washingtontimes--2020-09-21--British man sentenced to 5 years for hacking US companies

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - A British man who was part of a hacking collective called The Dark Overlord was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for helping the group steal information from several companies in the U.S. , including Missouri , Illinois and Georgia .
Nathan Francis Wyatt , 39 , was sentenced after he pleaded guilty in federal court in St. Louis to conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft and computer fraud .
He was also ordered to pay about $ 1.5 million in restitution .
Federal prosecutors said The Dark Overlord stole medical records , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies , then demanded between $ 75,000 and $ 300,000 worth of Bitcoin to return the information .
None of the companies paid the ransom but the conspiracy did cost them because of the intrusion and release of data , federal prosecutor Laura Kathleen Bernstein said .
Wyatt set up a phone account and accounts on Twitter and PayPal that were used to communicate and receive money , she said .
Wyatt apologized during the hearing , held via Zoom , saying that he was on medication for mental problems that led him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louis Post-Dispatch reported .
“ I can promise you that I ’ m out of that world , ” he said , voice breaking .
“ I don ’ t want to see another computer for the rest of my life.
” His lawyer , Brocca Morrison , noted that Wyatt did not orchestrate the hacks and is the only hacker who has been identified .
Bernstein said Wyatt ’ s actions helped the other hackers remain anonymous and that his phone account was used to send threatening text messages to relatives of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he was not extradited to the U.S. until last year after British lawyers fought to keep him in that country .
He had served 14 months in a British prison after pleading guilty to 22 charges after he was accused of demanding money from the owner of a hacked computer and using stolen credit cards .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A British man who was part of a hacking collective called The Dark Overlord was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for helping the group steal information from several companies in the U.S., including Missouri, Illinois and Georgia.
Nathan Francis Wyatt, 39, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty in federal court in St. Louis to conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft and computer fraud. He was also ordered to pay about $1.5 million in restitution.
Federal prosecutors said The Dark Overlord stole medical records, client files and personal information from the companies, then demanded between $75,000 and $300,000 worth of Bitcoin to return the information. None of the companies paid the ransom but the conspiracy did cost them because of the intrusion and release of data, federal prosecutor Laura Kathleen Bernstein said.
Wyatt set up a phone account and accounts on Twitter and PayPal that were used to communicate and receive money, she said.
Wyatt apologized during the hearing, held via Zoom, saying that he was on medication for mental problems that led him to make bad decisions, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
“I can promise you that I’m out of that world,” he said, voice breaking. “I don’t want to see another computer for the rest of my life.”
His lawyer, Brocca Morrison, noted that Wyatt did not orchestrate the hacks and is the only hacker who has been identified.
Bernstein said Wyatt’s actions helped the other hackers remain anonymous and that his phone account was used to send threatening text messages to relatives of victims.
Wyatt was indicted in 2017, but he was not extradited to the U.S. until last year after British lawyers fought to keep him in that country.
He had served 14 months in a British prison after pleading guilty to 22 charges after he was accused of demanding money from the owner of a hacked computer and using stolen credit cards.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Horseman takes ride on Chicago expressway, tying up traffic

CHICAGO ( AP ) - A man who calls himself the “ Dread Head Cowboy ” was taken into custody after riding his horse on Chicago ’ s Dan Ryan Expressway during the height of the Monday evening rush hour .
Adam Hollingsworth was escorted by a phalanx of motorcyclists as he rode his horse on the southbound lanes of the expressway , sometimes at a gallop , for several miles .
On a Facebook Live feed while he was riding , Hollingsworth said he wanted everyone to know kids lives matter .
“ Until kids ’ lives matter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hollingsworth ’ s ride resulted in extensive delays on the expressway , with traffic backed up for miles .
He was taken into custody by Illinois State Police after he rode up an exit ramp .
His horse was taken away in a Chicago Police Mounted Patrol horse trailer .
A state police spokesman didn ’ t have information on what charges may be filed against Hollingsworth .
Hollingsworth has been making appearances in various Chicago neighborhoods to promote participation in the U.S. census .
He has also made appearances at protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death in Minneapolis of George Floyd .

CHICAGO (AP) - A man who calls himself the “Dread Head Cowboy” was taken into custody after riding his horse on Chicago’s Dan Ryan Expressway during the height of the Monday evening rush hour.
Adam Hollingsworth was escorted by a phalanx of motorcyclists as he rode his horse on the southbound lanes of the expressway, sometimes at a gallop, for several miles. On a Facebook Live feed while he was riding, Hollingsworth said he wanted everyone to know kids lives matter.
“Until kids’ lives matter, nothing else matters,” he said.
Hollingsworth’s ride resulted in extensive delays on the expressway, with traffic backed up for miles. He was taken into custody by Illinois State Police after he rode up an exit ramp. His horse was taken away in a Chicago Police Mounted Patrol horse trailer.
Hollingsworth was later charged with reckless conduct, disobeying a police officer, criminal trespass to state supported property, according to state police. It wasn’t immediately known if Hollingsworth has obtained legal representation
Hollingsworth has been making appearances in various Chicago neighborhoods to promote participation in the U.S. census. He has also made appearances at protests that occurred in the wake of the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd.
State police and Chicago police representatives met with Hollingsworth on Sept. 9 about a protest he wanted to have on the expressway, officials said. His request was denied, with officials citing its dangers to him and others.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--COVID-19 surges in Wyoming with university leading state

CHEYENNE , Wyo .
( AP ) - A surge in the coronavirus continued Monday in Wyoming , with the state ’ s only four-year public university leading the state .
Those currently known to be infected with the virus in Wyoming reached 772 , up from 428 a week ago for the highest number of active cases in the state to date , the Wyoming Department of Health reported .
Until last week , Wyoming had been averaging about 500 active cases - the number of all reported cases minus those reported to have recovered - since July .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wyoming by far Monday was in Albany County , home to the University of Wyoming .
In-person classes at the university resumed Sept. 15 after a more than week-long delay because of virus cases among students and employees .
Twenty new cases of coronavirus were reported in Albany County , which has a total of 142 active cases of coronavirus , according to state health officials .
Of those cases in Albany County , 95 were at the University of Wyoming : 71 students living off campus , nine students living on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the university ’ s online COVID-19 tracker .
No county in Wyoming including the two most populous , Laramie and Natrona counties , had more confirmed cases than the university or Albany County as a whole .
University officials are “ keenly aware ” that cases among students are the biggest factor in the local uptick in cases , university spokesman Chad Baldwin said by email Monday .
The university nonetheless planned to go ahead with the next phase of reopening in-person classes for students other than freshmen starting next Monday , Baldwin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with local authorities and business leaders to encourage responsible behavior while at the same time taking appropriate disciplinary action when ours and the state ’ s COVID guidelines and restrictions are flouted , ” Baldwin said .
Wyoming ’ s 22 other counties had seven or fewer new cases .
Twenty-three people statewide were hospitalized related to the coronavirus Monday , tying the previous high reached in late April .
No more than 10 people at a time were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Wyoming in June .
Hospitalizations rose in July and August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A surge in the coronavirus continued Monday in Wyoming, with the state’s only four-year public university leading the state.
Those currently known to be infected with the virus in Wyoming reached 772, up from 428 a week ago for the highest number of active cases in the state to date, the Wyoming Department of Health reported.
Until last week, Wyoming had been averaging about 500 active cases - the number of all reported cases minus those reported to have recovered - since July.
The largest share of new confirmed cases in Wyoming by far Monday was in Albany County, home to the University of Wyoming. In-person classes at the university resumed Sept. 15 after a more than week-long delay because of virus cases among students and employees.
Twenty new cases of coronavirus were reported in Albany County, which has a total of 142 active cases of coronavirus, according to state health officials.
Of those cases in Albany County, 95 were at the University of Wyoming: 71 students living off campus, nine students living on campus and 15 employees, according to the university’s online COVID-19 tracker.
No county in Wyoming including the two most populous, Laramie and Natrona counties, had more confirmed cases than the university or Albany County as a whole.
University officials are “keenly aware” that cases among students are the biggest factor in the local uptick in cases, university spokesman Chad Baldwin said by email Monday.
The university nonetheless planned to go ahead with the next phase of reopening in-person classes for students other than freshmen starting next Monday, Baldwin said.
“We’re working with local authorities and business leaders to encourage responsible behavior while at the same time taking appropriate disciplinary action when ours and the state’s COVID guidelines and restrictions are flouted,” Baldwin said.
Wyoming’s 22 other counties had seven or fewer new cases.
Twenty-three people statewide were hospitalized related to the coronavirus Monday, tying the previous high reached in late April.
No more than 10 people at a time were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Wyoming in June.
Hospitalizations rose in July and August but didn’t surpass 20 until this week.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Final autopsy: Fort Hood soldier's drowning was an accident

BELTON , Texas ( AP ) - The July drowning of a Fort Hood soldier at lake near the U.S. Army base in Central Texas was an accident , according to a final autopsy report .
Final results from the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas supported initial reports from the Bell County Sheriff ’ s Office that Pvt .
Mejhor Morta , 26 , had drowned , TV station KVUE reported Monday .
Sheriff ’ s deputies were called to Stillhouse Hollow Lake near Belton on July 17 just after midnight when fishermen in found a body in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dam .
It was identified as Morta ’ s .
Morta is one of 28 soldiers who have died at Fort Hood this year , according to data from Fort Hood officials .
The 28 deaths include five homicides , plus accidents , suicides , deaths from illness , cases still under investigation and one combat-related death .
Fort Hood has one of the highest rates of murder , sexual assault and harassment in the Army , Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy said in August .
Earlier this month , Democratic Reps. Stephen Lynch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent a letter to McCarthy requesting documents and information on the deaths as part of a congressional investigation .

BELTON, Texas (AP) - The July drowning of a Fort Hood soldier at lake near the U.S. Army base in Central Texas was an accident, according to a final autopsy report.
Final results from the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas supported initial reports from the Bell County Sheriff’s Office that Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, had drowned, TV station KVUE reported Monday.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to Stillhouse Hollow Lake near Belton on July 17 just after midnight when fishermen in found a body in the water at the base of a dam. It was identified as Morta’s.
Morta is one of 28 soldiers who have died at Fort Hood this year, according to data from Fort Hood officials. The 28 deaths include five homicides, plus accidents, suicides, deaths from illness, cases still under investigation and one combat-related death.
Fort Hood has one of the highest rates of murder, sexual assault and harassment in the Army, Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy said in August.
Earlier this month, Democratic Reps. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts and Jackie Speier of California sent a letter to McCarthy requesting documents and information on the deaths as part of a congressional investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Supreme Court fight fires up campaign

Supreme Court fight fires up campaign

President Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden quickly moved to capitalize on the enthusiasm of their party bases for filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court , hauling in a wave of campaign contributions and strategizing messaging to boost voter turnout .
Both parties are fired up after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday .
Mr. Trump on Monday said he had a shortlist of five female candidates for the nomination , with four federal appeals court judges and one member of his White House legal team in the mix .
“ Five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he told White House reporters as he departed for an Ohio trip .
“ I ’ d much rather have a vote before the election , because there ’ s a lot of work to be done and I ’ d much rather have it.
” “ I ’ m just doing my constitutional obligation .
I have an obligation to do this .
So I would rather see it before the election.
” The president ’ s pick of a woman for the high court , which he is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the female voters he has struggled to win over .
That ’ s just one calculation in the nomination game .
Mr. Biden , meanwhile , is revving up his base with a warning that Mr. Trump ’ s picks will jeopardize abortion rights and Obamacare health coverage .
“ You think like Trump [ then ] you try to take away health care from 20 million Americans in the middle of this pandemic , ” Mr. Biden said while campaigning in Wisconsin .
“ He ’ s in court today trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week that millions of Americans are already voting early because they don ’ t want to see the Supreme Court overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed abortion rights .
Of course , Mr. Biden is hoping the Republican Senate majority can ’ t muster enough votes to confirm a nomination before the Nov. 3 election .
Then he can make the case that if he wins , he should be the one to name a replacement for the late liberal icon and keep the high court ’ s 5-4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of West Virginia , the only Democrat who voted to confirm Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh , said that he ’ s in favor of waiting until after the election , meaning the GOP likely can not count on bipartisan support for whatever path they choose .
But Sen. John Cornyn , Texas Republican , said Mr. Trump ’ s loss in November wouldn ’ t stop them from confirming his nominee during a lame-duck session .
Asked on CNN if Republicans would hold a lame-duck confirmation vote before Mr. Biden ’ s inauguration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean while we ’ re still in our term of office , and President Trump is ?
Of course.
” Angling to avoid that necessity , Mr. Trump is calculating which Supreme Court pick could put Senate Democrats on the defensive now and potentially galvanize conservative voters in battleground states .
• Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals ; • Judge Barbara Lagoa of the 11th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals ; • Judge Joan Larsen of the 6th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 4th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals ; and “ All of those have really great stories behind them , ” said Carrie Severino , chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network , which is planning to spend $ 2.2 million on an ad blitz backing Mr. Trump ’ s high court nominee .
At least two of the women — Judge Barrett and Judge Lagoa — are Catholic .
Their faith would appeal to Mr. Trump ’ s pro-religious liberty base but also supply ammunition to pro-choice opponents .
Judge Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Senate Democrats during her confirmation to the appeals court .
The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee , Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California , told her the “ dogma ” lives loudly within her .
Conservatives see that type of anti-Catholic and anti-Christian bias as a hurdle for Democrats to overcome with voters ahead of November .
Ms. Barrett also met with the president on Monday .
But nominating a Catholic is not necessarily unique .
Mr. Trump ’ s last Supreme Court pick , Justice Kavanaugh , is Catholic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the bench .
Matthew Schmidt , a political science professor at the University of New Haven , noted 30 % of voters in Pennsylvania — a critical swing state — are Catholic and there ’ s also a large number of Catholics in Florida , which has 29 electoral college votes .
“ But Catholics aren ’ t monolithic as a voting bloc , ” he warned .
“ And given that many voters have already voted , the effect of a SCOTUS battle takes place in a smaller subset of voters.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is the child of two immigrants who fled Fidel Castro ’ s regime in Cuba , as a viable option for the president .
She is Cuban-American and was the first Hispanic judge to sit on the Florida Supreme Court .
Mr. Trump tapped her last year for the 11th Circuit .
Picking Judge Lagoa could help the president court some Hispanic voters in critical swing states such as Florida , which is also her home state .
Similarly , picking Judge Larsen could help Mr. Trump in her home state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , other key battlegrounds .
“ In a close state , if there is a modest increase it can be helpful , ” said G. Terry Madonna , the director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College .
As the president is weighing which nominee could resonate best with his base , Mr. Biden has shown no signs of departing from his statements during the primary in which he warned against expanding the number of seats on the Supreme Court .
The move to pack the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressives if Democrats gain control of the House , Senate , and White House next year .
Instead , Mr. Biden and his running mate , Sen. Kamala Harris of California , honed in on the potential real-world consequences that a 6-3 conservative majority on the court would have on issues like health care and abortion .
The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a challenge to Obamacare the week after the election .
“ We now have almost 7 million people who are going to have the preexisting condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lawsuit could be barred from having coverage , ” Ms. Harris said .
“ This is real .
This is real stuff.
” Toeing the ticket line , Ms. Harris punted when asked about expanding the court and who specifically she wants to see replace Justice Ginsberg .
“ I am focused on the next 43 days , ” she said during an appearance on Instagram Live with journalist April Ryan .
Mr. Biden ’ s focus is a stark contrast to the approach from some liberals , who are floating everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings to try to push back on Mr. Trump and the Republicans .
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts called for the end of both the legislative filibuster and the Electoral College , which has been in liberal crosshairs for some time .
“ If Republicans disregard their own made-up rules to steal a second Supreme Court seat after ramming through the Kavanaugh nomination , after short-circuiting that process as well , Leader Schumer is right : everything should be on the table , ” said Ms. Warren , a former 2020 presidential candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kickoff event for Just Democracy , a new coalition of liberal advocacy groups calling for adding seats to the Supreme Court , abolishing the filibuster and the Electoral College system , and granting statehood to Washington , D.C. Democratic strategist Scott Ferson said Mr. Biden is smart to layer in other real-world issues at stake in a court fight , like environmental protections and immigration rights , rather than talk about process issues like abolishing the filibuster .
“ There are people out there doing that , ” Mr. Ferson said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

David Sherfinski, Alex Swoyer and Alex Swoyer, David Sherfinski

President Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden quickly moved to capitalize on the enthusiasm of their party bases for filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court, hauling in a wave of campaign contributions and strategizing messaging to boost voter turnout.
Both parties are fired up after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday.
Mr. Trump on Monday said he had a shortlist of five female candidates for the nomination, with four federal appeals court judges and one member of his White House legal team in the mix.
“Five women are being vetted very carefully,” he told White House reporters as he departed for an Ohio trip. “I’d much rather have a vote before the election, because there’s a lot of work to be done and I’d much rather have it.”
“I’m just doing my constitutional obligation. I have an obligation to do this. So I would rather see it before the election.”
The president’s pick of a woman for the high court, which he is expected to announce Friday or Saturday would potentially appeal to the female voters he has struggled to win over.
DOCUMENT: Trump's Supreme Court short list
That’s just one calculation in the nomination game.
Mr. Biden, meanwhile, is revving up his base with a warning that Mr. Trump’s picks will jeopardize abortion rights and Obamacare health coverage.
“You think like Trump [then] you try to take away health care from 20 million Americans in the middle of this pandemic,” Mr. Biden said while campaigning in Wisconsin. “He’s in court today trying to get that done.”
He said this week that millions of Americans are already voting early because they don’t want to see the Supreme Court overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed abortion rights.
Of course, Mr. Biden is hoping the Republican Senate majority can’t muster enough votes to confirm a nomination before the Nov. 3 election. Then he can make the case that if he wins, he should be the one to name a replacement for the late liberal icon and keep the high court’s 5-4 ideological split intact.
Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the only Democrat who voted to confirm Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, said that he’s in favor of waiting until after the election, meaning the GOP likely cannot count on bipartisan support for whatever path they choose.
SEE ALSO: Amy Coney Barrett, Supreme Court candidate, meets with Donald Trump at White House
But Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, said Mr. Trump’s loss in November wouldn’t stop them from confirming his nominee during a lame-duck session.
Asked on CNN if Republicans would hold a lame-duck confirmation vote before Mr. Biden’s inauguration, Mr. Cornyn said: “You mean while we’re still in our term of office, and President Trump is? Of course.”
Angling to avoid that necessity, Mr. Trump is calculating which Supreme Court pick could put Senate Democrats on the defensive now and potentially galvanize conservative voters in battleground states.
Mr. Trump’s shortlist includes:
• Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals;
• Judge Barbara Lagoa of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals;
• Judge Joan Larsen of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals;
• Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; and
• Kate Todd, deputy counsel to the president.
“All of those have really great stories behind them,” said Carrie Severino, chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network, which is planning to spend $2.2 million on an ad blitz backing Mr. Trump’s high court nominee.
At least two of the women — Judge Barrett and Judge Lagoa — are Catholic. Their faith would appeal to Mr. Trump’s pro-religious liberty base but also supply ammunition to pro-choice opponents.
Judge Barrett’s Catholic faith caused a dust-up with Senate Democrats during her confirmation to the appeals court. The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, told her the “dogma” lives loudly within her.
Conservatives see that type of anti-Catholic and anti-Christian bias as a hurdle for Democrats to overcome with voters ahead of November. Ms. Barrett also met with the president on Monday.
But nominating a Catholic is not necessarily unique. Mr. Trump’s last Supreme Court pick, Justice Kavanaugh, is Catholic, as are at least two other justices on the bench.
Matthew Schmidt, a political science professor at the University of New Haven, noted 30% of voters in Pennsylvania — a critical swing state — are Catholic and there’s also a large number of Catholics in Florida, which has 29 electoral college votes.
“But Catholics aren’t monolithic as a voting bloc,” he warned. “And given that many voters have already voted, the effect of a SCOTUS battle takes place in a smaller subset of voters.”
Conservatives also view Judge Lagoa, who is the child of two immigrants who fled Fidel Castro’s regime in Cuba, as a viable option for the president. She is Cuban-American and was the first Hispanic judge to sit on the Florida Supreme Court. Mr. Trump tapped her last year for the 11th Circuit.
Picking Judge Lagoa could help the president court some Hispanic voters in critical swing states such as Florida, which is also her home state.
Similarly, picking Judge Larsen could help Mr. Trump in her home state of Michigan, and Judge Rushing in North Carolina, other key battlegrounds.
“In a close state, if there is a modest increase it can be helpful,” said G. Terry Madonna, the director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College.
As the president is weighing which nominee could resonate best with his base, Mr. Biden has shown no signs of departing from his statements during the primary in which he warned against expanding the number of seats on the Supreme Court.
The move to pack the court has been called for by many progressives if Democrats gain control of the House, Senate, and White House next year.
Instead, Mr. Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California, honed in on the potential real-world consequences that a 6-3 conservative majority on the court would have on issues like health care and abortion.
The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a challenge to Obamacare the week after the election.
“We now have almost 7 million people who are going to have the preexisting condition of COVID who if Donald Trump wins his lawsuit could be barred from having coverage,” Ms. Harris said. “This is real. This is real stuff.”
Toeing the ticket line, Ms. Harris punted when asked about expanding the court and who specifically she wants to see replace Justice Ginsberg.
“I am focused on the next 43 days,” she said during an appearance on Instagram Live with journalist April Ryan.
Mr. Biden’s focus is a stark contrast to the approach from some liberals, who are floating everything from packing the court to launching impeachment proceedings to try to push back on Mr. Trump and the Republicans.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts called for the end of both the legislative filibuster and the Electoral College, which has been in liberal crosshairs for some time.
“If Republicans disregard their own made-up rules to steal a second Supreme Court seat after ramming through the Kavanaugh nomination, after short-circuiting that process as well, Leader Schumer is right: everything should be on the table,” said Ms. Warren, a former 2020 presidential candidate.
She spoke as part of a kickoff event for Just Democracy, a new coalition of liberal advocacy groups calling for adding seats to the Supreme Court, abolishing the filibuster and the Electoral College system, and granting statehood to Washington, D.C.
Democratic strategist Scott Ferson said Mr. Biden is smart to layer in other real-world issues at stake in a court fight, like environmental protections and immigration rights, rather than talk about process issues like abolishing the filibuster.
“There are people out there doing that,” Mr. Ferson said. “He doesn’t need to.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com. • Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Gunn: Mississippi legislators to return by early October

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - Mississippi legislators will probably return to the Capitol before Oct. 5 to examine how the state is spending coronavirus relief money it received from the federal government , Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn said Monday .
Gunn said the House and Senate will evaluate “ what has been spent , what has not been spent and do we need to shift some of those dollars around.
” Like other states , Mississippi received federal money for a variety of programs .
Mississippi allocated $ 300 million to aid small businesses that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although some applicants have said they are still waiting for a response from the state .
Gunn said he was planning to speak to Mississippi Development Authority officials about whether the Legislature needs to put more money toward helping small businesses .
Gunn spoke Monday during an online forum sponsored by Mississippi State University ’ s Stennis Institute of Government and the Capitol press corps .
He said Mississippi tax collections have been running well ahead of expectations during the budget year that began July 1 .
Figures released by the Legislative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are well ahead of where they were for July and August of last year .
Mississippi legislators cut the budgets of most state agencies and programs by 3 % to 5 % going into the current year because of economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic .
“ We cut all across the board … just because of the downturn in the economy and being very frugal with our budgeting , ” Gunn said .
Working on a state budget takes months , and agencies have already submitted spending requests for the year that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gunn and other members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee will hold public hearings , and leaders of a few big agencies will make presentations and answer questions about their requests .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi legislators will probably return to the Capitol before Oct. 5 to examine how the state is spending coronavirus relief money it received from the federal government, Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn said Monday.
Gunn said the House and Senate will evaluate “what has been spent, what has not been spent and do we need to shift some of those dollars around.”
Like other states, Mississippi received federal money for a variety of programs. Mississippi allocated $300 million to aid small businesses that had to close temporarily because of the pandemic, although some applicants have said they are still waiting for a response from the state.
Gunn said he was planning to speak to Mississippi Development Authority officials about whether the Legislature needs to put more money toward helping small businesses.
Gunn spoke Monday during an online forum sponsored by Mississippi State University’s Stennis Institute of Government and the Capitol press corps.
He said Mississippi tax collections have been running well ahead of expectations during the budget year that began July 1. Figures released by the Legislative Budget Office show that sales tax collections are well ahead of where they were for July and August of last year.
Mississippi legislators cut the budgets of most state agencies and programs by 3% to 5% going into the current year because of economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic.
“We cut all across the board … just because of the downturn in the economy and being very frugal with our budgeting,” Gunn said.
Working on a state budget takes months, and agencies have already submitted spending requests for the year that begins next July 1. On Thursday, Gunn and other members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee will hold public hearings, and leaders of a few big agencies will make presentations and answer questions about their requests.
____
Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--CDC changes coronavirus guidance -- then retracts it

NEW YORK — The top U.S. public health agency stirred confusion by posting - and then taking down - an apparent change in its position on how easily the coronavirus can spread from person to person on small droplets in the air .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the virus spreads primarily through small airborne droplets , like those that fly through the air when someone coughs or sneezes .
Most CDC guidance about social distancing is built around that idea , saying that 6 feet is a safe buffer between people who are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have also acknowledged growing evidence that the virus can sometimes spread on even smaller , aerosolized particles or droplets that spread over a wider area .
That ’ s one reason public health experts urge people to wear masks , which can stop or reduce contact with both larger droplets and aerosolized particles .
For months , the agency ’ s website said little about aerosolized particles .
So when the CDC quietly posted an update Friday that discussed the particles in more detail , the agency ’ s position appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus can remain suspended in the air and drift more than 6 feet , and officials emphasized the importance of indoor ventilation .
The post also added singing and breathing to the ways the virus can go airborne .
On Monday , federal health officials said the post was a mistake and that it had been released before full editing and clearance was completed .
They said the CDC plans to clarify the agency ’ s thinking , but the agency did not immediately release a statement or revision .
In a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revisions to the “ How COVID-19 Spreads ” page happened “ without appropriate in-house technical review.
” “ We are reviewing our process and tightening criteria for review of all guidance and updates before they are posted to the CDC website , ” the statement said .
The CDC has come under attack for past revisions of guidance during the pandemic , some of which were driven by political considerations by the Trump administration .
At least one expert said the episode could further chip away at public confidence in the CDC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s guidance on COVID-19 has severely compromised the nation ’ s trust in our public health agencies , ” said Dr. Howard Koh , a Harvard University public health professor who was a high-ranked official in the Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama administration .
“ To rectify the latest challenge , the CDC must acknowledge that growing scientific evidence indicates the importance of airborne transmission through aerosols , making mask wearing even more critical as we head into the difficult fall and winter season , ” Koh said @ @ @ @

NEW YORK — The top U.S. public health agency stirred confusion by posting - and then taking down - an apparent change in its position on how easily the coronavirus can spread from person to person on small droplets in the air.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the virus spreads primarily through small airborne droplets, like those that fly through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. Most CDC guidance about social distancing is built around that idea, saying that 6 feet is a safe buffer between people who are not wearing masks.
In interviews, CDC officials have also acknowledged growing evidence that the virus can sometimes spread on even smaller, aerosolized particles or droplets that spread over a wider area. That’s one reason public health experts urge people to wear masks, which can stop or reduce contact with both larger droplets and aerosolized particles.
For months, the agency’s website said little about aerosolized particles. So when the CDC quietly posted an update Friday that discussed the particles in more detail, the agency’s position appeared to have changed. The post said the virus can remain suspended in the air and drift more than 6 feet, and officials emphasized the importance of indoor ventilation. The post also added singing and breathing to the ways the virus can go airborne.
On Monday, federal health officials said the post was a mistake and that it had been released before full editing and clearance was completed. They said the CDC plans to clarify the agency’s thinking, but the agency did not immediately release a statement or revision.
In a statement released Monday, the agency said the revisions to the “How COVID-19 Spreads” page happened “without appropriate in-house technical review.”
“We are reviewing our process and tightening criteria for review of all guidance and updates before they are posted to the CDC website,” the statement said.
The CDC has come under attack for past revisions of guidance during the pandemic, some of which were driven by political considerations by the Trump administration.
At least one expert said the episode could further chip away at public confidence in the CDC.
“The consistent inconsistency in this administration’s guidance on COVID-19 has severely compromised the nation’s trust in our public health agencies,” said Dr. Howard Koh, a Harvard University public health professor who was a high-ranked official in the Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama administration.
“To rectify the latest challenge, the CDC must acknowledge that growing scientific evidence indicates the importance of airborne transmission through aerosols, making mask wearing even more critical as we head into the difficult fall and winter season,” Koh said in a statement.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Former state senator pleads guilty to campaign charge

MONTGOMERY , Ala. ( AP ) - A former state senator on Monday pleaded guilty to misdemeanor campaign finance charges .
Former State Sen. David Burkette , 63 , pleaded guilty to violating the Fair Campaign Practices Act during his run for the Montgomery City Council five years ago .
The attorney general ’ s office said Burkette failed to deposit $ 3,625 in campaign contributions into his campaign checking account , and instead , deposited or cashed those contributions into or against his personal bank account .
Burkette was sentenced to 30 days in jail , but the sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 months of probation .
He was also ordered to pay a $ 3,000 fine “ Candidates for public office at the state , county and municipal levels must comply with the State ’ s Fair Campaign Practices Act , ” Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement .
“ Personally profiting from campaign funds erodes public confidence in the system and will not be tolerated.
” Burkette of Montgomery resigned suddenly from the Alabama Senate earlier this month ahead of the charges being announced .
“ There is not a bone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people from this district .
Great things happen when you put everything in God ’ s hands and I have , ” Burkette said in an earlier statement about his resignation .
A retired educator , Burkette served on the Montgomery City Council from 2007 to 2018 .
He was elected to the Senate in 2018 to fill the seat previously held by Quinton Ross , who is now president of Alabama State University .
Burkette suffered a stroke in December 2018 , and used a wheelchair at the Statehouse while scheduling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that when asked if he had any final words before the sentenced was imposed , Burkette stated , “ Thank God I ’ m still here.
” A special election will be held to fill the seat .

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A former state senator on Monday pleaded guilty to misdemeanor campaign finance charges.
Former State Sen. David Burkette, 63, pleaded guilty to violating the Fair Campaign Practices Act during his run for the Montgomery City Council five years ago. The attorney general’s office said Burkette failed to deposit $3,625 in campaign contributions into his campaign checking account, and instead, deposited or cashed those contributions into or against his personal bank account.
Burkette was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but the sentence was suspended and he was placed on 12 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine
“Candidates for public office at the state, county and municipal levels must comply with the State’s Fair Campaign Practices Act,” Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement. “Personally profiting from campaign funds erodes public confidence in the system and will not be tolerated.”
Burkette of Montgomery resigned suddenly from the Alabama Senate earlier this month ahead of the charges being announced.
“There is not a bone in my body that will stop serving the people from this district. Great things happen when you put everything in God’s hands and I have,” Burkette said in an earlier statement about his resignation.
A retired educator, Burkette served on the Montgomery City Council from 2007 to 2018. He was elected to the Senate in 2018 to fill the seat previously held by Quinton Ross, who is now president of Alabama State University. Burkette suffered a stroke in December 2018, and used a wheelchair at the Statehouse while scheduling therapy sessions around legislative duties.
WSFA reported that when asked if he had any final words before the sentenced was imposed, Burkette stated, “Thank God I’m still here.”
A special election will be held to fill the seat.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--2 face charges after found with gun, shovels near airport

LAKE TOWNSHIP , Ohio ( AP ) - Two Virginia residents were arrested Monday after authorities said they were found walking on railroad tracks behind an Ohio airport with shovels , a pitchfork and a backpack containing a gun and ammunition .
John Davison , 38 , and Vicki Davison , 33 , both of Virginia Beach , were each charged with making terrorist threats ; carrying a concealed weapon ; inducing panic and criminal trespassing after their arrests that involved the Secret Service because the president was nearby for a rally , The Sentinel-Tribune in Bowling Green reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ either one had retained an attorney or if they were related .
The two were captured behind the Toledo Executive Airport in Lake Township , which is a designated reliever airport for the Toledo Express Airport .
President Donald Trump was holding a rally Monday night at the main Toledo airport in Swanton , but there was no immediate indication the two events were linked .
FBI and Secret Service agents were involved in the ongoing investigation , authorities said , but further details were not disclosed .
Police responded to the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had gotten out of a vehicle and were walking on the tracks .
The caller said the two had shovels and a backpack , which authorities said contained a Glock pistol with extended magazine , 200 rounds of ammunition and four tourniquets .
The rented vehicle the pair had been in had several items “ suspicious in nature , ” Lake Township Police Chief Mark Hummer told the newspaper .
He described them as “ odd items , but nothing illegal.
” Hummer said John Davison had been cited Sunday night by police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their street department .
Hummer noted rail yard “ runs right along their street department .
”

LAKE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) - Two Virginia residents were arrested Monday after authorities said they were found walking on railroad tracks behind an Ohio airport with shovels, a pitchfork and a backpack containing a gun and ammunition.
John Davison, 38, and Vicki Davison, 33, both of Virginia Beach, were each charged with making terrorist threats; carrying a concealed weapon; inducing panic and criminal trespassing after their arrests that involved the Secret Service because the president was nearby for a rally, The Sentinel-Tribune in Bowling Green reported. It wasn’t immediately known if either one had retained an attorney or if they were related.
The two were captured behind the Toledo Executive Airport in Lake Township, which is a designated reliever airport for the Toledo Express Airport. President Donald Trump was holding a rally Monday night at the main Toledo airport in Swanton, but there was no immediate indication the two events were linked.
FBI and Secret Service agents were involved in the ongoing investigation, authorities said, but further details were not disclosed.
Police responded to the area after a witness reported that two people had gotten out of a vehicle and were walking on the tracks. The caller said the two had shovels and a backpack, which authorities said contained a Glock pistol with extended magazine, 200 rounds of ammunition and four tourniquets.
The rented vehicle the pair had been in had several items “suspicious in nature,” Lake Township Police Chief Mark Hummer told the newspaper. He described them as “odd items, but nothing illegal.”
Hummer said John Davison had been cited Sunday night by police in nearby Walbridge for criminal trespass at their street department. Hummer noted rail yard “runs right along their street department.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Police release footage after officers shoot 13-year-old boy

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - A 13-year-old Utah boy with autism was shot by police after his mother asked for help getting him hospital mental-health treatment and officers agreed to talk with him , police footage released Monday showed .
The videos show Salt Lake City officers chasing him down an alley after they arrive at his home , then yelling at him to get on the ground .
The boy collapses after a series of shots ring out , moaning , “ I don ’ t feel good .
I don ’ t feel good.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organs , the family ’ s attorney has said .
His mother , Golda Barton , had warned police that her son said earlier that day , Sept. 4 , that he had a gun and had threatened to shoot her male coworker and break windows in the house , the video showed .
But she told officers she thought it was a BB gun or pellet gun .
There were no indications he was armed .
She wanted him to be hospitalized for help with his mental health issues .
Officers said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boy did have access to a real gun , the videos show .
Barton told officers the boy was “ triggered ” by seeing police .
“ He sees the badge and he automatically thinks you are going to kill him or he has to defend himself in some way , ” she said .
“ He freaks out.
” The video was made public under a Salt Lake City ordinance requiring the release of video from police shootings within 10 business days .
The shooting has raised new questions about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues amid nationwide calls for police reform .
It came hours before new deescalation tactics were due to take effect for Salt Lake City police , which is also cooperating with an independent investigation of the shooting .
In one video , two officers can be heard discussing whether or not to approach the boy because they were concerned that the incident would result in a shooting .
“ Especially when he hates cops , it ’ s probably gon na end in a shooting , ” one officer said .
As officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see movement in the backyard .
The officers start to run after the boy - yelling at him to stop and get on the ground .
When they catch up to the boy , they ask him to get on the ground again .
The boy ignores their commands and continues walking before a series of shots ring out .
The videos don ’ t seem to show the boy holding any weapon and police don ’ t mention any in a report also released Monday .
Barton has said she told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she needed help from a crisis-intervention officer .
On the 911 call recording , she said she has called the cops before on her son and that he has previously run away from officers .
“ My biggest fear is that , I don ’ t know I just don ’ t want him to die , ” Barton said .
“ But the times they ’ ve came he has been gone like he ’ ll take off and go running .
That ’ s why I don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to alarm him.
” She added : “ That ’ s why we need a mental health worker , ” she said .
“ It ’ s super important.
” The Salt Lake City officers who arrived had some mental-health training but were not specialists in crisis intervention .
Linden , who the family wants to be referred to only by his first name , “ was lucky to be alive , ” his attorney Zach Weyher said .
Two weeks later , he remains hospitalized .
“ Whatever happened , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The police were called for a mental-health call , not a criminal act , ” Weyher said .
“ A child is laying in a hospital bed … there has to be a better response.
” The mayor of Salt Lake City , Erin Mendenhall , said at a news conference Monday that as a mother of a 14-year-old boy she was profoundly upset by the shooting .
She called for a quick but thorough investigation about what happened .
“ I am profoundly heartbroken and frustrated , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this young boy , for his mother and for families and individuals who have acute mental health needs.
” Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A 13-year-old Utah boy with autism was shot by police after his mother asked for help getting him hospital mental-health treatment and officers agreed to talk with him, police footage released Monday showed.
The videos show Salt Lake City officers chasing him down an alley after they arrive at his home, then yelling at him to get on the ground. The boy collapses after a series of shots ring out, moaning, “I don’t feel good. I don’t feel good.” He survived but suffered broken bones and pierced organs, the family’s attorney has said.
His mother, Golda Barton, had warned police that her son said earlier that day, Sept. 4, that he had a gun and had threatened to shoot her male coworker and break windows in the house, the video showed. But she told officers she thought it was a BB gun or pellet gun. There were no indications he was armed.
She wanted him to be hospitalized for help with his mental health issues.
Officers said they would have to proceed as though the boy did have access to a real gun, the videos show. Barton told officers the boy was “triggered” by seeing police.
“He sees the badge and he automatically thinks you are going to kill him or he has to defend himself in some way,” she said. “He freaks out.”
The video was made public under a Salt Lake City ordinance requiring the release of video from police shootings within 10 business days.
The shooting has raised new questions about how police deal with people with mental health issues amid nationwide calls for police reform. It came hours before new deescalation tactics were due to take effect for Salt Lake City police, which is also cooperating with an independent investigation of the shooting.
In one video, two officers can be heard discussing whether or not to approach the boy because they were concerned that the incident would result in a shooting.
“Especially when he hates cops, it’s probably gonna end in a shooting,” one officer said.
As officers approach the house, one says he can see movement in the backyard. The officers start to run after the boy - yelling at him to stop and get on the ground. When they catch up to the boy, they ask him to get on the ground again.
The boy ignores their commands and continues walking before a series of shots ring out.
The videos don’t seem to show the boy holding any weapon and police don’t mention any in a report also released Monday.
Barton has said she told dispatchers her son was having a breakdown and she needed help from a crisis-intervention officer.
On the 911 call recording, she said she has called the cops before on her son and that he has previously run away from officers.
“My biggest fear is that, I don’t know I just don’t want him to die,” Barton said. “But the times they’ve came he has been gone like he’ll take off and go running. That’s why I don’t want to go there…I just don’t want to alarm him.”
She added: “That’s why we need a mental health worker,” she said. “It’s super important.”
The Salt Lake City officers who arrived had some mental-health training but were not specialists in crisis intervention.
Linden, who the family wants to be referred to only by his first name, “was lucky to be alive,” his attorney Zach Weyher said.
Two weeks later, he remains hospitalized.
“Whatever happened, it was a 13-year-old boy who was unarmed. The police were called for a mental-health call, not a criminal act,” Weyher said. “A child is laying in a hospital bed … there has to be a better response.”
The mayor of Salt Lake City, Erin Mendenhall, said at a news conference Monday that as a mother of a 14-year-old boy she was profoundly upset by the shooting. She called for a quick but thorough investigation about what happened.
“I am profoundly heartbroken and frustrated,” she said. “It’s a tragedy for this young boy, for his mother and for families and individuals who have acute mental health needs.”
___
Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--New Zealand paraglider's death in Nevada ruled accidental

EUREKA , Nev. ( AP ) - The body of a well known paraglider from New Zealand has been recovered from a mountainous site in a remote part of Nevada , a sheriff said Monday .
Sheriff Jesse Watts said a passerby noticed a parachute last Wednesday and searchers on Friday reached the body of James “ Kiwi ” Johnston in the Fish Creek mountains of Eureka County .
“ No foul play .
Pure accident , ” said Watts , who also serves as Eureka County coroner .
He said Johnston died of multiple injuries from a high-elevation fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 250 miles ( 402 kilometers ) east of Reno and 200 miles ( 322 kilometers ) north of Las Vegas .
He was attempting to fly west-to-east across Nevada .
Searchers from several counties scoured the area for almost a week before suspending operations Aug. 29 .
The New Zealand Herald reported that Johnston also used the name Oroc .
He was a journalist , photographer and artist who regularly flew long distances .
In November 2018 , he broke his previous New Zealand overseas open distance record in Brazil .
Johnston lifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , near Round Mountain , and planned to fly to Wendover on the Nevada-Utah line .
He was with two other pilots who reported him missing 24 hours later .

EUREKA, Nev. (AP) - The body of a well known paraglider from New Zealand has been recovered from a mountainous site in a remote part of Nevada, a sheriff said Monday.
Sheriff Jesse Watts said a passerby noticed a parachute last Wednesday and searchers on Friday reached the body of James “Kiwi” Johnston in the Fish Creek mountains of Eureka County.
“No foul play. Pure accident,” said Watts, who also serves as Eureka County coroner. He said Johnston died of multiple injuries from a high-elevation fall.
Johnston disappeared Aug. 23 while about 250 miles (402 kilometers) east of Reno and 200 miles (322 kilometers) north of Las Vegas. He was attempting to fly west-to-east across Nevada.
Searchers from several counties scoured the area for almost a week before suspending operations Aug. 29.
The New Zealand Herald reported that Johnston also used the name Oroc. He was a journalist, photographer and artist who regularly flew long distances.
In November 2018, he broke his previous New Zealand overseas open distance record in Brazil.
Johnston lifted off from Nevada’s Shoshone Mountain, near Round Mountain, and planned to fly to Wendover on the Nevada-Utah line. He was with two other pilots who reported him missing 24 hours later.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Aniston is award-worthy first responder in Emmy fire skit

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Jennifer Aniston missed out on an Emmy but proved herself as an award-worthy first responder when a ceremony stunt got overheated .
In a bit during Sunday night ’ s Emmys , host Jimmy Kimmel sprayed an envelope holding a winner ’ s name with disinfectant then , for good measure , dropped it in a wire wastebasket and set it on fire .
So far , so good , ceremony executive producer Reginald Hudlin said Monday .
A test had been run beforehand , with a booster added to make the fire more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned when the scene was shot - including Aniston to the rescue .
“ Jennifer comes with a fire extinguisher .
She puts the fire out .
But the fire ain ’ t out , ” he said with a laugh .
She sprayed the wastebasket again , but as she and Kimmel bantered the fire flared again , bigger , and “ we ’ re like ‘ uh oh , ’ ” Hudlin said .
But she “ gets in there and and puts the fire out , for real , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relished the unplanned moment .
“ We ’ re like , ‘ That was great !
’ We couldn ’ t script it better than that because it was truly out of control .
We loved it.
” Hudlin recapped the moment during a post-Emmy webinar hosted by the law firm Fox Rothschild .
The skit in the downtown LA Staples Center concluded with Kimmel announcing Catherine O ’ Hara as top actress for the sitcom “ Schitt ’ s Creek , ” which made a historic sweep of all the comedy categories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the pandemic , producers came up with innovative measures - including sending cameras to the homes of 100-some nominees and enlisting Aniston and other game stars for comic relief .
The former “ Friends ” actor was nominated for her role in “ The Morning Show ” on Apple TV+ , with the lead drama actress trophy going to Zendaya for HBO ’ s “ Eurphoria.
” Aniston won an Emmy in 2002 for the sitcom .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jennifer Aniston missed out on an Emmy but proved herself as an award-worthy first responder when a ceremony stunt got overheated.
In a bit during Sunday night’s Emmys, host Jimmy Kimmel sprayed an envelope holding a winner’s name with disinfectant then, for good measure, dropped it in a wire wastebasket and set it on fire.
So far, so good, ceremony executive producer Reginald Hudlin said Monday. A test had been run beforehand, with a booster added to make the fire more visible, and things were going as planned when the scene was shot - including Aniston to the rescue.
“Jennifer comes with a fire extinguisher. She puts the fire out. But the fire ain’t out,” he said with a laugh. She sprayed the wastebasket again, but as she and Kimmel bantered the fire flared again, bigger, and “we’re like ‘uh oh,’” Hudlin said.
But she “gets in there and and puts the fire out, for real,” he said, and the production team relished the unplanned moment. “We’re like, ‘That was great!’ We couldn’t script it better than that because it was truly out of control. We loved it.”
Hudlin recapped the moment during a post-Emmy webinar hosted by the law firm Fox Rothschild.
The skit in the downtown LA Staples Center concluded with Kimmel announcing Catherine O’Hara as top actress for the sitcom “Schitt’s Creek,” which made a historic sweep of all the comedy categories.
Faced with creating a virtual ceremony because of the pandemic, producers came up with innovative measures - including sending cameras to the homes of 100-some nominees and enlisting Aniston and other game stars for comic relief.
The former “Friends” actor was nominated for her role in “The Morning Show” on Apple TV+, with the lead drama actress trophy going to Zendaya for HBO’s “Eurphoria.” Aniston won an Emmy in 2002 for the sitcom.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Mat-Su teachers vote to strike if negotiations fail

PALMER , Alaska ( AP ) - Teachers in Alaska ’ s second-largest school district have voted to strike if the teachers union can ’ t come to an agreement with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District .
The Mat-Su Education Association announced Monday that 85 % of eligible members voted to strike .
That doesn ’ t mean a strike is imminent as negotiations continue , and teachers must give the district 72 hours notice of a strike , the Anchorage Daily News reported .
The union represents roughly 1,200 certified employees in 44 schools in a district that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The district has about 19,000 students .
Teachers say they make less than their counterparts in Anchorage and Fairbanks but operate in more crowded classrooms .
They have been working 18 months without a contract .
Sticking points in negotiations involve three areas .
The union wants the contract and pay increases retroactive to the 2019-2020 school year , but the district prefers a one-time bonus instead .
Both sides have proposed different yearly percentage increases , and the school district wants language in the contract to allow the ability to find a @ @ @ @ @

PALMER, Alaska (AP) - Teachers in Alaska’s second-largest school district have voted to strike if the teachers union can’t come to an agreement with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.
The Mat-Su Education Association announced Monday that 85% of eligible members voted to strike. That doesn’t mean a strike is imminent as negotiations continue, and teachers must give the district 72 hours notice of a strike, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
The union represents roughly 1,200 certified employees in 44 schools in a district that is about the size of West Virginia. The district has about 19,000 students.
Teachers say they make less than their counterparts in Anchorage and Fairbanks but operate in more crowded classrooms. They have been working 18 months without a contract.
Sticking points in negotiations involve three areas. The union wants the contract and pay increases retroactive to the 2019-2020 school year, but the district prefers a one-time bonus instead. Both sides have proposed different yearly percentage increases, and the school district wants language in the contract to allow the ability to find a new health care provider.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Man shoots self in groin while flaunting gun in supermarket

LINCOLN CITY , Ore. ( AP ) - Police say an Oregon man is recovering after he accidentally shot himself @ @ @ @ @ a Lincoln City supermarket .
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the mishap happened Sunday night when Nicholas @ @ @ @ @ 9mm in the checkout line at McKay ’ s Market on U.S. 101 and tried @ @ @ @ @ a friend according to the Lincoln City Police Department .
Police say Ellingford mistakenly pulled @ @ @ @ @ the weapon back into his pants .
Police say a bullet tore through his groin @ @ @ @ @ just missing the man ’ s femoral artery .
Ellingford was flown to a Portland @ @ @ @ @ have a concealed handgun license and could face criminal charges for his reckless behavior , @ @ @ @ @ one else was injured .

LINCOLN CITY, Ore. (AP) - Police say an Oregon man is recovering after he accidentally shot himself while flaunting a handgun at a Lincoln City supermarket.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the mishap happened Sunday night when Nicholas J. Ellingford brandished his Glock 9mm in the checkout line at McKay’s Market on U.S. 101 and tried to show it off to a friend according to the Lincoln City Police Department.
Police say Ellingford mistakenly pulled the trigger as he stuffed the weapon back into his pants. Police say a bullet tore through his groin and exited his thigh, just missing the man’s femoral artery.
Ellingford was flown to a Portland hospital. He did not have a concealed handgun license and could face criminal charges for his reckless behavior, according to police.
No one else was injured.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Des Moines schools OK return to classes, delays key decision

DES MOINES , Iowa ( AP ) - The Des Moines School board on Monday night set a date for returning to school but put off establishing a coronavirus infection rate that would force the district to revert to online-only instruction .
Des Moines schools , Iowa ’ s largest district with more than 33,000 students , has been the state ’ s only school system that has refused Gov .
Kim Reynolds ’ order that they hold at least half their classes in-person unless they have received a waiver because of high infection rates .
The Department of Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in compliance , potentially forcing it to extend its school year at a cost of about $ 1.5 million a day .
The board has argued a high prevalence of the coronavirus statewide and in Polk County makes it unsafe to hold in-person classes .
The board agreed on a 6 to 1 vote to gradually start a hybrid plan of in-person and online courses , starting with pre-kindergarten on Oct. 12 and ending with high school on Nov. 10 .
However , the board asked Superintendent Tom Ahart to work with local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trigger a return to online-only classes .
Ahart had suggested metrics including an infection rate of 5 % , but since Polk County ’ s rate has hovered at 7 % or higher in recent weeks , that would mean classes would remain online .
The board will meet Sept. 28 to set metrics that would trigger the shift of students to online-only instruction .

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Des Moines School board on Monday night set a date for returning to school but put off establishing a coronavirus infection rate that would force the district to revert to online-only instruction.
Des Moines schools, Iowa’s largest district with more than 33,000 students, has been the state’s only school system that has refused Gov. Kim Reynolds’ order that they hold at least half their classes in-person unless they have received a waiver because of high infection rates.
The Department of Education has threatened to deem the district not in compliance, potentially forcing it to extend its school year at a cost of about $1.5 million a day. The board has argued a high prevalence of the coronavirus statewide and in Polk County makes it unsafe to hold in-person classes.
The board agreed on a 6 to 1 vote to gradually start a hybrid plan of in-person and online courses, starting with pre-kindergarten on Oct. 12 and ending with high school on Nov. 10.
However, the board asked Superintendent Tom Ahart to work with local public health experts on metrics that would trigger a return to online-only classes. Ahart had suggested metrics including an infection rate of 5%, but since Polk County’s rate has hovered at 7% or higher in recent weeks, that would mean classes would remain online.
The board will meet Sept. 28 to set metrics that would trigger the shift of students to online-only instruction.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Justice Department sees bias in limits on private schools

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - The U.S. Justice Department sided Monday with the father of a 7th grade prep school student in a lawsuit that challenges pandemic-related limits on classroom capacity at private schools in New Mexico as more restrictive than public school guidelines .
Albuquerque-based U.S. Attorney John Anderson filed a statement of interest that argues the state is violating the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by limiting attendance at private schools to 25 % of building capacity under a public health order .
The limit is set at 50 % for public schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though only select groups of elementary school and disabled students have returned to classrooms .
“ COVID-related restrictions must be applied and implemented equally and impartially , and that simply did not happen here , ” Anderson said .
“ There is no good reason to penalize students just because they choose to attend a private school.
” The support letter also was signed by Justice Department attorney Eric Drieband of the civil rights division .
The initial lawsuit was filed earlier this month by Douglas Peterson , the father of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school opted for online instruction in response to the state ’ s public health order .
The lawsuit asserts that the school could have moved forward with classroom instruction if it had the same 50 % capacity limit as public schools .
Peterson is seeking a restraining order and preliminary injunction to lift the 25 % capacity limit .
“ This case raises issues of national public importance regarding the interplay between the government ’ s compelling interest in protecting public health and safety from COVID-19 and parents ’ fundamental right to direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says the Justice Department letter , which also notes that daycare centers can operate at 100 % of capacity .
The administration of Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham says public schools have greater oversight requirements that accompany the potentially higher 50 % capacity limit , and that daycare centers simply can not operate remotely by videoconference .
The administration also notes that nearly all public school students in grades 7-12 are not receiving in-person instruction as state education officials take a cautious approach to reopening .
Granting private schools the 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 25,000 private school students to congregate for hours each day at a possibly unsafe capacity during an ongoing pandemic - leading to possible outbreaks across the state , ” state health officials said in court filings .
As of Monday , New Mexico had the lowest average positivity rate for COVID-19 testing in the western U.S. at roughly 2.1 % .
The state is delaying a return to classrooms entirely in several counties with positivity rates above 5 % or high infection rates .
Health officials also questioned whether the 25 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defer classroom instruction and said that dismissing the lawsuit “ will not deprive ( the student ) of her ability to virtually attend class with her peers - obtaining the education plaintiffs claim she is being deprived of.
” The legal wrangling takes place as President Donald Trump has proposed diverting federal funding away from public schools that decline to open and toward parents who wish to send their children to private schools or for home schooling , learning pods or other options that have arisen during the coronavirus pandemic .

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The U.S. Justice Department sided Monday with the father of a seventh grade prep school student in a lawsuit that challenges pandemic-related limits on classroom capacity at private schools in New Mexico as more restrictive than public school guidelines.
Albuquerque-based U.S. Attorney John Anderson filed a statement of interest that argues the state is violating the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by limiting attendance at private schools to 25% of building capacity under a public health order.
The limit is set at 50% for public schools under guidance from the Public Education Department, though only select groups of elementary school and disabled students have returned to classrooms.
“COVID-related restrictions must be applied and implemented equally and impartially, and that simply did not happen here,” Anderson said. “There is no good reason to penalize students just because they choose to attend a private school.”
The support letter also was signed by Justice Department attorney Eric Drieband of the civil rights division.
The initial lawsuit was filed earlier this month by Douglas Peterson, the father of a student at Albuquerque Academy, after the school opted for online instruction in response to the state’s public health order. The lawsuit asserts that the school could have moved forward with classroom instruction if it had the same 50% capacity limit as public schools. Peterson is seeking a restraining order and preliminary injunction to lift the 25% capacity limit.
“This case raises issues of national public importance regarding the interplay between the government’s compelling interest in protecting public health and safety from COVID-19 and parents’ fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children through education,” says the Justice Department letter, which also notes that daycare centers can operate at 100% of capacity.
The administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says public schools have greater oversight requirements that accompany the potentially higher 50% capacity limit, and that daycare centers simply cannot operate remotely by videoconference.
“Private schools have substantially more flexibility under the operative emergency public health order than public schools,” Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Sackett said in an email.
The administration also notes that students in grades seven-12 are not receiving in-person instruction as state education officials take a cautious approach to reopening.
Granting private schools the 50% limit “would immediately allow … over 25,000 private school students to congregate for hours each day at a possibly unsafe capacity during an ongoing pandemic - leading to possible outbreaks across the state,” state health officials said in court filings.
As of Monday, New Mexico had the lowest average positivity rate for COVID-19 testing in the western U.S. at roughly 2.1%. The state is delaying a return to classrooms entirely in several counties with positivity rates above 5% or high infection rates.
Health officials also questioned whether the 25% limit is what led Albuquerque Academy to defer classroom instruction and said that dismissing the lawsuit “will not deprive (the student) of her ability to virtually attend class with her peers - obtaining the education plaintiffs claim she is being deprived of.”
The legal wrangling takes place as President Donald Trump has proposed diverting federal funding away from public schools that decline to open and toward parents who wish to send their children to private schools or for home schooling, learning pods or other options that have arisen during the coronavirus pandemic.
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--2020-09-21--Utah men convicted of cheating in bass fishing tournament

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - A pair of Utah men have been convicted of felony charges stemming from attempts to cheat in a bass fishing tournament .
Robert Dennett , 45 , and Kamron Wootton , 35 , pleaded guilty last month to felony bribery or threat to influence a contest and misdemeanor unlawful release of wildlife and unlawful captivity of protected wildlife , KTVX-TV reports .
Conservation officers received a report of illegal activity in October 2018 through a tip line .
Charging documents said Dennett and Wootton took several bass from the Quail Lake Reservoir in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transported the fish about 180 miles ( 290 kilometers ) east to Lake Powell .
The men then submitted the fish to a Lake Powell largemouth bass fishing tournament .
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said competition organizers noticed some fish submitted for judging by the men looked much different from other bass caught during the tournament .
The men were each ordered to serve two years of probation and 48 hours of community service and pay a $ 2,500 fine .
The charges will be dismissed after successful completion of all @ @ @

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A pair of Utah men have been convicted of felony charges stemming from attempts to cheat in a bass fishing tournament.
Robert Dennett, 45, and Kamron Wootton, 35, pleaded guilty last month to felony bribery or threat to influence a contest and misdemeanor unlawful release of wildlife and unlawful captivity of protected wildlife, KTVX-TV reports.
Conservation officers received a report of illegal activity in October 2018 through a tip line.
Charging documents said Dennett and Wootton took several bass from the Quail Lake Reservoir in southwest Utah without authorization or permits and transported the fish about 180 miles (290 kilometers) east to Lake Powell.
The men then submitted the fish to a Lake Powell largemouth bass fishing tournament.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said competition organizers noticed some fish submitted for judging by the men looked much different from other bass caught during the tournament.
The men were each ordered to serve two years of probation and 48 hours of community service and pay a $2,500 fine.
The charges will be dismissed after successful completion of all sentencing requirements.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Jerrold Nadler hearings request rebuffed by Justice Department

Democrats were so “ insulting ” to Attorney General William P. Barr during his last appearance on Capitol Hill that the Justice Department won ’ t send witnesses to two upcoming hearings , the department informed lawmakers on Monday .
Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler had asked for top officials to testify at hearings over the next 10 days on civil rights and on prison operations .
But Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd delivered a withering rebuke , writing Mr. Nadler to say the committee had a chance to ask Mr. Barr about those subjects when he appeared for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead Democrats “ devoted their time entirely towards scolding and insulting the attorney general.
” They also refused to give Mr. Barr a chance to respond , and indeed some made clear they didn ’ t want to hear what he had to say .
“ All told , when the attorney general tried to address the committee ’ s questions , he was interrupted and silenced in excess of 70 times , ” Mr. Boyd wrote .
“ One member interrupted him and admitted , ‘ Well I don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Things got so bad that at one point Mr. Barr asked to take a five-minute break and Mr. Nadler refused that common courtesy .
“ You ’ re a real class act , ” Mr. Barr chided him .
But the experience left such a sour taste that the Justice Department says it ’ s not interested in any repeats .
“ Having squandered its opportunity to conduct a meaningful oversight hearing with the attorney general , it remains unclear how further public spectacles with other department officials would now — a mere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hearing — advance the committee ’ s legitimate oversight efforts , ” Mr. Boyd wrote .
He said if Mr. Nadler agrees to behave in the conduct of future hearings , they might be able to work on something later .
Mr. Boyd also cited recent Supreme Court jurisprudence that said while Congress does have the power to hold hearings and investigate , it must serve a legitimate legislative purpose .
The rebuff is the latest move in an escalating battle between the administration and House Democrats .
The House has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and has impeached Mr. Trump .
Neither effort succeeded .
Earlier this month Democrats issued a subpoena demanding the appearance of acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf .
He defied that subpoena , citing a longstanding tradition that people who have been nominated for positions don ’ t appear to testify outside of the confirmation process .

Democrats were so “insulting” to Attorney General William P. Barr during his last appearance on Capitol Hill that the Justice Department won’t send witnesses to two upcoming hearings, the department informed lawmakers on Monday.
Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler had asked for top officials to testify at hearings over the next 10 days on civil rights and on prison operations.
But Assistant Attorney General Stephen E. Boyd delivered a withering rebuke, writing Mr. Nadler to say the committee had a chance to ask Mr. Barr about those subjects when he appeared for a hearing in late July, and instead Democrats “devoted their time entirely towards scolding and insulting the attorney general.”
They also refused to give Mr. Barr a chance to respond, and indeed some made clear they didn’t want to hear what he had to say.
“All told, when the attorney general tried to address the committee’s questions, he was interrupted and silenced in excess of 70 times,” Mr. Boyd wrote. “One member interrupted him and admitted, ‘Well I don’t want you to tell your story.’”
Things got so bad that at one point Mr. Barr asked to take a five-minute break and Mr. Nadler refused that common courtesy. “You’re a real class act,” Mr. Barr chided him.
Mr. Nadler eventually agreed to the break.
But the experience left such a sour taste that the Justice Department says it’s not interested in any repeats.
“Having squandered its opportunity to conduct a meaningful oversight hearing with the attorney general, it remains unclear how further public spectacles with other department officials would now — a mere 14 legislative days since the attorney general’s hearing — advance the committee’s legitimate oversight efforts,” Mr. Boyd wrote.
He said if Mr. Nadler agrees to behave in the conduct of future hearings, they might be able to work on something later.
Mr. Boyd also cited recent Supreme Court jurisprudence that said while Congress does have the power to hold hearings and investigate, it must serve a legitimate legislative purpose.
The rebuff is the latest move in an escalating battle between the administration and House Democrats.
The House has held Mr. Barr in contempt of Congress, and has impeached Mr. Trump. Neither effort succeeded.
Earlier this month Democrats issued a subpoena demanding the appearance of acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf.
He defied that subpoena, citing a longstanding tradition that people who have been nominated for positions don’t appear to testify outside of the confirmation process.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Chinese have hacked data on nearly half of U.S. population, FBI says

China is engaged in massive data mining in the United States and likely has stolen personal information on nearly half of the entire U.S. population , FBI Director Christopher Wray told a congressional hearing last week .
While media attention focused on Mr. Wray ’ s comments on the threat of domestic terrorism and foreign interference in the upcoming election , the FBI director also offered fresh details on the scale of Chinese hacking efforts , such as the 2017 theft of financial information on 150 million people from the credit bureau Equifax .
Mr. Wray disclosed to lawmakers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have obtained compromised information on “ nearly half of the American population and most American adults.
” “ If you are an American adult , it is more likely than not that China has stolen your personal data , ” Mr. Wray told the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday , adding the theft is “ on a scale so massive that it represents one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history.
” Other Chinese data hacks over the past five years involved gaining access to more than 60 million records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 22 million records from the federal government ’ s Office of Personnel Management , including very sensitive data gathered as part of security clearance probes .
Mr. Wray described the targeting of U.S. information and intellectual property as the “ greatest long term threat ” posed by a foreign spy service .
Chinese intelligence regards itself as being in “ an international talent war ” to obtain U.S. innovation capabilities and research .
Much of the stolen American know-how has been funded by U.S. taxpayers who are in effect funding Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The State Department ’ s ordering of the recent shutdown of the Chinese consulate in Houston highlighted the economic espionage danger , he said .
U.S. officials say the Houston consulate was a major base of Chinese spying , a charge Beijing has denied .
While the FBI chief did not provide details on how the Chinese exploit the data , other counterintelligence officials have said the Chinese use stolen personal data to recruit agents and to launch cyberattacks targeting computer administrators with access to networks .
Mr. Wray said aggressive Chinese intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new China-related counterspy case on average every 10 hours .
“ Of the nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases currently underway across the country , almost half are related to China , ” he said .
Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday the indictment of five Chinese nationals and two Malaysians in a large-scale criminal and political hacking operation targeting more than a 100 U.S. and foreign corporations .
The FBI also has cracked down on American university professors suspected of covertly being paid by China , including the chairman of the Harvard University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in January was charged with lying to investigators about his role in a Chinese program to recruit technical experts .
“ At this very moment , China is working to compromise American health care organizations , pharmaceutical companies , and academic institutions conducting essential COVID-19 research , ” Mr. Wray said .
“ They are going after cost and pricing information , internal strategy documents , personally identifiable information — anything that can give them a competitive advantage.
” Democrats in Congress have claimed the Trump administration is persecuting Asian-Americans by calling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus.
” The House on Thursday passed a resolution condemning “ anti-Asian sentiment related to COVID-19 , ” the virus first identified in Wuhan , China .
But Mr. Wray told the hearing that the FBI campaign is not broadly targeting Chinese or Chinese-Americans , but rather Chinese government and suspected agents of the ruling Communist Party .
He said confronting the Chinese intelligence threat does not mean the United States can not coexist with China .
“ But it does mean that when China violates our criminal laws and international norms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , much less enable it , ” he said .
The pandemic has forced people into greater reliance on computer networks and that in turn has increased the danger of cyber espionage .
“ We are still seeing hack after hack and breach after breach , ” Mr. Wray said .
“ The more we shift to the internet as the conduit and the repository for everything we use and share and manage , the more danger we are in .
”

China is engaged in massive data mining in the United States and likely has stolen personal information on nearly half of the entire U.S. population, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a congressional hearing last week.
While media attention focused on Mr. Wray’s comments on the threat of domestic terrorism and foreign interference in the upcoming election, the FBI director also offered fresh details on the scale of Chinese hacking efforts, such as the 2017 theft of financial information on 150 million people from the credit bureau Equifax.
Mr. Wray disclosed to lawmakers that the FBI now estimates that Chinese hackers have obtained compromised information on “nearly half of the American population and most American adults.”
“If you are an American adult, it is more likely than not that China has stolen your personal data,” Mr. Wray told the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday, adding the theft is “on a scale so massive that it represents one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history.”
Other Chinese data hacks over the past five years involved gaining access to more than 60 million records from the health care provider Anthem and more than 22 million records from the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management, including very sensitive data gathered as part of security clearance probes.
Mr. Wray described the targeting of U.S. information and intellectual property as the “greatest long term threat” posed by a foreign spy service. Chinese intelligence regards itself as being in “an international talent war” to obtain U.S. innovation capabilities and research. Much of the stolen American know-how has been funded by U.S. taxpayers who are in effect funding Chinese advancement, the FBI director said.
The State Department’s ordering of the recent shutdown of the Chinese consulate in Houston highlighted the economic espionage danger, he said. U.S. officials say the Houston consulate was a major base of Chinese spying, a charge Beijing has denied.
While the FBI chief did not provide details on how the Chinese exploit the data, other counterintelligence officials have said the Chinese use stolen personal data to recruit agents and to launch cyberattacks targeting computer administrators with access to networks. Mr. Wray said aggressive Chinese intelligence operations have prompted the FBI to open a new China-related counterspy case on average every 10 hours.
“Of the nearly 5,000 active FBI counterintelligence cases currently underway across the country, almost half are related to China,” he said.
Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday the indictment of five Chinese nationals and two Malaysians in a large-scale criminal and political hacking operation targeting more than a 100 U.S. and foreign corporations. The FBI also has cracked down on American university professors suspected of covertly being paid by China, including the chairman of the Harvard University chemistry department, Charles Lieber, who in January was charged with lying to investigators about his role in a Chinese program to recruit technical experts.
“At this very moment, China is working to compromise American health care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions conducting essential COVID-19 research,” Mr. Wray said. “They are going after cost and pricing information, internal strategy documents, personally identifiable information — anything that can give them a competitive advantage.”
Democrats in Congress have claimed the Trump administration is persecuting Asian-Americans by calling the microbe behind the pandemic the “Chinese virus.” The House on Thursday passed a resolution condemning “anti-Asian sentiment related to COVID-19,” the virus first identified in Wuhan, China.
But Mr. Wray told the hearing that the FBI campaign is not broadly targeting Chinese or Chinese-Americans, but rather Chinese government and suspected agents of the ruling Communist Party. He said confronting the Chinese intelligence threat does not mean the United States cannot coexist with China.
“But it does mean that when China violates our criminal laws and international norms, we are not going to tolerate it, much less enable it,” he said. The pandemic has forced people into greater reliance on computer networks and that in turn has increased the danger of cyber espionage.
“We are still seeing hack after hack and breach after breach,” Mr. Wray said. “The more we shift to the internet as the conduit and the repository for everything we use and share and manage, the more danger we are in.”
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.