washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Indiana infant mortality rate hits historic low, state says

INDIANAPOLIS ( AP ) - Indiana ’ s infant mortality rate fell last year to the lowest level since the state began recording those deaths more than a century ago , according to new data .
Gov .
Eric Holcomb announced Thursday that preliminary data released by the State Department of Health shows the statewide infant mortality rate fell from 6.8 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 6.5 in 2019 .
The mortality rate among Black infants fell from 13.0 to 11.0 last year .
Infant mortality rates track the number of babies that die before their first birthday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died before their first birthdays in 2019 , down from 559 in 2018 and 602 in 2017 .
Indiana has historically had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country .
From 2013 to 2017 , Indiana ’ s average infant mortality rate was 7.3 per 1,000 compared to the national average of 5.9 over the same time period .
Last year ’ s decline marks the third consecutive year that Indiana ’ s infant mortality rate has fallen , state officials said in a news release .
The rate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record-keeping began in 1900 .
“ We are committed to ensuring the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and a strong start to life for Indiana ’ s newborns , ” Holcomb said in a statement .
“ While we celebrate these results , our work is far from finished , and we won ’ t rest as we work to protect our youngest .
”

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana’s infant mortality rate fell last year to the lowest level since the state began recording those deaths more than a century ago, according to new data.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Thursday that preliminary data released by the State Department of Health shows the statewide infant mortality rate fell from 6.8 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 6.5 in 2019. The mortality rate among Black infants fell from 13.0 to 11.0 last year.
Infant mortality rates track the number of babies that die before their first birthday.
A total of 527 Indiana babies died before their first birthdays in 2019, down from 559 in 2018 and 602 in 2017.
Indiana has historically had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. From 2013 to 2017, Indiana’s average infant mortality rate was 7.3 per 1,000 compared to the national average of 5.9 over the same time period.
Last year’s decline marks the third consecutive year that Indiana’s infant mortality rate has fallen, state officials said in a news release. The rate is the lowest it’s been since record-keeping began in 1900.
“We are committed to ensuring the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and a strong start to life for Indiana’s newborns,” Holcomb said in a statement. “While we celebrate these results, our work is far from finished, and we won’t rest as we work to protect our youngest.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Trump campaign adviser: Pence will maintain "aggressive schedule"

A senior Trump campaign adviser said Sunday that Vice President Mike Pence is being cautious but will maintain “ a very full aggressive schedule ” as he hits the campaign trail in Arizona and other states while President Trump receives treatment for the coronavirus .
“ Anyone around the vice president [ is ] tested .
People are kept very safe .
And again , we can ’ t hide from this virus forever , ” Jason Miller told NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press.
” “ We have to take it head-on , and we have to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop this vaccine and defeat the virus.
” Mr. Pence , who must be on standby while Mr. Trump is hospitalized , plans to visit Arizona after Wednesday ’ s vice-presidential debate in Utah and before he votes early in Indiana and visits other places .
Mr. Miller said members of Mr. Trump ’ s family will hold virtual events while they ’ re in quarantine for possible exposure to the virus , before hitting the trail in person .
He also said he spoke to the president , who is eager to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center .
“ Once he gets out of the hospital , he ’ s ready to get back to the campaign trail .
He sounded pretty energetic , ” Mr. Miller said .
“ But he said something else that I thought that was important too … and that was to be careful , and that was to remind folks to wash their hands , use hand sanitizer , make sure that if you can ’ t socially distance , distance to wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty important message to send and a reminder to the rest of the country.
” Mr. Trump ’ s campaign manager , Bill Stepien , has tested positive for the virus , but Mr. Miller said he isn ’ t upset with the president ’ s team over possibly lax protocols .
Mr. Miller said the country needs to take the fight “ head-on ” and there are plenty of unknowns about the virus , so the White House and others are doing what they can to protect people .
“ I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the president that I have a test taken , that everybody around me has a test taken .
They do a temperature check , ” he said .
“ We take this very seriously .
I always keep at least 6 feet away from the president .
We keep a certain level of distance .
So , I feel like the White House does a very good job of protecting folks and going above and beyond .
”

A senior Trump campaign adviser said Sunday that Vice President Mike Pence is being cautious but will maintain “a very full aggressive schedule” as he hits the campaign trail in Arizona and other states while President Trump receives treatment for the coronavirus.
“Anyone around the vice president [is] tested. People are kept very safe. And again, we can’t hide from this virus forever,” Jason Miller told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “We have to take it head-on, and we have to reopen our economy. And we got to develop this vaccine and defeat the virus.”
Mr. Pence, who must be on standby while Mr. Trump is hospitalized, plans to visit Arizona after Wednesday’s vice-presidential debate in Utah and before he votes early in Indiana and visits other places.
Mr. Miller said members of Mr. Trump’s family will hold virtual events while they’re in quarantine for possible exposure to the virus, before hitting the trail in person.
He also said he spoke to the president, who is eager to get back on the trail once he is released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“Once he gets out of the hospital, he’s ready to get back to the campaign trail. He sounded pretty energetic,” Mr. Miller said. “But he said something else that I thought that was important too … and that was to be careful, and that was to remind folks to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, make sure that if you can’t socially distance, distance to wear a mask. And I thought that was a pretty important message to send and a reminder to the rest of the country.”
Mr. Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, has tested positive for the virus, but Mr. Miller said he isn’t upset with the president’s team over possibly lax protocols.
Mr. Miller said the country needs to take the fight “head-on” and there are plenty of unknowns about the virus, so the White House and others are doing what they can to protect people.
“I know that every time that I’m around the president that I have a test taken, that everybody around me has a test taken. They do a temperature check,” he said. “We take this very seriously. I always keep at least 6 feet away from the president. We keep a certain level of distance. So, I feel like the White House does a very good job of protecting folks and going above and beyond.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Joe Biden riles Catholics with ads depicting him as 'clear moral choice'

The battle for the faith vote heated up over the weekend as the Biden campaign launched a trio of ads aimed at winning over churchgoers , prompting blowback from pro-life Catholics who said the message was at odds with the Democrat ’ s record on abortion and religious freedom .
The seven-figure ad buy , which features two television spots and one radio ad , emphasized former Vice President Joseph R. Biden ’ s Catholic faith and upbringing .
“ We are running these ads to highlight to faith-motivated voters that Joe Biden is the clear moral choice in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign faith-engagement director , told the Religion News Service .
“ Religious voters matter to this campaign and are a key part of our broad , diverse , and robust coalition.
” The first 30-second ad , “ Principles , ” highlights shots of Mr. Biden as a young man at church , and later meeting with Pope Francis , as he speaks to Father Matt Malone , saying that “ the cardinal sin of all sins is the abuse of power.
” The second television spot , “ Morning , ” shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying that “ weeping may endure for the night , but joy cometh in the morning , ” while the one-minute radio ad discusses his attendance on St. Joseph on the Brandywine , his church in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ Even now , when Joe is at home , we see him at mass on Sunday , ” says the narrator , Bernadette , who identifies herself as a parishioner .
“ You can tell how important Joe ’ s faith is to him.
” The ads are slated to run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which reportedly include affiliates of the Relevant Radio Network , a pro-life Catholic station .
Brian Burch , executive director of CatholicVote , called the ads “ deceptive , ” saying that Mr. Biden has pursued an “ anti-life and anti-faith record and policy agenda.
” “ Religious voters across America aren ’ t fooled by Joe Biden ’ s deceptive ads featuring his Catholic faith , ” said Mr. Burch in a statement .
“ Joe Biden has pledged to gut religious schools , strip away fundamental religious freedoms , and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force taxpayers to directly pay for abortion .
Look no further than the unprecedented assault on the Little Sisters of the Poor that Joe Biden has pledged to restart if elected.
” Mr. Biden announced last year that he had reversed his longstanding support for the Hyde Amendment , which bans federal funding for most abortions .
CatholicVote began last month a $ 9.7 million campaign in battleground states to discourage Catholic voters from supporting Mr. Biden , who was the first Catholic vice president and would be only the second Catholic president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We agree with Joe Biden that there ’ s a battle for the soul of America but unfortunately he ’ s on the wrong team , ” said Penny Nance , CEO and President of Concerned Women for America .
Relevant Radio addressed the pro-Biden ads in a Friday email , according to the Catholic News Agency .
“ Listeners in some of our markets will begin hearing political ads next week , ” the email said .
“ The content of these ads do not necessarily reflect the opinion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take seriously our obligation to protect our broadcast licenses which allow us to evangelize and bring Christ to the world through the media .
”

The battle for the faith vote heated up over the weekend as the Biden campaign launched a trio of ads aimed at winning over churchgoers, prompting blowback from pro-life Catholics who said the message was at odds with the Democrat’s record on abortion and religious freedom.
The seven-figure ad buy, which features two television spots and one radio ad, emphasized former Vice President Joseph R. Biden’s Catholic faith and upbringing.
“We are running these ads to highlight to faith-motivated voters that Joe Biden is the clear moral choice in this election,” Josh Dickson, Biden campaign faith-engagement director, told the Religion News Service. “Religious voters matter to this campaign and are a key part of our broad, diverse, and robust coalition.”
The first 30-second ad, “Principles,” highlights shots of Mr. Biden as a young man at church, and later meeting with Pope Francis, as he speaks to Father Matt Malone, saying that “the cardinal sin of all sins is the abuse of power.”
The second television spot, “Morning,” shows Mr. Biden at the pulpit quoting Psalms, saying that “weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning,” while the one-minute radio ad discusses his attendance on St. Joseph on the Brandywine, his church in Wilmington, Delaware.
“Even now, when Joe is at home, we see him at mass on Sunday,” says the narrator, Bernadette, who identifies herself as a parishioner. “You can tell how important Joe’s faith is to him.”
The ads are slated to run in 14 states on religious stations, which reportedly include affiliates of the Relevant Radio Network, a pro-life Catholic station.
The Biden campaign plans to run ads on Catholic radio, in states where bishops have spoken out against voting for pro-abortion candidates. https://t.co/BckMjkIvxP — Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) October 2, 2020
Brian Burch, executive director of CatholicVote, called the ads “deceptive,” saying that Mr. Biden has pursued an “anti-life and anti-faith record and policy agenda.”
“Religious voters across America aren’t fooled by Joe Biden’s deceptive ads featuring his Catholic faith,” said Mr. Burch in a statement. “Joe Biden has pledged to gut religious schools, strip away fundamental religious freedoms, and for the first time in American history, force taxpayers to directly pay for abortion. Look no further than the unprecedented assault on the Little Sisters of the Poor that Joe Biden has pledged to restart if elected.”
Mr. Biden announced last year that he had reversed his longstanding support for the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for most abortions.
CatholicVote began last month a $9.7 million campaign in battleground states to discourage Catholic voters from supporting Mr. Biden, who was the first Catholic vice president and would be only the second Catholic president in U.S. history if elected in November.
“We agree with Joe Biden that there’s a battle for the soul of America but unfortunately he’s on the wrong team,” said Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America.
Relevant Radio addressed the pro-Biden ads in a Friday email, according to the Catholic News Agency.
“Listeners in some of our markets will begin hearing political ads next week,” the email said. “The content of these ads do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Relevant Radio and its sponsors. We take seriously our obligation to protect our broadcast licenses which allow us to evangelize and bring Christ to the world through the media.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Kevin Brady seeks probe of New York Times Trump tax 'bombshell'

A woman who , when she was an illegal immigrant , worked at one of President Trump ’ s golf courses says she paid more to the IRS than President Trump did , given what has now been reported about his finances .
Others point out that if what The New York Times wrote about Mr. Trump ’ s debt is true , then he may not even be the wealthiest candidate in the presidential race .
That might be Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden .
The newspaper said Mr. Trump , through use of tax breaks and write-offs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past 15 years .
In 2016 and 2017 , two years he did show a tax liability , it was just $ 750 each year .
“ I paid millions of dollars in taxes — millions of dollars of income tax , ” he said at last week ’ s presidential debate .
“ I paid $ 38 million one year .
I paid $ 27 million one year.
” Republicans on Capitol Hill say the fact that The Times has what it claims to be Mr. Trump ’ s tax data means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a felony crime was committed ” by someone who leaked the legally protected information .
‘ To ensure every American is protected against the illegal release of their tax returns for political reasons , I am calling for an investigation of the source and to prosecute if the law was broken , ” said Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas , the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee , which oversees the IRS .
Budget watchdogs said the reports on Mr. Trump ’ s taxes should spur an overhaul of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal tactics the president may be using .
Late-night comics joked that Mr. Trump would try to sell off Air Force One or the Grand Canyon to cover his debts .
The word “ bombshell ” was frequently used to describe the reporting on Mr. Trump .
The Associated Press compared the revelations to Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney ’ s “ 47 % ” gaffe in the 2012 campaign .
“ The image of a man flying around in private jets from one luxury property to another and paying less taxes than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifestyles could prompt a backlash , ” the news service speculated .
Yet little more than a week after the original story , the most striking aspect is how small of a ripple it has made .
In part that ’ s just the chaos of 2020 .
In that ensuing week , the candidates have faced off in their first debate , a battle over a vacant Supreme Court seat has begun — and , stunningly , Mr. Trump has contracted COVID-19 .
Publicly released polls that have been conducted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear to have tested the question .
That includes a pair of New York Times/ Siena College Research Institute surveys from Florida and Pennsylvania .
“ Americans aren ’ t so concerned about the president ’ s taxes , they ’ re concerned about their own , ” the House Ways and Means Committee Republicans said in a memo reviewing the week ’ s worth of Trump tax news .
Michael McKenna , a former Trump White House aide who now writes a column for The Washington Times , said there are only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Either Mr. Trump is a genius businessman who really is a billionaire , or he is a genius marketer who for years has fooled everyone into believing he is a billionaire .
“ Somebody who can understand and use the tax code to that extent must be A , pretty smart , and B , must have a lot of dollars passing through his company , ” Mr. McKenna said .
The reporting says Mr. Trump wrote off hundreds of millions of dollars in losses from operations such as his golf courses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expenses , including personal grooming , reducing his tax liabilities to Uncle Sam .
The reporting also says Mr. Trump has some $ 300 million in loans that come due over the next several years .
The New York Times has been somewhat cagey about what information it obtained .
In an editor ’ s note , the paper said it will not release the records it used in order to protect sources .
The paper does not claim Mr. Trump broke any laws , but others , citing the newspaper ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair of Patriotic Millionaires , said Mr. Trump “ committed some amount of criminal tax evasion ” but acknowledged much of what he did was legal .
Mr. Pearl demanded that Congress step in and cancel those tax breaks .
The National Taxpayers Union Foundation , though , warned against “ knee-jerk legislative responses.
” “ Congress created the labyrinth that is our tax code , pushing specific deductions and credits to encourage various activities and opening the door to phone-book-sized tax returns .
IRS audits and New York investigations may ultimately determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improper , ” Joe Bishop-Henchman wrote in an analysis for the National Taxpayers Union Foundation .
One thing the original newspaper report did not do was point to any previously unknown links between Mr. Trump and Russia .
Trump opponents had long speculated a reason he declined to publicize his tax returns , defying a precedent every major party nominee has followed for decades , is because it would show such ties .
Andrew Weissmann , who worked on the special counsel ’ s investigation into Mr. Trump and Russia , wondered on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are held by Russian interests .
Congressional Republicans pointed out that Mr. Trump releases a list of his creditors as part of his annual financial disclosure form , which , unlike his tax returns , is required by law .
“ This information is not hidden or secret , and it ’ s strange that some news outlets are sensationalizing these numbers , ” Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee said .

A woman who, when she was an illegal immigrant, worked at one of President Trump’s golf courses says she paid more to the IRS than President Trump did, given what has now been reported about his finances.
Others point out that if what The New York Times wrote about Mr. Trump’s debt is true, then he may not even be the wealthiest candidate in the presidential race. That might be Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden.
The newspaper said Mr. Trump, through use of tax breaks and write-offs, paid no income tax most of the past 15 years. In 2016 and 2017, two years he did show a tax liability, it was just $750 each year.
Mr. Trump says it’s all bunk.
“I paid millions of dollars in taxes — millions of dollars of income tax,” he said at last week’s presidential debate. “I paid $38 million one year. I paid $27 million one year.”
Republicans on Capitol Hill say the fact that The Times has what it claims to be Mr. Trump’s tax data means “there is a strong prospect that a felony crime was committed” by someone who leaked the legally protected information.
‘To ensure every American is protected against the illegal release of their tax returns for political reasons, I am calling for an investigation of the source and to prosecute if the law was broken,” said Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees the IRS.
Budget watchdogs said the reports on Mr. Trump’s taxes should spur an overhaul of the tax code to stop the kinds of legal tactics the president may be using.
Late-night comics joked that Mr. Trump would try to sell off Air Force One or the Grand Canyon to cover his debts.
The word “bombshell” was frequently used to describe the reporting on Mr. Trump. The Associated Press compared the revelations to Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s “47%” gaffe in the 2012 campaign.
“The image of a man flying around in private jets from one luxury property to another and paying less taxes than millions of Americans with far more modest lifestyles could prompt a backlash,” the news service speculated.
Yet little more than a week after the original story, the most striking aspect is how small of a ripple it has made.
In part that’s just the chaos of 2020. In that ensuing week, the candidates have faced off in their first debate, a battle over a vacant Supreme Court seat has begun — and, stunningly, Mr. Trump has contracted COVID-19.
Publicly released polls that have been conducted in the week since the revelations don’t appear to have tested the question. That includes a pair of New York Times/ Siena College Research Institute surveys from Florida and Pennsylvania.
“Americans aren’t so concerned about the president’s taxes, they’re concerned about their own,” the House Ways and Means Committee Republicans said in a memo reviewing the week’s worth of Trump tax news.
Michael McKenna, a former Trump White House aide who now writes a column for The Washington Times, said there are only two conclusions to draw from the reporting: Either Mr. Trump is a genius businessman who really is a billionaire, or he is a genius marketer who for years has fooled everyone into believing he is a billionaire.
“Somebody who can understand and use the tax code to that extent must be A, pretty smart, and B, must have a lot of dollars passing through his company,” Mr. McKenna said.
The reporting says Mr. Trump wrote off hundreds of millions of dollars in losses from operations such as his golf courses, and from what he deemed business expenses, including personal grooming, reducing his tax liabilities to Uncle Sam.
The reporting also says Mr. Trump has some $300 million in loans that come due over the next several years.
The New York Times has been somewhat cagey about what information it obtained. In an editor’s note, the paper said it will not release the records it used in order to protect sources.
The paper does not claim Mr. Trump broke any laws, but others, citing the newspaper’s data, do.
Morris Pearl, chair of Patriotic Millionaires, said Mr. Trump “committed some amount of criminal tax evasion” but acknowledged much of what he did was legal. Mr. Pearl demanded that Congress step in and cancel those tax breaks.
The National Taxpayers Union Foundation, though, warned against “knee-jerk legislative responses.”
“Congress created the labyrinth that is our tax code, pushing specific deductions and credits to encourage various activities and opening the door to phone-book-sized tax returns. IRS audits and New York investigations may ultimately determine some of these tax reductions to be improper,” Joe Bishop-Henchman wrote in an analysis for the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.
One thing the original newspaper report did not do was point to any previously unknown links between Mr. Trump and Russia. Trump opponents had long speculated a reason he declined to publicize his tax returns, defying a precedent every major party nominee has followed for decades, is because it would show such ties.
The lack of evidence didn’t stop speculation.
Andrew Weissmann, who worked on the special counsel’s investigation into Mr. Trump and Russia, wondered on Twitter whether Mr. Trump’s debts are held by Russian interests.
Congressional Republicans pointed out that Mr. Trump releases a list of his creditors as part of his annual financial disclosure form, which, unlike his tax returns, is required by law.
“This information is not hidden or secret, and it’s strange that some news outlets are sensationalizing these numbers,” Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Tropical Storm Gamma leaves 6 dead in southern Mexico

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - At least 6 people died and thousands were evacuated in southeastern Mexico after Tropical Storm Gamma lashed the Yucatan Peninsula ’ s resort-studded coast with near-hurricane force winds and drenched Tabasco and Chiapas states , authorities said Sunday .
Mexico ’ s civil defense agency said in a statement that four of the deaths , including two children , were in Chiapas , where a landslide on a mountainous slope buried their home .
The other two deaths were in Tabasco state , where one person was dragged away by the water and another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , combined over the weekend to cause extreme rains in parts of the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas , affecting more than half a million people .
The hardest-hit state was Tabasco , where more than 3,400 were evacuated to shelters .
The storm came ashore Saturday near Tulum with maximum sustained winds of nearly 70 mph ( 110 kph ) - 4 mph ( 9 kph short of hurricane force ) , according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami .
Mexican authorities continued to warn people in the Yucatan on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The hurricane center said Gamma was about 130 miles ( 205 kms ) northeast of Progreso , Mexico , and had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph ( 95 kph ) .
The state ’ s tourism department reported Friday on Twitter that more than 41,000 tourists were present in Quintana Roo , with hotels in Cancun and Cozumel already at more than 30 % occupancy .
The area only recently reopened to tourism after a pandemic shutdown .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - At least 6 people died and thousands were evacuated in southeastern Mexico after Tropical Storm Gamma lashed the Yucatan Peninsula’s resort-studded coast with near-hurricane force winds and drenched Tabasco and Chiapas states, authorities said Sunday.
Mexico’s civil defense agency said in a statement that four of the deaths, including two children, were in Chiapas, where a landslide on a mountainous slope buried their home. The other two deaths were in Tabasco state, where one person was dragged away by the water and another drowned..
Gamma, along with cold fronts, combined over the weekend to cause extreme rains in parts of the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas, affecting more than half a million people. The hardest-hit state was Tabasco, where more than 3,400 were evacuated to shelters.
The storm came ashore Saturday near Tulum with maximum sustained winds of nearly 70 mph (110 kph) - 4 mph (9 kph short of hurricane force), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Mexican authorities continued to warn people in the Yucatan Sunday night as Gamma remained stalled offshore. The hurricane center said Gamma was about 190 miles (305 kms) east-northeast of Progreso, Mexico, and had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph).
The state’s tourism department reported Friday on Twitter that more than 41,000 tourists were present in Quintana Roo, with hotels in Cancun and Cozumel already at more than 30% occupancy. The area only recently reopened to tourism after a pandemic shutdown.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Joe Biden tests negative for coronavirus Sunday

WASHINGTON — Joe Biden ’ s campaign says the Democratic presidential nominee tested negative for coronavirus Sunday .
The results @ @ @ @ @ spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with President Donald Trump .
The @ @ @ @ @ days after the debate , and he remains hospitalized .
Biden had two negative tests @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden is scheduled to travel Monday to Florida .
His campaign said it will @ @ @ @ @ guidelines on masks , social distancing and crowd sizes .

WASHINGTON — Joe Biden’s campaign says the Democratic presidential nominee tested negative for coronavirus Sunday.
The results come five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with President Donald Trump. The president was diagnosed with COVID-19 days after the debate, and he remains hospitalized.
Biden had two negative tests on Friday, as well.
Biden is scheduled to travel Monday to Florida. His campaign said it will continue to observe public health guidelines on masks, social distancing and crowd sizes.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Inside the Beltway: Coronavirus could help reelect Trump

President Trump is not alone in his hospital experience .
U.S. presidents have been in the hospital during their time in office in previous administrations .
Few can forget President Ronald Reagan , wounded by a would-be assassin on March 30 , 1981 .
Upon encountering first lady Nancy Reagan in the emergency room , he said “ Honey , I forgot to duck.
” He also had a comment for his surgeons on his way into the operating room .
“ Please tell me you ’ re Republicans , ” Reagan said .
The nation and the news media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s chipper bearing in a dire situation .
Which brings us to Mr. Trump — hospitalized after a positive test for coronavirus — but still on the job and quite calm and productive , despite continued attacks from the ever-present hostile news media .
One veteran journalist now believes these circumstances could benefit Mr. Trump and “ will reelect him.
” Roger Simon , founder of PJ Media and a columnist for The Epoch Times , believes that Mr. Trump ’ s stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is a reboot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It will give him a time out , a cooling off period from a political campaign that had become too hot to handle , and will ultimately allow him to win , ” Mr. Simon writes .
He points out that social media , news reports and commentary erupted with joyful outcries from journalists and pundits within an hour of the announcement that the president had received a positive result on his test .
“ These leftists included leaders of the Democratic Party and , needless to say , well-known cable TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hypocritical beyond belief .
Over the last few years , Trump has frequently been accused of ‘ going too far.
’ But it is the left that has now gone too far , lusting for death — and the whole world is/was watching , ” Mr. Simon observes .
The world may not like what it sees , and the outspoken critics could generate an unintended by-product with their caustic comments .
“ In the aftermath of Trump ’ s contracting COVID-19 , they are reelecting him , ” Mr. Simon advises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American public if they are “ happy ” that President Trump tested positive for the coronavirus .
A Politico/Morning Consult poll posed the query to 1,000 people Saturday , and here ’ s what it found .
Overall , 14 % of U.S. adults said that feeling happy about Mr. Trump ’ s positive test described their reaction “ very well ” while 12 % said it described their reaction “ somewhat well.
” Among Democrats , 23 % said feeling happy described their reaction very well and 17 % somewhat well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well and 9 % somewhat well and among Republicans , it was 6 % very well , and 7 % somewhat well .
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow asked the nation to pray for President Trump and first lady Melania Trump , and asked for God ’ s blessing on both .
She was among the few progressive and liberal journalists who offered a civil response to Mr. Trump ’ s coronavirus issue .
Many of Ms. Maddow ’ s peers instead offered glee , sarcasm and applause .
New York Post columnist Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice , deeming it “ the left ’ s sickening lack of decency.
” The public is watching , however .
Now , perhaps , is the time for Mr. Trump ’ s critics to behave .
“ A spirit of national unity is not only desirable , it is necessary .
The world is full of malevolent actors always on the prowl for weakness , and expressions that reflect and harden polarization when a president is hobbled amount to an invitation to take advantage of us .
Loose lips still do sink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s what the ballot box is for .
Shut up and vote , or at least shut up , ” the columnist writes .
“ The speculation about how Trump got infected reeks of amateurism , especially among those who claim to ‘ follow the science.
’ Nobody knows exactly where and when it happened and the insinuation by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others that the president caught it by acting recklessly is itself reckless , ” Mr. Goodwin says .
“ To his everlasting credit , Trump never stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick .
While you are praying for his recovery , you might also thank God for giving him uncommon courage , ” he later concludes .
Do you sometimes ponder the olden days of journalism , back when journalists were journalists ?
You are not alone .
“ I miss Tony Snow .
I miss Tim Russert .
I miss David Brinkley .
What this current crop of ‘ journalists ’ has done to the media in America is appalling , ” tweeted James Golden — otherwise known as “ Bo Snerdley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Limbaugh ’ s daily talk radio show .
For those who need a reminder , Snow — once editorial-page editor for The Washington Times — went on to become a fair-minded host on Fox News and White House press secretary .
Russert was the tough , influential moderator for NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press ” for 16 years .
Brinkley ruled the airwaves as an anchorman and newscaster for both NBC and ABC from 1943 to 1997 .
President Trump ’ s campaign continues to ask Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in response to current news and political happenstance .
Here is the campaign ’ s latest inquiry for Mr. Biden : “ After months of saying knocking on doors was dangerous , why has your campaign reversed itself and is now doing just that ?
” • 40 % of U.S. adults say President Trump testing positive for coronavirus will not affect their vote in the presidential race ; 38 % of Republicans , 51 % of independents and 34 % of Democrats agree .
• 34 % overall say the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for Joe Biden “ ; 6 % of Republicans , 25 % of independents and 61 % of Democrats agree .
• 22 % say the result will make them more likely to vote for Mr. Trump ; 53 % of Republicans , 11 % of independents and 4 % of Democrats agree .
• 5 % don ’ t know or have no opinion ; 4 % of Republicans , 12 % of independents and 1 % of Democrats agree .

NEWS AND OPINION:
President Trump is not alone in his hospital experience. U.S. presidents have been in the hospital during their time in office in previous administrations. Few can forget President Ronald Reagan, wounded by a would-be assassin on March 30, 1981. Upon encountering first lady Nancy Reagan in the emergency room, he said “Honey, I forgot to duck.”
He also had a comment for his surgeons on his way into the operating room.
“Please tell me you’re Republicans,” Reagan said.
The nation and the news media were reassured by the 40th president’s chipper bearing in a dire situation. Which brings us to Mr. Trump — hospitalized after a positive test for coronavirus — but still on the job and quite calm and productive, despite continued attacks from the ever-present hostile news media.
One veteran journalist now believes these circumstances could benefit Mr. Trump and “will reelect him.”
Roger Simon, founder of PJ Media and a columnist for The Epoch Times, believes that Mr. Trump’s stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is a reboot of sorts with a palliative effect.
“It will give him a time out, a cooling off period from a political campaign that had become too hot to handle, and will ultimately allow him to win,” Mr. Simon writes.
He points out that social media, news reports and commentary erupted with joyful outcries from journalists and pundits within an hour of the announcement that the president had received a positive result on his test.
“These leftists included leaders of the Democratic Party and, needless to say, well-known cable TV pundits, many of them filthy rich and hypocritical beyond belief. Over the last few years, Trump has frequently been accused of ‘going too far.’ But it is the left that has now gone too far, lusting for death — and the whole world is/was watching,” Mr. Simon observes.
The world may not like what it sees, and the outspoken critics could generate an unintended by-product with their caustic comments.
“In the aftermath of Trump’s contracting COVID-19, they are reelecting him,” Mr. Simon advises.
THE ‘HAPPY’ THING
A pollster has already asked the American public if they are “happy” that President Trump tested positive for the coronavirus. A Politico/Morning Consult poll posed the query to 1,000 people Saturday, and here’s what it found.
Overall, 14% of U.S. adults said that feeling happy about Mr. Trump’s positive test described their reaction “very well” while 12% said it described their reaction “somewhat well.”
Among Democrats, 23% said feeling happy described their reaction very well and 17% somewhat well. Among independents, 11% said very well and 9% somewhat well and among Republicans, it was 6% very well, and 7% somewhat well.
DEMOCRATS ‘REEK OF AMATEURISM’
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow asked the nation to pray for President Trump and first lady Melania Trump, and asked for God’s blessing on both. She was among the few progressive and liberal journalists who offered a civil response to Mr. Trump’s coronavirus issue.
Many of Ms. Maddow’s peers instead offered glee, sarcasm and applause.
New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin offered a handy description of this practice, deeming it “the left’s sickening lack of decency.”
The public is watching, however. Now, perhaps, is the time for Mr. Trump’s critics to behave.
“A spirit of national unity is not only desirable, it is necessary. The world is full of malevolent actors always on the prowl for weakness, and expressions that reflect and harden polarization when a president is hobbled amount to an invitation to take advantage of us. Loose lips still do sink ships. If you are anti-Trump, that’s what the ballot box is for. Shut up and vote, or at least shut up,” the columnist writes.
“The speculation about how Trump got infected reeks of amateurism, especially among those who claim to ‘follow the science.’ Nobody knows exactly where and when it happened and the insinuation by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others that the president caught it by acting recklessly is itself reckless,” Mr. Goodwin says.
“To his everlasting credit, Trump never stopped being president out of fear of getting sick. While you are praying for his recovery, you might also thank God for giving him uncommon courage,” he later concludes.
NOW THERE’S A THOUGHT
Do you sometimes ponder the olden days of journalism, back when journalists were journalists? You are not alone.
“I miss Tony Snow. I miss Tim Russert. I miss David Brinkley. What this current crop of ‘journalists’ has done to the media in America is appalling,” tweeted James Golden — otherwise known as “Bo Snerdley,” the longtime executive producer for Rush Limbaugh‘s daily talk radio show.
For those who need a reminder, Snow — once editorial-page editor for The Washington Times — went on to become a fair-minded host on Fox News and White House press secretary. Russert was the tough, influential moderator for NBC’s “Meet the Press” for 16 years. Brinkley ruled the airwaves as an anchorman and newscaster for both NBC and ABC from 1943 to 1997.
A PERTINENT INQUIRY
President Trump‘s campaign continues to ask Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden a “question of the day” in response to current news and political happenstance. Here is the campaign’s latest inquiry for Mr. Biden:
“After months of saying knocking on doors was dangerous, why has your campaign reversed itself and is now doing just that?”
POLL DU JOUR
• 40% of U.S. adults say President Trump testing positive for coronavirus will not affect their vote in the presidential race; 38% of Republicans, 51% of independents and 34% of Democrats agree.
• 34% overall say the result will make them “more likely to vote for Joe Biden“; 6% of Republicans, 25% of independents and 61% of Democrats agree.
• 22% say the result will make them more likely to vote for Mr. Trump; 53% of Republicans, 11% of independents and 4% of Democrats agree.
• 5% don’t know or have no opinion; 4% of Republicans, 12% of independents and 1% of Democrats agree.
Source: A Politico/Morning Consult poll of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 2.
Helpful information to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--James Copland: Federal bureaucrats at risk of violating laws

What worries James Copland isn ’ t so much the paper-pushing bureaucrat as it is the ideologue zealot in bureaucratic clothing .
“ There was good reason to set this up as a permanent feature of government , getting rid of the spoils system , ” Mr. Copland said of the vast federal bureaucracy .
“ But the person there now tends to be a real true believer — in places like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or the Environmental Protection Agency especially — and you wind up with an absence of real public accountability over what is governing our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform , to oversee , has created a regulatory trellis so big it makes everyone likely an outlaw , he says .
“ There ’ s no way people can know everything that is legal and is not , ” said Mr. Copland , the director of legal research at the conservative , free market Manhattan Institute for Policy .
Americans now contend with roughly 300,000 rules , regulations and laws , which prompted Mr. Copland to write the book “ The Unelected : How an Unaccountable Elite is Governing America.
” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to many Americans , including the swollen ranks of trial lawyers who clutter the courts with lawsuits about coffee temperature , baby powder and other such matters , and agency rulings on whether people will be allowed to cut hair and the volume of water permitted in your toilet .
Mr. Copland said the problem is particularly acute today , but intellectuals have echoed his lament for more than a century .
Sociologist Max Weber fretted over a scenario in “ which the bureaucracy would rule alone.
” Columbia University Law School ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law .
Even communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was exasperated about the weedlike growth of government bureaucracy .
Today ’ s unelected bureaucrats and self-anointed experts sprout in fertile government soil , Mr. Copland said .
On the one hand , U.S. tort laws have assumed monstrous proportions .
On the other hand , bureaucrats gain power because Congress abdicates its lawmaking responsibilities or a chief executive takes an overly aggressive approach with some departments .
Identifying such culprits also means that the problem can be minimized with the tools at hand if there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr. Copland said .
“ Tort law predates the founding of the American republic , and we ’ re certainly not going back to a 1787 style of government , ” he said , making it clear he is not talking about a utopia in which the bureaucracy would somehow vanish .
It is also not a partisan development .
Whether it is Donald Trump or Barack Obama in the White House , the swollen volumes of federal regulation keep growing , albeit not at the same pace .
In Mr. Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew by an average of 1,658 pages a week , finishing at a record 95,894 pages in 2016 .
Under Mr. Trump , the rate of growth has slowed to an average increase of 1,301 pages a week , according to Ballotpedia ’ s Administrative State Project .
Trimming regulations has been a priority for Mr. Trump , who upon taking office issued Executive Order 13771 , “ Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs.
” The order required 1.7 “ significant rules ” to be rolled back for every new one implemented .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations shows , the bureaucracy has become so vast and its coverage areas so complete that it seems to grow on autopilot .
“ Trump has tried to slow it down , but it still grows , ” Mr. Copland said .
“ There ’ s been 60,000 new regulations added .
That ’ s the lowest amount since 1993 , but it ’ s still an addition and we do have a bull in the china shop kind of president.
” Mr. Copland pinpoints the 1998 national tobacco settlement as a turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers and government .
In that case , after years of unsuccessful flailing at the tobacco industry in court , a handful of Deep South trial lawyers partnered with ambitious Mississippi politicians and pioneered a massive multistate settlement that doled out hundreds of billions of dollars to states and rewrote smoking laws .
Mr. Copland offers ideas on how to improve the situation without a radical overhaul .
He suggested using a bit less of the “ Chevron deference , ” a Supreme Court principle that defers to the federal agency writing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps with more stringent use of sunset provisions .
At the moment , however , a dangerous “ end-around ” occurs in our lawmaking , Mr. Copland said .
One example is the “ sue and settle ” tactic in which an advocacy group files a federal lawsuit and the agency or department , often staffed with former directors of the advocacy group , quickly settles on favorable terms for the plaintiff .
Another tactic that grew during the Obama administration used regulatory agents wielding prosecutorial powers to force settlements on companies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pet projects or groups .
“ That leaves you with an apparatus in place where you can spread money to your allies , ” Mr. Copland said .
Although the settlements are not tax dollars , he said , the pots nonetheless constitute public money .
Then there are the various boards of appointed directors , whose terms may overlap an election .
These ” quasi-legislative , quasi-judicial ” boards exert real power over parts of the media or civil rights , for instance , and operate untethered from any sort of political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this has led to a sort of “ new anti-federalism ” in which the U.S. system has become inverted , with the lifting of the anchoring notion that those who hold power do so with the consent of the governed , Mr. Copland said .
“ And in a lot of cases , people aren ’ t even aware of it .
They don ’ t even realize what is happening , ” he said .
That has a paradoxical effect , Mr. Copland said .
While U.S. elections have grown more contentious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more fractious than any in recent history , the consequences of elections are somewhat diminished .
Nowadays , the rules are being written not by who is elected but by the unelected bureaucrats they install , he said .
That isn ’ t what spooks Mr. Copland the most .
“ If people like this stuff , then what ?
” he asked , only half in jest .
There are , after all , winners and losers in all systems .
“ You can write about this , you can have all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a point , ” he said .
“ But if people like this stuff , then people don ’ t care .
”

THE BIG TALK
An occasional interview series with Americans who are chal-lenging the status quo.
What worries James Copland isn’t so much the paper-pushing bureaucrat as it is the ideologue zealot in bureaucratic clothing.
“There was good reason to set this up as a permanent feature of government, getting rid of the spoils system,” Mr. Copland said of the vast federal bureaucracy. “But the person there now tends to be a real true believer — in places like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or the Environmental Protection Agency especially — and you wind up with an absence of real public accountability over what is governing our lives.”
Indeed, that zeal to reform, to oversee, has created a regulatory trellis so big it makes everyone likely an outlaw, he says.
“There’s no way people can know everything that is legal and is not,” said Mr. Copland, the director of legal research at the conservative, free market Manhattan Institute for Policy.
Americans now contend with roughly 300,000 rules, regulations and laws, which prompted Mr. Copland to write the book “The Unelected: How an Unaccountable Elite is Governing America.”
Mr. Copland’s villains would be familiar to many Americans, including the swollen ranks of trial lawyers who clutter the courts with lawsuits about coffee temperature, baby powder and other such matters, and agency rulings on whether people will be allowed to cut hair and the volume of water permitted in your toilet.
Mr. Copland said the problem is particularly acute today, but intellectuals have echoed his lament for more than a century. Sociologist Max Weber fretted over a scenario in “which the bureaucracy would rule alone.” Columbia University Law School’s Philip Hamburger criticized the metastasizing administrative law. Even communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was exasperated about the weedlike growth of government bureaucracy.
Today’s unelected bureaucrats and self-anointed experts sprout in fertile government soil, Mr. Copland said.
On the one hand, U.S. tort laws have assumed monstrous proportions. On the other hand, bureaucrats gain power because Congress abdicates its lawmaking responsibilities or a chief executive takes an overly aggressive approach with some departments.
Identifying such culprits also means that the problem can be minimized with the tools at hand if there is the political will to do so, Mr. Copland said.
“Tort law predates the founding of the American republic, and we’re certainly not going back to a 1787 style of government,” he said, making it clear he is not talking about a utopia in which the bureaucracy would somehow vanish.
It is also not a partisan development. Whether it is Donald Trump or Barack Obama in the White House, the swollen volumes of federal regulation keep growing, albeit not at the same pace.
In Mr. Obama’s administration, the Federal Register grew by an average of 1,658 pages a week, finishing at a record 95,894 pages in 2016. Under Mr. Trump, the rate of growth has slowed to an average increase of 1,301 pages a week, according to Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Project.
Trimming regulations has been a priority for Mr. Trump, who upon taking office issued Executive Order 13771, “Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs.” The order required 1.7 “significant rules” to be rolled back for every new one implemented.
But as the diary of rules and regulations shows, the bureaucracy has become so vast and its coverage areas so complete that it seems to grow on autopilot.
“Trump has tried to slow it down, but it still grows,” Mr. Copland said. “There’s been 60,000 new regulations added. That’s the lowest amount since 1993, but it’s still an addition and we do have a bull in the china shop kind of president.”
Mr. Copland pinpoints the 1998 national tobacco settlement as a turning point in the unholy alliance between trial lawyers and government. In that case, after years of unsuccessful flailing at the tobacco industry in court, a handful of Deep South trial lawyers partnered with ambitious Mississippi politicians and pioneered a massive multistate settlement that doled out hundreds of billions of dollars to states and rewrote smoking laws.
Mr. Copland offers ideas on how to improve the situation without a radical overhaul. He suggested using a bit less of the “Chevron deference,” a Supreme Court principle that defers to the federal agency writing the rules whenever a regulation seems ambiguous, perhaps with more stringent use of sunset provisions.
At the moment, however, a dangerous “end-around” occurs in our lawmaking, Mr. Copland said.
One example is the “sue and settle” tactic in which an advocacy group files a federal lawsuit and the agency or department, often staffed with former directors of the advocacy group, quickly settles on favorable terms for the plaintiff.
Another tactic that grew during the Obama administration used regulatory agents wielding prosecutorial powers to force settlements on companies and then use the settlement money to fund pet projects or groups.
“That leaves you with an apparatus in place where you can spread money to your allies,” Mr. Copland said. Although the settlements are not tax dollars, he said, the pots nonetheless constitute public money.
Then there are the various boards of appointed directors, whose terms may overlap an election. These”quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial” boards exert real power over parts of the media or civil rights, for instance, and operate untethered from any sort of political accountability, he said.
All of this has led to a sort of “new anti-federalism” in which the U.S. system has become inverted, with the lifting of the anchoring notion that those who hold power do so with the consent of the governed, Mr. Copland said.
“And in a lot of cases, people aren’t even aware of it. They don’t even realize what is happening,” he said.
That has a paradoxical effect, Mr. Copland said. While U.S. elections have grown more contentious, and the upcoming presidential election seems more fractious than any in recent history, the consequences of elections are somewhat diminished. Nowadays, the rules are being written not by who is elected but by the unelected bureaucrats they install, he said.
That isn’t what spooks Mr. Copland the most.
“If people like this stuff, then what?” he asked, only half in jest.
There are, after all, winners and losers in all systems.
“You can write about this, you can have all the transparency, and transparency does work to a point,” he said. “But if people like this stuff, then people don’t care.”
• James Varney can be reached at jvarney@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Spokesman says Tillis is improving after COVID diagnosis

RALEIGH , N.C. ( AP ) - A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina says that the @ @ @ @ @ mild symptoms following a positive COVID-19 test .
Tillis spokesman Adam Webb issued a statement @ @ @ @ @ senator is continuing to self-isolate at home but that he ’ s feeling better after @ @ @ @ @ day .
Tillis announced Friday night that he had tested positive .
“ His mild @ @ @ @ @ improved and the only lingering symptom is the loss of his sense of taste and @ @ @ @ @ in an email .
Tillis is among several people to be diagnosed with the virus @ @ @ @ @ nomination ceremony in the White House Rose Garden for Amy Coney Barrett .
Tillis was @ @ @ @ @ ceremony and has supported mask use .
Tillis has said that he would self-isolate for @ @ @ @ @ was temporarily halting in-person campaigning during his re-election bid .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina says that the senator is improving after experiencing mild symptoms following a positive COVID-19 test.
Tillis spokesman Adam Webb issued a statement Sunday night saying that the senator is continuing to self-isolate at home but that he’s feeling better after experiencing mild symptoms the previous day. Tillis announced Friday night that he had tested positive.
“His mild symptoms from yesterday have significantly improved and the only lingering symptom is the loss of his sense of taste and smell,” Webb said in an email.
Tillis is among several people to be diagnosed with the virus after attending the Supreme Court nomination ceremony in the White House Rose Garden for Amy Coney Barrett. Tillis was wearing a mask at the ceremony and has supported mask use.
Tillis has said that he would self-isolate for 10 days and that he was temporarily halting in-person campaigning during his re-election bid.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Police: 6 shot, wounded during fight in an Atlanta store

ATLANTA ( AP ) - Six people were shot and wounded Sunday during a fight in a large crowd at @ @ @ @ @ , authorities said .
The preliminary Investigation shows that a person involved in the dispute @ @ @ @ @ fired the gunshots , Atlanta police said in a statement .
Officers found four people @ @ @ @ @ arrived at the store shortly after 4:00 p.m. Two of the other victims were found @ @ @ @ @ said .
All of the victims have been taken to a hospital for treatment .
@ @ @ @ @ victims were confirmed to be juveniles .

ATLANTA (AP) - One man has died and five others have been hospitalized for gunshot wounds following a fight at a convenience store in Atlanta, authorities said.
The preliminary Investigation shows that a person involved in the dispute at Star Discount Food store fired the gunshots, Atlanta police said in a statement.
Officers found four people with gunshot wounds when they arrived at the store shortly after 4:00 p.m.
Two of the other victims were found in other locations, police said.
All of the victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. A 19-year-old man who was wounded during the shooting died later on Sunday as a result of his injuries, police said.
Officials said two of the victims were confirmed to be juveniles.
The incident is being investigated as a homicide.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Chuck Schumer calls for delay on Amy Coney Barrett hearings

Senate Democrats seized on the White House coronavirus outbreak in a bid to delay the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett but the GOP majority won ’ t slow down , even with three Republican senators testing positive .
Across the street , the high court opens its new term Monday with eight justices on the bench , underscoring the high stakes of the confirmation battle .
“ If it ’ s not safe for the Senate to meet in session , it ’ s not safe for the hearings to go forward , ” Senate Minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat , said Sunday .
Democrats previously lauded steps to carry on despite the pandemic , such as conducting virtual hearings and the Democrat-run House adopting unprecedented rules to allow proxy voting on legislation .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled that the positive COVID-19 tests for the senators — including two on the Judiciary Committee — won ’ t slow down the confirmation process that is on track for a final vote by end of the month .
Republicans have the votes to move forward with the President Trump ’ s nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death .
Confirmation hearings begin Oct. 12 , though with the Senate postponed legislative work until at least Oct. 19 because of the outbreak .
“ Once the nominee comes out of the Judiciary Committee , we will move forward to take the nomination up , ” Mr. McConnell said Friday in Kentucky , his home state .
Under the current schedule , the nomination could go to the full Senate in as soon as three weeks .
Judge Barrett ’ s confirmation will mark a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court by giving it a 6-3 conservative majority .
Mr. Schumer has also demanded that Judge Barrett , after attending the White House event announcing her nomination where several people later tested positive , should be tested too and engage in contact tracing per guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
During the last week , Judge Barrett met with more than two dozen GOP senators on Capitol Hill who could now be subject to testing under the guidelines .
Judd Deere , a spokesman for the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barrett is tested daily for COVID-19 and has been negative .
“ She is following CDC guidance and best practices , including social distancing , wearing face coverings , and frequently washes hands , ” Mr. Deere said .
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican , said he will permit virtual participation from the senators during the hearings .
And for full Senate legislative work , the lawmakers will be given a 24-hour notice for any votes that come up before Oct. 19 .
The decision to postpone the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not committees — comes after Sens .
Mike Lee of Utah , Tom Tillis of North Carolina and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin all tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend .
Mr. Lee and Mr. Tillis are among the 12 Republican members on the Judiciary Committee that conducts Supreme Court confirmation hearings .
All three attended the Senate Republican ’ s weekly lunches , sparking fear of more positive diagnosis in the GOP conference .
Sen. James Lankford , Oklahoma Republican , has not tested positive but will be quarantining after meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
He ’ s not on the Judiciary committee .
Senate Democrats have accused the Republican majority of moving too quickly to fill the Supreme Court vacancy , saying the president who wins Nov. 3 should appoint the new justice .
They ’ ve also accused Republicans of wanting a conservative jurist on the court as the justices will weigh a case concerning the Affordable Care Act ’ s individual mandate Nov. 10 .
The Democrats assume Judge Barrett would strike down the health care law .
As the eight justices gavel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleague for the first time in decades , the first cases they ’ ll be considering involve a challenge to part of Delaware ’ s state constitution requiring judges to be either Republican or Democrats and another dispute between New Mexico and Texas over the Pecos River Compact .
Other notable cases coming before the court ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday involves a challenge over copyright law between Google and Oracle , and a case involving a bar on Catholic Social Services from providing adoption services due to its refusal to place foster @ @ @ @ @

Senate Democrats seized on the White House coronavirus outbreak in a bid to delay the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett but the GOP majority won’t slow down, even with three Republican senators testing positive.
Across the street, the high court opens its new term Monday with eight justices on the bench, underscoring the high stakes of the confirmation battle.
“If it’s not safe for the Senate to meet in session, it’s not safe for the hearings to go forward,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said Sunday.
Democrats previously lauded steps to carry on despite the pandemic, such as conducting virtual hearings and the Democratic-run House adopting unprecedented rules to allow proxy voting on legislation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled that the positive COVID-19 tests for the senators — including two on the Judiciary Committee — won’t slow down the confirmation process that is on track for a final vote by end of the month.
Republicans have the votes to move forward with the President Trump’s nominee quickly to fill the seat left vacant by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. Confirmation hearings begin Oct. 12, though with the Senate postponed legislative work until at least Oct. 19 because of the outbreak.
“Once the nominee comes out of the Judiciary Committee, we will move forward to take the nomination up,” Mr. McConnell said Friday in Kentucky, his home state.
Under the current schedule, the nomination could go to the full Senate in as soon as three weeks.
Judge Barrett’s confirmation will mark a stark shift to the right for the Supreme Court by giving it a 6-3 conservative majority.
Mr. Schumer has also demanded that Judge Barrett, after attending the White House event announcing her nomination where several people later tested positive, should be tested too and engage in contact tracing per guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the last week, Judge Barrett met with more than two dozen GOP senators on Capitol Hill who could now be subject to testing under the guidelines.
Judd Deere, a spokesman for the White House, told The Washington Times that Judge Barrett is tested daily for COVID-19 and has been negative.
“She is following CDC guidance and best practices, including social distancing, wearing face coverings, and frequently washes hands,” Mr. Deere said.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, said he will permit virtual participation from the senators during the hearings. And for full Senate legislative work, the lawmakers will be given a 24-hour notice for any votes that come up before Oct. 19.
The decision to postpone the work schedule for the Senate — but not committees — comes after Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Tom Tillis of North Carolina and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin all tested positive for the coronavirus over the weekend.
Mr. Lee and Mr. Tillis are among the 12 Republican members on the Judiciary Committee that conducts Supreme Court confirmation hearings.
All three attended the Senate Republican’s weekly lunches, sparking fear of more positive diagnosis in the GOP conference.
Sen. James Lankford, Oklahoma Republican, has not tested positive but will be quarantining after meeting with Mr. Lee several times throughout the week. He’s not on the Judiciary committee.
Senate Democrats have accused the Republican majority of moving too quickly to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, saying the president who wins Nov. 3 should appoint the new justice.
They’ve also accused Republicans of wanting a conservative jurist on the court as the justices will weigh a case concerning the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate Nov. 10. The Democrats assume Judge Barrett would strike down the health care law.
As the eight justices gavel back in session Monday without their senior colleague for the first time in decades, the first cases they’ll be considering involve a challenge to part of Delaware’s state constitution requiring judges to be either Republican or Democrats and another dispute between New Mexico and Texas over the Pecos River Compact.
Other notable cases coming before the court ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday involves a challenge over copyright law between Google and Oracle, and a case involving a bar on Catholic Social Services from providing adoption services due to its refusal to place foster children with same-sex couples.
• Gabriella Muñoz contributed to this report.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Colorado man admits coughing on woman, violating virus order

ASPEN , Colo. ( AP ) - A Colorado man pleaded guilty to violating a county coronavirus health order for @ @ @ @ @ s face .
Tom Patierno was given a six-month deferred sentence and is expected to @ @ @ @ @ probation , The Aspen Times reported .
Pitkin County Public Health Director Karen Koenemann charged @ @ @ @ @ of a March 23 public health order for not social distancing .
Patierno must perform @ @ @ @ @ , attend 18 hours of mental health counseling and write an apology letter to the @ @ @ @ @ will be dismissed and removed from his record if he meets all requirements .
Patierno @ @ @ @ @ in the woman ’ s face ” March 29 and made at least a “ @ @ @ @ @ asked him to move over as they approached each other on the Rio Grande Trail @ @ @ @ @ said she did not develop COVID-19 after the interaction .

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - A Colorado man pleaded guilty to violating a county coronavirus health order for coughing in a woman’s face.
Tom Patierno was given a six-month deferred sentence and is expected to serve six months of supervised probation, The Aspen Times reported.
Pitkin County Public Health Director Karen Koenemann charged Patierno with a misdemeanor violation of a March 23 public health order for not social distancing.
Patierno must perform 60 hours of public service, attend 18 hours of mental health counseling and write an apology letter to the 68-year-old woman. The case will be dismissed and removed from his record if he meets all requirements.
Patierno told police he “got in the woman’s face” March 29 and made at least a “coughing gesture” after she asked him to move over as they approached each other on the Rio Grande Trail in Aspen.
The woman said she did not develop COVID-19 after the interaction.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Idaho football game ended after Bundy refuses to wear mask

EMMETT , Idaho ( AP ) - An Idaho high school football game was canceled after anti-government activist Ammon Bundy refused to wear a mask or leave school grounds .
The game Friday in Emmett between the Emmett Huskies and Caldwell Cougars was called off after Bundy refused to wear a mask in violation of coronavirus health protocols , KTVB-TV reported .
The Emmett native ignored a request by school officials to wear a mask in the stands and then moved to a fence near the field to continue watching the game .
A school principal and athletic director repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then requested that police arrest Bundy for trespassing , authorities said .
Officers told school officials they would not arrest or remove Bundy because he “ wasn ’ t out of control and didn ’ t appear to be a threat to anybody.
” School officials canceled the game at halftime after Bundy refused school and police requests to leave the property .
Police said they planned to submit a report to the Canyon County prosecutor .
Bundy led a 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning to dissolve the federally-managed refuge .
He and others were ultimately arrested , ending the 41-day occupation .
Bundy was acquitted of all federal charges by an Oregon jury .
Bundy was arrested twice in two days in August for protests at the Idaho Legislature .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @

EMMETT, Idaho (AP) - An Idaho high school football game was canceled after anti-government activist Ammon Bundy refused to wear a mask or leave school grounds.
The game Friday in Caldwell between the Emmett Huskies and Caldwell Cougars was called off after Bundy refused to wear a mask in violation of coronavirus health protocols, KTVB-TV reported.
The Emmett resident ignored a request by school officials to wear a mask in the stands and then moved to a fence near the field to continue watching the game.
A school principal and athletic director repeatedly asked the 44-year-old to wear a mask and then requested that police arrest Bundy for trespassing, authorities said.
Officers told school officials they would not arrest or remove Bundy because he “wasn’t out of control and didn’t appear to be a threat to anybody.”
School officials canceled the game at halftime after Bundy refused school and police requests to leave the property.
Police said they planned to submit a report to the Canyon County prosecutor.
Bundy led a 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon as a show of support for state rights, planning to dissolve the federally-managed refuge. He and others were ultimately arrested, ending the 41-day occupation. Bundy was acquitted of all federal charges by an Oregon jury.
Bundy was arrested twice in two days in August for protests at the Idaho Legislature.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
___
An earlier version of this story was published on Oct. 4. This version has been updated to correct that the football game was in Caldwell and the nature of Bundy’s residency in Emmett.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Man tracked through DNA site gets 65 years in rape cases

ALEXANDRIA , Va. ( AP ) - A man who was tracked down with the help a public access DNA database and convicted of raping two lifeguards in Northern Virginia has been sentenced to 65 years in prison .
Bjerke issued a tearful apology in court , saying , “ I am sickened by what I ’ ve done.
” Investigators had been at a dead-end in the case of a woman who was raped at a deserted Alexandria swimming pool in 2016 , according to WTOP , when they ran the suspect ’ s DNA through a genealogical site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a suspect .
He pleaded guilty in October 2019 to six felonies , and then earlier this year pleaded no contest and was convicted in the rape of another woman , who was working as a lifeguard when she was attacked in 2014 .
One of the prosecutors on the case described the steps Bjerke took to plan the attacks : “ He bought zip ties , he found pools that were remote , waited for bad weather , had latex gloves , guns , ketamine .
This was not a crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sentence of 80 years ; Bjerke ’ s attorney had asked for “ a couple of decades .
”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A man who was tracked down with the help a public access DNA database and convicted of raping two lifeguards in Northern Virginia has been sentenced to 65 years in prison.
An Alexandria Circuit Court judge handed down Jesse Bjerke’s sentence Friday, radio station WTOP reported.
Bjerke issued a tearful apology in court, saying, “I am sickened by what I’ve done.”
Investigators had been at a dead-end in the case of a woman who was raped at a deserted Alexandria swimming pool in 2016, according to WTOP, when they ran the suspect’s DNA through a genealogical site called GEDmatch. That pointed to Bjerke as a suspect.
He pleaded guilty in October 2019 to six felonies, and then earlier this year pleaded no contest and was convicted in the rape of another woman, who was working as a lifeguard when she was attacked in 2014.
One of the prosecutors on the case described the steps Bjerke took to plan the attacks: “He bought zip ties, he found pools that were remote, waited for bad weather, had latex gloves, guns, ketamine. This was not a crime of impulse.”
Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 80 years; Bjerke’s attorney had asked for “a couple of decades.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--2-term Louisiana governor Mike Foster dies at 90

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) - Former Louisiana Gov .
Murphy J .
“ Mike ” Foster Jr. , a folksy millionaire businessman who pushed major changes in education policy and lawsuit rules through an increasingly conservative state Legislature in the 1990s , died Sunday .
He was 90 .
Marsanne Golsby , who was Foster ’ s press secretary when he was governor , said that Foster died Sunday at his home in Franklin , surrounded by relatives .
“ Our family and I are saddened to announce that after 90 remarkable years my dear husband has passed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife , Alice Foster , said in a statement .
Foster had entered hospice care recently , with Golsby saying he had a variety of age-related illnesses .
Family members will announce funeral details later .
Foster was a political late-bloomer , first elected to the state Senate from south Louisiana ’ s St. Mary Parish as a Democrat at age 57 in 1987 .
Eight years later he switched to the Republican Party before launching a longshot bid to succeed retiring Gov .
Edwin Edwards , a Democrat who had dominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their styles could not have been more different .
Edwards , silver haired , silver tongued and always nattily attired had been elected governor four times despite a penchant for scandal that eventually led to his imprisonment on federal corruption charges .
The bald and burly Foster was Edwards ’ equal in neither style nor oratory .
Still , he proved more adept at politics than many would have thought .
Perhaps it was in his blood : His grandfather , Murphy James Foster , had been governor in the late 19th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his political career not because he wanted to be a politician but because he was angry : The incumbent state senator at the time wouldn ’ t return his phone calls .
He challenged the incumbent and won handily .
Among his causes : overhauling a workers compensation system that many said was a drag on business recruitment and changing rules governing lawsuits that conservative lobbyists complained were weighted too heavily against businesses .
“ If you know how to run a business and you have the knack to hire the right people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much less the state , ” he said in an interview shortly after his first gubernatorial victory .
Foster and 15 others were on that 1995 ballot to succeed Edwards .
Former Gov .
Buddy Roemer , a Republican , was an early favorite and there were other heavyweights including then-state Treasurer Mary Landrieu ( later a U.S. senator ) and then-Congressman Cleo Fields , both Democrats .
Foster ’ s advertising included small newspaper ads and television commercials that portrayed him as a common man , one showing him in a welder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who would have been the state ’ s first Black governor since Reconstruction , wound up in a runoff , which Foster won .
He was easily re-elected four years later and served until January 2004 .
His tenure was largely scandal-free .
However , he became the first sitting governor fined by the state ethics board - $ 20,000 for failing to disclose his 1995 campaign purchase of mailing lists from Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke .
Foster staked out reliably conservative positions , critical of affirmative action and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ownership rights , abstinence instruction in sex education , and anti-abortion laws .
He broke with some conservatives , however , when he supported legislation and a constitutional amendment eliminating some sales taxes and replacing them with higher income taxes .
Foster is credited with significant reduction in state debt during his tenure .
He also refused to take his salary until he was able to raise teacher salaries to the Southern average - a target he never met .
His most enduring legacy may be in education .
He supported a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student performance and allowing the state to take over failing schools .
It laid the groundwork for the state ’ s seizing control of most New Orleans public schools after catastrophic flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005 .
He also was an enthusiastic backer of a community college system to offer academic training and work skills to those who don ’ t seek a four-year degree .
It passed the Legislature in the spring of 1998 and was approved by voters later that year .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Former Louisiana Gov. Murphy J. “Mike” Foster Jr., a folksy millionaire businessman who pushed major changes in education policy and lawsuit rules through an increasingly conservative state Legislature in the 1990s, died Sunday. He was 90.
Marsanne Golsby, who was Foster’s press secretary when he was governor, said that Foster died Sunday at his home in Franklin, surrounded by relatives.
“Our family and I are saddened to announce that after 90 remarkable years my dear husband has passed. Our family will miss him dearly.” his wife, Alice Foster, said in a statement.
Foster had entered hospice care recently, with Golsby saying he had a variety of age-related illnesses. Family members will announce funeral details later.
Foster was a political late-bloomer, first elected to the state Senate from south Louisiana’s St. Mary Parish as a Democrat at age 57 in 1987.
Eight years later he switched to the Republican Party before launching a longshot bid to succeed retiring Gov. Edwin Edwards, a Democrat who had dominated state politics for most of three decades.
Their styles could not have been more different. Edwards, silver haired, silver tongued and always nattily attired had been elected governor four times despite a penchant for scandal that eventually led to his imprisonment on federal corruption charges.
The bald and burly Foster was Edwards’ equal in neither style nor oratory. Still, he proved more adept at politics than many would have thought. Perhaps it was in his blood: His grandfather, Murphy James Foster, had been governor in the late 19th century. But Foster said he launched his political career not because he wanted to be a politician but because he was angry: The incumbent state senator at the time wouldn’t return his phone calls.
He challenged the incumbent and won handily.
Among his causes: overhauling a workers compensation system that many said was a drag on business recruitment and changing rules governing lawsuits that conservative lobbyists complained were weighted too heavily against businesses.
“If you know how to run a business and you have the knack to hire the right people, you can run the nation, much less the state,” he said in an interview shortly after his first gubernatorial victory.
Foster and 15 others were on that 1995 ballot to succeed Edwards. Former Gov. Buddy Roemer, a Republican, was an early favorite and there were other heavyweights including then-state Treasurer Mary Landrieu (later a U.S. senator) and then-Congressman Cleo Fields, both Democrats.
Foster’s advertising included small newspaper ads and television commercials that portrayed him as a common man, one showing him in a welder’s mask.
He and Fields, who would have been the state’s first Black governor since Reconstruction, wound up in a runoff, which Foster won. He was easily re-elected four years later and served until January 2004.
His tenure was largely scandal-free. However, he became the first sitting governor fined by the state ethics board - $20,000 for failing to disclose his 1995 campaign purchase of mailing lists from Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.
Foster staked out reliably conservative positions, critical of affirmative action and the legal profession, while supporting strong gun ownership rights, abstinence instruction in sex education, and anti-abortion laws.
He broke with some conservatives, however, when he supported legislation and a constitutional amendment eliminating some sales taxes and replacing them with higher income taxes.
Foster is credited with significant reduction in state debt during his tenure. He also refused to take his salary until he was able to raise teacher salaries to the Southern average - a target he never met.
His most enduring legacy may be in education. He supported a public school accountability program tying school rankings to student performance and allowing the state to take over failing schools. It laid the groundwork for the state’s seizing control of most New Orleans public schools after catastrophic flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
He also was an enthusiastic backer of a community college system to offer academic training and work skills to those who don’t seek a four-year degree. It passed the Legislature in the spring of 1998 and was approved by voters later that year.
___
Associated Press writer Melinda Deslatte contributed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Attorney General William Barr to self-quarantine

WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr will self-quarantine out of caution after President Donald Trump and several other lawmakers and @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Sunday that Barr has had four COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ all have come back negative .
She says he will self-quarantine for several days out @ @ @ @ @ .
Barr attended one meeting at Justice Department headquarters on Friday and stayed home during @ @ @ @ @ be tested .
He plans to remain home for several days .
Barr attended the @ @ @ @ @ Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett last weekend and was seen on video having a conversation @ @ @ @ @ Conway , who has tested positive for coronavirus .
Neither was wearing a mask .

WASHINGTON — Attorney General William P. Barr will self-quarantine out of caution after President Donald Trump and several other lawmakers and aides tested positive for the coronavirus.
Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Sunday that Barr has had four COVID-19 tests since Friday, and all have come back negative. She says he will self-quarantine for several days out of an abundance of caution.
Barr attended one meeting at Justice Department headquarters on Friday and stayed home during the weekend, except to be tested. He plans to remain home for several days.
Barr attended the White House event for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett last weekend and was seen on video having a conversation with former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway, who has tested positive for coronavirus. Neither was wearing a mask.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Report confirms pilot's blood alcohol was 5 times over limit

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed an Alaska airplane pilot involved in a fatal crash had a blood-alcohol level more than five times above the legal limit for pilots to fly .
The final NTSB crash report said pilot Charles Weimer was flying under the influence when he failed to maintain a safe distance from Goat Mountain in August 2019 , KTUU-TV reported Saturday .
“ We had some indicators that maybe this was going to be the case , ” said Clint Johnson , National Transportation Safety Board Alaska office chief .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ report back anything could be the case.
” Weimer , 31 , and three others died in the crash near Girdwood , a ski town in the municipality of Anchorage .
The airplane ’ s owner , Karl Erickson , 55 , and David Osborn , 60 , both of Girdwood , and Paul Wiley , 37 , of Superior , Arizona , were also killed .
The Piper PA-22-150 aircraft left Girdwood at about 4:15 p.m. and crashed 15 minutes later in steep terrain on the mountain , investigators said .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the crash , the NTSB report said .
“ I think that everyone would agree that this an avoidable accident , no doubt about that , ” Johnson said .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed an Alaska airplane pilot involved in a fatal crash had a blood-alcohol level more than five times above the legal limit for pilots to fly.
The final NTSB crash report said pilot Charles Weimer was flying under the influence when he failed to maintain a safe distance from Goat Mountain in August 2019, KTUU-TV reported Saturday.
“We had some indicators that maybe this was going to be the case,” said Clint Johnson, National Transportation Safety Board Alaska office chief. “But until we got that toxicology report back anything could be the case.”
Weimer, 31, and three others died in the crash near Girdwood, a ski town in the municipality of Anchorage.
The airplane’s owner, Karl Erickson, 55, and David Osborn, 60, both of Girdwood, and Paul Wiley, 37, of Superior, Arizona, were also killed.
The Piper PA-22-150 aircraft left Girdwood at about 4:15 p.m. and crashed 15 minutes later in steep terrain on the mountain, investigators said.
A witness saw the plane performing aggressive maneuvers before the crash, the NTSB report said.
“I think that everyone would agree that this an avoidable accident, no doubt about that,” Johnson said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--16 Yellowstone workers test positive for COVID in September

BOZEMAN , Mont .
( AP ) - Yellowstone National Park officials say 16 employees tested positive for COVID-19 in September , marking a significant uptick in cases .
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that the number of positive cases in September quadrupled from the number reported between May 18 and Aug. 30 .
During that time , four park employees and one contractor tested positive for the virus and have since recovered .
Seven of the employees who tested positive in September work for the National Park Service , and nine work for concessions .
Eight of the 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all employees who have tested positive have been isolated according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Out of the estimated 2,000 Yellowstone employees , a total of .08 % have tested positive for the virus .
Testing also ramped up significantly in September .
The park recently reported that August was its second busiest on record , despite fewer visits in March , April , May and June .
Visitors are being urged to recreate responsibly and follow social distancing guidelines from the CDC and local health departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) - Yellowstone National Park officials say 16 employees tested positive for COVID-19 in September, marking a significant uptick in cases.
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that the number of positive cases in September quadrupled from the number reported between May 18 and Aug. 30. During that time, four park employees and one contractor tested positive for the virus and have since recovered.
Seven of the employees who tested positive in September work for the National Park Service, and nine work for concessions. Eight of the 16 employees have recovered.
Park officials say all employees who have tested positive have been isolated according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Out of the estimated 2,000 Yellowstone employees, a total of .08% have tested positive for the virus.
Testing also ramped up significantly in September.
The park recently reported that August was its second busiest on record, despite fewer visits in March, April, May and June. Visitors are being urged to recreate responsibly and follow social distancing guidelines from the CDC and local health departments.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--NJ officials contact 206 people at Trump event at Bedminster

State health officials in New Jersey have contacted more than 200 people who attended a campaign fundraiser at the Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster on Thursday , hours before the president announced he had COVID-19 , as they try to contain the spread of the deadly virus .
Somerset County officials were meanwhile contacting employees who worked the event , most of whom live in the county .
In a joint statement issued Sunday , the officials asked guests and employees to monitor their symptoms and , if they were close to President Trump or his staff , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who started seeking the information on Friday , said on Sunday that the White House had sent them a list of 206 guests .
They declined to say when they had received the names .
They were advising guests not to be tested for five to seven days out from the event .
“ While the risk is low , a negative test earlier than that time can not definitively rule out that COVID-19 will not develop , ” the statement said .
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the president had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ would be considered to be ‘ close ’ based on CDC guidelines ( more than 15 minutes and within 6 feet ) .
” “ During the roundtable event and remarks , the President was more than 6 feet away from all participants , ” he said .
Dallas businessman Daniel Hux , who attended the event , said he was feeling fine Sunday , and had just undergone another test , as he and other donors had before the fundraiser .
“ I ’ m grateful our President engaged his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hux said in a statement .
” My prayers are with our President and the first lady.
” Hux , who owns a mortgage company , declined to say where he had traveled in the interim .
He said he was never within 6 feet of the president , but was quarantining just in case .
Dr. Rich Roberts , a pharmaceutical executive from New Jersey who made a video describing the event , said he sat a seat away from Trump during an indoor roundtable event , which he said involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes or more .
Roberts did not return messages Sunday from The Associated Press about the video , which was posted on a local news site , The Lakewood ( New Jersey ) Scoop .
Charlie Kolean , also from Dallas , said the coronavirus test he took upon returning home from New Jersey came back negative Sunday .
He ’ ll take another one in a few days .
Kolean , who works in investments , said from what he noticed at the event , Trump campaign members were all masked and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who also wore gloves .
During the photo opportunity with the president , the 25-year-old said donors were required to stand 6 feet from the president , on a marker taped to the floor .
“ I know there were rumors of him being lethargic or tired .
That was not the case at all at this event .
He was very high energy , happy to be there .
I noticed no difference in his health from previous times I ’ ve seen him , ” Kolean said .
___ Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .

State health officials in New Jersey have contacted more than 200 people who attended a campaign fundraiser at the Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster on Thursday, hours before the president announced he had COVID-19, as they try to contain the spread of the deadly virus.
Somerset County officials were meanwhile contacting employees who worked the event, most of whom live in the county. In a joint statement issued Sunday, the officials asked guests and employees to monitor their symptoms and, if they were close to President Trump or his staff, to quarantine for 14 days.
The officials, who started seeking the information on Friday, said on Sunday that the White House had sent them a list of 206 guests. They declined to say when they had received the names. They were advising guests not to be tested for five to seven days out from the event.
“While the risk is low, a negative test earlier than that time cannot definitively rule out that COVID-19 will not develop,” the statement said.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said the president had no contact with any donors or staff that “would be considered to be ‘close’ based on CDC guidelines (more than 15 minutes and within 6 feet).”
“During the roundtable event and remarks, the President was more than 6 feet away from all participants,” he said.
Dallas businessman Daniel Hux, who attended the event, said he was feeling fine Sunday, and had just undergone another test, as he and other donors had before the fundraiser.
“I’m grateful our President engaged his supporters safely while at the event,” Hux said in a statement. ”My prayers are with our President and the first lady.”
Hux, who owns a mortgage company, declined to say where he had traveled in the interim. He said he was never within 6 feet of the president, but was quarantining just in case.
Dr. Rich Roberts, a pharmaceutical executive from New Jersey who made a video describing the event, said he sat a seat away from Trump during an indoor roundtable event, which he said involved about 19 people and lasted perhaps 45 minutes or more. Roberts did not return messages Sunday from The Associated Press about the video, which was posted on a local news site, The Lakewood (New Jersey) Scoop.
Charlie Kolean, also from Dallas, said the coronavirus test he took upon returning home from New Jersey came back negative Sunday. He’ll take another one in a few days.
Kolean, who works in investments, said from what he noticed at the event, Trump campaign members were all masked and socially distant, as were Bedminster staff, who also wore gloves.
During the photo opportunity with the president, the 25-year-old said donors were required to stand 6 feet from the president, on a marker taped to the floor.
“I know there were rumors of him being lethargic or tired. That was not the case at all at this event. He was very high energy, happy to be there. I noticed no difference in his health from previous times I’ve seen him,” Kolean said.
___ Associated Press writer Christina Paciolla contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Nebraska man drowns in Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

CAMDEN COUNTY , Mo .
( AP ) - A 21-year-old Nebraska man has drowned in the Lake of the @ @ @ @ @ Highway Patrol said Reece Isenberg of Omaha , Nebraska , died Saturday morning after he @ @ @ @ @ and never resurfaced .
The State Patrol said Isenberg was intoxicated at the time that @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Cimmaron Bay Cove .
His body was recovered by Saturday afternoon .

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. (AP) - A 21-year-old Nebraska man has drowned in the Lake of the Ozarks.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Reece Isenberg of Omaha, Nebraska, died Saturday morning after he went swimming off a dock and never resurfaced.
The State Patrol said Isenberg was intoxicated at the time that he drowned in the lake’s Cimmaron Bay Cove. His body was recovered by Saturday afternoon.