washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Trump vows coronavirus testing blitz to meet demands for supplies

The White House said Monday it will dole out $ 11 billion to states to dramatically increase coronavirus testing and vowed to meet governors ’ demands for the supplies they need to collect specimens , part of a blitz President Trump described as the biggest manufacturing ramp-up since World War II .
Mr. Trump said if someone wants to get a test immediately , “ they ’ ll be able to get tested.
” His team clarified that though states still are prioritizing people who have symptoms , they also are testing more people who seem to be healthy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an array of diagnostic machines , products and a huge banner that read : “ America leads the world in testing.
” “ And it ’ s not even close , ” the president said .
He said Americans are performing roughly 300,000 tests per day and will have conducted a world-leading 10 million tests before the end of the week .
His administration wants states to test all staff and residents at nursing homes and workers at the meat processing plants that Mr. Trump ordered to remain open .
Congress approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package known as the CARES Act .
The country is now “ in a place where everyone has what they need , ” said a senior administration official , who pledged to send enough swabs and other supplies to meet each state ’ s testing quota this month .
“ My administration marshaled every resource at our nation ’ s disposal — public , private , military , economic , scientific and industrial , all at your disposal , ” Mr. Trump said .
Mr. Trump promoted his pandemic response after complaints that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start in detecting the virus and was prodding governors to reopen their economies without giving them enough support or guidance .
Widespread COVID-19 testing is considered critical to reopening the country during the pandemic .
The coronavirus has infected more than 1.3 million people and killed more than 80,000 in the U.S .
The diagnostics root out those who are carrying the disease , especially those who don ’ t show symptoms , and make sure they are isolated for a sufficient period instead of spreading the virus .
Recent cases of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , threaten to undercut Mr. Trump ’ s push to get American life back to normal .
One of Mr. Trump ’ s valets , a Navy employee , tested positive , and so did Katie Miller , a spokeswoman for Vice President Mike Pence .
Top government officials involved in the pandemic response are self-isolating at home as a precaution because they were potentially exposed during White House meetings .
“ I don ’ t think the system broke down at all , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ It can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy.
” He said most aides are wearing masks and that he stands far enough away from people during public events to keep everyone safe .
Mr. Trump and those around him are tested frequently , raising the question of when every American will have the same protections .
The president said he is leaving it up to governors to dictate who will be tested before returning to work .
“ I think they ’ re making a lot of good decisions , ” Mr. Trump said .
Pennsylvania ’ s strategy calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in each of its six designated health regions that cover the state .
It also is trying to ensure that 90 % of the population lives within 45 miles of a testing site .
Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , a Republican , has outlined a strategy that focuses on “ high-priority outbreaks and clusters , nursing homes , health care workers , and first responders , as well as community-based testing in areas with higher concentrations of cases.
” The state also is expanding drive-thru testing at vehicle emissions inspection sites .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents and staff at nursing homes and all workers at poultry processing plants .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , a Democrat , said Monday that regions in his state won ’ t reopen until they have reached certain benchmarks , such as a sustained decline in hospitalizations , sufficient hospital and bed space for a potential resurgence , and a certain percentage of people tested per month .
“ Some regions are ready to go today , ” he said .
Experts say it doesn ’ t necessarily mean every American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s just that when individuals present to their health care providers with symptoms , of any severity , that they will be able to be tested for the novel coronavirus without any consideration regarding the supply chain of reagents or nasal swabs , ” said Amesh Adalja , a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security .
“ This would be a seamless testing policy .
By doing this , we will be able to find cases and then prompt case-contact investigation , which would again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacts to try and uncover more cases.
” The Food and Drug Administration in recent days approved an antigen test that can detect proteins from the virus in a person ’ s nose .
Within a few weeks , officials said , the Quidel Corp. will put 300,000 tests on the market every day , meaning 9 million more tests will be in circulation per month .
“ These are the best machines and the best equipment anywhere in the world , ” Mr. Trump said , pointing out an array of products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said 240 testing sites are available at retail locations across the country now and over 300 will be available by the end of the week .
He said many of them will be in poorer and underserved communities .
Adm. Brett Giroir , the U.S. testing “ czar , ” echoed Mr. Trump ’ s claim that the U.S. is already the undisputed champion of testing .
“ Today we will have done more than twice the per capita rate of testing that was done in South Korea , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ those in South Korea , which earned praise for its early response to the COVID-19 outbreak but is dealing with flare-ups traced to nightclubs in the Itaewon neighborhood of Seoul .
South Korea this week donated 2 million face masks to the U.S. through the Federal Emergency Management Agency .
The Department of Veterans Affairs is scheduled to receive 500,000 masks from South Korea on Tuesday as a goodwill gesture to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War and the countries ’ enduring alliance .
“ Our alliance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it was 70 years ago , ” tweeted Harry Harris , the U.S. ambassador to South Korea .

The White House said Monday it will dole out $11 billion to states to dramatically increase coronavirus testing and vowed to meet governors’ demands for the supplies they need to collect specimens, part of a blitz President Trump described as the biggest manufacturing ramp-up since World War II.
Mr. Trump said if someone wants to get a test immediately, “they’ll be able to get tested.” His team clarified that though states still are prioritizing people who have symptoms, they also are testing more people who seem to be healthy.
The president promoted the plan in front of an array of diagnostic machines, products and a huge banner that read: “America leads the world in testing.”
“And it’s not even close,” the president said.
He said Americans are performing roughly 300,000 tests per day and will have conducted a world-leading 10 million tests before the end of the week. His administration wants states to test all staff and residents at nursing homes and workers at the meat processing plants that Mr. Trump ordered to remain open.
Congress approved the funding for states in the relief package known as the CARES Act.
The country is now “in a place where everyone has what they need,” said a senior administration official, who pledged to send enough swabs and other supplies to meet each state’s testing quota this month.
“My administration marshaled every resource at our nation’s disposal — public, private, military, economic, scientific and industrial, all at your disposal,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump promoted his pandemic response after complaints that the administration got off to a slow start in detecting the virus and was prodding governors to reopen their economies without giving them enough support or guidance.
Widespread COVID-19 testing is considered critical to reopening the country during the pandemic. The coronavirus has infected more than 1.3 million people and killed more than 80,000 in the U.S.
The diagnostics root out those who are carrying the disease, especially those who don’t show symptoms, and make sure they are isolated for a sufficient period instead of spreading the virus.
Recent cases of COVID-19 at the heavily secured White House, however, threaten to undercut Mr. Trump’s push to get American life back to normal.
One of Mr. Trump’s valets, a Navy employee, tested positive, and so did Katie Miller, a spokeswoman for Vice President Mike Pence. Top government officials involved in the pandemic response are self-isolating at home as a precaution because they were potentially exposed during White House meetings.
“I don’t think the system broke down at all,” Mr. Trump said. “It can happen; it’s the hidden enemy.”
He said most aides are wearing masks and that he stands far enough away from people during public events to keep everyone safe.
Mr. Trump and those around him are tested frequently, raising the question of when every American will have the same protections.
The president said he is leaving it up to governors to dictate who will be tested before returning to work.
“I think they’re making a lot of good decisions,” Mr. Trump said.
Pennsylvania’s strategy calls for testing 2% of its population in each of its six designated health regions that cover the state. It also is trying to ensure that 90% of the population lives within 45 miles of a testing site.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, has outlined a strategy that focuses on “high-priority outbreaks and clusters, nursing homes, health care workers, and first responders, as well as community-based testing in areas with higher concentrations of cases.”
The state also is expanding drive-thru testing at vehicle emissions inspection sites. It is conducting universal testing of all residents and staff at nursing homes and all workers at poultry processing plants.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said Monday that regions in his state won’t reopen until they have reached certain benchmarks, such as a sustained decline in hospitalizations, sufficient hospital and bed space for a potential resurgence, and a certain percentage of people tested per month.
“Some regions are ready to go today,” he said.
Experts say it doesn’t necessarily mean every American will be tested at a specific interval.
“It’s just that when individuals present to their health care providers with symptoms, of any severity, that they will be able to be tested for the novel coronavirus without any consideration regarding the supply chain of reagents or nasal swabs,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “This would be a seamless testing policy. By doing this, we will be able to find cases and then prompt case-contact investigation, which would again [result in] testing of close contacts to try and uncover more cases.”
The Food and Drug Administration in recent days approved an antigen test that can detect proteins from the virus in a person’s nose. Within a few weeks, officials said, the Quidel Corp. will put 300,000 tests on the market every day, meaning 9 million more tests will be in circulation per month.
“These are the best machines and the best equipment anywhere in the world,” Mr. Trump said, pointing out an array of products in the Rose Garden.
Mr. Trump said 240 testing sites are available at retail locations across the country now and over 300 will be available by the end of the week. He said many of them will be in poorer and underserved communities.
Adm. Brett Giroir, the U.S. testing “czar,” echoed Mr. Trump’s claim that the U.S. is already the undisputed champion of testing.
“Today we will have done more than twice the per capita rate of testing that was done in South Korea,” he said.
Mr. Trump frequently compares U.S. efforts with those in South Korea, which earned praise for its early response to the COVID-19 outbreak but is dealing with flare-ups traced to nightclubs in the Itaewon neighborhood of Seoul.
South Korea this week donated 2 million face masks to the U.S. through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is scheduled to receive 500,000 masks from South Korea on Tuesday as a goodwill gesture to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War and the countries’ enduring alliance.
“Our alliance and friendship are as vital and ironclad today as it was 70 years ago,” tweeted Harry Harris, the U.S. ambassador to South Korea.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--2 killed, 1 hurt in home shooting; man being questioned

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A man and woman were killed and another woman hospitalized after a shooting at @ @ @ @ @ Monday , and another man seen leaving the scene was taken into custody for questioning @ @ @ @ @ New York Police Department said officers responded to the private residence on Grandview Avenue around @ @ @ @ @ 911 call of shots fired .
Inside the residence , officers found a 46-year-old man @ @ @ @ @ a 43-year-old woman , police said .
The man and the 33-year-old woman were pronounced @ @ @ @ @ The 43-year-old woman had been shot in the back , and was taken to the @ @ @ @ @ condition , police said .
A 45-year-old man was seen leaving the scene and was @ @ @ @ @ .
He was being questioned , authorities said .
The identities of those killed had @ @ @ @ @ family notification , police said .

NEW YORK (AP) - A man and woman were killed and another woman hospitalized after a shooting at a Staten Island home on Monday, and another man seen leaving the scene was taken into custody for questioning, police said.
The slain woman, 33-year-old Ana DeSousa, is believed to have been pregnant, police told SiLive.com. Her boyfriend, Alafia Rodriguez, 46, was also killed.
The New York Police Department said officers responded to the private residence on Grandview Avenue around 5 p.m. after getting a 911 call of shots fired.
Inside the residence, officers found DeSousa, Rodriguez and a 43-year-old woman, police said. Authorities have not released the name of the injured woman.
She had been shot in the back, and was taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition, police said.
Philip Moreno, 45, was seen leaving the scene and was taken into custody by police. He was being questioned, authorities said.
Defense attorney Mark Fonte has been retained to represent Moreno, according to SiLive.com.
“The situation at this point is fluid,” Fonte told SiLive.com. “I have shut down the interrogation of my client. My office is attempting to assess the facts and determine what happened.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--US says Washington state overstepped with oil train law

BILLINGS , Mont .
( AP ) - The Trump administration on Monday moved to block a Washington state law that imposed safety restrictions on oil shipments by rail following a string of explosive accidents .
The Department of Transportation determined federal law preempts the Washington law adopted last year , which mandated crude from the oil fields of the Northern Plains have more of its volatile gases removed prior to being loaded onto rail cars .
The volatility of oil trains drew widespread public attention following several explosive derailments , including one in 2013 in Lac-Megantic , Quebec that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law was aimed at boosting safety for schools and homes that are near passing oil trains .
With backing by the rail and oil industries , the attorneys general for Montana and North Dakota had argued the law effectively banned crude from their states .
In July , they petitioned the Trump administration to overrule the law .
Federal officials said Monday that the removal of volatile gases was not a “ statistically significant factor ” in the severity of oil train crashes .
“ A state can not use safety as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a de facto ban on crude oil by rail within its borders , ” wrote Paul Roberti , chief counsel of the Transportation Department ’ s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration .
North Dakota is the nation ’ s No .
2 oil producer behind Texas and produced about 1.4 million barrels of oil daily in February , including about 300,000 barrels daily that was shipped by rail , according to the North Dakota Pipeline Authority .
The February numbers are the latest available and came before sliding demand and the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 40 % of their wells .
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox said it was “ a victory for Montanans and the citizens of other oil-rich states.
” He said Washington had illegally attempted to “ dictate what commodities other states can transport to market.
” Washington state officials and environmentalists who sided with them in the dispute said the restrictions did not directly regulate crude and instead addressed only the loading and unloading of oil within Washington .
They contended railroads still could carry crude into the state and the restrictions meant only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was safe to transport .
A spokesperson for Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee said state officials were disappointed with Monday ’ s 74-page decision .
“ Washington ’ s law helps protect the public from the inherent risks of transporting oil by rail by decreasing explosion risk in the event of an oil train derailment , ” said Tara Lee , Inslee ’ s communications director .
“ Public health remains our top priority and we are considering our options.
” An attorney with the environmental firm Earthjustice said the state had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce the risks of moving crude by rail and accused the Trump administration of stretching federal law to knock down the effort .
“ In Trump ’ s America , states are on their own to protect the health and safety of their citizens - until it bumps against the wishes of the oil industry , ” said attorney Jan Hasselman .
The American Petroleum Institute , Association of American Railroads and other groups had urged the administration to block Washington state ’ s law .
“ There is nothing unusual about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Ron Ness , president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council , which represents more than 500 companies working in the state ’ s oil patch .
“ This is just one more decision verifying what we ’ ve known from Day 1.
” Associated Press writer James MacPherson contributed from Bismarck , N.D .

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - The Trump administration on Monday moved to block a Washington state law that imposed safety restrictions on oil shipments by rail following a string of explosive accidents.
The Department of Transportation determined federal law preempts the Washington law adopted last year, which mandated crude from the oil fields of the Northern Plains have more of its volatile gases removed prior to being loaded onto rail cars.
The volatility of oil trains drew widespread public attention following several explosive derailments, including one in 2013 in Lac-Megantic, Quebec that killed 47 people. Washington’s law was aimed at boosting safety for schools and homes that are near passing oil trains.
With backing by the rail and oil industries, the attorneys general for Montana and North Dakota had argued the law effectively banned crude from their states. In July, they petitioned the Trump administration to overrule the law.
Federal officials said Monday that the removal of volatile gases was not a “statistically significant factor” in the severity of oil train crashes.
“A state cannot use safety as a pretext for inhibiting market growth or instituting a de facto ban on crude oil by rail within its borders,” wrote Paul Roberti, chief counsel of the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
North Dakota is the nation’s No. 2 oil producer behind Texas and produced about 1.4 million barrels of oil daily in February, including about 300,000 barrels daily that was shipped by rail, according to the North Dakota Pipeline Authority. The February numbers are the latest available and came before sliding demand and the coronavirus led drillers to shut down more than 40% of their wells.
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox said it was “a victory for Montanans and the citizens of other oil-rich states.”
He said Washington had illegally attempted to “dictate what commodities other states can transport to market.”
Washington state officials and environmentalists who sided with them in the dispute said the restrictions did not directly regulate crude and instead addressed only the loading and unloading of oil within Washington. They contended railroads still could carry crude into the state and the restrictions meant only that they would have to make sure it was safe to transport.
A spokesperson for Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said state officials were disappointed with Monday’s 74-page decision.
“Washington’s law helps protect the public from the inherent risks of transporting oil by rail by decreasing explosion risk in the event of an oil train derailment,” said Tara Lee, Inslee’s communications director. “Public health remains our top priority and we are considering our options.”
An attorney with the environmental firm Earthjustice said the state had taken a “modest step” to reduce the risks of moving crude by rail and accused the Trump administration of stretching federal law to knock down the effort.
“In Trump’s America, states are on their own to protect the health and safety of their citizens - until it bumps against the wishes of the oil industry,” said attorney Jan Hasselman.
The American Petroleum Institute, Association of American Railroads and other groups had urged the administration to block Washington state’s law.
“There is nothing unusual about the volatility of Bakken crude oil,” said Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, which represents more than 500 companies working in the state’s oil patch. “This is just one more decision verifying what we’ve known from Day 1.”
__
Associated Press writer James MacPherson contributed from Bismarck, N.D.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Western governors ask Congress for $1T in aid to states

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - Governors and legislative leaders from five western states that are coordinating their response to the coronavirus outbreak asked Congress on Monday to send $ 1 trillion to state and local governments across the U.S. in the next federal aid package .
Officials from California , Colorado , Nevada , Oregon and Washington said in a letter to leaders of both parties in the U.S. House and Senate that they will have to make deep budgets cuts without more federal aid .
That could include to services such as health programs and job training designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
“ Without federal support , states and cities will be forced to make impossible decisions - like whether to fund critical public healthcare that will help us recover , or prevent layoffs of teachers , police officers , firefighters and other first responders , ” the letter stated .
The governors and officials said $ 1 trillion in direct , flexible payments to state and local governments will not make up for the big hits their budgets are expected to take , but “ it will make a meaningful difference ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Assembly minority leader in California was the lone Republican to sign the letter .
It ’ s not yet clear what another congressional aid package might look like or what type of proposal could gather bipartisan support .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Governors and legislative leaders from five western states that are coordinating their response to the coronavirus outbreak asked Congress on Monday to send $1 trillion to state and local governments across the U.S. in the next federal aid package.
Officials from California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington said in a letter to leaders of both parties in the U.S. House and Senate that they will have to make deep budgets cuts without more federal aid. That could include to services such as health programs and job training designed to help those hit hard by the virus.
“Without federal support, states and cities will be forced to make impossible decisions - like whether to fund critical public healthcare that will help us recover, or prevent layoffs of teachers, police officers, firefighters and other first responders,” the letter stated.
The governors and officials said $1 trillion in direct, flexible payments to state and local governments will not make up for the big hits their budgets are expected to take, but “it will make a meaningful difference” in their ability to keep services running. The Assembly minority leader in California was the lone Republican to sign the letter.
It’s not yet clear what another congressional aid package might look like or what type of proposal could gather bipartisan support.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--How to take care of your car during the coronavirus pandemic

As stay-at-home orders sideline motorists , automobile experts warn of a variety of problems including rust , flats and vermin that can befall inert vehicles .
Weeks of inactivity can lead to problems down the road , now that many states have begun easing coronavirus restrictions .
Mechanics say the first major remedy is starting and briefly driving vehicles at least once a week .
Consumer Reports recommends driving cars at least 20 minutes a week to stave off a variety of ills , most prominently battery failure .
“ We ’ re seeing a 30 % increase [ between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls in the Washington metro area with battery issues , ” said John B. Townsend II , a spokesman for the car owners club AAA Mid-Atlantic .
“ Not running your car is the worst thing you can do to a car.
” Regular drives — even for short periods — can ensure rust is kept off brake discs , and calipers won ’ t seize .
“ Oxidation [ rust ] can form on the surface of brake rotors after only a few days , particularly in a humid environment , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lorio , writing for Kelley Blue Book .
“ The oxidation is not dangerous , but if left unchecked for too long , it can affect brake-pedal feel due to difference in texture between the oxidized sections of the brake disc and those that were under the pad and are therefore free of rust.
” Gasoline , too , needs to be expended , as residue can build up .
Moreover , a once-a-week drive for a vehicle can prevent degradation in fluids for brake lines .
And keeping oil tanks filled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long periods to prevent moisture build-up from infiltrating fuel systems .
But an idle car has other concerns beyond its mechanical parts .
Edmunds.com , a car buyer ’ s guide , recommends drivers monitor tires for flats , which can develop after a month ’ s time of a car sitting .
“ We recommend starting by checking your tire pressure and inflating them to factory specification , ” said Will Kaufman , writing for Edmunds.com .
“ You can find manufacturer recommendations for tire pressures either on the placard attached to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door or in your car ’ s manual.
” Another common foe to cars and trucks neglected for weeks can be infestation of mice , squirrels or rats that will chew on wiring , causing trouble to power steering lines or hoses .
Car experts encourage popping the hood to look for any frayed belts or wires and keeping an eye out for pockets of fur in wheel wells or engine compartments .
A car stored in a garage , on a street or in a parking lot should be cleaned regularly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , removing salt , brine or dirt from a car before storing it for a long time can prevent later damage .
Moreover , food or garbage inside a car can be tempting nourishment or shelter for ants and other bugs .
As the World Health Organization has noted that the coronavirus can exist on surfaces for extended periods of time , motorists using a car are also encouraged to wear gloves and a mask .
And especially when visiting a service shop , or picking up carryout food , rolling down windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested .
Health experts suggest disinfecting credit cards before putting them away .
Finally , once a car is on the road , motorists are encouraged to be wary of reckless drivers .
With fewer motorists , legal authorities are reporting a rash of speeding .
“ There ’ s another pandemic right now , ” said Mr. Townsend .
“ Inveterate speeding .
It ’ s a disturbing trend , and we don ’ t know what ’ s causing it .
”

As stay-at-home orders sideline motorists, automobile experts warn of a variety of problems including rust, flats and vermin that can befall inert vehicles.
Weeks of inactivity can lead to problems down the road, now that many states have begun easing coronavirus restrictions.
Mechanics say the first major remedy is starting and briefly driving vehicles at least once a week. Consumer Reports recommends driving cars at least 20 minutes a week to stave off a variety of ills, most prominently battery failure.
“We’re seeing a 30% increase [between April 2019 and April 2020] in calls in the Washington metro area with battery issues,” said John B. Townsend II, a spokesman for the car owners club AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Not running your car is the worst thing you can do to a car.”
Regular drives — even for short periods — can ensure rust is kept off brake discs, and calipers won’t seize.
“Oxidation [rust] can form on the surface of brake rotors after only a few days, particularly in a humid environment,” said Car and Driver senior editor Joe Lorio, writing for Kelley Blue Book. “The oxidation is not dangerous, but if left unchecked for too long, it can affect brake-pedal feel due to difference in texture between the oxidized sections of the brake disc and those that were under the pad and are therefore free of rust.”
Gasoline, too, needs to be expended, as residue can build up. Moreover, a once-a-week drive for a vehicle can prevent degradation in fluids for brake lines. And keeping oil tanks filled to the brim helps as cars sit over long periods to prevent moisture build-up from infiltrating fuel systems.
But an idle car has other concerns beyond its mechanical parts. Edmunds.com, a car buyer’s guide, recommends drivers monitor tires for flats, which can develop after a month’s time of a car sitting.
“We recommend starting by checking your tire pressure and inflating them to factory specification,” said Will Kaufman, writing for Edmunds.com. “You can find manufacturer recommendations for tire pressures either on the placard attached to the doorsill of the driver’s door or in your car’s manual.”
Another common foe to cars and trucks neglected for weeks can be infestation of mice, squirrels or rats that will chew on wiring, causing trouble to power steering lines or hoses. Car experts encourage popping the hood to look for any frayed belts or wires and keeping an eye out for pockets of fur in wheel wells or engine compartments.
A car stored in a garage, on a street or in a parking lot should be cleaned regularly. In states where winter systems have lingered, removing salt, brine or dirt from a car before storing it for a long time can prevent later damage. Moreover, food or garbage inside a car can be tempting nourishment or shelter for ants and other bugs.
As the World Health Organization has noted that the coronavirus can exist on surfaces for extended periods of time, motorists using a car are also encouraged to wear gloves and a mask. And especially when visiting a service shop, or picking up carryout food, rolling down windows only slightly to pay or speak is suggested. Health experts suggest disinfecting credit cards before putting them away.
Finally, once a car is on the road, motorists are encouraged to be wary of reckless drivers. With fewer motorists, legal authorities are reporting a rash of speeding.
“There’s another pandemic right now,” said Mr. Townsend. “Inveterate speeding. It’s a disturbing trend, and we don’t know what’s causing it.”
• Christopher Vondracek can be reached at cvondracek@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Peacock on the prowl falls for officer's decoy, not love

BOSTON ( AP ) - A Boston police officer used an electronic mating call Monday to help capture a peacock that had escaped from a nearby zoo .
An officer lured the curious peacock that had escaped from Franklin Park Zoo into a fenced-in yard while playing a mating call on his cell phone , The Boston Globe reported .
The officers on patrol in the Roxbury area were approached by a concerned citizen , who reported that the bird , named Snowbank , had escaped from the zoo , Boston police said in a statement .
“ Additional officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by an extremely large , slightly intimidating , and quite beautiful , male peacock , ” police said .
One of the officers began to look up a peacock mating call on his cellphone .
When he played it , the 6-year-old bird was lured into the secure area and remained there until Boston Animal Control and zoo officials arrived .
Snowbank was then returned to the zoo and is reported to be doing well , according to zoo officials .
Normally , peacocks at the zoo are free-roaming but officials believe its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he made his escape .
“ It is currently mating season , and it ’ s possible he ventured out looking for love , in search of a peahen , ” a female peacock , zoo officials said .

BOSTON (AP) - A Boston police officer used an electronic mating call Monday to help capture a peacock that had escaped from a nearby zoo.
An officer lured the curious peacock that had escaped from Franklin Park Zoo into a fenced-in yard while playing a mating call on his cell phone, The Boston Globe reported.
The officers on patrol in the Roxbury area were approached by a concerned citizen, who reported that the bird, named Snowbank, had escaped from the zoo, Boston police said in a statement.
“Additional officers arrived at the scene and were met by an extremely large, slightly intimidating, and quite beautiful, male peacock,” police said.
One of the officers began to look up a peacock mating call on his cellphone. When he played it, the 6-year-old bird was lured into the secure area and remained there until Boston Animal Control and zoo officials arrived.
Snowbank was then returned to the zoo and is reported to be doing well, according to zoo officials.
Normally, peacocks at the zoo are free-roaming but officials believe its possible that Snowbank was on a mission when he made his escape.
“It is currently mating season, and it’s possible he ventured out looking for love, in search of a peahen,” a female peacock, zoo officials said.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--California official: Bad mask deals lost no taxpayer money

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California ’ s top emergency official defended the state Monday over failed , high-priced deals for personal protective equipment , saying taxpayers haven ’ t lost money and that the state was doing its best amid a worldwide mad dash for gear during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Given the thousands of commodities vetted , the tremendous pressure to source , and the significant amount of vendors we were dealing with , there were ultimately just a few that required us to either cancel the contract or seek reimbursement , ” Mark Ghilarducci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office of Emergency Services , said during an oversight hearing before state Assembly lawmakers .
“ Not one dime - not one dime - of taxpayer dollars has been lost , ” he continued .
California has spent roughly $ 2.2 billion on 180 contracts for personal protective equipment such as face masks , shields and gowns without a competitive bidding process , state officials said .
Several of the deals for face masks were canceled after they were made , prompting lawmakers to call an oversight hearing on the contracting process amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outliers and said the state has enhanced its vetting process on such deals .
Two state deals facing scrutiny are with the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and a firm called Blue Flame Medical LLC , created by two former political operatives , both for face masks .
The state has been refunded part of its money , $ 247 million , in the BYD deal due to delayed federal certification of the masks , though the state expects they will eventually pass .
In the case of Blue Flame , the deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the state got back $ 456 million it wired in advance .
In a third deal , the state paid Bear Mountain Development Co. LLC nearly $ 800 million for surgical masks and face shields , but then cancelled the deal , the Los Angeles Times reported .
“ Fraud and abuse has been rampant , ” Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris , a Democrat , said to kick off the hearing .
“ These incidents have raised questions about the robustness of our vetting protocols from state contracts in this emergency.
” Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face scrutiny for both acting too quickly and not acting fast enough .
He said it was not his goal to chastise or condemn the administration ’ s actions .
“ Rather , we ’ re here today to sterilize our mistakes with sunshine and public transparency , ” he said .
In the BYD case , Ghilarducci said a paperwork issue led to the certification delay by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health .
The state expects the certification will pass next month and California will still get the hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered .
The company has already shipped tens of millions of looser-fitting surgical masks under the deal .
The collapsed Blue Flame deal attracted even more questions .
After the state wired nearly half a billion dollars to the company in a rare move of paying upfront before goods are received , the bank flagged the transaction as suspicious .
Ghilarducci said that demonstrates the state ’ s system of checks and balances .
But Gray , the Democratic assemblyman , suggested the state shouldn ’ t have needed the bank to catch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since implemented a more robust process for vetting the massive amount of offers it gets for protective gear amid the pandemic .
Since early April , more than 7,700 offers for equipment have flowed through a state contribution portal , Ghilarducci said .
All requests go to a vetting group , which includes multiple subgroups to examine the businesses and the deals they are offering .
The state also works closely with federal authorities such as the FBI , he said .
While lawmakers asked pointed questions on the deals , several involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure the state has been under to secure gear that can save lives .
“ It ’ s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback , in the sense of laying blame at folks ’ doorsteps , ” Gray said .
“ The reality is people ’ s lives are on the line … A certain amount of risk is appropriate in acting quickly .
”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California’s top emergency official defended the state Monday over failed, high-priced deals for personal protective equipment, saying taxpayers haven’t lost money and that the state was doing its best amid a worldwide mad dash for gear during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Given the thousands of commodities vetted, the tremendous pressure to source, and the significant amount of vendors we were dealing with, there were ultimately just a few that required us to either cancel the contract or seek reimbursement,” Mark Ghilarducci, director of the state’s Office of Emergency Services, said during an oversight hearing before state Assembly lawmakers.
“Not one dime - not one dime - of taxpayer dollars has been lost,” he continued.
California has spent roughly $2.2 billion on 180 contracts for personal protective equipment such as face masks, shields and gowns without a competitive bidding process, state officials said. Several of the deals for face masks were canceled after money had been wired, prompting lawmakers to call an oversight hearing on the contracting process amid the coronavirus. Ghilarducci called the contracts outliers and said the state has enhanced its vetting process on such deals.
Two state deals facing scrutiny are with the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and a firm called Blue Flame Medical LLC, created by two former political operatives, both for face masks. The state has been refunded part of its money, $247 million, in the BYD deal due to delayed federal certification of the masks, though the state expects they will eventually pass.
In the case of Blue Flame, the deal made in March collapsed within hours, and the state got back $456 million it wired in advance. In a third deal, the state paid Bear Mountain Development Co. LLC nearly $800 million for surgical masks and face shields, but then cancelled the deal, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“Fraud and abuse has been rampant,” Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, a Democrat, said to kick off the hearing. “These incidents have raised questions about the robustness of our vetting protocols from state contracts in this emergency.”
Democratic Assemblyman Adam Gray said the administration would face scrutiny for both acting too quickly and not acting fast enough. He said it was not his goal to chastise or condemn the administration’s actions but to bring “sunshine and public transparency.”
In the BYD case, Ghilarducci said a paperwork issue led to the certification delay by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The state expects the certification will pass next month and California will still get the hundreds of millions of tight-fitting N95 masks it ordered. The company has already shipped tens of millions of looser-fitting surgical masks under the deal.
The collapsed Blue Flame deal attracted even more questions. The state wired nearly half a billion dollars to the company in a rare move of paying upfront before goods are received. Then, the bank flagged the transaction as suspicious, and the deal was cancelled later that day. Ghilarducci said the company and its offer had “appeared to be legitimate.” Ethan Bearman, the lawyer listed on Blue Flame’s California business registration filing, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ghilarducci said the bank’s flag of the transaction demonstrates the state’s system of checks and balances. But Gray, the Democratic assemblyman, suggested the state shouldn’t have needed the bank to catch a suspicious transaction.
The state has since implemented a more robust process for vetting the massive amount of offers it gets for protective gear amid the pandemic. Since early April, more than 7,700 offers for equipment have flowed through a state contribution portal, Ghilarducci said. All requests go to a vetting group, which includes multiple subgroups to examine the businesses and the deals they are offering. The state also works closely with federal authorities such as the FBI, he said.
While lawmakers asked pointed questions on the deals, several involved in the hearing said they understood the pressure the state has been under to secure gear that can save lives.
“It’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback, in the sense of laying blame at folks’ doorsteps,” Gray said. “The reality is people’s lives are on the line … A certain amount of risk is appropriate in acting quickly.”
Helen Kerstein, a fiscal and policy analyst overseeing emergency services in the Legislative Analyst’s Office, said it’s been difficult for lawmakers to get information about contracts Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is signing in a timely manner amid the pandemic. The administration’s need to act quickly can weaken “guardrails” the Legislature would normally have in place, she said.
“You really have big budgetary implications for the state, too, if something goes awry,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--UN says 7 or 8 `top' candidates for a COVID-19 vaccine exist

UNITED NATIONS ( AP ) - The World Health Organization chief said Monday there are around seven or eight “ top ” candidates for a vaccine to combat the novel coronavirus and work on them is being accelerated .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a U.N. Economic and Social Council video briefing the original thinking two months ago was that it may take 12 to 18 months for a vaccine .
But he said an accelerated effort is under way , helped by 7.4 billion euros ( $ 8 billion ) pledged a week ago by leaders from 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , treatment and testing .
He said the $ 8 billion will not be enough , and additional funds will be needed to speed up the development of a vaccine , but more importantly to produce enough “ to make sure that this vaccine reaches everyone - ( and ) there ’ s no one be left behind.
” “ We have good candidates now , ” Tedros said .
“ The top ones are around seven , eight .
But we have more than a hundred candidates.
” “ We are focusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can bring probably better results and accelerating those candidates with better potential , ” he said .
Tedros did not identify the top candidates .
Since January , he said , “ WHO has been working with thousands of researchers all over the world to accelerate and track vaccine development from developing animal models to clinical trial designs and everything in between.
” Tedros said there is also a consortium of more than 400 scientists involved in vaccine development and diagnostics .
The WHO chief stressed that COVID-19 is “ very contagious and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with over 4 million cases now reported to WHO and almost 275,000 lives lost .
While new cases are declining in Western Europe , they are increasing in Eastern Europe , Africa , southeast Asia , the eastern Mediterranean and other regions , he said .
Tedros said “ the pandemic is teaching us many painful lessons , ” especially the importance of having strong national and regional health systems .
“ And yet on current trends , more than 5 billion people will not access these essential services by 2030 ” - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , access essential medicine , and have running water in hospitals , he said .
He stressed that as the response to COVID-19 continues , nations must also lay the foundations for a healthy , safer and fairer world .
“ The world spends around $ 7.5 trillion on health care each year , almost 10 percent of global GDP , but the best investments are in promoting health and in preventing disease at the primary health care level which will save lives and save money , ” Tedros said .
U.N. Deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all nations are “ in it together ” but the immediate priority must be the most vulnerable countries and communities .
She called for a new debt relief program for vulnerable countries so their economies can recover .
And she said measures to protect and stimulate the economy , from cash transfers to credits and loans must be targeted at women “ who make up the majority of those in the hardest-hit informal economy , and who are at the forefront of the community response.
” The head of the International Labor Organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 305 million full-time jobs will be lost around the world in the second quarter of this year , which ends on June 30 .
ILO Director-General Guy Ryder told the briefing that by comparison , only 22 million full-time jobs were lost immediately when the financial crisis hit in 2008-2009 , “ so you can see we ’ re in an entirely different place.
” Ryder said it ’ s also often forgotten that 60 percent of the global workforce of 3.3 billion have jobs in the informal economy , most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimates that in the first month of the pandemic , with lock-downs and economic shutdowns , “ these people have lost on average 60 percent of their income , their revenues from work.
” And they are concentrated in countries with scarce resources and the weakest social protection systems , he said .
Ryder called for international cooperation to help those most in need and for stepped up efforts to keep enterprises alive , retain jobs , maintain the link between enterprises and workers even when they can ’ t work now .

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The World Health Organization chief said Monday there are around seven or eight “top” candidates for a vaccine to combat the novel coronavirus and work on them is being accelerated.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a U.N. Economic and Social Council video briefing the original thinking two months ago was that it may take 12 to 18 months for a vaccine. But he said an accelerated effort is under way, helped by 7.4 billion euros ($8 billion) pledged a week ago by leaders from 40 countries, organizations and banks for research, treatment and testing.
He said the $8 billion will not be enough, and additional funds will be needed to speed up the development of a vaccine, but more importantly to produce enough “to make sure that this vaccine reaches everyone - (and) there’s no one be left behind.”
“We have good candidates now,” Tedros said. “The top ones are around seven, eight. But we have more than a hundred candidates.”
“We are focusing on the few candidates we have which can bring probably better results and accelerating those candidates with better potential,” he said.
Tedros did not identify the top candidates.
Since January, he said, “WHO has been working with thousands of researchers all over the world to accelerate and track vaccine development from developing animal models to clinical trial designs and everything in between.”
Tedros said there is also a consortium of more than 400 scientists involved in vaccine development and diagnostics.
The WHO chief stressed that COVID-19 is “very contagious and it’s a killer,” with over 4 million cases now reported to WHO and almost 275,000 lives lost.
While new cases are declining in Western Europe, they are increasing in Eastern Europe, Africa, southeast Asia, the eastern Mediterranean and other regions, he said.
Tedros said “the pandemic is teaching us many painful lessons,” especially the importance of having strong national and regional health systems.
“And yet on current trends, more than 5 billion people will not access these essential services by 2030” - the ability to see a health worker, access essential medicine, and have running water in hospitals, he said.
He stressed that as the response to COVID-19 continues, nations must also lay the foundations for a healthy, safer and fairer world.
“The world spends around $7.5 trillion on health care each year, almost 10 percent of global GDP, but the best investments are in promoting health and in preventing disease at the primary health care level which will save lives and save money,” Tedros said.
U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told the briefing that all nations are “in it together” but the immediate priority must be the most vulnerable countries and communities.
She called for a new debt relief program for vulnerable countries so their economies can recover.
And she said measures to protect and stimulate the economy, from cash transfers to credits and loans must be targeted at women “who make up the majority of those in the hardest-hit informal economy, and who are at the forefront of the community response.”
The head of the International Labor Organization said the U.N. agency estimates the equivalent of 305 million full-time jobs will be lost around the world in the second quarter of this year, which ends on June 30.
ILO Director-General Guy Ryder told the briefing that by comparison, only 22 million full-time jobs were lost immediately when the financial crisis hit in 2008-2009, “so you can see we’re in an entirely different place.”
Ryder said it’s also often forgotten that 60 percent of the global workforce of 3.3 billion have jobs in the informal economy, most of them women.
He said the ILO estimates that in the first month of the pandemic, with lock-downs and economic shutdowns, “these people have lost on average 60 percent of their income, their revenues from work.” And they are concentrated in countries with scarce resources and the weakest social protection systems, he said.
Ryder called for international cooperation to help those most in need and for stepped up efforts to keep enterprises alive, retain jobs, maintain the link between enterprises and workers even when they can’t work now.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Small-town barber wins early victory in fight to stay open

DETROIT ( AP ) - A judge on Monday declined to stop a defiant Michigan man who reopened his barber shop despite a state order that has closed businesses for weeks because of the coronavirus .
The judge rejected a request for a restraining order and said Karl Manke deserves a hearing if the state wants to shut down his business in Owosso , a small town 40 miles ( 65 kilometers ) northeast of the state Capitol .
The 77-year-old has become a symbol of resistance to Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s sweeping stay-home order and other restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I came into this last Monday alone , thinking I ’ m going to swing in the wind alone , ” Manke said , lowering his face mask and fighting back tears .
“ I can not believe the support that I ’ ve got .
It ’ s overwhelming.
” Manke reopened his barber shop on May 4 , saying he was despondent over not working and that he could make his own decisions .
Manke was given a cease-and-desist order from state regulators last week .
Separately , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misdemeanor tickets by police .
Meanwhile , people from all over Michigan have filled his shop waiting for a haircut .
“ I ’ m going to stay open until Jesus comes , ” Manke pledged .
The governor was asked about the barber earlier Monday .
“ I also know a lot of people who could use a haircut , yours truly included as well as my husband .
… I expect people to follow the law , ” Whitmer said .
“ These executive orders are not a suggestion .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not helpful hints.
” State regulators consider the barber shop to be a danger to public health because of the pandemic and will seek a court hearing as soon as possible , said Ryan Jarvi , spokesman for the attorney general ’ s office .
Manke ’ s attorney , Dave Kallman , said the state has gone too far .
“ If you can walk down the aisles at Walmart , you can walk down the aisles in Karl ’ s barber shop and practice the same physical distancing , hand-washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hearing on and on , ” Kallman said .

DETROIT (AP) - A judge on Monday declined to stop a defiant Michigan man who reopened his barber shop despite a state order that has closed businesses for weeks because of the coronavirus.
The judge rejected a request for a restraining order and said Karl Manke deserves a hearing if the state wants to shut down his business in Owosso, a small town 40 miles (65 kilometers) northeast of the state Capitol.
The 77-year-old has become a symbol of resistance to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s sweeping stay-home order and other restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.
“I came into this last Monday alone, thinking I’m going to swing in the wind alone,” Manke said, lowering his face mask and fighting back tears. “I cannot believe the support that I’ve got. It’s overwhelming.”
Supporters outside his shop chanted, “Karl! Karl!”
Manke reopened his barber shop on May 4, saying he was despondent over not working and that he could make his own decisions.
Manke was given a cease-and-desist order from state regulators last week. Separately, he’s been given at least two misdemeanor tickets by police. Meanwhile, people from all over Michigan have filled his shop waiting for a haircut.
“I’m going to stay open until Jesus comes,” Manke pledged.
The governor was asked about the barber earlier Monday.
“I also know a lot of people who could use a haircut, yours truly included as well as my husband. … I expect people to follow the law,” Whitmer said. “These executive orders are not a suggestion. They’re not optional. They’re not helpful hints.”
State regulators consider the barber shop to be a danger to public health because of the pandemic and will seek a court hearing as soon as possible, said Ryan Jarvi, spokesman for the attorney general’s office.
Manke’s attorney, Dave Kallman, said the state has gone too far.
“If you can walk down the aisles at Walmart, you can walk down the aisles in Karl’s barber shop and practice the same physical distancing, hand-washing, all the things we’ve been hearing on and on,” Kallman said.
___
Follow Ed White at http:/twitter.com/edwhiteap


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Ketchikan postal trucks lead funeral procession

KETCHIKAN , Alaska ( AP ) - Postal workers in Ketchikan helped lay one of their own to rest in @ @ @ @ @ Several U.S .
Postal Service vehicles led the procession Saturday from a mortuary to Bayview @ @ @ @ @ Judy Ann Ann ( Orbistondo ) Doran , 58 , were interred , the Ketchikan @ @ @ @ @ who died April 23 in Bellingham , Washington , was a 16-year employee with the @ @ @ @ @ was a ray of sunshine , ” said Joan Wandke , a co-worker of Doran @ @ @ @ @ Post Office .

KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) - Postal workers in Ketchikan helped lay one of their own to rest in Ketchikan over the weekend.
Several U.S. Postal Service vehicles led the procession Saturday from a mortuary to Bayview Cemetery as the remains of Judy Ann Ann (Orbistondo) Doran, 58, were interred, the Ketchikan Daily News reported
Doran, who died April 23 in Bellingham, Washington, was a 16-year employee with the postal service.
“She was a ray of sunshine,” said Joan Wandke, a co-worker of Doran’s at the Ketchikan Post Office.


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Oprah Winfrey to launch live virtual experience on wellness

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Oprah Winfrey , who visited arenas last year on a wellness tour , is bringing the idea to living rooms while people are homebound due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The media mogul on Tuesday announced “ Oprah ’ s Your Life in Focus : A Vision Forward - Live Virtual Experience , ” a free and interactive four-week event that is an extension of her wellness tour with WW ( Weight Watchers Reimagined ) .
The 90-minute experiences , hosted by Winfrey via Zoom , will air at 11 a.m. EDT on Saturdays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In early 2020 , I spent nine weeks traveling the country , talking to people about being well and staying focused .
It was exhilarating .
Then the pandemic hit and shook us all , ” Winfrey said in a statement .
“ Now , it ’ s more important than ever to be and stay well and strong .
Together , let ’ s reset , refocus and find clarity in what matters most.
” Winfrey ’ s tour , “ Oprah ’ s 2020 Vision : Your Life in Focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited arenas like Brooklyn ’ s Barclays Center and The Forum in Inglewood , California .
The tour included one-on-one conversations with Michelle Obama , Dwayne Johnson , Lady Gaga and other stars .
During the four-week virtual experiences , Winfrey will tackle topics like self-care during the pandemic , connecting in relationships while social distancing , committing to a healthy lifestyle and more .
Special guests will be announced at a later date and viewers can join the virtual experiences at ww.com/oprah .

NEW YORK (AP) - Oprah Winfrey, who visited arenas earlier this year on a wellness tour, is bringing the idea to living rooms while people are homebound due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The media mogul on Tuesday announced “Oprah’s Your Life in Focus: A Vision Forward - Live Virtual Experience,” a free and interactive four-week event that is an extension of her wellness tour with WW (Weight Watchers Reimagined). The 90-minute experiences, hosted by Winfrey via Zoom, will air at 11 a.m. EDT on Saturdays from May 16 through June 6.
“In early 2020, I spent nine weeks traveling the country, talking to people about being well and staying focused. It was exhilarating. Then the pandemic hit and shook us all,” Winfrey said in a statement. “Now, it’s more important than ever to be and stay well and strong. Together, let’s reset, refocus and find clarity in what matters most.”
Winfrey’s tour, “Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus,” launched earlier this year and visited arenas like Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and The Forum in Inglewood, California. The tour included one-on-one conversations with Michelle Obama, Dwayne Johnson, Lady Gaga and other stars.
During the four-week virtual experiences, Winfrey will tackle topics like self-care during the pandemic, connecting in relationships while social distancing, committing to a healthy lifestyle and more.
Special guests will be announced at a later date and viewers can join the virtual experiences by registering at ww.com/oprah.


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--AP Courtside: Supreme Court takes up Trump subpoena cases

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The Supreme Court is holding its second week of arguments by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic , with audio available live to audiences around the world .
The court has heard four days of arguments that had been postponed because of the virus outbreak and has two more days to go .
Decisions are expected by early summer .
Some observations , trivia and analysis from our Supreme Court reporters ( all times local ) : The Supreme Court is taking up the biggest cases of its arguments by telephone .
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end to subpoenas issued by congressional committees and the Manhattan district attorney for tax , bank and other financial records .
Rulings against the president could result in the release of information during Trump ’ s campaign for reelection .
The court will hear the two cases Tuesday .
More arguments are planned for Wednesday .
Like last week , the arguments will be livestreamed .
If you followed along last week , you know how the arguments will go : The justices are asking questions in order of seniority , after Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means Trump ’ s two appointees , Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , ask questions last .
Justice Clarence Thomas asked questions during each argument last week and again on Monday .
The intervals between Thomas ’ questions during high court arguments used to be measured in years .
Thomas once went 10 years , from 2006 to 2016 , without asking even one question .
Follow AP ’ s Supreme Court Twitter feed at https : //twitter.com/AP_Courtside .
And Supreme Court reporters Mark Sherman at https : //twitter.com/shermancourt and Jessica Gresko @ @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is holding its second week of arguments by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic, hearing cases about President Donald Trump’s tax records, with audio available live to audiences around the world.
The court has heard four days of arguments that had been postponed because of the virus outbreak and has two more days to go. Decisions are expected by early summer.
Some observations, trivia and analysis from our Supreme Court reporters (all times local):
1:50 p.m.
The Supreme Court has finished hearing arguments in two cases involving President Donald Trump’s bid to keep his tax, bank and other financial records private.
Though the justices’ discussion was lengthy, it was unclear whether they would uphold lower court decisions that found subpoenas to Trump’s accountant and banks by Manhattan prosecutors and Congress are valid and should be enforced.
The arguments were conducted by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic. They lasted for about three hours and 20 minutes. That’s about an hour and 20 minutes longer than questioning would have lasted in the courtroom.
The court heard phone arguments on four previous days. But Tuesday was the first time Chief Justice John Roberts allowed some latitude for additional rounds of questioning.
The court is scheduled to hear two more arguments by phone on Wednesday. It’s the last day phone arguments are scheduled.
___
1:25 p.m.
If President Donald Trump was paying attention to Supreme Court arguments being broadcast live in a case about access to his financial records, his tweets didn’t show it.
As the Supreme Court heard arguments by phone on Tuesday, Trump pontificated on Twitter on other issues.
Trump weighed in on Elon Musk reopening Tesla’s California plant in defiance of local authorities. Trump wants it open, too.
Trump also weighed in on oil prices, interest rates, his likely opponent in the November election and his critics. He tweeted: “So interesting to see all of these people I beat so badly, pundits & consultants that never had a chance, telling me how to run for office.”
Before arguments began, Trump weighed in on one of his favorite topics, approval ratings, by saying those governors with sky high approval for their handling of the coronavirus could not have had that success without him and “the Federal Governments help.”
The court has been hearing arguments by phone because of the coronavirus.
___
Noon
The Supreme Court has begun hearing its second phone argument of the day, this one about a Manhattan district attorney’s office subpoena seeking financial documents from President Donald Trump.
Trump is fighting subpoenas by Congress and prosecutors as he seeks to shield his tax, bank and financial records. Earlier Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments about the congressional effort.
Rulings against Trump could result in the release of information during his campaign for reelection.
In Tuesday’s first case, the justices asked whether there is any limit to Congress’ ability to subpoena records related to the president. Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Trump’s lawyer “there is a long, long history of Congress seeking records and getting them … from presidents.”
The court is hearing the arguments by phone because of the coronavirus pandemic. Live audio is available.
___
11:30 a.m.
Supreme Court justices are asking whether there is any limit to Congress’ ability to subpoena records related to the president.
The Supreme Court is taking up President Donald Trump’s bid to shield his bank and financial records from Congress. Several justices want to know whether there’s a limit to ensure subpoenas aren’t used to harass the president.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked a lawyer arguing Tuesday on behalf of the House of Representatives: “The concern has been expressed that Congress could be using this subpoena power to harass a political rival … so what is the limiting principle?”
Justice Brett Kavanaugh is one of Trump’s two nominees to the court. Kavanaugh asked the lawyer for the House: “The question then boils down to how can we both protect the House’s interest in obtaining information it needs to legislate but also protect the presidency. How can the court balance those interests?”
Trump is fighting subpoenas by congressional committees and Manhattan prosecutors for tax records. The court is hearing arguments by phone because of the coronavirus.
___
10:40 a.m.
Financial records involving President Donald Trump are at issue in the cases the Supreme Court is hearing in telephone arguments. But some of the justices are bringing up past presidents.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday told Trump lawyer Patrick Strawbridge: “Counsel, there is a long, long history of Congress seeking records and getting them … from presidents.”
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice Steven Breyer have brought up requests for documents during Watergate and Whitewater. Justice Elena Kagan says in the past Congress and the president have been able to come to agreements.
Trump is asking the justices to put an end to subpoenas issued by congressional committees and the Manhattan district attorney for tax, bank and other financial records. Rulings against the president could result in the release of information during Trump’s campaign for reelection.
The court is hearing the arguments by phone because of the coronavirus pandemic. Live audio is available.
___
10 a.m.
The Supreme Court has started Day Five of the arguments it’s hearing by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic, this time regarding President Donald Trump’s tax records.
The court is taking up the biggest cases of its phone arguments. Trump is asking the justices to put an end to subpoenas issued by congressional committees and the Manhattan district attorney for tax, bank and other financial records. Rulings against the president could result in the release of information during Trump’s campaign for reelection.
The court will hear the two cases Tuesday. More arguments are planned for Wednesday. Like last week, the arguments will be livestreamed.
Arguments Tuesday are scheduled to last two hours. The court has again urged lawyers to use a landline, not a cellphone.
If you’ve been following along with the court, you know how the arguments will go: The justices are asking questions in order of seniority, after Chief Justice John Roberts goes first. That means Trump’s two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, ask questions last.
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8:55 a.m.
The cases before the Supreme Court on Tuesday involving tax records from President Donald Trump resemble earlier disputes over presidents’ assertions that they were too consumed with the job of running the country to worry about lawsuits and investigations.
In 1974, the justices acted unanimously in requiring President Richard Nixon to turn over White House tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor. In 1997, another unanimous court allowed a sexual-harassment lawsuit to go forward against President Bill Clinton.
In those cases, three Nixon appointees and two Clinton appointees, respectively, voted against the president who chose them for the high court. The current court has two Trump appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic.
___
8 a.m.
The Supreme Court is taking up the biggest cases of its arguments by telephone. President Donald Trump is asking the justices to put an end to subpoenas issued by congressional committees and the Manhattan district attorney for tax, bank and other financial records. Rulings against the president could result in the release of information during Trump’s campaign for reelection.
The court will hear the two cases Tuesday. More arguments are planned for Wednesday. Like last week, the arguments will be livestreamed.
If you followed along last week, you know how the arguments will go: The justices are asking questions in order of seniority, after Chief Justice John Roberts goes first. That means Trump’s two appointees, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, ask questions last.
Justice Clarence Thomas asked questions during each argument last week and again on Monday. The intervals between Thomas’ questions during high court arguments used to be measured in years. Thomas once went 10 years, from 2006 to 2016, without asking even one question.
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Follow AP’s Supreme Court Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/AP_Courtside. And Supreme Court reporters Mark Sherman at https://twitter.com/shermancourt and Jessica Gresko at https://twitter.com/jessicagresko.


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Navy warship spills 4K gallons of fuel into Virginia river

YORKTOWN , Va. ( AP ) - A large warship spilled 4,000 gallons of fuel into a Virginia river late @ @ @ @ @ Navy has confirmed .
The USS Philippine Sea , a guided-missile cruiser , spilled the @ @ @ @ @ River on Thursday morning , WAVY-TV reported Monday .
The ship was at a pier @ @ @ @ @ in Yorktown at the time , according to Ted Brown , a U.S. Fleet Forces @ @ @ @ @ .
A Navy oil recovery team and the U.S. Coast Guard responded , and most @ @ @ @ @ , officials said .
Cleanup efforts began immediately using a fuel vacuum truck and fuel-absorbing @ @ @ @ @ He said there was little impact to the shoreline .
The Navy is investigating the @ @ @ @ @

YORKTOWN, Va. (AP) - A large warship spilled 4,000 gallons of fuel into a Virginia river late last week, the U.S. Navy has confirmed.
The USS Philippine Sea, a guided-missile cruiser, spilled the diesel fuel into the York River on Thursday morning, news outlets reported.
The ship was at a pier at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown at the time, according to Ted Brown, a U.S. Fleet Forces Command Environmental Public Affairs Officer.
A Navy oil recovery team and the U.S. Coast Guard responded, and most of the fuel was contained, officials said. Cleanup efforts began immediately using a fuel vacuum truck and fuel-absorbing materials, Brown added. He said there was little impact to the shoreline.
The Navy is investigating the cause of the spill.


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Man points handgun at customer in deli line at Orlando store

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) - A shopper pointed a handgun at the face of a 73-year-old man who was in line at the deli counter of an Orlando grocery store , prompting commotion that ended with customers and employees fleeing for their safety , police said .
The customer told investigators he was standing in line at the deli on Saturday evening when he noticed the man next in line glaring at him , the Orlando Sentinel reported .
“ Sir , what can I do for you ?
” the shopper asked the man , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know each other ?
” The man then stepped back and drew a handgun .
He aimed it at the man ’ s face , and told the man not to mess with him , the report said .
The shopper backed away with his hands up and the other man , who was wearing a mask and gloves , put the gun under his shirt before walking away .
Police are trying to determine the gunman ’ s identity .
Multiple callers told 911 dispatchers there was a gunman inside the store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigators the victim is a regular at the store .
They said the gunman seemed “ furious , ” according to the police report .
The police report said surveillance video matched the victim ’ s account .
It also showed the man had his finger on the trigger during “ the entire encounter .
”

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A shopper pointed a handgun at the face of a 73-year-old man who was in line at the deli counter of an Orlando grocery store, prompting commotion that ended with customers and employees fleeing for their safety, police said.
The customer told investigators he was standing in line at the deli on Saturday evening when he noticed the man next in line glaring at him, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
“Sir, what can I do for you?” the shopper asked the man, according to a police report. “Do we know each other?”
The man then stepped back and drew a handgun. He aimed it at the man’s face, and told the man not to mess with him, the report said. The shopper backed away with his hands up and the other man, who was wearing a mask and gloves, put the gun under his shirt before walking away.
Police are trying to determine the gunman’s identity.
Multiple callers told 911 dispatchers there was a gunman inside the store, police said.
Store employees told investigators the victim is a regular at the store. They said the gunman seemed “furious,” according to the police report.
The police report said surveillance video matched the victim’s account. It also showed the man had his finger on the trigger during “the entire encounter.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Joe Biden on Tara Reade's allegation: 'Women should be believed,' but 'this never happened'

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden on Tuesday said women “ should be believed ” and have a right to be heard but reiterated that an allegation of sexual assault from a former staffer “ did not happen.
” “ I think women should be believed , ” he said , noting they should have an opportunity to present their case .
Mr. Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , said it ’ s then the responsibility of the media to go out and investigate the claims .
“ At the end of the day , the truth is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should prevail , ” he said on ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America.
” “ The truth is this never happened .
This never happened … that ’ s the truth.
” He said it ’ s the right of Americans who say they won ’ t vote for him because they believe Tara Reade , who has accused Mr. Biden of digitally penetrating her when she worked in his Senate office during the 1990s .
She told journalist Megyn Kelly last week that she would take a polygraph test if Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wished he would drop out of the presidential race .
Top Democrats have swiftly rallied around Mr. Biden after many in the party had dragged U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh over the coals when he had faced allegations of improper behavior during his confirmation process in 2018 .

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden on Tuesday said women “should be believed” and have a right to be heard but reiterated that an allegation of sexual assault from a former staffer “did not happen.”
“I think women should be believed,” he said, noting they should have an opportunity to present their case.
Mr. Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said it’s then the responsibility of the media to go out and investigate the claims.
“At the end of the day, the truth is the truth — that’s what should prevail,” he said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “The truth is this never happened. This never happened … that’s the truth.”
He said it’s the right of Americans who say they won’t vote for him because they believe Tara Reade, who has accused Mr. Biden of digitally penetrating her when she worked in his Senate office during the 1990s.
She told journalist Megyn Kelly last week that she would take a polygraph test if Mr. Biden did as well and said she wished he would drop out of the presidential race.
Top Democrats have swiftly rallied around Mr. Biden after many in the party had dragged U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh over the coals when he had faced allegations of improper behavior during his confirmation process in 2018.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Maryland police stun suspect accused of firing officer's gun

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - Baltimore police stunned a suspect accused of grabbing and firing an officer ’ s gun @ @ @ @ @ said .
Officers were responding to a disorderly conduct call in a North Baltimore neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ , The Baltimore Sun reported , citing police .
An officer and the suspect began @ @ @ @ @ suspect was able to grab the officer ’ s department-issued weapon and fire off a @ @ @ @ @ .
The suspect was stunned and taken into custody .
A department spokeswoman did not @ @ @ @ @ whether they were charged , the newspaper said .
An update on the suspect ’ @ @ @ @ @ .

BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore police stunned a suspect accused of grabbing and firing an officer’s gun on Monday, the department said.
Officers were responding to a disorderly conduct call in a North Baltimore neighborhood when they encountered the suspect, The Baltimore Sun reported, citing police.
An officer and the suspect began to struggle, and the suspect was able to grab the officer’s department-issued weapon and fire off a single round, police said. The suspect was stunned and taken into custody.
A department spokeswoman did not identify the suspect or say whether they were charged, the newspaper said. An update on the suspect’s condition was not given.


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Driver leads deputies on two-state pursuit

GRAND FORKS , N.D. ( AP ) - A driver has been arrested after authorities say he led law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ North Dakota and Minnesota .
Sheriff ’ s officials in Polk County , Minnesota say @ @ @ @ @ by a deputy for reckless driving Monday afternoon on Highway 75 north of Climax .
@ @ @ @ @ is wanted on a Minnesota felony warrant and took off when other deputies arrived .
@ @ @ @ @ driver into Traill and Grand Forks counties in North Dakota .
Authorities later found his @ @ @ @ @ was later located and arrested by Grand Forks officers .

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - A driver has been arrested after authorities say he led law enforcement officers on a chase through North Dakota and Minnesota.
Sheriff’s officials in Polk County, Minnesota say the Moorhead man was stopped by a deputy for reckless driving Monday afternoon on Highway 75 north of Climax.
Authorities said the 34-year-old driver is wanted on a Minnesota felony warrant and took off when other deputies arrived.
KFGO reports deputies pursued the driver into Traill and Grand Forks counties in North Dakota. Authorities later found his SUV abandoned, but he was later located and arrested by Grand Forks officers.


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Ryanair gets ready to fly more often in July

LONDON ( AP ) - Budget airline Ryanair says it will begin operating nearly 1,000 daily flights starting in July , assuming government restrictions on flights within Europe are lifted after the shutdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak .
The carrier , which was Europe ’ s busiest airline before the pandemic , said Tuesday it will restore 90 % of its pre-COVID-19 route network , though with less frequency .
The airline has been operating with a skeleton schedule since mid-March , with some 30 flights daily between Ireland , the U.K. and Europe .
“ After four months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flying again so we can reunite friends and families , allow people to return to work and restart Europe ’ s tourism industry , which provides so many millions of jobs , ” Ryanair Chief Executive Eddie Wilson said .
The strategy is not without risk .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned Tuesday that people were unlikely to be able to go on foreign holidays this summer .
Asked whether “ summer was cancelled , ” Mr Hancock told ITV : “ I think that ’ s likely to be the case.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer , ” he said .
“ I just think that ’ s a reality of life.
” Aviation has been among the hardest hit industries in the pandemic , with aircraft around the world grounded by travel restrictions .
Many have cut costs and staff to respond .
The latest example is Belgium ’ s Brussels Airlines , which on Tuesday unveiled a cost-cutting plan that will result in the reduction of 25 % of its workforce .
The Lufthansa subsidiary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its flights as a result of the pandemic .
The carrier , which also suffered amid the bankruptcy of travel operator Thomas Cook last year , plans to reduce its fleet from 54 to 38 aircraft .
Brussels Airlines says it is losing 1 million euros ( $ 1.1 million ) a day because of revenue losses , aircraft leasing and maintenance costs .
The company has asked the government for 290 million euros in aid .
Ryanair , warned , meanwhile , that flying would not be the same as it once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for toilets will be forbidden , though access to bathrooms can be made on request .
Crew members will wear masks and offer limited services .
Cash will no longer be accepted .
It did not specify if some seats would be left empty .
The airline also announced that passengers flying in July and August will be required at check-in to state the length of their planned visit and give an address for their destination .
The information will be given to governments in the event they want to monitor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said Ryanair ’ s announcement seems “ optimistic , ” though “ fortune favors the well prepared.
” “ Ryanair won ’ t be caught napping if flights are resumed this summer , ” he said in a statement .
“ While preparing to get planes back in the air will cost money , which will be wasted if restrictions aren ’ t lifted , management clearly feels this is a risk worth running .
”

LONDON (AP) - Budget airline Ryanair says it will begin operating nearly 1,000 daily flights starting in July, assuming government restrictions on flights within Europe are lifted after the shutdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The carrier, which was Europe’s busiest airline before the pandemic, said Tuesday it will restore 90% of its pre-COVID-19 route network, though with less frequency. The airline has been operating with a skeleton schedule since mid-March, with some 30 flights daily between Ireland, the U.K. and Europe.
“After four months, it is time to get Europe flying again so we can reunite friends and families, allow people to return to work and restart Europe’s tourism industry, which provides so many millions of jobs,” Ryanair Chief Executive Eddie Wilson said.
The strategy is not without risk. Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned Tuesday that people were unlikely to be able to go on foreign holidays this summer.
Asked whether “summer was cancelled,” Mr Hancock told ITV: “I think that’s likely to be the case.”
“It is unlikely that big, lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer,” he said. “I just think that’s a reality of life.”
Aviation has been among the hardest hit industries in the pandemic, with aircraft around the world grounded by travel restrictions. Many have cut costs and staff to respond.
The latest example is Belgium’s Brussels Airlines, which on Tuesday unveiled a cost-cutting plan that will result in the reduction of 25% of its workforce.
The Lufthansa subsidiary, which employs 4,000 people, has suspended its flights as a result of the pandemic. The carrier, which also suffered amid the bankruptcy of travel operator Thomas Cook last year, plans to reduce its fleet from 54 to 38 aircraft.
Brussels Airlines says it is losing 1 million euros ($1.1 million) a day because of revenue losses, aircraft leasing and maintenance costs. The company has asked the government for 290 million euros in aid.
Ryanair, warned, meanwhile, that flying would not be the same as it once was.
On the plane, lining up for toilets will be forbidden, though access to bathrooms can be made on request. Crew members will wear masks and offer limited services. Cash will no longer be accepted. It did not specify if some seats would be left empty.
The airline also announced that passengers flying in July and August will be required at check-in to state the length of their planned visit and give an address for their destination. The information will be given to governments in the event they want to monitor the passenger for isolation requirements.
William Ryder, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said Ryanair’s announcement seems “optimistic,” though “fortune favors the well prepared.”
“Ryanair won’t be caught napping if flights are resumed this summer,” he said in a statement. “While preparing to get planes back in the air will cost money, which will be wasted if restrictions aren’t lifted, management clearly feels this is a risk worth running.”
___
Associated Press Writer Sam Petrequin contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Fire guts 400 shanties, shops in Bangladesh Rohingya camp

DHAKA , Bangladesh ( AP ) - A fire on Tuesday raced through a crowded camp housing Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh , destroying nearly 400 shanties and shops , a Bangladeshi official and the U.N. ’ s refugee agency said .
No casualties were immediately reported , the refugee agency said in a Facebook post .
The agency , known as the UNHCR , said the fire broke out at the Lambashia camp in Kutupalong in Cox ’ s Bazar district on Tuesday morning .
More than 1 million refugees live in the district bordering Myanmar , from where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mohammad Nikaruzzman Chowdhury , the area ’ s chief government official , said firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze in an hour .
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire , but local media said it may have been caused by an explosion of a gas cylinder kept in a shop in the area .
The UNHCR said it mobilized emergency response teams to provide the refugees with food and other items .
Most of the refugees fled their homes in Myanmar after its military launched a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a Rohingya insurgent group in 2017 .
Myanmar ’ s security forces have been accused of committing mass rapes , killings and burning thousands of homes in the crackdown .
The Muslim Rohingya are not recognized as citizens in Buddhist-majority Myanmar , rendering them stateless , and also face other forms of state-sanctioned discrimination

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - A fire on Tuesday raced through a crowded camp housing Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, destroying nearly 400 shanties and shops, a Bangladeshi official and the U.N.’s refugee agency said.
No casualties were immediately reported, the refugee agency said in a Facebook post.
The agency, known as the UNHCR, said the fire broke out at the Lambashia camp in Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar district on Tuesday morning.
More than 1 million refugees live in the district bordering Myanmar, from where the refugees crossed the border into Bangladesh.
Mohammad Nikaruzzman Chowdhury, the area’s chief government official, said firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze in an hour.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire, but local media said it may have been caused by an explosion of a gas cylinder kept in a shop in the area.
The UNHCR said it mobilized emergency response teams to provide the refugees with food and other items.
Most of the refugees fled their homes in Myanmar after its military launched a harsh crackdown in response to an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group in 2017. Myanmar’s security forces have been accused of committing mass rapes, killings and burning thousands of homes in the crackdown.
The Muslim Rohingya are not recognized as citizens in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, rendering them stateless, and also face other forms of state-sanctioned discrimination


washingtontimes--2020-05-12--Pentagon watchdog to investigate Navy's handling of coronavirus outbreak

The Pentagon ’ s inspector general will launch a review of the Navy ’ s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak , the watchdog announced Monday , with a focus on whether Navy leaders took strong enough action to stop the spread of the virus on ships and whether their plan was effectively implemented across the U.S. fleet .
The examination , which will begin before the end of the month , comes amid high case counts aboard American ships and the weekend ’ s startling news that Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday would self-isolate after potential contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Monday , the Navy had at least 2,162 confirmed cases of the coronavirus — by far the most of any military service .
The inspector general ’ s review will examine whether the Navy took strong enough action to prevent such a high case count .
“ The objective of this evaluation is to determine whether the Navy has implemented policies and procedures to prevent and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases , such as coronavirus-disease-2019 ( COVID-19 ) , on ships and submarines , ” the watchdog said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will determine whether mitigation measures that are effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 were implemented across the fleet .
We may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds , and we will also consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives.
” The Navy ’ s response to the coronavirus has been in the spotlight since an outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt ultimately led to the dismissal of the ship ’ s leader , Capt .
Brett Crozier .
Capt .
Crozier wrote a letter to Navy leaders pleading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his vessel was dire , and that sailors would likely die without a stronger response .
The ship was eventually forced to dock in Guam as the case count rose .
After Capt .
Crozier ’ s dismissal in early April , then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned over his handling of the matter , which included a controversial visit to the Roosevelt during which he seemed to suggest Capt .
Crozier was “ stupid ” for writing the letter .
Military officials are now conducting a thorough investigation of the ordeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crozier ultimately could return to his former post aboard the Roosevelt .
The Navy also has seen an outbreak aboard the USS Kidd .
The Navy has nearly twice as many confirmed cases of COVID-19 as any other service , according to Pentagon figures released Monday .
The most recent count shows 2,162 cases in the Navy , compared to 1,122 in the Army and 1,037 in the National Guard Bureau .
The Air Force and Marine Corps have 417 and 460 confirmed cases , respectively .

The Pentagon’s inspector general will launch a review of the Navy’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, the watchdog announced Monday, with a focus on whether Navy leaders took strong enough action to stop the spread of the virus on ships and whether their plan was effectively implemented across the U.S. fleet.
The examination, which will begin before the end of the month, comes amid high case counts aboard American ships and the weekend’s startling news that Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday would self-isolate after potential contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.
As of Monday, the Navy had at least 2,162 confirmed cases of the coronavirus — by far the most of any military service. The inspector general’s review will examine whether the Navy took strong enough action to prevent such a high case count.
“The objective of this evaluation is to determine whether the Navy has implemented policies and procedures to prevent and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19), on ships and submarines,” the watchdog said in a statement. “In addition, we will determine whether mitigation measures that are effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 were implemented across the fleet. We may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds, and we will also consider suggestions from management for additional or revised objectives.”
The Navy’s response to the coronavirus has been in the spotlight since an outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt ultimately led to the dismissal of the ship’s leader, Capt. Brett Crozier. Capt. Crozier wrote a letter to Navy leaders pleading for help and warning that the situation on his vessel was dire, and that sailors would likely die without a stronger response.
The ship was eventually forced to dock in Guam as the case count rose. After Capt. Crozier’s dismissal in early April, then-acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned over his handling of the matter, which included a controversial visit to the Roosevelt during which he seemed to suggest Capt. Crozier was “stupid” for writing the letter.
Military officials are now conducting a thorough investigation of the ordeal. It’s possible Capt. Crozier ultimately could return to his former post aboard the Roosevelt.
The Navy also has seen an outbreak aboard the USS Kidd.
The Navy has nearly twice as many confirmed cases of COVID-19 as any other service, according to Pentagon figures released Monday.
The most recent count shows 2,162 cases in the Navy, compared to 1,122 in the Army and 1,037 in the National Guard Bureau. The Air Force and Marine Corps have 417 and 460 confirmed cases, respectively.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.