washingtontimes--2020-12-03--The Latest: Kamala Harris names Tina Flournoy chief of staff

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden ( all times local ) : Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is hiring veteran Democratic strategist Tina Flournoy as her chief of staff .
Flournoy ’ s appointment adds to a team of Harris advisers led by Black women .
Harris is of Jamaican and Indian heritage and is the nation ’ s first female vice president .
Flournoy joins Ashley Etienne as Harris ’ communications director and Symone Sanders as her chief spokeswoman .
Flournoy has served as chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton since 2013 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to top posts at the Democratic National Committee , in the presidential campaigns of former Vice President Al Gore and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and with the American Federation of Teachers .
Harris also announced Rohini Kosoglu as her domestic policy adviser and Nancy McEldowney as her national security adviser .
Kosoglu served as Harris ’ top adviser during the general election campaign .
McEldowney is a former ambassador to Bulgaria and has 30 years of service in various diplomatic and foreign affairs jobs .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S TRANSITION TO THE WHITE HOUSE : Up soon for President-elect Joe Biden is naming his top health care officials as the coronavirus pandemic rages .
He ’ s also facing escalating pressure from competing factions within his own party as he finalizes his choice for secretary of defense .
- Trump expected to flex pardon powers on way out door - Barr ’ s special counsel move could tie up his successor

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):
9:55 p.m.
President-elect Joe Biden says it is important that President Donald Trump attend his inauguration only in the sense that it would demonstrate the nation’s commitment to a peaceful transfer of power between political rivals.
Trump aides have expressed skepticism that the president would attend Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Trump has continued to falsely claim victory and spread baseless claims of fraud to try to explain away his loss.
Speaking Thursday to CNN, Biden said, “It is totally his decision.” He added, “It is of no personal consequence to me, but I think it is to the country.”
Biden lamented Trump’s refusal to concede, saying, “These kinds of things happen in tin-horn dictatorships.”
He said he hoped Trump would attend the inauguration to set an example to other nations on the democratic process.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN’S TRANSITION TO THE WHITE HOUSE:
Up soon for President-elect Joe Biden is naming his top health care officials as the coronavirus pandemic rages. He’s also facing escalating pressure from competing factions within his own party as he finalizes his choice for secretary of defense.
Read more:
- Trump’s grievances feed menacing undertow after the election
- Trump expected to flex pardon powers on way out door
- Ivanka Trump deposed as part of inauguration fund lawsuit
- Barr’s special counsel move could tie up his successor
- In video, Trump recycles unsubstantiated voter fraud claims
- Psaki, next White House press secretary, a veteran messenger
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON:
9:40 p.m.
Joe Biden is brushing off concerns by some leading African Americans that the major early picks for his Cabinet have not been diverse enough.
During an interview with CNN on Thursday, the president-elect was asked about House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn’s comments that many qualified Black people have been passed over in the picks Biden has made so far.
Biden responded that the eight choices he’s made “were the most diverse Cabinet anyone in American history has ever announced” and included five people of color and three white people, as well as five women and three men.
Biden also said he’d be meeting with NAACP leadership next Tuesday. He says he understands “their job is to push me.”
“Every special interest — and I don’t say that in a negative way — every advocacy group out there, is pushing for more, more, more of what they want. That’s their job,” Biden said. “My job is to keep my commitment.”
He added: “I promise you you’ll see the most diverse Cabinet.”
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9:30 p.m.
President-elect Joe Biden says he’s received private congratulatory calls from several Republican senators who have refused to publicly acknowledge his victory in fear of aggravating President Donald Trump.
Speaking to CNN on Thursday, Biden says, “There have been more than several sitting Republican senators who have privately called me and congratulated me.”
As Trump continues to falsely claim victory and push unsubstantiated claims of fraud, Biden said the lawmakers “get put in a very tough position.”
He predicted that the situation will improve, with “at least a significant portion of the leadership,” after the Electoral College meets on Dec. 14.
Biden acknowledged that the Senate is a more partisan place than when he left it in 2009, but predicted it would still be possible to effectively legislate.
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8:45 p.m.
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have made a fresh push for President-elect Joe Biden to nominate New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as health and human services secretary.
The lawmakers also encouraged Biden’s team to tap either California Attorney General Xavier Becerra or Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez for attorney general, according to a person on the Thursday virtual conference call who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss it.
Several members spoke up for Lujan Grisham, who is apparently no longer in top running for the post. One lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, told Biden’s team that news leaks about her turning down another Cabinet job were inappropriate, the person on the call said.
Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain, who was on the call with other transition team officials, agreed, the person said. He told them it should not have happened.
The lawmakers are pressing to have Latinos in at least five Cabinet positions and fill 20% of the administrative appointments, reflective of their population.
- By AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro
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6:40 p.m.
Joe Biden says reports that President Donald Trump may be exploring preemptive pardons to protect his children, key aides and perhaps even himself from prosecution after he leaves office concern “me a great deal.”
The president-elect told CNN on Thursday that he’s worried about “what kind of precedent it sets, and how the rest of the world looks at us as a nation of laws and justice.”
Biden vowed to ensure that his own Justice Department operates independently. Trump has frequently pressured the agency to do his bidding.
“I’m not going to be telling them what they have to do and don’t have to do,” Biden said.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said any decisions coming out of the Biden administration’s DOJ “should be based on facts, it should be based on the law. It should not be influenced by politics, period.”
Biden added, “I guarantee you that’s how it will be run.”
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6:35 p.m.
President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee have raised an eye-popping $495 million since mid-October, with much taken in after Election Day as the president fundraised off his baseless allegations of widespread election fraud.
The sum includes money raised by the Trump campaign, the RNC, their two joint fundraising committees and the president’s new political action committee, named “Save America.”
Much of the money was raised during the closing weeks of the campaign. But $207.5 million came in after Election Day as Trump repeatedly – and falsely – claimed President-elect Joe Biden won due to voter fraud.
Trump has spent millions on filing legal challenges and pushing for recounts after his Nov. 3 loss, but the largess is likely to be spent elsewhere.
Some is being funneled to Georgia, where Republicans are aiming to hold onto two Senate seats - and control of the chamber - in twin Jan. 5 runoffs.
Trump’s new PAC also allows him to build up his political bank account as he ponders his future, including a potential run in 2024.
So far, the PAC is off to a lackluster start. Despite the windfall, Save America reported in a campaign finance disclosure Thursday that it raised only $569,000 from its launch after Election Day through Nov. 23.
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5:35 p.m.
President-elect Joe Biden says he is keeping Dr. Anthony Fauci on as a chief medical adviser and a member of his COVID-19 advisory team.
Biden made the comments Thursday during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. He said he spoke with Fauci earlier in the day about the need to instill confidence in any coronavirus vaccine and the fact that “you don’t have to close down the economy” to combat the virus.
Biden says he’d be “happy” to get a vaccine in public to prove its safety.
The president-elect also said he would ask the public to wear masks for 100 days to help drive down the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 275,000 Americans.
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5:10 p.m.
Attorney General William Barr is coming under criticism from members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who are demanding a full review of the presidential election won by Joe Biden.
Several Freedom Caucus members aligned with President Donald Trump stood outside the Capitol on Thursday saying Barr needs to quickly explain what he is doing to investigate the vote. Barr said this week that the Department of Justice has not seen evidence of widespread voter fraud.
Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson says, “It’s time, Mr. Attorney General. Please do your duty.”
Florida Rep. Ted Yoho says, “We’ll accept the results, but not until we’re shown the fraud was taken out of that.”
Trump has refused to accept results showing that he is the first incumbent since George H.W. Bush in 1992 to lose reelection.
Biden won 306 electoral votes compared to 232 for Trump. The Electoral College split matches Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton four years ago, which he described then as a “landslide.”
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2:10 p.m.
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has knocked down talk that she is in the running for President-elect Joe Biden’s secretary of health and human services.
Speaking Thursday afternoon at a weekly briefing on the status of the pandemic in Rhode Island, Raimondo took a few moments at the end of her prepared remarks to rule herself out of that job.
“I am not going to be President-elect Biden’s nominee for HHS secretary,” Raimondo said. “My focus is right here in Rhode Island, as I have said. I’m working 24/7 to keep Rhode Islanders safe and keeping our economy moving, and I have nothing else to add on that topic.”
The governor in recent days had been mentioned as a leading contender for the job, along with former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, co-chair of Biden’s coronavirus task force.
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12:25 p.m.
President-elect Joe Biden has tapped former Obama administration senior economic adviser Brian Deese to be director of the National Economic Council.
Deese is now the managing director and global head of sustainable investing at the BlackRock company. He worked on the auto bailout and environmental issues in the Obama White House, where he held the title of deputy director of both the NEC and the Office of Management and Budget.
Biden said Thursday in a prerecorded video announcing the appointment that Deese is “someone who looks at hard problems and finds solutions that help make life better for American families.”
Biden highlighted Deese’s expertise on climate policy, as he looks to make the issue a centerpiece of his White House agenda.
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8:35 a.m.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is hiring veteran Democratic strategist Tina Flournoy as her chief of staff.
President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team announced the choice Thursday.
Flournoy’s appointment adds to a team of Harris advisers led by Black women. Harris is of Jamaican and Indian heritage and is the nation’s first female vice president. Flournoy joins Ashley Etienne as Harris’ communications director and Symone Sanders as her chief spokeswoman.
Flournoy has served as chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton since 2013. That follows a career that took her to top posts at the Democratic National Committee, in the presidential campaigns of former Vice President Al Gore and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and with the American Federation of Teachers.
Harris also announced Rohini Kosoglu as her domestic policy adviser and Nancy McEldowney as her national security adviser.
Kosoglu served as Harris’ top adviser during the general election campaign. McEldowney is a former ambassador to Bulgaria and has 30 years of service in various diplomatic and foreign affairs jobs.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--William McRaven's next book is called 'The Hero Code'

NEW YORK ( AP ) - The retired U.S. Navy admiral who directed the raid that killed Osama bin Laden @ @ @ @ @ out .
William McRaven ’ s “ The Hero Code : Lessons Learned from Lives @ @ @ @ @ first publication since the bestselling “ Make Your Bed , ” is scheduled for April @ @ @ @ @ calling the book “ a ringing tribute ” to “ everyday heroes ” McRaven has @ @ @ @ @ college campuses .
He has said before that while he grew up idolizing Batman and @ @ @ @ @ realize real heroes were entirely human .
“ Admiral McRaven deploys powerful examples to define @ @ @ @ @ spirit that will uplift our next generation of everyday heroes - and profoundly shape our @ @ @ @ @ , Grand Central senior vice president and publisher , said in a statement Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ of “ Sea Stories : My Life in Special Operations ”

NEW YORK (AP) - The retired U.S. Navy admiral who directed the raid that killed Osama bin Laden has a new book coming out. William McRaven’s “The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived” is scheduled for April.
Grand Central Publishing is calling the book “a ringing tribute” to “everyday heroes” McRaven has met everywhere from battlefields to college campuses. He has said before that while he grew up idolizing Batman and Superman, he came to realize real heroes were entirely human.
“Admiral McRaven deploys powerful examples to define innate qualities of the human spirit that will uplift our next generation of everyday heroes - and profoundly shape our future,” Ben Sevier, Grand Central senior vice president and publisher, said in a statement Thursday.
McRaven is also the author of the bestselling “Make Your Bed” and “Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations.”
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This story corrects that McRaven’s new book is not his first since “Make Your Bed.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--2 die in head-on crash involving dump truck, car

UXBRIDGE , Mass .
( AP ) - Two people have died in a head-on crash involving a car and @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
The eastbound truck and the westbound sedan crashed on Route 16 @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday morning .
Both drivers died .
Neither vehicle had passengers .
Police Chief Marc @ @ @ @ @ vehicles crossed the center line .
The impact sent the truck off the road and @ @ @ @ @ came to rest on the driver ’ s side .
The names of the victims @ @ @ @ @ the crash remains under investigation .
The road was closed for several hours .

UXBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - Two people have died in a head-on crash involving a car and a dump truck in Uxbridge, police said.
The eastbound truck and the westbound sedan crashed on Route 16 near the Mendon line late Wednesday morning.
Both drivers died. Neither vehicle had passengers.
Police Chief Marc Montminy said one of the vehicles crossed the center line.
The impact sent the truck off the road and down an embankment where it came to rest on the driver’s side.
The names of the victims were not made public and the crash remains under investigation.
The road was closed for several hours.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Alaska town residents free entangled whale on Thanksgiving

JUNEAU , Alaska ( AP ) - Nineteen people in a small Alaska town on Thanksgiving cut free a whale that got tangled in buoys and crab pots .
The humpback whale became entangled three days earlier , said rescuer Gordon Chew , a resident of Tenakee Springs .
Residents were alerted to the whale ’ s plight after they heard its sounds of distress .
Rescuers assembled in five different boats to cut the whale loose on Thanksgiving morning .
Wind , fog and low light made the effort more difficult , Chew said .
Rescue crews started by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atmospheric Administration marine mammal rescue specialists and taking video of the snarled humpback whale for experts to examine , Chew said .
Then , they slowly placed a grappling hook under the line the whale was tangled in and cut it , said Julie Fair , a National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson .
A crab pot that was also cut free , along with most of the line itself , the Juneau Empire reported .
The whale then swam away , with some small buoys were still stuck to it , Fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the buoys separate from the whale .
“ We ’ re hoping that gear will self-release .
If people see a reddish-orange buoy with 00002 , we ’ re hoping people will let us know , ” she said .

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Nineteen people in a small Alaska town on Thanksgiving cut free a whale that got tangled in buoys and crab pots.
The humpback whale became entangled three days earlier, said rescuer Gordon Chew, a resident of Tenakee Springs. Residents were alerted to the whale’s plight after they heard its sounds of distress.
Rescuers assembled in five different boats to cut the whale loose on Thanksgiving morning.
Wind, fog and low light made the effort more difficult, Chew said. Rescue crews started by assessing the situation with National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration marine mammal rescue specialists and taking video of the snarled humpback whale for experts to examine, Chew said.
Then, they slowly placed a grappling hook under the line the whale was tangled in and cut it, said Julie Fair, a National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson. A crab pot that was also cut free, along with most of the line itself, the Juneau Empire reported.
The whale then swam away, with some small buoys were still stuck to it, Fair said.
Fair said the agency hopes the buoys separate from the whale.
“We’re hoping that gear will self-release. If people see a reddish-orange buoy with 00002, we’re hoping people will let us know,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Panel warns recession may imperil Nevada economy into 2023

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Amid mixed signals about the trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic , a panel of five government-appointed analysts sent forecasts to Nevada ’ s governor and state lawmakers on Thursday suggesting that it could be years before state tax revenue rebounds to pre-pandemic levels .
Although state and federal officials have rejoiced over the impending arrival of vaccines , which could be distributed widely by spring , the Nevada Economic Forum approved forecasts that project the economic impact will outlast the virus and shrink tax revenue through the next two-year budget cycle until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be less than they were in the 2020 budget year , however .
Linda Rosenthal , the panel ’ s vice chair , said that Las Vegas had been hit harder than the rest of the country but noted casinos in regions that depend less on fly-in traffic haven ’ t seen parallel drops in demand .
“ The minute we get the vaccine disseminated and we get travel back - like I said , the demand for gaming has proven to be there - so I feel very comfortable with seeing those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even above , ” she said .
Nevada is one of seven states that levies no personal income tax on residents and relies heavily on tax revenue from tourism and hospitality to underwrite spending , including on health care and education .
Sales tax accounts for almost one-third of general fund revenue and the state also relies heavily on live entertainment and gaming taxes from tourists who frequent concerts and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip .
With the number of visitors down to levels not seen since 1993 , concerts and conventions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada has been among the hardest hit economically by the virus and restrictions put in place to contain it .
The forum ’ s forecasts project the state will collect $ 8.5 billion in general fund revenue over two years , down 5 % from the $ 8.85 billion they projected for 2019-2021 .
It projects that neither gaming fees nor sales and use taxes will recover to pre-pandemic levels until the 2023 budget year .
Meanwhile , the costs of education , health care and labor are expected to continue their steady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for state services is unlikely to dwindle .
Analysts stressed that the projections were little more than guesses given the difficulty of anticipating the pandemic ’ s trajectory , especially with a vaccine on the way .
Regardless , the forecasts will serve as a starting point for state lawmakers tasked with re-balancing the state budget .
Decisions over whether to slash funding for schools , roads or Medicaid recipients , or to furlough state workers , could depend on congressional relief and provisions like the $ 1,200 stimulus checks issued in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places like Las Vegas , said Hayley Owens , an economist with the Nevada Department of Taxation .
Much like after the Great Recession , the shortfalls will likely prompt battles over whether to preserve Nevada ’ s status as a small-government , low-tax haven or diversify revenue streams to protect against economic volatility .
During a July emergency session , the Democratic-controlled Legislature passed a budget that included furloughs and salary freezes for state workers .
Gov .
Steve Sisolak supported furloughs and salary freezes over objections from Republicans , who argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education and health care spending .
Republicans thwarted Democratic efforts to rein in deductions claimed by state mining businesses and the battles will likely reemerge in February when the Legislature reconvenes .
Democratic Party-aligned groups are already clamoring for tax changes .
Last month , after Sisolak directed state agencies to prepare to slash 12 % from their annual budgets , the labor union representing teachers in Clark County , home to Las Vegas , submitted signatures for proposals to increase state sales and gaming taxes to raise additional revenue .
The petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 and if they reject it , put it before voters in 2022 .
Sam Metz 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 .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Amid mixed signals about the trajectory of the coronavirus pandemic, a panel of five government-appointed analysts sent forecasts to Nevada’s governor and state lawmakers on Thursday suggesting that it could be years before state tax revenue rebounds to pre-pandemic levels.
Although state and federal officials have rejoiced over the impending arrival of vaccines, which could be distributed widely by spring, the Nevada Economic Forum approved forecasts that project the economic impact will outlast the virus and shrink tax revenue through the next two-year budget cycle until 2023.
The shortfalls are expected to be less than they were in the 2020 budget year, however. Linda Rosenthal, the panel’s vice chair, said that Las Vegas had been hit harder than the rest of the country but noted casinos in regions that depend less on fly-in traffic haven’t seen parallel drops in demand.
“The minute we get the vaccine disseminated and we get travel back - like I said, the demand for gaming has proven to be there - so I feel very comfortable with seeing those numbers bounce back to pre-pandemic levels and even above,” she said.
Nevada is one of seven states that levies no personal income tax on residents and relies heavily on tax revenue from tourism and hospitality to underwrite spending, including on health care and education. Sales tax accounts for almost one-third of general fund revenue and the state also relies heavily on live entertainment and gaming taxes from tourists who frequent concerts and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
With the number of visitors down to levels not seen since 1993, concerts and conventions cancelled and hotel rooms sitting empty, Nevada has been among the hardest hit economically by the virus and restrictions put in place to contain it.
The forum’s forecasts project the state will collect $8.5 billion in general fund revenue over two years, down 5% from the $8.85 billion they projected for 2019-2021. It projects that neither gaming fees nor sales and use taxes will recover to pre-pandemic levels until the 2023 budget year.
Meanwhile, the costs of education, health care and labor are expected to continue their steady rise. Amid the pandemic, demand for state services is unlikely to dwindle.
Analysts stressed that the projections were little more than guesses given the difficulty of anticipating the pandemic’s trajectory, especially with a vaccine on the way.
Regardless, the forecasts will serve as a starting point for state lawmakers tasked with re-balancing the state budget.
Decisions over whether to slash funding for schools, roads or Medicaid recipients, or to furlough state workers, could depend on congressional relief and provisions like the $1,200 stimulus checks issued in March, which buoyed consumer demand and benefited places like Las Vegas, said Hayley Owens, an economist with the Nevada Department of Taxation.
Much like after the Great Recession, the shortfalls will likely prompt battles over whether to preserve Nevada’s status as a small-government, low-tax haven or diversify revenue streams to protect against economic volatility.
During a July emergency session, the Democratic-controlled Legislature passed a budget that prevented some furloughs and salary freezes for state workers that a proposal by Gov. Steve Sisolak initially recommended. The change garnered objections from Republicans, who argued the funds would be better spent preserving education and health care spending. Republicans thwarted Democratic efforts to rein in deductions claimed by state mining businesses and the battles will likely reemerge in February when the Legislature reconvenes.
Democratic Party-aligned groups are already clamoring for tax changes. Last month, after Sisolak directed state agencies to prepare to slash 12% from their annual budgets, the labor union representing teachers in Clark County, home to Las Vegas, submitted signatures for proposals to increase state sales and gaming taxes to raise additional revenue. The petition requires lawmakers to consider the bill in 2021 and if they reject it, put it before voters in 2022.
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Sam Metz 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--2020-12-03--Joe Biden: 'several' Republican senators congratulated me on win

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden said Thursday that he ’ s gotten congratulatory phone calls from at least a handful of GOP senators as many Republicans dance around the question of who will be the president after Inauguration Day next month .
“ There have been more than several sitting Republican senators who have privately called me and congratulated me , ” Mr. Biden said in an interview with CNN .
“ I understand the situation that they find themselves in.
” Many Republicans have declined to recognize Mr. Biden as the president-elect as President Trump ’ s team challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in court .
Mr. Trump has signaled that he may never formally concede the race .
Mr. Biden predicted that “ at least a significant portion ” of GOP leadership would come around after the Electoral College affirms the results on Dec. 14 .
“ I don ’ t know that it ’ s going to break across the board - I ’ m not saying that , ” he said .
Multiple news outlets declared Mr. Biden the winner on Nov. 7 based on projected vote totals .
Mr. Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of states Mr. Biden narrowly won : Arizona , Georgia , Michigan , Nevada , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin .
Nearly all of those legal challenges have come up empty and all of those states have certified their election results .

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden said Thursday that he’s gotten congratulatory phone calls from at least a handful of GOP senators as many Republicans dance around the question of who will be the president after Inauguration Day next month.
“There have been more than several sitting Republican senators who have privately called me and congratulated me,” Mr. Biden said in an interview with CNN. “I understand the situation that they find themselves in.”
Many Republicans have declined to recognize Mr. Biden as the president-elect as President Trump’s team challenges the results in a handful of states in court. Mr. Trump has signaled that he may never formally concede the race.
Mr. Biden predicted that “at least a significant portion” of GOP leadership would come around after the Electoral College affirms the results on Dec. 14.
“I don’t know that it’s going to break across the board - I’m not saying that,” he said.
Multiple news outlets declared Mr. Biden the winner on Nov. 7 based on projected vote totals.
Mr. Trump’s team has launched legal challenges in a handful of states Mr. Biden narrowly won: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Nearly all of those legal challenges have come up empty and all of those states have certified their election results.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Joe Biden: Donald Trump attending inauguration important to U.S.

President-elect Joe Biden says it is important that President Donald Trump attend his inauguration only in the sense that it @ @ @ @ @ s commitment to a peaceful transfer of power between political rivals .
Trump aides have @ @ @ @ @ would attend Biden ’ s Jan. 20 inauguration .
Trump has continued to falsely claim @ @ @ @ @ of fraud to try to explain away his loss .
Speaking Thursday to CNN , @ @ @ @ @ is totally his decision.
” He added , “ It is of no personal consequence @ @ @ @ @ think it is to the country.
” Biden lamented Trump ’ s refusal to concede @ @ @ @ @ kinds of things happen in tin-horn dictatorships.
” He said he hoped Trump would attend @ @ @ @ @ example to other nations on the democratic process .

President-elect Joe Biden says it is important that President Donald Trump attend his inauguration only in the sense that it would demonstrate the nation’s commitment to a peaceful transfer of power between political rivals.
Trump aides have expressed skepticism that the president would attend Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Trump has continued to falsely claim victory and spread baseless claims of fraud to try to explain away his loss.
Speaking Thursday to CNN, Biden said, “It is totally his decision.” He added, “It is of no personal consequence to me, but I think it is to the country.”
Biden lamented Trump’s refusal to concede, saying, “These kinds of things happen in tin-horn dictatorships.”
He said he hoped Trump would attend the inauguration to set an example to other nations on the democratic process.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Redding police shoot, kill woman whose car struck officer

REDDING , Calif. ( AP ) - Police in Northern California shot and killed a woman after she struck an officer with her car , trapping him under a tire , authorities said Thursday .
Officers were called to the Discovery Village shopping center in Redding Wednesday evening , where a 62-year-old woman was yelling and cursing at patrons of a pizza parlor , a police statement said .
The woman finally left but continued to cause a disturbance in the parking lot for about 20 minutes before a security guard who had confronted her called police , the statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a car .
In trying to leave , she nearly hit an officer , then backed up , hitting an officer with a front tire .
He fell down and was pinned under the tire , police said .
To keep the car from moving , the other officer shot out a tire , then shot at the woman and fatally wounded her , police said .
She was from Yuba County but her name wasn ’ t immediately released .
The officer who was struck by her car was treated at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to make a full recovery , police said .

REDDING, Calif. (AP) - Police in Northern California shot and killed a woman after she struck an officer with her car, trapping him under a tire, authorities said Thursday.
Officers were called to the Discovery Village shopping center in Redding Wednesday evening, where a 62-year-old woman was yelling and cursing at patrons of a pizza parlor, a police statement said.
The woman finally left but continued to cause a disturbance in the parking lot for about 20 minutes before a security guard who had confronted her called police, the statement said.
Arriving officers found the woman in a car. In trying to leave, she nearly hit an officer, then backed up, hitting an officer with a front tire. He fell down and was pinned under the tire, police said.
To keep the car from moving, the other officer shot out a tire, then shot at the woman and fatally wounded her, police said.
She was from Yuba County but her name wasn’t immediately released.
The officer who was struck by her car was treated at a hospital. He was released and is expected to make a full recovery, police said.
Redding is


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Miguel Algarín, a founder of beloved NYC poetry space, dies

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Miguel Algarín , poet , professor and a founder of New York City ’ s beloved Nuyorican Poets Café performance space , has died .
He was 79 .
Algarín died Monday at a Manhattan hospital from sepsis , said Daniel Gallant , executive director of the Nuyorican Poets Café .
Born in Puerto Rico , Algarín and his family came to New York City when he was a child .
After Algarín had returned to New York with degrees from the University of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania State University , he held gatherings with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 1970s , exploring Puerto Rican identity and other themes .
Out of that was created the Nuyorican Poets Café , which by 1981 had moved to a building on Manhattan ’ s lower east side where it remains .
“ Miguel was a brilliant poet , an influential professor and leader , and a supportive mentor who inspired and guided generations of artists , ” Gallant said .
Algarín was a prolific writer , with multiple books of poetry to his name , and edited several anthologies as well .
He spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where he taught classes on Shakespeare , creative writing and ethnic literature , and became a professor emeritus .
Gallant said the cafe would have an online tribute for Algarín this month , and would do something in person as soon as conditions allow .

NEW YORK (AP) - Miguel Algarín, poet, professor and a founder of New York City’s beloved Nuyorican Poets Café performance space, has died. He was 79.
Algarín died Monday at a Manhattan hospital from sepsis, said Daniel Gallant, executive director of the Nuyorican Poets Café.
Born in Puerto Rico, Algarín and his family came to New York City when he was a child.
After Algarín had returned to New York with degrees from the University of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania State University, he held gatherings with other poets in his apartment in the early 1970s, exploring Puerto Rican identity and other themes.
Out of that was created the Nuyorican Poets Café, which by 1981 had moved to a building on Manhattan’s lower east side where it remains.
“Miguel was a brilliant poet, an influential professor and leader, and a supportive mentor who inspired and guided generations of artists,” Gallant said.
Algarín was a prolific writer, with multiple books of poetry to his name, and edited several anthologies as well.
He spent years at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he taught classes on Shakespeare, creative writing and ethnic literature, and became a professor emeritus.
Gallant said the cafe would have an online tribute for Algarín this month, and would do something in person as soon as conditions allow.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Chinese official says Australian PM overreacted to tweet

CANBERRA , Australia ( AP ) - China ’ s senior diplomat in Australia said Prime Minister Scott Morrison overreacted to a social media post about alleged war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan , adding that his actions drew more attention to the report .
Earlier this week , Morrison said that a Chinese official ’ s tweet showing the fake image of an Australian soldier appearing to slit a child ’ s throat was “ truly repugnant ” and merits an apology , which has not come from China .
“ I think it ’ s unfortunate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has gone astray and now there is a much larger visibility of the Brereton report in China , ” China ‘ s deputy ambassador , Wang Xining , said Friday .
“ More people are attentive to what happened in Afghanistan .
People wonder why a national leader would have such a strong opinion to an artwork done by a normal young artist in China.
” He was referring to a disturbing report by Australia ’ s military earlier this month that found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict in Afghanistan .
It recommended that 19 soldiers be referred to federal police for criminal investigation .
It followed a four-year investigation by Maj. Gen. Paul Brereton , a judge and army reservist who was asked to look into the allegations and interviewed more than 400 witnesses and reviewed thousands of pages of documents .
Zhao Lijian , a spokesman for China ’ s Foreign Ministry , posted the graphic image that shows a grinning soldier holding a bloodied knife to the throat of a veiled child , who is holding a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tweet saying : “ Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers .
We strongly condemn such acts , & call for holding them accountable.
” Many of Australia ’ s allies have been critical of the tweet , with the European Union calling it “ irresponsible.
” “ We consider the deliberate dissemination of a fabricated image via social media accounts affiliated with China ’ s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be irresponsible , insensitive , and not at all constructive , particularly given the subject in question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Such behavior and use of information tools to disseminate fabricated images or information can not be justified.
” Officials from the United States , New Zealand and Canada have also criticized the Chinese tweet .
The rift between the two nations has grown since the Australian government called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic .
China has since imposed tariffs and other restrictions on a number of Australian exports , most recently to its lucrative wine industry .

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - China’s senior diplomat in Australia said Prime Minister Scott Morrison overreacted to a social media post about alleged war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, adding that his actions drew more attention to the report.
Earlier this week, Morrison said that a Chinese official’s tweet showing the fake image of an Australian soldier appearing to slit a child’s throat was “truly repugnant” and merits an apology, which has not come from China.
“I think it’s unfortunate that this issue evolved in such a way that has gone astray and now there is a much larger visibility of the Brereton report in China,” China’s deputy ambassador, Wang Xining, said Friday. “More people are attentive to what happened in Afghanistan. People wonder why a national leader would have such a strong opinion to an artwork done by a normal young artist in China.”
He was referring to a disturbing report by Australia’s military earlier this month that found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians during the conflict in Afghanistan. It recommended that 19 soldiers be referred to federal police for criminal investigation.
It followed a four-year investigation by Maj. Gen. Paul Brereton, a judge and army reservist who was asked to look into the allegations and interviewed more than 400 witnesses and reviewed thousands of pages of documents.
Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, posted the graphic image that shows a grinning soldier holding a bloodied knife to the throat of a veiled child, who is holding a lamb.
Zhao wrote a caption with the tweet saying: “Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, & call for holding them accountable.”
Many of Australia’s allies have been critical of the tweet, with the European Union calling it “irresponsible.”
“We consider the deliberate dissemination of a fabricated image via social media accounts affiliated with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be irresponsible, insensitive, and not at all constructive, particularly given the subject in question,” said an EU spokesman.
“Such behavior and use of information tools to disseminate fabricated images or information cannot be justified.”
Officials from the United States, New Zealand and Canada have also criticized the Chinese tweet.
The rift between the two nations has grown since the Australian government called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. China has since imposed tariffs and other restrictions on a number of Australian exports, most recently to its lucrative wine industry.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Colorado county to make all visitors sign virus affidavit

ASPEN , Colo. ( AP ) - A county in Colorado will require visitors to sign an online affidavit that @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus test at most three days prior to arrival or , once arriving , that @ @ @ @ @ test negative or until 14 days has elapsed .
Pitkin County implemented the measure on @ @ @ @ @ effect on Dec. 14 , said county manager Jon Peacock .
Pitkin County is home @ @ @ @ @ ski areas - Aspen Mountain , Aspen Highlands , Buttermilk and Snowmass - and will @ @ @ @ @ the state with similar requirements .
Visitors will also be asked to certify that they @ @ @ @ @ been symptom free for 10 days prior to arrival .
A visitor constitutes anyone who @ @ @ @ @ an overnight stay from outside of Pitkin , Eagle or Garfield counties , The Aspen @ @ @

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - A county in Colorado will require visitors to sign an online affidavit that states they had a negative coronavirus test at most three days prior to arrival or, once arriving, that they will quarantine until they test negative or until 14 days has elapsed.
Pitkin County implemented the measure on Tuesday and it will take effect on Dec. 14, said county manager Jon Peacock. Pitkin County is home to Aspen’s four ski areas - Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass - and will be the only county in the state with similar requirements.
Visitors will also be asked to certify that they and their potential dependents have been symptom free for 10 days prior to arrival.
A visitor constitutes anyone who arrives to Pitkin County for an overnight stay from outside of Pitkin, Eagle or Garfield counties, The Aspen Times reported.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Russian bank owners seek to refute Trump conspiracy theory in court

Russian oligarchs say they know why Democrats and Washington journalists seized on a now-debunked conspiracy theory that a secret computer server linked Donald Trump and Alfa Bank , Russia ’ s largest commercial lender .
The Alfa narrative was one of the most infamous of the Trump-Russia conspiracy theories .
How was it executed ?
In sum , Alfa Bank ’ s lawyers say in court , unknown hackers created thousands of fake “ pings ” between the bank and the Trump Organization server housed in Pennsylvania .
The concocted cyber evidence then made its way to computer scientists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was absolute proof of Trump-Russian election collusion .
Stories appeared online , including in Slate.com and The New Yorker .
Former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele , author of the infamous anti-Trump dossier , spread the Alfa-server tale all around Washington , as did his handler , Democratic opposition research firm Fusion GPS .
The FBI began looking at the same evidence during the election as part of its Crossfire Hurricane probe into President Trump .
Agents visited the Trump server operation in Pennsylvania .
The bureau ’ s final determination was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspector general report came out in December 2019 on FBI wiretapping .
Almost as an afterthought , one of the most celebrated liberal activist theories was destroyed by a footnote — No .
259 .
“ The FBI investigated whether there were cyber links between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank , but had concluded by early February 2017 that there were no such links , ” footnote No .
259 reads .
That could have ended the Alfa saga , placing it on the shelf with other unfounded conspiracies , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prague to meet with Vladimir Putin operatives and Russia funded the Trump campaign through the National Rifle Association .
But Alfa ’ s billionaire partners — Mikhail Fridman , Petr Aven and German Khan — had spent money hiring cybersecurity firms to disprove the server story and wanted to showcase the fraud .
In June , single plaintiff Alfa Bank presented evidence in a 278-page complaint against “ John Doe ” in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County , Pennsylvania , the Trump server ’ s jurisdictional home .
The Alfa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name system ( DNS ) address were the fabricated digital prints of hackers , says the lawsuit naming John Doe as the “ defendants.
” Alfa ’ s aim is to use discovery — depositions of possible witnesses and their data — to out John Doe .
States the complaint : “ Alfa Bank in fact engaged in no communications with the Trump Organization in 2016 or 2017 beyond the falsely generated and inauthentic DNS queries .
Indeed , Alfa Bank has never had any business dealings with the Trump Organization .
Three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available evidence and found nothing suggesting any intentional or covert communications directed by the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank.
” The fake queries to Alfa ’ s DNS tricked the server to automatically respond to the Trump Organization even though the organization had never visited Alfa and had never exchanged emails , the lawsuit says .
The hackers ’ motive was to publicize the fake back-and-forth and create the illusion of a Trump-Russia conspiracy that would roil the election by pitting the Republican and Democratic parties against one another , Alfa says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic on U.S.-based computer servers and networks and created the illusion of two-way communication between Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization , ” the lawsuit states .
The Common Pleas case file is spare , except for the 278-page complaint , with exhibits .
“ The lawsuit effort has just gotten underway and there ’ s not much to report yet , ” an Alfa spokesman told The Washington Times .
The lawsuit provides examples of two back-to-back hacks that occurred in 2016 during the election and then again in 2017 as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In February 2017 , for example , hackers sent Alfa at least 16 “ suspicious ” DNS queries from an external Internet Protocol computer address to the domain name “ mail.trumpemail.com.moscow.AlfaintRa.net ” States the lawsuit : “ Defendants intended that these DNS queries create the impression of an exchange of communications between Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization.
” These “ lookups ” were nearly identical to “ unverified ” data published by L. Jean Camp , a computer science professor at Indiana University , Alfa says .
She posted them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ suspicious ” DNS queries occurred in February .
A cyber operator who goes by the name of “ Tea Leaves ” had acquired at some point the DNS logs .
Ms. Camp was among a group of scientists who analyzed the data .
She called for a federal investigation .
CNN reported in 2017 that Alfa attorneys sent a “ Notice to Preserve Evidence ” to Ms. Camp , including any correspondence with “ Tea Leaves.
” “ Alfa Bank is exploring all available options to protect itself from malicious or tortious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that Alfa Bank had or maintains a relationship with the Trump Organization , ” the Alfa letter to Ms. Camp states .
“ Those options include litigation.
” Ms. Camp did not respond to messages from The Washington Times .
In March 2017 , the lawsuit says , hackers resumed the operation , sending more than 20,000 requests to the same domain names .
The attacks coincided with a CNN report that the FBI continued to probe the “ odd ” links between Alfa and Mr. Trump ’ s land development business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Daniel Jones , a former staffer for Sen. Diane Feinstein , California Democrat .
Mr. Jones , who heads Penn Quarter Group , had joined forces with Fusion GPS and Mr. Steele .
Mr. Jones assembled his own group of computer scientists to look at the links that Alfa asserts are fraudulent .
He took up the cause of selling the Alfa-Trump narrative , which he successfully sourced for a 2018 story in The New Yorker .
The New Yorker published a followup story in October reporting that Alfa ’ s attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arps , Slate , Meagher & Flom , has subpoenaed Ms. Camp and other computer experts .
After Russia-born U.S. resident Igor Danchenko was exposed as Mr. Steele ’ s main dossier source , Alfa lawyers subpoenaed him too , The New Yorker reported .
As evidence to back its claims of fake Trump-Alfa links , Alfa filed in court reports by the multinational cybersecurity firms Ankura and Mandiant Solutions .
The Hillary Clinton campaign made use of the conspiracy once the story appeared in Slate.com on Oct. 31 , 2016 .
Mrs. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Russia conspiracy .
And Jake Sullivan , presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden ’ s incoming national security adviser , endorsed the Slate.com findings in an official statement .
“ This secret hotline may be the key to unlocking the mystery of Trump ’ s ties to Russia , ” Mr. Sullivan said .

Russian oligarchs say they know why Democrats and Washington journalists seized on a now-debunked conspiracy theory that a secret computer server linked Donald Trump and Alfa Bank, Russia’s largest commercial lender.
The Alfa narrative was one of the most infamous of the Trump-Russia conspiracy theories.
How was it executed? In sum, Alfa Bank’s lawyers say in court, unknown hackers created thousands of fake “pings” between the bank and the Trump Organization server housed in Pennsylvania. The concocted cyber evidence then made its way to computer scientists and journalists who publicly concluded the digital trail was absolute proof of Trump-Russian election collusion.
Stories appeared online, including in Slate.com and The New Yorker. Former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, author of the infamous anti-Trump dossier, spread the Alfa-server tale all around Washington, as did his handler, Democratic opposition research firm Fusion GPS.
The FBI began looking at the same evidence during the election as part of its Crossfire Hurricane probe into President Trump. Agents visited the Trump server operation in Pennsylvania.
The bureau’s final determination was not known until a Justice Department’s inspector general report came out in December 2019 on FBI wiretapping. Almost as an afterthought, one of the most celebrated liberal activist theories was destroyed by a footnote — No. 259.
DOCUMENT: Alfa Bank v. John Doe
“The FBI investigated whether there were cyber links between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank, but had concluded by early February 2017 that there were no such links,” footnote No. 259 reads.
That could have ended the Alfa saga, placing it on the shelf with other unfounded conspiracies, such as Trump lawyer Michael Cohen secretly traveled to Prague to meet with Vladimir Putin operatives and Russia funded the Trump campaign through the National Rifle Association. But Alfa’s billionaire partners — Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and German Khan — had spent money hiring cybersecurity firms to disprove the server story and wanted to showcase the fraud.
In June, single plaintiff Alfa Bank presented evidence in a 278-page complaint against “John Doe” in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Trump server’s jurisdictional home.
The Alfa pings at Mr. Trump’s domain name system (DNS) address were the fabricated digital prints of hackers, says the lawsuit naming John Doe as the “defendants.” Alfa’s aim is to use discovery — depositions of possible witnesses and their data — to out John Doe.
States the complaint: “Alfa Bank in fact engaged in no communications with the Trump Organization in 2016 or 2017 beyond the falsely generated and inauthentic DNS queries. Indeed, Alfa Bank has never had any business dealings with the Trump Organization. Three prominent U.S. cybersecurity firms have reviewed all available evidence and found nothing suggesting any intentional or covert communications directed by the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank.”
The fake queries to Alfa’s DNS tricked the server to automatically respond to the Trump Organization even though the organization had never visited Alfa and had never exchanged emails, the lawsuit says.
The hackers’ motive was to publicize the fake back-and-forth and create the illusion of a Trump-Russia conspiracy that would roil the election by pitting the Republican and Democratic parties against one another, Alfa says.
“Through this scheme, Defendants caused traffic on U.S.-based computer servers and networks and created the illusion of two-way communication between Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization,” the lawsuit states.
The Common Pleas case file is spare, except for the 278-page complaint, with exhibits.
“The lawsuit effort has just gotten underway and there’s not much to report yet,” an Alfa spokesman told The Washington Times.
The lawsuit provides examples of two back-to-back hacks that occurred in 2016 during the election and then again in 2017 as the FBI was clearing Alfa of criminal wrongdoing.
In February 2017, for example, hackers sent Alfa at least 16 “suspicious” DNS queries from an external Internet Protocol computer address to the domain name “mail.trumpemail.com.moscow.AlfaintRa.net”
States the lawsuit: “Defendants intended that these DNS queries create the impression of an exchange of communications between Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization.”
These “lookups” were nearly identical to “unverified” data published by L. Jean Camp, a computer science professor at Indiana University, Alfa says. She posted them in November 2016, three months before the “suspicious” DNS queries occurred in February.
A cyber operator who goes by the name of “Tea Leaves” had acquired at some point the DNS logs.
Ms. Camp was among a group of scientists who analyzed the data. She called for a federal investigation.
CNN reported in 2017 that Alfa attorneys sent a “Notice to Preserve Evidence” to Ms. Camp, including any correspondence with “Tea Leaves.”
“Alfa Bank is exploring all available options to protect itself from malicious or tortious interference and possible fraudulent activities that wrongfully suggest that Alfa Bank had or maintains a relationship with the Trump Organization,” the Alfa letter to Ms. Camp states. “Those options include litigation.”
Ms. Camp did not respond to messages from The Washington Times.
In March 2017, the lawsuit says, hackers resumed the operation, sending more than 20,000 requests to the same domain names. The attacks coincided with a CNN report that the FBI continued to probe the “odd” links between Alfa and Mr. Trump’s land development business.
That month, the FBI met with Daniel Jones, a former staffer for Sen. Diane Feinstein, California Democrat. Mr. Jones, who heads Penn Quarter Group, had joined forces with Fusion GPS and Mr. Steele.
Mr. Jones assembled his own group of computer scientists to look at the links that Alfa asserts are fraudulent. He took up the cause of selling the Alfa-Trump narrative, which he successfully sourced for a 2018 story in The New Yorker.
The New Yorker published a followup story in October reporting that Alfa’s attorneys, the powerhouse law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, has subpoenaed Ms. Camp and other computer experts.
After Russia-born U.S. resident Igor Danchenko was exposed as Mr. Steele’s main dossier source, Alfa lawyers subpoenaed him too, The New Yorker reported.
As evidence to back its claims of fake Trump-Alfa links, Alfa filed in court reports by the multinational cybersecurity firms Ankura and Mandiant Solutions. The Hillary Clinton campaign made use of the conspiracy once the story appeared in Slate.com on Oct. 31, 2016. Mrs. Clinton tweeted about the new evidence of a Russia conspiracy.
And Jake Sullivan, presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden’s incoming national security adviser, endorsed the Slate.com findings in an official statement.
“This secret hotline may be the key to unlocking the mystery of Trump’s ties to Russia,” Mr. Sullivan said.
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Synthetic chicken nuggets approved for consumption

Chicken nuggets made from animals without slaughtering them ?
Oh , how far along food technology has come .
Eat Just , a San Francisco-based company that develops meat alternatives , this week received the first-in-the-world regulatory approval from Singapore to sell its laboratory-grown cultured meat in the form of chicken nuggets .
The company said the regulatory approval of cultured meat from animal cells is not only safe for human consumption and avoids slaughtering animals , but also will help meet the increasing demand for meat production .
Eat Just said it soon will launch at a restaurant in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the menu and pricing .
“ I ’ m sure that our regulatory approval for cultured meat will be the first of many in Singapore and in countries around the globe , ” said Josh Tetrick , co-founder and CEO of Eat Just .
“ Singapore has long been a leader in innovation of all kinds , from information technology to biologics to now leading the world in building a healthier , safer food system.
” While alternative proteins such as plant-based “ mock meat ” products made of soy or wheat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cultured or cell-based meat does not have a history of being consumed as food , the Singapore Food Agency ( SFA ) said .
The food agency said cultured meats are considered “ novel ” alternative proteins and are assessed for safety before being allowed to be sold as food .
The sovereign island city-state has a particular interest in protein alternatives since it only produces 10 % of the food it needs to feed its 5.7 million people , according to The Straits Times newspaper .
More than 79 million Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers project this number will climb to 80.2 million in 2023 .
Meat substitute sales brought in more than $ 995 million and are anticipated to grow at a rate five times higher than the animal meat sales , according to Statista , a market and consumer data clearinghouse based in Germany .
Eat Just said it ’ s been working on its cultured chicken for more than four years and spent two years seeking approval from the SFA .
To make the cultured chicken , the company sources a small amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then feeds those cells the same nutrients animals need to grow and multiply such as vitamins , fats , minerals and amino acids , the building blocks of proteins .
“ These nutrients grow the cells into meat .
The entire process takes place in a safe and controlled environment , much like a beer brewery .
Instead of growing the entire animal , we grow just what is typically consumed ( the edible portion ) .
This means that we use fewer resources to grow the meat and we can be more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than months or years , ” Andrew Noyes , company spokesman , said in an email .
Mr. Noyes said the cost of synthetic chicken bites would be comparable to “ premium chicken ” served in a high-end restaurant .
However , prices should drop as production increases .
The company is also working on other types of meat , including beef using cells from California pasture-raised cattle and Wagyu ( beef cattle ) from the Toriyama farm in Japan .
“ Cultivated meat will mark an enormous advance in our efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , secure , and sustainable , and Singapore is leading the way on this transition , ” said Bruce Friedrich , executive director of The Good Food Institute .
“ A new space race for the future of food is underway .
As nations race to divorce meat production from industrial animal agriculture , countries that delay their investment in this bright food future risk getting left behind.
” Meanwhile , the North American Meat Institute said it doesn ’ t have a stance on cell-cultured meat other than to support federal oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poultry products are “ wholesome ” and safe for eating and marketed in a way that allows for a “ level playing field in the marketplace .
”

Chicken nuggets made from animals without slaughtering them? Oh, how far along food technology has come.
Eat Just, a San Francisco-based company that develops meat alternatives, this week received the first-in-the-world regulatory approval from Singapore to sell its laboratory-grown cultured meat in the form of chicken nuggets.
The company said the regulatory approval of cultured meat from animal cells is not only safe for human consumption and avoids slaughtering animals, but also will help meet the increasing demand for meat production.
Eat Just said it soon will launch at a restaurant in Singapore and is working with the chef on the menu and pricing.
“I’m sure that our regulatory approval for cultured meat will be the first of many in Singapore and in countries around the globe,” said Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just. “Singapore has long been a leader in innovation of all kinds, from information technology to biologics to now leading the world in building a healthier, safer food system.”
While alternative proteins such as plant-based “mock meat” products made of soy or wheat proteins have long been on the market, cultured or cell-based meat does not have a history of being consumed as food, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said.
The food agency said cultured meats are considered “novel” alternative proteins and are assessed for safety before being allowed to be sold as food. The sovereign island city-state has a particular interest in protein alternatives since it only produces 10% of the food it needs to feed its 5.7 million people, according to The Straits Times newspaper.
More than 79 million Americans used meat alternatives in 2019, and researchers project this number will climb to 80.2 million in 2023. Meat substitute sales brought in more than $995 million and are anticipated to grow at a rate five times higher than the animal meat sales, according to Statista, a market and consumer data clearinghouse based in Germany.
Eat Just said it’s been working on its cultured chicken for more than four years and spent two years seeking approval from the SFA.
To make the cultured chicken, the company sources a small amount of animal cells from poultry or livestock and then feeds those cells the same nutrients animals need to grow and multiply such as vitamins, fats, minerals and amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
“These nutrients grow the cells into meat. The entire process takes place in a safe and controlled environment, much like a beer brewery. Instead of growing the entire animal, we grow just what is typically consumed (the edible portion). This means that we use fewer resources to grow the meat and we can be more efficient, completing growth in weeks rather than months or years,” Andrew Noyes, company spokesman, said in an email.
Mr. Noyes said the cost of synthetic chicken bites would be comparable to “premium chicken” served in a high-end restaurant.
However, prices should drop as production increases. The company is also working on other types of meat, including beef using cells from California pasture-raised cattle and Wagyu (beef cattle) from the Toriyama farm in Japan.
“Cultivated meat will mark an enormous advance in our efforts to create a food supply that is safe, secure, and sustainable, and Singapore is leading the way on this transition,” said Bruce Friedrich, executive director of The Good Food Institute. “A new space race for the future of food is underway. As nations race to divorce meat production from industrial animal agriculture, countries that delay their investment in this bright food future risk getting left behind.”
Meanwhile, the North American Meat Institute said it doesn’t have a stance on cell-cultured meat other than to support federal oversight that ensures lab-grown, cultured meat and poultry products are “wholesome” and safe for eating and marketed in a way that allows for a “level playing field in the marketplace.”
• Shen Wu Tan can be reached at stan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Oberweis seeks discovery recount in Illinois' 14th District

CHICAGO ( AP ) - Republican businessman Jim Oberweis announced Thursday he is seeking a discovery recount in the seven counties that make up Illinois ’ 14th Congressional District .
Incumbent Congresswoman Lauren Underwood is the projected winner of the contest between them to represent the district that is located west of the metro Chicago area and extends north to the Wisconsin state line .
In a statement , Oberweis says his campaign has filed for a discovery recount in DuPage County and will be filing paperwork in the other counties .
“ A discovery recount does not change a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to see if the outcome might change with a full recount , ” Oberweis said in the statement .
The tabulation of votes has Oberweis trailing Underwood by 5,356 votes , with more than 400,000 votes cast .
Illinois election law allows parties in a closely contested race to seek a discovery recount .
The largely white district has historically been Republican .
Underwood , who is Black , was the first woman and first minority to win the congressional seat once held by Republican former House Speaker Dennis Hastert .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
This year ’ s race between Oberweis and Underwood was among the most expensive in Illinois .
Underwood raised more than $ 7 million , while Oberweis raised about $ 2.5 million .
Oberweis initially claimed victory , citing a slim initial lead .
But Underwood overtook him as more absentee votes were counted .
The election saw a surge in pandemic-driven mail voting .

CHICAGO (AP) - Republican businessman Jim Oberweis announced Thursday he is seeking a discovery recount in the seven counties that make up Illinois’ 14th Congressional District.
Incumbent Congresswoman Lauren Underwood is the projected winner of the contest between them to represent the district that is located west of the metro Chicago area and extends north to the Wisconsin state line. In a statement, Oberweis says his campaign has filed for a discovery recount in DuPage County and will be filing paperwork in the other counties.
“A discovery recount does not change a single vote, but it does allow us to see if the outcome might change with a full recount,” Oberweis said in the statement.
The tabulation of votes has Oberweis trailing Underwood by 5,356 votes, with more than 400,000 votes cast. Illinois election law allows parties in a closely contested race to seek a discovery recount.
The largely white district has historically been Republican. Underwood, who is Black, was the first woman and first minority to win the congressional seat once held by Republican former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. She ousted four-term Republican Randy Hultgren two years ago.
This year’s race between Oberweis and Underwood was among the most expensive in Illinois. Underwood raised more than $7 million, while Oberweis raised about $2.5 million.
Oberweis initially claimed victory, citing a slim initial lead. But Underwood overtook him as more absentee votes were counted. The election saw a surge in pandemic-driven mail voting.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Hand recount in NC chief justice race set to begin next week

Hand recounts of a small portion of ballots cast statewide in the extremely close race for North Carolina Supreme Court chief justice will begin next week in the counties , the State Board of Elections announced on Thursday .
Democratic incumbent Cheri Beasley asked for the partial hand-to-eye recount immediately after the machine recount of nearly 5.4 million ballots cast in her race with Republican Paul Newby was finally completed late Wednesday .
Newby , the senior associate justice , leads Beasley by 401 votes - an advantage little changed since the initial final counting by counties finished two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ballots in 3 % of the voting sites in all 100 counties , chosen at random on Friday by the state board .
Once the partial recount is complete , a statewide hand recount would be ordered if the sample results differ enough from the machine recount to the point that the result would be reversed if the difference was extrapolated to all ballots .
A final result could still be weeks away .
The state board scheduled for Dec. 18 its hearings on appeals by the Newby or Beasley campaigns of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting or rejection of thousands of specific absentee ballots by county elections boards .

Hand recounts of a small portion of ballots cast statewide in the extremely close race for North Carolina Supreme Court chief justice will begin next week in the counties, the State Board of Elections announced on Thursday.
Democratic incumbent Cheri Beasley asked for the partial hand-to-eye recount immediately after the machine recount of nearly 5.4 million ballots cast in her race with Republican Paul Newby was finally completed late Wednesday. Newby, the senior associate justice, leads Beasley by 401 votes - an advantage little changed since the initial final counting by counties finished two weeks ago.
The partial hand recount applies to ballots in 3% of the voting sites in all 100 counties, chosen at random on Friday by the state board. Once the partial recount is complete, a statewide hand recount would be ordered if the sample results differ enough from the machine recount to the point that the result would be reversed if the difference was extrapolated to all ballots.
A final result could still be weeks away. The state board scheduled for Dec. 18 its hearings on appeals by the Newby or Beasley campaigns of protests they’ve filed challenging the counting or rejection of thousands of specific absentee ballots by county elections boards.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--3 hospitalized after gas explosion at Virginia restaurant

DOSWELL , Va. ( AP ) - Three people were hospitalized Thursday following a gas explosion in the kitchen of a Virginia restaurant , leaving one of the victims with life-threatening injuries , according to authorities .
Crossroads Restaurant in Doswell was closed at the time of the 12:30 p.m. blast , which left the kitchen with “ extensive damage , ” Caroline County Sheriff ’ s Maj. Scott Moser told news outlets .
Moser declined to say whether the victims were employees of the restaurant , The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reported .
No customers were involved , Moser added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two were transported by ambulance to a hospital in Richmond , officials said .
The victim with life-threatening injuries was taken by helicopter to a separate Richmond medical center , according to authorities .
An update on their conditions were not immediately available Thursday night .
The cause of the blast was not immediately known , but Moser said it appears to have been an “ accidental situation.
” “ There was nothing intentional , ” he said .
“ There was no foul play.
” The sheriff ’ s office , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County building official Kevin Wightman are investigating the explosion .
Doswell is about 25 miles ( 40 kilometers ) from Richmond .

DOSWELL, Va. (AP) - Three people were hospitalized Thursday following a gas explosion in the kitchen of a Virginia restaurant, leaving one of the victims with life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.
Crossroads Restaurant in Doswell was closed at the time of the 12:30 p.m. blast, which left the kitchen with “extensive damage,” Caroline County Sheriff’s Maj. Scott Moser told news outlets.
Moser declined to say whether the victims were employees of the restaurant, The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star reported. No customers were involved, Moser added.
All three victims suffered burns and two were transported by ambulance to a hospital in Richmond, officials said. The victim with life-threatening injuries was taken by helicopter to a separate Richmond medical center, according to authorities.
An update on their conditions were not immediately available Thursday night.
The cause of the blast was not immediately known, but Moser said it appears to have been an “accidental situation.”
“There was nothing intentional,” he said. “There was no foul play.”
The sheriff’s office, the Caroline Fire and Rescue Department and Carolina County building official Kevin Wightman are investigating the explosion.
Doswell is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Richmond.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--California developer pleads guilty in money-laundering case

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A Southern California real estate developer pleaded guilty on Thursday in a money-laundering case that involved providing illegal contributions to the campaigns of six Los Angeles politicians .
Samuel Leung , 70 , entered a plea to conspiracy to commit campaign money laundering , the Los Angeles Times reported .
The Torrance-based developer was sentenced to five years ’ probation and 500 hours of community service and will pay an as-yet-undetermined amount in restitution .
The Times had reported that beginning in 2009 , more than 100 people and companies with ties to Leung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ donations while his six-story apartment project was being reviewed .
The scheme involved illegally reimbursing the donors , which included Leung ’ s relatives and workers , the Times said .
The apartment project won city approval in 2015 and the building , called the Sea Breeze , opened last year in the Harbor Gateway area .
The donations went to campaigns of politicians including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti , County Supervisor Janice Hahn when she was on the City Council and City Councilman Joe Buscaino , who replaced her in representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope he is held accountable , ” Hahn told the Times in response to Leung ’ s plea .
About $ 60,000 was received by a campaign committee that backed Garcetti ’ s 2013 mayoral bid but wasn ’ t controlled by him , the Times said .
Garcetti didn ’ t immediately comment on the plea , the paper said .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Southern California real estate developer pleaded guilty on Thursday in a money-laundering case that involved providing illegal contributions to the campaigns of six Los Angeles politicians.
Samuel Leung, 70, entered a plea to conspiracy to commit campaign money laundering, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Torrance-based developer was sentenced to five years’ probation and 500 hours of community service and will pay an as-yet-undetermined amount in restitution.
The Times had reported that beginning in 2009, more than 100 people and companies with ties to Leung made more than $600,000 in political donations while his six-story apartment project was being reviewed.
The scheme involved illegally reimbursing the donors, which included Leung’s relatives and workers, the Times said.
The apartment project won city approval in 2015 and the building, called the Sea Breeze, opened last year in the Harbor Gateway area.
The donations went to campaigns of politicians including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, County Supervisor Janice Hahn when she was on the City Council and City Councilman Joe Buscaino, who replaced her in representing the Harbor Gateway neighborhood.
“I hope he is held accountable,” Hahn told the Times in response to Leung’s plea.
About $60,000 was received by a campaign committee that backed Garcetti’s 2013 mayoral bid but wasn’t controlled by him, the Times said.
Garcetti didn’t immediately comment on the plea, the paper said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Colorado cold case solved more than 4 decades after homicide

COLORADO SPRINGS , Colo. ( AP ) - The killing of a young woman in Colorado that went unsolved for nearly 45 years has been solved , police said .
The Grand Junction Police Department said Wednesday that DNA technology confirmed the identity of the primary suspect in the death of 19-year-old Deborah Tomlinson in December 1975 , The Gazette reports .
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations confirmed a DNA profile identified Jimmie Dean Duncan , who was 26 years old at the time of the killing .
Duncan died in 1987 , but investigators compared a mouth swab from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ samples , police said .
Tomlinson was found dead in an apartment in Grand Junction , 243 miles ( 391 kilometers ) west of Denver .
Investigators determined she was sexually assaulted and strangled , but the initial inquiry exhausted all leads and tips , police said .
The case was given a “ fresh look ” in 2019 by detectives who sought assistance from Parabon NanoLabs Inc. , a DNA technology firm near Washington , D.C. Parabon analyzed genetic information gathered at the crime scene , which presented several leads for investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to link the evidence to Duncan , authorities said .
“ Solving these types of cases is very important to our detectives and our agency , ” Grand Junction Chief of Police Doug Shoemaker said in a statement .
“ While not every case is solved , we are proud of the hard work put forth by those who helped provide answers to the victim ’ s family and our community in as many cases as possible .
”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - The killing of a young woman in Colorado that went unsolved for nearly 45 years has been solved, police said.
The Grand Junction Police Department said Wednesday that DNA technology confirmed the identity of the primary suspect in the death of 19-year-old Deborah Tomlinson in December 1975, The Gazette reports.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigations confirmed a DNA profile identified Jimmie Dean Duncan, who was 26 years old at the time of the killing.
Duncan died in 1987, but investigators compared a mouth swab from one of his relatives to crime scene samples, police said.
Tomlinson was found dead in an apartment in Grand Junction, 243 miles (391 kilometers) west of Denver. Investigators determined she was sexually assaulted and strangled, but the initial inquiry exhausted all leads and tips, police said.
The case was given a “fresh look” in 2019 by detectives who sought assistance from Parabon NanoLabs Inc., a DNA technology firm near Washington, D.C.
Parabon analyzed genetic information gathered at the crime scene, which presented several leads for investigators who then used “traditional police work” to link the evidence to Duncan, authorities said.
“Solving these types of cases is very important to our detectives and our agency,” Grand Junction Chief of Police Doug Shoemaker said in a statement. “While not every case is solved, we are proud of the hard work put forth by those who helped provide answers to the victim’s family and our community in as many cases as possible.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--California church sees victory in order from high court

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Lawyers for a church with more than 160 congregations across California said they would seek an immediate court order Thursday allowing indoor worship after the Supreme Court told a lower federal court to reexamine state coronavirus restrictions on church services .
The apparent victory for Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry follows a recent high court ruling in favor of churches and synagogues in New York .
Attorney Mathew Staver , who represents the church , said he expected a swift order from a Los Angeles federal judge blocking Gov .
Gavin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor worship in most counties .
He said the high court ’ s actions would also lead other churches to challenge COVID-19 health orders .
“ The bottom line result is that where the court needs to go is inevitable , ” Staver said .
“ What the court did last week and what they did today , it ’ s a whole new landscape and I think they ’ ve telegraphed quite clearly the direction they ’ re going.
” Last week , the Supreme Court split 5-4 in holding that New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendance at churches and synagogues .
Eugene Volokh , a law professor at the University of California , Los Angeles , said court challenges by churches have had more success as the pandemic has worn on because they ’ ve been able to show they are subject to rules unequal to those faced by some nonessential businesses .
The Supreme Court order came the day after restaurants gained some traction in their challenge to a Los Angeles County ban on outdoor dining .
A Superior Court judge ordered the county to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside dining prevents spread of the virus .
The judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order but could issue one if he sides with restaurants that the order was arbitrary and capricious .
Los Angeles officials claim that eating without a mask raises the threat of transmission of the virus , which is out of control now .
Taken together , the church and restaurant cases represent rare gains in legal challenges of COVID-19 regulations that have typically withstood legal fights .
With few exceptions , California judges have sided with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In one case , a judge in Sutter County in Northern California ordered Newsom to stop issuing directives related to the coronavirus that might interfere with state law .
But an appeals court has put that order on hold while the case is pending .
Last month , a San Diego judge rejected a case from restaurants and gyms that sought to restore indoor service that were forced to move operations outside to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The question is what impact a looming stay-home order expected from the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming overwhelmed will have on the cases .
Attorney Dennis Ellis , who represents the California Restaurant Association , said if Newsom ’ s order takes effect it wouldn ’ t make their legal case irrelevant .
A court win by restaurants would allow them to serve food outside when the order is eventually lifted , Ellis said .
Newsom ’ s order , which would go into effect after a region had more than 85 % of its intensive care unit beds occupied , would halt outdoor dining and limit churches to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it would allow stores to remain open with a 20 % capacity limit .
Volokh said that difference could open the door to further legal challenges from churches to claim they were subject to unequal treatment that violates their First Amendment rights .
In previous months , courts across California have upheld limits on worship services , though some churches have defied orders to close .
In San Diego County , a standoff has intensified between county officials and Awaken Church , which operates five houses of worship in the San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions .
On Saturday , the county issued an advisory that identified an Awaken campus in San Diego as the source of an outbreak , taking the extremely rare step of publicly naming the church .
It said anyone who attended indoor services and events there the week of Nov. 15 should quarantine for two weeks .
On Wednesday , it added two other Awaken campuses , in the suburbs of San Marcos and Chula Vista , to its advisory , reporting 64 cases at all three locations .
Awaken has repeatedly defied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive a cease-and-desist order from the county in July .
That notice said authorities viewed a news station ’ s report of an indoor service and that failing to comply with state orders could result in misdemeanor prosecution and a $ 1,000 fine .
In the last three weeks , the county has issued 103 such cease-and-desist orders as part of a stepped-up enforcement effort that includes eight sheriff ’ s deputies .
Most of those targets are restaurants and gyms but there were five churches , including three Awaken campuses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to provide the safest in-person & online services.
” Church officials did not immediately reply to requests for additional comment Thursday .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lawyers for a church with more than 160 congregations across California said they would seek an immediate court order Thursday allowing indoor worship after the Supreme Court told a lower federal court to reexamine state coronavirus restrictions on church services.
The apparent victory for Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry follows a recent high court ruling in favor of churches and synagogues in New York.
Attorney Mathew Staver, who represents the church, said he expected a swift order from a Los Angeles federal judge blocking Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to close most indoor worship in most counties. He said the high court’s actions would also lead other churches to challenge COVID-19 health orders.
“The bottom line result is that where the court needs to go is inevitable,” Staver said. “What the court did last week and what they did today, it’s a whole new landscape and I think they’ve telegraphed quite clearly the direction they’re going.”
Last week, the Supreme Court split 5-4 in holding that New York could not enforce certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues.
Eugene Volokh, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, said court challenges by churches have had more success as the pandemic has worn on because they’ve been able to show they are subject to rules unequal to those faced by some nonessential businesses.
The Supreme Court order came the day after restaurants gained some traction in their challenge to a Los Angeles County ban on outdoor dining. A Superior Court judge ordered the county to return to court Tuesday to show evidence that banning outside dining prevents spread of the virus.
The judge denied a request for a temporary restraining order but could issue one if he sides with restaurants that the order was arbitrary and capricious. Los Angeles officials claim that eating without a mask raises the threat of transmission of the virus, which is out of control now.
Taken together, the church and restaurant cases represent rare gains in legal challenges of COVID-19 regulations that have typically withstood legal fights. With few exceptions, California judges have sided with the government for various imposing restrictions.
In one case, a judge in Sutter County in Northern California ordered Newsom to stop issuing directives related to the coronavirus that might interfere with state law. But an appeals court has put that order on hold while the case is pending.
Last month, a San Diego judge rejected a case from restaurants and gyms that sought to restore indoor service that were forced to move operations outside to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The question is what impact a looming stay-home order expected from the governor in coming days to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed will have on the cases.
Attorney Dennis Ellis, who represents the California Restaurant Association, said if Newsom’s order takes effect it wouldn’t make their legal case irrelevant. A court win by restaurants would allow them to serve food outside when the order is eventually lifted, Ellis said.
Newsom’s order, which would go into effect after a region had more than 85% of its intensive care unit beds occupied, would halt outdoor dining and limit churches to outdoor services for at least three weeks. But it would allow stores to remain open with a 20% capacity limit.
Volokh said that difference could open the door to further legal challenges from churches to claim they were subject to unequal treatment that violates their First Amendment rights.
In previous months, courts across California have upheld limits on worship services, though some churches have defied orders to close.
In San Diego County, a standoff has intensified between county officials and Awaken Church, which operates five houses of worship in the San Diego area and has openly defied California restrictions.
On Saturday, the county issued an advisory that identified an Awaken campus in San Diego as the source of an outbreak, taking the extremely rare step of publicly naming the church. It said anyone who attended indoor services and events there the week of Nov. 15 should quarantine for two weeks.
On Wednesday, it added two other Awaken campuses, in the suburbs of San Marcos and Chula Vista, to its advisory, reporting 64 cases at all three locations.
Awaken has repeatedly defied orders, also being the first entity to receive a cease-and-desist order from the county in July. That notice said authorities viewed a news station’s report of an indoor service and that failing to comply with state orders could result in misdemeanor prosecution and a $1,000 fine.
In the last three weeks, the county has issued 103 such cease-and-desist orders as part of a stepped-up enforcement effort that includes eight sheriff’s deputies. Most of those targets are restaurants and gyms but there were five churches, including three Awaken campuses.
Awaken said Nov. 17 that it “will continue to provide the safest in-person & online services.” Church officials did not immediately reply to requests for additional comment Thursday.
___
Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Elliott Broidy, Abbe Lowell, Sanford Diller, Hugh Baras involved in alleged bribe-pardon bid: Report

The heavily redacted court documents about a bribery-for-presidential-pardon investigation , which were released earlier this week , did not involve any of these much-speculated-about men .
Instead , according to a report Thursday in the New York Times , the papers concerned efforts by attorney Abbe Lowell and fund-raiser Elliott Broidy to secure clemency for a Berkeley psychologist on tax evasion and federal-benefits conviction .
The Times reported that billionaire San Francisco real estate developer Sanford Diller enlisted the two men in his efforts to secure clemency for Hugh L. Baras , who had received a 30-month prison sentence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diller would make ‘ a substantial political contribution ’ to an unspecified recipient in exchange for the pardon , ” the Times wrote .
The report cited “ two people familiar with the inquiry.
” But nothing came of Mr. Diller ’ s scheme .
No bribe was paid , and the Justice Department ’ s inquiry resulted in no charges .
Mr. Diller died in 2018 and “ there is no evidence that the effort continued after his death , ” the Times wrote .
Mr. Lowell did represent Mr. Baras , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Lowell , told the Times that Justice Department officials with whom he had spoken left him “ with the impression they had absolutely no concerns with Mr. Lowell ’ s conduct.
” Mr. Lowell also is a lawyer for presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner .

It wasn’t Rudolph W. Giuliani, Michael Flynn or Roger Stone.
The heavily redacted court documents about a bribery-for-presidential-pardon investigation, which were released earlier this week, did not involve any of these much-speculated-about men.
Instead, according to a report Thursday in The New York Times, the papers concerned efforts by attorney Abbe Lowell and fund-raiser Elliott Broidy to secure clemency for a Berkeley psychologist on tax evasion and federal-benefits conviction.
The Times reported that billionaire San Francisco real estate developer Sanford Diller enlisted the two men in his efforts to secure clemency for Hugh L. Baras, who had received a 30-month prison sentence.
“Under the suspected scheme, Mr. Diller would make ‘a substantial political contribution’ to an unspecified recipient in exchange for the pardon,” The Times wrote.
The report cited “two people familiar with the inquiry.”
But nothing came of Mr. Diller’s scheme. No bribe was paid, and the Justice Department’s inquiry resulted in no charges.
Mr. Diller died in 2018, and “there is no evidence that the effort continued after his death,” The Times wrote.
Mr. Lowell did represent Mr. Baras, but Reid Weingarten, a lawyer for Mr. Lowell, told The Times that Justice Department officials with whom he had spoken left him “with the impression they had absolutely no concerns with Mr. Lowell’s conduct.”
Mr. Lowell also is a lawyer for presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--Team Biden takes heat over Michelle Lujan Grisham leaks

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have made a fresh push for President-elect Joe Biden to nominate New Mexico Gov @ @ @ @ @ health and human services secretary .
The lawmakers also encouraged Biden ’ s team to @ @ @ @ @ Xavier Becerra or Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez for attorney general , according to @ @ @ @ @ virtual conference call who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss it .
Several members @ @ @ @ @ , who is apparently no longer in top running for the post .
One lawmaker @ @ @ @ @ Lujan of New Mexico , told Biden ’ s team that news leaks about her @ @ @ @ @ were inappropriate , the person on the call said .
Biden ’ s chief of @ @ @ @ @ who was on the call with other transition team officials , agreed , the person @ @ @ @ @ it should not have happened .
The lawmakers are pressing to have Latinos in at @ @ @ @ @ fill 20 % of the administrative appointments , reflective of their population .

Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have made a fresh push for President-elect Joe Biden to nominate New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as health and human services secretary.
The lawmakers also encouraged Biden’s team to tap either California Attorney General Xavier Becerra or Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez for attorney general, according to a person on the Thursday virtual conference call who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss it.
Several members spoke up for Lujan Grisham, who is apparently no longer in top running for the post. One lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, told Biden’s team that news leaks about her turning down another Cabinet job were inappropriate, the person on the call said.
Biden’s chief of staff, Ron Klain, who was on the call with other transition team officials, agreed, the person said. He told them it should not have happened.
The lawmakers are pressing to have Latinos in at least five Cabinet positions and fill 20% of the administrative appointments, reflective of their population.


washingtontimes--2020-12-03--AP Week in Pictures: Asia

AP Week in Pictures: Asia

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

Inflatable yellow ducks, which have become good-humored symbols of resistance during anti-government rallies, are lifted over a crowd of protesters Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. Pro-democracy demonstrators are continuing their protests calling for the government to step down …
Inflatable yellow ducks, which have become …