washingtontimes--2020-10-26--McGrath slams McConnell on lack of another relief package

Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath made her pitch to a statewide TV audience Monday night at a forum that took place as her Republican opponent - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - basked in the confirmation of another conservative to the Supreme Court .
While McGrath and Libertarian candidate Brad Barron took turns answering questions , McConnell finished shepherding through Amy Coney Barrett ’ s confirmation to the nation ’ s high court .
From the outset of the forum , McGrath accused McConnell of misplaced priorities by pushing through Barrett ’ s confirmation while another coronavirus relief package has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , we need more aid , ” McGrath said during the forum on Kentucky Educational Television .
“ That ’ s what Kentuckians need right now - families , schools , business .
And what ’ s Sen. McConnell doing right now ?
He ’ s ramming through a Supreme Court nominee with eight days to an election .
Is he working on coronavirus aid that we need in Kentucky ?
” For months , McConnell has crisscrossed Kentucky to tout his lead role in passing a $ 2 trillion economic rescue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
In late summer , McConnell unveiled a slimmed-down version of another relief package totaling about $ 500 billion , which stalled amid partisan wrangling over its size and scope .
McGrath said McConnell waited too long and offered too little in relief .
McConnell has been President Donald Trump ’ s chief ally as the Senate confirmed more than 200 federal judges - including three Supreme Court justices - put forward by Trump to put a more conservative imprint on the federal judiciary .
In a Senate speech Monday evening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard ” Barrett deserved to be confirmed .
“ Tonight , we can place a woman of unparalleled ability and temperament on the Supreme Court , ” he said .
“ We can take another historic step toward a judiciary that fulfills its role with excellence , but does not grasp after power that our constitutional system intentionally assigns somewhere else.
” McGrath condemned McConnell ’ s handling of the Barrett confirmation barely a week before the presidential election , noting that the Kentucky Republican blocked then-President Barack Obama ’ s Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It is absolutely wrong , ” McGrath said .
“ There is no principle behind it .
He has broken the system.
” Barron said he supported Barrett ’ s confirmation and said Trump was “ within his constitutional rights ” to nominate her .
But he warned there could be “ political consequences ” for McConnell ’ s handling of the nomination so close to the election , saying : “ “ Mitch has set us up for a possible packing of the courts by the Democrats.
” During the forum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senatorial term limits as she tries to unseat McConnell , who is seeking a seventh term .
McGrath suggested that a two-term limit could be reasonable .
Barron said he thought the proper limit would be three terms .
McConnell ’ s campaign took aim at both challengers for their performance at the forum .
Kate Cooksey , the senator ’ s campaign spokeswoman , said McGrath and Barron “ treated Kentuckians to an infomercial on what a disaster ” they would be for Kentucky .
“ It ’ s clear neither candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creators like Senator Mitch McConnell does every day , ” she said in a statement .
McConnell and McGrath squared off in a debate earlier this month , but the senator ’ s campaign refused to participate in a debate that included Barron .

Democrat Amy McGrath made a closing pitch to a statewide TV audience Monday night at a forum that took place as her Republican opponent in Kentucky - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - basked in the confirmation of another conservative to the Supreme Court.
While McGrath and Libertarian candidate Brad Barron took turns answering questions, McConnell finished shepherding through Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the nation’s highest court.
Down in the polls and barely a week before Election Day, McGrath was on the attack from start to finish. The retired Marine combat pilot accused McConnell of misplaced priorities by pushing through Barrett’s confirmation while another coronavirus relief package has stalled in Congress.
“Here we are, we need more aid,” McGrath said during the forum on Kentucky Educational Television. “That’s what Kentuckians need right now - families, schools, business. And what’s Sen. McConnell doing right now? He’s ramming through a Supreme Court nominee with eight days to an election. Is he working on coronavirus aid that we need in Kentucky?”
For months, McConnell has crisscrossed Kentucky to tout his lead role in passing a $2 trillion economic rescue package early in the fight against the pandemic. In late summer, McConnell unveiled a slimmed-down version of another relief package totaling about $500 billion, which stalled amid partisan wrangling over its size and scope.
McGrath said McConnell waited too long and offered too little in relief. McGrath, who needs to win over some of President Donald Trump’s supporters to pull an upset, said she sides with Trump’s recent push for a bigger aid package. McConnell has said if such a bill passed the Democratic-controlled House with Trump’s blessing “we would put it on the floor of the Senate.”
McGrath talked about how the pandemic has affected her own life, saying: “I’m just like everybody else. I’m a regular Kentuckian. I’m trying to put my kids through school right now.” Some polling has indicated that she’s struggled to connect with some Kentuckians.
Meanwhile, McConnell has been Trump’s chief ally as the Senate has confirmed more than 200 federal judges - including three Supreme Court justices - put forward by Trump to put a more conservative imprint on the federal judiciary.
Barrett’s confirmation secured a likely conservative court majority for years to come. In a Senate speech Monday, McConnell said that “by any objective standard” Barrett deserved to join the court.
“Tonight, we can place a woman of unparalleled ability and temperament on the Supreme Court,” he said. “We can take another historic step toward a judiciary that fulfills its role with excellence, but does not grasp after power that our constitutional system intentionally assigns somewhere else.”
McGrath condemned McConnell’s handling of the Barrett confirmation barely a week before the presidential election, noting that the Kentucky Republican blocked then-President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nomination made months before the election.
“It is absolutely wrong,” McGrath said. “There is no principle behind it. He has broken the system.”
Barron said he supported Barrett’s confirmation and said Trump was “within his constitutional rights” to nominate her. But he warned there could be “political consequences” for McConnell’s handling of the nomination so close to the election, saying: ““Mitch has set us up for a possible packing of the courts by the Democrats.”
During the forum, McGrath repeated her support for senatorial term limits as she tries to unseat McConnell, who is seeking a seventh term. McGrath suggested that a two-term limit could be reasonable. Barron said he thought the proper limit would be three terms.
McConnell has touted his top Senate leadership post and his ability to deliver federal money as valuable assets for Kentucky that he says would be lost if he leaves the Senate.
McConnell’s campaign took aim at both challengers for their performance at the forum.
Kate Cooksey, the senator’s campaign spokeswoman, said McGrath and Barron “treated Kentuckians to an infomercial on what a disaster” they would be for Kentucky.
“It’s clear neither candidate would work for Kentucky families and job creators like Senator Mitch McConnell does every day,” she said in a statement.
McConnell and McGrath squared off in a debate earlier this month, but the senator’s campaign refused to participate in a debate that included Barron.
For Barron, the forum was a golden opportunity to present himself to a statewide audience. He found plenty to criticize about McConnell, including the ballooning federal budget deficit.
“I’ve often said I don’t even know why you guys (Democrats) field a candidate against him,” he said. “I really don’t. I mean to me, the way he spends, I don’t think you can tell any” difference.
The Libertarian candidate also laid out his limited government philosophy, saying it’s in line with the views of Kentuckians who “want to be the authors of their own lives.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--California governor: Death penalty 'infected by racism'

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California ’ s process for imposing the death penalty “ is now , and always has been , infected by racism , ” Gov .
Gavin Newsom declared Monday in a brief filed with the state Supreme Court .
Newsom filed the brief in the case of Donte Lamont McDaniel , who was sentenced to death in 2009 for the murder of 33-year-old George Brooks and 52-year-old Annette Anderson .
In California , juries can impose the death penalty if they find that “ aggravating factors ” outweigh “ mitigating factors.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be unanimous .
But juries don ’ t have to unanimously agree on each aggravating factor .
McDaniel ’ s case is challenging that interpretation of the state Constitution .
In his brief , lawyers on behalf of Newsom argue not requiring juries to agree on those factors increases racial discrimination in death penalty cases .
They argue that “ decades of study ” show the percentage of Black people excluded from juries in death penalty cases was “ double to triple ” that of whites , mostly because as a group Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death penalty than white people .
That ’ s a problem when it is time to sentence someone to death , they argue , because “ overall , White jurors ‘ are much less receptive to mitigation ’ than Black jurors ” in cases where the defendant is Black and the victim is white .
Meanwhile , Black jurors “ are more likely than white jurors to ‘ keep the sin separate from the sinner ’ no matter what the race.
” But beyond that , Newsom ’ s brief argues that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ rooted in the legacy of slavery , racial terror and subjugation , ” saying it has been “ disproportionately applied , first , to enslaved Africans and African Americans , and , later , to free Black people.
” The brief was written on behalf of Newsom by two professors at the University of California , Berkeley , School of Law : Elizabeth Semel , director of the school ’ s Death Penalty Clinic , and Erwin Chemerinsky , the school ’ s dean .
Newsom ’ s office said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has filed a brief with the state Supreme Court “ calling attention to the unfair and uneven application of the death penalty.
” “ With this filing , we make clear that all Californians deserve the same right to a jury trial that is fair , and that is a matter of life and death , ” Newsom said in a news release .
California has not executed anyone since 2006 .
In 2016 , voters narrowly approved a ballot proposition designed to speed up the death penalty .
But Newsom halted all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he “ will not oversee the execution of any individual.
” Nancy Haydt , executive director of anti-capital punishment advocacy group Death Penalty Focus , praised Newsom for saying the death penalty is racially biased .
She pointed to cases in Los Angeles County , where 305 people have been sentenced to death since 1977 .
Of those , 44 % are Black and 17 % are white , according to the Habeas Corpus Resource Center .
About 9 % of Los Angeles County ’ s population is Black .
Kent Scheidegger , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation , said it was “ baloney ” to say racism has infected the state ’ s death penalty process .
“ The relevant comparison is death row versus the population of murderers , not death row versus the general population , ” he said .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California’s process for imposing the death penalty “is now, and always has been, infected by racism,” Gov. Gavin Newsom declared Monday in a brief filed with the state Supreme Court.
Newsom filed the brief in the case of Donte Lamont McDaniel, who was sentenced to death in 2009 for the murder of 33-year-old George Brooks and 52-year-old Annette Anderson.
In California, juries can impose the death penalty if they find that “aggravating factors” outweigh “mitigating factors.” The decision to sentence someone to death must be unanimous. But juries don’t have to unanimously agree on each aggravating factor.
McDaniel’s case is challenging that interpretation of the state Constitution. In his brief, lawyers on behalf of Newsom argue not requiring juries to agree on those factors increases racial discrimination in death penalty cases. They argue that “decades of study” show the percentage of Black people excluded from juries in death penalty cases was “double to triple” that of whites, mostly because as a group Black people are more likely to oppose the death penalty than white people.
That’s a problem when it is time to sentence someone to death, they argue, because “overall, White jurors ‘are much less receptive to mitigation’ than Black jurors” in cases where the defendant is Black and the victim is white. Meanwhile, Black jurors “are more likely than white jurors to ‘keep the sin separate from the sinner’ no matter what the race.”
But beyond that, Newsom’s brief argues that the death penalty in the United States is “rooted in the legacy of slavery, racial terror and subjugation,” saying it has been “disproportionately applied, first, to enslaved Africans and African Americans, and, later, to free Black people.”
The brief was written on behalf of Newsom by two professors at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law: Elizabeth Semel, director of the school’s Death Penalty Clinic, and Erwin Chemerinsky, the school’s dean. Newsom’s office said it was the first time a sitting California governor has filed a brief with the state Supreme Court “calling attention to the unfair and uneven application of the death penalty.”
“With this filing, we make clear that all Californians deserve the same right to a jury trial that is fair, and that is a matter of life and death,” Newsom said in a news release.
California has not executed anyone since 2006. In 2016, voters narrowly approved a ballot proposition designed to speed up the death penalty. But Newsom halted all executions in California last year, declaring he “will not oversee the execution of any individual.”
Nancy Haydt, executive director of anti-capital punishment advocacy group Death Penalty Focus, praised Newsom for saying the death penalty is racially biased. She pointed to cases in Los Angeles County, where 305 people have been sentenced to death since 1977. Of those, 44% are Black and 17% are white, according to the Habeas Corpus Resource Center. About 9% of Los Angeles County’s population is Black.
“It’s undeniable,” Haydt said.
Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the California Justice Legal Foundation, said it was “baloney” to say racism has infected the state’s death penalty process.
“The relevant comparison is death row versus the population of murderers, not death row versus the general population,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Inspector says lax prison enforcement increased virus risk

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California prison officials did a poor job requiring inmates and staff to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus , and even “ perplexingly loosened ” their policy just as cases were spiking , the state ’ s inspector general said Monday .
More than 15,500 inmates have been infected , and 76 died as outbreaks ballooned in several of the state ’ s prisons , including San Quentin north of San Francisco , home to the state ’ s death row .
More than 4,200 employees were sickened and 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ frequent noncompliance ” by both inmates and staff with department mandates for wearing masks and maintaining a safe distance from one another , Inspector General Roy Wesley said in the report .
It blames lax enforcement by supervisors and managers for “ increasing the risk of additional , preventable infections.
” Just seven of the corrections department ’ s more than 63,000 employees were referred for formal investigations or punishment for misconduct for ignoring face covering or physical distancing requirements .
Most puzzling was department officials ’ decision to ease mask requirements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began rising , Wesley said .
The department modified its policy based on guidance from state public health officials , said spokeswoman Dana Simas .
It allowed those who work alone in an office or a guard tower to remove their masks , unless someone else enters that space .
Employees also are not required to wear a mask if they are outside and can stay physically distanced from others .
The inspector general said those “ relaxed requirements appeared to unnecessarily increase the risk ” given that the virus can be spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.8 meters ) apart , the increased difficulty in enforcing the new standard , and the “ volatile nature of a prison environment.
” The department had plenty of masks , unlike many institutions in the early stages of the pandemic , inspectors found .
Despite nationwide shortages , the department was generally able to get personal protective equipment .
It included more than 752,000 cloth face coverings made by the California Prison Industry Authority , half of which were distributed to inmates and employees by April 9 , the inspectors found .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of pieces of protective equipment so inmates and employees could comply with the mask mandate .
Corrections Secretary Kathleen Allison , in a response to the report , said the department “ will continue its effort to consistently enforce those policies and procedures.
” Monday ’ s report is the second sought by state Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon , who did not comment on the results .
The inspector general reported in August that prisons were inconsistent in screening employees and visitors for the coronavirus , which may have increased the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California prison officials did a poor job requiring inmates and staff to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and even “perplexingly loosened” their policy just as cases were spiking, the state’s inspector general said Monday.
More than 15,500 inmates have been infected, and 76 died as outbreaks ballooned in several of the state’s prisons, including San Quentin north of San Francisco, home to the state’s death row. More than 4,200 employees were sickened and 10 have died statewide.
Yet there was “frequent noncompliance” by both inmates and staff with department mandates for wearing masks and maintaining a safe distance from one another, Inspector General Roy Wesley said in the report.
It blames lax enforcement by supervisors and managers for “increasing the risk of additional, preventable infections.”
Just seven of the corrections department’s more than 63,000 employees were referred for formal investigations or punishment for misconduct for ignoring face covering or physical distancing requirements.
Most puzzling was department officials’ decision to ease mask requirements in June at the same time cases began rising, Wesley said.
The department modified its policy based on guidance from state public health officials, said spokeswoman Dana Simas.
It allowed those who work alone in an office or a guard tower to remove their masks, unless someone else enters that space. Employees also are not required to wear a mask if they are outside and can stay physically distanced from others.
The inspector general said those “relaxed requirements appeared to unnecessarily increase the risk” given that the virus can be spread even when people stay 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart, the increased difficulty in enforcing the new standard, and the “volatile nature of a prison environment.”
The department had plenty of masks, unlike many institutions in the early stages of the pandemic, inspectors found.
Despite nationwide shortages, the department was generally able to get personal protective equipment. It included more than 752,000 cloth face coverings made by the California Prison Industry Authority, half of which were distributed to inmates and employees by April 9, the inspectors found.
Simas said corrections officials in all distributed millions of pieces of protective equipment so inmates and employees could comply with the mask mandate.
Corrections Secretary Kathleen Allison, in a response to the report, said the department “will continue its effort to consistently enforce those policies and procedures.”
Monday’s report is the second sought by state Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, who did not comment on the results. The inspector general reported in August that prisons were inconsistent in screening employees and visitors for the coronavirus, which may have increased the risk of its spread.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Lawuit: Honolulu officer arrested teen as vengeance for son

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii is among those suing the Honolulu Police Department , claiming that an officer targeted and harassed a 15-year-old boy , “ motivated solely by a personal vengeance.
” The officer had the boy arrested in violation of his civil rights because the teen and the officer ’ s son were at odds and had fought after school , said the lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Honolulu .
The ACLU of Hawaii , along with lawyers for the boy ’ s parents , said the lawsuit also seeks to end the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse their power for personal purposes .
They noted it ’ s another example of how Honolulu police officers abuse their power , along with the case of a now-retired police chief convicted of conspiracy in what ’ s considered Hawaii ’ s biggest corruption case .
Louis Kealoha and his former deputy city prosecutor wife are scheduled to be sentenced to prison terms next month after a jury found them guilty in a plot to frame a relative to keep him from revealing fraud that funded the couple ’ s lavish lifestyle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt police department in the nation , ” said Eric Seitz , one of the attorneys representing the boy ’ s parents .
Josh Wisch , executive director of the ACLU of Hawaii , noted that Honolulu police officials have recently said the police abuses that have been highlighted in other parts of the U.S. don ’ t happen in Hawaii .
Spokespersons for the police department and the city of Honolulu didn ’ t immediately respond to a message seeking comment .
In 2018 , a day after his son started a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit as J.R. , Officer Kirk Uemura , in his patrol car , followed the school bus as it drove the boy from the Marine Corps base where his father Jorge Rivera is stationed to Kalaheo High School , the lawsuit said .
Uemura grabbed the boy as he got off the bus and detained him in front of students and staff , the lawsuit said , for personal retribution “ in an outrageous abuse of power.
” The boy was taken to a police station , where he was handcuffed and shackled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawaii attorney Wookie Kim said they have tried for nearly two years to use the police disciplinary process to hold the department accountable , but there ’ s been little or no information about whether the officers involved were disciplined .
Jenna Rivera told reporters during an online news conference that her son is in therapy and had to repeat the ninth grade because of what happened to him .
“ After the incident , it was downward spiral , ” she said .

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii is among those suing the Honolulu Police Department, claiming that an officer targeted and harassed a 15-year-old boy, “motivated solely by a personal vengeance.”
The officer had the boy arrested in violation of his civil rights because the teen and the officer’s son were at odds and had fought after school, said the lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Honolulu.
The ACLU of Hawaii, along with lawyers for the boy’s parents, said the lawsuit also seeks to end the police department’s practice of letting officers abuse their power for personal purposes.
They noted it’s another example of how Honolulu police officers abuse their power, along with the case of a now-retired police chief convicted of conspiracy in what’s considered Hawaii’s biggest corruption case. Louis Kealoha and his former deputy city prosecutor wife are scheduled to be sentenced to prison terms next month after a jury found them guilty in a plot to frame a relative to keep him from revealing fraud that funded the couple’s lavish lifestyle.
“We have probably the most corrupt police department in the nation,” said Eric Seitz, one of the attorneys representing the boy’s parents.
Josh Wisch, executive director of the ACLU of Hawaii, noted that Honolulu police officials have recently said the police abuses that have been highlighted in other parts of the U.S. don’t happen in Hawaii.
Spokespersons for the police department and the city of Honolulu didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
In 2018, a day after his son started a fight with the boy identified in the lawsuit as J.R., Officer Kirk Uemura, in his patrol car, followed the school bus as it drove the boy from the Marine Corps base where his father Jorge Rivera is stationed to Kalaheo High School, the lawsuit said.
Uemura grabbed the boy as he got off the bus and detained him in front of students and staff, the lawsuit said, for personal retribution “in an outrageous abuse of power.”
Uemura couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Monday.
The boy was taken to a police station, where he was handcuffed and shackled, the lawsuit said.
ACLU of Hawaii attorney Wookie Kim said they have tried for nearly two years to use the police disciplinary process to hold the department accountable, but there’s been little or no information about whether the officers involved were disciplined.
Jenna Rivera told reporters during an online news conference that her son is in therapy and had to repeat the ninth grade because of what happened to him. “After the incident, it was downward spiral,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Davids, Adkins trade shots in debate for Kansas House seat

MISSION , Kan. ( AP ) - Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids and Republican challenger Amanda Adkins on Monday sought to portray each other as too extreme to represent a heavily suburban Kansas City area swing district as they debated how to respond to the coronavirus and calls for police reform .
Davids repeatedly tried linking Adkins to former GOP Gov .
Sam Brownback while Adkins attempted to connect Davids to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the hour-long debate that was put on by “ 4Star Politics , ” a joint effort of The Kansas City Star and WDAF-TV .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairwoman , worked as the chairwoman of the Children ’ s Cabinet in the administration of Brownback , who was unpopular when he left office early in 2018 for an ambassador ’ s post .
Brownback had championed a nationally notorious tax-cutting experiment that created persistent budget problems .
Adkins , a former executive for the medical computer systems firm Cerner Corp. , said Davids voted with Pelosi more than 90 % of the time and accused Pelosi of getting in the way of another round of coronavirus relief .
“ The Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been part of a shutdown culture , ” Adkins said .
“ They have shut down our businesses , our economy and our schools , and I think we need a very different leadership .
Our businesses in particular have just been devastated.
” Davids contended that a healthy economy requires healthy people , adding that Republicans such as President Donald Trump have been flouting health guidelines on masks .
She said slowing down the virus is “ one way we can help get our economy back up and going.
” Davids unseated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gaining national attention as the nation ’ s first Native American and openly LGBTQ candidate .
The district ’ s voter registration leans Republican , but Davids has benefited from the dissatisfaction of suburban voters with Trump .
Davids said the country is having a long-overdue discussion about racial justice .
She said that while she supports providing resources for police equipment and training , she also believes there should be “ accountability and transparency.
” She said she supported the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act , which would ban police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity for officers , among other reforms .
Adkins has attended pro-police “ Back the Blue ” events and signed a pledge never to defund police , which a terms its supporters use to describe shifting money from law enforcement agencies to other efforts .
Adkins said she believes there should be grants for body cameras and use-of-force tracking .

MISSION, Kan. (AP) - Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids and Republican challenger Amanda Adkins on Monday sought to portray each other as too extreme to represent a heavily suburban Kansas City area swing district as they debated how to respond to the coronavirus and calls for police reform.
Davids repeatedly tried linking Adkins to former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback while Adkins attempted to connect Davids to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the hour-long debate that was put on by “4Star Politics,” a joint effort of The Kansas City Star and WDAF-TV.
Adkins, a former Kansas Republican Party chairwoman, worked as the chairwoman of the Children’s Cabinet in the administration of Brownback, who was unpopular when he left office early in 2018 for an ambassador’s post. Brownback had championed a nationally notorious tax-cutting experiment that created persistent budget problems.
Adkins, a former executive for the medical computer systems firm Cerner Corp., said Davids voted with Pelosi more than 90% of the time and accused Pelosi of getting in the way of another round of coronavirus relief.
“The Democratic leaders here in this region have really been part of a shutdown culture,” Adkins said. “They have shut down our businesses, our economy and our schools, and I think we need a very different leadership. Our businesses in particular have just been devastated.”
Davids contended that a healthy economy requires healthy people, adding that Republicans such as President Donald Trump have been flouting health guidelines on masks. She said slowing down the virus is “one way we can help get our economy back up and going.”
Davids unseated four-term GOP Rep. Kevin Yoder in 2018, gaining national attention as the nation’s first Native American and openly LGBTQ candidate. The district’s voter registration leans Republican, but Davids has benefited from the dissatisfaction of suburban voters with Trump.
Davids said the country is having a long-overdue discussion about racial justice. She said that while she supports providing resources for police equipment and training, she also believes there should be “accountability and transparency.” She said she supported the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, which would ban police use of stranglehold maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms.
Adkins has attended pro-police “Back the Blue” events and signed a pledge never to defund police, which a terms its supporters use to describe shifting money from law enforcement agencies to other efforts. Adkins said she believes there should be grants for body cameras and use-of-force tracking.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Salt Lake Tribune to stop printing daily after 149 years

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - The Salt Lake Tribune announced Monday it will stop printing a daily newspaper at the end of the year after nearly 150 years and move to a weekly print edition .
The change won ’ t result in cuts to the newsroom staff of about 65 people , though some would be “ redeployed , ” the newspaper reported .
Reporters and editors will continue to file breaking news online as it happens .
The new publication will be delivered by mail .
Nearly 160 press operators , carriers and other employees will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after two recent ownership changes : The paper was purchased in 2016 by Paul Huntsman , son of the late billionaire industrialist Jon Huntsman Sr. and brother to former U.S-Russia Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. Last year , Paul Huntsman shepherded the Tribune into becoming a nonprofit in hopes of ensuring its long-term viability amid declining newspaper revenues nationwide .
He cited continued declines and economic upheaval related to the coronavirus pandemic Monday as he announced the decision to newsroom staffers , calling it a painful but necessary concession .
“ This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that reflects the reality of today ’ s news consumption , ” Huntsman , who remains chair of the nonprofit board , said in a statement .
The new weekly publication is expected to be profitable , showcasing the reporters ’ best enterprise work and in-depth stories , as well as obituaries and expanded editorial content .
“ While we mourn the loss of our daily print edition , we eagerly embrace the opportunity of bringing an exciting new weekly product to our readers ’ homes , ” interim Editor David Noyce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint operating agreement with the other major daily in Salt Lake City , the Deseret News .
It is owned by the state ’ s predominant faith , The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
The agreement , once common when many cities had two newspapers , had the two publications cooperating on printing , delivery and advertising but not stories .
The Deseret News has not announced its future plans for print , but did say in a story on its website it was laying off six journalists and giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editing and sales departments .
The change marks the end of an era that began in 1871 , when daily press runs began for the publication then called “ The Tribune & Utah Mining Gazette.
” The newspaper once carried hundreds of pages a day , thick with print advertising .
It had a daily circulation of nearly 200,000 subscribers in its heyday but has since plummeted to 36,000 .
Newspapers scaling back printing days is an emerging trend in the industry that faces declines in advertising and circulation revenue , said Rick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Poynter Institute .
The Tampa Bay Times and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette are among other newspapers to have moved away from daily printed papers as the traditional business model gets pinched , he said .
The trend is disappointing for longtime newspaper people like Edmonds even if it ’ s understandable from a business perspective .
“ Something is lost when you don ’ t print every day , ” he said .
This story has been corrected to show the change marks the end of an era that began in 1871 , @ @ @

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Salt Lake Tribune announced Monday it will stop printing a daily newspaper at the end of the year after nearly 150 years and move to a weekly print edition.
The change won’t result in cuts to the newsroom staff of about 65 people, though some would be “redeployed,” the newspaper reported. Reporters and editors will continue to file breaking news online as it happens.
The new publication will be delivered by mail. Nearly 160 press operators, carriers and other employees will lose their jobs.
The news comes after two recent ownership changes: The paper was purchased in 2016 by Paul Huntsman, son of the late billionaire industrialist Jon Huntsman Sr. and brother to former U.S-Russia Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr.
Last year, Paul Huntsman shepherded the Tribune into becoming a nonprofit in hopes of ensuring its long-term viability amid declining newspaper revenues nationwide. He cited continued declines and economic upheaval related to the coronavirus pandemic Monday as he announced the decision to newsroom staffers, calling it a painful but necessary concession.
“This is a historic moment in the industry, but one that reflects the reality of today’s news consumption,” Huntsman, who remains chair of the nonprofit board, said in a statement.
The new weekly publication is expected to be profitable, showcasing the reporters’ best enterprise work and in-depth stories, as well as obituaries and expanded editorial content.
“While we mourn the loss of our daily print edition, we eagerly embrace the opportunity of bringing an exciting new weekly product to our readers’ homes,” interim Editor David Noyce said.
The decision also ends a joint operating agreement with the other major daily in Salt Lake City, the Deseret News. It is owned by the state’s predominant faith, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The agreement, once common when many cities had two newspapers, had the two publications cooperating on printing, delivery and advertising but not stories.
The Deseret News has not announced its future plans for print, but did say in a story on its website it was laying off six journalists and giving severance packages to 18 staffers in visual editing and sales departments.
The change marks the end of an era that began in 1871, when daily press runs began for the publication then called “The Tribune & Utah Mining Gazette.” The newspaper once carried hundreds of pages a day, thick with print advertising. It had a daily circulation of nearly 200,000 subscribers in its heyday but has since plummeted to 36,000.
Newspapers scaling back printing days is an emerging trend in the industry that faces declines in advertising and circulation revenue, said Rick Edmonds, a media business analyst for the Poynter Institute.
The Tampa Bay Times and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette are among other newspapers to have moved away from daily printed papers as the traditional business model gets pinched, he said.
The trend is disappointing for longtime newspaper people like Edmonds even if it’s understandable from a business perspective.
“Something is lost when you don’t print every day,” he said.
___
This story has been corrected to show the change marks the end of an era that began in 1871, not 1971.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Police shoot and kill man after yelling at him to drop knife

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - Police shot and killed a man on a Philadelphia street Monday afternoon after yelling at him to drop his knife .
The shooting occurred shortly before 4 p.m. as officers responded to a report of domestic violence .
Sgt .
Eric Gripp , a police spokesman , told The Philadelphia Inquirer that officers were called to the Cobbs Creek neighborhood and encountered the man , who was with at least one other person and “ they appeared to be in some sort of altercation.
” Gripp said officers ordered the man to drop the knife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” them .
Both officers then fired “ several times , ” Gripp said .
One of the officers then put the man in a police vehicle and drove him to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead a short time later .
Video of the fatal confrontation recorded by a bystander and posted on social media shows officers pointing their guns at a man as he walked in the street and around a car .
The man walks toward the officers as they backed away from him in the street , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yell at him to put his knife down .
Both then fired several shots at the man and he collapsed in the street .
A woman ran up to the victim and began screaming .
Several bystanders then walk up to the man who was shot .
It is unclear in the video if the man had a knife .
Witnesses said he was holding one .
No officers in the video appeared to be injured .
The names of the officers who fired the shots were not immediately disclosed .
Both were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street duty pending the investigation .
A large crowd gathered where the man was killed , with video showing many yelling at the police officers and crying .
Some people later spoke with city Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw , who arrived at the scene a short time after the shooting occurred .
The crowd had mostly dispersed about two hours later .
“ I heard and felt the anger of the community , ” Outlaw said in a statement , adding that the video “ raises many questions ” and that “ those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation.
” The man ’ s father , Walter Wallace Sr. , told the Inquirer that it was his son Walter Jr. who was killed .
“ Why didn ’ t they use a taser ?
” he asked .
Wallace Sr. said his 27-year-old son , who was also a father , was on medication and struggled with mental health issues .
The races of the victim and the police officers weren ’ t immediately confirmed .
The shooting occurred in a predominantly Black neighborhood in west Philadelphia .
The Inquirer reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby park and chanted “ Black lives matter.
” A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email seeking information about the shooting .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police shot and killed a 27-year-old Black man on a Philadelphia street Monday afternoon after yelling at him to drop his knife.
The shooting occurred before 4 p.m. as officers responded to a report of a person with a weapon, police spokesperson Tanya Little said.
Officers were called to the Cobbs Creek neighborhood and encountered the man, later identified as Walter Wallace, who was holding a knife, Little said.
Officers ordered Wallace to drop the knife, but he instead “advanced towards” them. Both officers then fired “several times,” Little said.
Wallace was hit in the shoulder and chest. One of the officers then put him in a police vehicle and drove him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, Little said.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets to protest the shooting late Monday into early Tuesday with interactions between protesters and police turning violent at times, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Video showed many yelling at officers and crying.
Cops cars and dumpsters were set on fire as police struggled to contain the crowds. More than a dozen officers, many with batons in hand, formed a line as they ran down 52nd Street chasing protesters away from the main thoroughfare. The crowd largely dispersed then.
Video of the fatal confrontation recorded by a bystander and posted on social media shows officers pointing their guns at Wallace as he walks in the street and around a car. He walks toward the officers as they back away from him in the street, guns still aimed at him. They yell at him to put his knife down.
Both then fire several shots and Wallace collapses in the street. A woman runs up to him screaming. Several bystanders then approach him.
It is unclear in the video if he had a knife. Witnesses said he was holding one.
No officers or bystanders were injured, Little said. The names of the officers who fired the shots were not immediately disclosed. Both were wearing body cameras and were taken of street duty pending the investigation.
Some people spoke with city Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, who arrived at the scene a short time after the shooting occurred.
“I heard and felt the anger of the community,” Outlaw said in a statement, adding that the video “raises many questions” and that “those questions will be fully addressed by the investigation.”
Wallace’s father, Walter Wallace Sr., told the Philadelphia Inquirer that his son was also a father, was on medication and struggled with mental health issues.
“Why didn’t they use a taser?” he asked.
The races of the police officers weren’t immediately confirmed. The shooting occurred in a predominantly Black neighborhood in west Philadelphia. The Inquirer reported that dozens of protesters gathered at a nearby park and chanted “Black lives matter.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Iran's Zarif urges UN to unite against US unilateral actions

UNITED NATIONS ( AP ) - Iran ’ s foreign minister used his speech for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations to accuse the United States of initiating or joining eight wars since 200 that displaced 37 million people and resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives and “ unprecedented extremism.
” Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a virtual speech to the U.N. General Assembly that it was time for the 193-member world body “ to recommit itself to stand up — united — against unilateralism and war ” promoted by the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be broadcast on Sept. 21 when world leaders commemorated the U.N. ’ s 75th anniversary .
But there were so many speakers that the speeches of 58 leaders and ministers were carried over and only shown Monday , two days after U.N. Day , which commemorates the entry into force of the U.N. Charter that officially established the United Nations on Oct. 24 , 1945 .
Zarif quoted a study released last month by Brown University ’ s Costs of War project that estimated the United States ’ wars since the 9/11 terrorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 37 million people to flee their homes in the eight most violent conflicts — Afghanistan , Pakistan , Iraq , Libya , Syria , Yemen , Somalia and the Philippines .
“ How can we counter the unilateralism and disdain for international law by a bully that only knows wielding a big stick and speaking arrogantly ?
” Zarif asked , also citing U.S. with battles American Indian tribes , the Civil War that ended slavery , and what he called “ economic wars ” resulting from U.S. sanctions .
“ In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the Iranian minister said .
“ It ’ s time to change tack — saving American blood and treasure and sparing the world from further misery.
” Zarif ’ s speech was shown on a screen in the General Assembly Hall as the Security Council was holding a virtual meeting on the Middle East at which Israel ’ s new U.N. ambassador , Gilad Erdan , said “ Iran and its terrorist proxies remain the biggest threats to peace and security in the region.
” Ironically , he said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” have brought moderate forces in the Middle East closer together , leading to Israel ’ s recent peace agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and new ties with Sudan .
“ It ’ s surprising , but I actually want to thank Iran ” for the role it played in those agreements , he said .
Erdan called on the Security Council to prevent Iran from continuing to develop its nuclear capabilities , obtaining advanced weapons and violating human rights .
He called Iran “ one of the biggest human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing 4,300 executions during President Hassan Rouhani ’ s tenure , including minors , women , gays , journalists and anti-government protesters .
Iran was also the agenda of the General Assembly ’ s human rights committee Monday where the U.N. independent investigator on the country ’ s human rights , Javaid Rehman , said the Iranian government must conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the crackdown on protests in November 2019 and January 2020 and bring violators to justice .
Rehman , a professor of human rights and Islamic law at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran has failed to conduct an investigation meeting international standards “ despite clear evidence that Iranian security forces used excessive and lethal force , which caused the deaths of over 300 people , including women and children.
” “ The government and judiciary appear to be implementing death sentences against protesters to prevent peaceful dissent and restrict civic space , ” he said .
“ The recent arbitrary execution of Navid Afkari for his participation in August 2018 protests is emblematic of this concern .
”

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Iran’s foreign minister used his speech for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations to accuse the United States of initiating or joining eight wars since 200 that displaced 37 million people and resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives and “unprecedented extremism.”
Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a virtual speech to the U.N. General Assembly that it was time for the 193-member world body “to recommit itself to stand up — united — against unilateralism and war” promoted by the United States.
Zarif’s speech had scheduled to be broadcast on Sept. 21 when world leaders commemorated the U.N.’s 75th anniversary. But there were so many speakers that the speeches of 58 leaders and ministers were carried over and only shown Monday, two days after U.N. Day, which commemorates the entry into force of the U.N. Charter that officially established the United Nations on Oct. 24, 1945.
Zarif quoted a study released last month by Brown University’s Costs of War project that estimated the United States’ wars since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 have forced at least 37 million people to flee their homes in the eight most violent conflicts — Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and the Philippines.
“How can we counter the unilateralism and disdain for international law by a bully that only knows wielding a big stick and speaking arrogantly?” Zarif asked, also citing U.S. with battles American Indian tribes, the Civil War that ended slavery, and what he called “economic wars” resulting from U.S. sanctions.
“In fact, no one wins in a war,” the Iranian minister said. “It’s time to change tack — saving American blood and treasure and sparing the world from further misery.”
Zarif’s speech was shown on a screen in the General Assembly Hall as the Security Council was holding a virtual meeting on the Middle East at which Israel’s new U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, said “Iran and its terrorist proxies remain the biggest threats to peace and security in the region.”
Ironically, he said, “Iran’s extreme and murderous ways” have brought moderate forces in the Middle East closer together, leading to Israel’s recent peace agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and new ties with Sudan. “It’s surprising, but I actually want to thank Iran” for the role it played in those agreements, he said.
Erdan called on the Security Council to prevent Iran from continuing to develop its nuclear capabilities, obtaining advanced weapons and violating human rights. He called Iran “one of the biggest human rights violators in the world,” citing 4,300 executions during President Hassan Rouhani’s tenure, including minors, women, gays, journalists and anti-government protesters.
Iran was also the agenda of the General Assembly’s human rights committee Monday where the U.N. independent investigator on the country’s human rights, Javaid Rehman, said the Iranian government must conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the crackdown on protests in November 2019 and January 2020 and bring violators to justice.
Rehman, a professor of human rights and Islamic law at London’s Brunel University, said Iran has failed to conduct an investigation meeting international standards “despite clear evidence that Iranian security forces used excessive and lethal force, which caused the deaths of over 300 people, including women and children.”
“The government and judiciary appear to be implementing death sentences against protesters to prevent peaceful dissent and restrict civic space,” he said. “The recent arbitrary execution of Navid Afkari for his participation in August 2018 protests is emblematic of this concern.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Supreme Court won't extend Wisconsin ballot deadline

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is siding with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mailed ballots that are received after @ @ @ @ @ on Monday refused to reinstate a lower court order that called for mailed ballots to @ @ @ @ @ received up to six days after the Nov. 3 election .
A federal appeals court @ @ @ @ @ on hold .
Democrats argued that the flood of absentee ballots and other challenges posed @ @ @ @ @ it necessary to extend the period in which ballots can be counted .
Wisconsin is @ @ @ @ @ s hot spots for COVID-19 , with hospitals treating a record high number of patients @ @ @ @ @ opposed the extension , saying that voters have plenty of opportunities to cast their ballots @ @ @ @ @ on Election Day and that the rules should not be changed so close to the @ @

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is siding with Republicans to prevent Wisconsin from counting mailed ballots that are received after Election Day.
The justices on Monday refused to reinstate a lower court order that called for mailed ballots to be counted if they are received up to six days after the Nov. 3 election. A federal appeals court had already put that order on hold.
Democrats argued that the flood of absentee ballots and other challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic makes it necessary to extend the period in which ballots can be counted. Wisconsin is one of the nation’s hot spots for COVID-19, with hospitals treating a record high number of patients with the disease.
Republicans opposed the extension, saying that voters have plenty of opportunities to cast their ballots by the close of polls on Election Day and that the rules should not be changed so close to the election.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Panama's 2nd biggest Indigenous group votes to ban masks

PANAMA CITY ( AP ) - A cultural body for the Guna Yala people in Panama voted Monday to ban the wearing of face masks used to combat coronavirus infections , arguing “ it is not a custom of our people.
” The measure would drop a requirement for masks in schools and forbid government officials visiting the territories of the Guna Yala from wearing them .
About 34,000 Guna Yala people , the second-largest of seven Indigenous groups in Panama , live mainly on the Caribbean coast .
Although Indigenous territories in Panama have significant autonomy , the possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress of the Guna Yala Culture were unclear .
Panama ’ s government said that the cultural assembly does not have the authority to decide public health matters and that such a move would be up to the Indigenous territory ’ s official law-making congress .
Ausencio Palacio , Panama ’ s assistant minister of indigenous affairs , said that only the Health Ministry has the power to set public policy on such issues , and called the vote “ a mistake.
” He said the communities two congresses might have to consult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue .
Palacio , a member of the Ngabe Buglé group , Panama ’ s largest Indigenous community , said that up to now , Indigenous peoples had been observing lockdown and social distancing measures .
Palacio , who was himself hospitalized for a month with COVID-19 , suggested the vote may have been in part motivated by anger in Indigenous communities that authorities have not recognized traditional , plant-based treatments for COVID-19 .
In general , the country ’ s indigenous groups have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus .
Wagayoguna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guna Yala territory , said the region has seen 967 coronavirus cases and 36 deaths so far .
Díaz said 35 new cases were reported in the territory Monday .
The contagion was believed to have been brought by tourists visiting the area ’ s beaches and islands .

PANAMA CITY (AP) - A cultural body for the Guna Yala people in Panama voted Monday to ban the wearing of face masks used to combat coronavirus infections, arguing “it is not a custom of our people.”
The measure would drop a requirement for masks in schools and forbid government officials visiting the territories of the Guna Yala from wearing them. About 34,000 Guna Yala people, the second-largest of seven Indigenous groups in Panama, live mainly on the Caribbean coast.
Although Indigenous territories in Panama have significant autonomy, the possible effects of the vote by the General Congress of the Guna Yala Culture were unclear. Panama’s government said that the cultural assembly does not have the authority to decide public health matters and that such a move would be up to the Indigenous territory’s official law-making congress.
Ausencio Palacio, Panama’s assistant minister of indigenous affairs, said that only the Health Ministry has the power to set public policy on such issues, and called the vote “a mistake.” He said the communities two congresses might have to consult with each other in November on the issue.
Palacio, a member of the Ngabe Buglé group, Panama’s largest Indigenous community, said that up to now, Indigenous peoples had been observing lockdown and social distancing measures.
Palacio, who was himself hospitalized for a month with COVID-19, suggested the vote may have been in part motivated by anger in Indigenous communities that authorities have not recognized traditional, plant-based treatments for COVID-19.
In general, the country’s indigenous groups have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus.
Wagayoguna Díaz, the health director for the Guna Yala territory, said the region has seen 967 coronavirus cases and 36 deaths so far. Díaz said 35 new cases were reported in the territory Monday. The contagion was believed to have been brought by tourists visiting the area’s beaches and islands.
Nationwide, Panama has recorded 129,000 cases and 2,600 deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Walz calls for 'goal line stand' against coronavirus spread

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Gov .
Tim Walz and health officials delivered a stark warning Monday that Minnesota ’ s fight against the coronavirus is at a critical stage and that residents need to step up their compliance with masking , social distancing and avoiding crowds if the state is going to avoid the rapid spread that has made the upper Midwest one of the country ’ s worst hotspots for COVID-19 .
“ This is a goal line stand , Minnesota , ” the Democratic governor who is a former high school football coach , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House coronavirus adviser Dr. Deborah Birx in Rochester over the weekend .
“ She couldn ’ t have been clearer - the upper Midwest is at a critical juncture , ” he said .
“ Her assessment was that the state of Minnesota and potentially the state of Illinois still possess the capacity to stop what ’ s happening in surrounding states .
.. She was clear that widespread testing , especially amongst asymptomatic people , is the key.
” But Walz said he didn ’ t plan to roll back any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added it would be much less painful if Minnesota residents would just use tools already in place such as following the indoor mask mandate in public places , practicing social distancing and avoiding large gatherings .
Walz said he ’ s not planning to close schools or businesses such as bars and restaurants .
The governor also noted that he was “ deeply disappointment ” to learn of the poor compliance with masking and social distancing guidelines at Vice President Mike Pence ’ s campaign rally in Hibbing on Monday .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign that it would follow the rules .
According to a health department tally , 24 coronavirus cases have been reported among people who attended other recent Trump campaign events in Minnesota , plus four among protesters outside Trump ’ s Bemidji rally and one who attended a event for Joe Biden .
The department reported 1,578 new confirmed or probable cases and four new deaths Monday to raise the state ’ s total case count to 135,372 and its death toll to 2,353 .
Western Minnesota is seeing the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates , Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said .
Part of that is spillover from the Dakotas , she said , but she also cited resistance there to following public health guidance .
Community spread accounts for 78 % of cases since Oct. 1 , Malcolm said .
Social gatherings of all sizes , including weddings and funerals , are the biggest contributors , she added .
Minnesota has had more than 70 wedding-related outbreaks since June , she said , which have led to more than 650 direct infections .
As those cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the cumulative total would grow much higher and reach into workplaces , health care facilities and schools .
Despite prevention efforts that include distance learning , the commissioner said 27 % of Minnesota ’ s K-12 schools have had at least one case since classes started this fall .
Thirty-three schools have had five or more cases , she said , and at least 26 of them were middle or high schools .
Given the risk from small social and family gatherings , people should be cautious about close interaction with even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households , said the department ’ s infectious disease director , Kris Ehresmann .
Too many of those who gamble that their COVID-19 case will be mild are losing that bet , she added .
“ Somewhere in the chain of transmission that you start , or you keep going with your case , there will be someone who has a serious , lengthy illness or even dies , ” Ehresmann said .
“ If you don ’ t worry for yourself , worry for them .
”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Gov. Tim Walz and health officials delivered a stark warning Monday that Minnesota’s fight against the coronavirus is at a critical stage and that residents need to step up their compliance with masking, social distancing and avoiding crowds if the state is going to avoid the rapid spread that has made the upper Midwest one of the country’s worst hotspots for COVID-19.
“This is a goal line stand, Minnesota,” the Democratic governor who is a former high school football coach, said in a briefing for reporters after meeting with White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Deborah Birx in Rochester over the weekend.
“She couldn’t have been clearer - the upper Midwest is at a critical juncture,” he said. “Her assessment was that the state of Minnesota and potentially the state of Illinois still possess the capacity to stop what’s happening in surrounding states. .. She was clear that widespread testing, especially amongst asymptomatic people, is the key.”
But Walz said he didn’t plan to roll back any of Minnesota’s limited reopening moves. He added it would be much less painful if Minnesota residents would just use tools already in place such as following the indoor mask mandate in public places, practicing social distancing and avoiding large gatherings. Walz said he’s not planning to close schools or businesses such as bars and restaurants.
The governor also noted that he was “deeply disappointment” to learn of the poor compliance with masking and social distancing guidelines at Vice President Mike Pence’s campaign rally in Hibbing on Monday. He said his administration had received assurances from the Trump campaign that it would follow the rules. According to a health department tally, 24 coronavirus cases have been reported among people who attended other recent Trump campaign events in Minnesota, plus four among protesters outside Trump’s Bemidji rally and one who attended a event for Joe Biden.
The department reported 1,578 new confirmed or probable cases and four new deaths Monday to raise the state’s total case count to 135,372 and its death toll to 2,353.
Western Minnesota is seeing the state’s highest case growth and hospitalization rates, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. Part of that is spillover from the Dakotas, she said, but she also cited resistance there to following public health guidance.
Community spread accounts for 78% of cases since Oct. 1, Malcolm said. Social gatherings of all sizes, including weddings and funerals, are the biggest contributors, she added. Minnesota has had more than 70 wedding-related outbreaks since June, she said, which have led to more than 650 direct infections. As those cases spread to more people, she added, the cumulative total would grow much higher and reach into workplaces, health care facilities and schools.
Despite prevention efforts that include distance learning, the commissioner said 27% of Minnesota’s K-12 schools have had at least one case since classes started this fall. Thirty-three schools have had five or more cases, she said, and at least 26 of them were middle or high schools.
Given the risk from small social and family gatherings, people should be cautious about close interaction with even a few people from outside their immediate households, said the department’s infectious disease director, Kris Ehresmann. Too many of those who gamble that their COVID-19 case will be mild are losing that bet, she added.
“Somewhere in the chain of transmission that you start, or you keep going with your case, there will be someone who has a serious, lengthy illness or even dies,” Ehresmann said. “If you don’t worry for yourself, worry for them.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Lamont warns restaurants, bars not to 'ruin it' for others

Gov .
Ned Lamont warned Monday that bars and restaurants violating Connecticut ’ s COVID-19 restrictions will “ ruin it ” for other establishments complying with social distancing rules , including required face coverings , if they don ’ t change their ways .
The Democrat said he was concerned to learn about a pub in Fairfield that was temporarily shut down and the owner fined after local health officials on Friday night observed about 50 people standing outside , many without masks , as well as a large number of people inside , in violation of the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been a couple of other incidents maybe you ’ ve heard about around the rest of the state right now , ” Lamont said on Monday during his coronavirus briefing .
“ And if this keeps going , you ’ re going to ruin it for all the restaurants and everybody who was following the protocols really seriously.
” Lamont said he is concerned about “ bars masquerading as restaurants , ” given the state ’ s current restrictions on stand-alone bars reopening during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant risk of getting infected in a bar , with people standing around , close to one another .
Restaurants , meanwhile , are allowed to open at 75 % capacity , except in communities with higher infection rates where local leaders decided to keep the limits at 50 % .
Since Friday , there have been more than 2,000 new infections in Connecticut after more than 92,000 tests were taken .
The state still has among the lowest positivity rates in the nation .
Meanwhile , the number of hospitalizations climbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of COVID-associated deaths increased by 12 to 4,589 .
Dr. John Murphy , president and CEO of Nuvance Health , which includes Danbury Hospital , said it ’ s important to note that the type of people testing positive is different today than it was in March , April and May .
In those early months of the pandemic , he said , the percentage of people under age 18 who tested positive was 4 % .
He said about 25 % who test positive are now under age 18 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are fewer comorbidities .
They ’ re much less likely to get sick , ” he said .
“ And of those individuals who do come into the emergency department , we ’ re finding that we are much more comfortable sending individuals home and , if necessary , with home care nurses looking after them.
” Murphy said modeling shows this new surge in cases could peak sometime in mid-January or sooner .
But he said the state is better prepared than it was when COVID-19 first hit earlier this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and contact tracing and more mask-wearing .
“ So for all of those reasons , while we expect it to be a tough winter , we do not believe that we are going to be overwhelmed by this , ” he said .
“ And we are hopeful that our capacity is sufficient to meet the needs of our state in the coming months.
” Murphy said it ’ s still a “ very serious infection ” and no one should think his health system is treating it casually .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ has taught us a great deal about how to combat it .
”

Gov. Ned Lamont warned Monday that bars and restaurants violating Connecticut’s COVID-19 restrictions will “ruin it” for other establishments complying with social distancing rules, including required face coverings, if they don’t change their ways.
The Democrat said he was concerned to learn about a pub in Fairfield that was temporarily shut down and the owner fined after local health officials on Friday night observed about 50 people standing outside, many without masks, as well as a large number of people inside, in violation of the state’s current capacity limits.
“There’s been a couple of other incidents maybe you’ve heard about around the rest of the state right now,” Lamont said on Monday during his coronavirus briefing. “And if this keeps going, you’re going to ruin it for all the restaurants and everybody who was following the protocols really seriously.”
Lamont said he is concerned about “bars masquerading as restaurants,” given the state’s current restrictions on stand-alone bars reopening during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. He has repeatedly said he believes there’s a significant risk of getting infected in a bar, with people standing around, close to one another.
Restaurants, meanwhile, are allowed to open at 75% capacity, except in communities with higher infection rates where local leaders decided to keep the limits at 50%.
Since Friday, there have been more than 2,000 new infections in Connecticut after more than 92,000 tests were taken. The state still has among the lowest positivity rates in the nation. Meanwhile, the number of hospitalizations climbed by 37 to 270 patients. The number of COVID-associated deaths increased by 12 to 4,589.
Dr. John Murphy, president and CEO of Nuvance Health, which includes Danbury Hospital, said it’s important to note that the type of people testing positive is different today than it was in March, April and May. In those early months of the pandemic, he said, the percentage of people under age 18 who tested positive was 4%. He said about 25% who test positive are now under age 18.
“So they’re healthier. There are fewer comorbidities. They’re much less likely to get sick,” he said. “And of those individuals who do come into the emergency department, we’re finding that we are much more comfortable sending individuals home and, if necessary, with home care nurses looking after them.”
Murphy said modeling shows this new surge in cases could peak sometime in mid-January or sooner. But he said the state is better prepared than it was when COVID-19 first hit earlier this year, considering there are better therapies, more testing and contact tracing and more mask-wearing.
“So for all of those reasons, while we expect it to be a tough winter, we do not believe that we are going to be overwhelmed by this,” he said. “And we are hopeful that our capacity is sufficient to meet the needs of our state in the coming months.”
Murphy said it’s still a “very serious infection” and no one should think his health system is treating it casually. But the last seven months, he said, “has taught us a great deal about how to combat it.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Arizona officials say Tuesday last day to mail ballots

PHOENIX ( AP ) - Arizona voters who have mail-in ballots still sitting on their kitchen table are being advised @ @ @ @ @ mail by Tuesday if they want assurances they ’ ll make it to county election @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Katie Hobbs says ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ counted .
After Tuesday , voters are urged to drop their ballots off at an @ @ @ @ @ recorders office or a polling place .
Locations can be found on the Arizona.vote website @ @ @ @ @ early ballots have already been returned .

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona voters who have mail-in ballots still sitting on their kitchen table are being advised to put them in the mail by Tuesday if they want assurances they’ll make it to county election officials by Election Day.
Secretary of State Katie Hobbs says ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3 to be counted.
There’s no postage requried for early ballots.
After Tuesday, voters are urged to drop their ballots off at an official drop box, county recorders office or a polling place. Locations can be found on the Arizona.vote website.
An historic number of early ballots have already been returned.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--US announces planned $2.37 billion weapon sale to Taiwan

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The Trump administration on Monday notified Congress of plans for a $ 2.37 billion sale of Harpoon missile systems to Taiwan just hours after Beijing announced sanctions on U.S. defense contractors , including Boeing , the lead contractor on the Harpoon deal .
“ The United States maintains an abiding interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and considers the security of Taiwan central to the security and stability of the broader Indo-Pacific region , ” the State Department said .
It said the sale would not alter the military balance in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ striking ships and land targets .
Boeing says the missile uses GPS-aided inertial navigation and delivers a 500-pound blast warhead .
It can target coastal defense sites , surface-to-air missile sites , exposed aircraft , ships in port , and port and industrial facilities .
Earlier Monday , China said it was imposing sanctions on Boeing , Lockheed Martin and other U.S. defense firms for providing weapons to Taiwan .
The ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan , which split with the mainland in 1949 during a civil war , as part of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington promised in the 1980s to reduce and eventually end weapons sales to Taiwan but insists its dispute with Beijing must be settled peacefully .
A Foreign Ministry spokesman , Zhao Lijian , gave no details on what penalties might be imposed or when .
“ In order to safeguard national interests , China decided to impose sanctions on the American companies that were involved in arms sales to Taiwan , ” Zhao said .
Chinese-U.S. relations have plunged to their lowest level in decades amid disputes about security , technology , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has long been an irritant in relations .
Washington has no formal relations with the island ’ s democratically elected government but is its main ally .
U.S. law requires the government to ensure Taiwan can defend itself .
Weapons sales to the island have increased in quantity and quality .
Beijing regularly pressures American companies including Boeing in an effort to influence U.S. policy .
China is one of Boeing ’ s biggest markets for commercial aircraft , which might make it vulnerable to a boycott , but Zhao mentioned only Boeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not its civilian jetliner business .

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Trump administration on Monday notified Congress of plans for a $2.37 billion sale of Harpoon missile systems to Taiwan just hours after Beijing announced sanctions on U.S. defense contractors, including Boeing, the lead contractor on the Harpoon deal.
“The United States maintains an abiding interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and considers the security of Taiwan central to the security and stability of the broader Indo-Pacific region,” the State Department said. It said the sale would not alter the military balance in the region.
Harpoon missiles are capable of striking ships and land targets. Boeing says the missile uses GPS-aided inertial navigation and delivers a 500-pound blast warhead. It can target coastal defense sites, surface-to-air missile sites, exposed aircraft, ships in port, and port and industrial facilities.
Earlier Monday, China said it was imposing sanctions on Boeing, Lockheed Martin and other U.S. defense firms for providing weapons to Taiwan.
The ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan, which split with the mainland in 1949 during a civil war, as part of its territory and has threatened to invade. Washington promised in the 1980s to reduce and eventually end weapons sales to Taiwan but insists its dispute with Beijing must be settled peacefully.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, gave no details on what penalties might be imposed or when.
“In order to safeguard national interests, China decided to impose sanctions on the American companies that were involved in arms sales to Taiwan,” Zhao said.
Chinese-U.S. relations have plunged to their lowest level in decades amid disputes about security, technology, the coronavirus pandemic and human rights.
Taiwan has long been an irritant in relations. Washington has no formal relations with the island’s democratically elected government but is its main ally. U.S. law requires the government to ensure Taiwan can defend itself. Weapons sales to the island have increased in quantity and quality.
Beijing regularly pressures American companies including Boeing in an effort to influence U.S. policy. China is one of Boeing’s biggest markets for commercial aircraft, which might make it vulnerable to a boycott, but Zhao mentioned only Boeing’s military arm, Boeing Defense, not its civilian jetliner business.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Ex-police chief not cooperating with probe of Prude's death

ROCHESTER , N.Y. ( AP ) - Rochester ’ s former police chief is refusing to cooperate with a City Council probe of the response to Daniel Prude ’ s death , the lawyer leading the investigation said Monday .
La ’ Ron Singletary was subpoenaed by the council earlier this month to provide documents and testimony related to the death of Prude , a Black man who died after police restrained him on the ground in March .
Information about Prude ’ s death wasn ’ t disclosed publicly until early September , when Prude ’ s family released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was f ired by Mayor Lovely Warren amid protests over handling of the case by police and City Hall , claims he ’ s not bound by a subpoena since he ’ s no longer a city employee , attorney and lead investigator Andrew Celli Jr. Celli said .
Singletary ’ s lawyer , Michael Tallon , said in a letter to Celli last week that records sought from Singletary will be preserved .
He questioned the integrity of the investigation and said he will wait until other city officials , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then decide how best to cooperate .
“ Chief Singletary ’ s refusal to cooperate in the investigation , while very unfortunate , will not materially impede our progress , ” Celli said in a statement Monday .

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - Rochester’s former police chief is refusing to cooperate with a City Council probe of the response to Daniel Prude’s death, the lawyer leading the investigation said Monday.
La’Ron Singletary was subpoenaed by the council earlier this month to provide documents and testimony related to the death of Prude, a Black man who died after police restrained him on the ground in March. Information about Prude’s death wasn’t disclosed publicly until early September, when Prude’s family released police body-worn camera video.
Singletary, who was f ired by Mayor Lovely Warren amid protests over handling of the case by police and City Hall, claims he’s not bound by a subpoena since he’s no longer a city employee, attorney and lead investigator Andrew Celli Jr. Celli said.
Singletary’s lawyer, Michael Tallon, said in a letter to Celli last week that records sought from Singletary will be preserved. He questioned the integrity of the investigation and said he will wait until other city officials, including the mayor, give testimony, and then decide how best to cooperate.
“Chief Singletary’s refusal to cooperate in the investigation, while very unfortunate, will not materially impede our progress,” Celli said in a statement Monday.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Phoenix police: 2 die after a domestic violence incident

PHOENIX ( AP ) - A man was fatally shot after a domestic violence incident that left a woman dead @ @ @ @ @ , Phoenix police said Monday .
Officers were called out to a neighborhood about 10 @ @ @ @ @ about a fight at a home .
When officers arrived , they found the man @ @ @ @ @ he told officers he had a gun .
Police said the man then pointed what @ @ @ @ @ at the officers , who opened fire .
The man was pronounced dead at the @ @ @ @ @ age weren ’ t immediately released .
Police said a black hard-shell eyeglasses case was @ @ @ @ @ and was found next to the suspect .
Officers went inside the house and found @ @ @ @ @ 13-year-old boy with life-threatening injuries , but it ’ s unclear if the man shot @ @ @ @ @ taken to a hospital in critical condition where the woman was later pronounced dead .
@ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t been released yet .

PHOENIX (AP) - A man was fatally shot after a domestic violence incident that left a woman dead and a teenage boy injured, Phoenix police said Monday.
Officers were called out to a neighborhood about 10 p.m. Sunday after multiple calls about a fight at a home.
When officers arrived, they found the man outside of the house where he told officers he had a gun.
Police said the man then pointed what appeared to be a gun at the officers, who opened fire.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name and age weren’t immediately released.
Police said a black hard-shell eyeglasses case was used as a simulated weapon and was found next to the suspect.
Officers went inside the house and found a 46-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy with life-threatening injuries, but it’s unclear if the man shot them.
The two were taken to a hospital in critical condition where the woman was later pronounced dead.
Her name and age also haven’t been released yet.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Amy Coney Barrett Supreme Court fight not resonating in Senate races

It was the most consequential vote they ’ ve taken all year , but the confirmation Monday of Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett is playing surprisingly little role in senators ’ re-election chances back home .
Partisans on both sides had insisted the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September would instantly catapult the matter to the political fore , but it ’ s played out very differently .
From Maine to Colorado , political pros said they ’ re just not seeing the confirmation fight resonate with voters , even with control of the Senate at stake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fight , and when they do , the message is drowned out by the rest of the election “ Amid a race that seems like it ’ s pretty much already baked in , I think there ’ a so few persuadable voters , ” said Kyle Saunders , a political science professor at Colorado State University , who has been watching the race there between Sen. Cory Gardner , a one-term GOP incumbent , and former Gov .
John Hickenlooper , his Democratic challenger .
So did nearly every other Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s two senators , both of whom face voters next week .
Yet the Barrett confirmation fight is “ a very minimal factor , ” said Charles S. Bullock III , a political scientist at the University of Georgia .
One of the two races has turned into a slugfest between two Republicans , while the other , with Sen. David Perdue trying to fend off Democrat Jon Ossoff , has focused elsewhere .
“ The health care issue is the one that dominates their back and forth , ” Mr. Bullock said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race has been dominated by the Democratic challenger ’ s admissions of improper behavior with a woman who isn ’ t his wife .
In Michigan and Arizona , candidates have sparred as much over Democrats ’ hopes of packing the Supreme Court with additional justices as they have over Judge Barrett herself .
One reason for the lack of traction may be conflicting sentiments .
Voters generally say they want the winner of the election to make the pick to fill the seat .
But when asked specifically about Judge Barrett , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does deserve confirmation , according to polling by PoliticalIQ .
Another reason the Supreme Court fight might not be resonating is because Democrats have done a good job of turning the election into a referendum on Obamacare , reprising a strategy that paid huge dividends in the 2018 midterm congressional election .
A third reason could be there ’ s just no room left for the issue — literally .
Candidates ’ ad strategies were planned months ago , and slots were all bought up focusing on other matters .
“ The airwaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads , and pre-taped ads that I haven ’ t seen any that ’ s really been part of that conversation , ” Mr. Saunders said .
It ’ s to the point where most pollsters aren ’ t even bothering to ask about the vacancy or its effect on the races .
One state where Justice Barrett ’ s nomination does loom large is South Carolina , where Sen. Lindsey Graham , a Republican , is facing the race of his life against Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison .
Mr. Graham , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge Barrett ’ s nomination to the floor .
Mr. Graham believes the issue is a winner for him .
He issued a challenge Monday to Mr. Harrison , who has avoided saying whether he backed Justice Barrett .
“ I have made my position clear .
It is time for my opponent to do the same , ” Mr. Graham said .
“ Mr .
Harrison , do you support or oppose this highly qualified nominee ?
” The Democrat has countered with the party ’ s argument that the Senate shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now .
For one thing , he says , lawmakers should be focused on coronavirus .
But he also points back to Mr. Graham ’ s “ hold the tape ” declaration two years ago that the GOP would not pursue a Supreme Court nomination in 2020 .
Judging by the cash , Mr. Harrison is getting the better of the argument .
He said he raised $ 2 million in the 48 hours surrounding the committee ’ s approval of Justice Barrett on Thursday .
GOP operatives said the court battle is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red states where races are closer than they ’ d hoped .
Those include Iowa and Kansas .
In Alabama , Sen. Doug Jones , a Democrat , was likely already headed to defeat but his vote against Justice Barrett could further energize Republican turnout .
GOP candidate Tommy Tuberville holds a 13-point lead in a poll out Monday by Cygnal , a GOP firm .
The high court is also an issue in Maine , where Sen. Susan Collins , a Republican joined Democrats in an attempt to filibuster the nomination over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Collins ’ vote in 2018 for President Trump ’ s previous nominee , Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh , that ’ s still drawing fire .
The senator not only delivered a key vote in favor of Justice Kavanaugh , but gave an impassioned defense of him on the Senate floor .
James P. Melcher , a political science professor at the University of Maine-Farmington , said that vote helped Ms. Collins shore up her right flank and avoid a primary challenge this year .
But it proved devastating among pro-choice women , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still very much an issue in this election , ” the Mr. Melcher said .
“ Collins ’ vote for Kavanaugh enraged pro-choice women , not only because they didn ’ t trust Kavanaugh to be a pro-choice vote on the court — in spite of Collins ’ assurances that he passed her pro-Roe test , but because of the allegations against him of mistreatment of women.
” Her opposition to confirming Justice Barrett didn ’ t make up for that , the professor said .
Former Maine Gov .
Paul LePage told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Ms. Collins vote may even be costing her some of the support she earned from conservatives with her Kavanaugh vote .
“ People are calling me and telling me they just can ’ t vote for her anymore , ” he said .

It was the most consequential vote they’ve taken all year, but the confirmation Monday of Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett is playing surprisingly little role in senators’ reelection chances back home.
Partisans on both sides had insisted the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September would instantly catapult the matter to the political fore, but it’s played out very differently. From Maine to Colorado, political pros said they’re just not seeing the confirmation fight resonate with voters, even with control of the Senate at stake.
Few candidates are running ads on the fight, and when they do, the message is drowned out by the rest of the election
“Amid a race that seems like it’s pretty much already baked in, I think there’a so few persuadable voters,” said Kyle Saunders, a political science professor at Colorado State University, who has been watching the race there between Sen. Cory Gardner, a one-term GOP incumbent, and former Gov. John Hickenlooper, his Democratic challenger.
Mr. Gardner backed Justice Barrett in Monday’s vote.
So did nearly every other Republican in the chamber, including Georgia’s two senators, both of whom face voters next week.
Yet the Barrett confirmation fight is “a very minimal factor,” said Charles S. Bullock III, a political scientist at the University of Georgia.
One of the two races has turned into a slugfest between two Republicans, while the other, with Sen. David Perdue trying to fend off Democrat Jon Ossoff, has focused elsewhere.
“The health care issue is the one that dominates their back and forth,” Mr. Bullock said.
In North Carolina, the Senate race has been dominated by the Democratic challenger’s admissions of improper behavior with a woman who isn’t his wife. In Michigan and Arizona, candidates have sparred as much over Democrats’ hopes of packing the Supreme Court with additional justices as they have over Judge Barrett herself.
One reason for the lack of traction may be conflicting sentiments.
Voters generally say they want the winner of the election to make the pick to fill the seat. But when asked specifically about Judge Barrett, a plurality in battleground states say she does deserve confirmation, according to polling by PoliticalIQ.
Another reason the Supreme Court fight might not be resonating is because Democrats have done a good job of turning the election into a referendum on Obamacare, reprising a strategy that paid huge dividends in the 2018 midterm congressional election.
A third reason could be there’s just no room left for the issue — literally. Candidates’ ad strategies were planned months ago, and slots were all bought up focusing on other matters.
“The airwaves are so full of the already pre-canned ads, and pre-taped ads that I haven’t seen any that’s really been part of that conversation,” Mr. Saunders said.
It’s to the point where most pollsters aren’t even bothering to ask about the vacancy or its effect on the races.
One state where Justice Barrett’s nomination does loom large is South Carolina, where Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican, is facing the race of his life against Democratic challenger Jamie Harrison. Mr. Graham, as chair of the Judiciary Committee, shepherded Judge Barrett’s nomination to the floor.
Mr. Graham believes the issue is a winner for him.
He issued a challenge Monday to Mr. Harrison, who has avoided saying whether he backed Justice Barrett.
“I have made my position clear. It is time for my opponent to do the same,” Mr. Graham said. “Mr. Harrison, do you support or oppose this highly qualified nominee?”
The Democrat has countered with the party’s argument that the Senate shouldn’t voting on a court nominee now. For one thing, he says, lawmakers should be focused on coronavirus. But he also points back to Mr. Graham’s “hold the tape” declaration two years ago that the GOP would not pursue a Supreme Court nomination in 2020.
Judging by the cash, Mr. Harrison is getting the better of the argument. He said he raised $2 million in the 48 hours surrounding the committee’s approval of Justice Barrett on Thursday.
GOP operatives said the court battle is helping Republicans shore up things in some red states where races are closer than they’d hoped. Those include Iowa and Kansas.
In Alabama, Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat, was likely already headed to defeat but his vote against Justice Barrett could further energize Republican turnout.
GOP candidate Tommy Tuberville holds a 13-point lead in a poll out Monday by Cygnal, a GOP firm.
The high court is also an issue in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican joined Democrats in an attempt to filibuster the nomination over the weekend.
But it’s Ms. Collins’ vote in 2018 for President Trump’s previous nominee, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, that’s still drawing fire. The senator not only delivered a key vote in favor of Justice Kavanaugh, but gave an impassioned defense of him on the Senate floor.
James P. Melcher, a political science professor at the University of Maine-Farmington, said that vote helped Ms. Collins shore up her right flank and avoid a primary challenge this year. But it proved devastating among pro-choice women, who felt betrayed.
“Kavanaugh is still very much an issue in this election,” the Mr. Melcher said. “Collins’ vote for Kavanaugh enraged pro-choice women, not only because they didn’t trust Kavanaugh to be a pro-choice vote on the court — in spite of Collins’ assurances that he passed her pro-Roe test, but because of the allegations against him of mistreatment of women.”
Her opposition to confirming Justice Barrett didn’t make up for that, the professor said.
Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage told a Portland radio station earlier this month that Ms. Collins vote may even be costing her some of the support she earned from conservatives with her Kavanaugh vote.
“People are calling me and telling me they just can’t vote for her anymore,” he said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-26--Lilly antibody drug fails in a COVID-19 study; others go on

U.S. government officials are putting an early end to a study testing an Eli Lilly antibody drug for people hospitalized with COVID-19 because it doesn ’ t seem to be helping them .
Independent monitors had paused enrollment in the study two weeks ago because of a possible safety issue .
But on Monday , the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , which sponsors the study , said a closer look did not verify a safety problem but found a low chance that the drug would prove helpful for hospitalized patients .
It is a setback for one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
President Donald Trump received a similar experimental , two-antibody drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. on an emergency basis when he was sickened with the coronavirus earlier this month .
In a statement Lilly notes that the government is continuing a separate study testing the antibody drug in mild to moderately ill patients , to try to prevent hospitalization and severe illness .
The company also is continuing its own studies testing the drug , which is being developed with the Canadian company AbCellera .
Antibodies are proteins the body makes when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virus and help it be eliminated .
The experimental drugs are concentrated versions of one or two specific antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests .
Lilly and Regeneron have asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant emergency use authorization for their drugs for COVID-19 while late-stage studies continue .
Lilly says its request is based on other results suggesting the drug helps patients who are not hospitalized , and that it will continue to seek the FDA ’ s permission for emergency use .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

U.S. government officials are putting an early end to a study testing an Eli Lilly antibody drug for people hospitalized with COVID-19 because it doesn’t seem to be helping them.
Independent monitors had paused enrollment in the study two weeks ago because of a possible safety issue. But on Monday, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which sponsors the study, said a closer look did not verify a safety problem but found a low chance that the drug would prove helpful for hospitalized patients.
It is a setback for one of the most promising treatment approaches for COVID-19. President Donald Trump received a similar experimental, two-antibody drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. on an emergency basis when he was sickened with the coronavirus earlier this month.
In a statement Lilly notes that the government is continuing a separate study testing the antibody drug in mild to moderately ill patients, to try to prevent hospitalization and severe illness. The company also is continuing its own studies testing the drug, which is being developed with the Canadian company AbCellera.
Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help it be eliminated. The experimental drugs are concentrated versions of one or two specific antibodies that worked best against the coronavirus in lab and animal tests.
Lilly and Regeneron have asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant emergency use authorization for their drugs for COVID-19 while late-stage studies continue. Lilly says its request is based on other results suggesting the drug helps patients who are not hospitalized, and that it will continue to seek the FDA’s permission for emergency use.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.