washingtontimes--2020-05-04--Viral sleuths needed to track California coronavirus cases

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - California ’ s ambitious plan to double the current number of coronavirus tests is being paired with a massive campaign to track down every person who may become infected by each new person who tests positive for the virus .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Monday that as part of statewide plans to reopen businesses , California aims to reassign 20,000 public employees as COVID-19 case investigators and contact tracers , a job that requires perseverance , resourcefulness and a bit of sleuthing .
“ It ’ s more complicated than you think , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemiologist at the University of California , San Francisco , who helped design a training program for the new work force .
“ They have to be fairly creative in finding people .
It ’ s a lot of detective work.
” Newsom had mentioned plans for the program nearly three weeks ago when he discussed creating “ an army ” of 10,000 workers who would have to track down more than 10 people for each person who tests positive with the virus .
At the time , he estimated they would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day if the state hit its goal of testing 60,000 a day .
So far , fewer than 3,000 people are doing the work in about two dozen of the state ’ s 58 counties .
County health departments routinely track down people potentially infected with sexually transmitted diseases or tuberculosis but it ’ s never been done on this scale .
A recent Associated Press review of the U.S. found many states falling short of goals to track cases and scrambling to train enough people for the task , which the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
In the early days of the outbreak , counties tried to track down anyone who came into contact with an infected person in hopes of controlling the spread of the fast-moving virus .
People suspected of being ill were ordered into quarantine and the people they were in close contact with were told to isolate themselves .
But once the virus spread more widely , that work became difficult to carry out on a large scale .
San Francisco Bay Area counties , followed by Newsom , moved to a mitigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to stay at home and keep a safe distance from others .
While some counties are now bucking those orders , others have gone even further in requiring face coverings in public .
In Los Angeles , with more than 10 million people , the county has continued to try to track down those associated with every new case of the virus , Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said last month .
Once the volume of cases took off , it began instructing each infected person to notify their friends , family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We obviously don ’ t reach everyone because sometimes we don ’ t have the right cell numbers or phone numbers and sometimes people don ’ t wish to talk with us , ” Ferrer said .
“ But we reach somewhere between 80 and 90 % of people for whom we have a positive lab result.
” The benefit of having most residents at home for nearly seven weeks now is that the number of close contacts is limited to an average of 3.5 people in the Bay Area , accounting mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
But that ’ s bound to rise once people are allowed to leave home more freely .
Even with a small number of contacts , it can be a challenge tracking down acquaintances they may have seen or a neighbor whose full name they don ’ t know .
As an example of how time consuming the work can be , the University of California , Davis hired four full-time employees last month to trace the contacts of every infected employee at its health system - at a time when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day among staff , said Dr. David Lubarsky , the chief executive of UC Davis Health .
“ Usually these types of things take a longer time than anyone hopes , ” Lubarsky said .
“ But , unfortunately , there are a ton of underutilized , unemployed individuals out there who could , no doubt , be convinced to take on a new role during the pandemic.
” Dr. Sonia Angell , the state ’ s health director , said public employees would be reassigned to the work .
A virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ text , email or use online chatting tools to notify anyone who has been in close contact with someone infected .
They ’ ll be asked about their symptoms , offered testing , and advised to isolate .
Rutherford said it takes about 20 hours to train someone , though most of that time is spent providing feedback as trainees make contact with those who may have been exposed .
In San Francisco , where the health department went from a staff of 10 to 140 people doing the tracking work by phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
“ They got nothing going on , ” Rutherford said .
” But they ’ re great .
They can speak ( different ) languages , they ’ re very skilled .
So it works.
” Associated Press reporter John Antczak contributed to this report .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - California’s ambitious plan to double the current number of coronavirus tests is being paired with a massive campaign to track down every person who may become infected by each new person who tests positive for the virus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that as part of statewide plans to reopen businesses, California aims to reassign 20,000 public employees as COVID-19 case investigators and contact tracers, a job that requires perseverance, resourcefulness and a bit of sleuthing.
“It’s more complicated than you think,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who helped design a training program for the new work force. “They have to be fairly creative in finding people. It’s a lot of detective work.”
Newsom had mentioned plans for the program nearly three weeks ago when he discussed creating “an army” of 10,000 workers who would have to track down more than 10 people for each person who tests positive with the virus. At the time, he estimated they would be tracking 2,000 to 3,000 new cases a day if the state hit its goal of testing 60,000 a day.
So far, fewer than 3,000 people are doing the work in about two dozen of the state’s 58 counties.
County health departments routinely track down people potentially infected with sexually transmitted diseases or tuberculosis but it’s never been done on this scale.
A recent Associated Press review of the U.S. found many states falling short of goals to track cases and scrambling to train enough people for the task, which the federal government also has deemed essential to reopening businesses.
In the early days of the outbreak, counties tried to track down anyone who came into contact with an infected person in hopes of controlling the spread of the fast-moving virus. People suspected of being ill were ordered into quarantine and the people they were in close contact with were told to isolate themselves.
But once the virus spread more widely, that work became difficult to carry out on a large scale. San Francisco Bay Area counties, followed by Newsom, moved to a mitigation strategy still in place that required most people to stay at home and keep a safe distance from others. While some counties are now bucking those orders, others have gone even further in requiring face coverings in public.
In Los Angeles, with more than 10 million people, the county has continued to try to track down those associated with every new case of the virus, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said last month. Once the volume of cases took off, it began instructing each infected person to notify their friends, family and co-workers of their status.
“We obviously don’t reach everyone because sometimes we don’t have the right cell numbers or phone numbers and sometimes people don’t wish to talk with us,” Ferrer said. “But we reach somewhere between 80 and 90% of people for whom we have a positive lab result.”
The benefit of having most residents at home for nearly seven weeks now is that the number of close contacts is limited to an average of 3.5 people in the Bay Area, accounting mostly for family members or roommates, Rutherford said. But that’s bound to rise once people are allowed to leave home more freely.
Even with a small number of contacts, it can be a challenge tracking down acquaintances they may have seen or a neighbor whose full name they don’t know.
As an example of how time consuming the work can be, the University of California, Davis hired four full-time employees last month to trace the contacts of every infected employee at its health system - at a time when it was only finding about one new infection a day among staff, said Dr. David Lubarsky, the chief executive of UC Davis Health.
“Usually these types of things take a longer time than anyone hopes,” Lubarsky said. “But, unfortunately, there are a ton of underutilized, unemployed individuals out there who could, no doubt, be convinced to take on a new role during the pandemic.”
Dr. Sonia Angell, the state’s health director, said public employees would be reassigned to the work.
A virtual academy will train them to call, text, email or use online chatting tools to notify anyone who has been in close contact with someone infected. They’ll be asked about their symptoms, offered testing, and advised to isolate.
Rutherford said it takes about 20 hours to train someone, though most of that time is spent providing feedback as trainees make contact with those who may have been exposed.
In San Francisco, where the health department went from a staff of 10 to 140 people doing the tracking work by phone, many were librarians whose buildings had closed.
“They got nothing going on,” Rutherford said. ”But they’re great. They can speak (different) languages, they’re very skilled. So it works.”
___
Associated Press reporter John Antczak contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-05-04--Justin Walker ruling on On Fire Christian Center v. Greg Fischer expected to be issue in nomination

Judge Justin Walker ’ s ruling in the church-vs.-state showdown over stay-at-home orders is expected to be a key issue Tuesday when the Senate considers his nomination to the nation ’ s premier federal appellate court .
Last month , President Trump nominated Judge Walker who , at 37 years old , is the youngest nominee to the U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia since the 1980s .
Rather than shrink away from contentious decisions , as is the norm for judges on the verge of promotion , Judge Walker wrote an opinion that prevented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down Easter church services over social distancing guidelines .
“ On Holy Thursday , an American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter , ” Judge Walker wrote in the On Fire Christian Center v. Greg Fischer ruling .
“ That sentence is one that this court never expected to see outside the pages of a dystopian novel , or perhaps the pages of The Onion .
But two days ago , citing the need for social distancing during the current pandemic , Louisville ’ s Mayor Greg Fischer ordered Christians not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained in their cars to worship — and even though it ’ s Easter .
The mayor ’ s decision is stunning .
And it is , ‘ beyond all reason , ’ unconstitutional.
” The ruling fired up religious liberty advocates and political conservatives , who previously rallied behind Judge Walker when his age became a flashpoint for opponents of his nomination to the federal bench in Kentucky .
The American Bar Association labeled him as “ not qualified ” in 2019 because he practiced law for fewer than 12 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in October 2019 .
He has been a federal judge for less than one year .
Judge Walker has shown he is ready and able to protect Americans from government overreach because of the On Fire ruling , said Mike Davis , former Senate Judiciary Committee counsel on nominations and president of the Article III Project that advocates for Mr. Trump ’ s judicial picks .
“ Judge Walker proved he ’ s a great match for the D.C .
Circuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all federal government agencies that overstep their authority , ” Mr. Davis said .
The On Fire ruling is expected to rankle Senate Democrats who have complained that the chamber should not consider any judicial nominee during the coronavirus outbreak .
Last week , the Senate Judiciary Committee ’ s 10 Democrats wrote to the committee ’ s chairman , Sen. Lindsey Graham , requesting a delay of Tuesday ’ s scheduled hearing on the Walker nomination .
“ Now is not the time to process routine judicial nominations , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The hearing is set to proceed as planned , and liberal advocates have latched onto the On Fire case for ammunition to use against Judge Walker .
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights wrote a letter to individual senators on behalf of a coalition of 200 liberal groups that labeled Judge Walker ’ s On Fire ruling “ a decision in which he sought to decide issues not before the court but that synced up with his personal ideological agenda.
” “ Indeed , by manufacturing facts to comport with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the defendant to provide evidence , Judge Walker demonstrated a troubling degree of bad judgment and judicial activism , ” the letter said .
Judge Walker ’ s ability to defend his On Fire decision could determine whether his nomination is too hot to handle for the Senate .
Heritage Foundation constitutional scholar John Malcolm said he thought the opinion was “ excellent ” and the judge would — and should — be confirmed .
“ Although he is certainly young , he has a distinguished career — prestigious clerkships with Justice [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Anthony ] Kennedy and a stint in private practice at a well-respected firm , ” Mr. Malcolm said in an email .
“ As well , he has taught separation of powers and administrative law , among other courses , for several years , which is the bread and butter of the kind of issues that the D.C .
Circuit faces .
”

Judge Justin Walker’s ruling in the church-vs.-state showdown over stay-at-home orders is expected to be a key issue Tuesday when the Senate considers his nomination to the nation’s premier federal appellate court.
Last month, President Trump nominated Judge Walker who, at 37 years old, is the youngest nominee to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia since the 1980s. Rather than shrink away from contentious decisions, as is the norm for judges on the verge of promotion, Judge Walker wrote an opinion that prevented the mayor Louisville, Kentucky, shutting down Easter church services over social distancing guidelines.
“On Holy Thursday, an American mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter,” Judge Walker wrote in the On Fire Christian Center v. Greg Fischer ruling. “That sentence is one that this court never expected to see outside the pages of a dystopian novel, or perhaps the pages of The Onion. But two days ago, citing the need for social distancing during the current pandemic, Louisville’s Mayor Greg Fischer ordered Christians not to attend Sunday services, even if they remained in their cars to worship — and even though it’s Easter. The mayor’s decision is stunning. And it is, ‘beyond all reason,’ unconstitutional.”
The ruling fired up religious liberty advocates and political conservatives, who previously rallied behind Judge Walker when his age became a flashpoint for opponents of his nomination to the federal bench in Kentucky.
The American Bar Association labeled him as “not qualified” in 2019 because he practiced law for fewer than 12 years. He was confirmed by a 50-41 Senate vote to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in October 2019. He has been a federal judge for less than one year.
Judge Walker has shown he is ready and able to protect Americans from government overreach because of the On Fire ruling, said Mike Davis, former Senate Judiciary Committee counsel on nominations and president of the Article III Project that advocates for Mr. Trump’s judicial picks.
“Judge Walker proved he’s a great match for the D.C. Circuit, where he can take the fight to all federal government agencies that overstep their authority,” Mr. Davis said.
The On Fire ruling is expected to rankle Senate Democrats who have complained that the chamber should not consider any judicial nominee during the coronavirus outbreak.
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s 10 Democrats wrote to the committee’s chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, requesting a delay of Wednesday’s scheduled hearing on the Walker nomination.
“Now is not the time to process routine judicial nominations,” the Democrats wrote to the South Carolina Republican.
The hearing is set to proceed as planned, and liberal advocates have latched onto the On Fire case for ammunition to use against Judge Walker.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights wrote a letter to individual senators on behalf of a coalition of 200 liberal groups that labeled Judge Walker’s On Fire ruling “a decision in which he sought to decide issues not before the court but that synced up with his personal ideological agenda.”
“Indeed, by manufacturing facts to comport with his ideological agenda, and not permitting the defendant to provide evidence, Judge Walker demonstrated a troubling degree of bad judgment and judicial activism,” the letter said.
Judge Walker’s ability to defend his On Fire decision could determine whether his nomination is too hot to handle for the Senate.
Heritage Foundation constitutional scholar John Malcolm said he thought the opinion was “excellent” and the judge would — and should — be confirmed.
“Although he is certainly young, he has a distinguished career — prestigious clerkships with Justice [then-Judge] Brett Kavanaugh and with Justice [Anthony] Kennedy and a stint in private practice at a well-respected firm,” Mr. Malcolm said in an email. “As well, he has taught separation of powers and administrative law, among other courses, for several years, which is the bread and butter of the kind of issues that the D.C. Circuit faces.”
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-04--4 California inmates killed within 2 days at 3 state prisons

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - Four California inmates were killed at three state prisons , including two at a single facility north of Bakersfield a day apart , corrections department officials said Monday .
Robert Beltran , 50 , was fatally stabbed by three other inmates as he left his cell at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano on Friday , officials said .
That ’ s in a different part of the same prison where a day earlier officials previously said two inmates fatally stabbed convicted murderer Robert Hargrave , 48 .
Beltran was serving a life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials did not immediately say if they had any reason to think the two slayings are related .
The three being held on suspicion of killing Beltran are Charles Garibay , Rafael Navarro and Guillermo Navarro .
The victim and suspected attackers are all from Los Angeles County .
Guillermo Navarro , 38 , is serving a life term for murder .
He is not related to Rafael Navarro .
Rafael Navarro , 32 , is serving a 25-year sentence for armed robbery with gang enhancements .
He has additional sentences for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison .
Garibay , 34 , is serving a 46-year sentence for assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a peace officer , attempted carjacking and attempted murder , and another four years for possessing a weapon in prison .
Also on Thursday , 260 miles ( 418.43 kilometers ) to the north , officials at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville said they found 75-year-old Tuc X. Tran unresponsive in his cell with multiple injuries to his head and face .
His next of kin were notified on Monday .
He had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Riverside County murder .
They are holding his cellmate , James A. Norton , 39 , as a suspect .
He is serving a two-year sentence from Mendocino County for causing a fire on forest land .
The fourth slaying was Friday at High Desert State Prison in Susanville .
Officials say two inmates fatally stabbed Michael M. Ramadanovic , 65 , and didn ’ t stop until correctional officers used chemical agents and fired a warning shot .
He was serving a life sentence for a Merced County murder , with another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapon in prison .
The two suspects are Rodney Rice and Robert Smith , both 28 .
Officials did not immediately provide their criminal histories .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Four California inmates were killed at three state prisons, including two at a single facility north of Bakersfield a day apart, corrections department officials said Monday.
“They’re all unrelated,” said department spokeswoman Terry Thornton.
Robert Beltran, 50, was fatally stabbed by three other inmates as he left his cell at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano on Friday, officials said.
That’s in a different part of the same prison where a day earlier officials previously said two inmates fatally stabbed convicted murderer Robert Hargrave, 48.
Beltran was serving a life term for attempted second-degree murder and kidnapping. Officials did not immediately say if they had any reason to think the two slayings are related.
The three being held on suspicion of killing Beltran are Charles Garibay, Rafael Navarro and Guillermo Navarro. The victim and suspected attackers are all from Los Angeles County.
Guillermo Navarro, 38, is serving a life term for murder. He is not related to Rafael Navarro.
Rafael Navarro, 32, is serving a 25-year sentence for armed robbery with gang enhancements. He has additional sentences for drug possession and attacking another inmate while in prison.
Garibay, 34, is serving a 46-year sentence for assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a peace officer, attempted carjacking and attempted murder, and another four years for possessing a weapon in prison.
Also on Thursday, 260 miles (418.43 kilometers) to the north, officials at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville said they found 75-year-old Tuc X. Tran unresponsive in his cell with multiple injuries to his head and face. His next of kin were notified on Monday. He had been serving a life sentence for a Riverside County murder.
They are holding his cellmate, James A. Norton, 39, as a suspect. He is serving a two-year sentence from Mendocino County for causing a fire on forest land.
The fourth slaying was Friday at High Desert State Prison in Susanville.
Officials say two inmates fatally stabbed Michael M. Ramadanovic, 65, and didn’t stop until correctional officers used chemical agents and fired a warning shot. He was serving a life sentence for a Merced County murder, with another six-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon in prison.
The two suspects are Rodney Rice and Robert Smith, both 28.
Rice and Smith were placed in segregated housing pending an investigation. Inmate movement on Facility C was limited to facilitate the investigation.
Rice, 28, was sentenced last year on a second-strike conviction involving injuring someone within seven years of a previous conviction. He has served time for various crimes, ranging from auto theft to assault with a deadly weapon.
Smith, 28, was serving time for various crimes, including a prison assault, and in March was sentenced in Tuolumne County for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury.


washingtontimes--2020-05-04--Star Tribune's Jill Burcum Pulitzer finalist for editorial

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Star Tribune editorial writer Jill Burcum was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist Monday for her @ @ @ @ @ proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota .
The judges praised Burcum “ for @ @ @ @ @ a pristine wilderness area , accessible largely by canoe , to demonstrate to readers why @ @ @ @ @ incalculable environmental damage.
” The Star Tribune reports Burcum credited the team at Star Tribune @ @ @ @ @ editor David Banks , for supporting her work on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area project @ @ @ @ @ was a Pulitzer finalist for editorial writing for her “ Separate and Unequal ” series @ @ @ @ @ Education schools .
The Pulitzer Prizes in journalism were first awarded in 1917 and are @ @ @ @ @ most prestigious honor in the U.S .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Star Tribune editorial writer Jill Burcum was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist Monday for her piece last November on the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota.
The judges praised Burcum “for passionate, persuasive writing about a pristine wilderness area, accessible largely by canoe, to demonstrate to readers why a proposed mine would do incalculable environmental damage.”
The Star Tribune reports Burcum credited the team at Star Tribune Opinion, particularly assistant commentary editor David Banks, for supporting her work on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area project.
In 2015, Burcum was a Pulitzer finalist for editorial writing for her “Separate and Unequal” series on dilapidated Bureau of Indian Education schools.
The Pulitzer Prizes in journalism were first awarded in 1917 and are considered the field’s most prestigious honor in the U.S.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Another 1,700 virus deaths reported in NY nursing homes

ALBANY , N.Y. ( AP ) - New York state is now reporting more than 1,700 previously undisclosed deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities as the state faces scrutiny over how it ’ s protected vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic .
At least 4,813 residents with confirmed or presumed cases of COVID-19 have died at 351 of New York ’ s 613 nursing homes since March 1 , according to Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s administration ’ s new list .
The list , released late Monday , includes the reported number of both confirmed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nursing home residents have made up roughly one-fourth to one-fifth of the state ’ s official tally of fatalities .
But just how many nursing home residents have died of COVID-19 remains uncertain despite the state ’ s latest disclosure , as the list doesn ’ t include deaths of nursing home residents at hospitals or any details about the number of COVID-19 cases at individual nursing homes .
The data shows that 22 nursing homes largely in New York City and Long Island have reported at least 40 deaths and that 64 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49 deaths .
Parker Jewish Institute in Queens and Isabella Geriatric Center - one of New York City ’ s largest nursing homes with 705 beds - have reported the highest number of deaths : 71 and 64 , respectively .
Audrey Waters , a spokeswoman for Isabella Geriatric Center , said in an email last week , “ Isabella , like all other nursing homes in New York City , initially had limited access to widespread and consistent in-house testing to quickly diagnose our residents and staff .
This hampered our ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asymptomatic , despite our efforts to swiftly separate anyone who presented symptoms.
” In many cases , the state ’ s new figures reveal many more deaths than previously reported at nursing homes : Isabella Geriatric Center had 13 COVID-19 deaths reported as of May 1 , and now reports the deaths of 21 patients who were confirmed to have COVID-19 along with 43 deaths of residents presumed to have COVID-19 .
And Ozanam Hall of Queens now is reporting a total of 53 deaths , up from just 10 .
Several veterans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus : The Long Island State Veterans Home has reported 53 deaths ; including 48 confirmed and five presumed COVID-19 deaths .
The New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans in Queens has reported 33 deaths while New York State Veterans Home at Montrose in Westchester says 22 residents have died .
Cuomo promised on March 2 , when only a handful of coronavirus cases had been reported in New York , to make a “ special effort ” for nursing homes and congregate homes housing senior citizens .
The state directed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modifying visiting hours on March 6 , and later suspended visits to nursing homes statewide March 12 .
But the governor is facing criticism over his administration ’ s role in overseeing and supporting New York ’ s overwhelmed , state-regulated nursing homes as many have struggled to treat COVID-19 patients , amass enough personal protective gear or ensure adequate staffing .
Advocacy groups for the elderly and family members of nursing home residents have called for greater transparency over COVID-19 cases at each state-regulated nursing home and criticized an April 1 state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes from civil and criminal liability .
They also questioned the state ’ s March 25 policy that says “ no resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to a nursing home solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19.
” The governor and his administration have defended that policy as ensuring nursing home residents aren ’ t left lingering in hospitals or without anywhere else to go .
Cuomo ’ s spokesman tweeted Monday that the policy follows federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home “ can accept a resident diagnosed with COVID-19 ” so long as the nursing home can follow federal guidance on transmission precautions .
Cuomo has also said the state has facilities that can house transferred COVID-19 nursing homes patients , and he recently said that nursing homes that tell the state up-front that they can ’ t care for a COVID-19 patient wouldn ’ t face regulatory scrutiny .
His administration hasn ’ t responded to a request for questions on the state ’ s current capacity to care for COVID-19 nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informed .

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York state reported more than 1,700 previously undisclosed deaths at nursing homes and adult care facilities in a tally that included for the first time people believed to have been killed by the coronavirus before their diagnoses could be confirmed.
The tally, released late Monday, emerged as state officials faced scrutiny over how they have protected vulnerable residents from the coronavirus.
At least 4,813 people have died from COVID-19 in the state’s nursing homes since March 1, according to the new totals.
Exactly how many nursing home residents have died remains uncertain despite the disclosure. The list released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration did not include nursing home residents who were transferred to hospitals before dying.
With the inclusion of the additional deaths, the state now lists 22 nursing homes as having at least 40 deaths. Most of the facilities are in New York City and on Long Island. Sixty-two nursing homes reported between 20 and 39 deaths.
Parker Jewish Institute in Queens and the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan are listed as having the most deaths: 71 and 64, respectively. Even those numbers are likely an undercount. Isabella Geriatric Center officials have said publicly that 98 residents are believed to have died, including those sent to hospitals.
Audrey Waters, a spokeswoman for Isabella Geriatric Center, said in an email last week, that the home, like others in the city, initially had limited access to tests to quickly diagnose residents and staff.
“This hampered our ability to identify those who were infected and asymptomatic, despite our efforts to swiftly separate anyone who presented symptoms,” she said.
In many cases, the state’s new figures reveal many more deaths at individual facilities. For example, Ozanam Hall, a facility in Queens, now reports a total of 53 deaths, up from just 10.
The disclosure comes as fewer patients are entering hospitals, but several hundred continue to die each day in nursing homes and hospitals. The steadily rising statewide death toll of over 19,000 does not include thousands of probable COVID-19 deaths in New York City alone.
Meanwhile, some nursing homes say that their infection rates appear to be dropping, including the Long Island State Veterans Home, which has reported 53 deaths - 48 confirmed and five presumed COVID-19 deaths.
The state - which is now investigating nursing homes’ COVID-19 response - recently found the veterans home in compliance with state standards, according to Ken Kaushansky, senior vice president of health sciences at Stony Brook University Hospital and dean of the university’s medical school.
Back on March 2, when only a handful of coronavirus cases had been reported in New York, Cuomo promised to make a “special effort” for nursing homes and congregate homes housing senior citizens. Several days later, on March 6, the state directed nursing homes to screen visitors and consider modifying visiting hours. A week after that, officials suspended visits to nursing homes statewide and required temperature checks of staff.
The governor now faces questions over whether more could be done to help New York’s state-regulated nursing homes amass enough personal protective gear, get access to tests and ensure adequate staffing.
Cuomo said he believed nursing homes were trying their best under difficult conditions.
“The nursing homes we said from day one are the most vulnerable place,” he said.
Families of residents at several of the affected facilities have expressed frustration with getting updates on outbreaks and the number of fatalities.
Adam Jankowitz said he has resorted to calling members of Congress after several failed attempts to get information about the Isabella Geriatric Center, where his mother, Joanne, lives.
He believed the facility had only a handful of deaths until it reported last week that nearly 100 residents infected with the coronavirus had died.
“We’re trying to get a clearer idea of the risk to her in staying where she is. We’re also trying to arrange another living place for her until it is safe to be in her building, and to organize details of moving her and her cat to a safer place,” Jankowitz wrote in an email.
Amid worries over future COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes, Cuomo has revised some policies after critics argued they were endangering the vulnerable and keeping loved ones in the dark.
At first, the state only recommended that nursing homes alert residents and family members of COVID-19 cases. Cuomo later issued an executive order requiring such alerts for virus cases and deaths.
The following day, after initially expressing concern about violating residents’ privacy, Cuomo began disclosing reported deaths at some individual nursing homes.
In late March, New York prevented nursing homes from refusing to admit or re-admit confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. But officials clarified on April 7 that nursing homes cannot accept symptomatic patients if they do not have needed staff. New Jersey and Michigan issued similar orders, and federal guidance says nursing homes that follow infection protocol can accept COVID-19 residents.
Cuomo’s administration said last week that certain nursing home workers who test positive for COVID-19 can return to work after 14 days. That’s up from seven days under previous federal and state guidance.
While the federal government has yet to release numbers on how the coronavirus has ravaged the industry, The Associated Press maintains its own tally based on state health departments and media reports, finding 23,065 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide.
___
Associated Press writers Jim Mustian and Karen Matthews and investigative researcher Randy Herschaft contributed to this report from New York.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Man arrested after crashing into golf course pond in Fargo

FARGO , N.D. ( AP ) - A driver has been arrested after crashing an SUV into a golf course @ @ @ @ @ responded to a report of a motorist driving recklessly through Fargo and nearby Moorhead , @ @ @ @ @ authorities .
Police said he was driving the wrong way on streets and running red @ @ @ @ @ tried to stop the driver but didn ’ t pursue him .
The man fled @ @ @ @ @ the Prairiewood Golf Course and crashing into the pond .
The 32-year-old man was arrested @ @ @ @ @ reckless endangerment , felony fleeing , possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia .

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A driver has been arrested after crashing an SUV into a golf course pond in Fargo.
Officers responded to a report of a motorist driving recklessly through Fargo and nearby Moorhead, Minnesota Monday, according to authorities.
Police said he was driving the wrong way on streets and running red lights. KFGO reports officers tried to stop the driver but didn’t pursue him.
The man fled on foot after driving onto the Prairiewood Golf Course and crashing into the pond.
The 32-year-old man was arrested on possible charges of aggravated reckless endangerment, felony fleeing, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Eastern Missouri man killed, officer injured in fiery crash

EUREKA , Mo .
( AP ) - A driver died and a Eureka police officer was injured trying to @ @ @ @ @ crash in eastern Missouri , authorities said .
The crash happened Monday morning , when @ @ @ @ @ line on Old Highway 66 in Eureka and collided head-on with a semitrailer , the @ @ @ @ @ The impact caused a gas tank on one of the vehicles to explode , engulfing @ @ @ @ @ The driver of the car - later identified as 32-year-old Joshua Townsend - was trapped @ @ @ @ @ suffered minor injuries as he tried to extinguish the flames and free Townsend , the @ @ @ @ @ .
Townsend was later pronounced dead at the scene .
The driver of the truck @ @ @ @ @ Ballwin , was suffered minor injuries in the crash , authorities said .

EUREKA, Mo. (AP) - A driver died and a Eureka police officer was injured trying to rescue him from a fiery crash in eastern Missouri, authorities said.
The crash happened Monday morning, when a car crossed the center line on Old Highway 66 in Eureka and collided head-on with a semitrailer, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The impact caused a gas tank on one of the vehicles to explode, engulfing both vehicles in flames. The driver of the car - later identified as 32-year-old Joshua Townsend - was trapped inside.
Officer Mark Tinkham suffered minor injuries as he tried to extinguish the flames and free Townsend, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. Townsend was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the truck, a 38-year-old man from Ballwin, was suffered minor injuries in the crash, authorities said.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Crowds return to beaches with social distancing warnings

DAYTONA BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) - Officials issued around 900 verbal social distancing warnings to people during the first weekend that Volusia County ’ s beaches were largely reopened for almost all activities .
“ For the most part , beachgoers spaced out and kept groups small , ” Ray Manchester , Volusia County Beach Safety director , said Monday during a briefing .
While the beautiful weather drew crowds to the beaches , most people complied with the spacing rules , Manchester said .
He added that the heaviest crowds were near large , off-beach parking lots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to warnings , lifeguards made about 100 water rescues over the weekend .
The warnings don ’ t necessarily mean citations or fines for breaking the rules .
By and large , the verbal warnings are issued by megaphone to remind people to space out a little more .
“ When I say we issued warnings , ” said Manchester , “ What that means is we provided information and education to keep people safe and healthy.
” So far , the county isn ’ t allowing vehicles back on the beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plan .
“ Beach driving will eventually be permitted when it ’ s safe to do so , ” said county spokesman Kevin Captain told The Daytona Beach News-Journal .

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Officials issued around 900 verbal social distancing warnings to people during the first weekend that Volusia County’s beaches were largely reopened for almost all activities.
“For the most part, beachgoers spaced out and kept groups small,” Ray Manchester, Volusia County Beach Safety director, said Monday during a briefing.
While the beautiful weather drew crowds to the beaches, most people complied with the spacing rules, Manchester said. He added that the heaviest crowds were near large, off-beach parking lots and hotels that have reopened.
In addition to warnings, lifeguards made about 100 water rescues over the weekend.
The warnings don’t necessarily mean citations or fines for breaking the rules. By and large, the verbal warnings are issued by megaphone to remind people to space out a little more.
“When I say we issued warnings,” said Manchester, “What that means is we provided information and education to keep people safe and healthy.”
So far, the county isn’t allowing vehicles back on the beaches. Officials say they are working on a plan.
“Beach driving will eventually be permitted when it’s safe to do so,” said county spokesman Kevin Captain told The Daytona Beach News-Journal.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Kayaks, search dogs, used to find missing man

BERLIN , N.H. ( AP ) - Rescue teams and search dogs spent hours searching for a man who walked @ @ @ @ @ he was found safe , New Hampshire ’ s Fish and Game Department said .
@ @ @ @ @ , of Berlin , New Hampshire , walked away from a residence at about 11 @ @ @ @ @ called for immediate assistance once Crowley didn ’ t return after a short time .
@ @ @ @ @ ping location and officers searched a river by kayak .
After Crowley wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ assembled to search the woods .
A state police team driving up an access road @ @ @ @ @ p.m. , within a quarter mile from where he was last seen .
Crowley , @ @ @ @ @ small scrapes but was otherwise in good spirits , said he decided to take a @ @ @ @ @ at the top of a mountain , and that he spent some time in the @ @

BERLIN, N.H. (AP) - Rescue teams and search dogs spent hours searching for a man who walked away from his caretaker before he was found safe, New Hampshire’s Fish and Game Department said.
George Crowley III, 58, of Berlin, New Hampshire, walked away from a residence at about 11 a.m. Monday. The caretaker called for immediate assistance once Crowley didn’t return after a short time.
K-9 teams searched a cellphone ping location and officers searched a river by kayak. After Crowley wasn’t found, more crews were assembled to search the woods.
A state police team driving up an access road found Crowley at about 5 p.m., within a quarter mile from where he was last seen.
Crowley, who appeared to have some small scrapes but was otherwise in good spirits, said he decided to take a walk up to wind towers at the top of a mountain, and that he spent some time in the woods.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--China launches trial version of latest spacecraft

BEIJING ( AP ) - China launched a newly designed spacecraft on Tuesday as part of its program to build an orbiting space station , furthering its aspirations to rival the U.S. , Russia and private companies in outer space exploration .
The official Xinhua News Agency said the unmanned spacecraft and its return capsule were flung into space aboard a Long March 5B rocket in its debut flight Tuesday evening from the Wenchang launch center in the southern island province of Hainan .
The capsule is reportedly an improvement on the Shenzhou capsule based on the former Soviet Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six astronauts rather than just three .
China earlier launched an experimental space station that later crashed back through the atmosphere , and plans to build a larger facility with multiple modules to rival the scale of the International Space Station .
China ’ s burgeoning space program achieved a milestone last year by landing a spacecraft on the largely unexplored far side of the moon and has plans to launch a lander and rover on Mars .
The program has developed rapidly , especially since its first crewed mission in 2003 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Europe and elsewhere .
The U.S. , however , has banned most space cooperation with China out of national security concerns , keeping China from participating in the International Space Station and prompting it to gradually develop its own equipment .
The new Long March 5B rocket has been specially designated to propel modules of the future space station into orbit .

BEIJING (AP) - China launched a newly designed spacecraft on Tuesday as part of its program to build an orbiting space station, furthering its aspirations to rival the U.S., Russia and private companies in outer space exploration.
The official Xinhua News Agency said the unmanned spacecraft and its return capsule were flung into space aboard a Long March 5B rocket in its debut flight Tuesday evening from the Wenchang launch center in the southern island province of Hainan.
The capsule is reportedly an improvement on the Shenzhou capsule based on the former Soviet Union’s Soyuz model and can carry six astronauts rather than just three.
China earlier launched an experimental space station that later crashed back through the atmosphere, and plans to build a larger facility with multiple modules to rival the scale of the International Space Station.
China’s burgeoning space program achieved a milestone last year by landing a spacecraft on the largely unexplored far side of the moon and has plans to launch a lander and rover on Mars.
The program has developed rapidly, especially since its first crewed mission in 2003, and has sought cooperation with space agencies in Europe and elsewhere.
The U.S., however, has banned most space cooperation with China out of national security concerns, keeping China from participating in the International Space Station and prompting it to gradually develop its own equipment. The new Long March 5B rocket has been specially designated to propel modules of the future space station into orbit.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Louisiana police chief arrested, accused of sexual battery

CREOLA , La .
( AP ) - Charges of sexual battery , injuring public records and malfeasance in office have been leveled against the police chief of a small Louisiana community .
Creola Police Chief Donald Crooks was arrested Monday , about 10 days after several complaints were made to the Grant Parish Sheriff ’ s Office , news outlets reported .
The charges against Crooks , 68 , included three felony counts of sexual battery and 16 misdemeanor counts of the same charge , 13 counts of injuring public records and one count of malfeasance in office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff ’ s office .
Details of the complaints were not released by the sheriff ’ s office .
“ This is kind of a shock to everybody , ” Creola Mayor Danny Moore told Alexandria Town Talk .
Moore said Crooks ’ s term isn ’ t up until 2023 , and local officials don ’ t have the power to remove him from office .
Crooks was booked in jail on a $ 100,000 bond .
It ’ s unclear whether he had an attorney who could speak for him .

CREOLA, La. (AP) - Charges of sexual battery, injuring public records and malfeasance in office have been leveled against the police chief of a small Louisiana community.
Creola Police Chief Donald Crooks was arrested Monday, about 10 days after several complaints were made to the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office, news outlets reported.
The charges against Crooks, 68, included three felony counts of sexual battery and 16 misdemeanor counts of the same charge, 13 counts of injuring public records and one count of malfeasance in office, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
Details of the complaints were not released by the sheriff’s office.
“This is kind of a shock to everybody,” Creola Mayor Danny Moore told Alexandria Town Talk. Moore said Crooks’s term isn’t up until 2023, and local officials don’t have the power to remove him from office.
Crooks was booked in jail on a $100,000 bond. It’s unclear whether he had an attorney who could speak for him.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Fiat Chrysler swings to loss as virus hits output, demand

MILAN ( AP ) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on Tuesday reported a first-quarter net loss of 1.7 billion euros ( $ 1.84 billion ) due to a steep decline in car sales during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Italian-American carmaker has withdrawn full-year earnings forecasts due to the volatility of the economic situation provoked the virus , which includes stalled production and shuttered dealerships .
Fiat Chrysler confirmed it remained committed to full merger with French carmaker PSA Peugeot , which it aims to complete by early 2021 .
The first-quarter loss compared with earnings of 619 million euros during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sank 16 % to 20.5 billion euros from 24.5 billion euros last year , as global shipments slumped 21 % to 818,000 with production suspended in all regions and a collapse in global demand .
Only North America posted a profit , with earnings before interest and taxes at 548 million euros .
Plants there were closed only one week in the quarter .
Fiat Chrysler said its available liquidity was 18.6 billion euros at the end of the first quarter , including 6.25 billion euros in a fully drawn revolving credit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ euros bridge credit to help face the crisis .
Cash flow from operating activities was down 364 % to a negative 2.82 billion euros .
Fiat Chrysler restarted production April 27 at its Sevel truck-making plant in Italy , a joint venture with PSA Peugeot , which is running at 70 % of normal capacity .
A joint venture in China also has been restarted successfully , the company said .
“ Production in other regions will be phased in over a period of time and aligned to consumer demand , ’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was ready to restart both production and sales as governments permit .
“ The pandemic has had and continues to have a significant impact on our operations , ’ ’ CEO Mike Manley said in a statement .
He expressed ” the utmost confidence in our ability to navigate through this crisis and emerge well-positioned to grow and prosper on the other side .
’ ’

MILAN (AP) - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on Tuesday reported a first-quarter net loss of 1.7 billion euros ($1.84 billion) due to a steep decline in car sales triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, and said the impact on the second-quarter would be even more severe.
The Italian-American carmaker has withdrawn full-year earnings forecasts due to the volatility of the economic crisis provoked the virus, which includes stalled production and shuttered dealerships. But it said that an internal stress-test indicates it could survive a 50% reduction in volumes by slashing costs and cash burn.
CEO Mike Manley told analysts that despite the crisis, the terms of a full merger deal with French carmaker PSA Peugeot had not been changed, and that the aim remains to complete it by the end of 2020 or early 2021.
The first-quarter loss compared with earnings of 619 million euros during the same period of 2019. Revenues sank 16% to 20.5 billion euros as global shipments slumped 21% to 818,000 with production suspended in all regions and global demand collapsing. Manley said the company expects a net loss and “significant’’ negative cash flows’’ in the second quarter.
“The pandemic and its impact is here for the foreseeable future, and it has caused us to rethink our entire business model,’’ Manley said. He said the recovery depended on what economic incentives governments devise.
“If the situation extends further than people expect, then clearly there will need to be interventions to support the industry,’’ Manley said. He added that could include infrastructure investments, general economic stimulus or cash-for-clunker schemes that were rolled out after the 2008-9 crisis to help ”kick-start” sales of vehicles that have already been produced.
Only North America posted a profit, with earnings before interest and taxes at 548 million euros. Plants there were closed for about a week in the quarter, and Manley said Fiat Chrysler aims to start reopening U.S. factories May 18, depending on the easing of government restrictions.
Fiat Chrysler said its available liquidity was 18.6 billion euros at the end of the first quarter, including 6.25 billion euros in a fully drawn revolving credit. The automaker has available another 3.5 billion euros bridge credit to help face the crisis. Cash flow from operating activities was down 364% to a negative 2.82 billion euros.
In Italy, Fiat Chrysler restarted production April 27 at its Sevel van-making plant in Italy, a joint venture with PSA Peugeot, which is running at 70% of normal capacity. A joint venture in China also has been restarted successfully, the company said.
Most plants in Europe will be reopened between late May and early July, with a focus on electric vehicles, specifically the new Fiat 500 and the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass plug-in hybrids. Maserati is to resume production in Turin by the end of May and in Modena in early July. Plants in Brazil and Argentina will be running by mid-May.
The carmaker plans to reduce capital spending by 1 billion euros this year, with key new car roll-outs delayed by about three months.
Manley said the China was the only example to draw from for the current crisis.
“The China market came back relatively more quickly than people had expected,’’ Manley said. Recovery in the U.S. and Europe would depend on how deeply sales collapse, and also vary according to market. Italy, one of Fiat’s key markets, has been significantly hit both by the health crisis and the economic crisis, with a forecast 10% drop in GDP and an 85-% decline in March car sales.
____
This version has been corrected to show Fiat Chrysler expects to reopen U.S. factories starting May 18, not May 19.
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Krisher reported from Detroit.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Body of drowning victim recovered from North Carolina lake

MONCURE , N.C. ( AP ) - The body of a man who drowned in a North Carolina lake was @ @ @ @ @ .
The Chatham County Sheriff ’ s Office was called to a section of Jordan @ @ @ @ @ p.m. after a witness reported seeing someone who appeared to be in their late teens @ @ @ @ @ water , the agency said in a statement .
The body was recovered three hours @ @ @ @ @ office .
Officials did not immediately identify the victim , pending notification of family .
@ @ @ @ @ , state Wildlife Law Enforcement , the Army Corps of Engineers and local law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ .

MONCURE, N.C. (AP) - The body of a man who drowned in a North Carolina lake was recovered Monday, authorities said.
The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office was called to a section of Jordan Lake near Moncure around 3:30 p.m. after a witness reported seeing someone who appeared to be in their late teens struggling to stay above the water, the agency said in a statement.
The body was recovered three hours later, according to the office. Officials did not immediately identify the victim, pending notification of family.
North Carolina State Parks Police, state Wildlife Law Enforcement, the Army Corps of Engineers and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the effort.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Dakine to close Oregon office, move HQ due to pandemic

HOOD RIVER , Ore. ( AP ) - Outdoor gear maker Dakine is closing its Hood River , Oregon , office and laying off 39 employees , officials said “ The current health crisis , and the corresponding Oregon stay at home order were unforeseen business circumstances , and have made it financially unfeasible for the company to continue operating , ” Dakine human resources director Raeanne Norberg wrote in a letter to state workforce officials .
Neither Norberg nor the company immediately returned calls seeking comment , but Dakine sent a letter to the website Shop-Eat-Surf outlining its plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be transitioning operations a number of employees to our global headquarters in Southern California , ” the company wrote .
Founded in Hawaii in 1979 , Dakine moved to Hood River in 1986 where it became one of the state ’ s signature brands for outdoor gear selling backpacks , luggage , ski and snowboarding gear .
Dakine sold to Billabong in 2008 and later spun out from that company to private investment firms .
The coronavirus pandemic has trounced Oregon ’ s outdoors industry , preventing people from engaging in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the virus .
Oregon shed over 360,000 jobs in the first six weeks of the crisis .
A growing number of well-known businesses closing permanently .

HOOD RIVER, Ore. (AP) - Outdoor gear maker Dakine is closing its Hood River, Oregon, office and laying off 39 employees, officials said.
“The current health crisis, and the corresponding Oregon stay at home order were unforeseen business circumstances, and have made it financially unfeasible for the company to continue operating,” Dakine human resources director Raeanne Norberg wrote in a letter to state workforce officials.
Neither Norberg nor the company immediately returned calls seeking comment, but Dakine sent a letter to the website Shop-Eat-Surf outlining its plans, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
“We will be transitioning operations a number of employees to our global headquarters in Southern California,” the company wrote.
Founded in Hawaii in 1979, Dakine moved to Hood River in 1986 where it became one of the state’s signature brands for outdoor gear selling backpacks, luggage, ski and snowboarding gear.
Dakine sold to Billabong in 2008 and later spun out from that company to private investment firms.
The coronavirus pandemic has trounced Oregon’s outdoors industry, preventing people from engaging in many activities in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
Oregon shed over 360,000 jobs in the first six weeks of the crisis. A growing number of well-known businesses have closed permanently.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Most Americans don't believe publicly reported coronavirus death toll: Poll

About two-thirds of Americans say they don ’ t believe the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus outbreak is in line with publicly reported numbers , with Democrats more likely to suspect an undercount and Republicans more likely to think that there are fewer deaths than the official tally .
Forty-four percent said they believe the number of Americans dying from COVID-19 is more than is being reported , 32 % said about the same , and 23 % said they believe it ’ s less than is being reported , according to an Axios/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the number of deaths is being undercounted , 29 % said it ’ s about right , and 7 % said they think it ’ s an overcount .
Among Republicans , 40 % said they think the death toll is less than is being publicly reported , 36 % said they think it ’ s about the same , and 24 % said they think it ’ s more .
“ How people are actually processing information and assigning credibility to it is 100 % partisan , ” said Cliff Young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The question was tied to a reported 61,000 coronavirus-related deaths as of April 30 .
There are now more than 1.1 million positive cases and more than 68,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S. , according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University .
The poll of 1,012 adults was conducted from May 1-4 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points .

About two-thirds of Americans say they don’t believe the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus outbreak is in line with publicly reported numbers, with Democrats more likely to suspect an undercount and Republicans more likely to think that there are fewer deaths than the official tally.
Forty-four percent said they believe the number of Americans dying from COVID-19 is more than is being reported, 32% said about the same, and 23% said they believe it’s less than is being reported, according to an Axios/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday.
Among Democrats, 63% said they think the number of deaths is being undercounted, 29% said it’s about right, and 7% said they think it’s an overcount.
Among Republicans, 40% said they think the death toll is less than is being publicly reported, 36% said they think it’s about the same, and 24% said they think it’s more.
“How people are actually processing information and assigning credibility to it is 100% partisan,” said Cliff Young, president of Ipsos U.S. Public Affairs.
The question was tied to a reported 61,000 coronavirus-related deaths as of April 30.
There are now more than 1.1 million positive cases and more than 68,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the U.S., according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University.
The poll of 1,012 adults was conducted from May 1-4 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Man facing 5th drunken driving charge following crash

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) - A Lake Delton man on parole for drunken driving is facing his fifth @ @ @ @ @ his motorcycle on Interstate 94 in Jefferson County .
The 63-year-old man wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ and found him Sunday afternoon along the interstate , according to authorities .
Officials say @ @ @ @ @ wearing a helmet when he crashed into a construction barrel .
The motorist performed CPR @ @ @ @ @ to a hospital in Oconomowoc .
Authorities said intoxicants were found at the scene and @ @ @ @ @ detected on the man , the State Journal reported .
The Jefferson County District Attorney @ @ @ @ @ the case .

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A Lake Delton man on parole for drunken driving is facing his fifth intoxicated driving charge after crashing his motorcycle on Interstate 94 in Jefferson County.
The 63-year-old man wasn’t breathing when a motorist stopped and found him Sunday afternoon along the interstate, according to authorities.
Officials say the man wasn’t wearing a helmet when he crashed into a construction barrel. The motorist performed CPR and the man was taken to a hospital in Oconomowoc.
Authorities said intoxicants were found at the scene and the odor of intoxicants was detected on the man, the State Journal reported.
The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Gulfstream lays off nearly 700 employees in Georgia

SAVANNAH , Ga. ( AP ) - An aerospace company announced it laid off nearly 700 employees at its Georgia facility amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Gulfstream , a company that makes business and military jets , laid off 699 employees in Savannah due to a decline in revenue , the company said Monday in a statement reported by news outlets .
Heidi Fedak , the company ’ s director of corporate communications , said the cost cutting measures Gulfstream put in place were not “ sufficient ” to overcome the impact of the virus outbreak on their operations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive severance pay and get their benefits extended , she added .
The Savannah Morning News reported last week the company experienced a delay in the delivery of 11 jets and suffered a $ 549 million decline in revenue during the first quarter of this year .
The company , which employs nearly 18,000 people worldwide and about 10,000 in Georgia , also laid off 446 domestic workers across 10 U.S. cities in October , the Savannah Morning News reported .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https @ @ @

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - An aerospace company announced it laid off nearly 700 employees at its Georgia facility amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Gulfstream, a company that makes business and military jets, laid off 699 employees in Savannah due to a decline in revenue, the company said Monday in a statement reported by news outlets.
Heidi Fedak, the company’s director of corporate communications, said the cost cutting measures Gulfstream put in place were not “sufficient” to overcome the impact of the virus outbreak on their operations. Some employees that were laid off may receive severance pay and get their benefits extended, she added.
The Savannah Morning News reported last week the company experienced a delay in the delivery of 11 jets and suffered a $549 million decline in revenue during the first quarter of this year.
The company, which employs nearly 18,000 people worldwide and about 10,000 in Georgia, also laid off 446 domestic workers across 10 U.S. cities in October, the Savannah Morning News reported.
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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--England planning for 6N, autumn tests in October, November

England is working on the assumption its Six Nations campaign and quartet of autumn test matches can be played across October and November as the Rugby Football Union seeks to avoid losses of around $ 150 million during the coronavirus outbreak .
No rugby has been played in Britain since the middle of March because of the pandemic , which has plunged the RFU and other unions around the world into financial strife .
As the British government continues its planning to ease the lockdown , RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said his organization was looking into testing protocols and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that rugby can restart in the country .
England has one game outstanding from the Six Nations — an away match against Italy , postponed from March 14 .
A win could clinch the title for Eddie Jones ’ team .
It then has November tests scheduled against New Zealand , Argentina , Tonga and Australia over successive Saturdays at Twickenham .
“ At the moment , the assumptions are that the remaining games in the Six Nations can be played in October and November and we are still aiming toward that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a select committee hearing on Tuesday .
On still being able to fulfil its quota of autumn tests , Sweeney added : “ We have worked with World Rugby and the Six Nations , and the intention is to schedule those in October and November.
” Sweeney said 85 % of the RFU ’ s revenue comes from hosting men ’ s international games at Twickenham , so the cancellation of autumn tests and possibly even the 2021 Six Nations would be “ catastrophic ” in his view .
Asked if that worst-case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for bankruptcy , like the United States ’ rugby union has , Sweeney said English rugby was “ not in a similar situation ” and that its financial model was “ inherently strong.
” The RFU , Sweeney reported , is planning for a reduction in revenue of 15 million pounds ( $ 18.7 million ) through to June , which marks the end of the financial year .
As much as 13 million pounds ( $ 16.2 million ) of that could be clawed back through cost reductions , he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ go ahead , the RFU still stands to lose around 32 million pounds ( $ 40 million ) in revenue in the next financial year .
If international games are canceled entirely in the 2020-21 season , Sweeney said the losses would amount to 107 million pounds ( $ 133 million ) on top of the 15 million pounds already lost .
“ It will not be a short-term issue , ” Sweeney said .
“ I hear a lot of people saying we will get back to rugby , we will get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , that things will be fine , we will have the Six Nations next year and off we go .
“ But we are working in terms of maybe a four- , five- , maybe six-year recovery plan to get fully back on our feet.
” The RFU also announced British sportswear brand Umbro will be England ’ s uniform supplier from Sept. 1 , replacing Canterbury .
No financial details of the deal were disclosed , but sections of the British media reported it was worth 5 million pounds a year @ @ @ @ @ @

England is working on the assumption its Six Nations campaign and quartet of autumn test matches can be played across October and November as the Rugby Football Union seeks to avoid losses of around $150 million during the coronavirus outbreak.
No rugby has been played in Britain since the middle of March because of the pandemic, which has plunged the RFU and other unions around the world into financial strife.
As the British government continues its planning to ease the lockdown, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said his organization was looking into testing protocols and how to secure “bio-secure environments” so that rugby can restart in the country.
England has one game outstanding from the Six Nations — an away match against Italy, postponed from March 14. A win could clinch the title for Eddie Jones’ team. It then has November tests scheduled against New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Australia over successive Saturdays at Twickenham.
“At the moment, the assumptions are that the remaining games in the Six Nations can be played in October and November and we are still aiming toward that scenario,” Sweeney told lawmakers in a select committee hearing on Tuesday.
On still being able to fulfil its quota of autumn tests, Sweeney added: “We have worked with World Rugby and the Six Nations, and the intention is to schedule those in October and November.”
Sweeney said 85% of the RFU’s revenue comes from hosting men’s international games at Twickenham, so the cancellation of autumn tests and possibly even the 2021 Six Nations would be “catastrophic” in his view.
Asked if that worst-case scenario could lead to the RFU filing for bankruptcy, like the United States’ rugby union has, Sweeney said English rugby was “not in a similar situation” and that its financial model was “inherently strong.”
The RFU, Sweeney reported, is planning for a reduction in revenue of 15 million pounds ($18.7 million) through to June, which marks the end of the financial year. As much as 13 million pounds ($16.2 million) of that could be clawed back through cost reductions, he added.
However, even if the autumn tests go ahead, the RFU still stands to lose around 32 million pounds ($40 million) in revenue in the next financial year. If international games are canceled entirely in the 2020-21 season, Sweeney said the losses would amount to 107 million pounds ($133 million) on top of the 15 million pounds already lost.
“It will not be a short-term issue,” Sweeney said. “I hear a lot of people saying we will get back to rugby, we will get back to playing sport later in the year, that things will be fine, we will have the Six Nations next year and off we go.
“But we are working in terms of maybe a four-, five-, maybe six-year recovery plan to get fully back on our feet.”
The RFU also announced British sportswear brand Umbro will be England’s uniform supplier from Sept. 1, replacing Canterbury. No financial details of the deal were disclosed, but sections of the British media reported it was worth 5 million pounds a year ($6.2 million).
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Steve Douglas is at www.twitter.com/sdouglas80


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Homeowner stabbed, injured when she opens front door

SICKLERVILLE , N.J. ( AP ) - A homeowner opening her front door was stabbed and injured by a woman who had pulled a knife on police two days earlier when they responded to another call at the residence , authorities said .
Judith Asber , 52 , went to the Sicklerville home on Sunday afternoon and rang the doorbell , authorities said .
When the homeowner answered it , Asber stabbed her in the abdomen and then chased her inside the home , authorities said .
The victim ’ s name and details on her injuries were not disclosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , aggravated assault , burglary , stalking and two weapons counts , according to the Camden County Prosecutor ’ s Office .
The attack came two days after police responding to a suspicious person report found Asber at the home , authorities said .
She pulled a knife on the officers , who used a stun gun to subdue the Sicklerville woman .
She was charged in that incident with aggravated assault and a weapons count .
Authorities have not said what may have sparked the incidents .
Asber will remain jailed until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It wasn ’ t known Tuesday if she ’ s retained an attorney .

SICKLERVILLE, N.J. (AP) - A homeowner opening her front door was stabbed and injured by a woman who had pulled a knife on police two days earlier when they responded to another call at the residence, authorities said.
Judith Asber, 52, went to the Sicklerville home on Sunday afternoon and rang the doorbell, authorities said. When the homeowner answered it, Asber stabbed her in the abdomen and then chased her inside the home, authorities said.
The victim’s name and details on her injuries were not disclosed. Asber was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, burglary, stalking and two weapons counts, according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
The attack came two days after police responding to a suspicious person report found Asber at the home, authorities said. She pulled a knife on the officers, who used a stun gun to subdue the Sicklerville woman. She was charged in that incident with aggravated assault and a weapons count.
Authorities have not said what may have sparked the incidents.
Asber will remain jailed until a detention hearing is held, authorities said. It wasn’t known Tuesday if she’s retained an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--1 man killed in River Market area shooting; no arrests

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - Police in Kansas City are investigating the shooting death of a @ @ @ @ @ in the River Market area .
The shooting happened late Monday afternoon , according to @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Officer Doaa El-Ashkar .
Officers called to the area for the shooting found a @ @ @ @ @ vehicle parked outside the building , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the @ @ @ @ @ released the man ’ s name .
Police say detectives interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence @ @ @ @ @ the case had been announced by Tuesday morning .
The Kansas City Star reported that @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s 54th homicide this year .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Police in Kansas City have identified a man they say died in a shooting outside a loft building in the River Market area.
The shooting happened late Monday afternoon, according to a news release from police spokesman Officer Doaa El-Ashkar. Officers called to the area for the shooting found a man - later identified as 41-year-old Charles Shirley - with injuries inside a vehicle parked outside the building, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say detectives interviewed witnesses and gathered evidence, but no arrests in the case had been announced by Tuesday afternoon. The Kansas City Star reported that the shooting death marked the city’s 54th homicide this year.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--IMF chief says talks with Lebanon on reforms to begin soon

BEIRUT ( AP ) - An economic recovery plan recently adopted by the Lebanese government is “ an important step forward ” to address Lebanon ’ s economic challenges , the International Monetary Fund ’ s chief said .
Kristalina Georgieva ’ s remarks come as tens of thousands of Lebanese have been thrown further into poverty and unemployment amid a lockdown because of coronavirus .
Georgieva added in her tweets late Monday that she had a productive call with Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab , and that the IMF teams will start discussions in the near future with Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The country ’ s severe economic and financial crisis - the worst since the end of the 1975-90 civil war - is rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement .
Financial woes deepened after nationwide protests against the political class erupted in October , after which banks imposed crippling , informal capital controls , limiting withdrawal and transfer of dollars .
In March , the government defaulted on paying back its debt to local and international Eurobond holders for the first time in history .
Last week , Diab ’ s government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on which it would seek financial assistance from the IMF .
The leader of Lebanon ’ s powerful Hezbollah threw his support behind Diab ’ s move , despite previous opposition to an IMF role .
In a speech Monday , Hezbollah ’ s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned , however , that the terms should be negotiated carefully .
In recent weeks , the local currency has crashed , losing more than half of its value after being pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1997 .
This in turn led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests last week that left one protester dead and others wounded .
The Lebanese government is meeting Tuesday and was widely expected to extend the lockdown over coronavirus until May 24. International donors have long demanded that Lebanon institute major economic reforms and anti-corruption measures , including in 2018 , when they pledged 11 billion dollars .
That money has yet to be released and there are hopes by Lebanese officials that an IMF program would help released the badly needed money .
Late last month , the government adopted a 53-page Financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a “ free fall ” and that an international financial rescue package is “ urgently needed to backstop the recession and create the conditions for a rebound.
” The Lebanese plan vows to fight widespread corruption and to restructure of the massive debt that is one of the highest in the world .
It also vows to reform infrastructure including waste management and state-run electricity company that has been one of the main burdens on state coffers over the past years .
“ We agreed that our teams will soon start discussions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and growth for the benefit of the Lebanese people , ” Georgieva tweeted .

BEIRUT (AP) - An economic recovery plan recently adopted by the Lebanese government is “an important step forward” to address Lebanon’s economic challenges, the International Monetary Fund’s chief said.
Kristalina Georgieva’s remarks come as tens of thousands of Lebanese have been thrown further into poverty and unemployment amid a lockdown because of coronavirus.
Georgieva added in her tweets late Monday that she had a productive call with Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, and that the IMF teams will start discussions in the near future with Lebanese officials on reforms in the tiny country.
The country’s severe economic and financial crisis - the worst since the end of the 1975-90 civil war - is rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement. Financial woes deepened after nationwide protests against the political class erupted in October, after which banks imposed crippling, informal capital controls, limiting withdrawal and transfer of dollars. In March, the government defaulted on paying back its debt to local and international Eurobond holders for the first time in history.
Last week, Diab’s government presented a long-awaited five-year economic rescue plan based on which it would seek financial assistance from the IMF. The leader of Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah threw his support behind Diab’s move, despite previous opposition to an IMF role. In a speech Monday, Hezbollah’s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned, however, that the terms should be negotiated carefully.
In recent weeks, the local currency has crashed, losing more than half of its value after being pegged to the U.S. dollar since 1997. This in turn led to price hikes in consumer goods, triggering protests last week that left one protester dead and others wounded.
The Lebanese government is meeting Tuesday and was widely expected to extend the lockdown over coronavirus until May 24.
International donors have long demanded that Lebanon institute major economic reforms and anti-corruption measures, including in 2018, when they pledged 11 billion dollars. That money has yet to be released and there are hopes by Lebanese officials that an IMF program would help released the badly needed money.
Late last month, the government adopted a 53-page Financial Recovery Plan that said its economy is in a “free fall” and that an international financial rescue package is “urgently needed to backstop the recession and create the conditions for a rebound.”
The Lebanese plan vows to fight widespread corruption and to restructure of the massive debt that is one of the highest in the world. It also vows to reform infrastructure including waste management and state-run electricity company that has been one of the main burdens on state coffers over the past years.
“We agreed that our teams will soon start discussions on much needed reforms to restore sustainability and growth for the benefit of the Lebanese people,” Georgieva tweeted.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Russia: Domestic violence reports spike amid virus lockdown

MOSCOW ( AP ) - The number of domestic violence cases in Russia grew 2 1/2 times during the lockdown the government ordered to stem the spread of the coronavirus , Russia ’ s human rights ombudswoman said Tuesday .
Complaints and reports made to Russian non-governmental organizations spiked from roughly 6,000 in March to more than 13,000 in April , human rights obmudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova said .
“ The picture is rather non-optimistic , ” the RIA Novosti news agency quoted her as saying .
Russia imposed a nationwide lockdown in late March , with authorities in the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requiring residents to stay at home .
Nine women ’ s rights groups in Russia sounded an alarm last month about a surge of domestic violence complaints during the lockdown , urging action to protect victims .
Domestic violence is rampant in Russia .
According to police data , up to 40 % of all violent crimes are committed within families .
Russian lawmakers in 2017 decriminalized simple assault against family members , and human rights advocates say the move encouraged abusers and made it much harder to protect victims of domestic violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence law stalled last year amid push back from conservative groups and the Kremlin ’ s efforts to fast-track a constitutional reform that would allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 .

MOSCOW (AP) - Reported domestic violence cases in Russia more than doubled during the country’s coronavirus lockdown, the human rights ombudswoman said Tuesday, painting a completely different picture than that provided by police data.
Complaints and reports made to Russian non-governmental organizations spiked from roughly 6,000 in March to more than 13,000 in April, Tatyana Moskalkova said. “The picture is rather non-optimistic,” the RIA Novosti news agency quoted her as saying.
Her statement comes a week after Russian police said the number of domestic crimes fell by 13% during the lockdown, compared to the same month last year - a report dismissed by some women’s rights campaigners as inaccurate, as many victims don’t report domestic abuse to the police.
Growing numbers of domestic abuse complaints have been reported all across Europe after governments instituted lockdowns and ordered residents to stay at home, as the frustrations of enforced isolation, often fueled by increased use of alcohol and dire economic straits, aggravated existing tensions or triggered new ones. Women and children are usually the victims.
In Spain, calls to a domestic violence helpline increased by 60% in April compared with the same month last year, the Equality Ministry said Tuesday. The number of calls was up 38% from March, when in the middle of the month the government ordered a lockdown.
Lawmakers in the UK found that calls to a national domestic abuse helpline jumped by 49% in early April compared to the average in the same period in previous years. France’s National Federation of Women Solidarity said the hotline they run has received double to triple the usual daily number of calls since France imposed a lockdown on March 17. In Greece, where the lockdown started March 23, a government helpline received nearly four times as many complaints in April as in March.
In many countries, government officials are taking steps to address the problem.
The French government introduced a text messaging number and a Twitter account victims can reach out to in addition to the usual police number. Moreover, authorities tasked pharmacies and a number of chain supermarkets to arrange points of contact for domestic abuse victims. Britain pledged 76 million pounds ($95 million) to help vulnerable children and victims of domestic violence.
Russia, meanwhile, is not doing enough, rights groups argue.
The Kremlin imposed a nationwide lockdown in late March. Almost immediately, women’s rights advocates sounded the alarm about a surge of domestic violence cases, urging action to protect victims.
In a letter to the government, nine non-governmental organizations asked officials to set up more shelters, instruct policemen about the importance of responding to domestic violence calls and help victims get medical, legal and psychological help.
Nothing has been done so far, said Olga Gnezdilova, lawyer with the Russian Justice Initiative, one of the groups that signed the letter. “In order to take additional measures during the crisis and the lockdown, we need changes in the law and political will,” Gnezdilova told The Associated Press.
Domestic violence has been rampant in Russia for years, and so far little political will has been shown to tackle the issue. Despite the fact that, according to police data, up to 40% of all violent crimes are committed within families, in 2017 Russian President Vladimir Putin downgraded simple assault against a family member from a criminal offense to a misdemeanor, punishable by a $76 fine.
The move, rights groups argued, encouraged abusers and made protecting victims even harder.
Attempts to pass a long-anticipated domestic violence law stalled last year amid push back from conservative groups and the Kremlin’s efforts this year to fast-track a constitutional reform that would allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Existing legislation outlines punishment for abusers, but doesn’t protect the victims, women’s rights lawyers who worked on the bill last year explained to the AP. There is no such thing as a restraining order, shelters are scarce - roughly 200 in a country of 146 million - and police almost never detain domestic abusers for more than several hours.
“An investigation of your complaint can take months, and during those months you are absolutely helpless,” said Mari Davtyan, a women’s rights advocate specializing in domestic abuse cases.
Being confined to the home victims share with their abusers makes the situation worse, women’s rights campaigner Alyona Popova told the AP.
“Victims are scared. They share ownership of the property with (their) aggressor and stay together in isolation at the same apartment with children. The apartments are usually small so it’s impossible to be isolated from each other,” she said.
Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get police to respond to domestic violence calls, according to Bulat Mukhmedzhanov of the Zone of Rights legal aid group.
Even before the epidemic, they rarely took family conflicts seriously, and now that all their resources are thrown at enforcing the lockdown there is little hope that they would help. “The informal response would probably be that we have enough problems as it is,” Mukhmedzhanov told the AP.
__
Associated Press writers Elaine Ganley in Paris, Sylvia Hui in London and Barry Hatton in Lisbon contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--More than a quarter of Democrats want a new nominee after watching Biden's denial: poll

More than a quarter of Democrats who were shown former Vice President Joseph R. Biden ’ s recent denial that he sexually assaulted a former staffer want someone else to be the party ’ s presidential nominee , according to a survey released on Monday .
Twenty-six percent of Democratic voters who were shown a 35-second video clip of Mr. Biden ’ s unequivocal denial that he sexually assaulted Tara Reade , a former Senate staffer , want the apparent nominee to be replaced by someone else , according to the Morning Consult poll .
More than six in 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
Forty percent of Democrats under the age of 45 said the party should pick a different nominee , compared to 15 % of people ages 45 and older .
Sixty-one percent of Democrats also said they found the former vice president ’ s denial credible .
Ms. Reade has accused Mr. Biden of sexually assaulting her during the 1990s when she worked in his U.S. Senate office .
Several people , including friends , a former neighbor , and a former coworker , have said Ms. Reade had conversations with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Associated Press .
Other people who worked in Mr. Biden ’ s office at the time said they didn ’ t recall discussions of such an incident .
The allegations have presented a challenge for the # MeToo movement , whose mantra of “ Believe women ” has been put to the test now that Democrats ’ likely presidential nominee is facing serious allegations .
Many top Democrats , including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts , have vouched for Mr. Biden in recent days and weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taken from May 2-3 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 % .

More than a quarter of Democrats who were shown former Vice President Joseph R. Biden’s recent denial that he sexually assaulted a former staffer want someone else to be the party’s presidential nominee, according to a survey released on Monday.
Twenty-six percent of Democratic voters who were shown a 35-second video clip of Mr. Biden’s unequivocal denial that he sexually assaulted Tara Reade, a former Senate staffer, want the apparent nominee to be replaced by someone else, according to the Morning Consult poll.
More than six in 10 voters said Democrats should stick with Mr. Biden.
Forty percent of Democrats under the age of 45 said the party should pick a different nominee, compared to 15% of people ages 45 and older.
Sixty-one percent of Democrats also said they found the former vice president’s denial credible.
Ms. Reade has accused Mr. Biden of sexually assaulting her during the 1990s when she worked in his U.S. Senate office.
Several people, including friends, a former neighbor, and a former coworker, have said Ms. Reade had conversations with them corroborating aspects of her allegation, according to the Associated Press.
Other people who worked in Mr. Biden’s office at the time said they didn’t recall discussions of such an incident.
The allegations have presented a challenge for the #MeToo movement, whose mantra of “Believe women” has been put to the test now that Democrats’ likely presidential nominee is facing serious allegations.
Many top Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, have vouched for Mr. Biden in recent days and weeks.
The survey of 737 Democratic voters was taken from May 2-3 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4%.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-05--Police: Woman driving wrong way crashed into car, killing 1

LARGO , Fla. ( AP ) - A Florida woman is accused of driving the wrong way and crashing into an oncoming vehicle , killing one person and injuring two children , police said .
The crash happened early Sunday morning in Largo .
Police received several calls around 2:15 a.m. regarding a car that was speeding south in the northbound lanes of U.S. 19 , Largo police said in an arrest report .
Authorities tried to pull her over , but the 2014 Nissan Murano driven by Britney Lynn Crawford , 27 , crashed head on into another vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car died and the driver suffered a serious leg injury .
A 10-year-old child in the back of that vehicle was taken to the hospital with a lacerated liver and bruised lungs and intestines , the arrest report said .
Crawford was taken by helicopter to a hospital .
A child who was with her was also taken to the hospital , police said .
The names of the other victims weren ’ t released .
She faces charges of DUI manslaughter , vehicular homicide , child neglect and DUI causing serious injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hospital showed Crawford ’ s alcohol content to be .202 , the report said .
Florida law presumes impairment at .08 , the Tampa Bay Times reported .
Crawford was booked into jail later Sunday and released on bond Monday .
Jail records don ’ t list a lawyer for her .

LARGO, Fla. (AP) - A Florida woman is accused of driving the wrong way and crashing into an oncoming vehicle, killing one person and injuring two children, police said.
The crash happened early Sunday morning in Largo. Police received several calls around 2:15 a.m. regarding a car that was speeding south in the northbound lanes of U.S. 19, Largo police said in an arrest report.
Authorities tried to pull her over, but the 2014 Nissan Murano driven by Britney Lynn Crawford, 27, crashed head on into another vehicle.
The front seat passenger in that car died and the driver suffered a serious leg injury. A 10-year-old child in the back of that vehicle was taken to the hospital with a lacerated liver and bruised lungs and intestines, the arrest report said.
Crawford was taken by helicopter to a hospital. A child who was with her was also taken to the hospital, police said.
The names of the other victims weren’t released.
She faces charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, child neglect and DUI causing serious injury.
The arrest report said blood taken at the hospital showed Crawford’s alcohol content to be .202, the report said. Florida law presumes impairment at .08, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Crawford was booked into jail later Sunday and released on bond Monday. Jail records don’t list a lawyer for her.