washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Hundreds march in Taiwan to support 12 arrested Hong Kongers

TAIPEI , Taiwan ( AP ) - Hundreds of people marched in Taiwan ’ s capital on Sunday to demand the release of 12 Hong Kong anti-government protesters who were arrested by mainland Chinese authorities in August .
The 12 were allegedly traveling illegally by boat to Taiwan when Chinese authorities detained them .
They are now facing formal charges for illegal border crossings in Shenzhen , a southern Chinese city that borders Hong Kong , a semi-autonomous Chinese territory .
On Friday , Saturday and Sunday , people demonstrated in at least a dozen cities across the world - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Australia - in support of those who were arrested , in a campaign called # save12hkyouths .
Prominent Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law helped launch the campaign on social media .
In the crowd in Taipei on Sunday were activists from several Taiwanese organizations , as well as other residents of the self-ruled democratic island and many Hong Kongers .
With many dressed in black and wearing face masks , they marched through the city , shouting “ Glory to Hong Kong.
” Taiwan and China split amid civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut off ties with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen ’ s government over her refusal to accept its demand that she recognize the island as a part of China to be unified with the mainland eventually under the same “ one country , two systems ” policy enacted in Hong Kong .
Tsai ’ s election last January to a second , four-year term came after the repression of last year ’ s pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong solidified public opinion in Taiwan against moves toward accepting rule by Beijing .
Tsang Cheung-kui , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February , said it was important to him as a Hong Konger to demonstrate .
“ Those of us Hong Kongers in Taiwan want to come support them , ” he said .
“ It ’ s very obvious , Hong Kong is no longer Hong Kong .
But we haven ’ t given up on Hong Kong.
” Unlike in 2019 , when Tsang took part in Hong Kong ’ s anti-government protests to demand protections for the city ’ s democratic freedoms , the message this time was different .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have this mindset that we want the world to know Hong Kong is no longer the same , ” Tsang said .
“ Don ’ t think that Hong Kong is like before where there was democracy , freedom and rule of law .
Now this is completely nonexistent.
” Jeff Hou , a Taiwanese resident who brought his 13-year-old son to the rally , said it was important to march for democratic freedoms .
“ As long as it has to do with democracy , we should come stand out here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedoms are very important to us Taiwanese.
” Emma , a 27-year-old protester who declined to give her full name for reasons of safety , said she was concerned about the fate of the 12 who were arrested .
“ I ’ m doubtful of whether they were arrested legally , and whether rights are being upheld after being arrested , ” she said .
“ I wanted to come to this march in support of them.
” Many Hong Kong residents have been looking into moving to Taiwan since China pushed through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city in June .
Those arrested in August range in age from 16 to 33 .
Their families are now campaigning to use their own lawyers instead of the court-appointed ones from the Chinese side .

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Hundreds of people marched in Taiwan’s capital on Sunday to demand the release of 12 Hong Kong anti-government protesters who were arrested by mainland Chinese authorities in August.
The 12 were allegedly traveling illegally by boat to Taiwan when Chinese authorities detained them. They are now facing formal charges for illegal border crossings in Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city that borders Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, people demonstrated in at least a dozen cities across the world - from New York to Vancouver to Adelaide in Australia - in support of those who were arrested, in a campaign called #save12hkyouths. Prominent Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law helped launch the campaign on social media.
In the crowd in Taipei on Sunday were activists from several Taiwanese organizations, as well as other residents of the self-ruled democratic island and many Hong Kongers. With many dressed in black and wearing face masks, they marched through the city, shouting “Glory to Hong Kong.”
Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and Beijing has cut off ties with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s government over her refusal to accept its demand that she recognize the island as a part of China to be unified with the mainland eventually under the same “one country, two systems” policy enacted in Hong Kong.
Tsai’s election last January to a second, four-year term came after the repression of last year’s pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong solidified public opinion in Taiwan against moves toward accepting rule by Beijing.
Tsang Cheung-kui, who moved from Hong Kong to Taiwan in February, said it was important to him as a Hong Konger to demonstrate. “Those of us Hong Kongers in Taiwan want to come support them,” he said. “It’s very obvious, Hong Kong is no longer Hong Kong. But we haven’t given up on Hong Kong.”
Unlike in 2019, when Tsang took part in Hong Kong’s anti-government protests to demand protections for the city’s democratic freedoms, the message this time was different.
“A lot of us protesters, we have this mindset that we want the world to know Hong Kong is no longer the same,” Tsang said. “Don’t think that Hong Kong is like before where there was democracy, freedom and rule of law. Now this is completely nonexistent.”
Jeff Hou, a Taiwanese resident who brought his 13-year-old son to the rally, said it was important to march for democratic freedoms. “As long as it has to do with democracy, we should come stand out here,” he said. “Democratic freedoms are very important to us Taiwanese.”
Emma, a 27-year-old protester who declined to give her full name for reasons of safety, said she was concerned about the fate of the 12 who were arrested. “I’m doubtful of whether they were arrested legally, and whether rights are being upheld after being arrested,” she said. “I wanted to come to this march in support of them.”
Many Hong Kong residents have been looking into moving to Taiwan since China pushed through a wide-ranging national security law for the city in June.
Those arrested in August range in age from 16 to 33. Their families are now campaigning to use their own lawyers instead of the court-appointed ones from the Chinese side.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--At least 14 civilians killed by booby traps in Egypt’s Sinai

EL-ARISH , Egypt ( AP ) - More than a dozen civilians , including women and children , were killed in Egypt ’ s restive northern Sinai Peninsula over the past two weeks from explosive devices laid down in their homes by militants , security and medical officials said Sunday .
Islamic State militants in July attacked several villages in the town of Bir al-Abd , forcing people to flee their homes .
The military then secured the villages in August and allowed residents to return to their homes a few weeks later , the officials said .
The militants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in several houses that killed at least 14 people , including six from the same family late on Saturday , officials said .
The causalities included women and children .
At least ten others have been wounded since Oct. 12 and were taken to the town ’ s hospital for treatment , they said .
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media .
Bir al-Abd was the site of a horrific extremist attack on a mosque in 2017 that killed over 300 worshippers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young sons .
The tribes of North Sinai have been heavily targeted by militants who view their veneration of Muslim saints and shrines as heretical , forcing a mass exodus of residents from the impoverished area that has long been underdeveloped by the government .
Violence and instability there intensified after the military overthrew the country ’ s Islamist president in 2013 amid nationwide protests against the Muslim Brotherhood group ’ s divisive rule .
Extremist militants have since carried out scores of attacks , mainly targeting security forces and minority Christians .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of public view , with journalists and outside observers barred from the area .
The conflict has so far not expanded into the southern end of the peninsula where popular Red Sea tourist resorts are located .
In February 2018 , the military launched a massive operation in Sinai that also encompassed parts of the Nile Delta and deserts along the country ’ s western border with Libya .
Since then , the pace of Islamic State attacks in Sinai ’ s north has diminished .

EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) - More than a dozen civilians, including women and children, were killed in Egypt’s restive northern Sinai Peninsula over the past two weeks from explosive devices laid down in their homes by militants, security and medical officials said Sunday.
Islamic State militants in July attacked several villages in the town of Bir al-Abd, forcing people to flee their homes. The military then secured the villages in August and allowed residents to return to their homes a few weeks later, the officials said.
The militants, however, had laid booby traps in several houses that killed at least 14 people, including six from the same family late on Saturday, officials said. The causalities included women and children.
At least ten others have been wounded since Oct. 12 and were taken to the town’s hospital for treatment, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Bir al-Abd was the site of a horrific extremist attack on a mosque in 2017 that killed over 300 worshippers, some of them fathers praying with their young sons. The tribes of North Sinai have been heavily targeted by militants who view their veneration of Muslim saints and shrines as heretical, forcing a mass exodus of residents from the impoverished area that has long been underdeveloped by the government.
Violence and instability there intensified after the military overthrew the country’s Islamist president in 2013 amid nationwide protests against the Muslim Brotherhood group’s divisive rule. Extremist militants have since carried out scores of attacks, mainly targeting security forces and minority Christians.
The conflict has largely taken place out of public view, with journalists and outside observers barred from the area. The conflict has so far not expanded into the southern end of the peninsula where popular Red Sea tourist resorts are located.
In February 2018, the military launched a massive operation in Sinai that also encompassed parts of the Nile Delta and deserts along the country’s western border with Libya. Since then, the pace of Islamic State attacks in Sinai’s north has diminished.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Suspected migrant smuggler dies while evading Greek police

THESSALONIKI , Greece ( AP ) - A man described by Greek police as most likely a migrant trafficker was killed while trying to avoid a police checkpoint in the north of the country , and another was arrested after also fleeing and killing six sheep and a sheepdog with his vehicle .
The separate incidents occurred Saturday , but police announced them Sunday .
The first driver was stopped on a country road in northern Greece , at some distance from the Greek-Turkish border , police said .
After seeing the checkpoint , he drove away at a high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to police .
They said the man was pronounced dead at a hospital and didn ’ t have documents that would help identity him .
The man who drove into a flock of sheep also had been stopped on a country road near the city of Kavala , police said .
They described the arrested driver as a 30-year-old Syrian .
Police sources , speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about cases under investigation , said they suspect both men were migrant traffickers heading to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police say they use the pretext of checking on drivers ’ licenses to stop suspected traffickers because most aren ’ t licensed to drive and in many cases they use stolen cars , fake license plates or both .
Traffickers , having caught on that police are setting up highway checkpoints , have taken to using back roads .
But recent reinforcements have allowed police to try to apprehend suspects on less-used roads as well .
Demetris Nellas contributed to this report from Athens , Greece

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) - A man described by Greek police as most likely a migrant trafficker was killed while trying to avoid a police checkpoint in the north of the country, and another was arrested after also fleeing and killing six sheep and a sheepdog with his vehicle.
The separate incidents occurred Saturday, but police announced them Sunday.
The first driver was stopped on a country road in northern Greece, at some distance from the Greek-Turkish border, police said. After seeing the checkpoint, he drove away at a high speed and crashed into a tree, according to police.
They said the man was pronounced dead at a hospital and didn’t have documents that would help identity him.
The man who drove into a flock of sheep also had been stopped on a country road near the city of Kavala, police said. They described the arrested driver as a 30-year-old Syrian.
Police sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about cases under investigation, said they suspect both men were migrant traffickers heading to the Greek-Turkish border to pick up people.
Police say they use the pretext of checking on drivers’ licenses to stop suspected traffickers because most aren’t licensed to drive and in many cases they use stolen cars, fake license plates or both.
Traffickers, having caught on that police are setting up highway checkpoints, have taken to using back roads. But recent reinforcements have allowed police to try to apprehend suspects on less-used roads as well.
____________________________
Demetris Nellas contributed to this report from Athens, Greece


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Colorado governor quarantines after mayor tests positive

DENVER ( AP ) - Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis is quarantining himself after learning that Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman tested positive for the coronavirus over a week after they appeared with other officials at a press conference , a spokesperson for the governor said Sunday .
In a statement , spokesperson Maria De Cambra said Polis would quarantine while waiting to hear from health officials investigating who else may have been exposed to the coronavirus about whether he should continue to isolate himself .
“ He will be under quarantine until the health investigation is completed and he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the need to cooperate with contact tracers , quarantine when needed , wear masks , social distance , and if you have any symptoms get tested , ” she said .
Coffman , a Republican who previously represented a suburban Denver district in Congress for five terms , announced his diagnosis Sunday on Twitter .
He said he came home from work Thursday morning not feeling well , thinking he had a very mild cold , but worked at home to be on the safe side .
He said his symptoms cleared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus test done on Sunday , assuming it would clear him to go to back to the office and resume his schedule .
“ Unfortunately , the results of the test were positive .
I will have to quarantine at home , ” Coffman said .
Coffman and Polis attended an outdoor press conference on Oct. 15 to promote Colorado ’ s mail ballot system , which Coffman helped administer as secretary of state during the 2008 presidential election .
Polis ’ partner , Marlon Reis , current Secretary of State Jena Griswold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Julie Gonzales also spoke at the event .
They stood staggered on a sidewalk near a ballot drop off box and each wore a mask until taking their turn to speak at the microphone .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises anyone who has been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient to quarantine for two weeks .
The risk of spread is considered lower outdoors .
Coffman ’ s diagnosis came on the same day as Colorado launched a statewide COVID-19 exposure notification system , in partnership with Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get smartphone notifications if someone they were near has tested positive for the virus .
Users have to sign up to get notifications and users ’ locations and identities will not be tracked , an announcement from Polis ’ office said .
Citing a steady increase in Colorado ’ s coronavirus hospitalizations , state health officials announced new limits Friday on personal gatherings of people from different households in more than two dozen counties .
The state is at risk of exceeding the peak in hospitalizations seen in April by mid-November , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day by the state health department and the Colorado School of Public Health .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

DENVER (AP) - A health agency told Colorado Gov. Jared Polis that he does not need to quarantine himself after meeting with Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, the governor’s office said Sunday.
The Tri-County Health Department, which oversees Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties, told Polis that there is no risk of him catching the virus after he appeared with Coffman at a news conference on Oct. 15, the governor’s office said.
“Therefore, Gov. Polis and others at that event with Mayor Coffman have been informed that they do not need to quarantine as a result of this situation. While the Governor was prepared to quarantine, he is relieved that there isn’t a reason to do so under health guidance,” Polis’ office said in a statement.
Coffman, a Republican who previously represented a suburban Denver district in Congress for five terms, announced his diagnosis Sunday on Twitter. He said he came home from work Thursday morning not feeling well, thinking he had a very mild cold, but worked at home to be on the safe side. He said his symptoms cleared by Saturday and he got a rapid coronavirus test done on Sunday, assuming it would clear him to go to back to the office and resume his schedule.
“Unfortunately, the results of the test were positive. I will have to quarantine at home,” Coffman said.
Coffman and Polis attended an outdoor press conference on Oct. 15 to promote Colorado’s mail ballot system, which Coffman helped administer as secretary of state during the 2008 presidential election. Polis’ partner, Marlon Reis, current Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Denver Clerk Paul Lopez and state Sen. Julie Gonzales also spoke at the event. They stood staggered on a sidewalk near a ballot drop off box and each wore a mask until taking their turn to speak at the microphone.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises anyone who has been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient to quarantine for two weeks. The risk of spread is considered lower outdoors.
Coffman’s diagnosis came on the same day as Colorado launched a statewide COVID-19 exposure notification system, in partnership with Google and Apple, that allows people to get smartphone notifications if someone they were near has tested positive for the virus. Users have to sign up to get notifications and users’ locations and identities will not be tracked, an announcement from Polis’ office said.
Citing a steady increase in Colorado’s coronavirus hospitalizations, state health officials announced new limits Friday on personal gatherings of people from different households in more than two dozen counties. The state is at risk of exceeding the peak in hospitalizations seen in April by mid-November, according to a modeling report released the same day by the state health department and the Colorado School of Public Health.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Kentucky sets weekly record for coronavirus cases

FRANKFORT , Ky. ( AP ) - Kentucky has shattered a weekly record for the number of positive coronavirus cases , Gov .
Andy Beshear said Sunday .
The 9,335 confirmed cases in the past week broke the mark during the pandemic of 7,675 set during the week of Oct. 5 through 11 , Beshear said in a statement .
In addition , at least 1,462 cases were reported Sunday , a record for that day of the week , the statement said .
“ We must do better , ” Beshear said .
He urged Kentucky residents to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings and travel , and stay at least 6 feet apart to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus .
“ Let ’ s all do these simple things to protect each other , ” he said .
Beshear said he plans to make recommendations soon for counties that have 25 or more average daily cases per 100,000 residents .
The statement said at least 1,407 people have died in Kentucky from the virus , including three deaths reported Sunday .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal .
The vast majority of people recover .

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky has shattered a weekly record for the number of positive coronavirus cases, Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday.
The 9,335 confirmed cases in the past week broke the mark during the pandemic of 7,675 set during the week of Oct. 5 through 11, Beshear said in a statement.
In addition, at least 1,462 cases were reported Sunday, a record for that day of the week, the statement said.
“We must do better,” Beshear said.
He urged Kentucky residents to wear masks, wash hands frequently, limit gatherings and travel, and stay at least 6 feet apart to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus.
“Let’s all do these simple things to protect each other,” he said.
Beshear said he plans to make recommendations soon for counties that have 25 or more average daily cases per 100,000 residents.
The statement said at least 1,407 people have died in Kentucky from the virus, including three deaths reported Sunday.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal. The vast majority of people recover.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--COVID-19 cases strain rural hospitals, worry health officials

Hospitals are filling with COVID-19 patients again as the novel coronavirus surges across the country , pushing health care systems in rural areas to the brink and forcing them to consider ways to avoid overcrowding .
The situation is not as dire as it was last spring , when a crush of patients forced state and federal governments to lock down wide swaths of the economy .
But the trend line is worrying , with hospitalization rates up 40 % since last month .
Hospitalizations increased in 39 states over the past week and declined in only 11 .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 99 % capacity because of a surge in COVID-19 cases , forcing it to seek overflow room in Seattle or in Portland , Oregon , if it comes to that .
Wisconsin has admitted the first patient to its field hospital as death rates spike and some ICUs reach 90 % of capacity .
Gov .
Tony Evers , a Democrat , is begging people to stay home as much as possible to reduce transmission and alleviate capacity .
Cases are surging even before the deep fall and winter seasons , when respiratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can always find more beds but staffing is a constant worry .
Now that the disease is widespread , it will be harder to bring in personnel from other places .
“ The outlook sucks .
It really sucks , ” said Michael Mina , an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health .
The silver lining is that doctors understand COVID-19 better now than they did in the spring and have new treatments at their disposal .
The Food and Drug Administration has approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ cocktails ” in the drug pipeline appear to have helped President Trump overcome COVID-19 .
However , “ to live through the hospital stay means that you ’ re still going to the hospital , ” said Dr. Mina .
“ If we have too many people land in the hospital , then the hospitals get overloaded .
You can ’ t have a functioning society , in my opinion , if we don ’ t have the availability of hospital beds for people.
” If no space is available , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive pioneering treatments , he said .
Upticks in hospitalizations naturally follow increases in caseloads .
The U.S. recorded more than 85,000 cases Friday , the highest daily total since the pandemic began , and 75,000-plus counts continued into the weekend .
The nation is likely detecting more cases through better testing , though the rising number of hospital visits and percentage of people testing positive indicate that transmission is increasing .
Mr. Trump is highlighting treatments that shorten hospital stays as he campaigns for reelection and says the nation can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own experience with the disease this month .
“ I had it .
Here I am .
Here I am in Wisconsin , ” Mr. Trump told supporters in Waukesha , Wisconsin .
The president said he received tremendous care after contracting COVID-19 and wants emergency-use provisions to get others the antibody treatment he received .
It is unclear whether the therapy , which is still in clinical trials , will be widely available soon .
Remdesivir , an antiviral medication that has proved to speed up recovery times , is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that causes COVID-19 was discovered in Wuhan , China , in December .
The disease spread quickly around the world and has killed roughly 225,000 in the U.S. alone .
More than 900 people in the U.S. died from COVID-19 on Saturday , according to figures updated Sunday .
Mr. Trump said people who want to stay home to protect themselves from infection should do so but others should be able to go out and live their lives instead of suffering from societal lockdowns .
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden says a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avert disaster .
During the transition period between the election and the inauguration , Mr. Biden said , he would reach out to governors and local elected officials to try to persuade them to impose mask-wearing mandates .
He would mandate mask-wearing in all federal buildings and all interstate transportation .
He set a goal of increasing the number of daily coronavirus tests to the same number of tests that are being conducted weekly right now , boosting production of supplies such as gowns and masks , and developing a detailed , nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not going to shut down the economy .
I ’ m not going to shut down the country .
I ’ m going to shut down the virus , ” the Democratic nominee said Friday during a speech in Delaware .
Mr. Biden pointed Sunday to a new cluster of cases among aides to Vice President Mike Pence as a sign that the White House is incapable of mitigating the spread of the virus .
Dr. Mina said the pandemic is likely to get worse this winter because of the biology of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time indoors , where transmission is more likely .
“ We ’ re seeing a spike that is likely to exceed what we saw in the summer , ” Dr. Mina said .
“ None of this is surprising , I think , and that ’ s the frustrating part.
” He said the nation had a chance to start from a better place when transmission slowed in the summer .
“ We didn ’ t do that at all , ” he said , “ and now we ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , or some people won ’ t live as a result .
”

Hospitals are filling with COVID-19 patients again as the novel coronavirus surges across the country, pushing health care systems in rural areas to the brink and forcing them to consider ways to avoid overcrowding.
The situation is not as dire as it was last spring, when a crush of patients forced state and federal governments to lock down wide swaths of the economy. But the trend line is worrying, with hospitalization rates up 40% since last month. Hospitalizations increased in 39 states over the past week and declined in only 11.
A hospital in Idaho said it is at 99% capacity because of a surge in COVID-19 cases, forcing it to seek overflow room in Seattle or in Portland, Oregon, if it comes to that.
Wisconsin has admitted the first patient to its field hospital as death rates spike and some ICUs reach 90% of capacity. Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, is begging people to stay home as much as possible to reduce transmission and alleviate capacity.
Cases are surging even before the deep fall and winter seasons, when respiratory diseases tend to thrive. Governors say they can always find more beds but staffing is a constant worry. Now that the disease is widespread, it will be harder to bring in personnel from other places.
“The outlook sucks. It really sucks,” said Michael Mina, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The silver lining is that doctors understand COVID-19 better now than they did in the spring and have new treatments at their disposal. The Food and Drug Administration has approved remdesivir as a treatment, and antibody “cocktails” in the drug pipeline appear to have helped President Trump overcome COVID-19.
However, “to live through the hospital stay means that you’re still going to the hospital,” said Dr. Mina. “If we have too many people land in the hospital, then the hospitals get overloaded. You can’t have a functioning society, in my opinion, if we don’t have the availability of hospital beds for people.”
If no space is available, an infected person might not get the chance to receive pioneering treatments, he said.
Upticks in hospitalizations naturally follow increases in caseloads. The U.S. recorded more than 85,000 cases Friday, the highest daily total since the pandemic began, and 75,000-plus counts continued into the weekend.
The nation is likely detecting more cases through better testing, though the rising number of hospital visits and percentage of people testing positive indicate that transmission is increasing.
Mr. Trump is highlighting treatments that shorten hospital stays as he campaigns for reelection and says the nation cannot afford more lockdowns. He points to his own experience with the disease this month.
“I had it. Here I am. Here I am in Wisconsin,” Mr. Trump told supporters in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
The president said he received tremendous care after contracting COVID-19 and wants emergency-use provisions to get others the antibody treatment he received.
It is unclear whether the therapy, which is still in clinical trials, will be widely available soon. Remdesivir, an antiviral medication that has proved to speed up recovery times, is being used across the country.
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was discovered in Wuhan, China, in December. The disease spread quickly around the world and has killed roughly 225,000 in the U.S. alone. More than 900 people in the U.S. died from COVID-19 on Saturday, according to figures updated Sunday.
Mr. Trump said people who want to stay home to protect themselves from infection should do so but others should be able to go out and live their lives instead of suffering from societal lockdowns.
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden says a bigger, bolder plan is needed to avert disaster.
During the transition period between the election and the inauguration, Mr. Biden said, he would reach out to governors and local elected officials to try to persuade them to impose mask-wearing mandates. He would mandate mask-wearing in all federal buildings and all interstate transportation.
He set a goal of increasing the number of daily coronavirus tests to the same number of tests that are being conducted weekly right now, boosting production of supplies such as gowns and masks, and developing a detailed, nationwide plan for reopening.
“I’m not going to shut down the economy. I’m not going to shut down the country. I’m going to shut down the virus,” the Democratic nominee said Friday during a speech in Delaware.
Mr. Biden pointed Sunday to a new cluster of cases among aides to Vice President Mike Pence as a sign that the White House is incapable of mitigating the spread of the virus.
Dr. Mina said the pandemic is likely to get worse this winter because of the biology of the virus and because people spend more time indoors, where transmission is more likely.
“We’re seeing a spike that is likely to exceed what we saw in the summer,” Dr. Mina said. “None of this is surprising, I think, and that’s the frustrating part.”
He said the nation had a chance to start from a better place when transmission slowed in the summer.
“We didn’t do that at all,” he said, “and now we’re going to have to live with the consequences of that, or some people won’t live as a result.”
• David Sherfinski contributed to this report.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Nevada reports 891 new coronavirus cases and 5 more deaths

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Nevada health officials on Sunday reported nearly 900 new COVID-19 cases with five additional deaths .
The 891 additional cases increased the state ’ s totals to 95,703 cases and 1,748 deaths .
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services officials say 735 of the new cases were in Clark County along with one of the five deaths .
The state ’ s largest county , which includes Las Vegas , also has had nearly 79,000 of Nevada ’ s cases and almost 1,500 of its deaths .
State health officials on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The last time Nevada reported more than 1,000 cases in a single day was Aug. 14 with 1,099 .
Nevada also reported Sunday a 14-day test positivity rate of 10 % in the past 24-hour period .
Sept. 1 was the last time the state ’ s positivity rate was at or above 10 percent .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
But for some - especially older adults and people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .
The vast majority of people recover .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada health officials on Sunday reported nearly 900 new COVID-19 cases with five additional deaths.
The 891 additional cases increased the state’s totals to 95,703 cases and 1,748 deaths.
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services officials say 735 of the new cases were in Clark County along with one of the five deaths.
The state’s largest county, which includes Las Vegas, also has had nearly 79,000 of Nevada’s cases and almost 1,500 of its deaths.
State health officials on Saturday reported 1,146 new coronavirus cases. The last time Nevada reported more than 1,000 cases in a single day was Aug. 14 with 1,099.
Nevada also reported Sunday a 14-day test positivity rate of 10% in the past 24-hour period.
Sept. 1 was the last time the state’s positivity rate was at or above 10 percent.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Baltimore Police: 4 shootings on Sunday, 1 dead

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - Police in Baltimore said a man was shot and killed Sunday afternoon .
There were @ @ @ @ @ the day .
On Sunday afternoon a 34-year-old man suffering gunshot wounds was taken to @ @ @ @ @ was pronounced dead by medical personnel , police said .
Police said three other men @ @ @ @ @ earlier in the day .
One had injuries that were not life threatening .
The @ @ @ @ @ is unclear .
Police said there have been multiple shootings and homicides in the city @ @ @

BALTIMORE (AP) - Police in Baltimore said a man was shot and killed Sunday afternoon. There were three other shootings earlier in the day.
On Sunday afternoon a 34-year-old man suffering gunshot wounds was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead by medical personnel, police said.
Police said three other men were injured in other shootings earlier in the day. One had injuries that were not life threatening. The condition of the other two is unclear.
Police said there have been multiple shootings and homicides in the city this weekend.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Authorities: 3 teenagers dead in southern Illinois car crash

Three teenagers died and three others were injured in a car crash early Sunday in southern Illinois , according to @ @ @ @ @ crash happened just before 3 a.m. in Johnson County .
Authorities said six teenagers were @ @ @ @ @ westbound when the vehicle ran off the road and struck a tree .
Killed in @ @ @ @ @ Davidson and two other unidentified teens , ages 17 and 15 .
Three others were @ @ @ @

Three teenagers died and three others were injured in a car crash early Sunday in southern Illinois, according to Illinois State Police.
The crash happened just before 3 a.m. in Johnson County. Authorities said six teenagers were in a black Ford traveling westbound when the vehicle ran off the road and struck a tree.
Killed in the crash were 18-year-old Jordan Davidson and two other unidentified teens, ages 17 and 15. Three others were hospitalized with injuries.
Police were investigating.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Analysis: Mississippi US Senate race draws outside attention

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - Democratic challenger Mike Espy and Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith are both receiving help from out-of-state politicians as they compete for a U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi .
Hyde-Smith defeated Espy in a 2018 special election runoff , and now he ’ s trying to reverse that outcome .
The previous election was to fill the final two years of a six-year term started by longtime Republican Sen. Thad Cochran .
Hyde-Smith was the state agriculture commissioner when she was appointed to serve temporarily when Cochran retired because of health problems in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s election is for a full six-year term , and Republicans are trying to maintain their Senate majority .
“ Cindy Hyde-Smith is one of President Trump ’ s most ardent supporters in the U.S. Senate .
And right now , she is under attack , ” Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee says in a short video on Hyde-Smith ’ s campaign website .
Blackburn - who grew up in Laurel , Mississippi - says that two prominent Democratic women , Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now , we need your help for Cindy to send her back to the U.S. Senate so that she can be there to defend your freedoms , your liberties and to stand with President Trump , ” Blackburn says .
Espy , who is a former congressman and former U.S. agriculture secretary , received campaign help last week from a Democratic former governor of Massachusetts , Deval Patrick , who traveled to Jackson to speak at a luncheon for union members , civil rights activists and others who could be important to turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s an unusually clear choice here in Mississippi and across the country , frankly , about whether we ’ re going to be about yesterday or be about tomorrow , ” Patrick told The Associated Press in an interview after the event .
Patrick said the coronavirus pandemic has exposed economic fragility and “ measures of despair ” in the U.S. “ These are things that Black and brown communities have known for a long time , poor people have known for a long time , ” Patrick said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in one form or another .
… And , frankly , Mike Espy is the only one talking about solutions.
” That evening , Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts held an online event to promote Espy , with Espy and Patrick appearing together from the campaign office in Mississippi .
Patrick also campaigned for Espy in Mississippi in 2018 , as did New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and California Sen. Kamala Harris , who ’ s now the Democratic nominee for vice president .
If elected , Espy would become Mississippi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reconstruction .
Hyde-Smith is the only woman to have represented Mississippi in either chamber of Congress .
Espy picked up an endorsement last week from former President Barack Obama , who cut a radio ad .
The Democratic presidential nominee , former Vice President Joe Biden , had endorsed Espy weeks earlier .
The same day the Espy campaign announced his Obama endorsement , Hyde-Smith received a tweet of support from Trump , who campaigned for her in Mississippi during the 2018 race .
Republicans hold all statewide offices in Mississippi , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1982 , when they sent longtime incumbent John C. Stennis back to Washington for his final term .
From July through September , the Espy campaign raised $ 4 million and the Hyde-Smith campaign raised $ 814,704 , according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission .
Donations flowed to Espy and many other Democratic candidates after the Sept. 18 death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Like many in his party , Espy criticized Republicans for moving quickly to fill the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conservative appellate court judge , Amy Coney Barrett , to the nation ’ s top court , and she supports Barrett ’ s confirmation .
Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994 .
Follow her on Twitter : http : //twitter.com/EWagsterPettus .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Democratic challenger Mike Espy and Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith are both receiving help from out-of-state politicians as they compete for a U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi.
Hyde-Smith defeated Espy in a 2018 special election runoff, and now he’s trying to reverse that outcome. The previous election was to fill the final two years of a six-year term started by longtime Republican Sen. Thad Cochran. Hyde-Smith was the state agriculture commissioner when she was appointed to serve temporarily when Cochran retired because of health problems in the spring of 2018.
This year’s election is for a full six-year term, and Republicans are trying to maintain their Senate majority.
“Cindy Hyde-Smith is one of President Trump’s most ardent supporters in the U.S. Senate. And right now, she is under attack,” Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee says in a short video on Hyde-Smith’s campaign website.
Blackburn - who grew up in Laurel, Mississippi - says that two prominent Democratic women, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, are supporting Espy.
“Now, we need your help for Cindy to send her back to the U.S. Senate so that she can be there to defend your freedoms, your liberties and to stand with President Trump,” Blackburn says.
Espy, who is a former congressman and former U.S. agriculture secretary, received campaign help last week from a Democratic former governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, who traveled to Jackson to speak at a luncheon for union members, civil rights activists and others who could be important to turning out the vote for Democrats.
“There’s an unusually clear choice here in Mississippi and across the country, frankly, about whether we’re going to be about yesterday or be about tomorrow,” Patrick told The Associated Press in an interview after the event.
Patrick said the coronavirus pandemic has exposed economic fragility and “measures of despair” in the U.S.
“These are things that Black and brown communities have known for a long time, poor people have known for a long time,” Patrick said. “So, now everybody’s feeling it in one form or another. … And, frankly, Mike Espy is the only one talking about solutions.”
That evening, Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts held an online event to promote Espy, with Espy and Patrick appearing together from the campaign office in Mississippi.
Patrick also campaigned for Espy in Mississippi in 2018, as did New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and California Sen. Kamala Harris, who’s now the Democratic nominee for vice president.
If elected, Espy would become Mississippi’s first Black U.S. senator since Reconstruction. Hyde-Smith is the only woman to have represented Mississippi in either chamber of Congress.
Espy picked up an endorsement last week from former President Barack Obama, who cut a radio ad. The Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, had endorsed Espy weeks earlier.
The same day the Espy campaign announced his Obama endorsement, Hyde-Smith received a tweet of support from Trump, who campaigned for her in Mississippi during the 2018 race.
Republicans hold all statewide offices in Mississippi, and voters in the state last elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1982, when they sent longtime incumbent John C. Stennis back to Washington for his final term.
From July through September, the Espy campaign raised $4 million and the Hyde-Smith campaign raised $814,704, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Donations flowed to Espy and many other Democratic candidates after the Sept. 18 death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Like many in his party, Espy criticized Republicans for moving quickly to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.
Hyde-Smith praised Trump for nominating a conservative appellate court judge, Amy Coney Barrett, to the nation’s top court, and she supports Barrett’s confirmation.
____
Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--David Karnes, Omaha civic leader, briefly U.S. senator, dies

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - David Karnes , an Omaha civic leader who was briefly a U.S. senator , has died at the age of 71 .
Karnes died Sunday of cancer in Boston , where he was undergoing a clinical trial , The Omaha World-Herald reported .
In March 1987 , then-Gov .
Kay Orr shocked Nebraska Republicans by appointing Karnes to fill the unexpired terms of Democrat Ed Zorinsky , who had died of a heart attack .
Karnes was 38 at the time and had never run for office .
He sought a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bob Kerrey and never again sought political office .
He worked as an attorney in both Omaha and Washington .
He was the principal federal legislative and executive branch lobbyist for the Kutak Rock law firm for 28 years .
He also served on numerous civic organizations and founded Liz ’ s Legacy , a charity for cancer research to honor of his first wife , who died of cancer in 2003 .
Most recently , he helped Omaha negotiate for a portion of federal coronavirus funding that was appropriated to Douglas County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Pete Ricketts and U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse , issued statements Sunday praising Karnes for his lifetime of service to Nebraska .
Karnes is survived by wife Kris and six daughters .
Funeral services are pending .

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - David Karnes, an Omaha civic leader who was briefly a U.S. senator, has died at the age of 71.
Karnes died Sunday of cancer in Boston, where he was undergoing a clinical trial, The Omaha World-Herald reported.
In March 1987, then-Gov. Kay Orr shocked Nebraska Republicans by appointing Karnes to fill the unexpired terms of Democrat Ed Zorinsky, who had died of a heart attack. Karnes was 38 at the time and had never run for office.
He sought a full term in 1988 but lost to Democrat Bob Kerrey and never again sought political office.
He worked as an attorney in both Omaha and Washington. He was the principal federal legislative and executive branch lobbyist for the Kutak Rock law firm for 28 years. He also served on numerous civic organizations and founded Liz’s Legacy, a charity for cancer research to honor of his first wife, who died of cancer in 2003.
Most recently, he helped Omaha negotiate for a portion of federal coronavirus funding that was appropriated to Douglas County.
Numerous Nebraska political figures, including Gov. Pete Ricketts and U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, issued statements Sunday praising Karnes for his lifetime of service to Nebraska.
Karnes is survived by wife Kris and six daughters. Funeral services are pending.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Armenia and Azerbaijan announce a third attempt to establish a cease-fire in their conflict over Nag

YEREVAN , Armenia ( AP ) - Armenia and Azerbaijan announce a third attempt to establish a cease-fire in their @ @ @ @

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) - Armenia and Azerbaijan announce a third attempt to establish a cease-fire in their conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Research identifies 91 more species of spiders in Maine

AUGUSTA , Maine ( AP ) - There are more creepy-crawlies than previously known in Maine .
The Maine Forest @ @ @ @ @ Checklist of Maine Spiders identifies 677 different species of spiders .
That includes 91 additional @ @ @ @ @ the project .
The checklist is the result of a 14-year collaboration between researcher and @ @ @ @ @ T. Jennings and the Forest Service , as well as retired Forest Entomologist Charlene Donahue @ @ @ @ @ Fisheries and Wildlife .
“ Most people don ’ t count spiders among their favorite @ @ @ @ @ Kanoti , state entomologist .
“ But spiders are an important part of our world @ @ @ @ @ their existence.
” There are likely more species of spider in Maine that have yet @ @ @ @ @ say .

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - There are more creepy-crawlies than previously known in Maine.
The Maine Forest Service’s newly released Checklist of Maine Spiders identifies 677 different species of spiders. That includes 91 additional species that were identified during the project.
The checklist is the result of a 14-year collaboration between researcher and Maine spider expert Dr. Daniel T. Jennings and the Forest Service, as well as retired Forest Entomologist Charlene Donahue and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
“Most people don’t count spiders among their favorite creatures,” said Allison Kanoti, state entomologist. “But spiders are an important part of our world, and we depend upon their existence.”
There are likely more species of spider in Maine that have yet to be documented, experts say.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Fire set in Boston ballot drop box; FBI asked to probe fire

A fire was set Sunday in a Boston ballot drop box holding more than 120 ballots in what Massachusetts election officials said appears to have been a “ deliberate attack , ” now under investigation by the FBI .
The fire that was set around 4 a.m. in a ballot drop box outside the Boston Public Library downtown , Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin ’ s office said .
There were 122 ballots inside the box when it was emptied Sunday morning , and 87 of them were still legible and able to be processed , Galvin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last been emptied around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday .
In a joint statement , Galvin and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called it a “ disgrace to democracy , a disrespect to the voters fulfilling their civic duty , and a crime.
” “ Our first and foremost priority is maintaining the integrity of our elections process and ensuring transparency and trust with our voters , and any effort to undermine or tamper with that process must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law , ” they said in the emailed statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be intimidated by this bad act , and remain committed to making their voices heard in this and every election.
” Boston Police said an arson investigation is underway and released surveillance images of a person near the ballot box at that time , urging the public to help identify the individual .
Officers called to the scene saw smoke coming out of the box before firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by filling the box with water , police said .
The FBI said in a statement announcing their investigation that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offices to help maintain the integrity of the election process in Massachusetts by aggressively enforcing federal election laws.
” Voters can go online to see whether their ballot was processed .
Those who used that dropbox between Saturday afternoon and 4 a.m. Sunday and can ’ t confirm the status of their ballot online should contact the Boston Elections Department immediately , officials said .
Voters whose ballots were affected can either vote in person or by a replacement ballot that will be mailed to them , officials said .
If those voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ their original ballot will be hand-counted to the extent possible , ” Galvin ’ s office said .

A fire was set Sunday in a Boston ballot drop box holding more than 120 ballots in what Massachusetts election officials said appears to have been a “deliberate attack,” now under investigation by the FBI.
The fire that was set around 4 a.m. in a ballot drop box outside the Boston Public Library downtown, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin’s office said.
There were 122 ballots inside the box when it was emptied Sunday morning, and 87 of them were still legible and able to be processed, Galvin’s office said. The box had last been emptied around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
In a joint statement, Galvin and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called it a “disgrace to democracy, a disrespect to the voters fulfilling their civic duty, and a crime.”
“Our first and foremost priority is maintaining the integrity of our elections process and ensuring transparency and trust with our voters, and any effort to undermine or tamper with that process must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” they said in the emailed statement. “We ask voters not to be intimidated by this bad act, and remain committed to making their voices heard in this and every election.”
Boston Police said an arson investigation is underway and released surveillance images of a person near the ballot box at that time, urging the public to help identify the individual.
Officers called to the scene saw smoke coming out of the box before firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by filling the box with water, police said.
The FBI said in a statement announcing their investigation that “it is a top priority of our offices to help maintain the integrity of the election process in Massachusetts by aggressively enforcing federal election laws.”
Voters can go online to see whether their ballot was processed. Those who used that dropbox between Saturday afternoon and 4 a.m. Sunday and can’t confirm the status of their ballot online should contact the Boston Elections Department immediately, officials said.
Voters whose ballots were affected can either vote in person or by a replacement ballot that will be mailed to them, officials said. If those voters don’t submit a new ballot, “their original ballot will be hand-counted to the extent possible,” Galvin’s office said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Some Michigan sheriffs won't enforce open carry ban at polls

BEULAH , Mich. ( AP ) - Some sheriffs have said they won ’ t enforce Michigan ’ s top election official ’ s ban on openly carrying guns near polling places on Election Day .
Benzie County Sheriff Ted Schendel called Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson ’ s guidance “ illegal , ” according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle .
“ She doesn ’ t have the authority to make laws , ” Schendel said .
Benson sent the guidance to clerks earlier this month , days after members of two anti-government paramilitary groups were charged with taking part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gretchen Whitmer .
The rule doesn ’ t apply to in-person early voting and concealed guns will still be allowed , except if the polling place is at a church or school , where firearms are banned .
Some elections officials and voter rights experts have been concerned about violence at the polls .
Election workers have been told to contact the authorities if the ban is violated .
The Michigan Sheriff ’ s Association has asked sheriffs to consult local prosecutors .
Schendel is among several law enforcement officers statewide who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban .
The head of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police said officers won ’ t be able to enforce the ban because it isn ’ t based on law .

BEULAH, Mich. (AP) - Some sheriffs have said they won’t enforce Michigan’s top election official’s ban on openly carrying guns near polling places on Election Day.
Benzie County Sheriff Ted Schendel called Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s guidance “illegal,” according to the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
“She doesn’t have the authority to make laws,” Schendel said.
Benson sent the guidance to clerks earlier this month, days after members of two anti-government paramilitary groups were charged with taking part in plotting the kidnapping of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The rule doesn’t apply to in-person early voting and concealed guns will still be allowed, except if the polling place is at a church or school, where firearms are banned.
Some elections officials and voter rights experts have been concerned about violence at the polls.
Election workers have been told to contact the authorities if the ban is violated.
The Michigan Sheriff’s Association has asked sheriffs to consult local prosecutors. Schendel is among several law enforcement officers statewide who say they won’t enforce the ban.
The head of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police said officers won’t be able to enforce the ban because it isn’t based on law.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--John O'Connor: Watergate led to partisan journalism

An occasional interview series with Americans who are challenging the status quo .
As far as John O ’ Connor is concerned , what many consider to be contemporary journalism ’ s finest hour was actually its death knell .
Watergate has always aroused passions .
But Mr. O ’ Connor isn ’ t just some sideline crank venting against the status quo .
He was Deep Throat ’ s attorney .
“ Why is everything called ‘ gate ?
’ ” he asked from his California home .
“ Up to Watergate , journalism was mostly ‘ who , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watergate , you ’ ve got a lot of [ baby ] boomers who want to bring down the ‘ bad guy.
’ But they have ideology on their brains and now they wear partisan jerseys ; they ’ re on a team.
” Mr. O ’ Connor , 74 , was never a stranger to politics .
A devout Roman Catholic , he and his six siblings grew up in Indianapolis with a father whose small law firm was well-connected .
One of its four partners was William Ruckelshaus , the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who resigned as a U.S. attorney during President Nixon ’ s “ Saturday Night Massacre.
” Little did Mr. O ’ Connor know then the role the Watergate scandal would play in his professional career .
Watergate , however , wasn ’ t his first high-profile case .
One day while he was working as a U.S. attorney in the San Francisco office , a member of the bank robbery unit strolled by and tossed a black-and-white photo onto his desk .
“ What do you think that is ?
” he asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo carefully and said , “ Well , it looks like Patty Hearst.
” “ Well , it looks like Patty Hearst just robbed a bank , ” his fellow prosecutor replied .
The bank robbery shocked the nation .
Ms. Hearst , heir to the Hearst publishing empire , was toting a machine gun alongside members of the leftist revolutionary Symbionese Liberation Army .
Mr. O ’ Connor ’ s involvement in the case led to a handful of assignments so plum that some of his colleagues resented it .
He handled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment pleadings , as well as various psychiatric matters that arose in her novel Stockholm syndrome defense .
“ I probably know every dream Patty ever had , ” Mr. O ’ Connor said .
He was in Washington as Watergate unfolded .
Hooked by the drama , he followed the developments with intense interest .
After Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein published “ All the President ’ s Men , ” he would take his copy of the book to a coffee shop and parse every paragraph .
In the end , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instincts and his familiarity with many of the Justice Department and FBI players , he said , he concluded that Mark Felt was the source known as “ Deep Throat.
” “ I ’ m a great lover of the press and its function , and so I dug into it to figure out who ‘ Deep Throat ’ was , ” he said .
“ I knew it couldn ’ t have been a junior FBI guy because not many people had access to grand jury stuff .
“ I knew he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cover-up or he could bust the cover-up.
” Years later , through a series of coincidences involving Mr. O ’ Connor ’ s daughter and Felt ’ s granddaughter , who both attended Stanford University , the two men became close acquaintances .
“ His knuckles would stand out white on the chair when I brought up ‘ Deep Throat , ’ ” said Mr. O ’ Connor , adding that he carefully avoided asking Felt whether he was the source .
Felt eventually came clean , feeling rejuvenated in the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his attorney and agent .
“ On some level , he thought people might see him as a disloyal rat , but I told him all of us young guys had thought he was a hero because he was protecting the FBI , the institution , ” Mr. O ’ Connor said .
By 2002 , when Mr. O ’ Connor said Mr. Woodward declined to participate with Felt on a book about what happened , Felt felt betrayed .
Felt died in 2008 , but he spent the last years of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circle who knew his secret .
The entire experience infuriated Felt and eventually inspired Mr. O ’ Connor to write “ Postgate : How the Washington Post Betrayed ‘ Deep Throat , ’ Covered Up Watergate and Began Today ’ s Partisan Advocacy Journalism.
” The title echoes loudly across today ’ s Washington landscape of Russiagates and Ukrainegates .
“ It is an indictment of the current media environment , ” Mr. O ’ Connor said .
“ They think of themselves as so important , they think they are responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a guy .
Wait a minute , this is journalism ?
” No doubt some readers will be perplexed by the idea that The Washington Post , which broke most of the Watergate stories , “ covered up ” the event .
Here is where Mr. O ’ Connor , who said he relies on personal knowledge , has a grand cloak-and-dagger tale involving CIA operations and a prostitution ring , active around the Watergate Hotel at the time and common knowledge to Washington insiders .
There was the break-in , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CIA operation on U.S. soil , which is also a crime , in Mr. O ’ Connor ’ s telling .
Led by The Post and fixated on getting a president , the press provided the public with only part of the story , he said .
It ’ s been downhill ever since , culminating in the extraordinary situation in this year ’ s presidential race as the press drags one candidate to the finish line while trying to bury the other , Mr. O ’ Connor said .
“ Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past few years ?
” I don ’ t know .
Maybe people like to talk to Joe for his astute observations on things , ” he said .

THE BIG TALK
An occasional interview series with Americans who are challenging the status quo.
As far as John O’Connor is concerned, what many consider to be contemporary journalism’s finest hour was actually its death knell.
Watergate has always aroused passions. But Mr. O’Connor isn’t just some sideline crank venting against the status quo. He was Deep Throat’s attorney.
“Why is everything called ‘gate?’” he asked from his California home. “Up to Watergate, journalism was mostly ‘who, what, where and when.’ Since Watergate, you’ve got a lot of [baby] boomers who want to bring down the ‘bad guy.’ But they have ideology on their brains and now they wear partisan jerseys; they’re on a team.”
Mr. O’Connor, 74, was never a stranger to politics. A devout Roman Catholic, he and his six siblings grew up in Indianapolis with a father whose small law firm was well-connected. One of its four partners was William Ruckelshaus, the first head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who resigned as a U.S. attorney during President Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre.”
Little did Mr. O’Connor know then the role the Watergate scandal would play in his professional career.
Watergate, however, wasn’t his first high-profile case.
One day while he was working as a U.S. attorney in the San Francisco office, a member of the bank robbery unit strolled by and tossed a black-and-white photo onto his desk.
“What do you think that is?” he asked.
Mr. O’Connor studied the photo carefully and said, “Well, it looks like Patty Hearst.”
“Well, it looks like Patty Hearst just robbed a bank,” his fellow prosecutor replied.
The bank robbery shocked the nation. Ms. Hearst, heir to the Hearst publishing empire, was toting a machine gun alongside members of the leftist revolutionary Symbionese Liberation Army.
Mr. O’Connor’s involvement in the case led to a handful of assignments so plum that some of his colleagues resented it. He handled much of Ms. Hearst’s Fifth Amendment pleadings, as well as various psychiatric matters that arose in her novel Stockholm syndrome defense.
“I probably know every dream Patty ever had,” Mr. O’Connor said.
He was in Washington as Watergate unfolded. Hooked by the drama, he followed the developments with intense interest. After Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein published “All the President’s Men,” he would take his copy of the book to a coffee shop and parse every paragraph.
In the end, through what he attributed to his prosecutorial instincts and his familiarity with many of the Justice Department and FBI players, he said, he concluded that Mark Felt was the source known as “Deep Throat.”
“I’m a great lover of the press and its function, and so I dug into it to figure out who ‘Deep Throat’ was,” he said. “I knew it couldn’t have been a junior FBI guy because not many people had access to grand jury stuff.
“I knew he felt he could be a part of the cover-up or he could bust the cover-up.”
Years later, through a series of coincidences involving Mr. O’Connor’s daughter and Felt’s granddaughter, who both attended Stanford University, the two men became close acquaintances.
“His knuckles would stand out white on the chair when I brought up ‘Deep Throat,’” said Mr. O’Connor, adding that he carefully avoided asking Felt whether he was the source.
Felt eventually came clean, feeling rejuvenated in the process, and Mr. O’Connor became his attorney and agent.
“On some level, he thought people might see him as a disloyal rat, but I told him all of us young guys had thought he was a hero because he was protecting the FBI, the institution,” Mr. O’Connor said.
By 2002, when Mr. O’Connor said Mr. Woodward declined to participate with Felt on a book about what happened, Felt felt betrayed.
Felt died in 2008, but he spent the last years of his life happy with family and the close circle who knew his secret.
The entire experience infuriated Felt and eventually inspired Mr. O’Connor to write “Postgate: How the Washington Post Betrayed ‘Deep Throat,’ Covered Up Watergate and Began Today’s Partisan Advocacy Journalism.”
The title echoes loudly across today’s Washington landscape of Russiagates and Ukrainegates.
“It is an indictment of the current media environment,” Mr. O’Connor said. “They think of themselves as so important, they think they are responsible for outcomes. They decided to go after a guy. Wait a minute, this is journalism?”
No doubt some readers will be perplexed by the idea that The Washington Post, which broke most of the Watergate stories, “covered up” the event.
Here is where Mr. O’Connor, who said he relies on personal knowledge, has a grand cloak-and-dagger tale involving CIA operations and a prostitution ring, active around the Watergate Hotel at the time and common knowledge to Washington insiders.
There was the break-in, which is a crime, and there was the CIA operation on U.S. soil, which is also a crime, in Mr. O’Connor’s telling. Led by The Post and fixated on getting a president, the press provided the public with only part of the story, he said.
It’s been downhill ever since, culminating in the extraordinary situation in this year’s presidential race as the press drags one candidate to the finish line while trying to bury the other, Mr. O’Connor said.
“Joe Biden has made more than $15 million in the past few years?” I don’t know. Maybe people like to talk to Joe for his astute observations on things,” he said.
• James Varney can be reached at jvarney@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Man killed in shooting at Wichita after-hours night club

WICHITA , Kan. ( AP ) - A 41-year-old man was shot and killed inside an after-hours nightclub in Wichita @ @ @ @ @ Reed , of Wichita , died after being shot early Saturday in the Apple Lounge @ @ @ @ @ was inside the nightclub when a disturbance began involving another person .
One shot was @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
He died later at a hospital .
It was not a @ @ @ @ @ , but no other information was released .
The investigation is continuing .

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A 41-year-old man was shot and killed inside an after-hours nightclub in Wichita, police said.
Costella Reed, of Wichita, died after being shot early Saturday in the Apple Lounge in north Wichita.
Reed was inside the nightclub when a disturbance began involving another person. One shot was fired and Reed was hit, police said. He died later at a hospital.
It was not a random shooting, police said, but no other information was released. The investigation is continuing.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Massachusetts high school goes remote after house party

MARBLEHEAD , Mass .
( AP ) - A Massachusetts high school will shift to fully remote learning after students @ @ @ @ @ where they didn ’ t wear masks and shared drinks , the district ’ s @ @ @ @ @ responded to a house party Friday with young people who were not social distancing or @ @ @ @ @ were sharing drinks and “ generally ignoring ” COVID-19 rules , Superintendent John Buckey said @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I understand young people ’ s desire to be together , as far @ @ @ @ @ .
In choosing to ignore the rules set down by the governor and our community @ @ @ @ @ , we are not just endangering individuals… we are also potentially harming the community at @ @ @ @ @ .
Marblehead High School students will learn remotely until at least Nov. 6 , Buckey @ @ @ @ @ model could restart Nov. 9 if no coronavirus cases are identified during that time , @ @ @

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. (AP) - A Massachusetts high school will shift to fully remote learning after students attended a house party, where they didn’t wear masks and shared drinks, the district’s superintendent said Sunday.
Marblehead responded to a house party Friday with young people who were not social distancing or wearing face covering, and were sharing drinks and “generally ignoring” COVID-19 rules, Superintendent John Buckey said in a letter to families.
“I understand young people’s desire to be together, as far away from adults as possible. In choosing to ignore the rules set down by the governor and our community in the pandemic, however, we are not just endangering individuals… we are also potentially harming the community at large,” Buckey wrote.
Marblehead High School students will learn remotely until at least Nov. 6, Buckey said. The hybrid learning model could restart Nov. 9 if no coronavirus cases are identified during that time, he said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Louisiana governor urges residents to prepare for Zeta

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards is urging storm-weary residents to prepare for the possibility that Tropical Storm Zeta could hit the state as a hurricane in the middle of the week .
Edwards said in a news release that his office is monitoring the forecast and will begin calls with the National Weather Service and parish emergency managers on Sunday .
He said it ’ s too early to know the storm ’ s exact path , but the current tracking cone includes southeast Louisiana .
The forecast also shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisiana has already been pummeled this year by Hurricanes Laura and Delta .
“ It is unfortunate we face another tropical threat this late in a very active season , ” Edwards said .
“ We must roll up our sleeves , like we always do , and prepare for a potential impact to Louisiana.
” Zeta stalled Sunday in the western Caribbean , but forecasters said it posed the risk of a rain-heavy hurricane for Mexico ’ s resort-dotted Yucatan Peninsula and the U.S. Gulf Coast .
Zeta was the earliest named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historic hurricane season .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is urging storm-weary residents to prepare for the possibility that Tropical Storm Zeta could hit the state as a hurricane in the middle of the week.
Edwards said in a news release that his office is monitoring the forecast and will begin calls with the National Weather Service and parish emergency managers on Sunday. He said it’s too early to know the storm’s exact path, but the current tracking cone includes southeast Louisiana. The forecast also shows Zeta becoming a hurricane before landfall.
Louisiana has already been pummeled this year by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
“It is unfortunate we face another tropical threat this late in a very active season,” Edwards said. “We must roll up our sleeves, like we always do, and prepare for a potential impact to Louisiana.”
Zeta stalled Sunday in the western Caribbean, but forecasters said it posed the risk of a rain-heavy hurricane for Mexico’s resort-dotted Yucatan Peninsula and the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Zeta was the earliest named 27th Atlantic storm recorded in an already historic hurricane season.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--New Yorkers line up for hours in 2nd day of early voting

ALBANY , N.Y. ( AP ) - Voters across New York waited in long lines for hours to cast their ballots in the second day of early voting in the presidential election on Sunday .
“ I heard that there was a tremendous number of people voting , which is very exciting , ” Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Sunday morning .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who waited in line for 90 minutes to cast her ballot at the Parkchester polling site in the Bronx on Sunday morning , called hourslong wait times at many polling locations unacceptable and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a thrill to see how many people who are overcoming this injustice waiting in the lines anyway , bringing community supplies , snacks , lawn chairs , ” the Democrat said at the site , where voters started arriving at 6 a.m. , four hours before the polls opened .
“ We are going to overcome this hurdle , so we can elect the folks that will make sure that this is not a problem in the future.
” The New York City Board of Elections said 93,830 people voted on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly double the total number for all nine days of early voting for the primaries in June .
The statewide total Saturday was also nearly double the total of the nine early-voting days in the June primaries , with an unofficial count of 211,898 , according to the state Board of Elections .
Early voting continues until Nov. 1 .
In Syracuse , voters lined up down the block outside a polling site at a community center Sunday morning .
Dustin Czarny , Onondaga County elections commissioner , said 8,473 of the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in to the polls as of 1:45 p.m. Sunday , surpassing the total votes on the first year of early voting in New York in 2019 .
In western New York , the Erie County Board of Elections reported that nearly 15,000 ballots were cast on the first day of early voting on Saturday , or 2.3 % of the county ’ s registered voters .
The Monroe County Board of Elections reported 9,503 voters cast their ballots Saturday .
In Albany County , 3,472 of the county ’ s 175,000 registered voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county board of elections .
Schenectady County said nearly 3,000 of the county ’ s 99,000 active registered voters cast ballots Saturday .
“ Other than seeing some long lines , we did not have any reports of any major issues , ” Beth Garvey , special counsel and senior advisor to Cuomo , said at midday Sunday .
Brian Warner , one of hundreds of masked people who stood in long lines at Albany County ’ s six polling places on Saturday , took the waiting in stride .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerts , we stand in line to buy tickets to sporting events , we stand in line to go to the movies , ” Warner told WTEN at a polling site in Cohoes .
“ Standing in line to vote is not a problem .
”

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Voters across New York waited in long lines for hours to cast their ballots in the second day of early voting in the presidential election on Sunday.
“I heard that there was a tremendous number of people voting, which is very exciting,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday morning.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who waited in line for 90 minutes to cast her ballot at the Parkchester polling site in the Bronx on Sunday morning, called hourslong wait times at many polling locations unacceptable and a form of voter suppression.
“It was a thrill to see how many people who are overcoming this injustice waiting in the lines anyway, bringing community supplies, snacks, lawn chairs,” the Democrat said at the site, where voters started arriving at 6 a.m., four hours before the polls opened. “We are going to overcome this hurdle, so we can elect the folks that will make sure that this is not a problem in the future.”
The New York City Board of Elections said 93,830 people voted on the first day of early voting Saturday, nearly double the total number for all nine days of early voting for the primaries in June.
The statewide total Saturday was also nearly double the total of the nine early-voting days in the June primaries, with an unofficial count of 211,898, according to the state Board of Elections. Early voting continues until Nov. 1.
In Syracuse, voters lined up down the block outside a polling site at a community center Sunday morning. Dustin Czarny, Onondaga County elections commissioner, said 8,473 of the county’s 328,052 registered voters had checked in to the polls as of 1:45 p.m. Sunday, surpassing the total votes on the first year of early voting in New York in 2019.
In western New York, the Erie County Board of Elections reported that nearly 15,000 ballots were cast on the first day of early voting on Saturday, or 2.3% of the county’s registered voters. The Monroe County Board of Elections reported 9,503 voters cast their ballots Saturday.
In Albany County, 3,472 of the county’s 175,000 registered voters cast ballots on Saturday, according to the county board of elections. Schenectady County said nearly 3,000 of the county’s 99,000 active registered voters cast ballots Saturday.
“Other than seeing some long lines, we did not have any reports of any major issues,” Beth Garvey, special counsel and senior advisor to Cuomo, said at midday Sunday.
Brian Warner, one of hundreds of masked people who stood in long lines at Albany County’s six polling places on Saturday, took the waiting in stride.
“We stand in line to buy tickets to concerts, we stand in line to buy tickets to sporting events, we stand in line to go to the movies,” Warner told WTEN at a polling site in Cohoes. “Standing in line to vote is not a problem.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Wisconsin health officials worry about contact tracing plans

APPLETON , Wis. ( AP ) - A key element of Wisconsin ’ s plan to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be difficult .
With an average of 3,400 daily cases reported in the last week in Wisconsin , and an additional 3,626 positive tests confirmed in Sunday ’ s update , contact tracers are now so overrun that some have begun to wonder whether they can keep up with the task at hand .
The total number of cases since the pandemic began is approaching 200,000 “ That ’ s a very valid question .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s been asked , ” said Kim Goffard , communicable disease nurse supervisor in Winnebago County , among the state ’ s hardest-hit places .
“ At what point is enough enough ?
” Some Wisconsin counties are so strapped that they ’ re now asking infected residents to reach out to their contacts themselves .
That ’ s why Dane County , the second-most populous in the state , said in a news release it has switched to a “ crisis model ” of contact tracing .
Officials at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide specific metrics about the success of Wisconsin ’ s tracing efforts , such as the percentage of people it has reached and how quickly , but recent press briefings have shown the difficulty of the job , the Post Crescent reported .
The department ’ s chief medical officer , Dr. Ryan Westergaard , told reporters last week that Wisconsin ’ s entire public health infrastructure “ can not keep up , ” including state , local and tribal health offices .
“ Public health is so strained that you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ( where the virus is ) , which is really , really not where we want to be , ” he said .
The state said it hasn ’ t given up .
It plans to hire more tracers who can chip in where spread is most rampant .
Local health departments are adjusting their priorities to protect the most at-risk populations , such as those in long-term care facilities or homeless shelters .
Even so , public health officials say the only way to get contact tracing back on track is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control the virus .
That means keeping circles small , wearing face masks , physically distancing and washing hands .

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) - A key element of Wisconsin’s plan to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be difficult.
With an average of 3,400 daily cases reported in the last week in Wisconsin, and an additional 3,626 positive tests confirmed in Sunday’s update, contact tracers are now so overrun that some have begun to wonder whether they can keep up with the task at hand. The total number of cases since the pandemic began is approaching 200,000
“That’s a very valid question. I’ve been in many meetings where it’s been asked,” said Kim Goffard, communicable disease nurse supervisor in Winnebago County, among the state’s hardest-hit places. “At what point is enough enough?”
Some Wisconsin counties are so strapped that they’re now asking infected residents to reach out to their contacts themselves. That’s why Dane County, the second-most populous in the state, said in a news release it has switched to a “crisis model” of contact tracing.
Officials at the state Department of Health Services have declined to provide specific metrics about the success of Wisconsin’s tracing efforts, such as the percentage of people it has reached and how quickly, but recent press briefings have shown the difficulty of the job, the Post Crescent reported.
The department’s chief medical officer, Dr. Ryan Westergaard, told reporters last week that Wisconsin’s entire public health infrastructure “cannot keep up,” including state, local and tribal health offices.
“Public health is so strained that you can’t count on us to tell you (where the virus is), which is really, really not where we want to be,” he said.
The state said it hasn’t given up. It plans to hire more tracers who can chip in where spread is most rampant. Local health departments are adjusting their priorities to protect the most at-risk populations, such as those in long-term care facilities or homeless shelters.
Even so, public health officials say the only way to get contact tracing back on track is for residents to increase their efforts to control the virus. That means keeping circles small, wearing face masks, physically distancing and washing hands.
“We control our destiny,” said Kurt Eggebrecht, Appleton’s city health officer.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--Typhoon displaces thousands, floods villages in Philippines

MANILA , Philippines ( AP ) - A fast-moving typhoon forced thousands of villagers to flee to safety in provinces south of the Philippine capital Monday , flooding rural villages and ripping off roofs , officials said .
There were no immediate reports of casualties from Typhoon Molave , but authorities reported at least one person was missing and seven others were rescued after their yacht sank off Batangas province south of Manila .
The typhoon has sustained winds of 125 kilometers ( 77 miles ) per hour and gusts of up to 180 kph ( 112 miles ) per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kph ( 15 mph ) .
Molave is expected to start blowing out of the country into the South China Sea on Monday , government forecasters said .
At least 25,000 villagers were displaced with about 20,000 taking shelter in schools and government buildings which were turned into evacuation centers , according to the Office of Civil Defense .
“ Villagers are now asking to be rescued because of the sudden wind which blew away roofs , ” Humerlito Dolor , governor of Oriental Mindoro province , told DZMM radio .
Dolor said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his province then fierce winds toppled trees and power posts early on Monday , knocking off power .
Authorities were clearing roads of fallen trees and debris in some towns after the typhoon passed , he said .
More than 1,800 cargo truck drivers , workers and passengers were stranded in ports after the coast guard barred ships and ferry boats from venturing into rough seas .
About 20 typhoons and storms annually batter the Philippines , and the Southeast Asian archipelago is seismically active , with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most disaster-prone countries .

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - A fast-moving typhoon blew away from the Philippines on Monday after leaving at least 13 people missing, forcing thousands of villagers to flee to safety and flooding rural villages, disaster-response officials said.
The 13 people missing from Typhoon Molave included a dozen fishermen who ventured out to sea over the weekend despite a no-sail restriction due to very rough seas. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The typhoon was blowing west toward the South China Sea with sustained winds of 125 kilometers (77 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 150 kph (93 mph). It roared overnight through island provinces south of the capital, Manila, which was lashed by strong winds but escaped major damage.
At least 25,000 villagers were displaced, with about 20,000 taking shelter in schools and government buildings that were turned into evacuation centers, the Office of Civil Defense said, but officials added that some have returned home in regions where the weather has cleared.
“Villagers are now asking to be rescued because of the sudden wind which blew away roofs,” Humerlito Dolor, governor of Oriental Mindoro province, told DZMM radio.
Dolor said pounding rains overnight swamped farming villages in his province then fierce winds toppled trees and power posts early on Monday, knocking out power. Authorities were clearing roads of fallen trees and debris in some towns after the typhoon passed, he said.
In the eastern province of Catanduanes, the 12 fishermen were reported missing after they failed to return home from a weekend fishing expedition, officials said.
A yacht sank off Batangas province, south of Manila, and the coast guard said it managed to rescue seven crewmen but was still searching for another crewmember.
A passenger and cargo vessel also ran aground on Bonito island off Batangas as the region was pounded by fierce wind and rain early Monday. The coast guard said its personnel were on the way to the island to pick up five crewmembers and tow the vessel back to coast.
More than 1,800 cargo truck drivers, workers and passengers were stranded in ports after the coast guard barred ships and ferry boats from venturing into rough seas, officials said. Some of the ports were later reopened as the weather cleared.
About 20 typhoons and storms annually batter the Philippines, and the Southeast Asian archipelago is seismically active, with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.


washingtontimes--2020-10-25--D.C. Public Schools' reopening plan concerns D.C. Council

The D.C. Council is pressing education officials on concerns about safety , transparency and equity as public schools prepare to have nearly 21,000 students return for in-person instruction next month .
During a public discussion Friday , council member Charles Allen told D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee that he thinks DCPS ’ “ lack of communication has left principals and school leaders blindsided , teachers anxious and feeling ignored , and parents confused and unsure about whether sending their students back to their classrooms is safe.
” Mr. Allen , Ward 6 Democrat , said he does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strong ” plan and suggested a “ school-centered model ” instead of a “ one size fits all ” approach .
Under the plan , nearly 21,000 randomly selected students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade will have the option to return to school in-person starting Nov. 9 .
The process reportedly will prioritize students with the “ highest needs.
” The District also will offer two at-school instruction options , which include being taught in-person by a teacher or virtually in a student Canvas Academics and Real Engagement ( CARE ) classroom supervised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher per grade level will teach in-person , which Mr. Allen said poses equity problems .
Mr. Ferebee said the plan offers the “ least disruptive model ” for the school system , adding that “ additional consideration ” will be taken for dual language schools to “ maintain integrity ” of the programs .
Council member David Grosso , at-large independent and chairman of the Education Committee , also questioned why CARE classrooms would be used instead of in-person instruction .
“ Providing more in-person learning classrooms or detailing more elementary teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disruption to our ability to have successful virtual learning for our students , which is why we look to our other staff members to assist us in providing supervision for the student CARE classrooms , ” Mr. Ferebee said .
Last Tuesday , the Public Employee Relations Board ruled that DCPS had five days to bargain with the Washington Teachers Union ( WTU ) on reopening plans related to “ health and safety matters.
” Mr. Ferebee said Friday that negotiations are almost complete , but two issues remain .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” who are “ outside of D.C. government ” to decide if a school should reopen , which DCPS will not agree to .
The other issue is the WTU wants teachers to determine “ whether they come to work in-person or not , ” and Mr. Ferebee said the city is “ not gon na agree to that.
” The option is reserved for those who have pre-existing health conditions or meet leave requirements .
“ If you do not qualify for any of those provisions , we can not simply say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work if you want to , ’ ” he said .
“ We can ’ t create a structure that working in-person is completely optional regardless of your situation.
” Members of the public were not allowed to speak during Friday ’ s two-hour , roundtable discussion , so the WTU held a rally outside City Hall during the meeting .
The union had sent hundreds of questions on the reopening plan to council members , a day after D.C .
Auditor Kathleen Patterson also had sent questions about the plan to lawmakers @

The D.C. Council is pressing education officials on concerns about safety, transparency and equity as public schools prepare to have nearly 21,000 students return for in-person instruction next month.
During a public discussion Friday, council member Charles Allen told D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee that he thinks DCPS’ “lack of communication has left principals and school leaders blindsided, teachers anxious and feeling ignored, and parents confused and unsure about whether sending their students back to their classrooms is safe.”
Mr. Allen, Ward 6 Democrat, said he does not have faith in DCPS’ “Reopen Strong” plan and suggested a “school-centered model” instead of a “one size fits all” approach.
Under the plan, nearly 21,000 randomly selected students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade will have the option to return to school in-person starting Nov. 9. The process reportedly will prioritize students with the “highest needs.”
The District also will offer two at-school instruction options, which include being taught in-person by a teacher or virtually in a student Canvas Academics and Real Engagement (CARE) classroom supervised by a non-instructional staff member. One teacher per grade level will teach in-person, which Mr. Allen said poses equity problems.
Mr. Ferebee said the plan offers the “least disruptive model” for the school system, adding that “additional consideration” will be taken for dual language schools to “maintain integrity” of the programs.
Council member David Grosso, at-large independent and chairman of the Education Committee, also questioned why CARE classrooms would be used instead of in-person instruction.
“Providing more in-person learning classrooms or detailing more elementary teachers to our CARE classrooms would provide more disruption to our ability to have successful virtual learning for our students, which is why we look to our other staff members to assist us in providing supervision for the student CARE classrooms,” Mr. Ferebee said.
Last Tuesday, the Public Employee Relations Board ruled that DCPS had five days to bargain with the Washington Teachers Union (WTU) on reopening plans related to “health and safety matters.”
Mr. Ferebee said Friday that negotiations are almost complete, but two issues remain. He said the union wants “individuals of the community” who are “outside of D.C. government” to decide if a school should reopen, which DCPS will not agree to.
The other issue is the WTU wants teachers to determine “whether they come to work in-person or not,” and Mr. Ferebee said the city is “not gonna agree to that.” The option is reserved for those who have pre-existing health conditions or meet leave requirements.
“If you do not qualify for any of those provisions, we cannot simply say to you, ‘You come to work if you want to,’” he said. “We can’t create a structure that working in-person is completely optional regardless of your situation.”
Members of the public were not allowed to speak during Friday’s two-hour, roundtable discussion, so the WTU held a rally outside City Hall during the meeting.
The union had sent hundreds of questions on the reopening plan to council members, a day after D.C. Auditor Kathleen Patterson also had sent questions about the plan to lawmakers.
• Emily Zantow can be reached at ezantow@washingtontimes.com.