washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Child, grandparents stranded in national forest rescued

NORTH BEND , Ore. ( AP ) - Authorities have found a 4-year-old girl and her grandparents who became stranded while looking for a Christmas tree in the Willamette National Forest in Oregon .
The Coast Guard said the child and her grandparents were found Wednesday after venturing into the forest on Monday .
The girl ’ s mother reported them missing on Tuesday when she went to the grandparents ’ home in Eugene and found no sign of the group .
Investigators picked up cellphone signals indicating they were last in the area of Fall Creek and a Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After several hours , the crew spotted their vehicle , which the Coast Guard said was more easily seen because a blue tarp had been covering it .
The aircrew notified search and rescue teams on the ground , who found the family unharmed .
“ After getting the family into a warm place with some food and water , we learned that their car got stuck in an area with downed trees and snow , ” the Lane County Sheriff ’ s Office said later Wednesday on Facebook .
“ Thankfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water , a tarp and snacks in the car , and were all wearing warm clothing .
”

NORTH BEND, Ore. (AP) - Authorities have found a 4-year-old girl and her grandparents who became stranded while looking for a Christmas tree in the Willamette National Forest in Oregon.
The Coast Guard said the child and her grandparents were found Wednesday after venturing into the forest on Monday.
The girl’s mother reported them missing on Tuesday when she went to the grandparents’ home in Eugene and found no sign of the group.
Investigators picked up cellphone signals indicating they were last in the area of Fall Creek and a Coast Guard helicopter crew began searching early Wednesday. After several hours, the crew spotted their vehicle, which the Coast Guard said was more easily seen because a blue tarp had been covering it. The aircrew notified search and rescue teams on the ground, who found the family unharmed.
“After getting the family into a warm place with some food and water, we learned that their car got stuck in an area with downed trees and snow,” the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said later Wednesday on Facebook. “Thankfully, they had a blanket, some water, a tarp and snacks in the car, and were all wearing warm clothing.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--New Hampshire trooper injured, driver killed in shooting

DALTON , N.H. ( AP ) - One man is dead and a New Hampshire state trooper is recovering from @ @ @ @ @ stop in Dalton .
The attorney general ’ s office says the trooper stopped a @ @ @ @ @ .
A short time later , there was an exchange of gunfire between the trooper @ @ @ @ @ who was armed with a rifle and a handgun .
Responding officers found the driver @ @ @ @ @ An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday .
The trooper was hospitalized , and was in @ @ @ @ @ Neither of their names have been released .
The trooper was not wearing a body @ @ @ @ @ one mounted on his cruiser .
Such cameras are not required for state troopers , @ @ @ @ @ under police accountability reforms recently enacted in response to the death of George Floyd in @ @

DALTON, N.H. (AP) - One man is dead and a New Hampshire state trooper is recovering from being shot after a traffic stop in Dalton.
According to the attorney general’s office, the trooper stopped a vehicle driven by Mark Clermont, 45, of Whitefield, around 9 p.m. Wednesday. A short time later, there was an exchange of gunfire between the trooper and Clermont, who was armed with a rifle and a handgun. Responding officers found Clermont dead at the scene.
An autopsy Thursday determined he died of a gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death was homicide, which as used by the state medical examiner is defined as the killing of one person by another.
The trooper, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized. He was in critical but stable condition Thursday afternoon.
The trooper was not wearing a body camera, nor was there one mounted on his cruiser. Such cameras are not required for state troopers, though they will be soon under police accountability reforms recently enacted in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Authorities said no further information would be released until investigators complete a formal interview with the trooper.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Asia Today: S. Korea reports record surge, ramps up testing

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) - South Korea has reported its largest daily increase in coronavirus infections on Christmas Day , as the prime minister pleaded for vigilance to arrest a viral surge that has worsened hospitalization and deaths .
The 1,241 new cases confirmed by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Friday brought the country ’ s caseload to 54,770 .
Seventeen COVID-19 patients died in the past 24 hours , bringing the death toll to 773 .
More than 870 of the new cases were from the greater capital area , home to half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population , where nearly 300 infections so far have been linked to a huge prison in Seoul .
Clusters have been popping up from just about everywhere in recent weeks , including hospitals , long-term care facilities , churches , restaurants and army units .
The country has been expanding its mass testing program to slow the rate of transmissions and more than 118,000 tests were conducted on Thursday alone .
Officials are also clamping down on private gatherings through Jan. 3 , shutting down national parks and ski resorts and setting fines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five people or more .
“ The last week of the year that begins with Christmas is normally a time where people gather and share their affection with one another , but it ’ s hard to see that this year in any parts of the world , ” Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a virus meeting .

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea has reported its largest daily increase in coronavirus infections on Christmas Day, as the prime minister pleaded for vigilance to arrest a viral surge that has worsened hospitalization and deaths.
The 1,241 new cases confirmed by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Friday brought the country’s caseload to 54,770. Seventeen COVID-19 patients died in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 773.
More than 870 of the new cases were from the greater capital area, home to half of the country’s 51 million population, where more than 500 infections have been linked to a huge prison in Seoul. Clusters have been popping up from just about everywhere in recent weeks, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, churches, restaurants and army units.
The country has been expanding its mass testing program to slow the rate of transmissions and more than 118,000 tests were conducted on Thursday alone. Officials are also clamping down on private gatherings through Jan. 3, shutting down national parks and ski resorts and setting fines for restaurants if they receive groups of five people or more.
“The last week of the year that begins with Christmas is normally a time where people gather and share their affection with one another, but it’s hard to see that this year in any parts of the world,” Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a virus meeting.
Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region:
- Authorities in China’s northeastern port city of Dalian are testing millions of residents after seven new cases were reported there in the last 24 hours. The cluster that has emerged in recent days has grown to 12 cases. In five neighborhood divisions, authorities have shut schools, public spaces and are restricting anyone but essential workers from leaving their residential compounds. Beijing is also on high alert after two asymptomatic cases were reported on Thursday, in addition to two confirmed cases last week. The city began mass testing in the neighborhood and workplace of one of the asymptomatic cases, a restaurant employee who worked handling cold chain. Government workers are testing more than 5,000 people, according to the Beijing West District’s announcement Friday. The capital last had an outbreak in June when a cluster was found at a major wholesale food market. As the New Year and Chinese Lunar New Year holidays approach, a spokesman for the city government warned of risks from people visiting family and friends, more gatherings as well as restaurants. “We must carry out well the epidemic prevention work during the holidays and ensure that everyone has a happy and peaceful holiday,” he said.
- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he wants to make the government’s coronavirus measures more effective by seeking legislation that will make business restrictions legally binding, punish violators and include economic compensation. Suga said many people in Tokyo are dining out and partying despite the authorities’ repeated requests to avoid the risks. He said the spread of the virus in the Tokyo region is spilling over to the rest of the country and the government needs a law to make its measures more effective. Japan had a state of emergency in April and May with non-binding requests for people to stay home and business to close. But government taskforce chief Shigeru Omi said people have become complacent about the pandemic and less cooperative to the government requests.
- Japan’s health ministry has confirmed the country’s first cases of infection with the new variant of the coronavirus that was identified in Britain. The five people arrived between Dec. 18 and Dec. 21, before Japan stepped up border control on Friday for entrants from Britain. A man in his 60s developed fatigue, but the other four were without symptoms. Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said the five were sent to quarantine straight from the airports. After they tested positive for the virus, further analysis conducted at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases determined they had the British variant that is 70% more transmissible, the ministry said in a statement. Shigeru Omi, head of a government taskforce, called for tighter border control to prevent new variants.
- Sri Lankan prison authorities did not allow relatives to visit inmates on Christmas Day as a precaution while COVID-19 cases are surging in prisons. Usually, all the inmates are allowed to meet their relatives and friends and receive gifts on Christmas. By Friday, the number of confirmed cases in the prisons rose to 3,611, most of them inmates while 121 are prison officers. Most of Sri Lanka’s 39,000 cases emerged since October from clusters centered on a garment factory and a fish market in the capital Colombo and its suburbs. The prison cluster emerged last month.
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Air Force base official removed for mishandling complaints

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - The director of the Hill Air Force Base ’ s Equal Employment Opportunity Office is out of a job after discouraging sexual harassment complaints , the U.S. Office of Special Counsel announced .
An investigation by the U.S. Air Force ’ s Material Command Office of Inspector General substantiated three whistleblower complaints about the former director ’ s behaviors .
The former director ’ s name was not identified in the documents , and she was reassigned to another office .
The investigation said that the officer told one whistleblower that sexual harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t go anywhere.
” The sexual harassment complaint was later substantiated , the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said .
The former director was also accused of illegally modifying or rejecting complaints and giving employees false or misleading information .
“ I commend the whistleblowers for bravely coming forward to identify the violations of law , gross mismanagement , and abuses of authority at Hill Air Force Base , ” Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner said .
“ Sexual harassment and discrimination can not be tolerated on American military bases , and whistleblowers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due process .
While this case exposed numerous legal violations and other egregious conduct , I am encouraged that the agency is taking steps to restore the integrity of its EEO process.
” The former director also reportedly denied a whistleblower the ability to remain anonymous and told one complainant that they were not entitled to file a complaint even though they were entitled to do so .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The director of the Hill Air Force Base’s Equal Employment Opportunity Office is out of a job after discouraging sexual harassment complaints, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel announced.
An investigation by the U.S. Air Force’s Material Command Office of Inspector General substantiated three whistleblower complaints about the former director’s behaviors. The former director’s name was not identified in the documents, and she was reassigned to another office.
The investigation said that the officer told one whistleblower that sexual harassment complaints against her supervisor “wouldn’t go anywhere.” The sexual harassment complaint was later substantiated, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said.
The former director was also accused of illegally modifying or rejecting complaints and giving employees false or misleading information.
“I commend the whistleblowers for bravely coming forward to identify the violations of law, gross mismanagement, and abuses of authority at Hill Air Force Base,” Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner said. “Sexual harassment and discrimination cannot be tolerated on American military bases, and whistleblowers who come forward deserve fair treatment and due process. While this case exposed numerous legal violations and other egregious conduct, I am encouraged that the agency is taking steps to restore the integrity of its EEO process.”
The former director also reportedly denied a whistleblower the ability to remain anonymous and told one complainant that they were not entitled to file a complaint even though they were entitled to do so.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Gund, Jellycat plush toys foment stuffed animal transformation

It turns out natural selection applies to the stuffed animal kingdom , too .
As children tear into boxes with flashing lights and gadgety beeps this Christmas , millions will find Santa has gone old school and left them a new cuddly pal .
But the little guy sitting under the tree today is worlds apart from the original teddy bear of a century ago or even the stuffed Garfields and Beanie Babies of decades ago .
Fueled by new materials and different techniques , companies such as Gund and Jellycat are helping foment a massive transformation in the stuffed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become incredibly soft .
With companies such as Wild Republic leading the way , children can cuddle with more true-to-real-life animals .
“ There ’ s been two trends , ” said Richard Gottlieb at Global Toy Experts .
“ There ’ s been more attention to the kinesthetic side , the tactile aspect , what we call a soft-touch product , [ and ] there is more realism in animals.
” To call them teddy bears is pretty much an anachronism .
Walk the stuffed animal aisle of a toy store — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online — and you will be confronted with a deeper selection than a sushi menu .
In fact , sushi is one type of plushie on the market , according to a survey of stuffed animal web searches commissioned this year by TheBiteSizedBackpacker.com .
Bears remain the dominant stuffie , with about a quarter of all searches .
That ’ s more than the next four runner-up animals combined : dogs , cats , bunnies and elephants .
But the survey found people also are searching for peacocks , pangolins , llamas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tertiary animals.
” Consumers are even searching for stuffed ants , crabs , red koi and cuttlefish .
“ More obscure animals are getting more popular , ” Mr. Gottlieb said .
Time was when a teddy bear was a singular gift .
A little guy with stiff stuffing , a button nose and “ fur ” that often felt like hair or carpet .
He burrowed his way into a child ’ s imagination , even though he may have spent most of his life sitting on a bedside table .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half-dozen plushies by their first birthday .
The toys are often soft enough to leave in cribs , and children ’ s collections grow from there .
“ We ’ ve gone from ‘ Here ’ s your first teddy bear that sat on your dresser ’ to ‘ Here are 25 soft toys that you can have on your bed , sleep with , ’ ” said Barbara Isenberg , founder of North American Bear Co.
It ’ s similar to the animal kingdom , where mutations and natural selection rein .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mutations are technological innovations and the natural selectors are consumers voting with their wallets for softer , more realistic and more varied options .
Ms. Isenberg said the Japanese began making floppier toys in the 1970s and 1980s , and Korean manufacturers stepped in with soft-fabric production in the 1980s .
Then China got into the game with soft fabrics , keeping prices low while expanding production .
“ They were able to develop softer toys .
I think people responded to those in a huggable way , ” Ms. Isenberg said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , quite frankly.
” There has been some loss on the quality side .
The stitching might be rougher , and the patterns don ’ t always fit as well .
Ms. Isenberg said the rise of wages and other work options could push production out of China .
When it comes to realism , Mr. Gottlieb figures that trend is being driven at least in part by the nature movement and modern sensibilities about conservation .
The options there are truly amazing .
Wild Republic ’ s Audubon line of birds plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just like the real thing , and the northern mockingbird ’ s song will have children searching nearby branches .
In that respect , at least , it ’ s full circle back to at least one of the origin stories for teddy bears .
The name comes from President Theodore Roosevelt , who famously refused to kill a corralled bear while on a hunt in Mississippi in 1902 — though he had it killed nonetheless .
A Washington Post cartoon memorialized the event , and a toymaker in New York sewed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young bear .
He got permission from Roosevelt to use the president ’ s name .
At about the same time , across the Atlantic , Richard Steiff was inventing a stuffed bear for his aunt Margaret ’ s company in Germany .
Within years , they were manufacturing more than 1 million a year .
From there , things grew .
One analyst now puts the global plushie market at about $ 8 billion .
While the basic stuffed animal market is perennially strong , its fortunes rise and fall each year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hot toy .
Beanie Babies set the market afire in the 1990s , but stuffed animals sustained a huge crash in 2000 , Mr. Gottlieb said .
Bears seemed to have a revival early in the COVID-19 pandemic , popping up in windows in neighborhoods across the country to give children something to hunt for during shutdowns and social distancing .
Yet the plushie market dipped during the pandemic , even as the rest of the toy world set records , said Juli Lennett , an industry analyst for NPD Group .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ categories we have that are actually posting declines right now , ” she said .
Children are spending more time at home without friends , which would seem to be the perfect time to introduce a soft new pal , but Ms. Isenberg said worries about cleanliness have tamped down on that .
“ I think people want things they can actually sterilize , ” she said .
Among the toys that are selling , there are some real curiosities .
The latest installment of Hasbro ’ s Furreal Friends is known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that one connects to a stiff leash .
“ It has a special feature : It poops , ” Ms. Lennett said .
She said it ranked fourth on the hot special feature toys list , just behind a stuffed “ The Child ” — aka Baby Yoda — character from Star Wars ’ “ Mandalorian ” series and just in front of a Hatchimals llama-unicorn mix .
The real animal kingdom hasn ’ t caught up to the llama-unicorn combination yet .

It turns out natural selection applies to the stuffed animal kingdom, too.
As children tear into boxes with flashing lights and gadgety beeps this Christmas, millions will find Santa has gone old school and left them a new cuddly pal.
But the little guy sitting under the tree today is worlds apart from the original teddy bear of a century ago or even the stuffed Garfields and Beanie Babies of decades ago.
Fueled by new materials and different techniques, companies such as Gund and Jellycat are helping foment a massive transformation in the stuffed animal market, with toys that have become incredibly soft. With companies such as Wild Republic leading the way, children can cuddle with more true-to-real-life animals.
“There’s been two trends,” said Richard Gottlieb at Global Toy Experts. “There’s been more attention to the kinesthetic side, the tactile aspect, what we call a soft-touch product, [and] there is more realism in animals.”
To call them teddy bears is pretty much an anachronism.
Walk the stuffed animal aisle of a toy store — or, better yet, go browsing online — and you will be confronted with a deeper selection than a sushi menu. In fact, sushi is one type of plushie on the market, according to a survey of stuffed animal web searches commissioned this year by TheBiteSizedBackpacker.com.
Bears remain the dominant stuffie, with about a quarter of all searches. That’s more than the next four runner-up animals combined: dogs, cats, bunnies and elephants.
But the survey found people also are searching for peacocks, pangolins, llamas and lynxes, what Mr. Gottlieb call “tertiary animals.”
Consumers are even searching for stuffed ants, crabs, red koi and cuttlefish.
“More obscure animals are getting more popular,” Mr. Gottlieb said.
Ex uno plures
Time was when a teddy bear was a singular gift. A little guy with stiff stuffing, a button nose and “fur” that often felt like hair or carpet. He burrowed his way into a child’s imagination, even though he may have spent most of his life sitting on a bedside table.
Now, babies can end up with a half-dozen plushies by their first birthday. The toys are often soft enough to leave in cribs, and children’s collections grow from there.
“We’ve gone from ‘Here’s your first teddy bear that sat on your dresser’ to ‘Here are 25 soft toys that you can have on your bed, sleep with,’” said Barbara Isenberg, founder of North American Bear Co.
What explains the evolution?
It’s similar to the animal kingdom, where mutations and natural selection rein. Only in the stuffed world, the mutations are technological innovations and the natural selectors are consumers voting with their wallets for softer, more realistic and more varied options.
Ms. Isenberg said the Japanese began making floppier toys in the 1970s and 1980s, and Korean manufacturers stepped in with soft-fabric production in the 1980s.
Then China got into the game with soft fabrics, keeping prices low while expanding production.
“They were able to develop softer toys. I think people responded to those in a huggable way,” Ms. Isenberg said. “It’s trends coming together, quite frankly.”
There has been some loss on the quality side. The stitching might be rougher, and the patterns don’t always fit as well.
Ms. Isenberg said the rise of wages and other work options could push production out of China.
When it comes to realism, Mr. Gottlieb figures that trend is being driven at least in part by the nature movement and modern sensibilities about conservation.
The options there are truly amazing.
Wild Republic’s Audubon line of birds plays authentic sounds. The mallard duck quacks just like the real thing, and the northern mockingbird’s song will have children searching nearby branches.
In that respect, at least, it’s full circle back to at least one of the origin stories for teddy bears.
The name comes from President Theodore Roosevelt, who famously refused to kill a corralled bear while on a hunt in Mississippi in 1902 — though he had it killed nonetheless.
A Washington Post cartoon memorialized the event, and a toymaker in New York sewed a stuffed version that closely mimicked a real young bear. He got permission from Roosevelt to use the president’s name.
At about the same time, across the Atlantic, Richard Steiff was inventing a stuffed bear for his aunt Margaret’s company in Germany. Within years, they were manufacturing more than 1 million a year.
From there, things grew. One analyst now puts the global plushie market at about $8 billion.
Pandemic plunge
While the basic stuffed animal market is perennially strong, its fortunes rise and fall each year based on whether there’s a hot toy.
Beanie Babies set the market afire in the 1990s, but stuffed animals sustained a huge crash in 2000, Mr. Gottlieb said.
Bears seemed to have a revival early in the COVID-19 pandemic, popping up in windows in neighborhoods across the country to give children something to hunt for during shutdowns and social distancing.
Yet the plushie market dipped during the pandemic, even as the rest of the toy world set records, said Juli Lennett, an industry analyst for NPD Group.
“It’s one of the few categories we have that are actually posting declines right now,” she said.
Children are spending more time at home without friends, which would seem to be the perfect time to introduce a soft new pal, but Ms. Isenberg said worries about cleanliness have tamped down on that.
“I think people want things they can actually sterilize,” she said.
Among the toys that are selling, there are some real curiosities.
The latest installment of Hasbro’s Furreal Friends is known as PoopALots. They are dogs and cats that one connects to a stiff leash.
“It has a special feature: It poops,” Ms. Lennett said.
She said it ranked fourth on the hot special feature toys list, just behind a stuffed “The Child” — aka Baby Yoda — character from Star Wars’ “Mandalorian” series and just in front of a Hatchimals llama-unicorn mix.
The real animal kingdom hasn’t caught up to the llama-unicorn combination yet.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Jair Bolsonaro rips China Sinovac COViD19 vaccine

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has used his Christmas message to cast more doubt on a coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s states from the Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac .
In his live @ @ @ @ @ , Bolsonaro said “ the efficacy of that vaccine of Sao Paulo seems to be @ @ @ @ @ he gave nothing specific .
Sao Paulo health authorities have not presented complete trial results @ @ @ @ @ there were encouraging phase three studies on the shot ’ s effectiveness .
Brazil so @ @ @ @ @ import vaccine made by American companies Pfizer or Moderna , which have been approved by @ @ @ @ @ It has a deal to secure up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine @ @ @ @

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has used his Christmas message to cast more doubt on a coronavirus vaccine purchased by one of the country’s states from the Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Sinovac.
In his live broadcast on social media Thursday, Bolsonaro said “the efficacy of that vaccine of Sao Paulo seems to be very low,” though he gave nothing specific.
Sao Paulo health authorities have not presented complete trial results a week after announcing that there were encouraging phase three studies on the shot’s effectiveness.
Brazil so far has no agreements to import vaccine made by American companies Pfizer or Moderna, which have been approved by U.S. and other nations. It has a deal to secure up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine produced by AstraZeneca.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Ron Burkle buys Michael Jackson Neverland Ranch

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson ’ s Neverland Ranch in California has found a new owner in billionaire businessman Ron Burkle .
Burkle views the 2,700-acre property in Los Olivos , near Santa Barbara , as a land banking opportunity , his spokesman said Thursday in an email .
The Wall Street Journal reports the property was sold for $ 22 million to Burkle , an associate of the late pop star and co-founder of the investment firm Yucaipa Companies .
The asking price of the property was $ 100 million in 2016 then dropped to $ 67 million a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12,500 square-foot main residence and a 3,700 square-foot pool house , the property boasts a separate building with a 50-seat movie theater and a dance studio .
Other features on the ranch are a “ Disney-style ” train station , a fire house and barn .
Burkle ’ s spokesman said the billionaire had been eyeing Zaca Lake – which adjoins the property – for a new Soho House , a members-only club with locations in Los Angeles , Miami , New York and Toronto .
Burkle ultimately decided the location was too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burkle is the controlling shareholder of Soho House .
After Burkle saw the property from the air , he put in an offer to purchase .

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in California has found a new owner in billionaire businessman Ron Burkle.
Burkle views the 2,700-acre property in Los Olivos, near Santa Barbara, as a land banking opportunity, his spokesman said Thursday in an email.
The Wall Street Journal reports the property was sold for $22 million to Burkle, an associate of the late pop star and co-founder of the investment firm Yucaipa Companies.
The asking price of the property was $100 million in 2016 then dropped to $67 million a year later.
In addition to a 12,500 square-foot main residence and a 3,700 square-foot pool house, the property boasts a separate building with a 50-seat movie theater and a dance studio.
Other features on the ranch are a “Disney-style” train station, a firehouse and barn.
Burkle’s spokesman said the billionaire had been eyeing Zaca Lake — which adjoins the property — for a new Soho House, a members-only club with locations in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Toronto. Burkle ultimately decided the location was too remote and expensive for a club.
Burkle is the controlling shareholder of Soho House.
After Burkle saw the property from the air, he put in an offer to purchase.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch sold to billionaire

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Michael Jackson ’ s Neverland Ranch in California has found a new owner in billionaire businessman Ron Burkle .
Burkle views the 2,700-acre property in Los Olivos , near Santa Barbara , as a land banking opportunity , his spokesman said Thursday in an email .
The Wall Street Journal reports the property was sold for $ 22 million to Burkle , an associate of the late pop star and co-founder of the investment firm Yucaipa Companies .
The asking price of the property was $ 100 million in 2016 then dropped to $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to a 12,500 square-foot main residence and a 3,700 square-foot pool house , the property boasts a separate building with a 50-seat movie theater and a dance studio .
Other features on the ranch are a “ Disney-style ” train station , a fire house and barn .
Burkle ’ s spokesman said the billionaire had been eyeing Zaca Lake - which adjoins the property - for a new Soho House , a members-only club with locations in Los Angeles , Miami , New York and Toronto .
Burkle ultimately decided the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a club .
Burkle is the controlling shareholder of Soho House .
After Burkle saw the property from the air , he put in an offer to purchase .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in California has found a new owner in billionaire businessman Ron Burkle.
Burkle views the 2,700-acre property in Los Olivos, near Santa Barbara, as a land banking opportunity, his spokesman said Thursday in an email.
The Wall Street Journal reports the property was sold for $22 million to Burkle, an associate of the late pop star and co-founder of the investment firm Yucaipa Companies.
The asking price of the property was $100 million in 2016 then dropped to $67 million a year later.
In addition to a 12,500 square-foot main residence and a 3,700 square-foot pool house, the property boasts a separate building with a 50-seat movie theater and a dance studio.
Other features on the ranch are a “Disney-style” train station, a fire house and barn.
Burkle’s spokesman said the billionaire had been eyeing Zaca Lake - which adjoins the property - for a new Soho House, a members-only club with locations in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Toronto. Burkle ultimately decided the location was too remote and expensive for a club.
Burkle is the controlling shareholder of Soho House.
After Burkle saw the property from the air, he put in an offer to purchase.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Marshals Service, Highway Patrol vehicles hit during pursuit

GREAT FALLS , Mont .
( AP ) - Authorities in Montana say a man in a stolen car ran @ @ @ @ @ vehicle and a Montana Highway Patrol vehicle during a high-speed pursuit .
The suspect and @ @ @ @ @ involved in the Tuesday theft of two rental cars from a store where the suspect @ @ @ @ @ Falls on Tuesday .
A U.S .
Marshal Service deputy was able to track the @ @ @ @ @ suspect , who ran into the Marshals Service vehicle before fleeing on U.S. Highway 89 @ @ @ @ @ per hour , Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said according to KFBB-TV .
The suspect @ @ @ @ @ crashed into a state highway patrol vehicle south of Fort Shaw , disabling the suspects @ @ @ @ @ without incident .
It was unclear if any injuries were suffered by law enforcement or @ @ @ @ @ booked for felony theft , resisting arrest , felony assault with a weapon , fleeing @ @ @ @ @ offenses .

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - Authorities in Montana say a man in a stolen car ran into a U.S. Marshals vehicle and a Montana Highway Patrol vehicle during a high-speed pursuit.
The suspect and a second person were allegedly involved in the Tuesday theft of two rental cars from a store where the suspect used to work in Great Falls on Tuesday.
A U.S. Marshal Service deputy was able to track the GMC Yukon driven by the suspect, who ran into the Marshals Service vehicle before fleeing on U.S. Highway 89 at speeds over 100 miles per hour, Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said according to KFBB-TV.
The suspect later left the highway and crashed into a state highway patrol vehicle south of Fort Shaw, disabling the suspects vehicle. He was apprehended without incident.
It was unclear if any injuries were suffered by law enforcement or the suspect, who was booked for felony theft, resisting arrest, felony assault with a weapon, fleeing a peace officer and other offenses.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Israeli jets fly over Beirut, explosions reported in Syria

BEIRUT ( AP ) - Israeli jets flew very low over parts of Lebanon early Friday , terrifying residents on Christmas Eve , some of whom reported seeing missiles in the skies over Beirut .
Minutes later , Syria ’ s official news agency reported explosions in the central Syrian town of Masyaf .
Other Syrian media said Syrian air defenses responded to an Israeli attack near the town in the Hama province .
The Syrian Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying Israel “ launched an aggression by directing a barrage of rockets ” from the north of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area .
It said Syrian air defense “ confronted the enemy missiles and intercepted most of them.
” There was no immediate word on what the target was or whether there were any casualties .
Israeli jets regularly violate Lebanese airspace and have often struck inside Syria from Lebanese territory .
But the Christmas Eve flights were louder than usual , frightening residents of Beirut who have endured multiple crises in the past year , including the catastrophic Aug. 4 explosion at the city ’ s port that killed over 200 people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion resulted from the detonation of a stockpile of ammonium nitrates that was improperly stored at the facility .
There was no immediate word from Israel on Friday ’ s flights and alleged attacks on Syria .
In the past few years , Israel has acknowledged carrying out dozens of airstrikes in Syria , most of them aimed at suspected Iranian weapons shipments believed to be bound for Hezbollah .
In recent months , Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hezbollah is trying to establish production facilities to make precision guided missiles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian President Bashar Assad ’ s regime that includes a military academy and a scientific research center .
Israel has struck targets there several times in the past .

BEIRUT (AP) - Israeli jets flew very low over parts of Lebanon early Friday, terrifying residents on Christmas Eve, some of whom reported seeing missiles in the skies over Beirut.
Minutes later, Syria’s official news agency reported explosions in the central Syrian town of Masyaf. Other Syrian media said Syrian air defenses responded to an Israeli attack near the town in the Hama province.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying Israel “launched an aggression by directing a barrage of rockets” from the north of the Lebanese city of Tripoli towards the Masyaf area. It said Syrian air defense “confronted the enemy missiles and intercepted most of them.”
There was no immediate word on what the target was or whether there were any casualties.
Israeli jets regularly violate Lebanese airspace and have often struck inside Syria from Lebanese territory. But the Christmas Eve flights were louder than usual, frightening residents of Beirut who have endured multiple crises in the past year, including the catastrophic Aug. 4 explosion at the city’s port that killed over 200 people and destroyed parts of the capital. That explosion resulted from the detonation of a stockpile of ammonium nitrates that was improperly stored at the facility.
There was no immediate word from Israel on Friday’s flights and alleged attacks on Syria.
In the past few years, Israel has acknowledged carrying out dozens of airstrikes in Syria, most of them aimed at suspected Iranian weapons shipments believed to be bound for Hezbollah. In recent months, Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hezbollah is trying to establish production facilities to make precision guided missiles.
Masyaf is a significant military area for Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime that includes a military academy and a scientific research center. Israel has struck targets there several times in the past.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Trump golfs in Florida as COVID relief hangs in the balance

PALM BEACH ( AP ) - After tossing a grenade that threatens to blow up a massive COVID relief and government funding bill and force a government shutdown in the midst of a pandemic , President Donald Trump spent his Christmas Eve golfing in Florida .
Failure to agree on the bill could deny checks to millions of Americans on the brink .
Trump had no events on his public schedule on the first day of his winter vacation Thursday , but traveled to his Palm Beach golf club , where he was spotted by CNN cameras on the links @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his schedule for the day , but told that , “ As the Holiday season approaches , President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People .
His schedule includes many meetings and calls.
” Trump ’ s departure came as Washington was still reeling over his surprise , eleventh-hour demand that an end-of-year spending bill that congressional leaders spent months negotiating give most Americans $ 2,000 COVID relief checks - far more than the $ 600 members of his own party had agreed to .
The idea was swiftly rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eve session , leaving the proposal in limbo .
The bipartisan compromise had been considered a done deal and had won sweeping approval in the House and Senate this week after the White House assured GOP leaders that Trump supported it .
If Trump refuses to sign the deal , which is attached to a $ 1.4 trillion government funding bill , it will force a federal government shutdown , in addition to delaying aid checks and halting unemployment benefits and eviction protections in the midst of the most dire stretch of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle finger to Republicans from a president who has been raging over his Nov. 3 loss to President-elect Joe Biden and trying to come up with new , increasingly outrageous schemes to try to overturn the results of a Democratic election .
He has been egged on by allies like his lawyer , former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani , who accompanied the president to Florida aboard Air Force One .
Trump ’ s ire has been focused , in part , on Republicans in Congress whom he believes have been insufficiently supportive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s win by lobbing unfounded claims of mass voter fraud before Congress meets to tally the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6 .
In Florida , Trump continued to rail against the results , complaining to members that he had been robbed of the election and voicing frustrations about the year-end spending bill .
“ At a meeting in Florida today , everyone was asking why aren ’ t the Republicans up in arms & fighting over the fact that the Democrats stole the rigged presidential election ?
” Trump tweeted after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club .
“ Especially in the Senate , they said , where you helped 8 Senators win their races.
” “ I will NEVER FORGET !
” he wrote in another , The statements underscored concerns that Trump is blowing up negotiations to punish lawmakers for what he sees as their insufficient support loyalty .
Trump has provided no credible evidence to support his election claims , which have also been refuted by a long list of officials , from former Attorney General William Barr to Republican governors , judges and local election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reel as the coronavirus spreads , with record infections and hospitalizations and more than 327,000 now dead .
And millions are now facing the prospect of spending the holidays alone or struggling to make ends meet without adequate income , food or shelter thanks to the pandemic ’ s economic toll .
To mark the holiday , the president and first lady Melania Trump tweeted out a pre-recorded video message in which they wished Americans a Merry Christmas and thanked first responders and members of the military .
“ As you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past , ” said Mrs. Trump , who focused on the acts of “ kindness and courage ” the pandemic had inspired .
Trump hailed the vaccine doses now being delivered and thanked those responsible .
“ It is a truly a Christmas miracle , ” he said .
Meanwhile , Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have been trying to salvage the year-end legislation to try to prevent a shutdown .
Democrats will recall House lawmakers to Washington for a vote Monday on Trump ’ s $ 2,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the GOP-controlled Senate .
They are also considering a Monday vote on a stop-gap measure to at least avert a federal shutdown and keep the government running until Biden is inaugurated Jan. 20 .
In addition to the relief checks , the COVID bill that passed would establish a temporary $ 300 per week supplemental jobless benefit , provide a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses , restaurants and theaters and money for schools , and provide money for health care providers and to help with COVID vaccine distribution .

PALM BEACH (AP) - After tossing a grenade that threatens to blow up a massive COVID relief and government funding bill and force a government shutdown in the midst of a pandemic, President Donald Trump spent his Christmas Eve golfing in Florida.
Failure to agree on the bill could deny checks to millions of Americans on the brink.
Trump had no events on his public schedule on the first day of his winter vacation Thursday, but traveled to his Palm Beach golf club, where he was spotted by CNN cameras on the links. Reporters were given no details of his schedule for the day, but told that, “As the Holiday season approaches, President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People. His schedule includes many meetings and calls.”
Trump’s departure came as Washington was still reeling over his surprise, eleventh-hour demand that an end-of-year spending bill that congressional leaders spent months negotiating give most Americans $2,000 COVID relief checks - far more than the $600 members of his own party had agreed to. The idea was swiftly rejected by House Republicans during a rare Christmas Eve session, leaving the proposal in limbo.
The bipartisan compromise had been considered a done deal and had won sweeping approval in the House and Senate this week after the White House assured GOP leaders that Trump supported it. If Trump refuses to sign the deal, which is attached to a $1.4 trillion government funding bill, it will force a federal government shutdown, in addition to delaying aid checks and halting unemployment benefits and eviction protections in the midst of the most dire stretch of the pandemic.
It was a final raised middle finger to Republicans from a president who has been raging over his Nov. 3 loss to President-elect Joe Biden and trying to come up with new, increasingly outrageous schemes to try to overturn the results of a Democratic election. He has been egged on by allies like his lawyer, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who accompanied the president to Florida aboard Air Force One.
Trump’s ire has been focused, in part, on Republicans in Congress whom he believes have been insufficiently supportive of his quest to delegitimize Biden’s win by lobbing unfounded claims of mass voter fraud before Congress meets to tally the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6.
In Florida, Trump continued to rail against the results, complaining to members that he had been robbed of the election and voicing frustrations about the year-end spending bill.
“At a meeting in Florida today, everyone was asking why aren’t the Republicans up in arms & fighting over the fact that the Democrats stole the rigged presidential election?” Trump tweeted after he’d returned to his private Mar-a-Lago club. “Especially in the Senate, they said, where you helped 8 Senators win their races.”
“I will NEVER FORGET!” he wrote in another,
The statements underscored concerns that Trump is blowing up negotiations to punish lawmakers for what he sees as their insufficient support loyalty.
Trump has provided no credible evidence to support his election claims, which have also been refuted by a long list of officials, from former Attorney General William Barr to Republican governors, judges and local election administrators.
Meanwhile, the nation continues to reel as the coronavirus spreads, with record infections and hospitalizations and more than 327,000 now dead. And millions are now facing the prospect of spending the holidays alone or struggling to make ends meet without adequate income, food or shelter thanks to the pandemic’s economic toll.
To mark the holiday, the president and first lady Melania Trump tweeted out a pre-recorded video message in which they wished Americans a Merry Christmas and thanked first responders and members of the military.
“As you know, this Christmas is different than years past,” said Mrs. Trump, who focused on the acts of “kindness and courage” the pandemic had inspired .
Trump hailed the vaccine doses now being delivered and thanked those responsible. “It is a truly a Christmas miracle,” he said.
Meanwhile, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have been trying to salvage the year-end legislation to try to prevent a shutdown. Democrats will recall House lawmakers to Washington for a vote Monday on Trump’s $2,000 proposal, though it would likely die in the GOP-controlled Senate. They are also considering a Monday vote on a stop-gap measure to at least avert a federal shutdown and keep the government running until Biden is inaugurated Jan. 20.
In addition to the relief checks, the COVID bill that passed would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit, provide a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses, restaurants and theaters and money for schools, and provide money for health care providers and to help with COVID vaccine distribution.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--New Mexico governor urges safety during holiday season

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday made another plea @ @ @ @ @ this holiday season .
She said in a tweet Thursday afternoon that her thoughts were @ @ @ @ @ the loss of a loved one .
“ Even as we celebrate the holidays , @ @ @ @ @ our families and our communities .
Please be safe this holiday season , ” she @ @ @ @ @ reported an additional 29 deaths Thursday , bringing the state ’ s tally to 2,272 @ @ @ @ @ More than half of the latest deaths involved people who were residents at nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ .
Officials also reported more than 1,900 confirmed COVID-19 infections for the day , pushing @ @ @ @ @ nearly 135,200 since the start of the pandemic .
New infections had tapered off over @ @ @ @ @ health officials were concerned that gatherings for Christmas would lead to another surge .

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday made another plea for people to be safe this holiday season.
She said in a tweet Thursday afternoon that her thoughts were with every New Mexican grieving the loss of a loved one.
“Even as we celebrate the holidays, we must continue to protect our families and our communities. Please be safe this holiday season,” she said.
State health officials reported an additional 29 deaths Thursday, bringing the state’s tally to 2,272 since the pandemic began. More than half of the latest deaths involved people who were residents at nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.
Officials also reported more than 1,900 confirmed COVID-19 infections for the day, pushing the overall statewide total to nearly 135,200 since the start of the pandemic.
New infections had tapered off over the last week, but health officials were concerned that gatherings for Christmas would lead to another surge.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Wisconsin officials report nearly 2,800 new COVID cases

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) - Nearly 2,800 more people have contracted COVID-19 in Wisconsin , state health officials @ @ @ @ @ of Health Services reported 2,799 newly confirmed cases , bringing the total number of cases @ @ @ @ @ March to 466,393 .
The disease was a factor in 60 more deaths , pushing @ @ @ @ @ 4,674 .
The mortality rate stood at 1 % as of Thursday .
In a @ @ @ @ @ the seven-day average positivity rate has fallen steadily from 27.9 % on Dec. 16 to @ @ @ @ @ The DHS hadn ’ t posted the rate as of Thursday .

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Nearly 2,800 more people have contracted COVID-19 in Wisconsin, state health officials said Thursday.
The Department of Health Services reported 2,799 newly confirmed cases, bringing the total number of cases since the pandemic began in March to 466,393.
The disease was a factor in 60 more deaths, pushing the overall death total to 4,674. The mortality rate stood at 1% as of Thursday.
In a bit of good news, the seven-day average positivity rate has fallen steadily from 27.9% on Dec. 16 to 25.1% on Wednesday. The DHS hadn’t posted the rate as of Thursday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Elections officials, local lawmakers target of violent threats

Anger and suspicion over the results of the Nov. 3 presidential election are fueling threats and intimidation toward elections officials and lawmakers .
A Maryland man was charged this week with threatening to kill the family members of a House member .
Prosecutors said the man was worried the Maryland lawmaker , who wasn ’ t named in the indictment , would try to “ mess ” with his vote .
A New Hampshire woman was charged this week with sending threats to a Republican member of a Detroit-area election board who refused to certify the election results .
President-elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to be reaffirmed next month when a new Congress convenes to count each state ’ s Electoral College votes .
President Trump has refused to concede , claiming widespread fraud and urging his Republican allies to challenge the results .
He repeatedly railed against voting machine software deleting or switching votes for him , while claiming Trump ballots were stolen or destroyed .
His efforts to overturn the results have been unsuccessful , and even his attorney general disputed his claims of widespread election fraud .
Fear and distrust abound on both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-Trump Republicans lashing out over what they see as a stolen election and Democrats angry about the challenges to the legitimacy of a Biden presidency .
With passions running high , people are directing their anger toward elected officials .
Authorities in Arizona are investigating “ ongoing and escalating ” threats against Secretary of State Katie Hobbs , the state ’ s top elections official .
Ms. Hobbs , a Democrat , has lambasted Mr. Trump for spreading “ misinformation ” about the election , which she says prompted the threats .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media site popular with conservatives , reads : “ Let ’ s burn her house down and kill her family and teach these fraudsters a lesson.
” Ms. Hobbs ’ s home address , personal information and son ’ s cellphone number also were posted on Parler .
Arizona officials said the investigation is ongoing .
In Georgia , one of the most contested states of this past election , a slew of local lawmakers have been targeted .
After challenging election fraud claims by Mr. Trump ’ s lawyer , Rudolph W. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified that her personal information had been posted online .
A far-right message board posted photos of her , polling users and what form of “ punishment ” she should receive , with the most common response being sexual violence against her and execution .
In addition , Georgia Secretary of State Brad Rafensperger and his wife said they received threats .
And an elections worker in the state said he went into hiding last month after a debunked video spurred accusations he destroyed ballots .
State elections official Gabriel Sterling said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats have “ gone too far.
” “ Someone is going to get hurt .
Someone is going to get shot .
Someone is going to get killed , ” he said .
“ And it ’ s not right.
” The threats also come from the political left .
In Michigan , prosecutors say Katelyn Jones , 23 , was outraged that Monica Palmer , chairwoman of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers , refused to sign off on Mr. Biden ’ s win .
Ms. Jones texted Ms. Palmer two graphic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman lying on the ground , according to court documents .
Those photos were followed by a third of Ms. Palmer ’ s minor daughter .
“ I ’ d just like you to imagine that ’ s your beautiful daughter , ” Ms. Jones said of the texts , according to a criminal complaint .
Other texts allegedly sent by Ms. Jones called Ms. Palmer a “ disgusting racist b–- ” and “ a terrorist.
” Federal prosecutors in Maryland say Sidhartha Kuma Mathur , 34 , delivered threats to an unidentified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s website .
On Dec. 10 , the congressman received a voicemail that stated : “ If you even mess with my vote , I ’ m going to come , and I ’ ll slit your throat , and I ’ ll kill your family.
” The message closed with : “ You represent me , I ’ ll kill you.
” Minutes earlier , the congressman ’ s website received a written threat to blow up his district office , according to court documents .
The message continued : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives .
You will be ended .
You ’ re a animal that needs to be tortured and skinned alive.
” Federal authorities say they traced the threats back to Mr. Mathur because he left behind his actual phone number on the voicemail .
The email threat was linked to an IP address at Mr. Mathur ’ s physical address , prosecutors said .

Anger and suspicion over the results of the Nov. 3 presidential election are fueling threats and intimidation toward elections officials and lawmakers.
A Maryland man was charged this week with threatening to kill the family members of a House member. Prosecutors said the man was worried the Maryland lawmaker, who wasn’t named in the indictment, would try to “mess” with his vote.
A New Hampshire woman was charged this week with sending threats to a Republican member of a Detroit-area election board who refused to certify the election results.
President-elect Joseph R. Biden’s victory is set to be reaffirmed next month when a new Congress convenes to count each state’s Electoral College votes.
President Trump has refused to concede, claiming widespread fraud and urging his Republican allies to challenge the results. He repeatedly railed against voting machine software deleting or switching votes for him, while claiming Trump ballots were stolen or destroyed.
His efforts to overturn the results have been unsuccessful, and even his attorney general disputed his claims of widespread election fraud.
Fear and distrust abound on both sides of the political divide, with pro-Trump Republicans lashing out over what they see as a stolen election and Democrats angry about the challenges to the legitimacy of a Biden presidency.
With passions running high, people are directing their anger toward elected officials.
Authorities in Arizona are investigating “ongoing and escalating” threats against Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, the state’s top elections official. Ms. Hobbs, a Democrat, has lambasted Mr. Trump for spreading “misinformation” about the election, which she says prompted the threats.
One threat posted on Parler, a social media site popular with conservatives, reads: “Let’s burn her house down and kill her family and teach these fraudsters a lesson.”
Ms. Hobbs’s home address, personal information and son’s cellphone number also were posted on Parler.
Arizona officials said the investigation is ongoing.
In Georgia, one of the most contested states of this past election, a slew of local lawmakers have been targeted.
After challenging election fraud claims by Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, state Sen. Elena Parent was notified that her personal information had been posted online. A far-right message board posted photos of her, polling users and what form of “punishment” she should receive, with the most common response being sexual violence against her and execution.
In addition, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Rafensperger and his wife said they received threats. And an elections worker in the state said he went into hiding last month after a debunked video spurred accusations he destroyed ballots.
State elections official Gabriel Sterling said in a press conference last week that the threats have “gone too far.”
“Someone is going to get hurt. Someone is going to get shot. Someone is going to get killed,” he said. “And it’s not right.”
The threats also come from the political left.
In Michigan, prosecutors say Katelyn Jones, 23, was outraged that Monica Palmer, chairwoman of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, refused to sign off on Mr. Biden’s win.
Ms. Jones texted Ms. Palmer two graphic photos of a deceased, mutilated nude woman lying on the ground, according to court documents. Those photos were followed by a third of Ms. Palmer’s minor daughter.
“I’d just like you to imagine that’s your beautiful daughter,” Ms. Jones said of the texts, according to a criminal complaint.
Other texts allegedly sent by Ms. Jones called Ms. Palmer a “disgusting racist b——” and “a terrorist.”
Federal prosecutors in Maryland say Sidhartha Kuma Mathur, 34, delivered threats to an unidentified congressman via voicemail and through the congressman’s website.
On Dec. 10, the congressman received a voicemail that stated: “If you even mess with my vote, I’m going to come, and I’ll slit your throat, and I’ll kill your family.”
The message closed with: “You represent me, I’ll kill you.”
Minutes earlier, the congressman’s website received a written threat to blow up his district office, according to court documents. The message continued:
“I know where you and your family lives. You will be ended. You’re a animal that needs to be tortured and skinned alive.”
Federal authorities say they traced the threats back to Mr. Mathur because he left behind his actual phone number on the voicemail. The email threat was linked to an IP address at Mr. Mathur’s physical address, prosecutors said.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Appeals court rips Trump attempt to flip Wisconsin election results

Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump by 0.6 points in Wisconsin in the Nov. 6 election , a key victory that helped propel Biden to the White House .
Trump filed the lawsuit in the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Dec. 2 against the state elections commission , arguing the court should order the state ’ s Republican-controlled Legislature to declare he had won the state .
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig , a Trump appointee , refused , ruling on Dec. 12 that Trump ’ s arguments “ fail as a matter of law and fact.
” He said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount to the “ most remarkable ruling in the history of this court or the federal judiciary.
” Trump then turned to the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
A three-judge panel from that court affirmed Ludwig ’ s decision late Thursday afternoon , finding that Trump should have challenged the state ’ s election laws before the election .
All three judges were appointed by Republican presidents .
One of them , Michael Scudder , was appointed by Trump .
“ Allowing the President to raise his arguments , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tallied the votes and certified the election outcome , would impose unquestionable harm on the defendants , and the State ’ s voters , ” Scudder wrote .
Trump and his allies have suffered dozens of defeats in Wisconsin and across the country in lawsuits that rely on unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud and election abuse .

MADISON, Wis. — A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a decision dismissing a lawsuit seeking to declare President Trump won swing state Wisconsin.
Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump by 0.6 points in Wisconsin in the Nov. 6 election, a key victory that helped propel Biden to the White House.
Trump filed the lawsuit in the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Dec. 2 against the state elections commission, arguing the court should order the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature to declare he had won the state.
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig, a Trump appointee, refused, ruling on Dec. 12 that Trump’s arguments “fail as a matter of law and fact.” He said that ruling in Trump’s favor would amount to the “most remarkable ruling in the history of this court or the federal judiciary.”
Trump then turned to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel from that court affirmed Ludwig’s decision late Thursday afternoon, finding that Trump should have challenged the state’s election laws before the election. All three judges were appointed by Republican presidents. One of them, Michael Scudder, was appointed by Trump.
“Allowing the President to raise his arguments, at this late date, after Wisconsin has tallied the votes and certified the election outcome, would impose unquestionable harm on the defendants, and the State’s voters,” Scudder wrote.
Trump and his allies have suffered dozens of defeats in Wisconsin and across the country in lawsuits that rely on unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud and election abuse.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--AP Week in Pictures, North America

AP Week in Pictures, North America

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated @ @ @ @ @ Canada .
The selection was curated by AP photo editor Patrick Sison in New York @

In this photo provided by the National Park Service, people watch an eruption from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano on the Big Island on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. The volcano shot steam and an ash cloud into the atmosphere which lasted about …
In this photo provided by the …


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Court affirms ruling dismissing Trump challenge in Wisconsin

Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump by 0.6 points in Wisconsin in the Nov. 3 election , a key victory that helped propel Biden to the White House .
Trump filed the lawsuit in the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Dec. 2 against the state elections commission , arguing the court should order the state ’ s Republican-controlled Legislature to declare he had won the state .
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig , a Trump appointee , refused , ruling on Dec. 12 that Trump ’ s arguments “ fail as a matter of law and fact.
” He said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount to the “ most remarkable ruling in the history of this court or the federal judiciary.
” Trump then turned to the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
A three-judge panel from that court affirmed Ludwig ’ s decision late Thursday afternoon , finding that Trump should have challenged the state ’ s election laws before the election .
All three judges were appointed by Republican presidents .
One of them , Michael Scudder , was appointed by Trump .
“ Allowing the President to raise his arguments , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tallied the votes and certified the election outcome , would impose unquestionable harm on the defendants , and the State ’ s voters , ” Scudder wrote .
Trump and his allies have suffered dozens of defeats in Wisconsin and across the country in lawsuits that rely on unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud and election abuse .
This story has been corrected to show the election was Nov. 3 .

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a decision dismissing a lawsuit seeking to declare President Donald Trump won swing state Wisconsin.
Democrat Joe Biden defeated Trump by 0.6 points in Wisconsin in the Nov. 3 election, a key victory that helped propel Biden to the White House.
Trump filed the lawsuit in the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Dec. 2 against the state elections commission, arguing the court should order the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature to declare he had won the state. U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig, a Trump appointee, refused, ruling on Dec. 12 that Trump’s arguments “fail as a matter of law and fact.” He said that ruling in Trump’s favor would amount to the “most remarkable ruling in the history of this court or the federal judiciary.”
Trump then turned to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel from that court affirmed Ludwig’s decision late Thursday afternoon, finding that Trump should have challenged the state’s election laws before the election. All three judges were appointed by Republican presidents. One of them, Michael Scudder, was appointed by Trump.
“Allowing the President to raise his arguments, at this late date, after Wisconsin has tallied the votes and certified the election outcome, would impose unquestionable harm on the defendants, and the State’s voters,” Scudder wrote.
Trump and his allies have suffered dozens of defeats in Wisconsin and across the country in lawsuits that rely on unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud and election abuse.
___
This story has been corrected to show the election was Nov. 3.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--2 arrested after trying to break into Topeka paper's offices

TOPEKA , Kan. ( AP ) - Police arrested two men for attempting to break into the Topeka Capital-Journal ’ s newspaper offices on the morning of Christmas Eve .
Shawnee County Dispatch confirmed the arrests Thursday and said both men were transported to the hospital for medical attention , the newspaper reported .
Its offices in a downtown building are a floor above a bank .
Capital-Journal customer service representative Dee Koenke said two men approached the newsroom ’ s back entrance at about 8 a.m .
They demanded to be let into the office and were carrying what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Koenke said the men told her they were there to “ get all of the money.
” She and two other workers called police and warned the men they ’ d done so , but the men continued trying to pry open the door .
The employees fled to a stairwell and waited for police to arrive .
The building ’ s fire alarm went off at some point , and people in the building evacuated .
A police dog helped in a search and at 9:20 a.m. , officers took one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was brought out to an ambulance .
The Capital-Journal ’ s newsroom has been working remotely for much of the coronavirus pandemic .
Only a few administrative staff still go into the newspaper ’ s offices

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Police arrested two men for attempting to break into the Topeka Capital-Journal’s newspaper offices on the morning of Christmas Eve.
Shawnee County Dispatch confirmed the arrests Thursday and said both men were transported to the hospital for medical attention, the newspaper reported. Its offices in a downtown building are a floor above a bank.
Capital-Journal customer service representative Dee Koenke said two men approached the newsroom’s back entrance at about 8 a.m. They demanded to be let into the office and were carrying what appeared to be folded newspapers and toolboxes.
Koenke said the men told her they were there to “get all of the money.”
She and two other workers called police and warned the men they’d done so, but the men continued trying to pry open the door. The employees fled to a stairwell and waited for police to arrive.
The building’s fire alarm went off at some point, and people in the building evacuated.
A police dog helped in a search and at 9:20 a.m., officers took one man out in handcuffs. Another man was brought out to an ambulance.
The Capital-Journal’s newsroom has been working remotely for much of the coronavirus pandemic. Only a few administrative staff still go into the newspaper’s offices


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Pima County corrections officer arrested on assault charges

TUCSON , Ariz. ( AP ) - A Pima County corrections officer who has been on leave since August is @ @ @ @ @ The Pima County Sheriff ’ s Office says 36-year-old Michael Flaminio was arrested Wednesday on @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities said in a news release that Flaminio has been under investigation for a @ @ @ @ @ .
No details of the incident were given .
However , corrections staff asked sheriff @ @ @ @ @ over the investigation .
The Pima County Attorney ’ s Office reviewed the case and @ @ @ @ @ against Flaminio .
Flaminio was cited and released on Wednesday .
It was not immediately @ @ @ @ @ attorney .

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A Pima County corrections officer who has been on leave since August is now facing assault charges.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office says 36-year-old Michael Flaminio was arrested Wednesday on two misdemeanor counts of assault.
Authorities said in a news release that Flaminio has been under investigation for a use-of-force incident since Aug. 15.
No details of the incident were given. However, corrections staff asked sheriff’s detectives to take over the investigation.
The Pima County Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and opted to pursue misdemeanor charges against Flaminio.
Flaminio was cited and released on Wednesday. It was not immediately known if he had an attorney.
He remains on paid leave.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--California churches indoor worship ban fate lies with three-judge panel

Los Angeles County has lifted its ban on indoor worship , but other California churches faced the prospect of a remote Christmas after an appeals court declined a request to block a state lockdown order in time for the sacred Christian religious holiday .
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled a hearing on Harvest Rock Church ’ s motion for a temporary restraining order for Dec. 28 , eliminating any chance for the Pasadena church to hold Christmas services indoors .
That left California churches with one last hope : Another three-judge panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion from the South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista that would clear the way for worshippers to gather inside the sanctuary .
“ No one should ever have to choose between worship or jail in America .
Yet , that is exactly the choice Gov .
[ Gavin ] Newsom has placed on every person in California , ” said Mat Staver , founder and president of the Liberty Counsel who represents Harvest Rock Church and Harvest Ministry International .
“ This will not stand.
” One of the three panelists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chastised the court for failing to lift the pandemic restrictions for Christmas .
“ Even if we need more time to consider the pending motion in full , we should have granted the church at least the temporary relief it needs to ensure that its members can exercise freely the fundamental right to practice their Christian religion on one of the most sacred Christian days of the year , ” said Judge O ’ Scannlain , who dissented in part and concurred in part with the ruling .
He said it was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it finds itself in this predicament.
” Harvest Rock filed for a temporary restraining order as soon as the lower-court orders were vacated following the Supreme Court ’ s Thanksgiving Eve decision in Roman Catholic Diocese v. Cuomo .
In that case , the high court blocked New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo from enforcing strict occupancy limits on churches based on public-health restrictions implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19 .
Los Angeles County lifted its public-health restrictions Saturday on indoor services in response to a Supreme Court decision .
Judge O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wait more than two weeks before the district court ruled on that motion.
” “ When the district court finally denied its motion two days ago , Harvest Rock Church filed a notice of appeal the same day , ” he said .
“ The next day [ Tuesday ] , the church moved for an emergency injunction from our court.
” Harvest Rock has held indoor worship in defiance of Mr. Newsom ’ s latest public-health mandate , under which 99 % of state residents are under strict regional stay-at-home orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , put capacity limits on shopping , and allow outdoor worship services only .
Mr. Staver said he expected to church to hold indoor Christmas services .
“ Harvest is going to risk the criminal arrest anyway and have a service , ” Mr. Staver said .
He said he believed the California churches would prevail based on the Supreme Court ’ s decision in New York .
“ We will win this case , ” Mr. Staver said .
“ I have no doubt about it .
It ’ s just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to go back to the Supreme Court , we will .
I think the road map is obvious from New York.
” Under Mr. Newsom ’ s Dec. 3 order , the state was divided into five geographical regions , with lockdown orders kicking in if hospital ICU capacity falls below 15 % .
Four of the five regions are under the stay-at-home order .
The state on Thursday surpassed two million cases of COVID-19 , with statewide ICU capacity falling to 1.1 % as the number of ICU patients with COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hospitalizations rose 61 % .
“ Hospitals are full , ICU beds are few , people are dying , ” said Dr. Mark Ghaly , state secretary for Health and Human Services .
“ The simplest thing we can do , but also the most significant , is to stay home .
We are the first line of defense against the virus and we must act now.
” Churches challenging the worship restrictions argue that Mr. Newsom lacks the constitutional authority to implement lockdown orders , and that “ even in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put away and forgotten.
” “ The restrictions at issue here , by effectively barring many from attending religious services , strike at the very heart of the First Amendment ’ s guarantee of religious liberty , ” said the motion in the South Bay case filed by the Thomas More Society .
The churches also point out that the entertainment industry , including music , movie and film production , received an exemption for its workforce “ provided they follow COVID-19 public health guidance around physical distancing.
” “ In essence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship , but if Hollywood was making a moving and pretending to hold indoor worship , that would be OK , ” said United Pentecostal Bishop Arthur Hodges III in a statement .
The three-judge panel in Harvest Rock set a Dec. 28 deadline for the state to reply to the church ’ s motion , with the church ordered to respond by Dec. 29 .
In the South Bay case , the panel set a Dec. 31 deadline for opening briefs , with an answering brief due Jan. 7 and optional reply @ @ @ @

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected late Thursday a San Diego-area church’s request to lift a state ban on indoor worship for Christmas, all but extinguishing the last hope of California churches hours before the Friday celebration.
Charles LiMandri, special counsel for the Thomas More Society, said he would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene after a three-judge panel denied the emergency motion to lift temporarily California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“We are extremely disappointed that the Ninth Circuit has yanked the joy of Christmas away from South Bay United Pentecostal Church and its congregants,” Mr. LiMandri said in a statement.
Another three-judge panel on Wednesday effectively nixed Christmas Day services for a different California church, Harvest Rock Church, by scheduling a hearing on the emergency motion for Dec. 28.
Attorneys for the churches had pointed out that the Supreme Court earlier this month vacated orders against the California churches after ruling in favor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn in its lawsuit against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s public health restrictions.
“By refusing to allow South Bay to participate in the worldwide celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the court is continuing to perpetuate the violations of religious liberty that Governor Newsom has been executing for nine months under the guise of COVID-19 prevention,” Mr. LiMandri said.
Mr. Newsom’s latest public health order covers about 99% of the state population, although Los Angeles County removed last week its ban on indoor worship, provided that congregants adhere to social-distancing and mask protocols.
Harvest Rock Church and Harvest Ministry International plan to hold indoor services in defiance of the state public-health order, said Liberty Counsel founder and president Mat Staver.
Mr. Staver said a ruling in favor of removing the restrictions for South Bay or Harvest Rock would have presumably applied to all California churches.
In the Harvest Rock case, 9th Circuit Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain chastised the court for failing to lift the pandemic restrictions in time for Christmas.
“Even if we need more time to consider the pending motion in full, we should have granted the church at least the temporary relief it needs to ensure that its members can exercise freely the fundamental right to practice their Christian religion on one of the most sacred Christian days of the year,” said Judge O’Scannlain in the Wednesday ruling.
In the South Bay case, the panel set a Dec. 31 deadline for opening briefs, with an answering brief due Jan. 7 and an optional reply due Jan. 11.
The state on Thursday surpassed 2 million cases of COVID-19. Statewide ICU capacity has dropped to 1.1% as the number of ICU patients with COVID-19 doubled in the last three weeks, and hospitalizations rose 61%.
“Hospitals are full, ICU beds are few, people are dying,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, state secretary for Health and Human Services, in a Thursday statement. “The simplest thing we can do, but also the most significant, is to stay home. We are the first line of defense against the virus and we must act now.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Unemployment benefits in jeopardy as federal relief stalls

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Nevada officials overseeing the state ’ s unemployment insurance system blasted the U.S. Congress for gridlock that has prevented passage of a bill that extends benefits for laid-off workers amid the pandemic .
Former Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley , who leads a state strike force tasked with ensuring people receive benefits that they are entitled to , said unless the U.S. House of Representatives , Senate and President Donald Trump agree on a bill that extends pandemic relief , Nevada would be forced to stop providing benefits to about 200,000 laid-off workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are about to face unbelievable hardship as their unemployment benefits stop on Saturday , ” Buckley said .
“ Our economy is still reeling from this pandemic .
Jobs have not yet returned .
Congress and the president have had months to act.
” Coronavirus relief passed by the federal government in the spring has allowed the state to extend traditional unemployment benefits for laid-off workers and provide benefits to freelance and gig workers traditionally not eligible for benefits .
A bill to extend the benefits beyond 2020 has languished for months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to reach agreement on a supplemental aid package .
After a deal negotiated by party leaders won bipartisan approval , Trump said he would sign neither a government funds bill nor a coronavirus relief package , putting unemployment benefits , eviction protections and other emergency aid at risk .
Unemployment spiked after the pandemic forced businesses to close in March .
In Nevada , where a 28.2 % unemployment rate topped the U.S. in April , hundreds of thousands of unforeseen claims have flooded the state ’ s unemployment system , resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread confusion regarding eligibility and outrage among the general public .
To receive benefits , claimants have been forced to navigate a confusing set of requirements and a system plagued by balky technology , computer glitches and jammed phone lines .
Even if the president and congressional leaders reach an agreement , it will take the state weeks to adapt its system to new requirements , said Elisa Cafferata , the director of Nevada ’ s Department of Employment , Training and Rehabilitation .
“ It is not possible for our system to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time .
We can not prepare our system to stop , delay or continue all at once , ” she said .
Cafferata urged claimants to continue to file for weekly benefits and reassured them that if they ’ re unable to file because of delays , the state plans to let them “ catch up ” once a bill is signed .
The bill negotiated by Republicans and Democrats in Congress and rejected by Trump included additional requirements for unemployed workers already enrolled in the benefit system , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1099s .
It also allowed states to decide whether to claw back overpayment from claimants .
After a bill is passed , the U.S. Department of Labor will issue a guidance document to states about the new requirements .
It would take about two weeks for the changes to be implemented , Cafferata said .
“ A gap in benefits has become virtually unavoidable for Nevadans , ” she said .
Cafferata said she expected the holidays to be an “ extremely difficult ” time for families who have run out of money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenant assistance remain in limbo until Congress passes an aid package .
But Cafferata urged struggling residents to identify assistance programs like food aid and utility-payment relief by calling 211 or monitoring media reports .
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada officials overseeing the state’s unemployment insurance system blasted the U.S. Congress for gridlock that has prevented passage of a bill that extends benefits for laid-off workers amid the pandemic.
Former Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, who leads a state strike force tasked with ensuring people receive benefits that they are entitled to, said unless the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate and President Donald Trump agree on a bill that extends pandemic relief, Nevada would be forced to stop providing benefits to about 200,000 laid-off workers who currently receive them.
“Families are about to face unbelievable hardship as their unemployment benefits stop on Saturday,” Buckley said. “Our economy is still reeling from this pandemic. Jobs have not yet returned. Congress and the president have had months to act.”
Coronavirus relief passed by the federal government in the spring has allowed the state to extend traditional unemployment benefits for laid-off workers and provide benefits to freelance and gig workers traditionally not eligible for benefits. A bill to extend the benefits beyond 2020 has languished for months, with the Democratic-led House and Republican-led Senate unable to reach agreement on a supplemental aid package.
After a deal negotiated by party leaders won bipartisan approval, Trump said he would sign neither a government funds bill nor a coronavirus relief package, putting unemployment benefits, eviction protections and other emergency aid at risk.
Unemployment spiked after the pandemic forced businesses to close in March. In Nevada, where a 28.2% unemployment rate topped the U.S. in April, hundreds of thousands of unforeseen claims have flooded the state’s unemployment system, resulting in delayed payouts, attempted fraud, widespread confusion regarding eligibility and outrage among the general public.
To receive benefits, claimants have been forced to navigate a confusing set of requirements and a system plagued by balky technology, computer glitches and jammed phone lines. Even if the president and congressional leaders reach an agreement, it will take the state weeks to adapt its system to new requirements, said Elisa Cafferata, the director of Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
“It is not possible for our system to prepare for three different possible futures all at the same time. We cannot prepare our system to stop, delay or continue all at once,” she said.
Cafferata urged claimants to continue to file for weekly benefits and reassured them that if they’re unable to file because of delays, the state plans to let them “catch up” once a bill is signed.
The bill negotiated by Republicans and Democrats in Congress and rejected by Trump included additional requirements for unemployed workers already enrolled in the benefit system, including tax forms that prove income, like 1099s. It also allowed states to decide whether to claw back overpayment from claimants.
After a bill is passed, the U.S. Department of Labor will issue a guidance document to states about the new requirements. It would take about two weeks for the changes to be implemented, Cafferata said.
“A gap in benefits has become virtually unavoidable for Nevadans,” she said.
Cafferata said she expected the holidays to be an “extremely difficult” time for families who have run out of money.
The fate of other programs like tenant assistance remain in limbo until Congress passes an aid package. But Cafferata urged struggling residents to identify assistance programs like food aid and utility-payment relief by calling 211 or monitoring media reports.
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-12-24--Reward offered in cases of slashed California pelicans

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A $ 5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of @ @ @ @ @ and necks of brown pelicans on the Southern California coast .
International Bird Rescue posted @ @ @ @ @ with identical , severe injuries were brought in for care at its facility in the @ @ @ @ @ Angeles .
Three of the birds were brought in from Marina del Rey in Los @ @ @ @ @ was rescued at Ventura Harbor in Ventura County .
The organization noted that a pelican @ @ @ @ @ in from Ventura Harbor in the fall of 2019. International Bird Rescue said in a @ @ @ @ @ injuries are different than the hundreds of pelican pouch injuries seen by staff veterinarian Rebecca @ @ @ @ @ caused by fish hooks , boat propeller strikes of those or similar accidents , but @ @ @ @ @ have straight cuts through both sides of the pouch , it said .
The most @ @ @ @ @ be euthanized .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever is slashing the pouches and necks of brown pelicans on the Southern California coast.
International Bird Rescue posted the reward after four pelicans with identical, severe injuries were brought in for care at its facility in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles.
Three of the birds were brought in from Marina del Rey in Los Angeles County and the fourth was rescued at Ventura Harbor in Ventura County. The organization noted that a pelican with similar injuries was brought in from Ventura Harbor in the fall of 2019.
International Bird Rescue said in a statement this week that the injuries are different than the hundreds of pelican pouch injuries seen by staff veterinarian Rebecca Duerr.
Most injuries are caused by fish hooks, boat propeller strikes of those or similar accidents, but the apparently deliberately injured birds have straight cuts through both sides of the pouch, it said.
The most recent wounded bird had to be euthanized.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Judge delays execution of only woman on US death row

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — A federal judge said the Justice Department unlawfully rescheduled the execution of the only woman on federal death row , potentially setting up the Trump administration to schedule the execution after president-elect Joe Biden takes office .
U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss also vacated an order from the director of the Bureau of Prisons that had set Lisa Montgomery ’ s execution date for Jan. 12 .
Montgomery had previously been scheduled to be put to death at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute , Indiana , this month , but Moss delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visiting their client and asked him to extend the amount of time to file a clemency petition .
Moss prohibited the Bureau of Prisons from carrying out Lisa Montgomery ’ s execution before the end of the year and officials rescheduled her execution date for Jan. 12 .
But Moss ruled on Wednesday that the agency was also prohibited from rescheduling the date while a stay was in place .
“ The Court , accordingly , concludes that the Director ’ s order setting a new execution date while the Court ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in accordance with law , ’ ” Moss wrote .
A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Under the order , the Bureau of Prisons can not reschedule Montgomery ’ s execution until at least Jan. 1 .
Generally , under Justice Department guidelines , a death-row inmate must be notified at least 20 days before the execution .
Because of the judge ’ s order , if the Justice Department chooses to reschedule the date in January , it could mean that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s inauguration on Jan. 20 .
A spokesperson for Biden has told The Associated Press the president-elect “ opposes the death penalty now and in the future ” and would work as president to end its use in office .
But Biden ’ s representatives have not said whether executions would be paused immediately once Biden takes office .
Montgomery was convicted of killing 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett in the northwest Missouri town of Skidmore in December 2004 .
He used a rope to strangle Stinnett , who was eight months pregnant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the baby girl from the womb , authorities said .
Prosecutors said Montgomery removed the baby from Stinnett ’ s body , took the child with her , and attempted to pass the girl off as her own .
Montgomery ’ s legal team has argued that their client suffers from serious mental illnesses .
“ Given the severity of Mrs. Montgomery ’ s mental illness , the sexual and physical torture she endured throughout her life , and the connection between her trauma and the facts of her crime , we appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and commute her sentence to life imprisonment , ” one of Montgomery ’ s lawyers , Sandra Babcock , said in a statement .
Two other federal inmates are scheduled to be executed in January but have tested positive for coronavirus and their attorneys are also seeking delays to their executions .

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge said the Justice Department unlawfully rescheduled the execution of the only woman on federal death row, potentially setting up the Trump administration to schedule the execution after president-elect Joe Biden takes office.
U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss also vacated an order from the director of the Bureau of Prisons that had set Lisa Montgomery’s execution date for Jan. 12. Montgomery had previously been scheduled to be put to death at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, this month, but Moss delayed the execution after her attorneys contracted coronavirus visiting their client and asked him to extend the amount of time to file a clemency petition.
Moss prohibited the Bureau of Prisons from carrying out Lisa Montgomery’s execution before the end of the year and officials rescheduled her execution date for Jan. 12. But Moss ruled on Wednesday that the agency was also prohibited from rescheduling the date while a stay was in place.
“The Court, accordingly, concludes that the Director’s order setting a new execution date while the Court’s stay was in effect was ‘not in accordance with law,’” Moss wrote.
A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Under the order, the Bureau of Prisons cannot reschedule Montgomery’s execution until at least Jan. 1. Generally, under Justice Department guidelines, a death-row inmate must be notified at least 20 days before the execution. Because of the judge’s order, if the Justice Department chooses to reschedule the date in January, it could mean that the execution would be scheduled after Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
A spokesperson for Biden has told The Associated Press the president-elect “opposes the death penalty now and in the future” and would work as president to end its use in office. But Biden’s representatives have not said whether executions would be paused immediately once Biden takes office.
Montgomery was convicted of killing 23-year-old Bobbie Jo Stinnett in the northwest Missouri town of Skidmore in December 2004. He used a rope to strangle Stinnett, who was eight months pregnant, and then a kitchen knife to cut the baby girl from the womb, authorities said.
Prosecutors said Montgomery removed the baby from Stinnett’s body, took the child with her, and attempted to pass the girl off as her own. Montgomery’s legal team has argued that their client suffers from serious mental illnesses.
“Given the severity of Mrs. Montgomery’s mental illness, the sexual and physical torture she endured throughout her life, and the connection between her trauma and the facts of her crime, we appeal to President Trump to grant her mercy, and commute her sentence to life imprisonment,” one of Montgomery’s lawyers, Sandra Babcock, said in a statement.
Two other federal inmates are scheduled to be executed in January but have tested positive for coronavirus and their attorneys are also seeking delays to their executions.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Williamsburg battlefield land purchased for preservation

WILLIAMSBURG , Va. ( AP ) - A significant portion of Williamsburg ’ s historic Civil War battlefield was recently purchased to be secured for preservation .
The American Battlefield Trust bought the 29 acres in the area of the “ Bloody Ravine ” from The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation , The Virginia Gazette reported .
Funding came from grants from the National Park Service ’ s American Battlefield Protection Program and the commonwealth of Virginia , in addition to money raised by the Battlefield Trust .
The land was zoned for commercial used and valued at $ 2,743,000 .
Located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s historic area and primarily within the city limits , the land is pristine and looks much as it did 158 years ago when the battle took place , according to the newspaper .
“ Sometimes the stars align , and that certainly felt like the case with this project , ” David Duncan , president of the Battlefield Trust , said in a statement .
He stressed that the value of the commercial property was “ eye-popping.
” While some scattered parcels of land where the Battle of Williamsburg took place were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were erased with the construction of subdivisions and shopping centers .

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) - A significant portion of Williamsburg’s historic Civil War battlefield was recently purchased to be secured for preservation.
The American Battlefield Trust bought the 29 acres in the area of the “Bloody Ravine” from The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, The Virginia Gazette reported. Funding came from grants from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program and the commonwealth of Virginia, in addition to money raised by the Battlefield Trust.
The land was zoned for commercial used and valued at $2,743,000. Located about 1 mile from the city’s historic area and primarily within the city limits, the land is pristine and looks much as it did 158 years ago when the battle took place, according to the newspaper.
“Sometimes the stars align, and that certainly felt like the case with this project,” David Duncan, president of the Battlefield Trust, said in a statement. He stressed that the value of the commercial property was “eye-popping.”
While some scattered parcels of land where the Battle of Williamsburg took place were preserved over the years, most traces were erased with the construction of subdivisions and shopping centers.