washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Safety protocol, job fears, family feud in Singapore polls

SINGAPORE ( AP ) - Some 2.65 million Singaporeans will cast their ballot Friday with strict safety protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ’ s long-ruling party is expected to extend its unbroken rule , bolstered by the pandemic and fears of a severe economic recession .
What you need to know about the vote : Lee ’ s People ’ s Action Party has been criticized for holding polls amid the pandemic , just weeks after Singapore emerged from two months of virus lockdown and daily virus cases still topping 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people has reported more than 45,000 cases , most of them foreign workers living in crowded dormitories that were overlooked in the early phase of its crisis management .
The government has increased polling stations from 880 to 1,100 and implemented strict safety measures including the use of masks , hand sanitizer and gloves .
Election workers are wearing full protection gear .
All voters were assigned a two-hour window to cast their ballots to reduce crowding .
Voters older than 65 have priority during the first four hours polls are open .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine orders , numbering around 350 , can not vote to reduce the risk of community transmission .
Another 360 Singaporeans who have been given stay-home notices and those with fever are allowed to vote only during the last hour , with extra precautions being taken .
Those serving their stay-home notices at hotels can cast their vote without leaving their rooms , with mobile polling teams delivering ballots to them .
This is Singapore ’ s second general election where the opposition is contesting all parliamentary seats .
The PAP faces a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seats up for grabs .
Ten small opposition parties contesting the polls have urged Singaporeans to reduce the PAP ’ s overwhelming majority in parliament , and give them a louder voice to ensure more transparency and accountability .
The Workers Party , the only opposition that won seats in 2015 , and the new Progress Singapore Party led by a veteran former PAP stalwart are leading the challenge .
Still , it will be a tall task .
The PAP has been in power since 1959 , and its popular vote has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , it won nearly 70 % of total votes and 93 % of parliamentary seats .
Lee , who is the country ’ s third prime minister since 2004 , faced new pressure when his estranged younger brother joined an opposition party last month .
Lee Hsien Yang , 62 , is not contesting the polls but has actively campaigned against the PAP , co-founded by his father and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who turned the tiny island into one of the world ’ s wealthiest nations during his 31-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PAP had turned into an elitist party with no checks and balances under his brother , and urged Singaporeans to vote fearlessly to deny the PAP a “ blank check.
” The Lee brothers have been engaged in a public spat in the last few years over the fate of their family home .
Lee Hsien Loong says the election is not about his family dispute but the future of Singapore .
Concerns about the prolonged pandemic and an economic slump may push voters to stick to the tried and tested .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its worst-ever recession this year , with its economy expected to shrink by up to 7 % .
Lee ’ s government has unveiled several economic assistance packages totaling nearly 100 billion Singapore dollars ( $ 71.7 billion ) but warned the economic impact hasn ’ t been fully felt yet .
Issues raised during campaigning focused on jobs and securing Singapore ’ s future in a post-COVID world .
Lee plans to retire in two years at age 70 , thought it may be delayed if the economy is not back on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a vote of confidence in the new leadership led by his designated successor , deputy and finance minister Heng Swee Keat .

SINGAPORE (AP) - Some 2.65 million Singaporeans will cast their ballot Friday with strict safety protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s long-ruling party is expected to extend its unbroken rule, bolstered by the pandemic and fears of a severe economic recession. What you need to know about the vote:
________
SAFE ELECTIONS
Lee’s People’s Action Party has been criticized for holding polls amid the pandemic, just weeks after Singapore emerged from two months of virus lockdown and daily virus cases still topping 100. The tiny nation of 5.8 million people has reported more than 45,000 cases, most of them foreign workers living in crowded dormitories that were overlooked in the early phase of its crisis management. The government has increased polling stations from 880 to 1,100 and implemented strict safety measures including the use of masks, hand sanitizer and gloves. Election workers are wearing full protection gear. All voters were assigned a two-hour window to cast their ballots to reduce crowding. Voters older than 65 have priority during the first four hours polls are open. COVID-19 patients and those who are on quarantine orders, numbering around 350, cannot vote to reduce the risk of community transmission. Another 360 Singaporeans who have been given stay-home notices and those with fever are allowed to vote only during the last hour, with extra precautions being taken. Those serving their stay-home notices at hotels can cast their vote without leaving their rooms, with mobile polling teams delivering ballots to them.
____
UNITED OPPOSITION
This is Singapore’s second general election where the opposition is contesting all parliamentary seats. The PAP faces a one-on-one contest in most of the 93 seats up for grabs. Ten small opposition parties contesting the polls have urged Singaporeans to reduce the PAP’s overwhelming majority in parliament, and give them a louder voice to ensure more transparency and accountability. The Workers Party, the only opposition that won seats in 2015, and the new Progress Singapore Party led by a veteran former PAP stalwart are leading the challenge. Still, it will be a tall task. The PAP has been in power since 1959, and its popular vote has never slipped below 60%. In 2015, it won nearly 70% of total votes and 93% of parliamentary seats.
____
FAMILY FEUD
Lee, who is the country’s third prime minister since 2004, faced new pressure when his estranged younger brother joined an opposition party last month. Lee Hsien Yang, 62, is not contesting the polls but has actively campaigned against the PAP, co-founded by his father and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who turned the tiny island into one of the world’s wealthiest nations during his 31-year rule. The younger Lee said the PAP had turned into an elitist party with no checks and balances under his brother, and urged Singaporeans to vote fearlessly to deny the PAP a “blank check.” The Lee brothers have been engaged in a public spat in the last few years over the fate of their family home. Lee Hsien Loong says the election is not about his family dispute but the future of Singapore.
_____
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Concerns about the prolonged pandemic and an economic slump may push voters to stick to the tried and tested. The affluent city-state is expected to dip into its worst-ever recession this year, with its economy expected to shrink by up to 7%. Lee’s government has unveiled several economic assistance packages totaling nearly 100 billion Singapore dollars ($71.7 billion) but warned the economic impact hasn’t been fully felt yet. Issues raised during campaigning focused on jobs and securing Singapore’s future in a post-COVID world. Lee plans to retire in two years at age 70, thought it may be delayed if the economy is not back on its feet. Some see the election as a vote of confidence in the new leadership led by his designated successor, deputy and finance minister Heng Swee Keat.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Storm off Mexico likely to be east Pacific's first hurricane

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Tropical Storm Cristina formed Thursday off Mexico ’ s western coast and was forecast @ @ @ @ @ hurricane of the eastern Pacific season by Friday morning , though it was unlikely to @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm had near hurricane-force winds by mid-afternoon @ @ @ @ @ become a hurricane soon , but would begin weakening by Friday night .
At mid-afternoon @ @ @ @ @ sustained winds of 70 mph ( 110 kph ) and was centered about 344 miles @ @ @ @ @ of the southern tip of Mexico ’ s Baja California peninsula .
It was moving @ @ @ @ @ mph ( 20 kph ) .
The hurricane center said the storm was expected to @ @ @ @ @ and head farther into the Pacific .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Tropical Storm Cristina formed Thursday off Mexico’s western coast and was forecast to grow into the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific season by Friday morning, though it was unlikely to pose any threat to land.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm had near hurricane-force winds Thursday night and was expected to become a hurricane soon, but would begin weakening by Friday night.
Cristina had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and was centered about 335 miles (574 kilometers) south-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. It was moving to the west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).
The hurricane center said the storm was expected to turn westward over the weekend and head farther into the Pacific.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Trump declares disaster, releases money for flooded areas

MIDLAND , Mich. ( AP ) - President Donald Trump said he approved a major disaster declaration for mid-Michigan counties @ @ @ @ @ will provide more than $ 43 million to help in the recovery .
Trump mentioned @ @ @ @ @ a Republican who represents the Midland area , in his tweet Thursday .
He didn @ @ @ @ @ .
Gretchen Whitmer , who made a request for the declaration .
“ I will @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump said .
The Edenville dam failed during a steady rain , draining Wixom @ @ @ @ @ River , which then overwhelmed the Sanford dam , about 140 miles ( 225 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ “ The devastation of this disaster touched thousands of Michigan families and businesses , and @ @ @ @ @ important step in our efforts to continue to provide assistance as they recover and rebuild @ @ @ @ @

MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) - President Donald Trump said he approved a major disaster declaration for mid-Michigan counties swept by May floods and will provide more than $43 million to help in the recovery.
Trump mentioned U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, a Republican who represents the Midland area, in his tweet Thursday. He didn’t mention Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who made a request for the declaration.
“I will always stand with Michigan!” Trump said.
The Edenville dam failed during a steady rain, draining Wixom Lake and unleashing the Tittabawassee River, which then overwhelmed the Sanford dam, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) north of Detroit.
“The devastation of this disaster touched thousands of Michigan families and businesses, and this federal declaration is an important step in our efforts to continue to provide assistance as they recover and rebuild,” Whitmer said.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Physicians warn of coronavirus' lingering effects

Health experts are warning about a variety of possible coronavirus after effects — from long-term respiratory ailments to blood clotting to brain damage .
Even though most people experience only moderate symptoms , severe complications of the disease could lead to long-term effects , experts say .
“ COVID-19 is not always a benign illness and there are lingering effects that may affect you even if you do not require hospitalization .
This is something that people should avoid getting and spreading — we can ’ t take it lightly , ” said Dr. Amesh Adalja , a senior scholar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
COVID-19 symptoms include fever or chills , cough , difficulty breathing , fatigue , muscle or body aches , new loss of taste or smell , sore throat , runny nose or congestion , nausea or vomiting and diarrhea .
The coronavirus has sickened more than 3 million people in the U.S. and killed more than 132,000 as of Thursday .
Of those who have fallen ill , about 953,000 have recovered , a Johns Hopkins University tally shows .
Studies and anecdotes reveal that the coronavirus could lead to conditions such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , chronic shortness of breath , blood clotting , damage to organs and neurological problems .
There is a high risk of delirium characterized by confusion , difficulty paying attention , reduced awareness of surroundings and inability to interact with others — in patients who are most seriously ill with COVID-19 and who receive care in intensive care units .
While delirium is not a complication specific to COVID-19 , it is a common complication of ICU treatment , according to Dr. William Petri , professor of medicine at the University of Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have existing health conditions are at greater risk of ending up in the ICU .
One study found that close to 75 % of patients admitted to the ICU experienced delirium , and the confusion lasted months after hospitalization for some .
A proportion of patients still experienced delirium and cognitive impairment three and 12 months after their hospitalization .
For example , at three months , 40 % of the patients had cognition scores that were lower than those typically seen in patients with moderate traumatic brain injury and 26 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scores for patients with mild Alzheimer ’ s disease .
“ People with mild illness may also be playing with fatigue , difficulty concentrating , and other various symptoms as part of a post viral syndrome , ” said Dr. Adalja .
Physicians warned in a letter published last month in The New England Journal of Medicine that COVID-19 could cause diabetes .
There are other instances of coronaviruses triggering diabetes : During the 2002-2003 SARS ( severe acute respiratory syndrome ) outbreak in China , some patients with pneumonia caused by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in most patients went away but remained in 10 % of them after three years , according to a 2009 study .
Several viruses have been linked to diabetes , including enteroviruses , rotavirus , rubella and the mumps virus .
“ We have known for many years that viral infections may be linked to the first time a patient has diabetes symptoms .
( Type 1 diabetes presents in a seasonal fashion , a fact often seen with viral infections . )
And viral infections may also trigger the destruction of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pancreas , setting up a chronic autoimmune response , ” Dr. Julian Hamilton-Shield , professor in diabetes at the University of Bristol , wrote in an article for The Conversation .
Dr. Hamilton-Shield said it is unclear if COVID-19 can cause Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes , speculating that this could be a new form of diabetes , but right now there is not enough data .
Patients who are severely ill with COVID-19 often suffer from pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome , or ARDS , said Dr. Petri in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unknown if patients who have recovered from the coronavirus will have long-term breathing problems since doctors have not monitored them long enough .
If a patient needs a mechanical ventilator , they could have decreased lung capacity and chronic lung issues due to scarring on the lungs , according to Dr. William Schaffner , a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University .
The reduced lung capacity means a patient could become short of breath much quicker .
A study of health care workers in China who contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , shows that lung damage mostly healed within two years after the illness .
Researchers found that more than 30 % of critically ill COVID-19 patients in ICUs at Dutch hospitals experienced complications from blood clotting .
If blood clots break loose from blood vessels and travel to the lung , they could cause a pulmonary embolism or a blockage in one of the lung arteries , Dr. Petri said , or they could cause a stroke if they migrate to the brain.In some cases , blood clotting could lead to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legs .
Dr. Schaffner said the linings of blood vessels can become inflamed , causing blotting to occur , cutting off oxygen to body tissues , and leading to gangrene , a life threatening condition .
He said that was undoubtedly the case for Nick Cordero , the 41-year-old Broadway star who died from COVID-19 complications and had to have his leg amputated during his 3-month hospitalization .
“ These are the sorts of things that should give everyone pause , and that example of that Broadway star actually is very vivid and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise healthy person , ” said Dr. Schaffner .
“ And the COVID virus caused terribly severe disease in him , resulting eventually in his passing .
Young people are less apt to get sick than older people , but that doesn ’ t mean they have a suit of armor that will reject the coronavirus entirely Young people , even if they don ’ t get that sick , can spread the virus to people who are going to get very sick.
” A study of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced comorbidities such as congestive heart failure .
It also found that a third of the patients had myocarditis , inflammation of the heart muscle .
Arrhythmias , an irregular heartbeat , has also been observed in patients , Dr. Petri notes , but it is unknown whether this stems from a direct heart infection or is an indirect effect from the stress caused by the inflammatory response to the infection .
There also have been reports of ill patients suffering kidney or liver damage .
More research is suggesting that COVID-19 could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems .
British researchers found that some coronavirus patients experienced brain swelling along with delirium and psychosis while others had strokes or developed nervous system disorders like Guillain-Barr syndrome , which can cause paralysis , according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Brain .
The team also discovered a rising number of cases of a life-threatening condition called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis ( Adem ) , a condition where there is a brief widespread attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord .
Cases rose from about two a month prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April and May .
“ We ’ re seeing things in the way COVID-19 affects the brain that we haven ’ t seen before with other viruses , ” Michael Zandi , a senior author on the study and a consultant at the institute and University College London Hospitals NHS foundation trust , told The Guardian .
“ What we ’ ve seen with some of these Adem patients , and in other patients , is you can have severe neurology , you can be quite sick , but actually have trivial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University recently discovered that the coronavirus could infect brain cells using “ mini-brain ” models made from human stem cells , offering further evidence that COVID-19 could possibly cause serious neurological damage .
Earlier reports from Wuhan , China , where the coronavirus pandemic began , suggest that 36 % of infected patients experienced neurological symptoms such as impaired consciousness and dizziness .
Yet , it has been unclear whether the virus can infect human brain cells .
Health experts have also expressed concern about the impact of COVID-19 on the developing brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can cross the placenta in pregnant women .
Researchers from Italy on Thursday said they found the coronavirus and antibodies in the vaginas , placentas , breast milk and umbilical cord blood in 31 pregnant women infected with COVID-19 , providing more evidence that the virus can spread to fetuses and newborns , The Associated Press reported .
The sicker a person is , the more antibodies that person makes .
However , how much and how long those antibodies protect against COVID-19 remains unknown , Dr. Schaffner said , noting more research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which comes from antibodies but also other “ arms of the immune system , ” will likely last for at least a year .
However , he said those who have recovered from the coronavirus need to be followed for a longer period of time to get a better idea .
“ It is unclear how sick someone has to become to get antibodies ; there are individuals who have no symptoms yet develop antibodies and those that are symptomatic yet don ’ t , ” he said .
Infectious disease experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population would have to be infected with coronavirus in order to achieve herd immunity or resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population .
However , a recent study of patients in Spain found that just 5 % of thousands of participants tested across the country had maintained antibodies .
“ Immunity can be incomplete , it can be transitory , it can last for just a short time and then disappear , ” Raquel Yotti , the director of Spain ’ s Carlos III Health Institute , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Business Insider .
Even if a coronavirus vaccine becomes available , herd immunity might not be achieved if too many people opt out of getting vaccinated , top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said last month .
• This article is based in part on wire service reports .

Health experts are warning about a variety of possible coronavirus after effects — from long-term respiratory ailments to blood clotting to brain damage.
Even though most people experience only moderate symptoms, severe complications of the disease could lead to long-term effects, experts say.
“COVID-19 is not always a benign illness and there are lingering effects that may affect you even if you do not require hospitalization. This is something that people should avoid getting and spreading — we can’t take it lightly,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. COVID-19 symptoms include fever or chills, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, runny nose or congestion, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.
The coronavirus has sickened more than 3 million people in the U.S. and killed more than 132,000 as of Thursday. Of those who have fallen ill, about 953,000 have recovered, a Johns Hopkins University tally shows.
Studies and anecdotes reveal that the coronavirus could lead to conditions such as post-intensive care unit syndrome, diabetes, chronic shortness of breath, blood clotting, damage to organs and neurological problems.
Post-intensive care syndrome
There is a high risk of delirium characterized by confusion, difficulty paying attention, reduced awareness of surroundings and inability to interact with others in patients who are most seriously ill with COVID-19 and who receive care in intensive care units.
While delirium is not a complication specific to COVID-19, it is a common complication of ICU treatment, according to Dr. William Petri, professor of medicine at the University of Virginia.
People who are older and who have existing health conditions are at greater risk of ending up in the ICU. One study found that close to 75% of patients admitted to the ICU experienced delirium, and the confusion lasted months after hospitalization for some. A proportion of patients still experienced delirium and cognitive impairment three and 12 months after their hospitalization.
For example, at three months, 40% of the patients had cognition scores that were lower than those typically seen in patients with moderate traumatic brain injury and 26% of patients had scores that were similar to scores for patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease.
“People with mild illness may also be playing with fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and other various symptoms as part of a post viral syndrome,” said Dr. Adalja.
Diabetes
Physicians warned in a letter published last month in The New England Journal of Medicine that COVID-19 could cause diabetes.
There are other instances of coronaviruses triggering diabetes: During the 2002-2003 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in China, some patients with pneumonia caused by the coronavirus developed acute onset diabetes.
Diabetes in most patients went away but remained in 10% of them after three years, according to a 2009 study. Several viruses have been linked to diabetes, including enteroviruses, rotavirus, rubella and the mumps virus.
“We have known for many years that viral infections may be linked to the first time a patient has diabetes symptoms. (Type 1 diabetes presents in a seasonal fashion, a fact often seen with viral infections.) And viral infections may also trigger the destruction of the insulin-producing islet cell ‘factories’ in the pancreas, setting up a chronic autoimmune response,” Dr. Julian Hamilton-Shield, professor in diabetes at the University of Bristol, wrote in an article for The Conversation.
Dr. Hamilton-Shield said it is unclear if COVID-19 can cause Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, speculating that this could be a new form of diabetes, but right now there is not enough data.
Chronic shortness of breath
Patients who are severely ill with COVID-19 often suffer from pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, said Dr. Petri in an article for The Conversation.
It is unknown if patients who have recovered from the coronavirus will have long-term breathing problems since doctors have not monitored them long enough. If a patient needs a mechanical ventilator, they could have decreased lung capacity and chronic lung issues due to scarring on the lungs, according to Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University. The reduced lung capacity means a patient could become short of breath much quicker.
A study of health care workers in China who contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), another type of coronavirus, shows that lung damage mostly healed within two years after the illness.
Blood clotting
Researchers found that more than 30% of critically ill COVID-19 patients in ICUs at Dutch hospitals experienced complications from blood clotting.
If blood clots break loose from blood vessels and travel to the lung, they could cause a pulmonary embolism or a blockage in one of the lung arteries, Dr. Petri said, or they could cause a stroke if they migrate to the brain.
In some cases, blood clotting could lead to the amputation of toes, fingers or even legs. Dr. Schaffner said the linings of blood vessels can become inflamed, causing blotting to occur, cutting off oxygen to body tissues, and leading to gangrene, a life threatening condition.
He said that was undoubtedly the case for Nick Cordero, the 41-year-old Broadway star who died from COVID-19 complications and had to have his leg amputated during his 3-month hospitalization.
“These are the sorts of things that should give everyone pause, and that example of that Broadway star actually is very vivid and sad because he was a young, otherwise healthy person,” Dr. Schaffner said. “And the COVID virus caused terribly severe disease in him, resulting eventually in his passing. Young people are less apt to get sick than older people, but that doesn’t mean they have a suit of armor that will reject the coronavirus entirely. Young people, even if they don’t get that sick, can spread the virus to people who are going to get very sick.”
Organ damage
A study of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Washington state found that 86% of them experienced comorbidities such as congestive heart failure. It also found that a third of the patients had myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle. Arrhythmias, an irregular heartbeat, has also been observed in patients, Dr. Petri notes, but it is unknown whether this stems from a direct heart infection or is an indirect effect from the stress caused by the inflammatory response to the infection.
There also have been reports of ill patients suffering kidney or liver damage.
Neurological problems
More research is suggesting that COVID-19 could be linked to brain damage and neurological problems.
British researchers found that some coronavirus patients experienced brain swelling along with delirium and psychosis while others had strokes or developed nervous system disorders like Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause paralysis, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Brain.
The team also discovered a rising number of cases of a life-threatening condition called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (Adem), a condition where there is a brief widespread attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. Cases rose from about two a month prior to the pandemic to two per week in April and May.
“We’re seeing things in the way COVID-19 affects the brain that we haven’t seen before with other viruses,” Michael Zandi, a senior author on the study and a consultant at the institute and University College London Hospitals NHS foundation trust, told The Guardian. “What we’ve seen with some of these Adem patients, and in other patients, is you can have severe neurology, you can be quite sick, but actually have trivial lung disease.”
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University recently discovered that the coronavirus could infect brain cells using “mini-brain” models made from human stem cells, offering further evidence that COVID-19 could possibly cause serious neurological damage.
Earlier reports from Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus pandemic began, suggest that 36% of infected patients experienced neurological symptoms such as impaired consciousness and dizziness. Yet, it has been unclear whether the virus can infect human brain cells.
Health experts have also expressed concern about the impact of COVID-19 on the developing brain as evidence has shown that the virus can cross the placenta in pregnant women. Researchers from Italy on Thursday said they found the coronavirus and antibodies in the vaginas, placentas, breast milk and umbilical cord blood in 31 pregnant women infected with COVID-19, providing more evidence that the virus can spread to fetuses and newborns, The Associated Press reported.
What about immunity?
The sicker a person is, the more antibodies that person makes. However, how much and how long those antibodies protect against COVID-19 remains unknown, Dr. Schaffner said, noting more research is needed.
Dr. Adalja said immunity, which comes from antibodies but also other “arms of the immune system,” will likely last for at least a year. However, he said those who have recovered from the coronavirus need to be followed for a longer period of time to get a better idea.
“It is unclear how sick someone has to become to get antibodies; there are individuals who have no symptoms yet develop antibodies and those that are symptomatic yet don’t,” he said.
Infectious disease experts estimate that about 70% of the population would have to be infected with coronavirus in order to achieve herd immunity or resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population.
However, a recent study of patients in Spain found that just 5% of thousands of participants tested across the country had maintained antibodies.
“Immunity can be incomplete, it can be transitory, it can last for just a short time and then disappear,” Raquel Yotti, the director of Spain’s Carlos III Health Institute, one of the groups that conducted the study, told the Business Insider.
Even if a coronavirus vaccine becomes available, herd immunity might not be achieved if too many people opt out of getting vaccinated, top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said last month.
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
• Shen Wu Tan can be reached at stan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--San Diego kill man they say pointed gun at officers

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - Police on Thursday shot and killed a man they say pointed a gun at @ @ @ @ @ .
A report of a person with a gun sent officers went to the Talmadge @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
They spotted the man about a block from Herbert Hoover High @ @ @ @ @ to make contract he pointed a gun at them , police said .
Several officers @ @ @ @ @ died at the scene .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Police on Thursday shot and killed a man they say pointed a gun at officers near a high school.
A report of a person with a gun sent officers went to the Talmadge neighborhood shortly before 4 p.m., police said.
They spotted the man about a block from Herbert Hoover High School but when they tried to make contract he pointed a gun at them, police said.
Several officers opened fire. The man died at the scene.
His name wasn’t immediately released.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--State: Dog has first case of coronavirus in Texas animal

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) - A North Texas dog has been found to have the first coronavirus infection @ @ @ @ @ , state officials said .
The Texas Animal Health Commission announced in a statement that @ @ @ @ @ confirmed to have the virus that causes COVID-19 .
A private veterinarian tested the pooch @ @ @ @ @ its owners were confirmed to have COVID-19 .
The veterinarian reported the 2-year-old dog is @ @ @ @ @ the commission statement .
The dog is not the first animal in the nation to @ @ @ @ @ .
Ten other animals have tested positive for the virus , according to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ Plant Health Inspection Service website .
State Veterinarian Dr. Andy Schwartz assured that there is @ @ @ @ @ can transmit the virus , but they can catch it .
He advised that pets @ @ @ @ @ persons with the coronavirus .

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A North Texas dog has been found to have the first coronavirus infection confirmed in a Texas animal, state officials said.
The Texas Animal Health Commission announced in a statement that the Fort Worth-area dog was confirmed to have the virus that causes COVID-19.
A private veterinarian tested the pooch Tuesday as a precaution after its owners were confirmed to have COVID-19. The veterinarian reported the 2-year-old dog is otherwise healthy, according to the commission statement.
The dog is not the first animal in the nation to test positive for the coronavirus. Ten other animals have tested positive for the virus, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website.
State Veterinarian Dr. Andy Schwartz assured that there is no known evidence that pets can transmit the virus, but they can catch it. He advised that pets be restricted from contact with persons with the coronavirus.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Colorado man kills bear in self-defense

Colorado man kills bear in self-defense

BOULDER , Colo. ( AP ) - A camper in Colorado shot and killed a bear after the animal charged @ @ @ @ @ at a camping area , authorities said .
Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Jason Clay @ @ @ @ @ outside of Nederland , 17 miles ( 27 kilometers ) from Boulder , when he @ @ @ @ @ Monday , the Daily Camera reported Thursday .
The man said when he left his @ @ @ @ @ bear chasing his dog .
After the man called for his dog , the bear @ @ @ @ @ them .
Clay said the man then shot the bear , a male weighing about @ @ @ @ @ ) .
While it is illegal to shoot a bear to protect a pet , @ @ @ @ @ was protecting himself , he will likely not be ticketed .
Clay said the bear @ @ @ @ @ ’ s vehicle days earlier .
Officials believe the bear had also been infiltrating other @ @ @ @ @

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - A camper in Colorado shot and killed a bear after the animal charged the man and his dog at a camping area, authorities said.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Jason Clay said the man was camping outside of Nederland, 17 miles (27 kilometers) from Boulder, when he heard his dog barking early Monday, the Daily Camera reported Thursday.
The man said when he left his camper, he saw a bear chasing his dog. After the man called for his dog, the bear started charging at both of them.
Clay said the man then shot the bear, a male weighing about 260 pounds (118 kilograms).
While it is illegal to shoot a bear to protect a pet, Clay said because the man was protecting himself, he will likely not be ticketed.
Clay said the bear had broken into the man’s vehicle days earlier. Officials believe the bear had also been infiltrating other campsites in the area.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Tucson police reveal suspect died in March arrest attempt

PHOENIX ( AP ) - Authorities have concluded that Tucson police officers used an appropriate amount of force in a violent struggle three months ago with a man who died while resisting arrest and told officers several times that he couldn ’ t breathe .
The Tucson Police Department on Wednesday revealed for the first time that 29-year-old Damien Alvarado died on March 22 as officers were trying to arrest him for fleeing from the scene of a hit-and-run crash on foot .
The agency said it previously wasn ’ t in the practice of doing news releases on such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly disclose them and release videos of those incidents within 72 hours .
It also released videos of other in-custody deaths Wednesday .
Alvarado struck two vehicles in an intersection before exiting his car and running to a church parking lot , where two men tried to prevent him from fleeing until police arrived , according to police reports .
The videos show Alvarado struggle with the men and officers , trying to scale a cinder block wall , being forced to the ground and ignoring officer ’ s commands to calm down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stun gun , but he kept moving .
Medical examiners determined Alvarado ’ s cause of death was cardiac arrest while intoxicated on methamphetamine and being physically restrained .
Efforts to reach the Alvarado family by phone for comment on the police department ’ s conclusions were unsuccessful .
During the struggle , police say , Alvarado grabbed a pistol magazine from an officer ’ s belt , and an officer punched Alvarado three times with no apparent effect .
Alvarado yelled at officers during the incident , told them not to touch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paramedics tended to him .
At one point , an officer can be seen pressing a knee on either Alvarado ’ s neck or upper back as officers tried to control him .
“ If you can complain , you can breathe , ” an officer responded .
Some officers used profane language in asking Alvarado to cooperate and one of them used an expletive to refer to Alvarado .
Paramedics initially cleared Alvarado to be brought back to jail but had to be called back to the scene after his breathing became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and paramedics performed CPR on Alvarado , who was later pronounced dead at a hospital .
Prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine whether criminal charges should be brought .
The police department said the comments that the officers made during the arrest attempt violated the agency ’ s policies and that they could face discipline .
Two weeks ago , the Tucson Police Department acknowledged that it had failed to disclose another in-custody death .
Carlos Ingram-Lopez , 27 , died on April 21 while handcuffed , placed face-down and covered with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call from his grandmother , who said he had been acting erratically at her home .
The medical examiner ’ s office didn ’ t determine a manner of death but said Ingram-Lopez died of sudden cardiac arrest while intoxicated by cocaine and physically restrained .
The death of Ingram-Lopez led three officers who violated departmental policy to resign .
Kevin Hall , an assistant police chief in Tucson , said the move to release videos on a timely basis was part of the changes at police agencies across the country since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis .
“ Message received loud and clear , and we have changed our procedures moving forward , ” Hall said .

PHOENIX (AP) - Authorities have concluded that Tucson police officers used an appropriate amount of force in a violent struggle three months ago with a man who died while resisting arrest and told officers several times that he couldn’t breathe.
The Tucson Police Department on Wednesday revealed for the first time that 29-year-old Damien Alvarado died on March 22 as officers were trying to arrest him for fleeing from the scene of a hit-and-run crash on foot.
The agency said it previously wasn’t in the practice of doing news releases on such deaths, but in the future will publicly disclose them and release videos of those incidents within 72 hours. It also released videos of other in-custody deaths Wednesday.
Alvarado struck two vehicles in an intersection before exiting his car and running to a church parking lot, where two men tried to prevent him from fleeing until police arrived, according to police reports.
The videos show Alvarado struggle with the men and officers, trying to scale a cinder block wall, being forced to the ground and ignoring officer’s commands to calm down. An officer shot Alvarado with a stun gun, but he kept moving.
Medical examiners determined Alvarado’s cause of death was cardiac arrest while intoxicated on methamphetamine and being physically restrained.
Efforts to reach the Alvarado family by phone for comment on the police department’s conclusions were unsuccessful.
During the struggle, police say, Alvarado grabbed a pistol magazine from an officer’s belt, and an officer punched Alvarado three times with no apparent effect.
Alvarado yelled at officers during the incident, told them not to touch him and can be heard moaning as paramedics tended to him. At one point, an officer can be seen pressing a knee on either Alvarado’s neck or upper back as officers tried to control him.
“I can’t breathe,” Alvarado later told officers.
“If you can complain, you can breathe,” an officer responded.
Some officers used profane language in asking Alvarado to cooperate and one of them used an expletive to refer to Alvarado.
Paramedics initially cleared Alvarado to be brought back to jail but had to be called back to the scene after his breathing became shallow and he became unresponsive. Officers and paramedics performed CPR on Alvarado, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine whether criminal charges should be brought. The police department said the comments that the officers made during the arrest attempt violated the agency’s policies and that they could face discipline.
Two weeks ago, the Tucson Police Department acknowledged that it had failed to disclose another in-custody death.
Carlos Ingram-Lopez, 27, died on April 21 while handcuffed, placed face-down and covered with a thin blanket after police responded to a call from his grandmother, who said he had been acting erratically at her home.
The medical examiner’s office didn’t determine a manner of death but said Ingram-Lopez died of sudden cardiac arrest while intoxicated by cocaine and physically restrained.
The death of Ingram-Lopez led three officers who violated departmental policy to resign.
Kevin Hall, an assistant police chief in Tucson, said the move to release videos on a timely basis was part of the changes at police agencies across the country since George Floyd died on May 25 in Minneapolis.
“Message received loud and clear, and we have changed our procedures moving forward,” Hall said.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--LA nursing home accused of dumping patients amid virus

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Los Angeles prosecutors accuse a nursing home of illegally “ dumping ” old and disabled residents onto the street and into homes that are not equipped to care for them in order to increase profits amid the coronavirus epidemic .
The “ sustained ” and “ intentional ” misconduct by Lakeview Terrace skilled nursing facility comes as nursing homes have an incentive to dump long-term residents to make room for COVID-19 patients , for whom they are paid much more , City Attorney Mike Feuer wrote in a lawsuit filed this week .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seek out residents with higher rates of reimbursement and ‘ churn ’ residents by any means possible , ” Feuer wrote .
The administrator of Lakeview Terrace , DJ Weaver , denied the allegations and wrote in an email to the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that “ we intend to vigorously fight ( these ) allegations in court .
Due to patient privacy , we can not address specific cases.
” In one instance an 88-year old man with dementia was transferred from the nursing home to a boarding house and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confused a day later , according to the court filing .
Another resident with HIV who was dumped on the street instead of being provided the hospice care he needed wound up cowering in a friend ’ s backyard , hoping that would keep him safe from the pandemic , the complaint said .
Under Medicare ’ s new guidelines nursing homes are paid substantially more for new patients , especially in the first few weeks of their stay .
So COVID-19 patients can bring in more than $ 800 per day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directors interviewed by the Times .
By contrast , facilities collect as little as $ 200 per day for long-term patients with dementia , the newspaper said .
Lakeview Terrace , which has the lowest possible quality rating from Medicare , has a troubled history .
Last year the city attorney filed a complaint that accused the facility of patient dumping , failure to provide residents with necessary care , failure to protect their safety and failure to maintain accurate and complete medical records .
The home ’ s administrators agreed to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , $ 150,000 of which would cover the cost of an independent monitor .
The home appeared to cooperate at first , Feuer said in an interview with the Times , but after COVID-19 arrived all outside visitors were barred from the building , including the monitor .
That ’ s when the situation deteriorated rapidly , Feuer said .
Now , the city is seeking financial penalties of more than $ 1 million and the appointment of a special master to oversee the home , Feuer told the newspaper .
Nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
Lakeview Terrace , a 99-bed facility , has had at least 54 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents and staff and at least eight deaths due to the disease , according to county health department records .
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 .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles prosecutors accuse a nursing home of illegally “dumping” old and disabled residents onto the street and into homes that are not equipped to care for them in order to increase profits amid the coronavirus epidemic.
The “sustained” and “intentional” misconduct by Lakeview Terrace skilled nursing facility comes as nursing homes have an incentive to dump long-term residents to make room for COVID-19 patients, for whom they are paid much more, City Attorney Mike Feuer wrote in a lawsuit filed this week.
“This creates an incentive for nursing homes to seek out residents with higher rates of reimbursement and ‘churn’ residents by any means possible,” Feuer wrote.
The administrator of Lakeview Terrace, DJ Weaver, denied the allegations and wrote in an email to the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that “we intend to vigorously fight (these) allegations in court. Due to patient privacy, we cannot address specific cases.”
In one instance an 88-year old man with dementia was transferred from the nursing home to a boarding house and was later found wandering the streets profoundly confused a day later, according to the court filing.
Another resident with HIV who was dumped on the street instead of being provided the hospice care he needed wound up cowering in a friend’s backyard, hoping that would keep him safe from the pandemic, the complaint said.
Under Medicare’s new guidelines nursing homes are paid substantially more for new patients, especially in the first few weeks of their stay. So COVID-19 patients can bring in more than $800 per day, according to nursing home administrators and medical directors interviewed by the Times.
By contrast, facilities collect as little as $200 per day for long-term patients with dementia, the newspaper said.
Lakeview Terrace, which has the lowest possible quality rating from Medicare, has a troubled history. Last year the city attorney filed a complaint that accused the facility of patient dumping, failure to provide residents with necessary care, failure to protect their safety and failure to maintain accurate and complete medical records.
The home’s administrators agreed to pay $600,000 as part of that settlement, $150,000 of which would cover the cost of an independent monitor. The home appeared to cooperate at first, Feuer said in an interview with the Times, but after COVID-19 arrived all outside visitors were barred from the building, including the monitor. That’s when the situation deteriorated rapidly, Feuer said.
Now, the city is seeking financial penalties of more than $1 million and the appointment of a special master to oversee the home, Feuer told the newspaper.
Nursing homes have been hit especially hard by the coronavirus. Lakeview Terrace, a 99-bed facility, has had at least 54 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among residents and staff and at least eight deaths due to the disease, according to county health department records.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Thomas Cooper, West Virginia postal worker, pleads guilty to mail tampering, election fraud

Thomas Cooper , 47 , of Dry Fork pleaded guilty to one count each of election fraud and mail tampering , according to a Justice Department statement .
According to the criminal complaint , eight requests had been altered and five of them had the party affiliations changed from Democratic to Republican , something that , authorities said , tipped off a clerk who knew some of the voters .
“ Cooper admitted today to altering some of the requests , ” Justice said in Thursday ’ s statement .
The maximum sentence for the offense is eight years imprisonment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than that .
Defense attorney Scott Curnutte told BuzzFeed News that Cooper had engaged in a “ silly lark.
” “ He is deeply sorry for the implications for our democratic process , ” he said .
“ It should be remembered , however , that the mail he altered were requests for ballots , not ballots themselves.
” According to the criminal complaint filed in May , Cooper said he did it “ as a joke ” on one family and that he didn ’ t even know the others .

A West Virginia postman admitted altering absentee-ballot requests and is facing prison time, federal officials announced Thursday.
Thomas Cooper, 47, of Dry Fork pleaded guilty to one count each of election fraud and mail tampering, according to a Justice Department statement.
According to the criminal complaint, eight requests had been altered and five of them had the party affiliations changed from Democratic to Republican, something that, authorities said, tipped off a clerk who knew some of the voters.
“Cooper admitted today to altering some of the requests,” Justice said in Thursday’s statement.
The maximum sentence for the offense is eight years imprisonment, but the plea deal calls for less than that.
Defense attorney Scott Curnutte told BuzzFeed News that Cooper had engaged in a “silly lark.”
“He is deeply sorry for the implications for our democratic process,” he said. “It should be remembered, however, that the mail he altered were requests for ballots, not ballots themselves.”
According to the criminal complaint filed in May, Cooper said he did it “as a joke” on one family and that he didn’t even know the others.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Judge refuses to order Houston to allow Texas GOP convention

HOUSTON ( AP ) - A state judge on Thursday declined to reverse Houston ’ s decision to cancel the Texas Republican convention ’ s in-person events because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Judge Larry Weiman rejected the state GOP ’ s request for a temporary restraining order , one day after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said next week ’ s gathering could not proceed at the downtown convention center .
Turner , a Democrat , has denied any political motives in the cancellation and said it was a matter of public safety .
After a contentious two-hour hearing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals reporting they have exceeded their regular intensive-care capacity , as coronavirus cases and deaths have surged in the state .
The arrival next week of as many as 6,000 delegates from across Texas could worsen the situation , he noted .
Attorneys for state Republicans indicated they plan to file an appeal .
The judge ’ s decision Thursday came as the state reported more than 100 deaths in a single day for the first time , making this the deadliest week of the pandemic in what has rapidly become one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Houston in particular has become a hot spot , with major hospitals exceeding their base capacity due to an influx of COVID-19 patients .
The Texas Medical Association withdrew its sponsorship of the state GOP convention and asked organizers to cancel in-person gatherings .
But state Republican chair James Dickey insisted that organizers can hold the event safely .
Before Turner canceled the convention , Dickey said the party had planned to institute daily temperature scans , provide masks , and install hand sanitizer stations .
The group ’ s lawsuit filed earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convention due to an “ ideological viewpoint.
” A second lawsuit filed by a group of Republicans accused Turner of bowing to “ COVID-19 hysteria.
” Both lawsuits accuse Turner of imposing tougher standards on the convention than he did on a June 2 protest following the death of George Floyd , a Houston native .
Tens of thousands of people , including Turner , attended the protest .
The state party ’ s lawsuit included photos of packed crowds at the protest .
One of the Republicans who filed the second lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broker who , according to The Texas Tribune , left Gov .
Greg Abbott ’ s chief of staff a voicemail after the protest calling on the governor to have National Guard ready to “ shoot to kill.
” “ I want to make sure that he has National Guard down here and they have the order to shoot to kill if any of these … people start rioting like they have in Dallas , start tearing down businesses .
… That ’ s the only way you restore order .
Kill ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Speaking Wednesday , Turner said he directed city lawyers to terminate the contract because he believed the event could not be held safely .
“ No one wanted to step in and be the heavy and to say no , and then run the risk of being accused of being political , ” Turner said .
“ But if after all of that , you still refuse to recognize the public health danger to everyone involved , then I am still the mayor .
”

HOUSTON (AP) - A state judge on Thursday declined to reverse Houston’s decision to cancel the Texas Republican convention’s in-person events because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Judge Larry Weiman rejected the state GOP’s request for a temporary restraining order, one day after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said next week’s gathering could not proceed at the downtown convention center. Turner, a Democrat, has denied any political motives in the cancellation and said it was a matter of public safety.
After a contentious two-hour hearing, Weiman said he was concerned about Houston hospitals reporting they have exceeded their regular intensive-care capacity, as coronavirus cases and deaths have surged in the state. The arrival next week of as many as 6,000 delegates from across Texas could worsen the situation, he noted.
Attorneys for state Republicans indicated they plan to file an appeal.
The judge’s decision Thursday came as the state reported more than 100 deaths in a single day for the first time, making this the deadliest week of the pandemic in what has rapidly become one of America’s virus hot zones. Houston in particular has become a hot spot, with major hospitals exceeding their base capacity due to an influx of COVID-19 patients.
The Texas Medical Association withdrew its sponsorship of the state GOP convention and asked organizers to cancel in-person gatherings.
But state Republican chair James Dickey insisted that organizers can hold the event safely. Before Turner canceled the convention, Dickey said the party had planned to institute daily temperature scans, provide masks, and install hand sanitizer stations.
The group’s lawsuit filed earlier Thursday accused Turner of discriminating against the convention due to an “ideological viewpoint.” A second lawsuit filed by a group of Republicans accused Turner of bowing to “COVID-19 hysteria.”
Both lawsuits accuse Turner of imposing tougher standards on the convention than he did on a June 2 protest following the death of George Floyd, a Houston native. Tens of thousands of people, including Turner, attended the protest.
The state party’s lawsuit included photos of packed crowds at the protest. One of the Republicans who filed the second lawsuit was Steve Hotze, a conservative power broker who, according to The Texas Tribune, left Gov. Greg Abbott’s chief of staff a voicemail after the protest calling on the governor to have National Guard ready to “shoot to kill.”
“I want to make sure that he has National Guard down here and they have the order to shoot to kill if any of these … people start rioting like they have in Dallas, start tearing down businesses. … That’s the only way you restore order. Kill ’em. Thank you,” Hotze said.
Speaking Wednesday, Turner said he directed city lawyers to terminate the contract because he believed the event could not be held safely.
“No one wanted to step in and be the heavy and to say no, and then run the risk of being accused of being political,” Turner said. “But if after all of that, you still refuse to recognize the public health danger to everyone involved, then I am still the mayor.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Singaporeans vote in polls expected to return ruling party

SINGAPORE ( AP ) - Wearing masks and plastic gloves , Singaporeans began voting Friday in a general election that is expected to return Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ’ s long-governing party to power .
About 1,100 polling stations across the city-state were open at 8 a.m. , with strict safety measures in place for Southeast Asia ’ s first national election since the coronavirus pandemic began .
Older voters were given priority in the early morning hours as protection against the virus , and people being treated for COVID-19 or under quarantine at home were not allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over an economic recession are a bonanza for Lee ’ s People ’ s Action Party , with voters likely to opt for stability .
It faces 10 small opposition parties that are contesting the 93 parliamentary seats mostly on a one-on-one basis against the PAP .
The opposition has said it does not want to govern , but urged the 2.65 million eligible voters to reduce the PAP ’ s overwhelming majority in parliament and deny it a “ blank check.
” The PAP has dominated politics since 1959 , when Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , became Singapore ’ s first prime minister and built the resource-poor city-state into one of the world ’ s richest nations during 31 years in office .
In 2015 , the party won 69.9 % of the total vote and 93 % of parliamentary seats .
But it has also been criticized for tight government control , media censorship and use of oppressive laws and civil lawsuits against dissidents .
Lee has also faced opposition from his estranged younger brother , Lee Hsien Yang , who said the PAP had turned into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined an opposition party last month but is not running in the election .
The prime minister has said the polls are about securing the country ’ s future , not his family feud .
“ Our economy has been badly hit , though the full economic impact of the outbreak is still ahead of us , ” Lee said in a televised message late Thursday .
“ We need a strong and capable government .
Not only to take decisive action to prevent another major outbreak , but also to save businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of everyone ’ s minds.
” Singapore ’ s election follows polls in Mongolia last month and in South Korea in April , when governing parties in both countries scored resounding victories .
The polls come just weeks after the country emerged from a two-month lockdown aimed at controlling one of Asia ’ s worst virus outbreaks .
The tiny nation of 5.8 million people has reported more than 45,000 cases , most of them foreign workers living in crowded dormitories that were overlooked in the early phase of its crisis management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year by up to 7 % , Lee ’ s government has unveiled several economic assistance packages totaling nearly 100 billion Singapore dollars ( $ 71.7 billion ) .
While coronavirus cases have mostly declined , new daily cases still top 100 .
The government says the elections can be held safely with the number of polling stations increased from 880 to 1,100 and other safety measures .
All voters are required to wear masks and be screened for fever and respiratory symptoms upon arrival .
They must use hand sanitizer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one meter ( yard ) away from others .
Voters are allocated a two-hour time band to cast their ballots to reduce crowding .
People aged 65 and above receive priority in voting during the first four hours .
Election officials wear full personal protective gear and polling booths are sanitized every half hour .
COVID-19 patients and those under quarantine at home were not allowed to vote .
Polls will be open 12 hours and results are expected to begin arriving late Friday ,

SINGAPORE (AP) - Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s long-governing party comfortably won Friday’s general elections as expected amid the coronavirus pandemic, but faced a setback as the opposition made minor gains.
Lee said his People’s Action Party secured 83 parliamentary seats, retaining its overwhelming majority with 89% of the total seats, but its popular vote dipped to 61%. The Workers’ Party, the only opposition with a presence in Parliament, increased its seats from six to 10 - the biggest victory for the opposition since independence.
It marked a decline in the PAP’s performance from 2015 polls when it took 93% of seats and nearly 70% of total vote. Several key PAP leaders also lost, including two former ministers.
“It’s not as strong a mandate as I hoped for but it’s a good mandate,” Lee told a news conference. “The results reflect the pain and uncertainty that Singaporeans feel in this crisis … this was not a feel-good election but one where people are facing real problems and expect more rough weather to come.”
The PAP has dominated politics since 1959, when Lee’s father, Lee Kuan Yew, became Singapore’s first prime minister and built the resource-poor city-state into one of the world’s richest nations during 31 years in office. But it has also been criticized for tight government control, media censorship and use of oppressive laws and civil lawsuits against dissidents.
The PAP is also one of the world’s longest serving parties - after those in China and North Korea.
Lee called the polls ahead of April 2021, when his government’s mandate expires. Singapore’s vote follows recent elections in Serbia, Croatia and Mongolia and South Korea in April, when governing parties in all those countries scored resounding victories.
“In the Singapore context, this is a defeat (for PAP),” said Bridget Welsh, honorary research associate at Malaysia’s University of Nottingham. “Worst seat performance and loss of popular vote in an election that they called early in a pandemic mistakenly thinking the crisis would help them.”
“The PAP has a mandate but one that puts the party on notice that Singaporeans, especially young Singaporeans, expect more,” she said.
The outcome threw Lee’s plan to retire in two years at age 70 into uncertainty. His designated successor and deputy, Heng Swee Keat, won his seat with a slim majority.
Lee, who has ruled since 2004, vowed early Saturday to navigate Singapore through the virus crisis. “I’m determined to hand over Singapore intact, and in good working order to the next,” he said.
He acknowledged that citizens, especially the younger generation, want more opposition voices in Parliament. He said Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh will officially be named opposition leader, an unprecedented move in the city-state. Two more non-constituency seats will be offered to top opposition losers to bring the opposition block to 12 seats, as provided for under the law, he said.
“Today’s results are positive but we have to hit the ground running. We should not get over our head with the results,” Singh said.
The opposition Progress Singapore Party, headed by a former PAP stalwart and supported by Lee’s estranged younger brother, failed to win any seats. Lee Hsien Yang joined the opposition party to campaign against the PAP, which he said had turned into an elitist party.
Just weeks ago, Singapore emerged from a two-month lockdown aimed at controlling one of Asia’s worst coronavirus outbreaks. The tiny nation of 5.8 million people has reported more than 45,000 cases, most of them foreign workers living in crowded dormitories that were overlooked in the early phase of its crisis management.
With the economy forecast to shrink this year by up to 7%, Lee’s government has unveiled several economic assistance packages totaling nearly 100 billion Singapore dollars ($71.7 billion) but warned the full economic impact hasn’t been felt yet. While coronavirus cases have mostly declined, new daily cases still top 100.
Polling was extended Friday by two hours until 10 p.m. after strict safety measures in place for Southeast Asia’s first national election amid the pandemic delayed voting at some stations. The Election Department also dropped a requirement that disposable gloves be worn during voting to cut waiting time.
Apart from wearing masks and having their temperature checked, groups of voters were each allotted a two-hour slot to cast their ballots in order to spread out the process and reduce crowding, with senior citizens given priority in the first four hours.
Election officials wore full protective gear and polling booths were sanitized every half hour. People treated for COVID-19 or under quarantine at home were not allowed to vote.
Voting in Singapore is compulsory and turnout at Friday’s election was 96%.
___
Ng reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Voting begins in Singapore general elections, with strict safety precautions being taken against the

SINGAPORE ( AP ) - Voting begins in Singapore general elections , with strict safety precautions being taken against the @ @

SINGAPORE (AP) - Voting begins in Singapore general elections, with strict safety precautions being taken against the coronavirus.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Mississippi inmate dies after weeks in hospital

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - The Mississippi Department of Corrections says a 64-year-old inmate who was serving @ @ @ @ @ murder conviction has died after being hospitalized since May .
Bobby Neil McFalls died Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ at Parchman , the department said in a news release Thursday .
The Sunflower County @ @ @ @ @ treated for a terminal illness , but the release did not specify what that was @ @ @ @ @ done .
McFalls was at least the 51st Mississippi inmate to die since late December @ @ @ @ @ outbursts of violence in late December and early January .
The U.S. Justice Department announced @ @ @ @ @ investigating Mississippi ’ s prison system .
McFalls was serving life for murder and seven @ @ @ @ @ which were committed 1975 in Harrison County .
He had been paroled three times since @ @ @ @ @ 21 , 1976 , for the burglary .
He last returned to prison in July @ @

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Department of Corrections says a 64-year-old inmate who was serving a life sentence for a murder conviction has died after being hospitalized since May.
Bobby Neil McFalls died Wednesday at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, the department said in a news release Thursday. The Sunflower County coroner said McFalls had been treated for a terminal illness, but the release did not specify what that was. An autopsy will be done.
McFalls was at least the 51st Mississippi inmate to die since late December. Several inmates died during outbursts of violence in late December and early January. The U.S. Justice Department announced in February that it is investigating Mississippi’s prison system.
McFalls was serving life for murder and seven years for residential burglary, which were committed 1975 in Harrison County. He had been paroled three times since his initial sentence on Oct. 21, 1976, for the burglary. He last returned to prison in July 2002.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Son says dad was killed asking for directions in California

DANVILLE , Calif. ( AP ) - A San Francisco Bay Area doctor who was on an off-roading trip with his 15-year-old son was shot and killed after he stopped to ask a man for directions , his son and other relatives said .
Dr. Ari Gershman of Danville was shot on the Fourth of July near Downieville in rural Sierra County .
Gershman and his son , Jack , had never been to the remote Tahoe National Forest and pulled over at a fork when a man later identified by police as John Thomas Conway pulled up behind their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad suggested that we ask him for directions , ” Jack Gershman told CBS News Thursday .
“ The shooter pulls out a pistol and starts shooting.
” The teenager said he ran from the car into the surrounding woods and got lost .
When he was finally able to call his mom , Paige Gershman , he barely had reception and his phone was running out of power .
“ I said , ‘ Where ’ s Dad ?
’ And he ’ s like , ‘ He ’ s been shot.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you - what do you even mean ?
’ ” Paige Gershman told CBS News .
Ari Gershman , 45 , died at the scene and his son spent 30 hours alone and lost in the dense woods , drinking from a stream , wearing only shorts and a T-shirt .
He was covered in bug bites and scratches when he was rescued , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
Conway was arrested following a police chase on his ATV .
Ari Gershman , a doctor of internal medicine , bought the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share his love of the outdoors with his two sons and daughter .
He had hoped to retire in the Downieville area , according to a GoFundMe fundraising account..
It had already been a difficult year for the Gershman family .
Paige Gershman , a speech and language therapist for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District , was diagnosed with Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma six weeks ago , said a cousin , Marlo Meyers-Barer .
Police said they captured Conway , 40 , of Oroville after he tried to run through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Sheriff ’ s Office said Conway posed an unspecified threat , and at least one officer fired a weapon and a police dog was released .
Conway was taken to a hospital in Chico where he is recovering from a gunshot wound , the Chronicle reported .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear whether Conway had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf .
Messages left with the Sierra County district attorney ’ s office weren ’ t immediately returned .
Moments before the shooting of Ari Gershman , Conway also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who survived , the office said .
Last year , the Butte County Sheriff ’ s Office listed Conway as one of its most wanted fugitives as he had outstanding felony warrants for vandalism , battery and two counts of making terrorist threats .
A judge held a mental competency hearing and the case was allowed to continue , according to court records .

DANVILLE, Calif. (AP) - A San Francisco Bay Area doctor who was on an off-roading trip with his 15-year-old son was shot and killed after he stopped to ask a man for directions, his son and other relatives said.
Dr. Ari Gershman of Danville was shot on the Fourth of July near Downieville in rural Sierra County. Gershman and his son, Jack, had never been to the remote Tahoe National Forest and pulled over at a fork when a man came up behind their Jeep on an ATV.
“My dad suggested that we ask him for directions,” Jack Gershman told CBS News Thursday. “The shooter pulls out a pistol and starts shooting.”
The teenager said he ran from the car into the surrounding woods and got lost. When he was finally able to call his mom, Paige Gershman, he barely had reception and his phone was running out of power.
“I said, ‘Where’s Dad?’ And he’s like, ‘He’s been shot.’ And I said, ‘What do you - what do you even mean?’” Paige Gershman told CBS News.
Ari Gershman, 45, died at the scene and his son spent 30 hours alone and lost in the dense woods, drinking from a stream, wearing only shorts and a T-shirt. He was covered in bug bites and scratches when he was rescued, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
John Thomas Conway was arrested following a police chase on his ATV.
Ari Gershman, a doctor of internal medicine, bought the Jeep a day before the shooting to share his love of the outdoors with his two sons and daughter. He had hoped to retire in the Downieville area, according to a GoFundMe fundraising account..
It had already been a difficult year for the Gershman family. Paige Gershman, a speech and language therapist for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma six weeks ago, said a cousin, Marlo Meyers-Barer.
Police said they captured Conway, 40, of Oroville after he tried to run through a checkpoint on an ATV. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office said Conway posed an unspecified threat, and at least one officer fired a weapon and a police dog was released.
Conway was taken to a hospital in Chico where he is recovering from a gunshot wound, the Chronicle reported. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Conway had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Messages left with the Sierra County district attorney’s office weren’t immediately returned.
Moments before the shooting of Ari Gershman, Conway also shot and injured two other people nearby who survived, the office said.
Last year, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office listed Conway as one of its most wanted fugitives as he had outstanding felony warrants for vandalism, battery and two counts of making terrorist threats. A judge held a mental competency hearing and the case was allowed to continue, according to court records.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Nevada church appeals virus attendance cap to Supreme Court

RENO , Nev. ( AP ) - Leaders of a rural Nevada church are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend the state ’ s 50-person cap on religious gatherings while an appellate court considers their claim that COVID-19 restrictions treating casinos and others more leniently violate their constitutional right to freely exercise their beliefs .
Gov .
Steve Sisolak ’ s June 4 directive allowing casinos , restaurants , bowling alleys and amusement parks to reopen at 50 % of capacity while maintaining a hard cap for church services “ simply turns the First Amendment on its head , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in the request to the high court for an emergency injunction .
“ The Free Exercise Clause protects the exercise of religion .
No constitutional provision protects the right to gamble at casinos , eat at restaurants , or frolic at indoor amusement parks , ” they said .
The church east of Reno appealed to the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals last month after a federal judge in Nevada upheld the state ’ s policy .
Last week , the appellate court in San Francisco denied the church ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outcome of the appeal .
The three-sentence ruling pointed to the Supreme Court ’ s refusal in May to strike down California ’ s limit on the size of religious gatherings .
Calvary Chapel ’ s lawyers said in the request filed late Wednesday at the Supreme Court that it will take several months to obtain a ruling from the 9th Circuit , “ by which time the legal landscape may have changed but the irreparable harm to the church ’ s First Amendment rights will be irreversible.
” “ Only this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every activity imaginable better than the exercise of religion , ” they said .
The state has until July 15 to respond at the Supreme Court .
Nevada ’ s lawyers maintain the right to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the community to communicable disease .
“ Temporarily narrowing restrictions on the size of mass gatherings , including for religious services , does not outbalance the health and well-being of Nevada citizens , ” they said in their most recent filings in the 9th Circuit .
The Lyon County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an injunction pending appellate review that it wants to follow the same 50 % capacity limit at a sanctuary that typically holds up to 200 people .
Others allowed to operate at 50 % of capacity include bars , gyms , arcades , water parks and swimming pools .
Movie theaters are subject to the 50-person cap - but that applies to individual theaters within a multiplex , which means as many 900 people could be present inside a building with 18 screens .
“ Calvary Chapel only seeks to host about 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the governor allows hundreds to thousands of people to gamble and enjoy entertainment at casinos , ” the 59-page filing states .
“ The governor allows this mix of shared handles , cards , tokens , tables , servers , drinks , restrooms , and seats by hundreds to thousands in casinos at 50 % capacity , while forbidding more than 50 people to sit - masked , and socially distanced - in places of worship.
” The church said the state clearly favors “ speaking a commercial message to live audiences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that the Supreme Court has long held that commercial speech occupies a “ subordinate position in the scale of First Amendment values.
” “ The Constitution forbids the governor from privileging commercial messages about gambling , fitness , entertainment , and liquor over Calvary Chapel ’ s fully-protected religious speech , ” the church said .
Calvary Chapel said it agrees Gov .
Sisolak has broad discretion to address the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ What the governor may not do is favor secular assemblies in COVID-19-ridden , urban areas by allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to occur at 50 % of building capacity , while sharply limiting gatherings at places of worship in rural counties with a small number of COVID-19 infections to 50 people max .
”

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Leaders of a rural Nevada church are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to suspend the state’s 50-person cap on religious gatherings while an appellate court considers their claim that COVID-19 restrictions treating casinos and others more leniently violate their constitutional right to freely exercise their beliefs.
Gov. Steve Sisolak’s June 4 directive allowing casinos, restaurants, bowling alleys and amusement parks to reopen at 50% of capacity while maintaining a hard cap for church services “simply turns the First Amendment on its head,” lawyers for Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley wrote in the request to the high court for an emergency injunction.
“The Free Exercise Clause protects the exercise of religion. No constitutional provision protects the right to gamble at casinos, eat at restaurants, or frolic at indoor amusement parks,” they said.
The church east of Reno appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month after a federal judge in Nevada upheld the state’s policy.
Last week, the appellate court in San Francisco denied the church’s request for an emergency injunction pending the outcome of the appeal. The three-sentence ruling pointed to the Supreme Court’s refusal in May to strike down California’s limit on the size of religious gatherings.
Calvary Chapel’s lawyers said in the request filed late Wednesday at the Supreme Court that it will take several months to obtain a ruling from the 9th Circuit, “by which time the legal landscape may have changed but the irreparable harm to the church’s First Amendment rights will be irreversible.”
“Only this court can halt Nevada from treating nearly every activity imaginable better than the exercise of religion,” they said.
The state has until July 15 to respond at the Supreme Court.
Nevada’s lawyers maintain the right to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the community to communicable disease.
“Temporarily narrowing restrictions on the size of mass gatherings, including for religious services, does not outbalance the health and well-being of Nevada citizens,” they said in their most recent filings in the 9th Circuit.
The Lyon County church said in its emergency application for an injunction pending appellate review that it wants to follow the same 50% capacity limit at a sanctuary that typically holds up to 200 people.
Others allowed to operate at 50% of capacity include bars, gyms, arcades, water parks and swimming pools. Movie theaters are subject to the 50-person cap - but that applies to individual theaters within a multiplex, which means as many 900 people could be present inside a building with 18 screens.
“Calvary Chapel only seeks to host about 90 people at a socially-distanced church service, while the governor allows hundreds to thousands of people to gamble and enjoy entertainment at casinos,” the 59-page filing states. “The governor allows this mix of shared handles, cards, tokens, tables, servers, drinks, restrooms, and seats by hundreds to thousands in casinos at 50% capacity, while forbidding more than 50 people to sit - masked, and socially distanced - in places of worship.”
The church said the state clearly favors “speaking a commercial message to live audiences over communicating religious expression,” despite the fact that the Supreme Court has long held that commercial speech occupies a “subordinate position in the scale of First Amendment values.”
“The Constitution forbids the governor from privileging commercial messages about gambling, fitness, entertainment, and liquor over Calvary Chapel’s fully-protected religious speech,” the church said.
Calvary Chapel said it agrees Gov. Sisolak has broad discretion to address the COVID-19 outbreak.
“What the governor may not do is favor secular assemblies in COVID-19-ridden, urban areas by allowing many - if not most - of them to occur at 50% of building capacity, while sharply limiting gatherings at places of worship in rural counties with a small number of COVID-19 infections to 50 people max.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--No votes yet in "as long as it takes" Nevada budget session

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Nevada lawmakers on Thursday were more than a day into their emergency legislative session , but with a $ 1.16 billion revenue shortfall in front of them , the only choice they had made was to order meals for Friday and to keep deliberating .
Gov .
Steve Sisolak convened the state ’ s part-time Legislature on Wednesday to rebalance the budget as coronavirus continues to decimate the state ’ s economy and tax revenue .
Republicans and Democrats have spent most of the first two days of the session asking state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information on proposed cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education .
Under Nevada law , any proposal to increase taxes requires two-thirds approval in both the state Senate and Assembly .
Democrats clinched a two-thirds supermajority in 2018 , but fell one seat shy in the Senate .
If Democrats propose a tax increase to safeguard funding for schools or Medicaid reimbursements for speciality care , they will need to swing one Republican vote in the Senate .
Gov .
Steve Sisolak ’ s proposal would balance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but in a fiscal report released Monday , he said he would be open to signing one into law if the Legislature put it on his desk during the special session .
The bills introduced by the Senate and Assembly thus far have not included tax increase proposals .
Lawmakers have introduced proposals to defer capital improvements and collect taxes on the state ’ s mining industry early as they ’ ve gathered more information on proposed cuts to health care and education .
If passed , the governor ’ s proposal would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal relief dollars and targeted cuts to compensate for a projected $ 1.16 billion revenue shortfall .
It would require state agencies to furlough workers one day each month and revert $ 70 million from agencies back to the general fund .
It would protect the Distributive School Account but reduce funding for K-12 education - including for programs that support literacy and career development - by $ 157 million and for higher education by $ 110 million .
It would cut $ 233 million from the Department of Health and Human Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , limiting services and reducing reimbursement rates for Medicaid recipients , and other measures .
In a late-night press conference on Wednesday , Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro , D-Las Vegas , and Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson , D-Las Vegas , did not give a timeline on when they expect votes to occur .
Frierson said the session would last “ as long as it takes.
” Although neither Cannizzaro nor Frierson indicated whether they personally backed tax increases , Cannizzaro said Democrats and Republicans had been in discussions over alternatives to budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to talk about any revenue in the Senate , Democrats can not do that by ourselves , ” she said .
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada lawmakers on Thursday were more than a day into their emergency legislative session, but with a $1.16 billion revenue shortfall in front of them, the only choice they had made was to order meals for Friday and to keep deliberating.
Gov. Steve Sisolak convened the state’s part-time Legislature on Wednesday to rebalance the budget as coronavirus continues to decimate the state’s economy and tax revenue.
Republicans and Democrats have spent most of the first two days of the session asking state agencies and finance officials to provide more information on proposed cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education.
Under Nevada law, any proposal to increase taxes requires two-thirds approval in both the state Senate and Assembly. Democrats clinched a two-thirds supermajority in 2018, but fell one seat shy in the Senate.
If Democrats propose a tax increase to safeguard funding for schools or Medicaid reimbursements for speciality care, they will need to swing one Republican vote in the Senate.
Gov. Steve Sisolak’s proposal would balance the budget without any tax increases, but in a fiscal report released Monday, he said he would be open to signing one into law if the Legislature put it on his desk during the special session.
The bills introduced by the Senate and Assembly thus far have not included tax increase proposals. Lawmakers have introduced proposals to defer capital improvements and collect taxes on the state’s mining industry early as they’ve gathered more information on proposed cuts to health care and education.
If passed, the governor’s proposal would use a combination of reserve funds, federal relief dollars and targeted cuts to compensate for a projected $1.16 billion revenue shortfall. It would require state agencies to furlough workers one day each month and revert $70 million from agencies back to the general fund. It would protect the Distributive School Account but reduce funding for K-12 education - including for programs that support literacy and career development - by $157 million and for higher education by $110 million.
It would cut $233 million from the Department of Health and Human Services through cutting funding for mental health programs, limiting services and reducing reimbursement rates for Medicaid recipients, and other measures.
In a late-night press conference on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, and Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, D-Las Vegas, did not give a timeline on when they expect votes to occur. Frierson said the session would last “as long as it takes.”
Although neither Cannizzaro nor Frierson indicated whether they personally backed tax increases, Cannizzaro said Democrats and Republicans had been in discussions over alternatives to budget cuts.
“If we’re going to talk about any revenue in the Senate, Democrats cannot do that by ourselves,” she said.
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-07-09--Mississippi governor vetoes criminal justice bills

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - Mississippi Gov .
Tate Reeves has vetoed two criminal justice bills , one of which would have given thousands of offenders the chance at parole from the crowded prison system .
“ I know that I ’ ll get attacked and protested for this , ” Republican Reeves wrote in a statement about the veto on his social media accounts late Wednesday .
“ In a time when efforts to ‘ defund police ’ and ‘ dismantle the criminal justice system ’ are part of the discussion , they ’ ll probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and order as the radical position.
” The Mississippi Correctional Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2020 , or Senate Bill 2123 , would have let people convicted of nonviolent offenses become eligible for parole after serving 25 % of their sentence .
People convicted of violent offenses would have been eligible for parole after completing 50 % of their sentence , or after 20 years , whichever comes first - for those sentenced between July 1 , 1995 , and June 30 , 2014 .
The bill would have allowed people convicted of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 , to become eligible for parole after serving 50 % of their sentence served or after 30 years , whichever is less .
The bill also allowed geriatric parole hearings for those 65 and older who have served 10 years of their sentences .
The bill did not guarantee any inmate release , only the opportunity to apply to the parole board .
Habitual offenders , sex offenders and inmates sentenced for capital murder would not have been eligible for parole .
Reeves said he felt like the legislation was “ well-intentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said he received calls from law enforcement officers and prosecutors who told him it would create a “ risk ” by releasing people with violent criminal histories .
Those were concerns echoed by lawmakers who spoke against the bill , which passed with 25-17 in the Senate and 78-29 in the House .
“ If they want to try again , I ’ ll listen , ” Reeves wrote .
“ This was not the right approach.
” Alesha Judkins is state director of FWD.us Mississippi , an organization that presses for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system .
She said she was surprised by the veto , given the problems plaguing the Mississippi Department of Corrections .
At least 50 people have died in MDOC custody since December .
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into conditions in four state prisons and MDOC is facing multiple lawsuits .
“ This important bill was a widely-supported , urgently-needed and moderate step forward in addressing Mississippi ’ s imprisonment crisis , ” Judkins said in a statement Thursday .
“ The governor ’ s veto represents a critical missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Prosperity-Mississippi director Steven Utroska said he also was disappointed .
He said the legislation would have had a “ positive impact ” on Mississippi ’ s “ incredibly high incarceration rate and deplorable conditions of confinement within its state prisons.
” The bill gained bipartisan momentum during the legislative session from lawmakers who hoped it would encourage participation in educational and rehabilitative programming and prison - and save the state some money .
According to the Department of Corrections , 14,044 of the approximately 19,000 inmates in Mississippi prisons are serving at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for parole .
Housing an inmate costs $ 14,500 a year in Mississippi , according to a 2019 report by FWD.us .
On Wednesday night , Reeves also vetoed House Bill 658 , which would have made it easier for some offenders to expunge their criminal record .
The bill would have allowed first-time offenders to remove misdemeanors from their record after a trial or a plea .
It would also have allowed felony offenders to expunge their records five years after completing all the terms of their sentences .
However , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain crimes of violence , arson , or failure to register as a sex offender convictions from their record .
Reeves said current Mississippi law says a person can erase one felony from the record after a few years .
He said that ’ s enough .
“ One of these bills says that criminals can get three separate felony incidents erased from their record , ” Reeves said .
“ We can ’ t have career criminals walking around with no records .
The law enforcement community that I spoke with agreed.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has vetoed two criminal justice bills, one of which would have given thousands of offenders the chance at parole from the crowded prison system.
“I know that I’ll get attacked and protested for this,” Republican Reeves wrote in a statement about the veto on his social media accounts late Wednesday. “In a time when efforts to ‘defund police’ and ‘dismantle the criminal justice system’ are part of the discussion, they’ll probably try to paint any effort at law and order as the radical position.”
The Mississippi Correctional Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2020, or Senate Bill 2123, would have let people convicted of nonviolent offenses become eligible for parole after serving 25% of their sentence. People convicted of violent offenses would have been eligible for parole after completing 50% of their sentence, or after 20 years, whichever comes first - for those sentenced between July 1, 1995, and June 30, 2014.
The bill would have allowed people convicted of most violent offenses after July 1, 2014, to become eligible for parole after serving 50% of their sentence served or after 30 years, whichever is less. The bill also allowed geriatric parole hearings for those 65 and older who have served 10 years of their sentences.
The bill did not guarantee any inmate release, only the opportunity to apply to the parole board. Habitual offenders, sex offenders and inmates sentenced for capital murder would not have been eligible for parole.
Reeves said he felt like the legislation was “well-intentioned” but went “too far.” He said he received calls from law enforcement officers and prosecutors who told him it would create a “risk” by releasing people with violent criminal histories. Those were concerns echoed by lawmakers who spoke against the bill, which passed with 25-17 in the Senate and 78-29 in the House.
“If they want to try again, I’ll listen,” Reeves wrote. “This was not the right approach.”
Alesha Judkins is state director of FWD.us Mississippi, an organization that presses for reform in the state’s prison system. She said she was surprised by the veto, given the problems plaguing the Mississippi Department of Corrections. At least 50 people have died in MDOC custody since December. The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into conditions in four state prisons and MDOC is facing multiple lawsuits.
“This important bill was a widely-supported, urgently-needed and moderate step forward in addressing Mississippi’s imprisonment crisis,” Judkins said in a statement Thursday. “The governor’s veto represents a critical missed opportunity to save lives. ”
Americans for Prosperity-Mississippi director Steven Utroska said he also was disappointed. He said the legislation would have had a “positive impact” on Mississippi’s “incredibly high incarceration rate and deplorable conditions of confinement within its state prisons.”
The bill gained bipartisan momentum during the legislative session from lawmakers who hoped it would encourage participation in educational and rehabilitative programming and prison - and save the state some money. According to the Department of Corrections, 14,044 of the approximately 19,000 inmates in Mississippi prisons are serving at least one sentence that is not eligible for parole. Housing an inmate costs $14,500 a year in Mississippi, according to a 2019 report by FWD.us.
On Wednesday night, Reeves also vetoed House Bill 658, which would have made it easier for some offenders to expunge their criminal record. The bill would have allowed first-time offenders to remove misdemeanors from their record after a trial or a plea. It would also have allowed felony offenders to expunge their records five years after completing all the terms of their sentences. However, a person would not be able to wipe certain crimes of violence, arson, or failure to register as a sex offender convictions from their record.
Reeves said current Mississippi law says a person can erase one felony from the record after a few years. He said that’s enough.
“One of these bills says that criminals can get three separate felony incidents erased from their record,” Reeves said. “We can’t have career criminals walking around with no records. The law enforcement community that I spoke with agreed.”
___
Leah Willingham is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.