washingtontimes--2020-12-11--FDA says it's close to approving Pfizer shots; Trump wants them now: 'Stop playing games'

The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it is nearing emergency approval of Pfizer ’ s coronavirus vaccine and even told President Trump ’ s “ Operation Warp Speed ” to get ready to launch .
The statement from FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn suggests regulators have made up their minds but are finalizing the wording , after an advisory panel late Thursday said the vaccine deserved emergency use authorization .
“ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has informed the sponsor that it will rapidly work toward finalization and issuance of an emergency use authorization .
The agency has also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention and Operation Warp Speed , so they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution , ” Dr. Hahn said .
Mr. Trump fumed on Twitter early Friday , saying it ’ s time to hit the big red button .
“ While my pushing the money drenched but heavily bureaucratic [ FDA ] saved five years in the approval of NUMEROUS great new vaccines , it is still a big , old , slow turtle .
Get the dam vaccines out NOW , Dr. Hahn @ SteveFDA .
Stop playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” he wrote .
Mr. Trump also tied the efforts to complaints about election results that show he lost to Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden .
“ The Swine Flu ( H1N1 ) , and the attempt for a vaccine by the Obama Administration , with Joe Biden in charge , was a complete and total disaster .
Now they want to come in and take over one of the ‘ greatest and fastest medical miracles in modern-day history.
’ I don ’ t think so !
” he tweeted .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from killing itself !
” the president said .

The Food and Drug Administration is racing to grant emergency approval to Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine by late Friday amid pressure from the White House, even telling President Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed” to get ready while it finishes its work.
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn signaled that regulators have made up their minds but are finalizing the wording of its emergency use authorization for doctors.
But Mr. Trump lashed out at Dr. Hahn on Twitter, saying he wanted immediate action amid signs the agency planned to act Saturday morning.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told the agency to get it done faster, according to reports in The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The Post reported that Mr. Meadows told Dr. Hahn to submit his resignation if he doesn’t get it done late Friday, though Dr. Hahn disputed that characterization of the conversation in a statement to various outlets.
An FDA advisory panel late Thursday said the vaccine merited the “EUA” that would clear the way for the first U.S. inoculations outside of trials.
SEE ALSO: Pfizer coronavirus vaccine approved by panel clearing FDA EUA path
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has informed the sponsor that it will rapidly work toward finalization and issuance of an emergency use authorization. The agency has also notified the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Operation Warp Speed, so they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution,” Dr. Hahn said Friday.
Speaking to ABC, Health Secretary Alex Azar said the authorization should come in the “next couple of days” as they finalize prescribing information, though White House pressure appeared to move up the deadline.
It’s unclear if approving the shots late Friday instead of Saturday would get the shots into arms any faster.
“We could be seeing people getting vaccinated Monday, Tuesday of next week,” Mr. Azar told “Good Morning America.” “It’s really close, it’s just the last dotting of Is and crossing of Ts.”
On Twitter, Mr. Trump said the FDA has plenty of money but it bogged down by bureaucracy. He said the agency is a “big, old, slow turtle.”
“Get the dam [sic] vaccines out NOW, Dr. Hahn @SteveFDA. Stop playing games and start saving lives!!!” he wrote.
Operation Warp Speed is expected to load nearly 3 million vials onto FedEx and UPS planes within 24 hours of the FDA’s approval. States told the federal government where the shipments should go.
The federal operation will hold back nearly 3 million additional doses, so the first recipients can be assured their booster shot 21 days later. It is also reserving 500,000 doses in case of early mishaps.
States are expected to begin inoculating health workers and residents of long-term care facilities within a day of receiving their share of doses, though governors will have the final say over who’s first in line.
Immunizing every American who wants the vaccine will take months, stretching into late spring or early summer, as the country enters a daunting period.
The coronavirus killed roughly 3,000 Americans on successive days, and doctors and nurses are worn down by the flood of patients. More than 107,000 patients are hospitalized for COVID-19 across the country.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said indoor dining in New York City will shut down again on Monday as he tries to stave off another wave of the virus and stabilize hospitalization rates. Eateries are likely to cry foul, saying they’re on the brink of collapse and 70% of New York cases have been traced to household gatherings anyway.
Pfizer, which developed the messenger-RNA shots with German company BioNTech, requested emergency approval on Nov. 20 after data showed its vaccine was 95% effective against COVID-19. It beat several other drugmakers to the punch, though Moderna is right behind it with shots that also use mRNA to teach the body how to fend off the virus.
Johnson & Johnson is developing a promising single-dose shot and could be approved during the first two months of 2021.
Among other drugmakers, Sanofi-GlaxoSmithKline said the launch of its vaccine likely wouldn’t occur until late 2021 after clinical trials showed an inadequate response in older people.
AstraZeneca, meanwhile, said it will work with Russian scientists to see if its vaccine can be combined with Moscow’s Sputnik V vaccine to increase efficacy.
Canada recently approved the Pfizer vaccine and the U.K. started injecting it into people this week, heaping pressure on U.S. regulators.
Mr. Trump has emphasized the speedy development of vaccines and therapeutics over mitigation measures like mask-wearing and avoiding crowds.
He tied recent progress on the effort to his complaints about election results that show he lost to Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden.
“The Swine Flu (H1N1), and the attempt for a vaccine by the Obama Administration, with Joe Biden in charge, was a complete and total disaster. Now they want to come in and take over one of the ‘greatest and fastest medical miracles in modern-day history.’ I don’t think so!” he tweeted.
“I just want to stop the world from killing itself!” he said.
The Food and Drug Administration said Friday it is nearing emergency approval of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine and even told President Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed” to get ready to launch.
The statement from FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn suggests regulators have made up their minds but are finalizing the wording, after an advisory panel late Thursday said the vaccine deserved emergency use authorization.
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has informed the sponsor that it will rapidly work toward finalization and issuance of an emergency use authorization.
The agency has also notified the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Operation Warp Speed, so they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution,” Dr. Hahn said.
Mr. Trump fumed on Twitter early Friday, saying it’s time to hit the big red button.
“While my pushing the money drenched but heavily bureaucratic [FDA] saved five years in the approval of NUMEROUS great new vaccines, it is still a big, old, slow turtle. Get the dam vaccines out NOW, Dr. Hahn @SteveFDA. Stop playing games and start saving lives!!!” he wrote.
Mr. Trump also tied the efforts to complaints about election results that show he lost to Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden.
“The Swine Flu (H1N1), and the attempt for a vaccine by the Obama Administration, with Joe Biden in charge, was a complete and total disaster. Now they want to come in and take over one of the ‘greatest and fastest medical miracles in modern-day history.’ I don’t think so!” he tweeted.
“I just want to stop the world from killing itself!” the president said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Protesting Indian farmers ask top court to scrap new laws

NEW DELHI ( AP ) - Indian farmers filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Friday seeking the quashing of three new laws on agricultural reform which they say will drive down crop prices , as they continued their two-week blockade of highways connecting to the Indian capital .
The Supreme Court is expected to take up the petition after seeking the government ’ s response .
No date was set for a hearing .
The petition was filed by the Bharatiya Kisan Union , or Indian Farmers ’ Union , and its leader , Bhanu Pratap Singh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the government enacted them without proper consultations with stakeholders .
Five round of talks between the government and farmers since November have failed to halt the blockade , with the protesters continuing to insist that the laws be repealed .
The protest leaders announced that farmers will block more highways on Saturday and organize a nationwide shutdown of businesses next Monday unless their demands are met .
They also threatened to block trains in coming days .
The farmers petitioned the court on Friday after rejecting a renewed government offer of talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to the cartelization and commercialization of agriculture and make farmers vulnerable to corporate greed .
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said the government is willing to amend the laws to allay the farmers ’ concerns , but they should give up their insistence on scrapping them .
The farmers say the laws , passed in September , will deregulate crop prices and devastate their earnings .
They fear the government will stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and corporations will then push prices down .
The government says it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue .
With nearly 60 % of the Indian population depending on agriculture for their livelihoods , the growing farmer rebellion has rattled Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s administration and its allies .
Heavy contingents of police in riot gear patrolled the areas where the farmers have been camping in New Delhi ’ s outskirts .
Modi ’ s government insists the reforms will benefit farmers .
It says they will allow farmers to market their produce and boost production through private investment .
Farmers have been protesting the laws for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
The situation escalated two weeks ago when tens of thousands marched to New Delhi , where they clashed with police .

NEW DELHI (AP) - Indian farmers filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Friday seeking the quashing of three new laws on agricultural reform which they say will drive down crop prices, as they continued their two-week blockade of highways connecting to the Indian capital.
The Supreme Court is expected to take up the petition after seeking the government’s response. No date was set for a hearing.
The petition was filed by the Bharatiya Kisan Union, or Indian Farmers’ Union, and its leader, Bhanu Pratap Singh, who argued that the laws were arbitrary because the government enacted them without proper consultations with stakeholders.
Five round of talks between the government and farmers since November have failed to halt the blockade, with the protesters continuing to insist that the laws be repealed.
The protest leaders announced that farmers will block more highways on Saturday and organize a nationwide shutdown of businesses next Monday unless their demands are met. They also threatened to block trains in coming days.
The farmers petitioned the court on Friday after rejecting a renewed government offer of talks. The petition said the laws will lead to the cartelization and commercialization of agriculture and make farmers vulnerable to corporate greed.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday said the government is willing to amend the laws to allay the farmers’ concerns, but they should give up their insistence on scrapping them.
The farmers say the laws, passed in September, will deregulate crop prices and devastate their earnings. They fear the government will stop buying grain at minimum guaranteed prices and corporations will then push prices down. The government says it is willing to pledge that guaranteed prices will continue.
With nearly 60% of the Indian population depending on agriculture for their livelihoods, the growing farmer rebellion has rattled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration and its allies.
Heavy contingents of police in riot gear patrolled the areas where the farmers have been camping in New Delhi’s outskirts.
Modi’s government insists the reforms will benefit farmers. It says they will allow farmers to market their produce and boost production through private investment.
Farmers have been protesting the laws for nearly two months in Punjab and Haryana states. The situation escalated two weeks ago when tens of thousands marched to New Delhi, where they clashed with police.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Police: 5 officers fired upon man fatally shot in Virginia

DUMFRIES , Va. ( AP ) - An armed 79-year-old man was fatally shot when five police officers fired at him after his wife called police to their Virginia home to report that her husband was “ making concerning statements , ” police said .
The wife said Thursday night that her husband was making the statements while armed and had been suicidal , the Prince William County Police Department said in a statement posted on their Twitter page .
The man was not immediately named , but police said by the time officers got to the couple ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left and was walking around outside .
Officers requested helicopter assistance from Fairfax County police .
That helicopter search located the man in a wooded area while he was walking back to the home , police said .
The officers met him near the front door of the residence and that ’ s when they shot him , police said .
He was transported to a hospital where he later died .
Authorities said it was not yet clear how many times the man was struck or if he had fired his gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they will be placed on a routine paid leave .
Dumfries is a town located about 80 miles ( 129 kilometers ) north of Richmond .

DUMFRIES, Va. (AP) - An armed 79-year-old man was fatally shot when five police officers fired at him after his wife called police to their Virginia home to report that her husband was “making concerning statements,” police said.
The wife said Thursday night that her husband was making the statements while armed and had been suicidal, the Prince William County Police Department said in a statement posted on their Twitter page.
The man was not immediately named, but police said by the time officers got to the couple’s home in Dumfries, the man had left and was walking around outside.
Officers requested helicopter assistance from Fairfax County police. That helicopter search located the man in a wooded area while he was walking back to the home, police said.
The officers met him near the front door of the residence and that’s when they shot him, police said. He was transported to a hospital where he later died.
Authorities said it was not yet clear how many times the man was struck or if he had fired his gun.
The state legislature recently passed legislation that will create crisis response teams around the state to dispatch mental health professionals along with police to respond to emergency calls involving people experiencing mental health issues.
Bruce Cruser, the executive director of Mental Health America of Virginia, said the group supported the legislation.
“Frankly, it’s a very difficult situation when you have someone armed and in a mental health crisis. The safety of the responders and of the individual themselves is priority, but the training that the mental health professional has can in many cases de-escalate the situation,” Cruser said.
None of the officers were injured, and they will be placed on a routine paid leave.
Dumfries is a town located about 80 miles (129 kilometers) north of Richmond.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--4 injured when Florida teen pours gasoline on bonfire

POLK CITY , Fla. ( AP ) - Four Florida teenagers were injured Thursday night when one of them poured @ @ @ @ @ causing it to explode , officials said .
Officials said two boys and two girls @ @ @ @ @ the teens were taken to Tampa General Hospital , while one was taken to Lakeland @ @ @ @ @ County Fire Rescue officials told news outlets .
Their conditions were not known .
The @ @ @ @ @ Office and the fire marshal ’ s office are investigating .

POLK CITY, Fla. (AP) - Four Florida teenagers were injured Thursday night when one of them poured gasoline on a bonfire, causing it to explode, officials said.
Officials said two boys and two girls were injured. Three of the teens were taken to Tampa General Hospital, while one was taken to Lakeland Regional Health hospital, Polk County Fire Rescue officials told news outlets.
Their conditions were not known.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the fire marshal’s office are investigating.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--6 officers injured in suicide attack in southern Russia

MOSCOW ( AP ) - At least six Russian law enforcement officers were injured Friday in the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ blew himself up near a local office of the top security agency , authorities said @ @ @ @ @ the building of the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) in Uchkeken in the Karachayevo-Cherkessiya @ @ @ @ @ North Caucasus , Russia ‘ s Anti-Terrorism Committee said in a statement .
The Interfax @ @ @ @ @ explosive device first went off outside the building early Friday , hurting no one .
@ @ @ @ @ to inspect the site , the suicide bomber approached them and detonated explosives , killing @ @ @ @ @ and other regions in Russia ‘ s volatile North Caucasus have faced bombings and other @ @ @ @ @ some of whom have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group .

MOSCOW (AP) - At least six Russian law enforcement officers were injured Friday in the country’s south when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a local office of the top security agency, authorities said.
The explosion occurred outside the building of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in Uchkeken in the Karachayevo-Cherkessiya region of Russia’s North Caucasus, Russia’s Anti-Terrorism Committee said in a statement.
The Interfax news agency reported that an explosive device first went off outside the building early Friday, hurting no one. When law enforcement officers gathered to inspect the site, the suicide bomber approached them and detonated explosives, killing himself.
Chechnya, Karachayevo-Cherkessiya and other regions in Russia’s volatile North Caucasus have faced bombings and other attacks by Islamist militants, some of whom have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Mississippi Aquarium welcomes 4 young dolphins

GULFPORT , Miss .
( AP ) - The Mississippi Aquarium has some new residents .
WLOX reported Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ , Fin , Nigel and Axel - arrived this week and are getting comfortable in @ @ @ @ @ dolphins were born at Sea World in Orlando and have been raised together , the @ @ @ @ @ four dolphins were all raised together in the same social groupings .
They ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ throughout their entire lives , ” Andy Horn , the aquarium ’ s Curator of @ @ @ @ @ station .
The dolphins will spend the next few weeks interacting with their trainers and @ @ @ @ @ the main area of the aquarium around the end of the year .

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Aquarium has some new residents.
WLOX reported Thursday that four young dolphins - Archer, Fin, Nigel and Axel - arrived this week and are getting comfortable in their new surroundings.
The dolphins were born at Sea World in Orlando and have been raised together, the station reports.
“These four dolphins were all raised together in the same social groupings. They’ve formed bonds with each other throughout their entire lives,” Andy Horn, the aquarium’s Curator of Marine Mammals, told the station.
The dolphins will spend the next few weeks interacting with their trainers and then will be moved into the main area of the aquarium around the end of the year.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--New York City bars, restaurants pursue adaptation to survive

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Olivier Conan didn ’ t see how it was going to work , keeping Barbès , his Brooklyn bar/performance space , open through the pandemic when live performances and crowded spaces have been at the top of the DON ’ T list .
“ The whole idea of this place is the opposite of social distancing .
It was social proximity , ” he said .
So , Conan adapted - taking his approach of curating what he wanted to expose his customers to and turning it from music to wine .
The venue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , focusing on small producers and wineries .
“ Honestly , that ’ s what will keep this place surviving , ” he said .
He ’ s not the only one , of course .
The months of pandemic have meant nothing but change for the city ’ s restaurant and bar owners , who have had to deal with limits to what kind of service they could offer , how many people could be inside when indoor dining was allowed to return , and how to adjust to the rise of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change is still continuing , as New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has said that indoor dining could be shut down as soon as Monday if coronavirus hospitalizations don ’ t stabilize .
The industry has been hit hard , with closures and lost jobs .
Wade Hagenbart has closed down a restaurant he had just opened in late 2019 , as well as Angry Wade , a Brooklyn bar he started 20 years ago , leaving him with his Gueros restaurant focusing on takeout .
“ Everybody got hurt , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t , from the landlord to the dishwasher , everybody is getting hurt by this pandemic , ” he said .
He was resigned to the turn of pandemic events .
“ My attitude from the beginning was there ’ s not much you can do about it , and if there ’ s nothing you can do about it , you really can ’ t get too angry about it .
You have to figure out what you can affect , how you can affect stuff and you work toward that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his restaurant future , though , and said he was hoping to find good spaces for new restaurants when the pandemic has passed .

KATHY WILLENS, TED SHAFFREY and DEEPTI HAJELA

NEW YORK (AP) - Olivier Conan didn’t see how it was going to work, keeping Barbès, his Brooklyn bar/performance space, open through the pandemic when live performances and crowded spaces have been at the top of the DON’T list.
“The whole idea of this place is the opposite of social distancing. It was social proximity,” he said.
So, Conan adapted - taking his approach of curating what he wanted to expose his customers to and turning it from music to wine.
The venue has recently turned into a bottle shop, focusing on small producers and wineries.
“Honestly, that’s what will keep this place surviving,” he said.
He’s not the only one, of course. The months of pandemic have meant nothing but change for the city’s restaurant and bar owners, who have had to deal with limits to what kind of service they could offer, how many people could be inside when indoor dining was allowed to return, and how to adjust to the rise of outdoor dining.
That roller coaster of change is continuing as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday that indoor dining in New York City would be shut down on Monday because coronavirus hospitalizations have not stabilized.
The industry has been hit hard, with closures and lost jobs.
Wade Hagenbart has closed down a restaurant he had just opened in late 2019, as well as Angry Wade, a Brooklyn bar he started 20 years ago, leaving him with his Gueros restaurant focusing on takeout.
“Everybody got hurt, there’s not one person who hasn’t, from the landlord to the dishwasher, everybody is getting hurt by this pandemic,” he said.
He was resigned to the turn of pandemic events.
“My attitude from the beginning was there’s not much you can do about it, and if there’s nothing you can do about it, you really can’t get too angry about it. You have to figure out what you can affect, how you can affect stuff and you work toward that,” he said.
He was committed to his restaurant future, though, and said he was hoping to find good spaces for new restaurants when the pandemic has passed.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Graduate thanks Nicki Minaj for tuition _ med school next

LAFAYETTE , La .
( AP ) - A University of Louisiana at Lafayette student who just graduated is thanking rap artist Nicki Minaj for paying his tuition .
Three years ago , someone on Twitter reached out to Minaj with a request for the musician to help pay for college .
Minaj agreed - on the condition that they show her perfect marks .
She wrote , “ Show me straight A ’ s that I can verify w/ur school and I ’ ll pay it.
” A few dozen fans took Minaj up on the offer including Artavion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she could help pay his current outstanding balance of $ 1,300 .
She did and this week Cook graduated with a bachelor ’ s in science in biology .
“ This day is even more special because @ NICKIMINAJ paid my tuition a few semesters ago , and today is her birthday !
” he Tweeted , according to the Daily Advertiser .
The newspaper reports that Cook is looking forward to medical school and is getting ready to take the MCAT in the spring .
He ’ d like to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or Meharry Medical College .

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A University of Louisiana at Lafayette student who just graduated is thanking rap artist Nicki Minaj for paying his tuition.
Three years ago, someone on Twitter reached out to Minaj with a request for the musician to help pay for college. Minaj agreed - on the condition that they show her perfect marks. She wrote , “Show me straight A’s that I can verify w/ur school and I’ll pay it.”
A few dozen fans took Minaj up on the offer including Artavion Cook. He asked on Twitter if she could help pay his current outstanding balance of $1,300. She did and this week Cook graduated with a bachelor’s in science in biology.
“This day is even more special because @NICKIMINAJ paid my tuition a few semesters ago, and today is her birthday!” he Tweeted, according to the Daily Advertiser.
The newspaper reports that Cook is looking forward to medical school and is getting ready to take the MCAT in the spring. He’d like to go to LSU Shreveport, Morehouse, Howard University, or Meharry Medical College.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Connecticut's new tax chief: Mayor who took on John Oliver

HARTFORD , Conn. ( AP ) - Connecticut Gov .
Ned Lamont announced Friday that he ’ s chosen Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton to be state ’ s new tax commissioner .
Boughton , who lost in the 2018 Republican primary in his third run for governor , plans to resign as mayor before taking charge of the state ’ s Department of Revenue Services on Dec. 18 , Lamont said .
Boughton said in a statement that was “ excited about the chance to serve the people ” of the state .
Legislators still have to sign off on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic leaders applauded Boughton ’ s selection .
Boughton in his 10th term as mayor , the longest tenure in Danbury ’ s history , tangled with John Oliver earlier this year over the comedian ’ s expletive-filled rant against the city on his HBO show .
The clash ended with Danbury renaming its sewage plant “ The John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant ” after Oliver offered to donate $ 55,000 to local charities .
“ Mark has earned a reputation as being a dedicated public servant and hard worker , ” Lamont @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
He said Boughton ’ s experience as mayor would give him a unique perspective on the impact of certain state measures at the local level .
“ I firmly believe that a bigger table , open door , and creative solutions will help produce the best outcomes for the people of our state , regardless of someone ’ s political affiliation , ” Lamont said .
Boughton , a former high school teacher and member of the U.S. Army Reserve , will replace Scott Jackson , who resigned to accept a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Justin Elicker .
Deputy Commissioner John Biello has been serving as acting commissioner in an interim capacity .

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday that he’s chosen Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton to be the state’s new tax commissioner.
Boughton, who lost in the 2018 Republican primary in his third run for governor, plans to resign as mayor before taking charge of the state’s Department of Revenue Services on Dec. 18, Lamont said.
Boughton said in a statement that he was “excited about the chance to serve the people” of the state. Legislators still have to sign off on the nomination. In a statement, Democratic leaders applauded Boughton’s selection.
Boughton in his 10th term as mayor, the longest tenure in Danbury’s history, tangled with John Oliver earlier this year over the comedian’s expletive-filled rant against the city on his HBO show.
The clash ended with Danbury renaming its sewage plant “The John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant” after Oliver offered to donate $55,000 to local charities.
“Mark has earned a reputation as being a dedicated public servant and hard worker,” Lamont, a Democrat, said in a statement.
He said Boughton’s experience as mayor would give him a unique perspective on the impact of certain state measures at the local level.
“I firmly believe that a bigger table, open door and creative solutions will help produce the best outcomes for the people of our state, regardless of someone’s political affiliation,” Lamont said.
Boughton, a former high school teacher and member of the U.S. Army Reserve, will replace Scott Jackson, who resigned to accept a role in the administration of New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.
Deputy Commissioner John Biello has been serving as acting commissioner in an interim capacity.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Hawaii county that had no virus cases reports 1st infection

HONOLULU ( AP ) - A county on a Hawaii island that was believed to be the last one in the U.S. without any coronavirus infection cases has reported its first resident who tested positive for the coronavirus .
The Hawaii Department of Health on Thursday reported the case in Kalawao County on the island of Molokai .
The health department said Thursday that an adult resident tested positive after returning to the island on a flight .
The person , who was not identified , is in self-isolation and being monitored but has no virus symptoms , the department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all of the person ’ s recent close contacts were asymptomatic and being monitored , the department said .
All other passengers on the flight were also in self-quarantine , the department said .
The infected person is a resident of Kalaupapa Settlement .
The community once served as a home for medical patients with Hansen ’ s Disease , also known as leprosy , who were forced to relocate and isolate there .
The state abolished the law requiring the isolation in 1969 .
But former patients who chose to remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with state support .
For most people , the 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 .

HONOLULU (AP) - A county on a Hawaii island that was believed to be the last one in the U.S. without any coronavirus infection cases has reported its first resident who tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Hawaii Department of Health on Thursday reported the case in Kalawao County on the island of Molokai.
The health department said Thursday that an adult resident tested positive after returning to the island on a flight.
The person, who was not identified, is in self-isolation and being monitored but has no virus symptoms, the department said.
Contact tracing has been conducted and all of the person’s recent close contacts were asymptomatic and being monitored, the department said.
All other passengers on the flight were also in self-quarantine, the department said.
The infected person is a resident of Kalaupapa Settlement. The community once served as a home for medical patients with Hansen’s Disease, also known as leprosy, who were forced to relocate and isolate there.
The state abolished the law requiring the isolation in 1969. But former patients who chose to remain were allowed to continue living in Kalaupapa with state support.
For most people, the 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--2020-12-11--Vermont long-term care facilities prepare for COVID vaccines

BENNINGTON , Vt. ( AP ) - Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities across Vermont are preparing for the @ @ @ @ @ that it is hoped will protect residents from the disease .
State officials have said @ @ @ @ @ the first doses of the vaccine could begin arriving in the state as early as @ @ @ @ @ of the Vermont Veterans ’ Home in Bennington says they are tentatively scheduling two clinics @ @ @ @ @ 2 and Jan. 23 .
CEO Melissa Jackson says both vaccines being considered for distribution @ @ @ @ @ apart .
“ We have a lot of general information , not as much specific @ @ @ @ @ .
Dane Rank , administrator at Thompson House in Brattleboro , said the pharmacy services @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , will be hosting clinics on Dec. 28 , Jan. 18 and Feb. 8 @ @ @ @ @ residents will be receiving two injections of the vaccine 21 days apart .

Even though Vermont could begin receiving the first doses of a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as next week it will be at least two months before it starts to reduce the prevalence of the disease, officials said Friday.
Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said Friday that even for people in long-term care facilities who will get the vaccine first, the vaccine must be given in separate doses three weeks apart and then the people who receive them must generate an immune response that will protect them from the virus.
“I am not taking away hope here. I am just providing a reality context that the stark statistics on the TV of hospitalizations, deaths and cases aren’t going to change with the snap of a finger because there is a vaccine on the market,” Levine said. “But they are going to change, and the changes will occur after February, more dramatically we hope.”
Gov. Phil Scott said that the number of doses the state gets will determine how quickly it drives down the number of cases in Vermont.
The federal government has promised to distribute the vaccine to the states based on population. Vermont officials have said the state expects to receive about 6,000 doses in the first round, but more doses will be arriving after that on a regular basis.
“We feel we are prepared and ready to go just as soon as we receive those supplies from the federal government,” Scott said.
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THANKSGIVING SURGE
Vermont health officials have not detected a significant surge in cases of the virus after the Thanksgiving holiday, but it could be several more days before they know for sure the state avoided a surge.
Before Thanksgiving, the state urged Vermonters to avoid celebrating with people outside their immediate households due to concern that such gatherings could multiply infections.
They initially said it would be 10 days to two weeks before it became clear if there would be a surge. Thanksgiving was Nov. 26.
“The data thus far shows a positive result,” Scott said. “We just need a couple more days to make sure that it is the case.”
Scott also said it was too soon to say whether the state would make a similar call for people to celebrate within their immediate families during the holidays later this month.
___
LONG TERM CARE VACCINES
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities across Vermont are preparing for the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines to protect residents from the disease.
State officials have said that pending federal approval, the first doses of the vaccine could begin arriving in the state as early as next week.
The head of the Vermont Veterans’ Home in Bennington says they are tentatively scheduling two clinics at the home on Jan. 2 and Jan. 23.
CEO Melissa Jackson says both vaccines being considered for distribution require two doses three weeks apart.
“We have a lot of general information, not as much specific yet,” said Jackson.
Dane Rank, administrator at Thompson House in Brattleboro, said the pharmacy services company contracted to administer the vaccine, will be hosting clinics on Dec. 28, Jan. 18 and Feb. 8.
Rank said staff and residents will be receiving two injections of the vaccine 21 days apart.
___
NUMBERS
On Friday, the Vermont Department of Health reported 113 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19, bringing the statewide total since the pandemic began to more than 5,540.
There are currently 26 people hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state, including two in intensive care.
The 7-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Vermont has risen over the past two weeks from 1.51% on Nov. 26 to 2.09% on Dec. 10.
The state also reported four new deaths Friday from COVID-19, bringing the total to 93.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--State park proposal would end beach driving at Cape Kiwanda

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - Cars on the beach at Cape Kiwanda could become a thing of the past .
The state Parks and Recreation Department announced a new rule proposal Thursday that would limit motorized vehicle access on beaches around the sandstone headland on the north Oregon coast , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
It would also include the popular day-use site in Pacific City .
If approved , motor vehicles would no longer be able to drive onto the sand at the Cape Kiwanda beach access point in Pacific City except drivers who are launching boats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ south to the Pacific Avenue beach access point , beyond which cars will be allowed .
The beach at Cape Kiwanda has been temporarily closed to vehicles during the coronavirus pandemic because of staff shortages and safety concerns .
Now , state parks and Tillamook County officials are looking to make that change permanent .
“ We ’ re proposing these changes in cooperation with the county as we both try to improve the quality of the beach experience and keep people and vehicles from mixing on a busy beach , ” state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news release Thursday .
The public will have until Feb. 12 , 2021 , to comment on the proposed rule changes .
Comments can be made online at https : //bit.ly/tillamookbeachdriving or by email to oprd.publiccomment @ oregon.gov .
An online public hearing will be held on Jan. 28 .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Cars on the beach at Cape Kiwanda could become a thing of the past.
The state Parks and Recreation Department announced a new rule proposal Thursday that would limit motorized vehicle access on beaches around the sandstone headland on the north Oregon coast, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. It would also include the popular day-use site in Pacific City.
If approved, motor vehicles would no longer be able to drive onto the sand at the Cape Kiwanda beach access point in Pacific City except drivers who are launching boats. The prohibition on beach driving would extend south to the Pacific Avenue beach access point, beyond which cars will be allowed.
The beach at Cape Kiwanda has been temporarily closed to vehicles during the coronavirus pandemic because of staff shortages and safety concerns. Now, state parks and Tillamook County officials are looking to make that change permanent.
“We’re proposing these changes in cooperation with the county as we both try to improve the quality of the beach experience and keep people and vehicles from mixing on a busy beach,” state parks spokesperson Chris Havel said in a news release Thursday.
The public will have until Feb. 12, 2021, to comment on the proposed rule changes. Comments can be made online at https://bit.ly/tillamookbeachdriving or by email to oprd.publiccomment@oregon.gov. An online public hearing will be held on Jan. 28.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Alabama prisons agency says federal suit ignores progress

MONTGOMERY , Ala. ( AP ) - A Justice Department lawsuit over conditions in Alabama ’ s prisons for men ignores progress the state has made to improve these lockups , the Department of Corrections said in response to the complaint .
An agency statement released Thursday night said officials have been working hard to hire more people to work in understaffed prisons , and noted that Gov .
Kay Ivey plans to construct three large new prisons that would replace dilapidated structures .
Corrections said it disagrees with allegations made by the Trump administration , which claimed that conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons that they violate the Constitution ’ s ban on cruel and unusual punishment .
Justice didn ’ t give any warning it was about to sue after “ ongoing , exhaustive ” negotiations , the state said .
“ This move was not made in the spirit of good faith , and only serves to undermine many months of productive conversations that were moving toward a mutual resolution , ” said the statement .
The federal government filed suit Wednesday claiming the state fails to protect male prisoners from inmate-on-inmate violence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff .
The system is one of the most understaffed and violent in the country , and state officials are “ deliberately indifferent , ” the suit said .
The suit asks a court to force the state to eliminate unconstitutional conditions , but doesn ’ t detail exactly how that should be done .
A Justice Department report released last year described a culture of violence in state prisons for men , with frequent rapes , beatings and fatal stabbings at the hands of fellow prisoners , and a management system that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even when warned .
The department has blamed inadequate staffing for many of the problems and said it has made “ real strides ” to recruit more prison workers .
The Ivey administration is negotiating with companies to build three , 3,000-inmate prisons that would be leased by the state .

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A Justice Department lawsuit over conditions in Alabama’s prisons for men ignores progress the state has made to improve the lockups, the Department of Corrections said.
The agency said it disagrees with Trump administration allegations that the men’s prisons violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
“The complaint filed by the DOJ plainly ignores the years’ worth of information provided by the ADOC regarding the substantial and impactful reforms it continues to undertake,” said a state prison system statement released Thursday night.
The Justice Department lawsuit, filed on the heels of two scathing reports, said Alabama prisons are plagued with inmate-on-inmate violence, a pattern of excessive force by staff and an indifference by state officials to address the problems.
The prisons agency acknowledged past problems, but said the Justice Department “continues to mischaracterize these limited instances as sweeping patterns. “
“The piecemeal anecdotes outlined in the Complaint do not reflect the hard work and important service provided by our correctional staff,” the agency’s statement said.
Alabama said it had been negotiating with federal officials to settle their concerns, but the Justice Department filed the suit without warning.
“Further, the tone and tenor utilized in the Complaint and in the DOJ’s press release run counter to the DOJ’s approach throughout our ongoing negotiations, implying a certain level of inappropriate public posturing,” the state agency said.
A Justice Department report released last year described a culture of violence in state prisons for men, with frequent rapes, beatings and fatal stabbings at the hands of fellow prisoners, and a management system that undercounts homicides and fails to protect prisoners even when warned. A second report issued in July said Alabama had a pattern of staff using excessive force on inmates.
The Justice Department investigation was launched in 2016 in the closing days of the Obama administration. The lawsuit filed Wednesday was signed by Attorney General William Barr.
The department has blamed inadequate staffing and dilapidated prison conditions for many of the problems and said it has made “real strides” to recruit more prison workers. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey administration is negotiating with companies to build three, 3,000-inmate prisons that would be leased by the state.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday maintains that since 2016, prisons have become more crowded, rates of violence and sexual abuse remain “unacceptably and dangerously high” and prisons are “still dangerously and critically understaffed.”
“Defendants have been aware of the dangerous conditions in Alabama’s prisons for men for many years, but have not seriously addressed the problems,” the lawsuit read.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified improvements. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Wednesday that the Justice Department demands go “beyond what federal law requires” and are thus unenforceable. His office declined to specify the changes that the Justice Department is seeking, saying that will be listed in the state’s response to the lawsuit in court.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Trump administration plans 2nd execution as many days

TERRE HAUTE , Ind .
( AP ) - The Trump administration plans to continue its unprecedented series of post-election federal executions Friday by putting to death a Louisiana truck driver who severely abused his 2-year-old daughter for weeks in 2002 , then killed her by slamming her head against a truck ’ s windows and dashboard .
Lawyers for 56-year-old Alfred Bourgeois say he has an IQ that puts him in the intellectually disabled category and they contend that should have made him ineligible for the death penalty under federal law .
Bourgeois would be the 10th federal death-row @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resumed under President Donald Trump in July after a 17-year hiatus .
He would be the second person executed this week at a federal prison in Terre Haute , Indiana .
Three more executions are planned in January .
The series of executions after Election Day , the first in late November , is the first time in over 130 years where federal executions have occurred during a lame-duck period .
Bourgeois ’ lawyers contend that the apparent hurry by the Republican president to get executions in before the Jan. 20 inauguration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has deprived their client his rights to exhaust his legal options .
Several appeals courts have concluded that neither evidence nor criminal law on intellectual disability support the claims by Bourgeois ’ legal team .
On Thursday , Brandon Bernard was put to death for his part in a 1999 killing of a religious couple from Iowa after he and other teenage members of a street gang abducted and robbed Todd and Stacie Bagley in Texas .
Bernard , who was 18 at the time of the killings , was a rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his teens when his crime was committed .
Several high-profile figures , including reality TV star Kim Kardashian West , appealed to Trump to commute Bernard ’ s sentence to life in prison , citing , among other things , Bernard ’ s youth at the time and the remorse he has expressed over years .
In Bourgeois ’ case , the crimes stand out as particularly brutal because they involved his young daughter .
According to court filings , he gained temporary custody of the child , referred to in court papers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2002 paternity suit from a Texas woman .
Bourgeois was living in Louisiana at the time with his wife and their two children .
Over the next month , Bourgeois whipped the girl with an electrical cord , burned her feet with a cigarette lighter and hit her in the head with a plastic baseball bat so hard that her head swelled - then refused to seek medical treatment for her , court documents say .
Prosecutors also said he sexually abused her .
Her toilet training allegedly enraged Bourgeois and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a training toilet .
It was on a trucking run to Corpus Christi , Texas , when he took the toddler with him that he ended up killing her .
Again angered by her toilet training , he grabbed her inside the truck by her shoulders and slammed her head on the windows and dashboard four times , court filings say .
She died the next day in a hospital of brain injuries .
After his 2004 conviction in federal court in southern Texas , a judge rejected claims stemming from his alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive a diagnosis until after he had been sentenced to death .
“ Up to that point , Bourgeois had lived a life which , in broad outlines , did not manifest gross intellectual deficiencies , ” the court said .
Attorneys argued that such findings stem from misunderstandings about disabilities .
They said Bourgeois had tests that demonstrated his IQ was around 70 , well below average , and that his childhood history buttressed their claims of his disability .
On Thursday night , as Bernard lay on a gurney before receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last words to the family of the couple he played a role in killing , speaking with striking calm for someone who knew he was about to die .
“ I ’ m sorry , ” he said , lifting his head and looking at witness-room windows .
“ That ’ s the only words that I can say that completely capture how I feel now and how I felt that day.
” Referring to his part in the killing of Todd and Stacie Bagley , he said : “ I wish I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can ’ t. ” Todd Bagley ’ s mother , Georgia , spoke to reporters within 30 minutes of the execution , saying she wanted to thank Trump , Attorney General William Barr and others at the Justice Department for helping to bring the Bagley family closure .
But she also became emotional when she spoke about the apologies from Bernard before he died Thursday and from an accomplice , Christopher Vialva , the ringleader of the group who shot the Bagley ’ s in the head before the car was burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The apology and remorse … helped very much heal my heart , ” she said , beginning to cry and then recomposing herself .
“ I can very much say : I forgive them .
”

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - The Trump administration continued its unprecedented series of post-election federal executions Friday by putting to death a Louisiana truck driver who severely abused his 2-year-old daughter for weeks in 2002, then killed her by slamming her head repeatedly against a truck’s windows and dashboard.
Alfred Bourgeois, 56, was pronounced dead at 8:21 p.m. Eastern time at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. His lawyers had argued he had an IQ that put him in the intellectually disabled category, saying that should have made him ineligible for the death penalty.
In his last words, Bourgeois, strapped to a gurney, offered no apology and instead struck a deeply defiant tone, insisting that he neither killed nor sexually abused his baby girl.
“I ask God to forgive all those who plotted and schemed against me, and planted false evidence,” he said. He added: “I did not commit this crime.”
Later, the girl’s relatives of released a joint statement calling Bourgeois “a monster.”
“None of us thought she would return from (visiting Bourgeois) in a casket,” it said. “It should not have taken 18 years to receive justice for our angel.”
Bourgeois was the 10th federal death-row inmate put to death since federal executions resumed under President Donald Trump in July after a 17-year hiatus. He was the second federal prisoner executed this week, with three more executions planned in January.
The last time the number of civilians executed federally was in the double digits in a year was under President Grover Cleveland, with 14 in 1896.
As a lethal injection of pentobarbital began flowing through IVs into both of his arms, Bourgeois tilted his head to look at his spiritual adviser in a corner of the death chamber clutching a Bible. Bourgeois gave him a thumbs-up sign, and his spiritual adviser raised his thumb in reply.
Seconds later, Bourgeois peered up toward the glass dividing him from the media and other witnesses in adjoining rooms, and then grimaced and furrowed his eyebrows. He began to exhale rhythmically, and his stomach started to quiver uncontrollably. After five minutes, the heaving of his stomach stopped and his entire body became still. He did not move for about 20 minutes before he was pronounced dead.
Bourgeois had met with his spiritual adviser earlier Friday as he sought to come to terms with the possibility of dying, one of his lawyers, Shawn Nolan, told The Associated Press hours before the execution. He said Bourgeois had been “praying for redemption.”
Bourgeois took up drawing in prison, including doing renditions of members of his legal team. Nolan said he had a good disciplinary record on death row.
The series of executions under Trump since Election Day, the first in late November, is also the first time in more than 130 years that federal executions have occurred during a lame-duck period. Cleveland also was the last president to do that.
Bourgeois’ lawyers said the apparent hurry by Trump, a Republican, to get executions in before the Jan. 20 inauguration of death-penalty foe Joe Biden, a Democrat, deprived their client his rights to exhaust his legal options.
The Justice Department gave Bourgeois just 21 days notice he was to be executed under protocols that slashed the required notice period from 90 days, Nolan said.
“To rush these executions during the pandemic and everything else, makes absolutely no sense,” he said.
On Thursday, Brandon Bernard was put to death for his part in a 1999 killing of a religious couple from Iowa after he and other teenage members of a gang abducted and robbed Todd and Stacie Bagley in Texas. Bernard, who was 18 at the time of the killings, was a rare execution of a person who was in his teens when his crime was committed.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West had appealed to Trump to commute Bernard’s sentence to life, citing, among other things, remorse Bernard expressed over years.
Bourgeois’ crimes stood out as for their brutality.
According to court filings, he gained temporary custody of the child, referred to in court papers only as “JG,” after a 2002 paternity suit from a Texas woman. He was living in Louisiana with his wife and their two children.
Over the next month, Bourgeois repeatedly whipped the girl with an electrical cord, burned her feet with a cigarette lighter and hit her in the head with a plastic baseball bat - then refused to seek medical treatment for her. Prosecutors said he sexually abused her, too.
Her toilet training enraged Bourgeois and he sometimes forced her to sleep on a training toilet.
It was during a trucking run to Corpus Christi, Texas, that he killed the toddler. Angered that a toilet-training pot tipped over in his truck cabin, he grabbed her inside the truck by her shoulders and slammed her head on the windows and dashboard four times.
When she lost consciousness, Bourgeois’ wife pleaded for him to get help and he told her to tell first responders she was hurt falling from the truck. She died the next day in a hospital of brain injuries.
After his 2004 conviction, a judge rejected claims stemming from his alleged intellectual disability, noting he didn’t receive that diagnosis until after his death sentence.
Bourgeois’ lawyers didn’t argue that he should have been acquitted or should not have been handed a stiff sentence, just that he shouldn’t be executed, Nolan said.
___
Follow Michael Tarm on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mtarm


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Coast Guard did not warn anglers about Russia exercises

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - The U.S. Coast Guard ’ s second-highest ranking officer assumed some of the blame for Russian military intimidation of Bering Sea commercial anglers this summer .
Adm. Charles Ray told a U.S. Senate panel Tuesday that the Coast Guard knew Russia was conducting military exercises in August and failed to inform members of the U.S. Bering Sea fishing sector , Alaska Public Media reported .
“ This was not our best day with regards to doing our role to look after American fishermen , ” Ray said .
“ I ’ ll just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this.
” The Coast Guard now holds regular meetings with Bering Sea industry representatives , Ray said .
At-sea Processors Association Director Stephanie Madsen said commercial anglers fear being caught in the crossfire as Russia and the U.S. vie for dominance in the Arctic .
Madsen told the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security that a fishing crew was harassed by the Russian military for five hours during one event , including threats from a warship and a military aircraft .
“ A Russian warplane flew overhead for two hours , issuing warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Madsen said .
The captain of the fishing vessel , Northern Jaeger , believed he had no choice but to comply and sail five hours south , Madsen said .
In another instance , Russian planes repeatedly buzzed two American vessels and warned of live missile fire .
Those ships also left the area , and one captain had to abandon his fishing gear so he could leave quickly , Madsen said .
The financial loss for the companies that own the ships is in the millions of dollars , Madsen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Alaska warned that the Arctic is the next arena of great military power competition and said Russia has built up more infrastructure in the region than the U.S. “ Without further investment in our polar capabilities , our adversaries ’ influence will grow , ” said Sullivan , who chaired the hearing .
“ And if that happens , we risk our ability to protect U.S. vessels conducting commerce , to enforce international law and to defeat threats to our national security.
” Congress is advancing Arctic projects including a deep-draft port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with plans for five more , Sullivan said .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard’s second-highest ranking officer assumed some of the blame for Russian military intimidation of Bering Sea commercial fishermen this summer.
Adm. Charles Ray told a U.S. Senate panel Tuesday that the Coast Guard knew Russia was conducting military exercises in August and failed to inform members of the U.S. Bering Sea fishing sector, Alaska Public Media reported.
“This was not our best day with regards to doing our role to look after American fishermen,” Ray said. “I’ll just be quite frank: We own some of this.”
The Coast Guard now holds regular meetings with Bering Sea industry representatives, Ray said.
At-sea Processors Association Director Stephanie Madsen said commercial fishermen fear being caught in the crossfire as Russia and the U.S. vie for dominance in the Arctic.
Madsen told the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security that a fishing crew was harassed by the Russian military for five hours during one event, including threats from a warship and a military aircraft.
“A Russian warplane flew overhead for two hours, issuing warnings and threats via radio in broken English,” Madsen said.
The captain of the fishing vessel, Northern Jaeger, believed he had no choice but to comply and sail five hours south, Madsen said.
In another instance, Russian planes repeatedly buzzed two American vessels and warned of live missile fire. Those ships also left the area, and one captain had to abandon his fishing gear so he could leave quickly, Madsen said.
The financial loss for the companies that own the ships is in the millions of dollars, Madsen said.
Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska warned that the Arctic is the next arena of great military power competition and said Russia has built up more infrastructure in the region than the U.S.
“Without further investment in our polar capabilities, our adversaries’ influence will grow,” said Sullivan, who chaired the hearing. “And if that happens, we risk our ability to protect U.S. vessels conducting commerce, to enforce international law and to defeat threats to our national security.”
Congress is advancing Arctic projects including a deep-draft port at Nome and a new icebreaker, with plans for five more, Sullivan said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Trump calls on Supreme Court to save nation from 'scandal-plagued' Biden

President Trump called on the Supreme Court on Friday to “ save ” the country from presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden , saying a Biden administration would be mired in scandal .
“ Now that the Biden administration will be a scandal plagued mess for years to come , it is much easier for the Supreme Court of the United States to follow the Constitution and do what everybody knows has to be done , ” Mr. Trump tweeted .
“ They must show great Courage & Wisdom .
Save the USA !
!
!
” The justices are expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overturn Mr. Biden ’ s wins in four swing states .
The president has filed a motion in support of the suit , which was brought by his Republican ally , Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton .
The lawsuit alleges that Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin held illegal elections because they expanded mail-in balloting without the approval of their elected legislatures .
The high court could decide at any time whether to hear the Texas case or turn it down .
Referring to the disclosure this week that the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son Hunter , the president said he “ predicted Biden corruption.
” He also speculated whether Attorney General William Barr “ perhaps knew of the corruption during the impeachment hoax ” but kept quiet .

President Trump called on the Supreme Court on Friday to “save” the country from presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden, saying a Biden administration would be mired in scandal.
“Now that the Biden administration will be a scandal plagued mess for years to come, it is much easier for the Supreme Court of the United States to follow the Constitution and do what everybody knows has to be done,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “They must show great Courage & Wisdom. Save the USA!!!”
The justices are expected to consider a lawsuit Friday that seeks to overturn Mr. Biden’s wins in four swing states. The president has filed a motion in support of the suit, which was brought by his Republican ally, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The lawsuit alleges that Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin held illegal elections because they expanded mail-in balloting without the approval of their elected legislatures. The high court could decide at any time whether to hear the Texas case or turn it down.
Referring to the disclosure this week that the FBI has been investigating Mr. Biden’s son Hunter, the president said he “predicted Biden corruption.”
He also speculated whether Attorney General William Barr “perhaps knew of the corruption during the impeachment hoax” but kept quiet.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Diverse TV holiday season includes all-Asian Lifetime movie

In one scene from the Lifetime TV movie , “ A Sugar & Spice Holiday , ” a co-worker says to Suzy , an Asian American architect in Los Angeles : “ I didn ’ t know if Christmas was a big deal where you ’ re from.
” A lot of viewers of a cozy Christmas film might just shrug off the insinuation that Suzy is somehow not American .
But for an Asian audience , that brief exchange is a knowing reminder that microaggressions don ’ t take a holiday .
They especially haven ’ t in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggered anti-Asian racism and terms like “ Chinese virus ” and “ kung flu.
” “ I think it ’ s great timing for us for this movie to be coming out now during the pandemic with the perception of the Asian culture and the ‘ flu ’ and all , ” Canadian actor Jacky Lai , who plays Suzy , told The Associated Press .
“ I really do hope that this ( movie ) - with our faces - is able to hopefully be welcomed by people into their homes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ A Sugar & Spice Holiday , ” premiering Sunday , may be the first feel-good TV Christmas flick to feature a mostly Asian ensemble .
It ’ s one of several projects where cable channels are demonstrating a desire for inclusion this yuletide season .
The shift comes a year after the Hallmark Channel dropped an ad that included a same-sex couple .
The fallout pointed to an overall diversity problem in the genre with not just the LGBTQ community , but communities of color .
Recent months of racial unrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertainment industry about representation .
Tia Maggini , vice president of Lifetime Original Movies , says it was a coincidence that screenwriter Eirene Donohue , who is Asian American and had worked with the them before , came to them with the story pitch .
“ It was exciting to be presented with this particular point of view that has been long overdue for the Christmas movie genre , ” Maggini said in a statement .
Most important : The movie itself was actually funny and “ full of Christmas heart.
” Indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , familiar holiday movie tropes .
Suzy returns to the small town where she grew up for Christmas , is persuaded to revive her baking skills for a local gingerbread house competition and is assisted by her former high school crush ( Tony Giroux ) .
Her father is played by veteran actor Tzi Ma .
Despite a year filled with high profile film roles in “ The Farewell ” and “ Mulan , ” Ma didn ’ t hesitate to join a Lifetime movie .
“ It was the first time a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas story , ” Ma said in an email .
“ Lifetime has a tremendous Asian American following .
It ’ s a way to say thank you to them.
” In Hollywood , it can often feel like studios only cast Asians in narratives where there ’ s some kind of hardship or East-meets-West struggle .
And with TV holiday movies , they ’ re almost nonexistent .
Meanwhile , there are white actors who have made a baker ’ s dozen of them .
Like any other group , Giroux says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lighthearted fare regularly .
“ I think it ’ s so important to have all sorts of stories with any culture - for them to have exposure to the stories of struggle but it ’ s such a delight to see something lighter , to see aspects of culture that aren ’ t surrounded with times of difficulty , ” Giroux says .
Giroux , who is Canadian , is also looking forward to queuing up a movie where his grandparents can see themselves .
“ I ’ m really excited for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their story .
My grandparents immigrated here from China from in the ‘ 50s , ” Giroux says .
“ That ’ s why being part of this project is telling a story that I ’ m really a part of.
” Lai grew up loving romantic comedies .
She remembers unexpectedly getting emotional watching “ Crazy Rich Asians , ” the first major Hollywood studio film with an all-Asian cast in 25 years .
“ You hear people say there hasn ’ t been a movie like this in 25 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s not until I sat in the theater and watched someone who looked like me on screen who wasn ’ t a ninja or a nerd but someone just like me .
I remember the way it felt , ” Lai says .
” I am so excited that there ’ s another movie like that and hopefully we bring joy and open some minds with this movie and more opportunities.
” The movie is lovingly sprinkled with Chinese American nuances on script and screen .
These include a photo of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incense sticks and the entire family eating with chopsticks .
And it is definitely the only Christmas movie to feature both gingerbread and stinky tofu , a beloved Chinese dish known for its pungent smell .
“ I love that we were able to kind of include a lot of nice details .
… It ’ s really a romantic comedy where the characters happen to be Asian American , ” says Jennifer Liao , the director .
“ It ’ s nice to make an Asian American movie that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weight of cultural identity issues and things like that.
” “ Sugar & Spice ” is not the only holiday movie expanding the definition of who can lead these kinds of flicks .
A handful of networks , including Lifetime and Hallmark , have a Christmas-themed movie on their slate featuring a same-sex pairing .
Tony winner Ali Stroker , who uses a wheelchair , stars in Lifetime ’ s “ Christmas Ever After.
” Does Liao feel pressure as “ the first ” even on such an innocuous project to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like the pressure is more to deliver something that I and everybody else worked on can be proud of .
That was really no .
1 , ” Liao says .
Lai doesn ’ t see the point of getting caught up in things like ratings .
“ I think that it is really , really nice to hear when someone says ‘ I got to see someone who looks like me on screen.
’ That will never get old , ” Lai says .
“ We get more responses like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its purpose.
” Terry Tang reported from Phoenix and is a member of The Associated Press ’ Race and Ethnicity team .
Follow her on Twitter at https : //twitter.com/ttangAP

In one scene from the Lifetime TV movie, “A Sugar & Spice Holiday,” a co-worker says to Suzy, an Asian American architect in Los Angeles: “I didn’t know if Christmas was a big deal where you’re from.”
Retorts Suzy: “I’m from Maine.”
A lot of viewers of a cozy Christmas film might just shrug off the insinuation that Suzy is somehow not American. But for an Asian audience, that brief exchange is a knowing reminder that microaggressions don’t take a holiday. They especially haven’t in the wake of the pandemic, which has triggered anti-Asian racism and terms like “Chinese virus” and “kung flu.”
“I think it’s great timing for us for this movie to be coming out now during the pandemic with the perception of the Asian culture and the ‘flu’ and all,” Canadian actor Jacky Lai, who plays Suzy, told The Associated Press. “I really do hope that this (movie) - with our faces - is able to hopefully be welcomed by people into their homes and see us as just your American/Canadian friends.”
“A Sugar & Spice Holiday,” premiering Sunday, may be the first feel-good TV Christmas flick to feature a mostly Asian ensemble. It’s one of several projects where cable channels are demonstrating a desire for inclusion this yuletide season. The shift comes a year after the Hallmark Channel dropped an ad that included a same-sex couple. The fallout pointed to an overall diversity problem in the genre with not just the LGBTQ community, but communities of color. Recent months of racial unrest only added to the conversation within the entertainment industry about representation.
Tia Maggini, vice president of Lifetime Original Movies, says it was a coincidence that screenwriter Eirene Donohue, who is Asian American and had worked with the network before, came to them with the story pitch.
“It was exciting to be presented with this particular point of view that has been long overdue for the Christmas movie genre,” Maggini said in a statement. Most important: The movie itself was actually funny and “full of Christmas heart.”
Indeed, the rom-com has all the warm, familiar holiday movie tropes. Suzy returns to the small town where she grew up for Christmas, is persuaded to revive her baking skills for a local gingerbread house competition and is assisted by her former high school crush (Tony Giroux).
Her father is played by veteran actor Tzi Ma. Despite a year filled with high profile film roles in “The Farewell” and “Mulan,” Ma didn’t hesitate to join a Lifetime movie.
“It was the first time a Chinese American family was featured on a Christmas story,” Ma said in an email. “Lifetime has a tremendous Asian American following. It’s a way to say thank you to them.”
In Hollywood, it can often feel like studios only cast Asians in narratives where there’s some kind of hardship or East-meets-West struggle. And with TV holiday movies, they’re almost nonexistent. Meanwhile, there are white actors who have made a baker’s dozen of them. Like any other group, Giroux says, Asians deserve to see themselves in lighthearted fare regularly.
“I think it’s so important to have all sorts of stories with any culture - for them to have exposure to the stories of struggle but it’s such a delight to see something lighter, to see aspects of culture that aren’t surrounded with times of difficulty,” Giroux says.
Giroux, who is Canadian, is also looking forward to queuing up a movie where his grandparents can see themselves.
“I’m really excited for them to see a story that covers part of their story. My grandparents immigrated here from China in the ‘50s,” Giroux says. “That’s why being part of this project is telling a story that I’m really a part of.”
Lai grew up loving romantic comedies. She remembers unexpectedly getting emotional watching “Crazy Rich Asians,” the first major Hollywood studio film with an all-Asian cast in 25 years.
“You hear people say there hasn’t been a movie like this in 25 years. You hear those things. But it’s not until I sat in the theater and watched someone who looked like me on screen who wasn’t a ninja or a nerd but someone just like me. I remember the way it felt,” Lai says. ”I am so excited that there’s another movie like that and hopefully we bring joy and open some minds with this movie and more opportunities.”
The movie is lovingly sprinkled with Chinese American nuances on script and screen. These include a photo of Suzy’s deceased grandma flanked by incense sticks and the entire family eating with chopsticks. And it is definitely the only Christmas movie to feature both gingerbread and stinky tofu, a beloved Chinese dish known for its pungent smell.
“I love that we were able to kind of include a lot of nice details. … It’s really a romantic comedy where the characters happen to be Asian American,” says Jennifer Liao, the director. “It’s nice to make an Asian American movie that’s not necessarily completely frontloaded with having to carry the weight of cultural identity issues and things like that.”
“Sugar & Spice” is not the only holiday movie expanding the definition of who can lead these kinds of flicks. A handful of networks, including Lifetime and Hallmark, have a Christmas-themed movie on their slate featuring a same-sex pairing. Tony winner Ali Stroker, who uses a wheelchair, stars in Lifetime’s “Christmas Ever After.”
Does Liao feel pressure as “the first” even on such an innocuous project to bring in a sizable audience? “I feel like the pressure is more to deliver something that I and everybody else (who) worked on (this) can be proud of. That was really No. 1,” Liao says.
Lai doesn’t see the point of getting caught up in things like ratings.
“I think that it is really, really nice to hear when someone says ‘I got to see someone who looks like me on screen.’ That will never get old,” Lai says. “We get more responses like that - for me, the movie did its purpose.”
___
Terry Tang reported from Phoenix and is a member of The Associated Press’ Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ttangAP


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Uber asks governments to prioritize its drivers' access to the coronavirus vaccine

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is urging states to prioritize his company ’ s drivers when determining who will obtain access to forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines .
“ I ’ m asking governors in all 50 states + DC to prioritize drivers & delivery people for early vaccine access , ” Mr. Khosrowshahi tweeted on Thursday .
“ These frontline workers should get the vaccine before people like me.
” Earlier this month earlier made a similar pitch to the federal government , and wrote to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend the CDC designate its drivers and delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to the vaccine first .
“ Early access to a vaccine would help drivers and delivery people continue to play their essential role while also reducing the risk that they may inadvertently contract , or possibly transmit , the virus , ” Danielle Burr , Uber ’ s head of federal affairs , wrote to the CDC .
“ As such , Uber strongly supports the recommended prioritization of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers for vaccine distribution.
” Alongside Uber , many other companies and industries ’ lobbyists are advocating for the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to forthcoming coronavirus vaccines .

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is urging states to prioritize his company’s drivers when determining who will obtain access to forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines.
“I’m asking governors in all 50 states + DC to prioritize drivers & delivery people for early vaccine access,” Mr. Khosrowshahi tweeted on Thursday. “These frontline workers should get the vaccine before people like me.”
Earlier this month earlier made a similar pitch to the federal government, and wrote to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend the CDC designate its drivers and delivery people as non-health essential workers to gain access to the vaccine first.
“Early access to a vaccine would help drivers and delivery people continue to play their essential role while also reducing the risk that they may inadvertently contract, or possibly transmit, the virus,” Danielle Burr, Uber’s head of federal affairs, wrote to the CDC. “As such, Uber strongly supports the recommended prioritization of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers for vaccine distribution.”
Alongside Uber, many other companies and industries’ lobbyists are advocating for the government to prioritize their workers for early access to forthcoming coronavirus vaccines.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Hospital: Surfer attacked by shark off Maui dies of injuries

WAILUKU , Hawaii ( AP ) - A man who was bitten by a shark in the water off Maui has died from injuries he suffered in the attack , a hospital official said .
Maui Health spokeswoman Tracy Dallarda said Wednesday evening that the hospital does not plan to identify the 56-year-old man or the time of his death out of respect for patient privacy , The Maui News reported .
The man was surfing in Honolua Bay when he was attacked just before 8 a.m. Tuesday .
Witnesses said first responders and event personnel tried to revive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial Medical Center for surgery .
He was listed in critical condition Tuesday night and remained critical while he was in the hospital , despite media reports saying he was stable after surgery , Dallarda said .
The victim and several others were surfing as they awaited the start of the Women ’ s Surfing League ’ s Maui Pro contest .
Contest organizers voluntarily suspended the competition on the day of the attack .
The World Surf League announced Wednesday it would not run the remaining heats at Honolua and was considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with standard practice , shark warning signs remained in place on either side of the bay through noon Wednesday .

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) - A man who was bitten by a shark in the water off Maui has died from injuries he suffered in the attack, a hospital official said.
Maui Health spokeswoman Tracy Dallarda said Wednesday evening that the hospital does not plan to identify the 56-year-old man or the time of his death out of respect for patient privacy, The Maui News reported.
The man was surfing in Honolua Bay when he was attacked just before 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Witnesses said first responders and event personnel tried to revive the man before he was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center for surgery.
He was listed in critical condition Tuesday night and remained critical while he was in the hospital, despite media reports saying he was stable after surgery, Dallarda said.
The victim and several others were surfing as they awaited the start of the Women’s Surfing League’s Maui Pro contest. Contest organizers voluntarily suspended the competition on the day of the attack.
The World Surf League announced Wednesday it would not run the remaining heats at Honolua and was considering relocating to another Hawaii site.
In line with standard practice, shark warning signs remained in place on either side of the bay through noon Wednesday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Scientists say bridge project threatens unique patch of land

CABIN JOHN , Md .
( AP ) - Scientists say a bridge expansion project across the Potomac River will threaten a patch of land in Maryland that has been dubbed “ the most thoroughly studied island in North America.
” The Washington Post reported Friday that the 12-acres of rock and woods called Plummers Island have been home to the Washington Biologists ’ Field Club for more than a century .
The group has spent decades studying the land , which offers a unique window into how nature responds to human development and climate change .
But the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in danger because of a plan for a wider American Legion Bridge to relieve traffic congestion on the Capital Beltway .
The project could require piers on the island ’ s western edge and trees to be cut down Caryn Brookman , who oversees Maryland ’ s environmental analysis of the project , said the state has worked to reduce the part of Plummers Island that would be affected , from 1.92 acres to 0.65 acres .
She said the change also would spare the island ’ s wetlands .
But biologists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause irreparable harm .

CABIN JOHN, Md. (AP) - Scientists say a bridge expansion project across the Potomac River will threaten a patch of land in Maryland that has been dubbed “the most thoroughly studied island in North America.”
The Washington Post reported Friday that the 12-acres of rock and woods called Plummers Island have been home to the Washington Biologists’ Field Club for more than a century.
The group has spent decades studying the land, which offers a unique window into how nature responds to human development and climate change.
But the group says the island’s research value is in danger because of a plan for a wider American Legion Bridge to relieve traffic congestion on the Capital Beltway. The project could require piers on the island’s western edge and trees to be cut down
Caryn Brookman, who oversees Maryland’s environmental analysis of the project, said the state has worked to reduce the part of Plummers Island that would be affected, from 1.92 acres to 0.65 acres. She said the change also would spare the island’s wetlands.
But biologists say any impact on the island would cause irreparable harm.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Woman killed at former senator's estate, suspect in custody

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP , N.J. ( AP ) - A suspect remains in custody in Pennsylvania after a woman was stabbed @ @ @ @ @ on a New Jersey estate that belongs to former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli .
According @ @ @ @ @ Petersen , 31 , and Michele Carkhuff , 38 , on Sunday were preparing stew @ @ @ @ @ on the property when Petersen grabbed a knife and stabbed Carkhuff in the neck .
@ @ @ @ @ hospital , where she died .
Petersen stole a truck registered to Torricelli ‘ s @ @ @ @ @ authorities .
He was arrested on Monday in Upper Black Eddy , Pennsylvania , where @ @ @ @ @ is not known whether Torricelli was home at the time of the incident .
Torricelli @ @ @ @ @ request to his office from the Bridgewater Courier News for a comment .
The Democrat @ @ @ @ @ 1997 to 2003 .
He withdrew from his 2002 reelection following an ethics complaint .

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - A suspect remains in custody in Pennsylvania after a woman was stabbed to death in a home on a New Jersey estate that belongs to former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli.
According to court documents, Brandon Petersen, 31, and Michele Carkhuff, 38, on Sunday were preparing stew in one of the homes on the property when Petersen grabbed a knife and stabbed Carkhuff in the neck.
Friends drove Carkhuff to a hospital, where she died.
Petersen stole a truck registered to Torricelli’s lobbying firm, according to authorities. He was arrested on Monday in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, where he faces extradition.
It is not known whether Torricelli was home at the time of the incident.
Torricelli did not respond to a request to his office from the Bridgewater Courier News for a comment.
The Democrat served in the Senate from 1997 to 2003. He withdrew from his 2002 reelection following an ethics complaint.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--NC journalists file emergency appeal to get court access

GRAHAM , N.C. ( AP ) - Three newspapers have asked the North Carolina Court of Appeals to order courts in a county where rally-goers were pepper sprayed and arrested to stop barring reporters from court proceedings .
Court staff in Alamance County have said limiting entry to defendants , victims and their attorneys was due to COVID-19 , but attorneys for The News & Observer , Triad City Beat and Alamance News said in their filing Thursday that “ dispensing justice behind closed doors ” was unconstitutional and “ undermines public trust in the judicial process , ” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came after District Court Judge Fred Wilkins barred reporters from attending a Tuesday plea hearing for Sandra Warren Brazee , a white woman accused of driving her pickup truck at two 12-year-old Black girls .
Tom Boney Jr. , publisher of The Alamance News , was handcuffed and ordered out of a courtroom as he objected to a decision .
He was then released .
“ Even accepting that the COVID-19 pandemic creates a compelling need to safeguard public health by imposing some limits on access to courtrooms , the draconian restrictions imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve that interest , ” Attorney C. Amanda Martin wrote in the emergency appeal .
The week before , Wilkins had barred reporters from attending a court hearing for the Rev .
Greg Drumwright , the organizer of the Oct. 31 get-out-the-vote rally in Graham that ended with police pepper-spraying and arresting participants .
The attorneys asked for a quick decision because cases stemming from racial injustice protests are set to be heard in the upcoming weeks .

GRAHAM, N.C. (AP) - Three newspapers have asked the North Carolina Court of Appeals to order courts in a county where rally-goers were pepper sprayed and arrested to stop barring reporters from court proceedings.
Court staff in Alamance County have said limiting entry to defendants, victims and their attorneys was due to COVID-19, but attorneys for The News & Observer, Triad City Beat and Alamance News said in their filing Thursday that “dispensing justice behind closed doors” was unconstitutional and “undermines public trust in the judicial process,” The New & Observer reported.
The filing came after District Court Judge Fred Wilkins barred reporters from attending a Tuesday plea hearing for Sandra Warren Brazee, a white woman accused of driving her pickup truck at two 12-year-old Black girls. Tom Boney Jr., publisher of The Alamance News, was handcuffed and ordered out of a courtroom as he objected to a decision. He was then released.
“Even accepting that the COVID-19 pandemic creates a compelling need to safeguard public health by imposing some limits on access to courtrooms, the draconian restrictions imposed by Judge Wilkins were not necessary to serve that interest,” Attorney C. Amanda Martin wrote in the emergency appeal.
The week before, Wilkins had barred reporters from attending a court hearing for the Rev. Greg Drumwright, the organizer of the Oct. 31 get-out-the-vote rally in Graham that ended with police pepper-spraying and arresting participants.
The attorneys asked for a quick decision because cases stemming from racial injustice protests are set to be heard in the upcoming weeks.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Inflation still a no-show, US wholesale prices up just 0.1%

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - U.S. wholesale prices edged up 0.1 % in November as the cost of both food @ @ @ @ @ The increase in the producer price index , which measures inflation pressures before they reach @ @ @ @ @ gains of 0.3 % in October and 0.4 % in September , the Labor Department @ @ @ @ @ of increases left wholesale prices rising 0.8 % from a year ago .
While still @ @ @ @ @ biggest 12-month gain since a 1.1 % rise in nine months , since a 1.1 @ @ @ @ @ .
The government reported Thursday that consumer prices edged up 0.2 % in November with @ @ @ @ @ 1.2 % over the past year .

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. wholesale prices edged up just 0.1% in November with the economic disruption from the pandemic continuing to suppress demand and keeping inflation at extremely low levels.
The increase in the producer price index, which measures inflation pressures before they reach the consumer, followed bigger gains of 0.3% in October and 0.4% in September, the Labor Department reported Friday.
But even with those gains, wholesale prices are up just 0.8% from a year ago, far below the Federal Reserve’s target for annual price increases of 2%. The government reported Thursday that consumer prices edged up 0.2% in November with consumer prices up a modest 1.2% over the past year.
“The trend in inflation in the near term is likely to be subdued given ample excess capacity and renewed pressure on demand from new restrictions to contain a resurgence of Covid-19 outbreaks,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics.
In the report on wholesale prices, the cost of food was up 0.5% after a 2.4% gain in October. Energy costs rose 1.2% after a 0.8% tick higher in November.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, showed a 0.1% rise in November and a modest increase of 1.4% over the past 12 months.
The Federal Reserve, which will meet next week, has kept interest rates at record low levels in an effort to help lift the country out of the pandemic-induced recession. Analysts believe the central bank could keep its key policy rate near zero for the rates near zero for the next two years.
“Inflation remains in check and high frequency data suggests that households are still hesitant to spen at pre-virus levels, signalling that price dynamics will continue to undershoot the Fed’s 2% target in the near-term,” said Mahir Rasheed, an economist with Oxford Economics.


washingtontimes--2020-12-11--Police say 2 teens shot in The Gate District of St. Louis

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - Two teenagers have been injured in a shooting in The Gate District of St. @ @ @ @ @ .
The shooting happened around 9 p.m. Thursday along Rutger Street , a residential area @ @ @ @ @ St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported .
Police said the 14-year-old was shot in the back and @ @ @ @ @ a shoulder and a leg .
Both teens were conscious when first responders arrived , @ @ @ @ @ not released the victims ’ names or announced any arrests in the case .
This @ @ @ @ @ seen a surge of gun violence involving children .
Well over 100 children have been @ @ @ @ @ St. Louis this year , including more than a dozen fatal shootings .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Two teenagers have been injured in a shooting in The Gate District of St. Louis, police there said.
The shooting happened around 9 p.m. Thursday along Rutger Street, a residential area in the district, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Police said the 14-year-old was shot in the back and the 16-year-old was shot in a shoulder and a leg. Both teens were conscious when first responders arrived, police said. Police have not released the victims’ names or announced any arrests in the case.
This year, St Louis has seen a surge of gun violence involving children. Well over 100 children have been victims of gun violence in St. Louis this year, including more than a dozen fatal shootings.