of the Netanyahu visit would be very uncomfortable.
The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, denied on Twitter that the meeting took place.
“No such meeting occurred. The only officials present were American and Saudi,” he wrote.
Analysts said Israel and Mr. Pompeo would love to have a Saudi normalization deal nailed down before Democrat Joseph R. Biden is set to take office Jan. 20, to cement Mr. Trump’s approach in place and as a warning to Tehran.
“I think there’s a message to Iran,” said Yoel Guzansky, a senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, a prestigious Israeli think tank. “‘Look, there’s a front against you. There’s two months to go to the new administration. Beware. We are on the same page.’”