washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Virus changes work, not goal, of Kosovo's NATO peacekeepers

PRISTINA , Kosovo ( AP ) — The coronavirus pandemic has reshaped the holiday celebrations of NATO ‘ s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo but left its role of more than two decades untouched .
The Kosovo Force ( KFOR ) mission was launched in 1999 at the end of a war between ethnic Albanian separatists and Serbian forces .
More than 3,300 troops from 27 countries still are stationed in Kosovo with the goal of keeping the population safe and promoting stability in the Western Balkans .
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 , a move that Belgrade doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides of the conflict have been accused of war crimes .
Kosovo ’ s president resigned last month to face charges at an international court in The Hague .
On Thursday , acting President Vjosa Osmani and U.S .
Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett had “ lunch and helped Santa deliver Christmas cards to soldiers , ” according to KFOR ’ s Facebook page .
Due to the pandemic , the peacekeeping mission ’ s headquarters in Kosovo ’ s capital , Pristina , has limited access and required masks .
Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kosovo Force Christmas celebrations , including when KFOR ’ s commander , Italian army Maj. Gen. Franco Federici , turned on the lights of a Christmas tree provided by a small Austrian town .
A church service with a limited number of military personnel and a lunch were held instead of the usual big Christmas party .
U.S. Army 1st Lt Parker Mooney , of Portland , Oregon , said he had no specific holiday plans this year .
“ I do miss my family , ” Mooney , 25 , conceded while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look forward to talking over Christmas ( to them ) with video.
” The unusual circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic were more difficult for Staff Sgt .
Luigi Rizzo , 45 , who left a young family behind in Rome when he deployed to Kosovo .
“ I have a little child who is waiting for me with my wife at home , ” Rizzo said .
“ I wish Merry Christmas to them , to my family that supports me here , and I take this occasion to wish you and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new year that will come with the vaccination , the solution of this problem.
” Kosovo has instituted an 8 p.m. nightly curfew to control infections .
While out on patrol , KFOR personnel have encouraged people on the capital ’ s main boulevard to respect virus-prevention measures , not an easy task with crowds out looking at holiday decorations and costumed Santas offering the soldiers fist bumps .
Staff Sgt .
Borut Zupevc , of Maribor , Slovenia , is spending his third Christmas away from family .
But he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season ever requiring so many adjustments or so much solitude .
Many meetings among the NATO peacekeepers and with the residents they are in Kosovo to protect were held online or postponed .
“ But anyway , it doesn ’ t affect our mission , ” Zupevc said .
Kosovo , a country of about 1.8 million people , has reported more than 49,440 confirmed virus cases and more than 1,270 deaths as of Christmas Eve .

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has reshaped the holiday celebrations of NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo but left its role of more than two decades untouched.
The Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission was launched in 1999 at the end of a war between ethnic Albanian separatists and Serbian forces. More than 3,300 troops from 27 countries still are stationed in Kosovo with the goal of keeping the population safe and promoting stability in the Western Balkans.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that Belgrade doesn’t recognize. Leaders from both sides of the conflict have been accused of war crimes. Kosovo’s president resigned last month to face charges at an international court in The Hague.
On Thursday, acting President Vjosa Osmani and U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Philip Kosnett had “lunch and helped Santa deliver Christmas cards to soldiers,” according to KFOR’s Facebook page.
Due to the pandemic, the peacekeeping mission’s headquarters in Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, has limited access and required masks. Associated Press journalists were not permitted to observe any Kosovo Force Christmas celebrations, including when KFOR’s commander, Italian army Maj. Gen. Franco Federici, turned on the lights of a Christmas tree provided by a small Austrian town.
A church service with a limited number of military personnel and a lunch were held instead of the usual big Christmas party.
U.S. Army 1st Lt Parker Mooney, of Portland, Oregon, said he had no specific holiday plans this year.
“I do miss my family,” Mooney, 25, conceded while on patrol in Pristina. “I look forward to talking over Christmas (to them) with video.”
The unusual circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic were more difficult for Staff Sgt. Luigi Rizzo, 45, who left a young family behind in Rome when he deployed to Kosovo.
“I have a little child who is waiting for me with my wife at home,” Rizzo said. “I wish Merry Christmas to them, to my family that supports me here, and I take this occasion to wish you and Kosovo, too, Merry Christmas and the new year that will come with the vaccination, the solution of this problem.”
Kosovo has instituted an 8 p.m. nightly curfew to control infections. While out on patrol, KFOR personnel have encouraged people on the capital’s main boulevard to respect virus-prevention measures, not an easy task with crowds out looking at holiday decorations and costumed Santas offering the soldiers fist bumps.
Staff Sgt. Borut Zupevc, of Maribor, Slovenia, is spending his third Christmas away from family. But he said he doesn’t remember the holiday season ever requiring so many adjustments or so much solitude. Many meetings among the NATO peacekeepers and with the residents they are in Kosovo to protect were held online or postponed.
“But anyway, it doesn’t affect our mission,” Zupevc said.
Kosovo, a country of about 1.8 million people, has reported more than 49,440 confirmed virus cases and more than 1,270 deaths as of Christmas Eve.
___
Semini reported from Tirana, Albania.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Russian professor sent to prison for killing student

ST. PETERSBURG , Russia ( AP ) - A court in St. Petersburg on Friday convicted a prominent history professor on charges of murdering and dismembering a female student and sentenced him to 12 1/2 years in prison .
The court found 64-year-old Oleg Sokolov , who taught at St. Petersburg State University , guilty of shooting and killing 24-year-old doctoral student Anastasia Yeshchenko at his apartment in November 2019 .
Sokolov was detained after being pulled from the Moika River outside his St. Petersburg apartment with a backpack with two severed arms inside .
The limbs were identified as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other body parts in the river and in Sokolov ’ s apartment in the historic part of St. Petersburg , less than a mile from the Hermitage Museum .
During the trial , Sokolov testified that he and Yeshchenko had a romantic relationship and that he shot her during a quarrel .
Sokolov was known for his books about the Napoleonic era and his enthusiastic participation in reenactments of historic battles , and his case attracted broad attention in Russia .
A fluent French speaker , Sokolov was a leading member of military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented Napoleon in numerous representations of historic battles and other events .
Sokolov ‘ s flamboyant style and fiery delivery made him popular among students , and he spoke about his passion for the Napoleonic era in TV interviews .
Napoleon was his idol and fellow history buffs would address him ‘ Sire , ’ the emperor ’ s title .

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) - A court in St. Petersburg on Friday convicted a prominent history professor on charges of murdering and dismembering a female student and sentenced him to 12 1/2 years in prison.
The court found 64-year-old Oleg Sokolov, who taught at St. Petersburg State University, guilty of shooting and killing 24-year-old doctoral student Anastasia Yeshchenko at his apartment in November 2019.
Sokolov was detained after being pulled from the Moika River outside his St. Petersburg apartment with a backpack with two severed arms inside.
The limbs were identified as Yeshchenko’s, and investigators found other body parts in the river and in Sokolov’s apartment in the historic part of St. Petersburg, less than a mile from the Hermitage Museum.
During the trial, Sokolov testified that he and Yeshchenko had a romantic relationship and that he shot her during a quarrel.
Prosecutors have requested a 15-year sentence.
Sokolov was known for his books about the Napoleonic era and his enthusiastic participation in reenactments of historic battles, and his case attracted broad attention in Russia.
A fluent French speaker, Sokolov was a leading member of military reenactment movements since the early 1990s and represented Napoleon in numerous representations of historic battles and other events.
Sokolov’s flamboyant style and fiery delivery made him popular among students, and he spoke about his passion for the Napoleonic era in TV interviews. Napoleon was his idol and fellow history buffs would address him ‘Sire,’ the emperor’s title.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Rockford's Riverview Ice House to be renovated, not closed

ROCKFORD , Ill. ( AP ) - There ’ s some good news for ice hockey players and figure skaters who have called the Riverview Ice House in downtown Rockford home for years .
The Rockford Park District that had planned to shutter the Ice House and consolidate its skating programs at Carlson Ice Arena in Loves Park has decided instead to renovate the 45-year-old facility .
The Rockford Register Star reported that $ 2.5 million of the $ 6 million project will come from a state grant pushed by state Sen. Steve Stadelman of Rockford .
That money will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refrigeration system , locker rooms and the boards that surround its two rinks .
“ I ’ m making that commitment because I believe Riverview continues to be an important tourism destination for our region and a vital economic anchor for our urban core , ” the Rockford Democrat said in a news release .
The park district that will be responsible for the remaining $ 3.5 million will get help from SupplyCore CEO Rock River Development Partnership Chairman Peter Provenzano and his wife Heather , and from the Koch family of Rockford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year for 10 years and the Koch family has pledged $ 20,000 a year for 10 years .

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - There’s some good news for ice hockey players and figure skaters who have called the Riverview Ice House in downtown Rockford home for years.
The Rockford Park District that had planned to shutter the Ice House and consolidate its skating programs at Carlson Ice Arena in Loves Park has decided instead to renovate the 45-year-old facility.
The Rockford Register Star reported that $2.5 million of the $6 million project will come from a state grant pushed by state Sen. Steve Stadelman of Rockford. That money will go toward replacing the facility’s refrigeration system, locker rooms and the boards that surround its two rinks.
“I’m making that commitment because I believe Riverview continues to be an important tourism destination for our region and a vital economic anchor for our urban core,” the Rockford Democrat said in a news release.
The park district that will be responsible for the remaining $3.5 million will get help from SupplyCore CEO Rock River Development Partnership Chairman Peter Provenzano and his wife Heather, and from the Koch family of Rockford. The Provenzanos have pledged $100,000 a year for 10 years and the Koch family has pledged $20,000 a year for 10 years.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Chicago area private college lays off 51, closes 15 programs

CHICAGO ( AP ) - A liberal arts college in suburban Chicago has laid off 51 faculty and staff members and closed more than a dozen academic programs because of budget concerns exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic .
Concordia University Chicago , located in River Forest , is offering retirement and severance packages to those who were laid off , left their jobs or had their positions eliminated , according to The Chicago Tribune .
University officials declined to detail what was in the packages .
Fifteen programs are on the chopping block , including chemistry , business communication , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email sent to students .
Current students will be able to complete their degrees , potentially with partnerships at nearby schools , but new students won ’ t be able to enroll .
University President Russell Dawn said during a recent online forum with students that the Board of Regents made the decision final earlier this month following a two year evaluation , according to the newspaper .
Dawn said new costs for changing to remote learning and other expenses related to the pandemic accelerated problems and without changes a financial crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long and challenging process , ” Dawn said .
“ It involved people from a variety of areas across the institution .
It involved a great deal of data .
We actually had consultants come in and help us put together the data we would need in order to do a really thorough job of it.
” Still , some students said the move took them by surprise .
Esmeralda Torres , 20 , who is studying business said she was disappointed .
“ A lot of people were upset , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Torres , a senior .
“ I have a lot of respect and admiration for the faculty members at Concordia , and at the end of the day , they are not in control of what ’ s going on.
” More than 6,000 students attend the private Lutheran school , which among the eight institutions of the national Concordia University System .

CHICAGO (AP) - A liberal arts college in suburban Chicago has laid off 51 faculty and staff members and closed more than a dozen academic programs because of budget concerns exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Concordia University Chicago, located in River Forest, is offering retirement and severance packages to those who were laid off, left their jobs or had their positions eliminated, according to The Chicago Tribune. University officials declined to detail what was in the packages.
Fifteen programs are on the chopping block, including chemistry, business communication, graphic arts and theater, according to an email sent to students. Current students will be able to complete their degrees, potentially with partnerships at nearby schools, but new students won’t be able to enroll.
University President Russell Dawn said during a recent online forum with students that the Board of Regents made the decision final earlier this month following a two year evaluation, according to the newspaper.
Dawn said new costs for changing to remote learning and other expenses related to the pandemic accelerated problems and without changes a financial crisis was looming.
“It was a long and challenging process,” Dawn said. “It involved people from a variety of areas across the institution. It involved a great deal of data. We actually had consultants come in and help us put together the data we would need in order to do a really thorough job of it.”
Still, some students said the move took them by surprise.
Esmeralda Torres, 20, who is studying business said she was disappointed.
“A lot of people were upset, and I don’t blame them,” said Torres, a senior. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for the faculty members at Concordia, and at the end of the day, they are not in control of what’s going on.”
More than 6,000 students attend the private Lutheran school, which among the eight institutions of the national Concordia University System.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--South Africa's virus variant drives holiday surge of cases

JOHANNESBURG ( AP ) - South Africa ’ s normally joyful and lively Christmas celebrations have been dampened by the spike in new cases and deaths driven by the country ’ s variant of COVID-19 .
A record number of 14,305 news cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours , and with no sign of South Africa reaching a peak , threatening the country ’ s health systems , experts said .
South Africa has a cumulative total of 968,563 confirmed cases , including 25,983 deaths , by far the most cases in all of Africa .
Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion people , have together reported more than 2.59 million cases , including more than 61,000 deaths , according to figures released Friday by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
South Africa ’ s 7-day rolling average of daily new cases has more than doubled in the past two weeks from 8.65 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 10 to 18.25 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 24 .
The South African variant , 501.V2 , is more infectious than the original COVID-19 virus and is dominant in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disease , South Africa has imposed measures including closing many large public beaches , requiring masks in public areas , restricting sales of alcohol to four days a week and enforcing a nighttime curfew from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m .
However , the quickening pace of the spread of the disease is bringing experts to urge stricter measures .
“ We do need to think of additional restrictions , so that it ’ s clear to people the seriousness of the current situation , ” infectious diseases expert Dr. Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because already many hospitals in many parts of the country are extremely stretched.
” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Friday , in a Christmas message to the country , rejected a suggestion by Britain ’ s health minister that South Africa ’ s variant had contributed to Britain ’ s variant .
Mkhize said that statements by Britain ’ s Secretary for Health , Matt Hancock , had created a perception that the variant in South Africa has been a major factor in the second wave in U.K. “ This is not correct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variant developed earlier than the South African variant , ” Mkhize said .
There is no evidence to suggest the South African variant is more transmissible , causes more severe disease or increased mortality than Britain ’ s variant or any other variant that has been sequenced in the world , said Mkhize .
He also said he was against travel bans .
“ It is the widely shared view of the scientific community that , given the current circumstantial evidence , the risks of travel bans may outweigh the benefits , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variants while sustaining international travel , ” he said .
“ Banning travel between the U.K. and South Africa is an unfortunate decision , ” said Mkhize in his statement .
“ There is no evidence that the South African variant is more pathogenic than the U.K. variant to necessitate this step.
” Mkhize noted that South Africa is part of a group of “ countries that are leading in the field of genomic surveillance : Australia , Denmark , the Netherlands , South Africa and the United Kingdom.
” Leading South Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Oliveira who is studying the new variant .
“ I ’ ll be spending Christmas in my lab , ” de Oliveira told AP .
“ We ’ ll be working throughout the whole holiday season on this research.
” Other African countries are also battling a resurgence of the disease .
Nigeria has also reported a new variant of the virus and is battling a resurgence of the disease .
The country had reported more than 81,200 cumulative cases on Friday .
Nigeria ’ s 7-day rolling average of daily new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks from 0.21 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 10 to 0.40 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 24 .

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South Africa’s normally joyful and lively Christmas celebrations have been dampened by the spike in new cases and deaths driven by the country’s variant of COVID-19.
A record number of 14,305 news cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours, and with no sign of South Africa reaching a peak, threatening the country’s health systems, experts said.
South Africa has a cumulative total of 968,563 confirmed cases, including 25,983 deaths, by far the most cases in all of Africa. Africa’s 54 countries, representing 1.3 billion people, have together reported more than 2.59 million cases, including more than 61,000 deaths, according to figures released Friday by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
South Africa’s 7-day rolling average of daily new cases has more than doubled in the past two weeks from 8.65 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 10 to 18.25 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 24.
The South African variant, 501.V2, is more infectious than the original COVID-19 virus and is dominant in the country.
To combat the resurgence of the disease, South Africa has imposed measures including closing many large public beaches, requiring masks in public areas, restricting sales of alcohol to four days a week and enforcing a nighttime curfew from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. However, the quickening pace of the spread of the disease is bringing experts to urge stricter measures.
“We do need to think of additional restrictions, so that it’s clear to people the seriousness of the current situation,” infectious diseases expert Dr. Richard Lessells told The Associated Press. “Because already many hospitals in many parts of the country are extremely stretched.”
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, in a Christmas message to the country on Friday urged all South Africans to take preventive measures to slow the spread of the virus. Mkhize also issued a message on Christmas Eve in which he rejected a suggestion by Britain’s health minister that South Africa’s variant had contributed to Britain’s variant.
Mkhize said that statements by Britain’s Secretary for Health, Matt Hancock, had created a perception that the variant in South Africa has been a major factor in the second wave in U.K.
“This is not correct. There is evidence that the U.K. variant developed earlier than the South African variant,” Mkhize said.
There is no evidence to suggest the South African variant is more transmissible, causes more severe disease or increased mortality than Britain’s variant or any other variant that has been sequenced in the world, said Mkhize.
He also said he was against travel bans.
“It is the widely shared view of the scientific community that, given the current circumstantial evidence, the risks of travel bans may outweigh the benefits, and that it is possible to contain the variants while sustaining international travel,” he said.
“Banning travel between the U.K. and South Africa is an unfortunate decision,” said Mkhize in his statement. “There is no evidence that the South African variant is more pathogenic than the U.K. variant to necessitate this step.”
Mkhize noted that South Africa is part of a group of “countries that are leading in the field of genomic surveillance: Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, South Africa and the United Kingdom.”
Leading South Africa’s genomic research is Professor Tulio de Oliveira who is leading a team of scientists studying the genomic sequencing of the new variant.
“I’ll be spending Christmas in my lab,” de Oliveira told AP. “We’ll be working throughout the whole holiday season on this research.”
Other African countries are also battling a resurgence of the disease.
Nigeria has also reported a new variant of the virus and is battling a resurgence of the disease. The country had reported more than 81,200 cumulative cases on Friday. Nigeria’s 7-day rolling average of daily new cases has risen over the past two weeks from 0.21 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 10 to 0.40 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 24.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Belarus allows Roman Catholic archbishop to return

MOSCOW ( AP ) - Belarusian authorities have allowed a Roman Catholic priest to return to the country after denying @ @ @ @ @ Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk and Mohilev arrived in Belarus on Thursday .
Kondrusiewicz was @ @ @ @ @ nation for nearly four months after his criticism of the Belarusian authorities ’ crackdown on @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s authoritarian leader .
Kondrusiewicz was denied entry on Aug. 31 while @ @ @ @ @ from a trip to Poland .
The next day , Belarus ’ authoritarian President Alexander @ @ @ @ @ of “ delving into politics and dragging believers ” into it .
Lukashenko ’ s @ @ @ @ @ in the Aug. 9 presidential vote was widely seen as fraudulent , sparking massive protests @ @ @ @ @ , despite a brutal police crackdown that has seen over 30,000 protesters detained .
The @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko ’ s meeting earlier this month with a top Vatican diplomat who visited Minsk @

MOSCOW (AP) - Belarusian authorities have allowed a Roman Catholic priest to return to the country after denying him entry for months.
Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk and Mohilev arrived in Belarus on Thursday. Kondrusiewicz was barred from entering the ex-Soviet nation for nearly four months after his criticism of the Belarusian authorities’ crackdown on protests demanding the resignation of the country’s authoritarian leader.
Kondrusiewicz was denied entry on Aug. 31 while he was returning to Belarus from a trip to Poland. The next day, Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko accused the 74-year-old archbishop of “delving into politics and dragging believers” into it.
Lukashenko’s reelection to a sixth term in the Aug. 9 presidential vote was widely seen as fraudulent, sparking massive protests that have continued since then, despite a brutal police crackdown that has seen over 30,000 protesters detained.
The archbishop’s return followed Lukashenko’s meeting earlier this month with a top Vatican diplomat who visited Minsk.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Explosion rocks downtown Nashville

Explosion rocks downtown Nashville

NASHVILLE ( AP ) - Emergency crews have responded to an explosion in downtown Nashville .
Black smoke and flames were seen billowing from the area .
Buildings shook in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom was heard early Christmas morning .
Police and fire crews were on the scene .
The Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management told Nashville television station WKRN that a parked recreational vehicle exploded and damaged several buildings .
No injuries were immediately reported .
The station also quoted officials as saying the explosion did not seem suspicious .
Buck McCoy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos on Facebook that show water pouring down the ceiling of his home .
Alarms blare in the background and cries of people in great distress ring in the background .
A fire is visible in the street outside .
McCoy said the windows of his home were entirely blown out .
“ All my windows , every single one of them got blown into the next room .
If I had been standing there it would have been horrible , ” he said .
“ It felt like a bomb .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press .
“ There were about four cars on fire .
I don ’ t know if it was so hot they just caught on fire , and the trees were all blown apart , ” he said .
Associated Press writer Thalia Beaty contributed from New York .

NASHVILLE (AP) — Authorities believe an explosion that rocked the downtown Nashville area early on Christmas Day was a deliberate act, according to Metro Nashville Police Department.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said the 6:30 a.m. explosion, which shattered glass and damaged buildings, was believed to be “an intentional act.” Police earlier said they believe a vehicle was involved in the explosion. He said three people were taken to area hospitals for treatment, although none were in critical condition.
Police and fire crews were on the scene, as were investigators from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“Right now, it’s a public safety concern, to make sure everybody is accounted for and to make sure the spread of the fire doesn’t go any further,” Michael Knight, a spokesman for the ATF in Nashville, told The Associated Press.
Black smoke and flames were seen early Friday billowing from the area, which is packed with bars, restaurants and other retail establishments and is known as the heart of downtown Nashville’s tourist scene.
Buildings shook in the immediate area and beyond after a loud boom was heard.
Buck McCoy, who lives near the area, posted videos on Facebook that show water pouring down the ceiling of his home. Alarms blare in the background and cries of people in great distress ring in the background. A fire is visible in the street outside. McCoy said the windows of his home were entirely blown out.
“All my windows, every single one of them got blown into the next room. If I had been standing there it would have been horrible,” he said.
“It felt like a bomb. It was that big,” he told The Associated Press.
“There were about four cars on fire. I don’t know if it was so hot they just caught on fire, and the trees were all blown apart,” he said.
___
Associated Press writer Thalia Beaty contributed from New York.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Baltimore mayor appoints city's 1st chief equity officer

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - Baltimore ’ s mayor has appointed the city ’ s first cabinet-level official tasked with advancing equity across all agencies , board and commissions .
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott this week announced acting city solicitor Dana Moore will serve as chief equity officer and lead the existing Office of Equity and Civil Rights .
Moore ’ s new responsibilities include upholding local and federal civil rights and wage laws , as well as providing oversight of the Baltimore Police Department .
“ Baltimore ’ s legacy of inequitable policies and practices has been further exacerbated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Scott said in a statement .
“ Over this term and beyond , we must be unafraid to confront our past and lay the foundation for an equitable city.
” Moore is the first woman to serve as acting city solicitor .
During her tenure , which began in March , Baltimore settled several lawsuits stemming from a rogue police unit that brutalized , robbed and falsely arrested residents .
She has also been involved in the city ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic , helping convert the Baltimore Convention Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to turn hotels into respite sites .
Scott , who was sworn into office earlier this month , also announced that attorney Jim Shea will succeed Moore as city solicitor .
Shea , chairman emeritus of the Venable law firm , will lead the law department and sit on the city ’ s spending board .
Shea tapped Scott to be his running mate during the 2018 Democratic primary for governor .

BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore’s mayor has appointed the city’s first cabinet-level official tasked with advancing equity across all agencies, board and commissions.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott this week announced acting city solicitor Dana Moore will serve as chief equity officer and lead the existing Office of Equity and Civil Rights. Moore’s new responsibilities include upholding local and federal civil rights and wage laws, as well as providing oversight of the Baltimore Police Department.
“Baltimore’s legacy of inequitable policies and practices has been further exacerbated by the current public health pandemic,” Scott said in a statement. “Over this term and beyond, we must be unafraid to confront our past and lay the foundation for an equitable city.”
Moore is the first woman to serve as acting city solicitor. During her tenure, which began in March, Baltimore settled several lawsuits stemming from a rogue police unit that brutalized, robbed and falsely arrested residents.
She has also been involved in the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, helping convert the Baltimore Convention Center into a field hospital and negotiating contracts to turn hotels into respite sites.
Scott, who was sworn into office earlier this month, also announced that attorney Jim Shea will succeed Moore as city solicitor. Shea, chairman emeritus of the Venable law firm, will lead the law department and sit on the city’s spending board.
Shea tapped Scott to be his running mate during the 2018 Democratic primary for governor.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--After early success, S. Korea sleepwalks into virus crisis

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) - South Korea had seemed to be winning the fight against the coronavirus : Quickly ramping up its testing , contact-tracing and quarantine efforts paid off when it weathered an early outbreak without the economic pain of a lockdown .
But a deadly resurgence has reached new heights during Christmas week , prompting soul-searching on how the nation sleepwalked into a crisis .
The 1,241 infections on Christmas Day were the largest daily increase .
Another 1,132 cases were reported Saturday , bringing South Korea ’ s caseload to 55,902 .
Over 15,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone .
An additional 221 fatalities over the same period , the deadliest stretch , took the death toll to 793 .
As the numbers keep rising , the shock to people ’ s livelihoods is deepening and public confidence in the government eroding .
Officials could decide to increase social distancing measures to maximum levels on Sunday , after resisting for weeks .
Tighter restrictions could be inevitable because transmissions have been outpacing efforts to expand hospital capacities .
In the greater Seoul area , more facilities have been designated for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been ordered to allocate more ICUs for virus patients .
Hundreds of troops have been deployed to help with contract tracing .
At least four patients have died at their homes or long-term care facilities while waiting for admission this month , said Kwak Jin , an official at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency .
The agency said 299 among 16,577 active patients were in serious or critical condition .
“ Our hospital system isn ’ t going to collapse , but the crush in COVID-19 patients has significantly hampered our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an infectious disease professor at the Korea University Ansan Hospital , west of Seoul .
Choi said the government should have done more to prepare hospitals for a winter surge .
“ We have patients with all kinds of serious illnesses at our ICUs and they can ’ t share any space with COVID-19 patients , so it ’ s hard , ” Choi said .
“ It ’ s the same medical staff that has been fighting the virus for all these months .
There ’ s an accumulation of fatigue.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moon Jae-in became complacent after swiftly containing the outbreak this spring that was centered in the southeastern city of Daegu .
The past weeks have underscored risks of putting economic concerns before public health when vaccines are at least months away .
Officials had eased social distancing rules to their lowest in October , allowing high-risk venues like clubs and karaoke rooms to reopen , although experts were warning of a viral surge during winter when people spend longer hours indoors .
Jaehun Jung , a professor of preventive medicine at the Gachon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he anticipates infections to gradually slow over the next two weeks .
The quiet streets and long lines snaking around testing stations in Seoul , which are temporarily providing free tests to anyone regardless of whether they have symptoms or clear reasons to suspect infections , demonstrate a return of public alertness following months of pandemic fatigue .
Officials are also clamping down on private social gatherings through Jan. 3 , shutting down ski resorts , prohibiting hotels from selling more than half of their rooms and setting fines for restaurants if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
Still , lowering transmissions to the levels seen in early November - 100 to 200 a day - would be unrealistic , Jung said , anticipating the daily figure to settle around 300 to 500 cases .
The higher baseline might necessitate tightened social distancing until vaccines roll out - a dreadful outlook for low-income workers and the self-employed who drive the country ’ s service sector , the part of the economy the virus has damaged the most .
“ The government should do whatever to secure enough supplies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the earliest possible point , ” Jung said .
South Korea plans to secure around 86 million doses of vaccines next year , which would be enough to cover 46 million people in a population of 51 million .
The first supplies , which will be AstraZeneca vaccines produced by a local manufacturing partner , are expected to be delivered in February and March .
Officials plan to complete vaccinating 60 % to 70 % of the population by around November .
There ’ s disappointment the shots aren ’ t coming sooner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could afford a wait-and-see approach as its outbreak isn ’ t as dire as in America or Europe .
South Korea ’ s earlier success could be attributed to its experience in fighting a 2015 outbreak of MERS , the Middle East respiratory syndrome , caused by a different coronavirus .
After South Korea reported its first COVID-19 patient on Jan. 20 , the KDCA was quick to recognize the importance of mass testing and sped up an approval process that had private companies producing millions of tests in just weeks .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February and March , health authorities managed to contain the situation by April after aggressively mobilizing technological tools to trace contacts and enforce quarantines .
But that success was also a product of luck - most infections in Daegu were linked to a single church congregation .
Health workers now are having a much harder time tracking transmissions in the populous capital area , where clusters are popping up just about everywhere .
South Korea has so far weathered its outbreak without lockdowns , but a decision on Sunday to raise distancing restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly shutter hundreds of thousands of non-essential businesses across the nation .
That could be for the best , said Yoo Eun-sun , who is struggling to pay rent for three small music tutoring academies she runs in Incheon and Siheung , also near Seoul , amid a dearth of students and on-and-off shutdowns .
“ What parents would send their kids to piano lessons ” unless transmissions decrease quickly and decisively , she said .
Yoo also feels that the government ’ s middling approach to social distancing , which has targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the economy open , has put an unfair financial burden on businesses like hers .
“ Whether it ’ s tutoring academies , gyms , yoga studies or karaokes , the same set of businesses are getting hit again and again , ” she said .
“ How long could we go on ?
”

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea had seemed to be winning the fight against the coronavirus: Quickly ramping up its testing, contact-tracing and quarantine efforts paid off when it weathered an early outbreak without the economic pain of a lockdown. But a deadly resurgence has reached new heights during Christmas week, prompting soul-searching on how the nation sleepwalked into a crisis.
The 1,241 infections on Christmas Day were the largest daily increase. Another 1,132 cases were reported Saturday, bringing South Korea’s caseload to 55,902.
Over 15,000 were added in the last 15 days alone. An additional 221 fatalities over the same period, the deadliest stretch, took the death toll to 793.
As the numbers keep rising, the shock to people’s livelihoods is deepening and public confidence in the government eroding. Officials could decide to increase social distancing measures to maximum levels on Sunday, after resisting for weeks.
Tighter restrictions could be inevitable because transmissions have been outpacing efforts to expand hospital capacities.
In the greater Seoul area, more facilities have been designated for COVID-19 treatment and dozens of general hospitals have been ordered to allocate more ICUs for virus patients. Hundreds of troops have been deployed to help with contract tracing.
At least four patients have died at their homes or long-term care facilities while waiting for admission this month, said Kwak Jin, an official at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The agency said 299 among 16,577 active patients were in serious or critical condition.
“Our hospital system isn’t going to collapse, but the crush in COVID-19 patients has significantly hampered our response,” said Choi Won Suk, an infectious disease professor at the Korea University Ansan Hospital, west of Seoul.
Choi said the government should have done more to prepare hospitals for a winter surge.
“We have patients with all kinds of serious illnesses at our ICUs and they can’t share any space with COVID-19 patients, so it’s hard,” Choi said. “It’s the same medical staff that has been fighting the virus for all these months. There’s an accumulation of fatigue.”
Critics say the government of President Moon Jae-in became complacent after swiftly containing the outbreak this spring that was centered in the southeastern city of Daegu.
The past weeks have underscored risks of putting economic concerns before public health when vaccines are at least months away. Officials had eased social distancing rules to their lowest in October, allowing high-risk venues like clubs and karaoke rooms to reopen, although experts were warning of a viral surge during winter when people spend longer hours indoors.
Jaehun Jung, a professor of preventive medicine at the Gachon University College of Medicine in Incheon, said he anticipates infections to gradually slow over the next two weeks.
The quiet streets and long lines snaking around testing stations in Seoul, which are temporarily providing free tests to anyone regardless of whether they have symptoms or clear reasons to suspect infections, demonstrate a return of public alertness following months of pandemic fatigue.
Officials are also clamping down on private social gatherings through Jan. 3, shutting down ski resorts, prohibiting hotels from selling more than half of their rooms and setting fines for restaurants if they accept groups of five or more people.
Still, lowering transmissions to the levels seen in early November - 100 to 200 a day - would be unrealistic, Jung said, anticipating the daily figure to settle around 300 to 500 cases.
The higher baseline might necessitate tightened social distancing until vaccines roll out - a dreadful outlook for low-income workers and the self-employed who drive the country’s service sector, the part of the economy the virus has damaged the most.
“The government should do whatever to secure enough supplies and move up the administration of vaccines to the earliest possible point,” Jung said.
South Korea plans to secure around 86 million doses of vaccines next year, which would be enough to cover 46 million people in a population of 51 million. The first supplies, which will be AstraZeneca vaccines produced by a local manufacturing partner, are expected to be delivered in February and March. Officials plan to complete vaccinating 60% to 70% of the population by around November.
There’s disappointment the shots aren’t coming sooner, though officials have insisted South Korea could afford a wait-and-see approach as its outbreak isn’t as dire as in America or Europe.
South Korea’s earlier success could be attributed to its experience in fighting a 2015 outbreak of MERS, the Middle East respiratory syndrome, caused by a different coronavirus.
After South Korea reported its first COVID-19 patient on Jan. 20, the KDCA was quick to recognize the importance of mass testing and sped up an approval process that had private companies producing millions of tests in just weeks.
When infections soared in the Daegu region in February and March, health authorities managed to contain the situation by April after aggressively mobilizing technological tools to trace contacts and enforce quarantines.
But that success was also a product of luck - most infections in Daegu were linked to a single church congregation. Health workers now are having a much harder time tracking transmissions in the populous capital area, where clusters are popping up just about everywhere.
South Korea has so far weathered its outbreak without lockdowns, but a decision on Sunday to raise distancing restrictions to the highest “Tier-3” could possibly shutter hundreds of thousands of non-essential businesses across the nation.
That could be for the best, said Yoo Eun-sun, who is struggling to pay rent for three small music tutoring academies she runs in Incheon and Siheung, also near Seoul, amid a dearth of students and on-and-off shutdowns.
“What parents would send their kids to piano lessons” unless transmissions decrease quickly and decisively, she said.
Yoo also feels that the government’s middling approach to social distancing, which has targeted specific business activities while keeping the broader part of the economy open, has put an unfair financial burden on businesses like hers.
“Whether it’s tutoring academies, gyms, yoga studies or karaokes, the same set of businesses are getting hit again and again,” she said. “How long could we go on?”


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--4 arrested in Mexico crash that killed current, ex-governor

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Four people have been arrested in connection with the 2018 crash of a helicopter that killed a central Mexican governor and her husband - who had preceded her as governor - authorities said Friday .
The Agusta 109 helicopter crashed in flames 10 minutes after takeoff on Dec. 24 that year while carrying newly installed Puebla Gov .
Martha Erika Alonso and her husband , former Gov .
Rafael Moreno Valle , as well as three other people .
The Puebla state prosecutor ’ s office said the four suspects worked for a Rotor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the functioning of the aircraft , ” It said the suspects were accused of culpable homicide , damage to another ’ s property and false testimony .
The Mexico City prosecutor ’ s office said Friday the woman detained in the capital had been in charge of the shop where the helicopter had received maintenance .
Mexico ’ s then secretary of communications and transportation , Javier Jiménez Espriú , said in March 2019 that investigators had concluded the crash was probably caused by a technical problem known to the company that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it should not have flown.
” He said maintenance records showed a preexisting problem involving stability systems and a piece inside with two loose screws .
The crash prompted political suspicion because Moreno Valle was a rising figure in the opposition National Action Party , which had governed Mexico from 2000 to 2012..That party went on to lose the state election held to replace Alonso .
Her own victory in 2018 had been challenged by the party of current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador , but was upheld .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Four people have been arrested in connection with the 2018 crash of a helicopter that killed a central Mexican governor and her husband - who had preceded her as governor - authorities said Friday.
The Agusta 109 helicopter crashed in flames 10 minutes after takeoff on Dec. 24 that year while carrying newly installed Puebla Gov. Martha Erika Alonso and her husband, former Gov. Rafael Moreno Valle, as well as three other people.
The Puebla state prosecutor’s office said the four suspects worked for a Rotor Flight Services, a company “related to the functioning of the aircraft,” It said the suspects were accused of culpable homicide, damage to another’s property and false testimony.
The Mexico City prosecutor’s office said Friday the woman detained in the capital had been in charge of the shop where the helicopter had received maintenance.
Mexico’s then secretary of communications and transportation, Javier Jiménez Espriú, said in March 2019 that investigators had concluded the crash was probably caused by a technical problem known to the company that operated the helicopter and said, “it should not have flown.”
He said maintenance records showed a preexisting problem involving stability systems and a piece inside with two loose screws.
The crash prompted political suspicion because Moreno Valle was a rising figure in the opposition National Action Party, which had governed Mexico from 2000 to 2012..That party went on to lose the state election held to replace Alonso.
Her own victory in 2018 had been challenged by the party of current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but was upheld.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Kamara's 6 TDs tie NFL record; Saints beat Vikings 52-33

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) - Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record by running for six touchdowns in a game and finished with a career-high 155 yards rushing to help New Orleans beat the Minnesota Vikings 52-33 on Friday and clinch a fourth straight NFC South title .
Wearing different colored shoes - one red and one green on Christmas Day - Kamara sprinted for a 40-yard touchdown on the game ’ s opening drive .
He added scoring runs of 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 and 3 yards against a Minnesota defensive front hit hard by injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall of Fame fullback Ernie Nevers in 1929 for the Chicago Cardinals .
“ The offensive line gets the game ball for sure , kudos to them , ” Kamara said .
“ Sean ( Payton , the Saints coach ) dialed it up , I did the small part .
“ Today was a great day , we got out first goal , division title .
Gon na take it from there.
” Minnesota ( 6-9 ) was eliminated from playoff contention while allowing the most points by any Vikings team since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never punted , and set a record of yards gained in a game by a Vikings opponent with 583 .
They might have won by a greater margin if not for a pair interceptions of Drew Brees , one of them on a pass that deflected off receiver Emmanuel Sanders ’ hands .
Brees completed 19 of 26 throws for 311 yards in his second game back from rib and lung injuries that had sidelined him for four games .
Sanders had four catches for 83 yards , while tight end Jared Cook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Orleans ‘ 264 yards rushing were the most by a Vikings opponent in head coach Mike Zimmer ’ s seven seasons .
New Orleans native Irv Smith Jr. caught a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter for the Vikings , the second pulling Minnesota to 31-27 .
But the Saints responded with two short touchdown runs by Kamara and one by reserve QB Taysom Hill in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach .
Kirk Cousins passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Kamara ’ s second TD in the first quarter .
In a game that saw both defenses struggle , Saints receiver Marquez Callaway made a play that any defensive back would appreciate when he prevented Eric Wilson from intercepting a pass Brees thrown right at the linebacker .
Brees took advantage of the second chance , hitting Callaway for 11 yards on the next play and then finding Cook for a 19-yard gain to the Vikings 6 .
That set up Kamara ’ s third TD run of the half to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota did not report any injuries .
Saints : LB Kwan Alexander injured his right ankle late in the third quarter .
He was initially helped off the field but later took a cart from the sideline to the locker room .
Vikings : visit Detroit on Jan. 3 , the final Sunday of the regular season .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record by running for six touchdowns in a game and finished with a career-high 155 yards rushing to help New Orleans beat the Minnesota Vikings 52-33 on Friday and clinch a fourth straight NFC South title.
Wearing different colored shoes - one red and one green on Christmas Day - Kamara sprinted for a 40-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive. He added scoring runs of 1, 5, 6, 7 and 3 yards against a Minnesota defensive front hit hard by injuries.
Kamara equaled a record set by Hall of Fame fullback Ernie Nevers in 1929 for the Chicago Cardinals.
“The offensive line gets the game ball for sure, kudos to them,” Kamara said. “Sean (Payton, the Saints coach) dialed it up, I did the small part.
“Today was a great day, we got out first goal, division title. Gonna take it from there.”
Minnesota (6-9) was eliminated from playoff contention while allowing the most points by any Vikings team since 1963.
The Saints (11-4) never punted, and set a record of yards gained in a game by a Vikings opponent with 583. They might have won by a greater margin if not for a pair interceptions of Drew Brees, one of them on a pass that deflected off receiver Emmanuel Sanders’ hands.
Brees completed 19 of 26 throws for 311 yards in his second game back from rib and lung injuries that had sidelined him for four games.
Sanders had four catches for 83 yards, while tight end Jared Cook caught three passes for 82 yards. New Orleans’ 264 yards rushing were the most by a Vikings opponent in head coach Mike Zimmer’s seven seasons.
New Orleans native Irv Smith Jr. caught a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter for the Vikings, the second pulling Minnesota to 31-27. But the Saints responded with two short touchdown runs by Kamara and one by reserve QB Taysom Hill in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
Kirk Cousins passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns for the Vikings, who never led and trailed for good after Kamara’s second TD in the first quarter.
In a game that saw both defenses struggle, Saints receiver Marquez Callaway made a play that any defensive back would appreciate when he prevented Eric Wilson from intercepting a pass Brees thrown right at the linebacker. Brees took advantage of the second chance, hitting Callaway for 11 yards on the next play and then finding Cook for a 19-yard gain to the Vikings 6. That set up Kamara’s third TD run of the half to put New Orleans up 24-14.
INJURIES
Vikings: Minnesota did not report any injuries.
Saints: LB Kwan Alexander injured his right ankle late in the third quarter. He was initially helped off the field but later took a cart from the sideline to the locker room.
UP NEXT
Vikings: visit Detroit on Jan. 3, the final Sunday of the regular season.
Saints: visit Carolina on Jan. 3.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Coronavirus hospitalizations in Arkansas remain high

LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
( AP ) - Coronavirus hospitalizations in Arkansas hovered near their recent record high Friday , even amid holiday gatherings and travel that health officials have warned are likely to further spread the virus .
State health officials reported there were 1,062 Arkansas residents hospitalized with COVID-19 on Christmas , a drop of 31 from the day before .
The state record was set Wednesday , when there were 1,110 patients hospitalized with the disease .
The Arkansas Department of Health on Friday reported 2,122 newly confirmed and probable cases of the coronavirus , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
The actual number of coronavirus cases is believed to be far higher because many people haven ’ t been tested and some who get the disease don ’ t show symptoms .
Over the last seven days , more than 18 % of coronavirus tests in Arkansas have come back positive , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
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 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be fatal .

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Coronavirus hospitalizations in Arkansas hovered near their recent record high Friday, even amid holiday gatherings and travel that health officials have warned are likely to further spread the virus.
State health officials reported there were 1,062 Arkansas residents hospitalized with COVID-19 on Christmas, a drop of 31 from the day before. The state record was set Wednesday, when there were 1,110 patients hospitalized with the disease.
The Arkansas Department of Health on Friday reported 2,122 newly confirmed and probable cases of the coronavirus, as well as 32 additional deaths linked to COVID-19.
The actual number of coronavirus cases is believed to be far higher because many people haven’t been tested and some who get the disease don’t show symptoms.
Over the last seven days, more than 18% of coronavirus tests in Arkansas have come back positive, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
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 illness and be fatal.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Nashville explosion: Human remains reported near blast site

Nashville Police Chief John Drake said authorities are investigating what could be human remains found near the blast site in Nashville on Friday .
“ We have found tissue that we believe could be remains , ” he told reporters , saying they ’ d have to have it tested to be sure .
There are no known fatalities , Mr. Drake said .
According to multiple reports , human remains were found in the area .
It ’ s unclear if the remains are a suspect or a victim .
“ Initial evidence does show that the early morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our community and the blast caused injuries and catastrophic damage to this very historic part of Nashville , ” Nashville Mayor John Cooper said .
The three individuals that were injured in the blast and hospitalized are in stable condition .
The officers who were injured at the explosion site are recovering , officials said .
The blast originated from a RV outside an AT & T building on Second Avenue , a strip of shops and businesses at the heart of Nashville ’ s tourist area .
Smoke billowed from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several buildings .
The blast damaged several buildings in the area , with the Nashville Fire Department still trying to determine which are structurally sound .
Mr. Cooper issued a state of emergency for downtown Nashville and implemented a curfew Friday afternoon that will last until Sunday evening .
“ It will be some time before Second Avenue is back .
It is not going to be the three days of the curfew , ” he said .
“ We ’ re not going to rest until those responsible for this outrageous and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social services are operating to give shelter to those displaced by the explosion .
Mr. Drake said officers were responding to a report of shots fired in the area early Friday when they found the suspicious RV playing a recorded warning that a bomb would go off in minutes .
They were evacuating residents and waiting for the hazardous devices unit at the time of the explosion .
The warning blared : “ Evacuate now .
There is a bomb .
A bomb is in this vehicle and will explode , ” Betsy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area , told the Tennessean .
Nashville police released a photo of the RV Friday afternoon that was taken by a security camera well before the blast , and asked the public to forward any information that could aid in the investigation .

Nashville Police Chief John Drake said authorities are investigating what could be human remains found near the blast site in Nashville on Friday.
“We have found tissue that we believe could be remains,” he told reporters, saying they’d have to have it tested to be sure.
There are no known fatalities, Mr. Drake said.
According to multiple reports, human remains were found in the area. It’s unclear if the remains are a suspect or a victim.
“Initial evidence does show that the early morning explosion was a deliberate bomb set off in our community and the blast caused injuries and catastrophic damage to this very historic part of Nashville,” Nashville Mayor John Cooper said.
The three individuals that were injured in the blast and hospitalized are in stable condition. The officers who were injured at the explosion site are recovering, officials said.
The blast originated from a RV outside an AT&T building on Second Avenue, a strip of shops and businesses at the heart of Nashville’s tourist area. Smoke billowed from the area earlier Friday and glass shattered in several buildings.
AT&T reported outages related to the explosion.
The blast damaged several buildings in the area, with the Nashville Fire Department still trying to determine which are structurally sound.
Mr. Cooper issued a state of emergency for downtown Nashville and implemented a curfew Friday afternoon that will last until Sunday evening.
“It will be some time before Second Avenue is back. It is not going to be the three days of the curfew,” he said. “We’re not going to rest until those responsible for this outrageous and cowardly attack are brought to justice.”
Social services are operating to give shelter to those displaced by the explosion.
Mr. Drake said officers were responding to a report of shots fired in the area early Friday when they found the suspicious RV playing a recorded warning that a bomb would go off in minutes. They were evacuating residents and waiting for the hazardous devices unit at the time of the explosion.
The warning blared: “Evacuate now. There is a bomb. A bomb is in this vehicle and will explode,” Betsy Williams, a witness who lived in the area, told the Tennessean.
Nashville police released a photo of the RV Friday afternoon that was taken by a security camera well before the blast, and asked the public to forward any information that could aid in the investigation.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Christmas storm causes avalanche at upstate NY ski resort

HIGHMOUNT , N.Y. ( AP ) - An avalanche caused by a Christmas Day storm has damaged a ski resort @ @ @ @ @ The storm brought high winds and more than 6 inches ( 15 cm ) of @ @ @ @ @ Ski Center .
Saturated snow slid into the lodge , damaging windows and doors .
@ @ @ @ @ The center said it will be closed Saturday for repairs but plans to reopen Sunday @

HIGHMOUNT, N.Y. (AP) - An avalanche caused by a Christmas Day storm has damaged a ski resort in the Catskill Mountains.
The storm brought high winds and more than 6 inches (15 cm) of rain to the Belleayre Mountain Ski Center.
Saturated snow slid into the lodge, damaging windows and doors. No one was injured.
The center said it will be closed Saturday for repairs but plans to reopen Sunday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Girl, 13, charged with murder as juvenile in slaying of man

JERSEY CITY , N.J. ( AP ) - Authorities say a 13-year-old girl is facing juvenile charges including murder in @ @ @ @ @ man in New Jersey .
The Hudson County prosecutor ’ s office said Friday that @ @ @ @ @ arrested just before 7 p.m. Thursday in the Dec. 10 death of 35-year-old Niles Holmes @ @ @ @ @ charged as a juvenile with murder , aggravated assault and weapons crimes .
Her name @ @ @ @ @ Shortly after Holmes was shot , police in Jersey City found a 24-year-old man with @ @ @ @ @ treated at Jersey City Medical Center .
NJ.com cited police radio transmissions in reporting that @ @ @ @ @ had been sought by police after fleeing the shooting scene on foot .

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) - Authorities say a 13-year-old girl is facing juvenile charges including murder in the shooting death of a man in New Jersey.
The Hudson County prosecutor’s office said Friday that the Jersey City teen was arrested just before 7 p.m. Thursday in the Dec. 10 death of 35-year-old Niles Holmes.
Prosecutors said she was charged as a juvenile with murder, aggravated assault and weapons crimes. Her name wasn’t released.
Shortly after Holmes was shot, police in Jersey City found a 24-year-old man with graze wounds. He was treated at Jersey City Medical Center.
NJ.com cited police radio transmissions in reporting that a small group of juveniles had been sought by police after fleeing the shooting scene on foot.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--One person killed, another injured in Portland shooting

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - One person has died following a shooting at an apartment in Portland Christmas @ @ @ @ @ reported .
When Portland police arrived to an apartment complex on the 1000 block of @ @ @ @ @ that two people had been shot - one victim was dead and the other was @ @ @ @ @ The investigation is ongoing .
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact @ @ @ @ @

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - One person has died following a shooting at an apartment in Portland Christmas morning, law enforcement officials reported.
When Portland police arrived to an apartment complex on the 1000 block of Northeast Holladay Street they found that two people had been shot - one victim was dead and the other was taken to the hospital.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Portland Police Bureau.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Kansas City, Kansas, police investigating Christmas homicide

The Kansas City Star reports that police responded to a report of a shooting in the area of the Fairfax @ @ @ @ @ Highway 5 and south of the Quindaro Power Station around 6:20 a.m. Friday .
They @ @ @ @ @ his 30s with apparent gunshot wounds .
He was taken to an area hospital and @ @ @ @ @ no further details .

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - Police in Kansas City, Kansas, are investigating a Christmas morning homicide.
The Kansas City Star reports that police responded to a report of a shooting in the area of the Fairfax Bluffs Apartments north of Kansas Highway 5 and south of the Quindaro Power Station around 6:20 a.m. Friday. They found a Hispanic male in his 30s with apparent gunshot wounds.
He was taken to an area hospital and later died. Police released no further details.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Kansas hospital workers: Hope, purpose shadowed by COVID-19

TOPEKA , Kan. ( AP ) - Steve Morgan spent part of Christmas morning as the chaplain on duty in a Wichita hospital comforting the family of a patient who died and said he knows from personal experience how a death on a holiday means “ you ’ ll always remember that.
” But Morgan , an ordained United Methodist minister for more than 25 years , also reflected on what he sees as hospital workers ’ sense of purpose on the Christian celebration of Jesus ’ birth .
He called it a day “ about faith and unity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love , and grace and mercy , we can give it away , ” he said .
In a year that saw the coronavirus pandemic upend Christmas plans and family rituals , some employees at Kansas hospitals spent a good part of the holiday caring for patients or providing comfort to families and colleagues .
The pandemic has stressed the state ’ s hospitals so that , as one official put it , they are “ very close to the edge.
” Yvonne Murphy ’ s 12-hour Christmas hospital shift in Topeka in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came near the end of her first year as a registered nurse .
She was feeling hopeful , having received the early gift of the first of two doses of a coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer eight days before , though she said she ’ s always felt safe at work , even when caring for COVID-19 patients .
“ There was something , I think , kind of freeing about it , that there ’ s hope with it , ” she said .
“ There ’ s a sense of normalcy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horizon.
” Kansas has reported nearly 210,000 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases from when the pandemic reached the state in early March through Wednesday , or one case for every 14 of its 2.9 million residents .
More than 2,500 people have died , and more than 6,400 have been hospitalized , including 1,700-plus in sometimes hard-to-find intensive care unit beds .
Small hospitals without ICU beds have sometimes reported taking hours to find open ones in larger hospitals .
The Kansas Hospital Association said that as of Wednesday , 57 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffing shortages over the next week .
“ We are very close to the edge , ” Jon Rolph , a Wichita restaurant company CEO who ’ s leading a regional COVID-19 reporting program for the state , said during a meeting this week with legislative leaders .
“ We ’ ve gotten very comfortable being close to the edge.
” Murphy said she and her family have stretched out their family celebrations over several days to accommodate her work schedule .
She also said the gatherings between her , her three children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s family have been smaller because of the pandemic .
She has worked in health care for 16 years but completed her schooling as a nurse late last year .
At the Stormont Vail health system ’ s hospital in Topeka , workers decorated floors with trees and lights , and the drive to its main visitor entrance is lined by a display of colorful lights synchronized with Christmas music .
In Wichita , Morgan didn ’ t want to say much about the grieving family he comforted , other than that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He expected to follow his eight-hour shift at the Ascension Via Christi health system ’ s St. Francis hospital by immediately getting out of his scrubs and taking a shower before having contact with his wife and adult son .
In previous years , the 66-year-old minister would head over to another family member ’ s house for a larger gathering .
Inside the hospital , he said , workers celebrated Christmas with snacks and other treats .
He was checking in on colleagues as well , knowing that being away from family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother died on Christmas Eve in 2007 when he was leading a service as a church pastor .
“ Actually , it ’ s not a sad thing , because my mother loved Christmas so much that it was real appropriate that she died on Christmas Eve , ” he said .

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Steve Morgan spent part of Christmas morning as the chaplain on duty in a Wichita hospital comforting the family of a patient who died and said he knows from personal experience how a death on a holiday means “you’ll always remember that.”
But Morgan, an ordained United Methodist minister for more than 25 years, also reflected on what he sees as hospital workers’ sense of purpose on the Christian celebration of Jesus’ birth. He called it a day “about faith and unity and family.”
“Because we have received love, and grace and mercy, we can give it away,” he said.
In a year that saw the coronavirus pandemic upend Christmas plans and family rituals, some employees at Kansas hospitals spent a good part of the holiday caring for patients or providing comfort to families and colleagues. The pandemic has stressed the state’s hospitals so that, as one official put it, they are “very close to the edge.”
Yvonne Murphy’s 12-hour Christmas hospital shift in Topeka in a unit for pre- and post-surgery patients came near the end of her first year as a registered nurse. She was feeling hopeful, having received the early gift of the first of two doses of a coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer eight days before, though she said she’s always felt safe at work, even when caring for COVID-19 patients.
“There was something, I think, kind of freeing about it, that there’s hope with it,” she said. “There’s a sense of normalcy that hopefully will be coming on the horizon.”
Kansas has reported nearly 210,000 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases from when the pandemic reached the state in early March through Wednesday, or one case for every 14 of its 2.9 million residents. More than 2,500 people have died, and more than 6,400 have been hospitalized, including 1,700-plus in sometimes hard-to-find intensive care unit beds.
Small hospitals without ICU beds have sometimes reported taking hours to find open ones in larger hospitals. The Kansas Hospital Association said that as of Wednesday, 57 of the 145 hospitals it surveyed said they expected staffing shortages over the next week.
“We are very close to the edge,” Jon Rolph, a Wichita restaurant company CEO who’s leading a regional COVID-19 reporting program for the state, said during a meeting this week with legislative leaders. “We’ve gotten very comfortable being close to the edge.”
Murphy said she and her family have stretched out their family celebrations over several days to accommodate her work schedule. She also said the gatherings between her, her three children, her mother and her brother’s family have been smaller because of the pandemic.
She has worked in health care for 16 years but completed her schooling as a nurse late last year. At the Stormont Vail health system’s hospital in Topeka, workers decorated floors with trees and lights, and the drive to its main visitor entrance is lined by a display of colorful lights synchronized with Christmas music.
In Wichita, Morgan didn’t want to say much about the grieving family he comforted, other than that the patient died from a long illness.
He expected to follow his eight-hour shift at the Ascension Via Christi health system’s St. Francis hospital by immediately getting out of his scrubs and taking a shower before having contact with his wife and adult son. In previous years, the 66-year-old minister would head over to another family member’s house for a larger gathering.
Inside the hospital, he said, workers celebrated Christmas with snacks and other treats. He was checking in on colleagues as well, knowing that being away from family made the holiday tougher.
His own mother died on Christmas Eve in 2007 when he was leading a service as a church pastor.
“Actually, it’s not a sad thing, because my mother loved Christmas so much that it was real appropriate that she died on Christmas Eve,” he said.
___
Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--New Mexico light traditions persist despite virus

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - New Mexicans marked a somber Christmas Eve on Thursday as families canceled or downsized celebrations due to the pandemic .
Traditional candlelight walks in Santa Fe and Albuquerque were canceled , but residents in both cities produced thousands of the sand-filled paper lanterns , also known as “ farolitos ” or “ luminarias ” to brighten the night for their neighbors .
In Santa Fe , cars lined up along the Canyon Road arts district for a through-the-window glimpse of the glowing decorations .
Light displays across the city , some private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have given residents a way to “ go out ” despite severe lockdown restrictions among high rates of coronavirus-related illness and death .
On Friday , health officials reported 1,465 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 , bringing the total to 136,622 .
A total of 36 virus-related deaths were reported , bringing the total to 2,307 .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause severe illness , long-term health problems , and even be fatal .
Around 60,000 people have recovered from the virus , health officials say .

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexicans marked a somber Christmas Eve on Thursday as families canceled or downsized celebrations due to the pandemic.
Traditional candlelight walks in Santa Fe and Albuquerque were canceled, but residents in both cities produced thousands of the sand-filled paper lanterns, also known as “farolitos” or “luminarias” to brighten the night for their neighbors.
In Santa Fe, cars lined up along the Canyon Road arts district for a through-the-window glimpse of the glowing decorations.
Light displays across the city, some private and some put on by the city, have given residents a way to “go out” despite severe lockdown restrictions among high rates of coronavirus-related illness and death.
On Friday, health officials reported 1,465 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 136,622. A total of 36 virus-related deaths were reported, bringing the total to 2,307.
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 severe illness, long-term health problems, and even be fatal.
Around 60,000 people have recovered from the virus, health officials say.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--LI church leaders vow to rebuild after Christmas Day blaze

LEVITTOWN , N.Y. ( AP ) - The leaders of a Lutheran church on Long Island say they intend to @ @ @ @ @ fire badly damaged the historic building .
Newsday reports the blaze broke out about 11 @ @ @ @ @ Shepherd Lutheran Church in Levittown .
The fire was contained to the roof and attic @ @ @ @ @ but caused extensive water and smoke damage to the 70-year-old structure .
Parishioners flocked to @ @ @ @ @ that the church had not held a Christmas Day service .
The church , which @ @ @ @ @ did hold a Christmas Eve service .
“ It could have been yesterday when we @ @ @ @ @ Wendy Lantigua , a special events coordinator at the church .
“ We will absolutely @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s going to take some time because we are self-funded , @ @ @ @ @ .
”

LEVITTOWN, N.Y. (AP) - The leaders of a Lutheran church on Long Island say they intend to rebuild after a Christmas morning fire badly damaged the historic building.
Newsday reports the blaze broke out about 11 a.m. Friday at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Levittown.
The fire was contained to the roof and attic, fire officials said, but caused extensive water and smoke damage to the 70-year-old structure.
Parishioners flocked to the church and expressed relief that the church had not held a Christmas Day service. The church, which serves about 250 families, did hold a Christmas Eve service.
“It could have been yesterday when we were here,” said Wendy Lantigua, a special events coordinator at the church.
“We will absolutely rebuild,” she said. “It’s going to take some time because we are self-funded, but we will do it.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--St. Louis nears homicide record with 4 Christmas Eve deaths

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - Four fatal shootings Christmas Eve brought St. Louis homicide toll for the year within reach of its all-time annual record .
At least 257 people have been killed in St. Louis this year , 10 short of the record 267 set in 1993 , according to police .
But the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that because of the city ’ s population decline , its homicide rate is believed to now exceed 85 per 100,000 people .
It was 69 per 100,000 in 1993 when the city ’ s population was nearly 30 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the violence in the area was a fatal double shooting of two men in nearby University City .
Neither police department on Friday released more details of the shootings .
They began shortly after midnight Thursday when a man was shot in the head near the intersection of Interstates 44 and 70 , police said .
He was pronounced dead at a local hospital Police found a man was found shot dead about 5 a.m. Thursday in a vehicle in a neighborhood to the south near the Mississippi River .
A shooting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central part of the city left two men dead , police said .
The two University City deaths occurred about 3:30 p.m. , police said .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Four fatal shootings Christmas Eve brought St. Louis homicide toll for the year within reach of its all-time annual record.
At least 257 people have been killed in St. Louis this year, 10 short of the record 267 set in 1993, according to police.
But the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that because of the city’s population decline, its homicide rate is believed to now exceed 85 per 100,000 people. It was 69 per 100,000 in 1993 when the city’s population was nearly 30% larger than it is now.
Compounding the violence in the area was a fatal double shooting of two men in nearby University City. Neither police department on Friday released more details of the shootings.
They began shortly after midnight Thursday when a man was shot in the head near the intersection of Interstates 44 and 70, police said. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital
Police found a man was found shot dead about 5 a.m. Thursday in a vehicle in a neighborhood to the south near the Mississippi River.
A shooting at 2:30 p.m. in a neighborhood in the central part of the city left two men dead, police said.
The two University City deaths occurred about 3:30 p.m., police said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Black doctor dies of COVID after racist treatment complaints

INDIANAPOLIS ( AP ) - A Black doctor who died battling COVID-19 complained of racist medical care in widely shared social media posts days before her death , prompting an Indiana hospital system to promise a “ full external review ” into her treatment .
Dr. Susan Moore , 52 , tested positive for COVID-19 late last month and was admitted to IU Health North Hospital in Carmel , Indiana , according to a Facebook post .
Acutely aware of her condition and medical procedures , the physician said had to repeatedly ask for medication , scans and routine checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Indiana .
She noted a white doctor in particular who seemingly dismissed her pain and said she didn ’ t trust the hospital .
“ I put forth and maintain , if I was white , I wouldn ’ t have to go through that , ” she says in a Dec. 4 video , her voice often cracking .
“ This is how Black people get killed , when you send them home , and they don ’ t know how to fight for themselves.
” She was released from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Dec. 7 , but was again hospitalized 12 hours later when her temperature spiked and her blood pressure dropped , according to her post .
She was taken to a different hospital , Ascencion St. Vincent in Carmel , and said she was experiencing better care .
Still , her condition worsened and she was put on a ventilator .
She died Dec. 20 , her 19-year-old son Henry Muhammad told news outlets .
A listed number for Muhammad could not be located Friday .
Messages left by The Associated Press for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned Friday .
The coronavirus has disproportionately affected Black people , who suffer from higher rates of obesity , diabetes and asthma , making them more susceptible to the virus .
Black Americans are also more vulnerable because of systemic racism , inequity in health care access and economic opportunity .
Many Black Americans also report that medical professionals take their ailments less seriously when they seek treatment .
Moore grew up in Michigan , where she earned a medical degree at the University of Michigan in 2002 .
She had an active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her death , according to MLive.com .
Muhammad told The New York Times that his mother had often frequently experienced inferior medical care .
She had an inflammatory disease called sarcoidosis that attacks the lungs and was often treated for her condition .
“ Nearly every time she went to the hospital she had to advocate for herself , fight for something in some way , shape or form , just to get baseline , proper care , ” he told the newspaper .
Dennis Murphy , the president and CEO of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was saddened by Moore ’ s death .
He said he did not believe the medical team “ failed the technical aspects ” of Moore ’ s care after a preliminary medical quality review but “ may not have shown the level of compassion and respect we strive for in understanding what matters most to patients.
” “ I am asking for an external review of this case .
We will have a diverse panel of healthcare and diversity experts conduct a thorough medical review of Dr. Moore ’ s concerns to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
In the past year , public health experts nationwide have acknowledged the role racism plays in health care with dozens of cities , counties and states declaring racism a public health threat .
While public health experts have called it a first step , many are skeptical .
Muhammad , who said his mother was his best friend and a very caring person , didn ’ t get the chance to say goodbye before she died .
“ I am outraged beyond words … because if what my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was racism , and they neglected her because of that , nobody should go through that , ” he told ABC News .

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A Black doctor who died battling COVID-19 complained of racist medical care in widely shared social media posts days before her death, prompting an Indiana hospital system to promise a “full external review” into her treatment.
Dr. Susan Moore, 52, tested positive for COVID-19 late last month and was admitted to IU Health North Hospital in Carmel, Indiana, according to a Facebook post. Acutely aware of her condition and medical procedures, the physician said had to repeatedly ask for medication, scans and routine checks while admitted at a hospital in Carmel, Indiana. She noted a white doctor in particular who seemingly dismissed her pain and said she didn’t trust the hospital.
“I put forth and maintain, if I was white, I wouldn’t have to go through that,” she says in a Dec. 4 video, her voice often cracking. “This is how Black people get killed, when you send them home, and they don’t know how to fight for themselves.”
She was released from the hospital run by Indiana University Health System on Dec. 7, but was again hospitalized 12 hours later when her temperature spiked and her blood pressure dropped, according to her post. She was taken to a different hospital, Ascencion St. Vincent in Carmel, and said she was experiencing better care.
Still, her condition worsened and she was put on a ventilator. She died Dec. 20, her 19-year-old son Henry Muhammad told news outlets. A listed number for Muhammad could not be located Friday. Messages left by The Associated Press for two family spokespeople weren’t immediately returned Friday.
The coronavirus has disproportionately affected Black people, who suffer from higher rates of obesity, diabetes and asthma, making them more susceptible to the virus. Black Americans are also more vulnerable because of systemic racism, inequity in health care access and economic opportunity.
Many Black Americans also report that medical professionals take their ailments less seriously when they seek treatment.
Moore grew up in Michigan, where she earned a medical degree at the University of Michigan in 2002. She had an active medical license in Indiana at the time of her death, according to MLive.com.
Muhammad told The New York Times that his mother had often frequently experienced inferior medical care. She had an inflammatory disease called sarcoidosis that attacks the lungs and was often treated for her condition.
“Nearly every time she went to the hospital she had to advocate for herself, fight for something in some way, shape or form, just to get baseline, proper care,” he told the newspaper.
Dennis Murphy, the president and CEO of Indiana University Health, said Thursday he was saddened by Moore’s death. He said he did not believe the medical team “failed the technical aspects” of Moore’s care after a preliminary medical quality review but “may not have shown the level of compassion and respect we strive for in understanding what matters most to patients.”
“I am asking for an external review of this case. We will have a diverse panel of healthcare and diversity experts conduct a thorough medical review of Dr. Moore’s concerns to address any potential treatment bias,” he said in a statement.
In the past year, public health experts nationwide have acknowledged the role racism plays in health care with dozens of cities, counties and states declaring racism a public health threat. While public health experts have called it a first step, many are skeptical.
Muhammad, who said his mother was his best friend and a very caring person, didn’t get the chance to say goodbye before she died.
“I am outraged beyond words … because if what my mom thinks was true and that it was racism, and they neglected her because of that, nobody should go through that,” he told ABC News.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Nashville explosion RV photo released

Nashville explosion RV photo released

Nashville police on Friday afternoon released a photo of the RV involved in a Christmas morning explosion that sent three @ @ @ @ @ destroyed city buildings in what they say may have been “ an intentional act.
” @ @ @ @ @ area at 1:22 a.m. ( CST ) , a few hours before the explosion .
@ @ @ @ @ to send in any information they have .

Nashville police on Friday afternoon released a photo of the RV involved in a Christmas morning explosion that sent three people to the hospital and destroyed city buildings in what they say may have been “an intentional act.”
The RV arrived in the area at 1:22 a.m. (CST), a few hours before the explosion. Police are asking the public to send in any information they have.
BREAKING: This is the RV that exploded on 2nd Ave N this morning. It arrived on 2nd Ave at 1:22 a.m. Have you seen this vehicle in our area or do you have information about it? Please contact us via Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 or online via https://t.co/dVGS7o0m4v. @ATFHQ pic.twitter.com/JNx9sDinAH — Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) December 25, 2020
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Missouri woman spreads cheer with about 700 Christmas cards

OZARK , Mo .
( AP ) - A southwestern Missouri woman who says she loves Christmas has spread cheer by mailing about 700 holiday cards and has received more than 500 in return .
Angela Grogan of Ozark says her initial goal when she started mailing cards on Nov. 1 was to send one to each of the 50 states , the Springfield News-Leader reports .
But she soon surpassed that .
She ’ s gotten cards in return from every state and nine countries .
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred her to her new holiday tradition .
“ Due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everything , ” Angela Grogan said .
She added : “ I was trying to think of something that would spread Christmas cheer and not only bring it to our household , but to everyone else also , so I started filling out Christmas cards.
” Grogan had been battling uterine cancer and entered remission three months ago .
One person who sent her a card also had battled cancer , Grogan said , and wrote her an encouraging note .
She first thought she would frame a doorway with the received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ ve got like three walls lined in my house totally lined , from ceiling to floor , of cards , ” Grogan said .

OZARK, Mo. (AP) - A southwestern Missouri woman who says she loves Christmas has spread cheer by mailing about 700 holiday cards and has received more than 500 in return.
Angela Grogan of Ozark says her initial goal when she started mailing cards on Nov. 1 was to send one to each of the 50 states, the Springfield News-Leader reports. But she soon surpassed that. She’s gotten cards in return from every state and nine countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred her to her new holiday tradition.
“Due to COVID, everyone was being sequestered and everything,” Angela Grogan said.
She added: “I was trying to think of something that would spread Christmas cheer and not only bring it to our household, but to everyone else also, so I started filling out Christmas cards.”
Grogan had been battling uterine cancer and entered remission three months ago. One person who sent her a card also had battled cancer, Grogan said, and wrote her an encouraging note.
She first thought she would frame a doorway with the received cards, but they just kept coming.
“I’ve got like three walls lined in my house totally lined, from ceiling to floor, of cards,” Grogan said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Fight in Florida leads to 4 relatives being shot, 1 killed

LAKELAND , Fla. ( AP ) - Authorities in Florida say a Christmas Eve fight between a 15-year-old boy and @ @ @ @ @ teen ’ s home where four of his relatives were shot , including a 70-year-old @ @ @ @ @ The fight started Thursday afternoon and then carried over to the house where the teen @ @ @ @ @ according to a news release from the Lakeland Police Department .
At some point , @ @ @ @ @ resident of the home and by the individuals who showed up at the home .
@ @ @ @ @ the other relatives who were shot were a 43-year-old male , a 39-year-old female and @ @ @ @ @ adult couple and teenage girl were taken to a hospital , but none of their @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Separately , a 19-year-old man showed up at the hospital with a @ @ @ @ @ altercation , the police said .
No further details were released .

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Authorities in Florida say a Christmas Eve fight between a 15-year-old boy and others spilled over into the teen’s home where four of his relatives were shot, including a 70-year-old woman who later died.
The fight started Thursday afternoon and then carried over to the house where the teen lived with his relatives, according to a news release from the Lakeland Police Department.
At some point, shots were fired by a resident of the home and by the individuals who showed up at the home. Besides the 70-year-old woman, the other relatives who were shot were a 43-year-old male, a 39-year-old female and a 13-year-old female.
They adult couple and teenage girl were taken to a hospital, but none of their injuries are life-threatening, the police said.
Separately, a 19-year-old man showed up at the hospital with a gunshot wound sustained during the altercation, the police said.
No further details were released.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--AP sources: Authorities have found human remains in the vicinity of the explosion in downtown Nashvi

NASHVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) - AP sources : Authorities have found human remains in the vicinity of the @ @ @ @ @

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - AP sources: Authorities have found human remains in the vicinity of the explosion in downtown Nashville.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-12-25--Texas coronavirus hospitalizations approach summer peak

DALLAS ( AP ) - Coronavirus hospitalizations in Texas on Friday approached a peak hit as the pandemic surged over the summer , even amid holiday gatherings and travel that health officials have warned are likely to further spread the virus .
The state health department reported there were 10,868 patients hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state on Christmas , fewer than 30 people behind the record high set in July .
Intensive care units in several parts of Texas were full or nearly full , according to the Texas Department of State Health Services Texas on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There were 3,123 newly confirmed cases of the virus and another 973 probable cases , according to the health department .
The actual number of coronavirus cases is believed to be far higher because many people haven ’ t been tested and some who get the disease don ’ t show symptoms .
Over the past week , more than 16 percent of coronavirus tests in Texas have come back positive , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , the virus can cause severe illness and be fatal .

DALLAS (AP) - Coronavirus hospitalizations in Texas on Friday approached a peak hit as the pandemic surged over the summer, even amid holiday gatherings and travel that health officials have warned are likely to further spread the virus.
The state health department reported there were 10,868 patients hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state on Christmas, fewer than 30 people behind the record high set in July. Intensive care units in several parts of Texas were full or nearly full, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas on Friday reported 200 more death from COVID-19. There were 3,123 newly confirmed cases of the virus and another 973 probable cases, according to the health department.
The actual number of coronavirus cases is believed to be far higher because many people haven’t been tested and some who get the disease don’t show symptoms.
Over the past week, more than 16 percent of coronavirus tests in Texas have come back positive, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
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 illness and be fatal.