washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Postal Service barred from sending Colorado mail-in voting info

DENVER — The U.S .
Postal Service on Sunday asked a federal judge in Colorado to reconsider an order barring it from continuing to distribute a mailer that the state says contains confusing information about Colorado ’ s mail-in voting system .
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold filed a lawsuit Saturday against the Postal Service , Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the Denver postmaster to stop delivery of the flyers , which are being distributed nationally , to Colorado voters .
“ The notice , if distributed , will sow confusion amongst voters by delivering a contradictory message , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tells voters they must request a mail-in ballot for the November elections .
In Colorado , every registered voter receives a mail ballot .
The mailer also recommends that voters mail back their ballots at least a week before the Nov. 3 Election Day .
Griswold argued that could make people believe they must mail their ballot in but voters in Colorado can mail their ballots , drop them off at drop boxes or voting service centers , or vote in person .
The USPS said it is sending the mailers nationally to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Worries about the coronavirus pandemic are likely to induce millions of U.S. voters to vote by mail for the first time .
Griswold ’ s lawsuit contends the USPS mailers will “ confuse Colorado voters , likely causing otherwise-eligible voters to wrongly believe that they may not participate in the upcoming election , ” The Colorado Sun reported .
“ This attempt at voter suppression violates the United States Constitution and federal statutes and must be stopped immediately , ” the lawsuit said .
The postal service asked Martinez on Sunday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postcards were in the process of being delivered .
It said the judge ’ s order would be “ extremely burdensome , requiring examination of mail by thousands of postal employees.
” It added it had ceased processing of other Colorado-bound postcards .
Colorado has more than 3.5 million active registered voters .
Griswold said Colorado first learned Thursday about the mailers and expressed its concerns to the Postal Service .
A Postal Service official told the state that most deliveries had been halted by Friday night , according to a state court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat , has criticized Dejoy over Postal Service changes that slowed processing and delivery .
She has lambasted as baseless President Donald Trump ’ s statements that mail-in voting is prone to fraud .
Colorado also has joined a multi-state suit asking a federal judge to undo service cuts at the Postal Service , saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake .
Also named in Griswold ’ s lawsuit is the regional postmaster for Albuquerque , New Mexico , which services parts of far southwest Colorado .
Martinez set the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

DENVER — The U.S. Postal Service on Sunday asked a federal judge in Colorado to reconsider an order barring it from continuing to distribute a mailer that the state says contains confusing information about Colorado’s mail-in voting system.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold filed a lawsuit Saturday against the Postal Service, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the Denver postmaster to stop delivery of the flyers, which are being distributed nationally, to Colorado voters.
U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martinez issued a temporary restraining order late Saturday stopping the mailings.
“The notice, if distributed, will sow confusion amongst voters by delivering a contradictory message,” Martinez wrote.
The USPS mailer tells voters they must request a mail-in ballot for the November elections. In Colorado, every registered voter receives a mail ballot.
The mailer also recommends that voters mail back their ballots at least a week before the Nov. 3 Election Day. Griswold argued that could make people believe they must mail their ballot in but voters in Colorado can mail their ballots, drop them off at drop boxes or voting service centers, or vote in person.
The USPS said it is sending the mailers nationally to promote the successful delivery of mail ballots. Worries about the coronavirus pandemic are likely to induce millions of U.S. voters to vote by mail for the first time.
Griswold’s lawsuit contends the USPS mailers will “confuse Colorado voters, likely causing otherwise-eligible voters to wrongly believe that they may not participate in the upcoming election,” The Colorado Sun reported.
“This attempt at voter suppression violates the United States Constitution and federal statutes and must be stopped immediately,” the lawsuit said.
The postal service asked Martinez on Sunday to reconsider, arguing that more than 200,000 postcards were in the process of being delivered. It said the judge’s order would be “extremely burdensome, requiring examination of mail by thousands of postal employees.” It added it had ceased processing of other Colorado-bound postcards.
Colorado has more than 3.5 million active registered voters.
Griswold said Colorado first learned Thursday about the mailers and expressed its concerns to the Postal Service. A Postal Service official told the state that most deliveries had been halted by Friday night, according to a state court filing on Sunday.
Griswold, a Democrat, has criticized Dejoy over Postal Service changes that slowed processing and delivery. She has lambasted as baseless President Donald Trump’s statements that mail-in voting is prone to fraud. Colorado also has joined a multi-state suit asking a federal judge to undo service cuts at the Postal Service, saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake.
Also named in Griswold’s lawsuit is the regional postmaster for Albuquerque, New Mexico, which services parts of far southwest Colorado.
Martinez set the next hearing in the case for Friday.


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Judge bars Postal Service from sending vote info in Colorado

DENVER ( AP ) - The U.S .
Postal Service on Sunday asked a federal judge in Colorado to reconsider an order barring it from continuing to distribute a mailer that the state says contains confusing information about Colorado ’ s mail-in voting system .
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold filed a lawsuit Saturday against the Postal Service , Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the Denver postmaster to stop delivery of the flyers , which are being distributed nationally , to Colorado voters .
“ The notice , if distributed , will sow confusion amongst voters by delivering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The USPS mailer tells voters they must request a mail-in ballot for the November elections .
In Colorado , every registered voter receives a mail ballot .
The mailer also recommends that voters mail back their ballots at least a week before the Nov. 3 Election Day .
Griswold argued that could make people believe they must mail their ballot in but voters in Colorado can mail their ballots , drop them off at drop boxes or voting service centers , or vote in person .
The USPS said it is sending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mail ballots .
Worries about the coronavirus pandemic are likely to induce millions of U.S. voters to vote by mail for the first time .
Griswold ’ s lawsuit contends the USPS mailers will “ confuse Colorado voters , likely causing otherwise-eligible voters to wrongly believe that they may not participate in the upcoming election , ” The Colorado Sun reported .
“ This attempt at voter suppression violates the United States Constitution and federal statutes and must be stopped immediately , ” the lawsuit said .
The postal service asked Martinez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 200,000 postcards were in the process of being delivered .
It said the judge ’ s order would be “ extremely burdensome , requiring examination of mail by thousands of postal employees.
” It added it had ceased processing of other Colorado-bound postcards .
Colorado has more than 3.5 million active registered voters .
Griswold said Colorado first learned Thursday about the mailers and expressed its concerns to the Postal Service .
A Postal Service official told the state that most deliveries had been halted by Friday night , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Griswold , a Democrat , has criticized Dejoy over Postal Service changes that slowed processing and delivery .
She has lambasted as baseless President Donald Trump ’ s statements that mail-in voting is prone to fraud .
Colorado also has joined a multi-state suit asking a federal judge to undo service cuts at the Postal Service , saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake .
Also named in Griswold ’ s lawsuit is the regional postmaster for Albuquerque , New Mexico , which services parts of far southwest Colorado .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case for Friday .

DENVER (AP) - The U.S. Postal Service on Sunday asked a federal judge in Colorado to reconsider an order barring it from continuing to distribute a mailer that the state says contains confusing information about Colorado’s mail-in voting system.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold filed a lawsuit Saturday against the Postal Service, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the Denver postmaster to stop delivery of the flyers, which are being distributed nationally, to Colorado voters.
U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martinez issued a temporary restraining order late Saturday stopping the mailings.
“The notice, if distributed, will sow confusion amongst voters by delivering a contradictory message,” Martinez wrote.
The USPS mailer tells voters they must request a mail-in ballot for the November elections. In Colorado, every registered voter receives a mail ballot.
The mailer also recommends that voters mail back their ballots at least a week before the Nov. 3 Election Day. Griswold argued that could make people believe they must mail their ballot in but voters in Colorado can mail their ballots, drop them off at drop boxes or voting service centers, or vote in person.
The USPS said it is sending the mailers nationally to promote the successful delivery of mail ballots. Worries about the coronavirus pandemic are likely to induce millions of U.S. voters to vote by mail for the first time.
Griswold’s lawsuit contends the USPS mailers will “confuse Colorado voters, likely causing otherwise-eligible voters to wrongly believe that they may not participate in the upcoming election,” The Colorado Sun reported.
“This attempt at voter suppression violates the United States Constitution and federal statutes and must be stopped immediately,” the lawsuit said.
The postal service asked Martinez on Sunday to reconsider, arguing that more than 200,000 postcards were in the process of being delivered. It said the judge’s order would be “extremely burdensome, requiring examination of mail by thousands of postal employees.” It added it had ceased processing of other Colorado-bound postcards.
Colorado has more than 3.5 million active registered voters.
Griswold said Colorado first learned Thursday about the mailers and expressed its concerns to the Postal Service. A Postal Service official told the state that most deliveries had been halted by Friday night, according to a state court filing on Sunday.
Griswold, a Democrat, has criticized Dejoy over Postal Service changes that slowed processing and delivery. She has lambasted as baseless President Donald Trump’s statements that mail-in voting is prone to fraud. Colorado also has joined a multi-state suit asking a federal judge to undo service cuts at the Postal Service, saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake.
Also named in Griswold’s lawsuit is the regional postmaster for Albuquerque, New Mexico, which services parts of far southwest Colorado.
Martinez set the next hearing in the case for Friday.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Pandemic vs. pandemic: COVID-19 hampers fight against HIV

As COVID-19 swept through the South , Mel Prince watched with alarm as some of the HIV positive patients she helps in the rural Black Belt stopped showing up for lab tests and doctor ’ s visits .
Some fell back into drug and alcohol abuse .
Others feared the AIDS virus made them more vulnerable to the coronavirus and refused to leave their homes .
Around the same time , Prince ’ s HIV organization in Selma , Alabama , stopped sending staff to health fairs and other sites to test people for HIV .
“ The virus has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Prince , executive director of Selma AIR .
“ We just continue to let people know we ’ re here , and we ’ re trying our best to take care of their needs.
” The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the delivery of all types of health care services in the U.S. Doctors have put off surgeries to conserve hospital beds and medical supplies for COVID-19 patients and turned to telemedicine for routine consultations to avoid potentially exposing patients to the virus .
The fight against HIV has not been spared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the disease , and public health officials overwhelmed by demands to control COVID-19 have shifted staff away from tracking HIV patients .
Progress against the virus had already stalled in recent years .
Now , health experts and advocates worry the country is at risk of backsliding , with a spike in new HIV infections because people don ’ t know they have the disease , aren ’ t aware if their treatment is working or aren ’ t getting a drug that can prevent them from getting HIV in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are doing HIV testing and focusing on HIV to the COVID-19 response , ” said Ace Robinson , with the national nonprofit HIV eradication group , NMAC .
“ And that means that we ’ re not able to support people to maintain the care that they deserve.
” The issue is of particular concern in the South , which accounted for more than half of the country ’ s roughly 37,000 HIV infections in 2018 and has been a focus of the Trump administration ’ s goal of eradicating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South are aware that they have HIV compared with other regions in the U.S , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Parts of the Black Belt - a poor agricultural region stretching from Louisiana to Virginia that was first known for the color of its soil and then for its mostly Black population - have particularly high rates of new HIV infections .
HIV workers contacted by The Associated Press in Alabama , Arkansas , Georgia , Louisiana , Mississippi , South Carolina , Tennessee and Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the start of the coronavirus pandemic .
Mildred Harper , who is HIV positive , was too afraid to go to a Jackson , Mississippi , hospital in April for a blood test to check on her HIV treatment .
Harper is on medication that can give people with the AIDS virus a near-normal life expectancy and make it effectively impossible for them to infect other people .
Elsewhere in the world , the coronavirus has disrupted the supply of those drugs .
But people on the medication need periodic lab work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount of virus in their bodies low .
If their treatment is effective , they are not believed to face any additional risk for COVID-19 , according to the CDC .
Harper , 56 , said the coronavirus had sent her into a depression , and she was “ paranoid ” about contracting it at the hospital .
“ It kind of felt like I was diagnosed with HIV again because it isolated me from everybody , ” Harper said .
Lee Storrow sought an HIV test in North Carolina in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacted said they were focused on testing for COVID-19 .
Local health officials had stopped testing for sexually transmitted infections , or STIs , and a Planned Parenthood clinic could not see him for weeks , he said .
Storrow , an HIV policy advocate and educator , said he was eventually able to get a home test kit online from a company called NURX .
The CDC has encouraged HIV health providers to mail testing kits to people ’ s homes .
“ It took me four different steps to figure out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I ’ m someone who thinks about STI testing on a daily basis , ” he said .
“ It does make me concerned and wonder about folks who are so much more on the margins.
” Testing at the HIV clinic at Augusta University in Georgia stopped completely for two weeks early on , said Raven Wells , the clinic ’ s community outreach coordinator .
Tests are now conducted by appointment “ instead of just driving around trying to contact as many people as you can , ” Wells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Birmingham , Alabama-based social services organization AIDS Alabama , testing is down roughly 75 % , from about 30 tests a week before the pandemic to 30 tests a month now amid a drop in walk-in clients , said Tony Christon-Walker , the organization ’ s director of prevention and community partnerships .
Meanwhile , scores of state social workers in Alabama who were trained to track down and reengage people who dropped out of HIV treatment have instead been put to work investigating COVID-19 cases , said Sharon Jordan , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Alabama Department of Public Health .
“ I feel like the HIV community , those who are infected , probably feel as if nobody is thinking about us anymore , ” she said .
Annual HIV infections in the United States have dropped by more than two-thirds since the height of the AIDS epidemic in the mid-1980s , but the number of new infections has leveled off in recent years , according to the CDC .
An estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV , but more than 40 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or don ’ t have the virus under control .
President Donald Trump ’ s administration announced an ambitious plan last year to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by focusing on hot spots for the infection and getting people on drugs .
Federal health officials say that remains a priority , though they acknowledge challenges posed by COVID-19 .
“ We don ’ t have the luxury of pulling back , ” said Rev .
A.J .
Johnson , CEO of an HIV testing organization in Baton Rouge , Louisiana .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not a battle.
” Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

As COVID-19 swept through the South, Mel Prince watched with alarm as some of the HIV positive patients she helps in the rural Black Belt stopped showing up for lab tests and doctor’s visits.
Some fell back into drug and alcohol abuse. Others feared the AIDS virus made them more vulnerable to the coronavirus and refused to leave their homes.
Around the same time, Prince’s HIV organization in Selma, Alabama, stopped sending staff to health fairs and other sites to test people for HIV.
“The virus has made it very challenging for us,” said Prince, executive director of Selma AIR. “We just continue to let people know we’re here, and we’re trying our best to take care of their needs.”
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the delivery of all types of health care services in the U.S. Doctors have put off surgeries to conserve hospital beds and medical supplies for COVID-19 patients and turned to telemedicine for routine consultations to avoid potentially exposing patients to the virus.
The fight against HIV has not been spared. Clinics have stopped or limited testing for the disease, and public health officials overwhelmed by demands to control COVID-19 have shifted staff away from tracking HIV patients.
Progress against the virus had already stalled in recent years. Now, health experts and advocates worry the country is at risk of backsliding, with a spike in new HIV infections because people don’t know they have the disease, aren’t aware if their treatment is working or aren’t getting a drug that can prevent them from getting HIV in the first place.
“We’re losing people who are doing HIV testing and focusing on HIV to the COVID-19 response,” said Ace Robinson, with the national nonprofit HIV eradication group, NMAC. “And that means that we’re not able to support people to maintain the care that they deserve.”
The issue is of particular concern in the South, which accounted for more than half of the country’s roughly 37,000 HIV infections in 2018 and has been a focus of the Trump administration’s goal of eradicating the disease by 2030. Fewer people in the South are aware that they have HIV compared with other regions in the U.S, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Parts of the Black Belt - a poor agricultural region stretching from Louisiana to Virginia that was first known for the color of its soil and then for its mostly Black population - have particularly high rates of new HIV infections.
HIV workers contacted by The Associated Press in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas all reported a drop in HIV testing since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mildred Harper, who is HIV positive, was too afraid to go to a Jackson, Mississippi, hospital in April for a blood test to check on her HIV treatment. Harper is on medication that can give people with the AIDS virus a near-normal life expectancy and make it effectively impossible for them to infect other people. Elsewhere in the world, the coronavirus has disrupted the supply of those drugs.
But people on the medication need periodic lab work to make sure the drugs are keeping the amount of virus in their bodies low. If their treatment is effective, they are not believed to face any additional risk for COVID-19, according to the CDC.
Harper, 56, said the coronavirus had sent her into a depression, and she was “paranoid” about contracting it at the hospital.
“It kind of felt like I was diagnosed with HIV again because it isolated me from everybody,” Harper said.
Lee Storrow sought an HIV test in North Carolina in June, but staff at the clinic he contacted said they were focused on testing for COVID-19. Local health officials had stopped testing for sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, and a Planned Parenthood clinic could not see him for weeks, he said.
Storrow, an HIV policy advocate and educator, said he was eventually able to get a home test kit online from a company called NURX. The CDC has encouraged HIV health providers to mail testing kits to people’s homes.
“It took me four different steps to figure out how to get my own STI test, and I’m someone who thinks about STI testing on a daily basis,” he said. “It does make me concerned and wonder about folks who are so much more on the margins.”
Testing at the HIV clinic at Augusta University in Georgia stopped completely for two weeks early on, said Raven Wells, the clinic’s community outreach coordinator. Tests are now conducted by appointment “instead of just driving around trying to contact as many people as you can,” Wells said.
At sites run by the Birmingham, Alabama-based social services organization AIDS Alabama, testing is down roughly 75%, from about 30 tests a week before the pandemic to 30 tests a month now amid a drop in walk-in clients, said Tony Christon-Walker, the organization’s director of prevention and community partnerships.
Meanwhile, scores of state social workers in Alabama who were trained to track down and reengage people who dropped out of HIV treatment have instead been put to work investigating COVID-19 cases, said Sharon Jordan, director of the HIV Prevention and Care Office at the Alabama Department of Public Health.
“I feel like the HIV community, those who are infected, probably feel as if nobody is thinking about us anymore,” she said.
Annual HIV infections in the United States have dropped by more than two-thirds since the height of the AIDS epidemic in the mid-1980s, but the number of new infections has leveled off in recent years, according to the CDC. An estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV, but more than 40% either do not know they are infected or don’t have the virus under control.
President Donald Trump’s administration announced an ambitious plan last year to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by focusing on hot spots for the infection and getting people on drugs. Federal health officials say that remains a priority, though they acknowledge challenges posed by COVID-19.
“We don’t have the luxury of pulling back,” said Rev. A.J. Johnson, CEO of an HIV testing organization in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “This is a war against HIV-AIDS, not a battle.”
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Officials: 3 dead, 3 wounded in violent rampage in Tennessee

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) - A gunman killed two people and wounded three others in a series of shootings and carjackings that ended with a high-speed chase as he fled police .
He ultimately wrecked the car he stole and killed himself , while his remaining hostage survived , the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said .
The string of crimes began Sunday morning along Interstate 24 near Beechgrove when Dangelo Dorsey , 29 , opened fire inside a moving vehicle , killing one person and wounding another , TBI Director David Rausch said in a news release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , got out of the vehicle as traffic came to a halt on the interstate , shooting a driver in the hand as he attempted to carjack her vehicle , and shooting a nearby truck driver in the face , Rausch said .
Dorsey then carjacked a man and woman , forcing them to drive him to their home in Morrison , Rausch said .
While there , Dorsey allegedly stole two of their guns , swapped vehicles and forced the man and woman to go with him .
At some point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man and forced his body out of the vehicle along I-24 near Manchester , then drove off with the woman still inside the car .
Officials then located the SUV and a chase ensued , reaching speeds over 100 mph ( 161 kph ) .
The SUV crashed and flipped , Rausch said .
“ At that point , Dorsey took his own life , ” Rausch stated .
“ The female hostage was safely recovered.
” The investigation is ongoing , Rausch said .
“ I want to extend our deepest sympathies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacted by today ’ s set of events , ” Rausch stated .
He also thanked drivers on the interstate for their patience during the investigation , acknowledging that the work by law enforcement “ resulted in chaos , delays and inconvenience .
”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A gunman killed two people and wounded three others in a series of shootings and carjackings that ended with a high-speed chase as he fled police. He ultimately wrecked the car he stole and killed himself, while his remaining hostage survived, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.
The string of crimes began Sunday morning along Interstate 24 near Beechgrove when Dangelo Dorsey, 29, opened fire inside a moving vehicle, killing one person and wounding another, TBI Director David Rausch said in a news release.
Dorsey, of St. Louis, Missouri, got out of the vehicle as traffic came to a halt on the interstate, shooting a driver in the hand as he attempted to carjack her vehicle, and shooting a nearby truck driver in the face, Rausch said.
Dorsey then carjacked a man and woman, forcing them to drive him to their home in Morrison, Rausch said. While there, Dorsey allegedly stole two of their guns, swapped vehicles and forced the man and woman to go with him.
At some point, authorities said, Dorsey fatally shot the man and forced his body out of the vehicle along I-24 near Manchester, then drove off with the woman still inside the car.
Officials then located the SUV and a chase ensued, reaching speeds over 100 mph (161 kph). The SUV crashed and flipped, Rausch said.
“At that point, Dorsey took his own life,” Rausch stated. “The female hostage was safely recovered.”
The investigation is ongoing, Rausch said. On Monday, authorities identified the two men killed as Darcey Johnson, 28, and Phillip Jordan Stevens, 23. Johnson was killed in the initial shooting on Interstate 24 and Stevens was killed after being taken hostage, the bureau said in a statement.
“I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the innocent lives that have been impacted by today’s set of events,” Rausch stated.
He also thanked drivers on the interstate for their patience during the investigation, acknowledging that the work by law enforcement “resulted in chaos, delays and inconvenience.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--St. Louis police officer shot trying to make traffic stop

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - Police were searching Monday for a suspect or suspects in the shooting of a St. Louis police officer who was trying to make a traffic stop .
Officers had pulled over a car just before 9:30 p.m. Sunday in north St. Louis when the car sped off and officers gave chase , officials with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said .
At least one person inside the fleeing car began shooting at the police car , and a bullet went through the police car ’ s windshield and hit an officer in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer was taken to a hospital in stable condition .
Police Chief John Hayden said officers later found the car abandoned .
No arrests had been reported by Monday morning .
The injured officer ’ s name has not been released , but he was described by officials as 35 years old who has been with the force for 12 years .
St. Louis police did not immediately return phone and email messages Monday morning seeking more information .
The shooting comes two weeks after the Aug. 29 fatal shooting of St. Louis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer shot in the city this year .
“ This is an extremely rough time to be a police officer , ” Hayden said .
“ Officers are trying to do their jobs , and they ’ re coming under gunfire .
”

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Police were searching Monday for a suspect or suspects in a shooting that injured a St. Louis police officer as the officer was trying to make a traffic stop.
Officers had pulled over a car just before 9:30 p.m. Sunday in north St. Louis when the car sped off and officers gave chase, officials with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said. At least one person inside the fleeing car began shooting at the police car, and a bullet went through the police car’s windshield and hit an officer in the right shoulder, officials said.
The officer was taken in stable condition to a hospital, where he was treated and released Sunday night, police said. Police Chief John Hayden said officers found the suspects’ car abandoned a short time after the shooting. No arrests had been reported by Monday morning.
The injured officer’s name has not been released, but police said he is 35 and has been with the force for 12 years.
The shooting comes two weeks after the Aug. 29 fatal shooting of St. Louis Officer Tamarris Bohannon and marks the ninth officer shot in the city since June 1.
“This is an extremely rough time to be a police officer,” Hayden said. “Officers are trying to do their jobs, and they’re coming under gunfire.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--A family struggle as pandemic worsens food insecurity

NEW YORK ( AP ) - At the peak of the coronavirus pandemic this spring , Sharawn Vinson often woke up crying .
A recurring thought was making the unemployed single mother desperate : That her kids could go hungry .
There was also fear of contracting the virus , which has disproportionately hit low-income Black families like hers .
Meanwhile some of the largest protests against racial injustice in decades were transpiring right outside their window , after the family had experienced its own terrifying encounter with police earlier in the year .
There were unpaid bills , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a soup kitchen in search of a meal .
So Vinson made the painful decision to send 11-year-old twins Mason and Maddison to live with their father , six states to the south , knowing that way they ’ d at least be fed .
“ I needed them to breathe , ” Vinson said , wiping away tears in her living room of peeling gray walls in a Brooklyn housing development .
Vinson was not alone in struggling to put food on the table in this historically tumultuous year .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 million residents are facing food insecurity , a number that the city ’ s mayor estimates nearly doubled in the pandemic amid the biggest surge in unemployment since the Great Depression .
The scope of the problem outstrips previous crises such as the Great Recession , according to those who are working to combat it , and it ’ s not going away anytime soon .
“ It ’ s never been this tragic for such a sustained period of time .
Since COVID hit , the numbers of people in line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it ’ s not going down , ” said Rosanna Robbins , director of food access and capacity at City Harvest , the city ’ s biggest food rescue organization .
“ And so I think for us it ’ s just adjusting to the fact that we expect there to be a real need for free food for a very long time to come.
” When New York schools closed in March , Vinson ’ s children lost overnight the free breakfasts and lunches they relied on in normal times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and her pantry was almost bare .
She began skipping meals to make sure they ate , and having them wake up later to try to trick hunger by giving them two meals a day instead of three .
“ You never realize how important schools are until you don ’ t have them , ” Vinson said .
“ I ’ d open the refrigerator and I ’ d see struggle , ” she added , “ and also sacrifice.
” Oldest daughter Jasmin , 25 , and 5-year-old grandson Hunter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to visit her at the Lafayette Gardens public housing complex , where the family would share whatever they could scrape together for lunch .
“ It got to the point where the kids would unconsciously save a chicken wing for Hunter , ” Vinson said .
The family was cooped up for weeks during lockdown , living on just $ 1,800 a month in worker ’ s compensation from an on-the-job injury Vinson suffered last year when she fell and tore her meniscus .
From the dusty kitchen window of their 16th-floor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basketball court , slides and monkey bars at the Classon Playground , closed due to the pandemic .
As she tried to stretch meals of spaghetti and frozen burgers , the kids would argue over everything from who got to control the TV remote to who got the last snack .
“ Everybody was depressed , angry , ” Vinson said .
Vinson was no stranger to hunger , having been raised in poverty by her mom , also a single mother .
Vinson had the first of her six children at age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diapers and food .
But from her mother she learned values that have helped sustain her in difficult times , such as grit and generosity .
She took comfort in prayer and gospel music .
One song in particular spoke to her : Melvin Crispel III ’ s “ Not the End of Your Story.
” “ I know that this is just not it , ” she said of getting through the pandemic .
“ There ’ s more , there ’ s something , it ’ s not the end.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stretched for blocks .
Social distancing was complicating food distribution efforts , and many pantries lost older volunteers who stayed home due to high risk of severe effects of COVID-19 .
A network of churches , volunteers , city government offices , restaurants and immigrant centers stepped in to fill the void .
In May , Vinson saw a Facebook post seeking volunteers for a pantry run by a restaurant owner and a Baptist church , providing hundreds of meals to people in need along with notes bearing inspirational prayers or good wishes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill you will build you.
” “ I said , you know what ?
That ’ s something that ’ s up my alley , ” said Vinson , whose job before injury and the pandemic was at a shelter for people with mental illnesses and chemical addictions .
Vinson also felt she could set an example for her children .
She began bringing Jasmin and the twins to help distribute the food as fellow volunteers , helping teach them values she got from her own mother .
It was also a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least one meal a day , from the pantry .
Things seemed to be looking up , but protests and clashes sparked by the police killing of George Floyd raised haunting memories of the incident from earlier in the year when police stormed the apartment building searching for a shooting suspect and pointed their guns at Mason as he was cleaning the litter for his cat , Shadow .
It traumatized the boy and made him angry at police , she said .
One day this summer , as she sat outside watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out her name .
Across the street , Mason was jumping up and down on top of a patrol car .
Vinson ran over .
“ And when I grabbed him and I went to chastise him , I was at a loss for words , because how do I tell you not to be angry when four of their brothers in blue had guns to your head ?
” she said .
“ How do I tell you not to retaliate ?
” Soon after , she called her ex-partner in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twins headed south .
Living without them was hard , she said , but it bought her time to stabilize her ability to provide for them .
She saved up food stamps and some money , and found a job working for the 2020 U.S. Census .
One day she asked the restaurant owner who ran the pantry if she could bring back some trays for her housing complex .
That effort has since grown to dozens of meals plus groceries and protective face masks that she and other volunteers distribute each Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August , in time for Maddison to celebrate her remote graduation from middle school along with friends and family and for Mason to take part in the first practice of the Brooklyn United Youth Football season .
The police department apologized for the incident involving Mason and hosted him and a group of other kids and their families to discuss their concerns over pizza and chicken wings with high-ranking officers .
“ These kids have been enduring a lot in the last couple of months , from the COVID wave to the Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the police brutality , ” Vinson said .
“ And not too many times people stop and ask , How do they feel ?
” The coronavirus outbreak has slowed significantly in New York compared with earlier this year .
But times remain tough : Their rent is four months overdue , and the cable is about to be cut off .
On a recent day the bathroom flooded , sending water running through the halls .
“ There ’ s so many people who are out here who are hungry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my grandson , I got my kids and I got my life .
What do I got to complain about ?
” Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The AP is solely responsible for this content .

NEW YORK (AP) - At the peak of the coronavirus pandemic this spring, Sharawn Vinson often woke up crying. A recurring thought was making the unemployed single mother desperate: That her kids could go hungry.
There was also fear of contracting the virus, which has disproportionately hit low-income Black families like hers. Meanwhile large protests against racial injustice were transpiring right outside their window. There were unpaid bills, and feelings of shame from having to go to a soup kitchen to eat.
So Vinson made the painful decision to send 11-year-old twins Mason and Maddison to live with their father, six states to the south, knowing that way they’d at least be fed.
“I needed them to breathe,” Vinson said, wiping away tears in her living room of peeling gray walls in a Brooklyn housing development.
Vinson was not alone in struggling to put food on the table in this tumultuous year. In New York City alone, an estimated 2 million residents are facing food insecurity, a number that the city’s mayor estimates nearly doubled in the pandemic amid the biggest surge in unemployment since the Great Depression. The scope of the problem outstrips previous crises such as the Great Recession, according to those who are working to combat it, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
“It’s never been this tragic for such a sustained period of time,” said Rosanna Robbins, director of food access and capacity at City Harvest, the city’s biggest food rescue organization. “Since COVID hit, the numbers of people in line at food pantries and soup kitchens skyrocketed, and it’s not going down. … We expect there to be a real need for free food for a very long time.”
When schools closed in March, Vinson’s children lost the free breakfasts and lunches they rely on. She began skipping meals to make sure they ate, and having them wake up later to try to trick hunger by giving them two meals a day instead of three.
“You never realize how important schools are until you don’t have them,” Vinson said.
Oldest daughter Jasmin, 25, and 5-year-old grandson Hunter were living at a homeless shelter but came to the apartment where the family would share whatever they cobbled together for lunch.
“The kids would unconsciously save a chicken wing for Hunter,” Vinson said.
The family was cooped up for weeks during lockdown, living on just $1,800 a month in worker’s compensation from an on-the-job injury Vinson suffered last year.
As she tried to stretch meals of spaghetti and frozen burgers, the kids would argue over everything from who got to control the TV remote to who got the last snack.
Vinson was no stranger to hunger, having been raised in poverty by her mom, also a single mother.
She took comfort in prayer and gospel music. One song in particular spoke to her: Melvin Crispel III’s “Not the End of Your Story.”
“I know that this is just not it,” she said of the pandemic. “There’s more, there’s something, it’s not the end.”
Across the city, lines at pantries stretched for blocks. Social distancing was complicating distribution efforts, and many pantries lost older volunteers who stayed home due to high risk for COVID-19. Churches, volunteers, city government offices, restaurants and immigrant centers stepped in to fill the void.
Vinson then saw a Facebook post seeking volunteers for a pantry that is run by Kiana Muschett-Owes, the owner of Katie O’s restaurant, and nonprofit Rethink Food NYC, which helps fund meals for her initiative, Soul Food for the People.
“I said, you know what? That’s something that’s up my alley,” said Vinson, whose job before injury and the pandemic was at a shelter for people with mental illnesses and chemical addictions.
Vinson brought Jasmin and the twins to volunteer alongside her. It was a way to teach them the value of service, and also to ensure they got at least one meal a day from the pantry.
Then protests and clashes sparked by the police killing of George Floyd raised haunting memories of an incident earlier in the year when police stormed the apartment building searching for a suspect and pointed their guns at Mason as he was cleaning the litter for his cat, Shadow.
It traumatized the boy and made him angry at police, she said. One day this summer, as she sat outside watching a protest, a neighbor called her name - across the street, Mason was jumping up and down on a patrol car.
“I was at a loss for words, because how do I tell you not to be angry when four of their brothers in blue had guns to your head?” she said.
On June 4 the twins headed south to their father in North Carolina.
Living without them was hard, she said, but it bought her time to stabilize her ability to provide. She saved up food stamps and some money, and found a job working for the 2020 U.S. Census.
One day she asked the restaurant owner who ran the pantry if she could bring back some trays for her housing complex. That effort has since grown to dozens of meals, groceries and protective face masks distributed each Saturday.
The twins came home in August, in time for Maddison to graduate remotely from middle school and for Mason to make the first youth football practice of summer.
The police department apologized for the incident involving Mason and hosted him and a group of other kids and their families to discuss their concerns.
The coronavirus outbreak has slowed significantly in New York. But times remain tough: Their rent is four months overdue, and the cable is about to be cut off. The bathroom recently flooded, sending water through the halls.
Still, Vinson feels fortunate.
“There’s so many people who are out here who are hungry,” she said. “I got my grandson, I got my kids and I got my life. What do I got to complain about?”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Gilead Sciences buying Immunomedics in $21 billion deal

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Shares of the cancer drug specialist Immunomedics more than doubled before the market opened @ @ @ @ @ its sale to Gilead Sciences for $ 21 billion was announced .
Gilead said on @ @ @ @ @ $ 88 per share in cash as it seeks to broaden its cancer treatments portfolio @ @ @ @ @ was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April for the @ @ @ @ @ metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who have received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease @ @ @ @ @ being studied for bladder cancer , lung cancer and other solid tumor types .
The @ @ @ @ @ in the fourth quarter .
Shares of Immunomedics , based in New Jersey , jumped @ @ @ @ @ trading , while share of California ’ s Gilead declined slightly .

NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of the cancer drug specialist Immunomedics more than doubled before the market opened Monday, a day after its sale to Gilead Sciences for $21 billion was announced.
Gilead said on Sunday that it will pay $88 per share in cash as it seeks to broaden its cancer treatments portfolio. Immunomedics’ drug Trodelvy was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who have received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease. The drug is also being studied for bladder cancer, lung cancer and other solid tumor types.
The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
Shares of Immunomedics, based in New Jersey, jumped to $87.14 in premarket trading, while share of California’s Gilead declined slightly.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Iran mulls assassination plot against U.S. ambassador: Reports

American intelligence reports warn that Iran is considering assassinating the U.S .
Ambassador to South Africa Lana Marks , according to multiple reports .
Intelligence officials have been aware of threats against Ms. Marks since the spring , but noted they became more “ specific ” in the last few weeks , according to Politico , which first reported the news .
The Iranian Embassy in Pretoria is reportedly involved in the plan .
Officials said the assassination attempt is only one option they believe the country is considering as revenge against President Trump and the United States for killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian military ’ s elite Quds force , in January .
Ms. Marks was nominated to her position by Mr. Trump in 2018 and sworn in last October .
The officials informed Ms. Marks of the plot against her and also included the information in the CIA ’ s World Intelligence Review .
They said they believe her close friendship with Mr. Trump may be part of why she was targeted .
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated steadily during the Trump administration .
Not long after Soleimani ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bases where U.S. troops were stationed .

American intelligence reports warn that Iran is considering assassinating the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Lana Marks, according to multiple reports.
Intelligence officials have been aware of threats against Ms. Marks since the spring, but noted they became more “specific” in the last few weeks, according to Politico, which first reported the news. The Iranian Embassy in Pretoria is reportedly involved in the plan.
Officials said the assassination attempt is only one option they believe the country is considering as revenge against President Trump and the United States for killing Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian military’s elite Quds force, in January.
Ms. Marks was nominated to her position by Mr. Trump in 2018 and sworn in last October.
The officials informed Ms. Marks of the plot against her and also included the information in the CIA’s World Intelligence Review. They said they believe her close friendship with Mr. Trump may be part of why she was targeted.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated steadily during the Trump administration.
Not long after Soleimani’s death, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases where U.S. troops were stationed.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Delta raising $6.5 billion, backed by frequent flyer program

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Delta Air Lines will use its frequent flyer program to back up $ 6.5 billion in funding as the pandemic continues to buffet air travel .
A sharp drop in travel has left the airlines with tens of thousands more employees than they need to operate the vastly reduced number of flights .
This spring , the airlines began receiving $ 25 billion in federal grants and loans to keep workers on their payrolls for six months .
With that money ending Sept. 30 , the three biggest U.S. carriers are expected to furlough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delta is only the latest to leverage its frequent flyer program to raise capital .
United Airlines and American Airlines did the same in June .
Airline executives do not expect airline traffic to return to normal for some time , and that is raising pressure on lawmakers to step in and prevent mass job losses .
Last week a couple hundred flight attendants and pilots rallied on Capitol Hill and began a social media campaign asking Congress for $ 25 billion in additional federal funds to prevent the furloughs next month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered a blow Thursday , when Senate Democrats blocked a scaled-back Republican plan .
While the GOP bill had no money for transportation , its failure could make major coronavirus relief before the November election less likely .
On Monday , Delta said the bonds and term loans linked to the funds will be secured by its SkyMiles program .
SkyMiles IP plans to lend the net proceeds from the bonds and term loan to Delta , based in Atlanta , after depositing a portion of the proceeds in a reserve account .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly in premarket trading .

NEW YORK (AP) - Delta Air Lines will use its frequent flyer program to back up $6.5 billion in funding as the pandemic continues to buffet air travel.
A sharp drop in travel has left the airlines with tens of thousands more employees than they need to operate the vastly reduced number of flights. This spring, the airlines began receiving $25 billion in federal grants and loans to keep workers on their payrolls for six months. With that money ending Sept. 30, the three biggest U.S. carriers are expected to furlough or lay off about 40,000 workers.
Delta is only the latest to leverage its frequent flyer program to raise capital. United Airlines and American Airlines did the same in June.
Airline executives do not expect airline traffic to return to normal for some time, and that is raising pressure on lawmakers to step in and prevent mass job losses.
Last week a couple hundred flight attendants and pilots rallied on Capitol Hill and began a social media campaign asking Congress for $25 billion in additional federal funds to prevent the furloughs next month. But the prospects for a big deal suffered a blow Thursday, when Senate Democrats blocked a scaled-back Republican plan. While the GOP bill had no money for transportation, its failure could make major coronavirus relief before the November election less likely.
On Monday, Delta said the bonds and term loans linked to the funds will be secured by its SkyMiles program. SkyMiles IP plans to lend the net proceeds from the bonds and term loan to Delta, based in Atlanta, after depositing a portion of the proceeds in a reserve account.
Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc. climbed slightly in premarket trading.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Faculty Senate considers dropping spring break at UW-Madison

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) - The University of Wisconsin-Madison is thinking about eliminating spring break next semester to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
The university ’ s Faculty Senate is expected to vote on revising the 2021 spring calendar at a meeting Monday .
Dropping spring break would discourage students and staff from traveling long distances and bringing COVID-19 back to campus , officials said .
Members of the University Committee were receptive when university leaders floating the idea last month .
“ I realize the slog of of going through a full 15 week semester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the vagaries of the pandemic , particularly in cold weather when people are indoors and the like … I ’ m enthusiastically supportive , ” said Provost John Karl Scholz .
The proposal has classes starting on Jan. 25 , a week later than currently scheduled , the State Journal reported .
Spring break would be eliminated , but classes would not be held that Friday , April 2 , which is Good Friday .
Classes would end April 30 , the same day as the current calendar .
The Madison and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended in-person undergraduate instruction for two weeks , citing an increase in COVID-19 cases .
State health officials on Sunday confirmed 1,582 new cases of the coronavirus , for a total of 89,185 positive tests .
One new death was reported , increasing the number of fatalities from the disease to 1,210 .

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The University of Wisconsin-Madison decided Monday to eliminate spring break next semester in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The university’s Faculty Senate voted 140-7 to erase the nine-day break from the 2021 spring calendar. Officials said the move is designed to discourage students and staff from traveling long distances and bringing the virus that causes COVID-19 back to campus, officials said.
“I realize the slog of of going through a full 15 week semester with no break would be challenging, but given the vagaries of the pandemic, particularly in cold weather when people are indoors and the like. … I’m enthusiastically supportive,” said Provost John Karl Scholz.
The proposal has classes starting on Jan. 25, a week later than currently scheduled. Spring break would be eliminated, but classes would not be held Saturday, March 27, which is the beginning of Passover; Friday, April 2, which is Good Friday; or Saturday, April 3, the day before Easter. Classes would end April 30, the same day as the current calendar.
The idea got a lukewarm reception from some senators and students. Sen. Kurt Paulsen, an urban planning professor, asked why the spring semester couldn’t start on its regular schedule. Sen. John Mackay, a philosphy professor, warned that students will travel anyway. If the semester goes online, students will just log-on from Florida for a week, he predicted.
Kevin Jacobsen, shared governence campaign director for Associated Students of Madison, said spring break offers a respite from stress from students, which is worse in the spring with internship requests and other demands as the academic year ends.
But Scholz stressed to the Senate that the plan is the best chance to reduce student travel without interfering with spring graduation.
“It’s the best of a set of imperfect proposals,” he said.
The virus has been running rampant on Wisconsin college campuses. UW-Madison and UW-La Crosse have suspended in-person undergraduate instruction for two weeks, citing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
According to data from UW-Madison, 2,138 students and 29 employees have been infected since Aug. 6. Three-hundred students have been referred to the university’s Office of Student Conduct -and Community Standards for violation of housing or other policies related to COVID-19, UW-Madison spokeswoman Meredith Mcglone said. Eight students have been suspended; four others are being considered for suspension, she said.
Chancellor Rebecca Blank defended the decision to open the campus this fall during a video conference with reporters, saying students were coming back to off-campus housing regardless and they learn better in person. She said she would make the same decision again.
“Even if we went all online, the majority of our students would be here,” she said. “This issue isn’t going to resolve itself by telling everyone to go home. This is their home.”
The deadline for a full tuition refund expired Friday, but Blank said the university was considering extending that window.
The Senate meeting began with professors and instructors grilling Blank over her decision to reopen, saying it wasn’t based on data.
“The … plan has failed and I find any narrative that doesn’t acknowledge this and further asserts that it is the fault of students, who were invited back for an in-person semester with assurances of a safe environment, to be offensive,” Michael Childers, a business school professor, wrote in the meeting’s chat box.
Blank reiterated the points she made during her conference with reporters, insisting that students wanted to come back and she would make the decision to reopen again.
“I know there is an enormous amount of anxiety and anger out there,” she said.
State health officials on Sunday confirmed 1,582 new cases of the coronavirus, for a total of 89,185 positive tests. One new death was reported, increasing the number of fatalities from the disease to 1,210.
___
This story has been updated to correct the number of students referred to university officials for COVID-19 policy violations to 300 instead of nearly 400.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--News station: Fire shuts down I-20 in Conyers

CONYERS , Ga. ( AP ) - A chemical fire shut down a major Atlanta area interstate in both directions @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
The fire at BioLab in Conyers led authorities to close a @ @ @ @ @ the area , though traffic was allowed through later in the morning , Conyers police @ @ @ @ @ .
Conyers is about 30 miles ( 48km ) southeast of Atlanta .
Lucas said @ @ @ @ @ but the bigger concern was the smoke .
BioLab has production and storage space for @ @ @ @ @ , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , citing the company ’ s website , said .
Lucas @ @ @ @ @ the facility led authorities to advise surrounding residents to evacuate .
Rockdale County Fire Chief @ @ @ @ @ Facebook video that authorities had closed some manufacturing plants around BioLab , but there was @ @ @ @ @ .

CONYERS, Ga. (AP) - A chemical fire shut down a major Atlanta area interstate in both directions during the morning commute Monday, authorities said.
The fire at BioLab in Conyers led authorities to close an adjacent stretch of Interstate 20, though traffic was allowed through later in the morning, Conyers police Capt. Kim Lucas said. Conyers is about 30 miles (48km) southeast of Atlanta.
Lucas said the fire was contained, but the bigger concern was the smoke. BioLab has production and storage space for pool and spa water-treatment chemicals, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, citing the company’s website, said.
Rockdale County Fire Chief Dan Morgan said in a Facebook video the fire was small, but authorities had closed some manufacturing plants around BioLab. He said there was no danger to the community.
Lucas said a previous fire at the facility led authorities to advise surrounding residents to evacuate.
The company said in a statement a “chemical reaction” due to water exposure led to smoke over the interstate, but there was no fire. It was not aware of any injuries and had notified the U.S. Chemical and Safety Hazard Investigation Board, the statement said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--UN rights chief decries racism in US, keeps eye on Hong Kong

GENEVA ( AP ) - The U.N. human rights chief appealed Monday for “ urgent and profound action to combat systemic racism ” in the United States , and encouraged Hong Kong authorities to “ monitor closely ” the enforcement of a national security law in China derided by many activists .
The comments from Michelle Bachelet came in a catch-all speech to open the latest session of the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council on Monday .
She also raised concerns about the human rights situation in Myanmar , Nicaragua and Venezuela , among other places on her agenda .
Bachelet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights , highlighted concerns about use of force by police in cases such as the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin last month , and recently-revealed details of the death of Daniel Prude in Rochester , New York , earlier this year .
Overall , she said the lack of accountability “ for many prior killings underscores the gravity of this crisis.
” She said commitments by authorities in the United States to reform after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May “ need to be matched by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which African-Americans feel they are protected by law enforcement and the state.
” Bachelet said she would speak later in the council ’ s three-week session to follow up on a resolution it passed in June commissioning a report on systematic racism and discrimination against Black people .
In her speech , Bachelet also said her office was keeping tabs on the impact of a national security law in China focusing on Hong Kong that has led to charges against at least two dozen people since July .
Many see the law as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove a legal firewall between the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong and the mainland ’ s Communist Party system .
“ The Hong Kong authorities have consistently stated that the law is not intended to impact negatively on the peaceful exercise of human rights by Hong Kong residents , ” said Bachelet .
“ Accordingly , I would encourage the Hong Kong authorities to monitor closely the enforcement of the law by the police and the courts , and to take steps to review the law in response to any negative consequences it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights.
” She also denounced the “ continuing repression ” of LGBTI people and activists in Poland , and called Israel ’ s blockade of Gaza illegal under international law and ineffective in delivering security or peace for Israelis and Palestinians .
She said her office had documented 47 killings of human rights defenders in Colombia this year .

GENEVA (AP) - The U.N. human rights chief appealed Monday for “urgent and profound action to combat systemic racism” in the United States, and encouraged Hong Kong authorities to “monitor closely” the enforcement of a national security law in China derided by many activists.
The comments from Michelle Bachelet came in a catch-all speech to open the latest session of the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council, during which she also raised concerns about the human rights situation in Myanmar, Nicaragua and Venezuela, among other places on her agenda.
Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted concerns about use of force by police in cases such as the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin last month, and recently-revealed details of the death of Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York, earlier this year. Overall, she said the lack of accountability “for many prior killings underscores the gravity of this crisis.”
She said commitments by authorities in the United States to reform after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May “need to be matched by real change to create an environment in which African-Americans feel they are protected by law enforcement and the state.”
Bachelet said she would speak later in the council’s three-week session to follow up on a resolution it passed in June commissioning a report on systematic racism and discrimination against Black people.
In her speech, Bachelet also said her office was keeping tabs on the impact of a national security law in China focusing on Hong Kong that has led to charges against at least two dozen people since July.
Many see the law as Beijing’s boldest move yet to remove a legal firewall between the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong and the mainland’s Communist Party system.
“The Hong Kong authorities have consistently stated that the law is not intended to impact negatively on the peaceful exercise of human rights by Hong Kong residents,” said Bachelet. “Accordingly, I would encourage the Hong Kong authorities to monitor closely the enforcement of the law by the police and the courts, and to take steps to review the law in response to any negative consequences it might have on the enjoyment of human rights.”
On Myanmar, the rights chief said the plight of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees and internally displaced people remains unresolved. She regretted that “no concrete measures have been taken” by the government in response to a fact-finding mission that faulted the state over acts committed during military operations in Rakhine state, where many Rohingya lived.
She also denounced the “continuing repression” of LGBTI people and activists in Poland, and called Israel’s blockade of Gaza illegal under international law and ineffective in delivering security or peace for Israelis and Palestinians. She said her office had documented 47 killings of human rights defenders in Colombia this year.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Crews search Mississippi River for overdue plane

GREY CLOUD ISLAND TOWNSHIP , Minn. ( AP ) - Crews are searching the Mississippi River in Washington County for @ @ @ @ @ overdue at a South St. Paul airport .
The search Sunday night was focused near @ @ @ @ @ is southwest of St. Paul Park and Cottage Grove .
Dakota County and Washington County @ @ @ @ @ search , KARE-TV reported .
The plane was due to land at Fleming Field , @ @ @ @ @ mainly single-engine aircraft .
Communication with the pilot was lost .
The Federal Aviation Administration @ @ @ @ @ not been contacted by first responders , according to FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory .
@ @ @ @ @ .

GREY CLOUD ISLAND TOWNSHIP, Minn. (AP) - Recovery crews have located a missing airplane in a water-filled quarry near the Mississippi River on Grey Cloud Island in south Washington County, the local sheriff said Monday.
Three people were in the small single-engine Cessna aircraft when it left Fleming Field in South St. Paul sometime after 2 p.m. Sunday, officials said. Authorities were notified that the plane was missing late Sunday night, said Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry.
The first signs of wreckage were found around 11 p.m. Sunday.
Crews will be working to recover the plane from the water, Starry said.
The wreckage is in a quarry lake that is “really deep,” Starry said during a press conference near the site. “It’s over 70 feet down. It’s a big area to cover.”
Officials used side-scan sonar and a robot to locate the wreckage of the plane, Starry said. “We know that there is a debris field,” he said. “We can’t pinpoint what is in intact and what is not. We know that there is a debris field at the bottom.”
The quarry, and property surrounding it, is owned by a private business, the sheriff said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--UK tests if COVID-19 vaccines might work better inhaled

LONDON ( AP ) - British scientists are beginning a small study comparing how two experimental coronavirus vaccines might work when they are inhaled by people instead of being injected .
In a statement on Monday , researchers at Imperial College London and Oxford University said a trial involving 30 people would test vaccines developed by both institutions when participants inhale the droplets in their mouths , which would directly target their respiratory systems .
Larger studies of the Imperial and Oxford vaccine are already under way , but this study aims to see if the vaccines might be more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have evidence that delivering influenza vaccines via a nasal spray can protect people against flu as well as help to reduce the transmission of the disease , ” said Dr. Chris Chiu of Imperial , who is leading the research .
He suggested that might also be the case with COVID-19 .
“ It is critical we explore whether targeting the airways directly can provide an effective response compared to a vaccine injected into muscle , ” Chiu said in a statement .
The study is currently recruiting participants aged 18 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in London in the coming weeks .
Previous studies have shown vaccines delivered by inhalation require lower doses than by injection , which might help stretch limited supplies .
“ It may well be that one group has the right vaccine but the wrong delivery method , and only trials such as this will be able to tell us that , ” said Robin Shattock , who is leading the development of Imperial ’ s vaccine .
The Imperial vaccine uses synthetic strands of genetic code based on the virus .
Once injected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s own cells are instructed to make copies of a spiky protein on the coronavirus .
That is expected to trigger in turn an immune response so the body can fight off any future COVID-19 infection .
In comparison , Oxford ’ s vaccine uses a harmless virus - a chimpanzee cold virus , engineered so it can ’ t spread - to carry the coronavirus ’ spike protein into the body , which should trigger an immune response .
Last week , Oxford temporarily paused its large-scale vaccination tests after one participant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; it was restarted on Sunday .

LONDON (AP) - British scientists are beginning a small study comparing how two experimental coronavirus vaccines might work when they are inhaled by people instead of being injected.
In a statement on Monday, researchers at Imperial College London and Oxford University said a trial involving 30 people would test vaccines developed by both institutions when participants inhale the droplets in their mouths, which would directly target their respiratory systems.
Larger studies of the Imperial and Oxford vaccine are already under way, but this study aims to see if the vaccines might be more effective if they are inhaled.
“We have evidence that delivering influenza vaccines via a nasal spray can protect people against flu as well as help to reduce the transmission of the disease,” said Dr. Chris Chiu of Imperial, who is leading the research. He suggested that might also be the case with COVID-19.
“It is critical we explore whether targeting the airways directly can provide an effective response compared to a vaccine injected into muscle,” Chiu said in a statement.
The study is currently recruiting participants aged 18 to 55 and hopes to begin vaccinating people in London in the coming weeks.
Previous studies have shown vaccines delivered by inhalation require lower doses than by injection, which might help stretch limited supplies.
“It may well be that one group has the right vaccine but the wrong delivery method, and only trials such as this will be able to tell us that,” said Robin Shattock, who is leading the development of Imperial’s vaccine.
The Imperial vaccine uses synthetic strands of genetic code based on the virus. Once injected into the muscle, the body’s own cells are instructed to make copies of a spiky protein on the coronavirus. That is expected to trigger in turn an immune response so the body can fight off any future COVID-19 infection.
In comparison, Oxford’s vaccine uses a harmless virus - a chimpanzee cold virus, engineered so it can’t spread - to carry the coronavirus’ spike protein into the body, which should trigger an immune response.
Last week, Oxford temporarily paused its large-scale vaccination tests after one participant in the U.K. reported severe neurological symptoms; it was restarted on Sunday.
___
Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--UN atomic watchdog: Hopeful of greater trust with Iran

BERLIN ( AP ) - The head of the United Nations ’ atomic watchdog agency told board members on Monday he is hopeful Iran ’ s decision to let inspectors in to two disputed sites could lead to greater trust with Tehran .
Rafael Grossi , director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency , in late August secured an agreement with Iran to inspect the two sites where the country is suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material and possibly having conducted nuclear-related activities .
The agreement , which came after Grossi personally visited Tehran to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impasse over two locations thought to be from the early 2000s .
Iran had been permitting IAEA inspectors in to current nuclear sites agreed upon in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers , but had argued the other two sites dated from before the deal so there was no reason to grant access .
The IAEA in March identified the two sites as places where Iran possibly stored and/or used undeclared nuclear material or undertook nuclear-related activities without declaring them to international observers .
Grossi told the agency ’ s board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already visited one site and would visit another later this month .
“ I welcome the agreement between the agency and Iran , which I hope will reinforce cooperation and enhance mutual trust , ” he said , according to a copy of his prepared remarks .
The ultimate goal of the nuclear deal is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb , which Iran insists it does not want to do .
Since President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. unilaterally out of the pact in 2018 , Iran has steadily been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can enrich and the purity it is allowed to enrich to , and other limits .
But one reason the other countries involved - Germany , France , Britain , China and Russia - say that it ’ s important to maintain the agreement is for the access IAEA inspectors continue to get to Iran ’ s nuclear facilities .

BERLIN (AP) - The head of the United Nations’ atomic watchdog agency told board members on Monday he is hopeful Iran’s decision to let inspectors in to two disputed sites could lead to greater trust with Tehran.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in late August secured an agreement with Iran to inspect the two sites where the country is suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material and possibly having conducted nuclear-related activities.
The agreement, which came after Grossi personally visited Tehran to meet with Iranian leaders, ended a months-long impasse over two locations thought to be from the early 2000s.
Iran had been permitting IAEA inspectors in to current nuclear sites agreed upon in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, but had argued the other two sites dated from before the deal so there was no reason to grant access.
The IAEA in March identified the two sites as places where Iran possibly stored and/or used undeclared nuclear material or undertook nuclear-related activities without declaring them to international observers.
Grossi told the agency’s board of governors in Vienna that inspectors had already visited one site and would visit another later this month.
“I welcome the agreement between the agency and Iran, which I hope will reinforce cooperation and enhance mutual trust,” he said, according to a copy of his prepared remarks.
The ultimate goal of the nuclear deal is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, which Iran insists it does not want to do.
Since President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. unilaterally out of the pact in 2018, Iran has steadily been violating restrictions on the amount of uranium it can enrich and the purity it is allowed to enrich to, and other limits.
But one reason the other countries involved - Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia - say that it’s important to maintain the agreement is for the access IAEA inspectors continue to get to Iran’s nuclear facilities.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Off-duty lifeguards save teen from drowning in Potomac River

POTOMAC , Md .
( AP ) - A 17-year-old boy tried to swim across the Potomac River from Virginia @ @ @ @ @ almost drowned until two off-duty lifeguards saved his life , authorities said .
Montgomery County @ @ @ @ @ performed CPR on the teen and had him breathing again before emergency officials arrived , @ @ @ @ @ Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said the teen started on the Sandy Landing side @ @ @ @ @ through , the current pulled the teen under .
Piringer said the teen ’ s @ @ @ @ @ but the lifeguards jumped into action when they saw the commotion from the Maryland side @ @ @ @ @ stable condition Sunday night .
Piringer said swimming in that area of the Potomac River @ @ @ @ @ currents are very strong.
” He said there was a drowning at almost that exact @ @ @ @ @

POTOMAC, Md. (AP) - A 17-year-old boy tried to swim across the Potomac River from Virginia to Maryland Sunday night and almost drowned until two off-duty lifeguards saved his life, authorities said.
Montgomery County authorities said the two lifeguards performed CPR on the teen and had him breathing again before emergency officials arrived, news outlets reported.
County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said the teen started on the Sandy Landing side in Virginia but about halfway through, the current pulled the teen under.
Piringer said the teen’s friends attempted to help him but the lifeguards jumped into action when they saw the commotion from the Maryland side.
The teen was in stable condition Sunday night.
Piringer said swimming in that area of the Potomac River is prohibited because the “currents are very strong.”
He said there was a drowning at almost that exact spot earlier this year.


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--A big chunk of Greenland’s ice cap has broken off

COPENHAGEN , Denmark ( AP ) - A big chunk of Greenland ’ s ice cap , estimated to be some 110 square kilometers ( 42.3 square miles ) , has broken off in the far north east Arctic which scientists say is evidence of rapid climate change .
The glacier section broke off the fjord called Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden , which is roughly 80 kilometers ( 50 miles ) long and 20 kilometers ( 12 miles ) wide , the National Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland said Monday .
The glacier is at the end of the Northeast Greenland Ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and into the ocean .
Annual end-of-melt-season changes for the Arctic ’ s largest ice shelf in Northeast Greenland are measured by optical satellite imagery , the survey known as GEUS said .
It shows that the area losses for the past two years each exceeded 50 square kilometers ( 19 square miles ) .
The ice shelf has lost 160 square miles ( 62 square miles ) , an area nearly twice that of Manhattan Island , New York , since 1999 .
“ We should be very concerned about what appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s largest remaining ice shelf , ” said GEUS professor Jason Box .
“ Another massive chunk of vital sea ice has fallen into the ocean , ” said Greenpeace spokeswoman Laura Meller who is aboard the organization ’ s ship Arctic Sunrise at the edge of the sea ice .
“ This is yet another alarm bell being rung by the climate crisis in a rapidly heating Arctic.
” Last week , Ruth Mottram , an ice scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute in Copenhagen , said , “ again this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more ice than has been added in the form of snow.
” “ What is thought-provoking is that if we … had seen this meltdown 30 years ago , we would have called it extreme .
So in recent years , we have become accustomed to a high meltdown.
” In August , a study showed that Greenland lost a record amount of ice during an extra-warm 2019 , with the melt massive enough to cover California in more than 1.25 meters ( 4 feet ) of water .

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - An enormous chunk of Greenland’s ice cap has broken off in the far northeastern Arctic, a development that scientists say is evidence of rapid climate change.
The glacier section that broke off is 110 square kilometers (42.3 square miles). It came off of the fjord called Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, which is roughly 80 kilometers (50 miles) long and 20 kilometers (12 miles) wide, the National Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland said Monday.
The glacier is at the end of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream, where it flows off the land and into the ocean.
Annual end-of-melt-season changes for the Arctic’s largest ice shelf in Northeast Greenland are measured by optical satellite imagery, the survey known as GEUS said. It shows that the area’s ice losses for the past two years each exceeded 50 square kilometers (19 square miles).
The ice shelf has lost 160 square kilometers (62 square miles), an area nearly twice that of Manhattan in New York, since 1999.
“We should be very concerned about what appears to be progressive disintegration at the Arctic’s largest remaining ice shelf,” said GEUS professor Jason Box.
“Another massive chunk of vital sea ice has fallen into the ocean,” said Greenpeace spokeswoman Laura Meller who is aboard the organization’s ship Arctic Sunrise at the edge of the sea ice. “This is yet another alarm bell being rung by the climate crisis in a rapidly heating Arctic.”
Last week, Ruth Mottram, an ice scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute in Copenhagen, said, “again this year, the ice sheet has lost more ice than has been added in the form of snow.”
“What is thought-provoking is that if we … had seen this meltdown 30 years ago, we would have called it extreme. So in recent years, we have become accustomed to a high meltdown.”
In August, a study showed that Greenland lost a record amount of ice during an extra-warm 2019, with the melt massive enough to cover California in more than 1.25 meters (4 feet) of water.
___
Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://apnews.com/Climate


washingtontimes--2020-09-14--Liz Weston: Are Medicare Advantage plans worth the risk?

About 1 in 3 people 65 and older in the U.S. enroll in Medicare Advantage , the private insurance alternative to traditional Medicare .
It ’ s not hard to see why : Medicare Advantage plans often cover stuff that Medicare doesn ’ t , and most people don ’ t pay extra for it .
But Medicare Advantage can be more expensive if you get sick because copays and other costs can be higher , says Katy Votava , president of Goodcare.com , a health care consultant for financial advisors and consumers .
Unhappy customers who want to switch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer qualify for the supplemental policies to help pay their medical bills , or that they would face prohibitively high premiums .
“ These are complicated products , ” says Votava , author of “ Making the Most of Medicare.
” “ They ’ re like nothing else , no other insurance that people encounter anywhere until they get to Medicare.
” The first hurdle many people face when deciding about Medicare coverage is simply understanding how the various parts fit together .
Traditional Medicare , also known as original Medicare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covers outpatient care , including doctor visits , and has a standard monthly premium of $ 144.60 for 2020 , although higher-income people pay more .
You can choose any doctor who accepts Medicare , and most do .
The government pays health care providers directly .
Part D is prescription drug coverage , which is provided by private insurers .
The drugs that are covered and the amounts you pay out of pocket vary widely .
Monthly premiums vary as well but average $ 32.74 in 2020 .
Traditional Medicare has deductibles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add up .
To cover these gaps , private insurers also offer supplemental plans known as Medigap .
The average monthly Medigap premium in 2019 was $ 152 , according to health insurance marketplace eHealth.com , but it can be lower or much higher depending on the plan , the insurer and the area where you live .
The plans are known by letters A through N. As with traditional Medicare , you can choose any doctor who accepts Medicare .
If you apply for a Medigap policy when you ’ re first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accept you and can ’ t charge more for preexisting conditions .
HOW MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IS DIFFERENT Medicare Part C is Medicare Advantage .
Rather than add to the other parts of Medicare , however , Medicare Advantage plans replace them .
Insurers that offer Medicare Advantage are required to provide all the benefits of Part A and Part B , and most plans include Part D drug coverage as well .
In addition , the plans typically cover certain expenses that Medicare doesn ’ t , such as hearing , vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrollees in 2020 paid no additional premiums for their coverage , other than their regular Part B premiums , according to the Kaiser Family Foundation , a health research group .
Medicare Advantage plans are similar to employer-provided group health insurance : To be covered , you typically must choose health care providers in the insurance company ’ s network .
The network may be relatively narrow if the plan is a health maintenance organization ( HMO ) or somewhat broader if it ’ s a preferred provider organization ( PPO ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of care or referrals to see specialists .
If you go out of network , your costs may not be covered or may not apply to your out-of-pocket limits .
Even if your doctor is “ in network ” now , that could change and you might not get much notice .
Also , Medicare Advantage plans are typically regional .
If you move out of the area or travel to other states , you may not be covered .
The devil ’ s in the details , and Medicare Advantage plans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare beneficiary has access to 28 Medicare Advantage options , with varying networks , coverage , deductibles , copays and co-insurance , according to the Kaiser Family Foundation .
In general , though , Medicare Advantage costs less upfront and potentially more overall if you need lots of medical care .
Many Medigap plans have higher upfront costs but cover most if not all of your expenses when you need care .
If you want to switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another , you can do so during annual enrollment periods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare , you often won ’ t have guaranteed access to a Medigap policy .
That means the insurer may charge you more , exclude preexisting conditions for a time or not issue you a policy at all .
That doesn ’ t mean Medicare Advantage plans are a poor choice - just a complicated one , says Tatiana Fassieux , a training specialist with California Health Advocates , a Medicare advocacy nonprofit .
She recommends people contact their state health insurance assistance program , which can provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to these programs can be found by visiting the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center .
“ People should not rely exclusively on television commercials , ” Fassieux warns .
“ That ’ s when people get stuck and sometimes make the wrong decision.
” This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet .
Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet , a certified financial planner and author of “ Your Credit Score.
” Email : [ email protected ] Twitter : @ lizweston .

About 1 in 3 people 65 and older in the U.S. enroll in Medicare Advantage, the private insurance alternative to traditional Medicare. It’s not hard to see why: Medicare Advantage plans often cover stuff that Medicare doesn’t, and most people don’t pay extra for it.
But Medicare Advantage can be more expensive if you get sick because copays and other costs can be higher, says Katy Votava, president of Goodcare.com, a health care consultant for financial advisors and consumers.
Unhappy customers who want to switch back to traditional Medicare may find they no longer qualify for the supplemental policies to help pay their medical bills, or that they would face prohibitively high premiums.
“These are complicated products,” says Votava, author of “Making the Most of Medicare.” “They’re like nothing else, no other insurance that people encounter anywhere until they get to Medicare.”
MEDICARE’S ALPHABET SOUP
The first hurdle many people face when deciding about Medicare coverage is simply understanding how the various parts fit together. Traditional Medicare, also known as original Medicare, has two parts:
- Part A covers hospitalization and is typically premium-free.
- Part B covers outpatient care, including doctor visits, and has a standard monthly premium of $144.60 for 2020, although higher-income people pay more.
You can choose any doctor who accepts Medicare, and most do. The government pays health care providers directly.
Part D is prescription drug coverage, which is provided by private insurers. The drugs that are covered and the amounts you pay out of pocket vary widely. Monthly premiums vary as well but average $32.74 in 2020.
Traditional Medicare has deductibles, copays and coinsurance that can quickly add up. To cover these gaps, private insurers also offer supplemental plans known as Medigap. The average monthly Medigap premium in 2019 was $152, according to health insurance marketplace eHealth.com, but it can be lower or much higher depending on the plan, the insurer and the area where you live. The plans are known by letters A through N. As with traditional Medicare, you can choose any doctor who accepts Medicare.
If you apply for a Medigap policy when you’re first eligible for Medicare, the insurer has to accept you and can’t charge more for preexisting conditions.
HOW MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IS DIFFERENT
Medicare Part C is Medicare Advantage. Rather than add to the other parts of Medicare, however, Medicare Advantage plans replace them. Insurers that offer Medicare Advantage are required to provide all the benefits of Part A and Part B, and most plans include Part D drug coverage as well. In addition, the plans typically cover certain expenses that Medicare doesn’t, such as hearing, vision and dental care.
Most Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2020 paid no additional premiums for their coverage, other than their regular Part B premiums, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health research group.
HOW MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MANAGES COSTS
Medicare Advantage plans are similar to employer-provided group health insurance: To be covered, you typically must choose health care providers in the insurance company’s network. The network may be relatively narrow if the plan is a health maintenance organization (HMO) or somewhat broader if it’s a preferred provider organization (PPO). You may need preapproval for certain types of care or referrals to see specialists. If you go out of network, your costs may not be covered or may not apply to your out-of-pocket limits. Even if your doctor is “in network” now, that could change and you might not get much notice.
Also, Medicare Advantage plans are typically regional. If you move out of the area or travel to other states, you may not be covered.
The devil’s in the details, and Medicare Advantage plans have many, many details. The average Medicare beneficiary has access to 28 Medicare Advantage options, with varying networks, coverage, deductibles, copays and co-insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In general, though, Medicare Advantage costs less upfront and potentially more overall if you need lots of medical care. Many Medigap plans have higher upfront costs but cover most if not all of your expenses when you need care.
If you want to switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, you can do so during annual enrollment periods. But if you want to switch from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare, you often won’t have guaranteed access to a Medigap policy. That means the insurer may charge you more, exclude preexisting conditions for a time or not issue you a policy at all.
That doesn’t mean Medicare Advantage plans are a poor choice - just a complicated one, says Tatiana Fassieux, a training specialist with California Health Advocates, a Medicare advocacy nonprofit. She recommends people contact their state health insurance assistance program, which can provide free, unbiased one-on-one counseling. Links to these programs can be found by visiting the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center.
“People should not rely exclusively on television commercials,” Fassieux warns. “That’s when people get stuck and sometimes make the wrong decision.”
____________________________
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of “Your Credit Score.” Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.
RELATED LINKS:
NerdWallet: What Is a Medicare Advantage Plan? http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-medicare-advantage
State health insurance assistance programs https://www.shiptacenter.org/