washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Massachusetts ban on pandemic evictions, foreclosures ending

BOSTON ( AP ) - The state ’ s ban on evictions and foreclosures imposed during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic expires on Saturday , leaving many worrying about their housing security .
Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker this week unveiled a $ 171 million initiative he said will help tenants and landlords cope .
Baker said the goal is to keep tenants in their homes and also ease the ongoing expenses of landlords .
The bulk of the spending - about $ 100 million - will go to expand the capacity of the Residential Assistance for Families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renters and landlords struggling because of the pandemic .
Housing advocates said Baker ’ s plan doesn ’ t go far enough .
They ’ re pressing the Republican governor and state lawmakers to back a more comprehensive eviction prevention measure .
The bill would ensure tenants can not be evicted because of missed rent if nonpayment was because of COVID-19 .
It would also prevent “ no fault ” evictions and rent increases for 12 months following the state of emergency .
Among those calling on Baker to extend the moratorium is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ending the moratorium now would put our most vulnerable families in harm ’ s way , ” Pressley said in a written statement Thursday .
“ With a stroke of a pen , Governor Baker could prevent the looming eviction tsunami.
” Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has also announced a “ housing stability pledge ” that he said aims to prevent evictions once a statewide moratorium ends .
The pledge asks landlords to honor the federal eviction moratorium ; create payment plans for struggling tenants ; help connect tenants with resources ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When the state moratorium ends , a moratorium established by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will take effect .
The CDC moratorium will prevent evictions through December for non-payment for qualified tenants who submit a written declaration to their landlord .
Protection is limited to households who meet certain income and vulnerability criteria .

BOSTON (AP) - The state’s ban on evictions and foreclosures imposed during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic expires on Saturday, leaving many worrying about their housing security.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker this week unveiled a $171 million initiative he said will help tenants and landlords cope. Baker said the goal is to keep tenants in their homes and also ease the ongoing expenses of landlords.
The bulk of the spending - about $100 million - will go to expand the capacity of the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program to provide relief to renters and landlords struggling because of the pandemic.
Housing advocates said Baker’s plan doesn’t go far enough. They’re pressing the Republican governor and state lawmakers to back a more comprehensive eviction prevention measure.
The bill would ensure tenants cannot be evicted because of missed rent if nonpayment was because of COVID-19. It would also prevent “no fault” evictions and rent increases for 12 months following the state of emergency.
Among those calling on Baker to extend the moratorium is Democratic U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley.
“Ending the moratorium now would put our most vulnerable families in harm’s way,” Pressley said in a written statement Thursday. “With a stroke of a pen, Governor Baker could prevent the looming eviction tsunami.”
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has also announced a “housing stability pledge” that he said aims to prevent evictions once a statewide moratorium ends.
The pledge asks landlords to honor the federal eviction moratorium; create payment plans for struggling tenants; help connect tenants with resources; and work with tenants with housing vouchers.
When the state moratorium ends, a moratorium established by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will take effect.
The CDC moratorium will prevent evictions through December for non-payment for qualified tenants who submit a written declaration to their landlord. Protection is limited to households who meet certain income and vulnerability criteria.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--State, county sue to close school in virus hot spot

NEW YORK ( AP ) - State and county health officials filed a lawsuit Friday against an Orange County school that they said has remained open despite an order to close because of a spike in coronavirus cases .
The Times Herald-Record reports the suit filed in state Supreme Court in Goshen names the Bnei Yoel school in Kiryas Joel .
Earlier this month , Orange County health officials ordered schools in the Orthodox Jewish community to remain closed for two weeks .
In the lawsuit , a deputy county health commissioner said he visited the school on two days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not observing social distancing .
A phone message was left Saturday with the village ’ s administrator .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo reinstated restrictions this month on businesses , houses of worship and schools in and near areas where coronavirus cases are spiking .
The new rules , which include school and business shutdowns and limitations on gatherings , affect parts of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City , sections of Orange and Rockland counties outside the city , and an area within Binghamton in the Southern Tier .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ blatantly anti-Semitic ” for targeting Orthodox communities .
On Friday , in a case brought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn , a federal judge upheld Cuomo ’ s order limiting worship to as few as 10 congregants in communities seeing spikes in coronavirus infections .

NEW YORK (AP) - Movie theaters in New York state can reopen beginning Oct. 23 with restrictions on audience size and other precautions in place, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday.
Theaters in New York City aren’t included, and counties must have a positivity rate below 2% on a 14-day average and have no “cluster zones.”
Audiences will be restricted to 25% of capacity with a maximum of 50 people per screen, Cuomo said at his briefing. Masks will be required and there will be assigned seating to ensure social distancing.
This week, the Global Cinema Federation sent an open letter to Cuomo urging him to let theaters reopen, saying Hollywood studios may continue delaying their remaining 2020 releases if theaters remain closed. The group asked Cuomo to adopt a county-by-county plan for theater openings based on virus data, similar what it said California Gov. Gavin Newsom has done.
___
SCHOOL SUED
State and county health officials filed a lawsuit Friday against an Orange County school that they said has remained open despite an order to close because of a spike in coronavirus cases.
The Times Herald-Record reports the suit filed in state Supreme Court in Goshen names the Bnei Yoel school in Kiryas Joel, an Orthodox Jewish community. Earlier this month, Orange County health officials ordered schools in the area to close for two weeks.
In the lawsuit, a deputy county health commissioner said he visited the school on two days recently and saw children not wearing masks and not observing social distancing.
A phone message was left Saturday with the village’s administrator.
Cuomo reinstated restrictions this month on businesses, houses of worship and schools in and near areas where coronavirus cases are spiking.
The new rules, which include school and business shutdowns and limitations on gatherings, affect parts of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City, sections of Orange and Rockland counties outside the city, and an area within Binghamton in the Southern Tier.
Some Jewish leaders have called the measures “blatantly anti-Semitic” for targeting Orthodox communities. On Friday, in a case brought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, a federal judge upheld Cuomo’s order limiting worship to as few as 10 congregants in communities seeing spikes in coronavirus infections.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Black immigrants find camaraderie, divide amid protests

Inspired by the global protests against systemic racism and police brutality , Nigerian American blogger Nifesimi Akingbe donned a black shirt that read “ I am Black history , ” and began recording a video .
Akingbe then went on to list her frustrations about racism in America and directed her message to Black immigrant communities like her own : This is your battle , too .
“ When these cops see us or when some of these racist people see us , they see a Black person , ” Akingbe said during the 34-minute video posted on YouTube .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you were born in Alabama , if you were born in Nigeria , in Ghana , in Sierra Leone .
They see one color.
” Akingbe , of suburban Baltimore , is among the many young Black immigrants or children of immigrants who say they are speaking out for racial equity while also trying to convince older members of their communities that these issues should matter to them , too .
“ I feel like their mindset is different , ” the 31-year-old told The Associated Press , referring to immigrants like her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overlook racial issues .
To be sure , most Black immigrants have experienced the brutal legacy of European colonization , and those from Latin American and Caribbean nations have a history of slavery in their own countries .
In the U.S. , from the civil rights movement to the current Black Lives Matter demonstrations , there have also been generational tensions in the African American community when it comes to taking a stand against racism .
But these have largely been over tactics , said David Canton , a professor of African American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Everybody has a role in the movement .
People have to learn to live with that and respect people ’ s decisions , ” Canton said .
Like Akingbe , fellow Nigerian American Ade Okupe has been having conversations with older immigrants in hopes that they will see police brutality as something that also affects them .
So far , the 27-year-old said , he hasn ’ t been successful .
“ It ’ s a non-issue to the older generation , ” said Okupe , who lives in Parkville , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chats , older immigrants tell him they came to America to work and provide a better life for their children , not to protest about race .
“ They want to make sure they are not doing anything that rocks the boat , ” said Daniel Gillion , author of “ The Loud Minority : Why Protests Matter in American Democracy.
” “ They are trying to be good citizens and protests , in their eyes , - pushing back and criticizing the nation - isn ’ t their perception of being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their attitudes are driven by worries about their children .
Elsa Arega , an Ethiopian immigrant who lives in Lancaster , Pennsylvania , was horrified by the police killing of George Floyd in May and cares about what is going on .
But she also wants to keep her daughter , a college student in Virginia , safe and fears her daughter could put herself in danger if she participates in protests .
“ I just want her to focus on her education , ” Arega said , speaking her native Amharic language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work and change their lives , not to get into an argument with the government.
” The number of Black immigrants to the United States has increased in recent decades largely due to family reunification , the admission of refugees from war-torn countries like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and the diversity visa lottery program , according to the Migration Policy Institute .
This has led to ethnic enclaves across the U.S. West African communities are dominant in New York City , Ethiopians have made their mark in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Black immigrants from the Caribbean are prominent in Florida and New York City .
Somalis have a sizable presence in Minneapolis , where Floyd died under the knee of a white police officer who was later charged along with three other officers .
The global protest movement sparked by Floyd ’ s death came eight years after the police shooting death of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham , the son of a Jamaican immigrant , in the Bronx .
In 1999 , Guinean immigrant Amadou Diallo was killed in a barrage of 41 shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers who mistook his wallet for a gun .
His death sparked widespread demonstrations but the officers were acquitted of all charges in 2000 .
That same year , the fatal police shooting of Patrick Dorismond , a 26-year-old Haitian American , ignited another wave of protests against police brutality in New York .
Such police killings can be unsettling to immigrants , many of whom come to the U.S. in search of a better life and then find themselves injected into America ’ s centuries-old racial strife .
“ When they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are treated no differently , they begin to feel a certain amount of camaraderie with Black Americans , ” said Bill Ong Hing , founder of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and a law professor at the University of San Francisco .
In fact , one of the co-founders of the original network of Black Lives Matter was Opal Tometi , the daughter of Nigerian immigrants .
Civil rights leader Malcolm X was also the son of an immigrant , from Grenada .
“ At the end of the day , we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 25-year-old Ghanaian American who lives in Houston .
“ We are all one community across the diaspora , whether you are a Black American , raised on the African continent or you ’ re from elsewhere .
”

Inspired by the global protests against systemic racism and police brutality, Nigerian American blogger Nifesimi Akingbe donned a black shirt that read “I am Black history,” and began recording a video.
Akingbe then went on to list her frustrations about racism in America and directed her message to Black immigrant communities like her own: This is your battle, too.
“When these cops see us or when some of these racist people see us, they see a Black person,” Akingbe said during the 34-minute video posted on YouTube. They “don’t care if you were born in Alabama, if you were born in Nigeria, in Ghana, in Sierra Leone. They see one color.”
Akingbe, of suburban Baltimore, is among the many young Black immigrants or children of immigrants who say they are speaking out for racial equity while also trying to convince older members of their communities that these issues should matter to them, too.
“I feel like their mindset is different,” the 31-year-old told The Associated Press, referring to immigrants like her parents, who she says tend to overlook racial issues.
To be sure, most Black immigrants have experienced the brutal legacy of European colonization, and those from Latin American and Caribbean nations have a history of slavery in their own countries.
In the U.S., from the civil rights movement to the current Black Lives Matter demonstrations, there have also been generational tensions in the African American community when it comes to taking a stand against racism. But these have largely been over tactics, said David Canton, a professor of African American history at the University of Florida.
“Everybody has a role in the movement. People have to learn to live with that and respect people’s decisions,” Canton said.
Like Akingbe, fellow Nigerian American Ade Okupe has been having conversations with older immigrants in hopes that they will see police brutality as something that also affects them.
So far, the 27-year-old said, he hasn’t been successful.
“It’s a non-issue to the older generation,” said Okupe, who lives in Parkville, a Baltimore suburb. During some of their chats, older immigrants tell him they came to America to work and provide a better life for their children, not to protest about race.
“They want to make sure they are not doing anything that rocks the boat,” said Daniel Gillion, author of “The Loud Minority: Why Protests Matter in American Democracy.”
“They are trying to be good citizens and protests, in their eyes, - pushing back and criticizing the nation - isn’t their perception of being a good citizen.”
For some immigrants, their attitudes are driven by worries about their children.
Elsa Arega, an Ethiopian immigrant who lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was horrified by the police killing of George Floyd in May and cares about what is going on. But she also wants to keep her daughter, a college student in Virginia, safe and fears her daughter could put herself in danger if she participates in protests.
“I just want her to focus on her education,” Arega said, speaking her native Amharic language. “People come to this country to work and change their lives, not to get into an argument with the government.”
The number of Black immigrants to the United States has increased in recent decades largely due to family reunification, the admission of refugees from war-torn countries like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the diversity visa lottery program, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
This has led to ethnic enclaves across the U.S. West African communities are dominant in New York City, Ethiopians have made their mark in the Washington, D.C., area, and Black immigrants from the Caribbean are prominent in Florida and New York City. Somalis have a sizable presence in Minneapolis, where Floyd died under the knee of a white police officer who was later charged along with three other officers.
The global protest movement sparked by Floyd’s death came eight years after the police shooting death of 18-year-old Ramarley Graham, the son of a Jamaican immigrant, in the Bronx.
In 1999, Guinean immigrant Amadou Diallo was killed in a barrage of 41 shots fired by four white New York City police officers who mistook his wallet for a gun. His death sparked widespread demonstrations but the officers were acquitted of all charges in 2000. That same year, the fatal police shooting of Patrick Dorismond, a 26-year-old Haitian American, ignited another wave of protests against police brutality in New York.
Such police killings can be unsettling to immigrants, many of whom come to the U.S. in search of a better life and then find themselves injected into America’s centuries-old racial strife.
“When they get here and they realize that they are treated no differently, they begin to feel a certain amount of camaraderie with Black Americans,” said Bill Ong Hing, founder of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and a law professor at the University of San Francisco.
In fact, one of the co-founders of the original network of Black Lives Matter was Opal Tometi, the daughter of Nigerian immigrants. Civil rights leader Malcolm X was also the son of an immigrant, from Grenada.
“At the end of the day, we are all one,” said Kwad Annor, a 25-year-old Ghanaian American who lives in Houston. “We are all one community across the diaspora, whether you are a Black American, raised on the African continent or you’re from elsewhere.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Rural Midwest hospitals struggling to handle virus surge

WESSINGTON SPRINGS , S.D .
( AP ) - Rural Jerauld County in South Dakota didn ’ t see a single case of the coronavirus for more than two months stretching from June to August .
But over the last two weeks , its rate of new cases per person soared to one of the highest in the nation .
“ All of a sudden it hit , and as it does , it just exploded , ” said Dr. Tom Dean , one of just three doctors who work in the county .
As the brunt of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern Plains , the severity of outbreaks in rural communities has come into focus .
Doctors and health officials in small towns worry that infections may overwhelm communities with limited medical resources .
And many say they are still running up against attitudes on wearing masks that have hardened along political lines and a false notion that rural areas are immune to widespread infections .
Dean took to writing a column in the local weekly newspaper , the True Dakotan , to offer his guidance .
In recent weeks , he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in his county has tested positive for the virus .
It ripped through the nursing home in Wessington Springs where both his parents lived , killing his father .
The community ’ s six deaths may appear minimal compared with thousands who have died in cities , but they have propelled the county of about 2,000 people to a death rate roughly four times higher than the nationwide rate .
Rural counties across Wisconsin , North Dakota , South Dakota and Montana sit among the top in the nation for new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Johns Hopkins researchers .
In counties with just a few thousand people , the number of cases per capita can soar with even a small outbreak - and the toll hits close to home in tight-knit towns .
“ One or two people with infections can really cause a large impact when you have one grocery store or gas station , ” said Misty Rudebusch , the medical director at a network of rural health clinics in South Dakota called Horizon Health Care .
“ There is such a ripple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the generations of farmers and ranchers that work the surrounding land .
Residents send their children to the same schoolhouse they attended and have preserved cultural offerings like a Shakespeare garden and opera house .
They trust Dean , who for 42 years has tended to everything from broken bones to high blood pressure .
When a patient needs a higher level of care , the family physician usually depends on a transfer to a hospital 130 miles ( 209 kilometers ) away .
As cases surge , hospitals in rural communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent request to transfer a “ not desperately ill , but pretty ” sick COVID-19 patient was denied for several days , until the patient ’ s condition had worsened , Dean said .
“ We ’ re proud of what we got , but it ’ s been a struggle , ” he said of the 16-bed hospital .
The outbreak that killed Dean ’ s dad forced Wessington Springs ’ only nursing home to put out a statewide request for nurses .
Thin resources and high death rates have plagued other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the health department in Toole County , Montana , worried that the region ’ s small hospitals would need to start caring for serious COVID-19 patients after cases spiked to the nation ’ s highest per capita .
One out of every 28 people in the county has tested positive in the last two weeks , according to Johns Hopkins researchers .
“ It ’ s very , very challenging when your resources are poor - living in a small , rural county , ” she said .
Infections can also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where most everyone shops at the same grocery store , attends the same school or worships at a handful of churches .
Even as outbreaks threaten to spiral out of control , doctors and health officials said they are struggling to convince people of the seriousness of a virus that took months to arrive in force .
“ It ’ s kind of like getting a blizzard warning and then the blizzard doesn ’ t hit that week , so then the next time , people say they are not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor , a 67-year-old author who lives in Redfield , South Dakota .
In swaths of the country decorated by flags supporting President Donald Trump , people took their cues on wearing masks from his often-cavalier attitude towards the virus .
Dean draws a direct connection between Trump ’ s approach and the lack of precautions in his town of 956 people .
“ There ’ s the foolish idea that mask-wearing or refusal is some kind of a political statement , ” Dean said .
“ It has seriously interfered with our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even amid the surge , Republican governors in the region have been reluctant to act .
North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum said recently , “ We are caught in the middle of a COVID storm ” as he raised advisory risk levels in counties across the state .
But he has refused to issue a mask mandate .
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem , who has carved out a reputation among conservatives by foregoing lockdowns , blamed the surge in cases on testing increases , even though the state has had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the last two weeks , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
Positivity rates are an indication of how widespread infections are .
In Wisconsin , conservative groups have sued over Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers mask mandate .
Whether the requirement survives doesn ’ t matter to Jody Bierhals , a resident of Gillett who doubts the efficacy of wearing a mask .
Her home county of Oconto , which stretches from the northern border of Green Bay into forests and farmland , has the state ’ s second-highest growth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single mother with three kids , is more worried about the drop in business at her small salon .
The region depends on tourists , but many have stayed away during the pandemic .
“ Do I want to keep the water on , or do I want to be able to put food on the table ?
” she asked .
“ It ’ s a difficult situation.
” Bierhals said she thought the virus couldn ’ t be stopped and it would be best to let it run its course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the county ’ s health officer , Debra Koniter , desperate .
Konitzer warned that the uncontrolled spread of infections has overwhelmed the county ’ s health systems .
“ I ’ m just waiting to see if our community can change our behavior , ” she said .
“ Otherwise , I don ’ t see the end in sight .
”

WESSINGTON SPRINGS, S.D. (AP) - Rural Jerauld County in South Dakota didn’t see a single case of the coronavirus for more than two months stretching from June to August. But over the last two weeks, its rate of new cases per person soared to one of the highest in the nation.
“All of a sudden it hit, and as it does, it just exploded,” said Dr. Tom Dean, one of just three doctors who work in the county.
As the brunt of the virus has blown into the Upper Midwest and northern Plains, the severity of outbreaks in rural communities has come into focus. Doctors and health officials in small towns worry that infections may overwhelm communities with limited medical resources. And many say they are still running up against attitudes on wearing masks that have hardened along political lines and a false notion that rural areas are immune to widespread infections.
Dean took to writing a column in the local weekly newspaper, the True Dakotan, to offer his guidance. In recent weeks, he’s watched as one in roughly every 37 people in his county has tested positive for the virus.
It ripped through the nursing home in Wessington Springs where both his parents lived, killing his father. The community’s six deaths may appear minimal compared with thousands who have died in cities, but they have propelled the county of about 2,000 people to a death rate roughly four times higher than the nationwide rate.
Rural counties across Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana sit among the top in the nation for new cases per capita over the last two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers. Overall, the nation topped 8 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the university’s count on Friday; the true number of infections is believed to be much higher because many people have not been tested.
In counties with just a few thousand people, the number of cases per capita can soar with even a small outbreak - and the toll hits close to home in tight-knit towns.
“One or two people with infections can really cause a large impact when you have one grocery store or gas station,” said Misty Rudebusch, the medical director at a network of rural health clinics in South Dakota called Horizon Health Care. “There is such a ripple effect.”
Wessington Springs is a hub for the generations of farmers and ranchers that work the surrounding land. Residents send their children to the same schoolhouse they attended and have preserved cultural offerings like a Shakespeare garden and opera house.
They trust Dean, who for 42 years has tended to everything from broken bones to high blood pressure. When a patient needs a higher level of care, the family physician usually depends on a transfer to a hospital 130 miles (209 kilometers) away.
As cases surge, hospitals in rural communities are having trouble finding beds. A recent request to transfer a “not desperately ill, but pretty” sick COVID-19 patient was denied for several days, until the patient’s condition had worsened, Dean said.
“We’re proud of what we got, but it’s been a struggle,” he said of the 16-bed hospital.
The outbreak that killed Dean’s dad forced Wessington Springs’ only nursing home to put out a statewide request for nurses.
Thin resources and high death rates have plagued other small communities. Blair Tomsheck, interim director of the health department in Toole County, Montana, worried that the region’s small hospitals would need to start caring for serious COVID-19 patients after cases spiked to the nation’s highest per capita. One out of every 28 people in the county has tested positive in the last two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.
“It’s very, very challenging when your resources are poor - living in a small, rural county,” she said.
Infections can also spread quickly in places like Toole County, where most everyone shops at the same grocery store, attends the same school or worships at a handful of churches.
“The Sunday family dinners are killing us,” Tomsheck said.
Even as outbreaks threaten to spiral out of control, doctors and health officials said they are struggling to convince people of the seriousness of a virus that took months to arrive in force.
“It’s kind of like getting a blizzard warning and then the blizzard doesn’t hit that week, so then the next time, people say they are not going to worry about it,” said Kathleen Taylor, a 67-year-old author who lives in Redfield, South Dakota.
In swaths of the country decorated by flags supporting President Donald Trump, people took their cues on wearing masks from his often-cavalier attitude towards the virus. Dean draws a direct connection between Trump’s approach and the lack of precautions in his town of 956 people.
“There’s the foolish idea that mask-wearing or refusal is some kind of a political statement,” Dean said. “It has seriously interfered with our ability to get it under control.”
Even amid the surge, Republican governors in the region have been reluctant to act. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum said recently, “We are caught in the middle of a COVID storm” as he raised advisory risk levels in counties across the state. But he has refused to issue a mask mandate.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who has carved out a reputation among conservatives by foregoing lockdowns, blamed the surge in cases on testing increases, even though the state has had the highest positivity rate in the nation over the last two weeks, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Positivity rates are an indication of how widespread infections are.
In Wisconsin, conservative groups have sued over Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate.
Whether the requirement survives doesn’t matter to Jody Bierhals, a resident of Gillett who doubts the efficacy of wearing a mask. Her home county of Oconto, which stretches from the northern border of Green Bay into forests and farmland, has the state’s second-highest growth in coronavirus cases per person.
Bierhals, a single mother with three kids, is more worried about the drop in business at her small salon. The region depends on tourists, but many have stayed away during the pandemic.
“Do I want to keep the water on, or do I want to be able to put food on the table?” she asked. “It’s a difficult situation.”
Bierhals said she thought the virus couldn’t be stopped and it would be best to let it run its course. But local attitudes like that have left the county’s health officer, Debra Konitzer, desperate.
Konitzer warned that the uncontrolled spread of infections has overwhelmed the county’s health systems.
“I’m just waiting to see if our community can change our behavior,” she said. “Otherwise, I don’t see the end in sight.
—
This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Konitzer in one instance.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Ralph Z. Hallow, longtime Times political correspondent, columnist, dies at 82

Ralph Z. Hallow , the longtime chief political correspondent for opinion and columnist for The Washington Times , died Saturday of complications from surgery in Delaware .
He was 82 .
Mr. Hallow , whose six-decade career included posts on the editorial boards of the Times , the Chicago Tribune and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , was a celebrated fixture on the Washington , D.C. , journalism scene , known for his gregarious personality , unstoppable drive and sharp sense of humor .
“ Back when I first got here , you didn ’ t see Ralph when you entered the newsroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TWT president Christopher Dolan at the newspaper ’ s 35th anniversary gala in 2017 .
“ Ralph ’ s booming voice and colorful language rose above the newsroom ’ s din as he worked the phone .
It was a sight to hear.
” Not everyone appreciated Mr. Hallow ’ s relentless work ethic and zest for pursuing stories .
President George H.W .
Bush referred to him as the “ horrible fellow ” in his taped diaries , and once gave him a fake karate chop as he boarded the plane while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often thought I was hard on him .
I presume he thought that was somewhat unfair because The Times — a conservative and Republican newspaper , in his view — should be kind to him , ” Hallow wrote in a 2017 column .
“ I tried not to let him get away with nonsense , pulling the wool over people ’ s eyes.
” Mr. Hallow ’ s unmatched coverage of Republican inner workings was recognized by generations of Washington-watchers , including MSNBC ’ s Rachel Maddow and Politico .
“ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only brought readers into the closed-door meetings , he oftentimes made it into those rooms himself .
And even when he didn ’ t , he knew everything that was going on .
I remember hearing a story about a party official who was trying to keep Ralph out , and another official told them to forget about it .
Ralph had such good sources that he would know what had happened within two minutes anyway , ” said Stephen Dinan , assistant managing editor for politics at The Times .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head , I suspect there were one or two unclaimed Pulitzer prizes just sitting in there , ” Mr. Dinan said .
Mr. Hallow cut a lively figure on the social scene as part of a D.C. power couple with his wife Millie Hallow , the former vice chairman of the American Conservative Union Foundation and managing director of executive operations at the National Rifle Association .
Mr. Hallow was present at the creation of the Times , signing on as deputy editorial page editor in April 1982 , a month before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then moving to cover business before settling in on the national desk.. “ His sharp wit , contagious laughter , and world knowledge , was a huge asset to TWT since the day the first paper came off of the press , ” said Larry Beasley , CEO of The Washington Times .
“ Ralph will be sorely missed by his loyal readers , friends , and by me professionally and personally.
” Mr. Hallow served as a Ford Foundation Fellow in Urban Journalism at Northwestern University and resident at the Columbia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included Berlin , Bonn , London , Paris , Geneva , Vienna , Amman , Beirut , Cairo , Damascus and Jerusalem .
A resident of Crofton , Md.
, Mr. Hallow grew up in Pittsburgh and studied at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Missouri School of Journalism .

Ralph Z. Hallow, the longtime chief political correspondent for opinion and columnist for The Washington Times, died Saturday of complications from surgery in Delaware. He was 82.
Mr. Hallow, whose six-decade career included posts on the editorial boards of the Times, the Chicago Tribune and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was a celebrated fixture on the Washington, D.C., journalism scene, known for his gregarious personality, unstoppable drive and sharp sense of humor.
“Back when I first got here, you didn’t see Ralph when you entered the newsroom. You heard him,” said TWT president Christopher Dolan at the newspaper’s 35th anniversary gala in 2017. “Ralph’s booming voice and colorful language rose above the newsroom’s din as he worked the phone. It was a sight to hear.”
Not everyone appreciated Mr. Hallow’s relentless work ethic and zest for pursuing stories. President George H.W. Bush referred to him as the “horrible fellow” in his taped diaries, and once gave him a fake karate chop as he boarded the plane while covering the 1988 campaign.
“Bush often thought I was hard on him. I presume he thought that was somewhat unfair because The Times — a conservative and Republican newspaper, in his view — should be kind to him,” Hallow wrote in a 2017 column. “I tried not to let him get away with nonsense, pulling the wool over people’s eyes.”
Mr. Hallow’s unmatched coverage of Republican inner workings was recognized by generations of Washington-watchers, including MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and Politico.
“When it came to Republicans, Ralph not only brought readers into the closed-door meetings, he oftentimes made it into those rooms himself. And even when he didn’t, he knew everything that was going on. I remember hearing a story about a party official who was trying to keep Ralph out, and another official told them to forget about it. Ralph had such good sources that he would know what had happened within two minutes anyway,” said Stephen Dinan, assistant managing editor for politics at The Times.
“There was so much political knowledge in his head, I suspect there were one or two unclaimed Pulitzer prizes just sitting in there,” Mr. Dinan said.
Mr. Hallow cut a lively figure on the social scene as part of a D.C. power couple with his wife Millie Hallow, the former vice chairman of the American Conservative Union Foundation and managing director of executive operations at the National Rifle Association.
Mr. Hallow was present at the creation of the Times, signing on as deputy editorial page editor in April 1982, a month before the newspaper’s launch in May 1982, then moving to cover business before settling in on the national desk..
“His sharp wit, contagious laughter, and world knowledge, was a huge asset to TWT since the day the first paper came off of the press,” said Larry Beasley, CEO of The Washington Times. “Ralph will be sorely missed by his loyal readers, friends, and by me professionally and personally.”
Mr. Hallow served as a Ford Foundation Fellow in Urban Journalism at Northwestern University and resident at the Columbia University Editorial-Page Editors Seminar. His datelines included Berlin, Bonn, London, Paris, Geneva, Vienna, Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Damascus and Jerusalem.
A resident of Crofton, Md., Mr. Hallow grew up in Pittsburgh and studied at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Missouri School of Journalism.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Part-time officer shot during traffic stop; suspect arrested

RAYVILLE , La .
( AP ) - A part-time north Louisiana police officer was being treated Saturday after he was shot during a traffic stop , authorities said .
A suspect is in custody .
Marshall Waters works part-time for the Mangham Police Department and is a full-time emergency technician with Northeast Louisiana Ambulance .
He was airlifted to Rapides Medical Center after the shooting , Shane Scott , a spokesman for the ambulance company , confirmed .
His condition was not immediately available .
In a Facebook post , Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb said Waters had stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 1 p.m. near the Franklin and Richland parish line .
Scott said Waters was shot once in the lower abdomen as he exited his vehicle .
The bullet hit beneath his safety vest , Scott said .
Law enforcement said the suspect fled after shooting Waters .
The suspect ’ s car was found wrecked on Louisiana 562 near Fort Necessity , about 20 miles ( 32 km ) from where Waters was shot , The News-Star reported .
At about 3 p.m. , Hermandus Semien , 27 , of Ville Platte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident , authorities said .
Police have not said what charges he will face and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf .
Scott said the thoughts and prayers of the ambulance company are with Waters and his colleagues who responded to the call .
“ He is an individual who spends most , if not all , of his time dedicated to public service and public safety , ” Scott said .
He also urged members of the community to keep Waters in @ @ @

RAYVILLE, La. (AP) - A part-time north Louisiana police officer was being treated Saturday after he was shot during a traffic stop, authorities said. A suspect is in custody.
Marshall Waters works part-time for the Mangham Police Department and is a full-time emergency technician with Northeast Louisiana Ambulance. He was airlifted to Rapides Medical Center after the shooting, Shane Scott, a spokesman for the ambulance company, confirmed. His condition was not immediately available.
In a Facebook post, Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb said Waters had stopped a vehicle on Louisiana Highway 425 at about 1 p.m. near the Franklin and Richland parish line. Scott said Waters was shot once in the lower abdomen as he exited his vehicle. The bullet hit beneath his safety vest, Scott said.
Law enforcement said the suspect fled after shooting Waters. The suspect’s car was found wrecked on Louisiana 562 near Fort Necessity, about 20 miles (32 km) from where Waters was shot, The News-Star reported.
At about 3 p.m., Hermandus Semien, 27, of Ville Platte, was taken into custody without further incident, authorities said. Police have not said what charges he will face and it was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Scott said the thoughts and prayers of the ambulance company are with Waters and his colleagues who responded to the call.
“He is an individual who spends most, if not all, of his time dedicated to public service and public safety,” Scott said. He also urged members of the community to keep Waters in their prayers.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Mississippi county debris removal from Easter tornado ends

BAY SPRINGS , Miss .
( AP ) - People in Mississippi ’ s Pine Belt are still recovering from tornadoes that swept through the area on Easter Sunday .
But after six months , Jasper County emergency management officials say their cleanup is almost finished .
Jasper County Emergency Management Director Mike Lucas told WDAM-TV it was a long process to get to this point .
“ The state has to declare an emergency and then FEMA has to recognize it , ” Lucas said .
“ For us , it was about 45 or 48 days before FEMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared us , then you have to go through the process of getting someone to pick up the debris , so you have your bid process.
” The tornado hit on April 12 and debris removal began in July .
“ The county can not go on private property and cleanup , so everything had to be moved to the roadside , ” Lucas said .
“ It cost the county about $ 1.8 million .
Hopefully , we turned in invoices to FEMA and they will pay 75 % .
” Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week that FEMA will be paying Jasper County $ 1,291,028 to offset the cost of removing more than 197,285 cubic yards ( 150,835 cubic meters ) of vegetative and construction/demolition debris .
And while the county is finishing up debris removal , many residents continue to repair homes and businesses in the area .

BAY SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) - People in Mississippi’s Pine Belt are still recovering from tornadoes that swept through the area on Easter Sunday. But after six months, Jasper County emergency management officials say their cleanup is almost finished.
Jasper County Emergency Management Director Mike Lucas told WDAM-TV it was a long process to get to this point.
“The state has to declare an emergency and then FEMA has to recognize it,” Lucas said. “For us, it was about 45 or 48 days before FEMA ever declared us. And once they declared us, then you have to go through the process of getting someone to pick up the debris, so you have your bid process.”
The tornado hit on April 12 and debris removal began in July.
“The county cannot go on private property and cleanup, so everything had to be moved to the roadside,” Lucas said. “It cost the county about $1.8 million. Hopefully, we turned in invoices to FEMA and they will pay 75%.”
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Sen. Roger Wicker announced last week that FEMA will be paying Jasper County $1,291,028 to offset the cost of removing more than 197,285 cubic yards (150,835 cubic meters) of vegetative and construction/demolition debris.
And while the county is finishing up debris removal, many residents continue to repair homes and businesses in the area.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Florida's Mullen joins players in testing positive for virus

GAINESVILLE , Fla. ( AP ) - Florida coach Dan Mullen , who last week wanted 90,000 fans packed inside the stadium amid a pandemic , says he has tested positive for COVID-19 .
Mullen made the announcement Saturday on Twitter , saying his initial positive result was confirmed by a second test .
The 10th-ranked Gators had at least 21 players and coaches test positive earlier this week , an outbreak that prompted the Southeastern Conference to postpone Florida ’ s next two games .
With potentially dozens more quarantined because of contract tracing , Florida ( 2-1 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players available to face the defending national champion Tigers ( 1-2 ) in the Swamp .
Two assistant coaches also tested positive for the highly contagious virus .
Mullen is the second SEC head coach , along with Alabama icon Nick Saban , to contract COVID-19 and the fifth overall known this season in major-college football , joining Florida State ’ s Mike Norvell , Arizona ’ s Kevin Sumlin and Kansas ’ Les Miles .
Florida has started administering daily tests since it first suspected an outbreak following last week ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; The 48-year-old Mullen says he has experienced “ mild to no symptoms.
” “ I ’ m continuing to self-isolate from my family , who all remain healthy , and am following all the guidelines set forth by UF Health , the CDC and our public health officials , ” Mullen tweeted .
“ I am proud of how our players , staff and campus community have navigated this unprecedented time and hope all continue to be safe.
” The Gators believe their outbreak started with two players - one experiencing congestion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Both suspected allergies and didn ’ t alert team doctors before getting on the team flight to Texas A & M .
; Mullen raised eyebrows after the loss to the Aggies by saying he wanted to pack the Swamp against LSU .
When given a chance to back down , he doubled down .
He was given another chance Monday and dug in more .
He finally relented Wednesday and apologized if he offended anyone .

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida coach Dan Mullen, who last week wanted 90,000 fans packed inside the stadium amid a pandemic, says he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Mullen made the announcement Saturday on Twitter, saying his initial positive result was confirmed by a second test. The 10th-ranked Gators had at least 21 players and coaches test positive earlier this week, an outbreak that prompted the Southeastern Conference to postpone Florida’s next two games.
With potentially dozens more quarantined because of contract tracing, Florida (2-1) would have had fewer than 50 scholarship players available to face the defending national champion Tigers (1-2) in the Swamp.
Two assistant coaches also tested positive for the highly contagious virus.
Mullen is the second SEC head coach, along with Alabama icon Nick Saban, to contract COVID-19 and the fifth overall known this season in major-college football, joining Florida State’s Mike Norvell, Arizona’s Kevin Sumlin and Kansas’ Les Miles.
Florida has started administering daily tests since it first suspected an outbreak following last week’s loss at Texas A&M.
The 48-year-old Mullen says he has experienced “mild to no symptoms.”
“I’m continuing to self-isolate from my family, who all remain healthy, and am following all the guidelines set forth by UF Health, the CDC and our public health officials,” Mullen tweeted. “I am proud of how our players, staff and campus community have navigated this unprecedented time and hope all continue to be safe.”
The Gators believe their outbreak started with two players - one experiencing congestion and the other a headache late last week. Both suspected allergies and didn’t alert team doctors before getting on the team flight to Texas A&M.
Mullen raised eyebrows after the loss to the Aggies by saying he wanted to pack the Swamp against LSU. When given a chance to back down, he doubled down. He was given another chance Monday and dug in more. He finally relented Wednesday and apologized if he offended anyone.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Group calls for reparations for Boston's Black community

BOSTON ( AP ) - An organization that wants to rename Boston ’ s Faneuil Hall is calling for economic reparations for the city ’ s Black community .
The New Democracy Coalition gathered Saturday at Faneuil Hall to call attention to the impact of structural racism .
They also reiterated a demand to change the name of the historic downtown building and called on the city to make amends to the Black community through reparations .
Blacks are still dealing with vast economic inequality in a city that likes to tout its liberal values , said Kevin Peterson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are owed an apology along with concrete steps to level the economic playing field and address the city ’ s past sins , he said .
For example , reparations could include steps to increase Black home ownership , he said .
“ When we speak about reparation , we are talking about addressing historic economic sins foisted upon Boston ’ s Black community by whites in the larger historic context , ” he said .
The city is dealing with a racial reckoning and Faneuil Hall , one of Boston ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point .
Peter Faneuil , the building ’ s namesake , was a merchant who traded and owned slaves .
So far , the city ’ s mayor has rebuffed the calls by protesters to rename the building .

BOSTON (AP) - An organization that wants to rename Boston’s Faneuil Hall is calling for economic reparations for the city’s Black community.
The New Democracy Coalition gathered Saturday at Faneuil Hall to call attention to the impact of structural racism. They also reiterated a demand to change the name of the historic downtown building and called on the city to make amends to the Black community through reparations.
Blacks are still dealing with vast economic inequality in a city that likes to tout its liberal values, said Kevin Peterson, the coalition’s founder.
Blacks are owed an apology along with concrete steps to level the economic playing field and address the city’s past sins, he said. For example, reparations could include steps to increase Black home ownership, he said.
“When we speak about reparation, we are talking about addressing historic economic sins foisted upon Boston’s Black community by whites in the larger historic context,” he said.
The city is dealing with a racial reckoning and Faneuil Hall, one of Boston’s most popular attractions, is a focal point.
Peter Faneuil, the building’s namesake, was a merchant who traded and owned slaves. So far, the city’s mayor has rebuffed the calls by protesters to rename the building.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Conservatives staging free speech rally attacked by critics

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - A free speech demonstration staged by conservative activists quickly fell apart in downtown San Francisco on Saturday after several hundred counterprotesters surged the area , outnumbering and attacking those gathered , including knocking one in the mouth .
A photographer working for The Associated Press witnessed a Trump supporter being taken away in an ambulance and an injured San Francisco police officer on the ground by San Francisco ’ s United Nations Plaza .
Team Save America organized the rally to protest Twitter , which it said squelches conservative speech .
Members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Again ” Trump campaign hats and carried pro-police “ Thin Blue Line ” flags and U.S. flags .
Philip Anderson , the organizer of the event , posted photos to social media of his bloody mouth with a front tooth missing and another hanging loosely .
He said anti-fascist protesters attacked him “ for no reason.
” Anderson took the stage at about 1 p.m. and was greeted by chants and plastic water bottles and glass bottles thrown over police barricades .
The event was canceled , although both sides lingered in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco Police Department said three officers suffered non life-threatening injuries when they were assaulted with pepper spray and caustic chemicals .
One officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment , the department said .
No arrests were made , the department said .
Anderson called the counterprotesters hypocrites and said they are the reason why he ’ s voting for President Donald Trump .
“ I love America , I love this country and I love free speech , ” he said .

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A free speech demonstration staged by conservative activists quickly fell apart in downtown San Francisco on Saturday after several hundred counterprotesters surged the area, outnumbering and attacking those gathered, including knocking one in the mouth.
A photographer working for The Associated Press witnessed a Trump supporter being taken away in an ambulance and an injured San Francisco police officer on the ground by San Francisco’s United Nations Plaza.
Team Save America organized the rally to protest Twitter, which it said squelches conservative speech. Members of the group wore red “Make America Great Again” Trump campaign hats and carried pro-police “Thin Blue Line” flags and U.S. flags.
Philip Anderson, the organizer of the event, posted photos to social media of his bloody mouth with a front tooth missing and another hanging loosely. He said anti-fascist protesters attacked him “for no reason.”
Anderson took the stage at about 1 p.m. and was greeted by chants and plastic water bottles and glass bottles thrown over police barricades.
The event was canceled, although both sides lingered in the area into the afternoon.
The San Francisco Police Department said three officers suffered non life-threatening injuries when they were assaulted with pepper spray and caustic chemicals. One officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment, the department said.
No arrests were made, the department said.
Anderson called the counterprotesters hypocrites and said they are the reason why he’s voting for President Donald Trump.
“I love America, I love this country and I love free speech,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Kansas deputy shoots Colorado driver of stolen vehicle

COLBY , Kan. ( AP ) - A Thomas County sheriff ’ s deputy shot and wounded the driver of @ @ @ @ @ rest stop in northwest Kansas , authorities said .
The deputy was responding at 8:40 @ @ @ @ @ of a stolen vehicle from the Pilot Travel Center and located the vehicle about 10 @ @ @ @ @ Kansas , the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release .
The deputy @ @ @ @ @ Colorado during the encounter .
Bayer is in stable condition at a hospital in Englewood @ @ @ @ @ threatening injuries .
The investigation is ongoing .
No further details were immediately available .

COLBY, Kan. (AP) - A Thomas County sheriff’s deputy shot and wounded the driver of a stolen vehicle at a rest stop in northwest Kansas, authorities said.
The deputy was responding at 8:40 p.m. Friday to a report of a stolen vehicle from the Pilot Travel Center and located the vehicle about 10 miles west of Colby, Kansas, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.
The deputy shot 24-year-old Jackson Bayer of Colorado during the encounter. Bayer is in stable condition at a hospital in Englewood, Colorado, with non-life threatening injuries.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details were immediately available.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--McConnell previews votes on coronavirus relief

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell teed up votes for two separate coronavirus relief bills next week , all but daring Democrats to block them .
“ Republicans have tried numerous times to secure bipartisan agreement where possible and get aid out the door while these endless talks continue .
But Speaker Pelosi keeps saying she feels “ nothing ” is better than “ something ” and clinging to far-left demands that are designed to kill any hope of a deal , ” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement .
“ It is heartless for Democrats to continue their total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi gets her way on countless non-COVID-related demands , ” he continued .
First , on Tuesday , there will be a vote on a stand-alone bill to refill funds for the small business Paycheck Protection Program .
Then , on Wednesday , a vote is set on a slimmed-down package with a more than $ 500 billion price tag .
It will include an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits and more than $ 100 billion for schools , as well as additional funds for testing , contact tracing , and vaccine research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a “ skinny ” bill was September and it was blocked on a procedural vote by a united Democratic front .
This latest effort comes after Senate Democrats accused the GOP throughout Judge Amy Coney Barett ’ s Supreme Court confirmation hearings of prioritizing a divisive judicial appointment over work on coronavirus relief .
Mr. McConnell said if the procedural votes pass successfully this week , there will be enough time for the bills to get through the Senate before they take on the final votes for Judge Barrett ’ s confirmation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steven T. Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , California Democrat , for a comprehensive package continue throughout the weekend .
The two sides have been chipping away at a deal between the White House ’ s $ 1.8 trillion offer and the Democrat ’ s $ 2.2 trillion proposal .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell teed up votes for two separate coronavirus relief bills next week, all but daring Democrats to block them.
“Republicans have tried numerous times to secure bipartisan agreement where possible and get aid out the door while these endless talks continue. But Speaker Pelosi keeps saying she feels “nothing” is better than “something” and clinging to far-left demands that are designed to kill any hope of a deal,” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement.
“It is heartless for Democrats to continue their total blockade of any aid whatsoever unless Speaker Pelosi gets her way on countless non-COVID-related demands,” he continued.
First, on Tuesday, there will be a vote on a stand-alone bill to refill funds for the small business Paycheck Protection Program.
Then, on Wednesday, a vote is set on a slimmed-down package with a more than $500 billion price tag. It will include an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits and more than $100 billion for schools, as well as additional funds for testing, contact tracing, and vaccine research.
The last time Senate Republicans brought up a “skinny” bill was September and it was blocked on a procedural vote by a united Democratic front.
This latest effort comes after Senate Democrats accused the GOP throughout Judge Amy Coney Barett’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings of prioritizing a divisive judicial appointment over work on coronavirus relief.
Mr. McConnell said if the procedural votes pass successfully this week, there will be enough time for the bills to get through the Senate before they take on the final votes for Judge Barrett’s confirmation.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, for a comprehensive package continue throughout the weekend. The two sides have been chipping away at a deal between the White House’s $1.8 trillion offer and the Democrat’s $2.2 trillion proposal.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Trump says early voting trends in Michigan encouraging for repeat victory

MUSKEGON , Mich. — President Trump told supporters here Saturday that early voting trends in Michigan show that he ’ s defying polls and will win the state , while he tangled with Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , the target of an alleged kidnapping plot , calling her an aspiring “ dictator.
” “ We ’ re leading , ” Mr. Trump said at a campaign rally in this town on the shores of Lake Michigan , calling it an early signal of his comeback .
“ We ’ re supposed to be way behind , until Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to have a ‘ red wave ’ like you ’ ve never seen before.
” White House officials said Saturday that mail-in balloting and early voting totals in Michigan show that 41 percent of the 1.4 million votes so far were cast by Republicans , and 39 percent by Democrats .
Another 20 percent of the vote was by independents .
Democrat Joseph R. Biden leads in Michigan by 7.2 percentage points , according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls .
Four years ago , Mr. Trump won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point .
The president criticized Ms. Whitmer , a frequent foil in his battle over reopening state economies , telling supporters , “ She wants to be a dictator in Michigan .
And the people can ’ t stand her.
” Mr. Trump said the governor is a “ pure partisan , ” and worried aloud that she can ’ t be trusted to oversee the state ’ s expanded voting options .
“ Be careful of her , ” he said .
Ms. Whitmer has kept in place some of the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the feud with Mr. Trump took a frightful turn on Oct. 8 , when the FBI broke up an alleged plot by militia members to kidnap Ms. Whitmer , put her on trial and execute her .
Ms. Whitmer and Mr. Biden blamed Mr. Trump for inciting the plot .
Referring to the alleged plot , Mr. Trump said , “ I guess they said she was threatened .
And she blamed me !
” “ Let ’ s see what happens , ” the president said .
“ But our FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and some other people that they ’ re not looking at.
” The president told the crowd , “ You ’ ve got to get your governor to open up your state , and get your schools open.
” The audience responded with chants of “ Lock her up !
” and “ We love Trump !
” “ Lock ‘ em all up , ” the president said , smiling .
Michigan is a central battlefield in the race .
Mr. Trump won the state by a little more than 10,000 votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GOP column for the first time in decades by winning over blue-collar voters .
Mr. Trump urged voters to reject Democrats at the polls , calling them “ the party of socialists , Marxists and left-wing extremists.
” “ If you ’ re a moderate Democrat or liberal who knows that you ’ re party has gone totally off the rails , you have a moral duty to immediately stop this lunacy — you must by law join the Republican Party , ” he said .
He said Democrats “ demand absolute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NARAL pro-choice group ’ s demand to remove Sen. Dianne Feinstein , California Democrat , from her post on the Senate Judiciary Committee after she hugged Republican Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina .
“ They want to destroy the woman .
These people are sick , ” Mr. Trump said .
He also pointed to a Michigan teacher whom he said was “ fired for tweeting that Trump is our president.
” “ Can you imagine ?
Whoever you are , we love you , ” the president said .
Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July says he was fired after tweeting in support of Mr. Trump , though the school district denied the allegations .
“ This is the behavior of fascists , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ The American people will never submit .
We will not apologize , we will never apologize , we will not be controlled and we ’ ll never be broken.
” The president credited his tough trade policies , including rewriting the North American Free Trade Agreement , with bringing back manufacturing jobs to Michigan .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have a factory built for 40 years , and now you have a lot of them being built , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a whole different ball game .
”

Dave Boyer, S.A. Miller and S.A. Miller, Dave Boyer

MUSKEGON, Mich. — President Trump told supporters here Saturday that early voting trends in Michigan show that he’s defying polls and will win the state, while he tangled with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the target of an alleged kidnapping plot, calling her an aspiring “dictator.”
“We’re leading,” Mr. Trump said at a campaign rally in this town on the shores of Lake Michigan, calling it an early signal of his comeback. “We’re supposed to be way behind, until Election Day when all the Republicans go and you’re going to have a ‘red wave’ like you’ve never seen before.”
White House officials said Saturday that mail-in balloting and early voting totals in Michigan show that 41 percent of the 1.4 million votes so far were cast by Republicans, and 39 percent by Democrats. Another 20 percent of the vote was by independents.
Democrat Joseph R. Biden leads in Michigan by 7.2 percentage points, according to the Real Clear Politics average of polls. Four years ago, Mr. Trump won the state by less than one percentage point.
The president criticized Ms. Whitmer, a frequent foil in his battle over reopening state economies, telling supporters, “She wants to be a dictator in Michigan. And the people can’t stand her.”
Mr. Trump said the governor is a “pure partisan,” and worried aloud that she can’t be trusted to oversee the state’s expanded voting options. “Be careful of her,” he said.
Ms. Whitmer has kept in place some of the most restrictive COVID-19 shutdowns in the country.
But the feud with Mr. Trump took a frightful turn on Oct. 8, when the FBI broke up an alleged plot by militia members to kidnap Ms. Whitmer, put her on trial and execute her. Ms. Whitmer and Mr. Biden blamed Mr. Trump for inciting the plot.
Referring to the alleged plot, Mr. Trump said, “I guess they said she was threatened. And she blamed me!”
“Let’s see what happens,” the president said. “But our FBI has to start looking at Antifa, and some other people that they’re not looking at.”The president told the crowd, “You’ve got to get your governor to open up your state, and get your schools open.”
The audience responded with chants of “Lock her up!” and “We love Trump!”
“Lock ‘em all up,” the president said, smiling.
Michigan is a central battlefield in the race. Mr. Trump won the state by a little more than 10,000 votes in 2016, putting the state in the GOP column for the first time in decades by winning over blue-collar voters.
Mr. Trump urged voters to reject Democrats at the polls, calling them “the party of socialists, Marxists and left-wing extremists.”
“If you’re a moderate Democrat or liberal who knows that you’re party has gone totally off the rails, you have a moral duty to immediately stop this lunacy — you must by law join the Republican Party,” he said.
He said Democrats “demand absolute allegiance or else,” pointing to the NARAL pro-choice group’s demand to remove Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, from her post on the Senate Judiciary Committee after she hugged Republican Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
“They want to destroy the woman. These people are sick,” Mr. Trump said.
He also pointed to a Michigan teacher whom he said was “fired for tweeting that Trump is our president.” “Can you imagine? Whoever you are, we love you,” the president said.
Michigan high school teacher Justin Kucera was fired in July says he was fired after tweeting in support of Mr. Trump, though the school district denied the allegations.
“This is the behavior of fascists,” Mr. Trump said. “The American people will never submit. We will not apologize, we will never apologize, we will not be controlled and we’ll never be broken.”
The president credited his tough trade policies, including rewriting the North American Free Trade Agreement, with bringing back manufacturing jobs to Michigan.
“We brought your plants back. You didn’t have a factory built for 40 years, and now you have a lot of them being built,” he said. “It’s a whole different ball game.”
— Dave Boyer reported from Washington.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Ex-teacher charged with sexually abusing 3 Missouri students

KIRKWOOD , Mo .
( AP ) - A former suburban St. Louis high school teacher accused of raping a student in the 1990s now faces charges of sexually assaulting two more students .
Prosecutors dismissed the September indictment against former Kirkwood High School teacher Christopher J. Stephens and charged the 54-year-old Glendale , Missouri , man by a new complaint Friday .
He now faces two counts of statutory rape , three counts of statutory sodomy , two counts of sexual assault and one count of deviate sexual assault , the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported .
Defense lawyer Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all former students ’ accusations against him .
Stephens is accused of rape and sodomy in late 1997 and early 1998 at his high school office , the prop room at school and his home .
The decades-old allegations surfaced after a former student turned to social media to voice concerns and others came forward .
The former student alleged on a Facebook page for graduates in July that she was groomed and then abused starting when she was 13 in the late 1990s .
Stephens worked at the high school from 1991 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley .

KIRKWOOD, Mo. (AP) - A former suburban St. Louis high school teacher accused of raping a student in the 1990s now faces charges of sexually assaulting two more students.
Prosecutors dismissed the September indictment against former Kirkwood High School teacher Christopher J. Stephens and charged the 54-year-old Glendale, Missouri, man by a new complaint Friday. He now faces two counts of statutory rape, three counts of statutory sodomy, two counts of sexual assault and one count of deviate sexual assault, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Defense lawyer Bill Margulis has previously said that Stephens denies all former students’ accusations against him.
Stephens is accused of rape and sodomy in late 1997 and early 1998 at his high school office, the prop room at school and his home.
The decades-old allegations surfaced after a former student turned to social media to voice concerns and others came forward. The former student alleged on a Facebook page for graduates in July that she was groomed and then abused starting when she was 13 in the late 1990s.
Stephens worked at the high school from 1991 until 1998, when he began working for St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Nevada virus cases creep up again

Nevada virus cases creep up again

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - Nevada health authorities are reporting an additional 967 new coronavirus infection cases as infections @ @ @ @ @ state now has 89,652 recorded cases , with 1,707 people dead , and the positivity @ @ @ @ @ .
The 14-day rolling average for the positivity rate , which measures community transmission , @ @ @ @ @ .
The World Health Organization recommends a rate of 5 % or below , a @ @ @ @ @ dropped below since mid-June .
The average positivity rate reached 14.3 % on Aug. 1 @ @ @ @ @ statewide peak of 14.6 % on April 21 .
For most people , the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness @ @ @ @ @ death .
The vast majority of people recover .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada health authorities are reporting an additional 967 new coronavirus infection cases as infections continue to rise.
The state now has 89,652 recorded cases, with 1,707 people dead, and the positivity rate has continued to rise.
The 14-day rolling average for the positivity rate, which measures community transmission, was 9.2% on Friday.
The World Health Organization recommends a rate of 5% or below, a rate Nevada hasn’t dropped below since mid-June.
The average positivity rate reached 14.3% on Aug. 1, the highest since the statewide peak of 14.6% on April 21.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority of people recover.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Report: Only 2% of funds paid in Hawaii for housing relief

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Hawaii allotted $ 100 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to help families struggling with @ @ @ @ @ , but so far only 2 % of the money has been distributed , the @ @ @ @ @ Corporation said .
The corporation confirmed the number with Hawaii News Now .
More than @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program in the past month .
@ @ @ @ @ expire on Dec. 31 .
Gov .
David Ige launched the program meant to provide @ @ @ @ @ 2,000 a month for their housing needs .
Ige said the delay is partly due @ @ @ @ @ think everyone needs to recognize none of these programs were ever put into place before @ @ @ @ @ trying to implement , ” Ige said .
State Sen. Sharon Moriwaki , a Democrat @ @ @ @ @ that the payment process has been slowed because the state is micromanaging the verification process @

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii allotted $100 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to help families struggling with their rent and mortgage payments, but so far only 2% of the money has been distributed, the state Housing Finance and Development Corporation said.
The corporation confirmed the number with Hawaii News Now.
More than 20,000 people have applied for the state’s Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program in the past month. The program is set to expire on Dec. 31.
Gov. David Ige launched the program meant to provide eligible residents up to $2,000 a month for their housing needs. Ige said the delay is partly due to scale.
“I think everyone needs to recognize none of these programs were ever put into place before to the scale we are trying to implement,” Ige said.
State Sen. Sharon Moriwaki, a Democrat, tells Hawaii News Now that the payment process has been slowed because the state is micromanaging the verification process.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Michigan COVID-19 deaths climb above 7,000 since March

LANSING , Mich. ( AP ) - Deaths related to COVID-19 have crossed 7,000 in Michigan , the state health @ @ @ @ @ department reported 23 additional deaths , raising the total to 7,010 .
Fifteen of the @ @ @ @ @ or weeks ago and were added after a records review .
The state said there @ @ @ @ @ of the virus , down from Friday , moving the total since March to 144,897 @ @ @ @ @ is under 5 % .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate @ @ @ @ @ and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially @ @ @ @ @ existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , such as pneumonia , @ @ @

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Deaths related to COVID-19 have crossed 7,000 in Michigan, the state health department said Saturday.
The department reported 23 additional deaths, raising the total to 7,010. Fifteen of the 23 could have occurred days or weeks ago and were added after a records review.
The state said there were 1,791 newly confirmed cases of the virus, down from Friday, moving the total since March to 144,897. The statewide fatality rate is under 5%.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, such as pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Fernandes makes amends, leads United to 4-1 win at Newcastle

NEWCASTLE , England ( AP ) - Bruno Fernandes made amends for missing a penalty by scoring a brilliant go-ahead @ @ @ @ @ its come-from-behind 4-1 win at Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday .
After a @ @ @ @ @ in the 58th minute when the score was 1-1 , the Portugal midfielder surged down @ @ @ @ @ Marcus Rashford and was played in by the striker before taking a touch and curling @ @ @ @ @ corner in the 86th .
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Rashford scored even later goals at St. @ @ @ @ @ United ’ s comeback after the visitors went behind to Luke Shaw ’ s unfortunate @ @ @ @ @ Harry Maguire , who was sent off playing for England in midweek , equalized with @ @ @ @ @ in the 23rd .
It was a second win in the league for United after @ @ @ @ @ bounced back from a 6-1 loss to Tottenham before the international break .

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) - Bruno Fernandes made amends for missing a penalty by scoring a brilliant go-ahead goal for Manchester United in its come-from-behind 4-1 win at Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday.
After a rare blip from the spot in the 58th minute when the score was 1-1, the Portugal midfielder surged down the field in support of Marcus Rashford and was played in by the striker before taking a touch and curling a shot into the top corner in the 86th.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Rashford scored even later goals at St. James’ Park to seal United’s comeback after the visitors went behind to Luke Shaw’s unfortunate own-goal inside two minutes.
Harry Maguire, who was sent off playing for England in midweek, equalized with a header from a corner in the 23rd.
It was a second win in the league for United after four games as the team bounced back from a 6-1 loss to Tottenham before the international break.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Wisconsin suspends coronavirus totals during computer work

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has suspended the reporting of new COVID-19 totals until @ @ @ @ @ computer system undergoes an upgrade .
The Journal Sentinel reports the department announced Friday that @ @ @ @ @ Electronic Disease Surveillance System in an effort to improve its response to the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ to collect and monitor data on testing , contact tracing and other metrics .
The @ @ @ @ @ last until Tuesday , one day after the system goes live with the new updates @

MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has suspended the reporting of new COVID-19 totals until early next week while its computer system undergoes an upgrade.
The Journal Sentinel reports the department announced Friday that it is upgrading its Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System in an effort to improve its response to the coronavirus pandemic. The system is used to collect and monitor data on testing, contact tracing and other metrics.
The reporting outage is expected to last until Tuesday, one day after the system goes live with the new updates.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Perdue distances chicken giant from GOP senator amid uproar over Republican mocking Kamala Harris

Sen. David Perdue , Georgia Republican , unwillingly put the chicken company sharing his surname on the defensive Saturday by ruffling feathers during a Trump rally the night before .
Perdue , the Maryland-based meat processing company , distanced itself from the GOP lawmaker over the weekend as he faced scrutiny for mispronouncing the name of Sen. Kamala Harris .
Mr. Perdue was at a rally for President Trump ’ s reelection campaign Friday night in Macon , Georgia , when he repeatedly and willfully mispronounced the California Democrat ’ s name .
Amid criticizing several Democrats , Mr. Perdue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the party ’ s vice presidential nominee before jokingly referring to her as “ Kamalamalamala.
” Mr. Perdue accordingly ignited a firestorm on social media that inadvertently caused a hassle for the 100-year-old chicken and pork processing company with the senator ’ s surname .
The company ’ s official Twitter account , @ PerdueChicken , responded Saturday to a slew of angry social media posts directed its way by putting space between itself and the senator .
“ I can assure you that David Perdue has no affiliation with the Perdue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company ’ s Twitter account repeatedly told users on the social media service .
Among those quick to condemn Mr. Perdue for butchering the name of his Senate colleague was Sabrina Singh , a press secretary for Ms. Harris , who called it “ incredibly racist.
” “ We are so much better than this , ” opined Jon Ossoff , the Democratic candidate running against Mr. Perdue this fall .
A spokeswoman for the Perdue campaign defended his remarks when reached by CNN , the network reported later Friday .
“ Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he didn ’ t mean anything by it , ” responded Perdue campaign spokeswoman Casey Black , CNN reported .
“ He was making an argument against the radical socialist agenda that she and her endorsed candidate Jon Ossoff are pushing .
”

Sen. David Perdue, Georgia Republican, unwillingly put the chicken company sharing his surname on the defensive Saturday by ruffling feathers during a Trump rally the night before.
Perdue, the Maryland-based meat processing company, distanced itself from the GOP lawmaker over the weekend as he faced scrutiny for mispronouncing the name of Sen. Kamala D. Harris.
Mr. Perdue was at a rally for President Trump’s reelection campaign Friday night in Macon, Georgia, when he repeatedly and willfully mispronounced the California Democrat’s name.
Amid criticizing several Democrats, Mr. Perdue tried three times to say the name of the party’s vice presidential nominee before jokingly referring to her as “Kamalamalamala.”
Mr. Perdue accordingly ignited a firestorm on social media that inadvertently caused a hassle for the 100-year-old chicken and pork processing company with the senator’s surname.
The company’s official Twitter account, @PerdueChicken, responded Saturday to a slew of angry social media posts directed its way by putting space between itself and the senator.
“I can assure you that David Perdue has no affiliation with the Perdue Brand,” a person controlling the company’s Twitter account repeatedly told users on the social media service.
Among those quick to condemn Mr. Perdue for butchering the name of his Senate colleague was Sabrina Singh, a press secretary for Ms. Harris, who called it “incredibly racist.”
“We are so much better than this,” opined Jon Ossoff, the Democratic candidate running against Mr. Perdue this fall.
A spokeswoman for the Perdue campaign defended his remarks when reached by CNN, the network reported later Friday.
“Senator Perdue simply mispronounced Senator Harris’ name, and he didn’t mean anything by it,” responded Perdue campaign spokeswoman Casey Black, CNN reported. “He was making an argument against the radical socialist agenda that she and her endorsed candidate Jon Ossoff are pushing.”
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Archbishop performs exorcism to cleanse protest site

SAN RAFAEL , Calif. ( AP ) - The archbishop of San Francisco performed a short exorcism ceremony Saturday outside a Catholic church where protesters had earlier toppled a statue of Father Junipero Serra , saying the ceremony was intended to drive out evil and defend the image of Serra .
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone performed the ritual before some 150 supporters before holding a special Mass inside St. Raphael Catholic Church and an expected march to a Planned Parenthood clinic , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
Serra was an 18th-century Spanish missionary priest and the father of the California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long been praised by the church for bringing Roman Catholicism to what is now the western United States , but critics highlight a darker side to his legacy .
In converting Native Americans to Catholicism , critics say he forced them to abandon their culture or face brutal punishment .
Depictions of Serra have been protested and vandalized over the years , and Pope Francis ’ decision in 2015 to elevate him to sainthood reopened old wounds .
More recently , protests focusing on the rights and historical struggle of Black and Indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serra in San Francisco , Sacramento and Los Angeles .
San Rafael police say they arrested five people on vandalism charges for knocking over the statue on Monday , leaving just the feet attached to the base .
The statue is being repaired and will be returned .
Despite characterizations in popular culture , the newspaper reports that exorcism is more commonly a solemn ceremony to evict the devil or evil spirits from an area or person .
Cordileone said prayers in Latin , remarking that “ the experts in the field tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective against the devil because he doesn ’ t like the language of the church.
” San Rafael is north of San Francisco , in the county of Marin .

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) - The archbishop of San Francisco performed a short exorcism ceremony Saturday outside a Catholic church where protesters had earlier toppled a statue of Father Junipero Serra, saying the ceremony was intended to drive out evil and defend the image of Serra.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone performed the ritual before some 150 supporters before holding a special Mass inside St. Raphael Catholic Church and an expected march to a Planned Parenthood clinic, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Serra was an 18th-century Spanish missionary priest and the father of the California mission system. The Franciscan priest has long been praised by the church for bringing Roman Catholicism to what is now the western United States, but critics highlight a darker side to his legacy. In converting Native Americans to Catholicism, critics say he forced them to abandon their culture or face brutal punishment.
Depictions of Serra have been protested and vandalized over the years, and Pope Francis’ decision in 2015 to elevate him to sainthood reopened old wounds. More recently, protests focusing on the rights and historical struggle of Black and Indigenous people led activists to topple statues of Serra in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles.
San Rafael police say they arrested five people on vandalism charges for knocking over the statue on Monday, leaving just the feet attached to the base. The statue is being repaired and will be returned.
Despite characterizations in popular culture, the newspaper reports that exorcism is more commonly a solemn ceremony to evict the devil or evil spirits from an area or person.
Cordileone said prayers in Latin, remarking that “the experts in the field tell me that Latin tends to be more effective against the devil because he doesn’t like the language of the church.”
San Rafael is north of San Francisco, in the county of Marin.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Construction accident kills 1, injures another

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - One person was killed and another critically injured Friday when a construction truck boom fell @ @ @ @ @ the Meeker County Sheriff ’ s Office .
The Star Tribune reports the accident occurred @ @ @ @ @ construction site in Harvey Township .
The stabilizing platform for a concrete boom truck gave @ @ @ @ @ to fall to the ground , striking two people .
One person died at the @ @ @ @ @ was airlifted with critical injuries to St .
Cloud Hospital .
The names of the @ @ @ @ @ by the Sheriff ’ s Office , which is investigating the cause of the accident @

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - One person was killed and another critically injured Friday when a construction truck boom fell near Litchfield, according to the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.
The Star Tribune reports the accident occurred at 11:46 a.m. at a construction site in Harvey Township. The stabilizing platform for a concrete boom truck gave way, causing the boom to fall to the ground, striking two people.
One person died at the scene while the second person was airlifted with critical injuries to St. Cloud Hospital. The names of the victims have not been released by the Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the cause of the accident.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--21 members of white supremacist orgs charged for guns, drugs

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - Twenty-one members and associates of white supremacy organizations in Utah are facing charges over gun and drug distribution .
The indictments came after an investigation that started in June 2019 that focused on the Soldiers of Aryan Culture , Silent Aryan Warriors and Noble Elect Thugs .
“ SAC and SAW are highly volatile , dangerous criminal enterprises , ” Mike Schoenfeld , director of the Salt Lake Area Gang Project , said Friday .
“ These gangs have their roots right here in the Utah prison system .
It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they also have very strong ties nationwide to other violent white supremacy groups.
” The indictments unsealed Friday include charges for distributing heroin and methamphetamine , possessing a firearm while selling drugs and having a gun as a felon , the Salt Lake Tribune reported .
Officials said many of the men and women charged have lengthy criminal histories in Utah .
“ These targets were violent , they ’ re criminals , and they ’ re the worst in our communities , ” said Matt Harris , U.S. marshal for the District @ @ @

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Twenty-one members and associates of white supremacy organizations in Utah are facing charges over gun and drug distribution.
The indictments came after an investigation that started in June 2019 that focused on the Soldiers of Aryan Culture, Silent Aryan Warriors and Noble Elect Thugs.
“SAC and SAW are highly volatile, dangerous criminal enterprises,” Mike Schoenfeld, director of the Salt Lake Area Gang Project, said Friday. “These gangs have their roots right here in the Utah prison system. It’s not something to be proud of. But they also have very strong ties nationwide to other violent white supremacy groups.”
The indictments unsealed Friday include charges for distributing heroin and methamphetamine, possessing a firearm while selling drugs and having a gun as a felon, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Officials said many of the men and women charged have lengthy criminal histories in Utah.
“These targets were violent, they’re criminals, and they’re the worst in our communities,” said Matt Harris, U.S. marshal for the District of Utah.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Public schools in Hawaii report 10 new cases of COVID-19

HONOLULU ( AP ) — Public schools in Hawaii reported 10 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus among staff and @ @ @ @ @ ended Friday .
Officials said six of the people who tested positive had not been @ @ @ @ @ two weeks .
There have been 147 cases of the coronavirus associated with public schools @ @ @ @ @ Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Saturday .
This includes 19 people who had not been on campus @ @ @ @ @ before their diagnosis .
For the week ending on Oct. 9 , the state reported @ @ @ @ @ associated with public schools .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher @ @ @ @ @ been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling @ @ @ @ @ , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough @ @ @ @ @ to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health @ @ @ @ @ more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

HONOLULU (AP) — Public schools in Hawaii reported 10 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus among staff and students during the week that ended Friday.
Officials said six of the people who tested positive had not been on campus for at least two weeks.
There have been 147 cases of the coronavirus associated with public schools since June 26, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Saturday. This includes 19 people who had not been on campus for at least two weeks before their diagnosis.
For the week ending on Oct. 9, the state reported eight cases of the coronavirus associated with public schools.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.