Recent Kansas editorials

Elected officials at all levels need to start right now on working to convince the public that the COVID-19 vaccines we ’ ll soon be able to take are safe .
They ’ ll have to help us put disinformation aside and see that the only way we ’ ll put this pandemic behind us is with as close as we can get to universal vaccination .
For a variety of reasons , that ’ s going to be a challenge : Anti-vax conspiracy theories have many believing all kinds of untrue tales about implanting chips and “ marking us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been tested on thousands of volunteers and have been found to be both highly effective and to have untroubling side effects - at worst , amounting to a couple of achy days .
In the Black community in particular , there ’ s no mystery about why there ’ s a legacy of mistrust of medical authority , even as COVID-19 is twice as likely to be fatal for Black and brown Americans .
And since many Republicans have been convinced that the disease is a “ hoax ” or has been overblown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that either doesn ’ t exist at all or is no big deal be necessary ?
We ’ re glad to report that when it ’ s his turn to be vaccinated , Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has agreed to get the first of his two doses publicly , on our weekly Star Opinion Live digital show .
Kansas Gov .
Laura Kelly has agreed to be vaccinated publicly , too , when it ’ s her turn , just as former Presidents Barack Obama , George W. Bush and Bill Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The sooner Kansans get vaccinated , the sooner our lives can return to normal , ” Kelly said in a statement to The Star Editorial Board .
“ I know there are some Kansans concerned about the safety of the vaccine – I want to assure them that these vaccines have been tested on thousands of people and that scientists have been working towards coronavirus vaccines for nearly 20 years .
COVID-19 is a coronavirus so much of the groundwork had been done .
When it ’ s my turn , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety and the importance of getting vaccinated.
” She did strike this note of caution , and rightly so : “ Even with all of this good vaccine news , we are still likely on a six-month timetable before the majority of Kansans are vaccinated .
In the meantime , we must continue to wear our face-coverings , physically distance , use proper hygiene , and use the free testing available through gogesttested.com/Kansas .
Keeping up these efforts will save lives , protect small businesses and keep our children in school where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said through a spokesman that he ’ s committing both to getting the vaccine and to getting it publicly when it ’ s his turn .
Not surprisingly , Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson ’ s spokeswoman did not respond to a question about whether our COVID-MIA governor will do either of those things .
But those he ’ s sent mixed messages about whether to wear a “ dang mask ” might follow his lead if he did .
It ’ s long past time to put politics aside on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been politicized in the first place .
Ideally , Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Royals catcher Salvador Perez will sign up , too , to do just as Elvis Presley did when he saved lives by getting his polio vaccine on “ The Ed Sullivan Show ” in 1956 , at a time when many young adults didn ’ t see why they needed to do that .
Every governor in the country is also going to have to stand up to the lobbying of special interests , donors and all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should get to cut the line for the COVID-19 vaccines that the states will be in charge of distributing in the coming months .
But it couldn ’ t be more important that they find a way to both hold off those who want to butt in line and encourage those who aren ’ t sure they want in line at all .
Courts in Kansas are going above and beyond in dealing with challenges of COVID-19 as they aim to resume jury trials .
Officials are installing Plexiglas barriers , requiring masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total number of people in courtrooms .
Unfortunately , as a story by The Topeka Capital-Journal ’ s Titus Wu suggests , that still might not be enough .
Why not ?
Courthouses simply aren ’ t built for pandemics , and the right to a trial in front of a jury of one ’ s peers is sorely tested when those peers must obey a stringent and evolving list of safety requirements .
Lawyers are concerned that masks cover their faces and make emotions difficult to convey .
And those on trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jail or prison , may present virus risks of their own .
Meanwhile , the right to a speedy trial is stretched if court dates are simply delayed .
Frankly , Wu ’ s story does an outstanding job of painting a situation where there are no easy answers .
You know that ’ s the case when some sources suggest moving trials outside to allow easier public access .
We all deserve an accessible and convenient court system .
We have a right to it .
But at the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put our health at risk to access that system .
Those accused of heinous crimes enjoy a presumption of innocence , after all .
Surely those serving as jurors or witnesses should enjoy the presumption of basic health .
The basic question of “ one ’ s peers ” comes into play , too .
If potential jurors are afraid to serve because of the virus , or if they ’ re in a high-risk group , it ’ s easy to imagine the pool of willing jurors shrinking .
Before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too often seen as a burden or inconvenience .
If it ’ s also a health hazard , who on Earth will be left to step up and serve for the cause of justice ?
The unfortunate fact is , courts across Kansas may simply be forced to wait .
We applaud those who have taken safety and health seriously .
If judges and attorneys believe trials can continue on a limited basis , they should be encouraged to do so .
But the realities of our current crisis suggest that a full-scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immunity .
That ’ s going to take time , although hopefully less than we expected even a few months ago .
The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics last week released a new set of recommendations on how to clean up major college football .
The commission stressed that leaders in college athletics were looking for bold solutions .
Here ’ s a bold idea : How about we start playing college football on this planet instead of in some alternate reality ?
If you think college football is part of the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see that the University of Alabama used its private jet to fly a COVID test to a lab so that its head coach could be on the sidelines of an October game against rival Georgia .
That sounds about like how testing works for the rest of us , right ?
The incident is a good analogy for how untethered the sport has become , but it doesn ’ t fully capture the danger .
The most destructive aspect of big-time college football is it needlessly spends millions upon millions of dollars that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affordability of education .
Perhaps you guessed , but the Knight Commission ’ s bold recommendation didn ’ t tackle that issue .
Instead , the commission ’ s recommendation calls for the NCAA to get out of the business of regulating big-time college football .
The 130 schools that make up Division 1 football would be governed by a separate , self-governing entity .
The idea makes sense because the national championship for Division 1 football already is run by a separate entity ; however , the NCAA is still responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a host of other administrative issues .
The NCAA covers those administrative costs , but doesn ’ t get paid to do so .
In that respect , the recommendation has an element of common sense .
The group that generates the revenues ought to be responsible for the costs .
While sensical , it is hardly bold .
What would be bold is a spending cap for college athletic programs .
It is badly needed , and the Knight Commission has the data to prove it .
Its report stated that from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football coaches at the Power 5 schools have grown 93 % .
Total academic spending at those schools has grown 29 % .
What type of values statement is that ?
Big-time college athletics is screwed up because it doesn ’ t keep score the way the rest of the world does .
Think of this : Big-time CEOs are highly competitive people , just like coaches and athletic directors .
But CEOs keep score with the bottom line .
I ’ m better than you because my profit margin was 20 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Money isn ’ t used to keep score in college athletics , and thus it isn ’ t valued in the same way .
It is just a means to an end that includes national championships and wins and losses recorded in a book .
Pro sports figured out this problem long ago , and most have salary caps .
College athletics could create a similar system , except it would be an overall spending cap .
Pro sports leagues make huge amounts of money , with the profits benefiting the owners .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ athletics .
Television contracts won ’ t get smaller with a spending cap .
The profits simply would go to the academic sides of universities .
A spending cap likely would take national legislation from Congress related to antitrust laws .
That could be difficult , but it seems like that is one of the hallmarks of bold ideas .
So , no , this Knight recommendation isn ’ t bold .
However , it may end up being fear-inducing at places like the University of Kansas .
If big-time college football has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it may decided that the top tier of football really doesn ’ t need to be 130 schools .
It may become pickier about who it lets into its club , based on what each school is bringing to the table .
Bringing a basketball to a football table may finally catch up with KU .
Probably not right away , though .
The big-timers may want to let the dust settle before they tackle the political battle of carving off the hanger-ons .
Maybe in the interim , there will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher education , and support for a spending cap can emerge in time .
Don ’ t bet on it , though .
College athletics isn ’ t about being bold .
It is all about holding onto the gold .
Until that changes , college athletics will continue to be one of the most screwed-up value statements in America .

The Kansas City Star, Dec. 7
Elected officials at all levels need to start right now on working to convince the public that the COVID-19 vaccines we’ll soon be able to take are safe. They’ll have to help us put disinformation aside and see that the only way we’ll put this pandemic behind us is with as close as we can get to universal vaccination.
For a variety of reasons, that’s going to be a challenge: Anti-vax conspiracy theories have many believing all kinds of untrue tales about implanting chips and “marking us for elimination.”
These vaccines have already been tested on thousands of volunteers and have been found to be both highly effective and to have untroubling side effects - at worst, amounting to a couple of achy days.
In the Black community in particular, there’s no mystery about why there’s a legacy of mistrust of medical authority, even as COVID-19 is twice as likely to be fatal for Black and brown Americans.
And since many Republicans have been convinced that the disease is a “hoax” or has been overblown, why would any immunization against something that either doesn’t exist at all or is no big deal be necessary?
We’re glad to report that when it’s his turn to be vaccinated, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has agreed to get the first of his two doses publicly, on our weekly Star Opinion Live digital show.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has agreed to be vaccinated publicly, too, when it’s her turn, just as former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have said they’ll do.
“The sooner Kansans get vaccinated, the sooner our lives can return to normal,” Kelly said in a statement to The Star Editorial Board. “I know there are some Kansans concerned about the safety of the vaccine – I want to assure them that these vaccines have been tested on thousands of people and that scientists have been working towards coronavirus vaccines for nearly 20 years. COVID-19 is a coronavirus so much of the groundwork had been done. When it’s my turn, I will get vaccinated publicly to reinforce the safety and the importance of getting vaccinated.”
She did strike this note of caution, and rightly so: “Even with all of this good vaccine news, we are still likely on a six-month timetable before the majority of Kansans are vaccinated. In the meantime, we must continue to wear our face-coverings, physically distance, use proper hygiene, and use the free testing available through gogesttested.com/Kansas. Keeping up these efforts will save lives, protect small businesses and keep our children in school where they belong.”
Republican Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran also said through a spokesman that he’s committing both to getting the vaccine and to getting it publicly when it’s his turn.
Not surprisingly, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s spokeswoman did not respond to a question about whether our COVID-MIA governor will do either of those things. But those he’s sent mixed messages about whether to wear a “dang mask” might follow his lead if he did. It’s long past time to put politics aside on a public health disaster that should never have been politicized in the first place.
Ideally, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Royals catcher Salvador Perez will sign up, too, to do just as Elvis Presley did when he saved lives by getting his polio vaccine on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956, at a time when many young adults didn’t see why they needed to do that.
Every governor in the country is also going to have to stand up to the lobbying of special interests, donors and all of the others who are already arguing that they should get to cut the line for the COVID-19 vaccines that the states will be in charge of distributing in the coming months.
But it couldn’t be more important that they find a way to both hold off those who want to butt in line and encourage those who aren’t sure they want in line at all.
_____
The Topeka Capital-Journal, Dec. 3
Courts in Kansas are going above and beyond in dealing with challenges of COVID-19 as they aim to resume jury trials.
Officials are installing Plexiglas barriers, requiring masks and social distancing, and limiting the total number of people in courtrooms. Unfortunately, as a story by The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Titus Wu suggests, that still might not be enough.
Why not? Courthouses simply aren’t built for pandemics, and the right to a trial in front of a jury of one’s peers is sorely tested when those peers must obey a stringent and evolving list of safety requirements. Lawyers are concerned that masks cover their faces and make emotions difficult to convey. And those on trial, if they’re being held in jail or prison, may present virus risks of their own.
Meanwhile, the right to a speedy trial is stretched if court dates are simply delayed.
Frankly, Wu’s story does an outstanding job of painting a situation where there are no easy answers. You know that’s the case when some sources suggest moving trials outside to allow easier public access.
We all deserve an accessible and convenient court system. We have a right to it. But at the same time, we shouldn’t be expected to put our health at risk to access that system. Those accused of heinous crimes enjoy a presumption of innocence, after all. Surely those serving as jurors or witnesses should enjoy the presumption of basic health.
The basic question of “one’s peers” comes into play, too. If potential jurors are afraid to serve because of the virus, or if they’re in a high-risk group, it’s easy to imagine the pool of willing jurors shrinking. Before the pandemic, serving in a jury was too often seen as a burden or inconvenience. If it’s also a health hazard, who on Earth will be left to step up and serve for the cause of justice?
The unfortunate fact is, courts across Kansas may simply be forced to wait.
We applaud those who have taken safety and health seriously. If judges and attorneys believe trials can continue on a limited basis, they should be encouraged to do so. But the realities of our current crisis suggest that a full-scale return will require a vaccine and widespread immunity.
That’s going to take time, although hopefully less than we expected even a few months ago.
_____
The Lawrence Journal-World, Dec. 6
The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics last week released a new set of recommendations on how to clean up major college football. The commission stressed that leaders in college athletics were looking for bold solutions.
Here’s a bold idea: How about we start playing college football on this planet instead of in some alternate reality?
If you think college football is part of the real world, perhaps you didn’t see that the University of Alabama used its private jet to fly a COVID test to a lab so that its head coach could be on the sidelines of an October game against rival Georgia. That sounds about like how testing works for the rest of us, right?
The incident is a good analogy for how untethered the sport has become, but it doesn’t fully capture the danger. The most destructive aspect of big-time college football is it needlessly spends millions upon millions of dollars that universities desperately need to improve academics and the affordability of education.
Perhaps you guessed, but the Knight Commission’s bold recommendation didn’t tackle that issue. Instead, the commission’s recommendation calls for the NCAA to get out of the business of regulating big-time college football. The 130 schools that make up Division 1 football would be governed by a separate, self-governing entity.
The idea makes sense because the national championship for Division 1 football already is run by a separate entity; however, the NCAA is still responsible for player eligibility, rules enforcement and a host of other administrative issues. The NCAA covers those administrative costs, but doesn’t get paid to do so.
In that respect, the recommendation has an element of common sense. The group that generates the revenues ought to be responsible for the costs. While sensical, it is hardly bold. What would be bold is a spending cap for college athletic programs.
It is badly needed, and the Knight Commission has the data to prove it. Its report stated that from 2009 to 2018, the salaries of football coaches at the Power 5 schools have grown 93%. Total academic spending at those schools has grown 29%. What type of values statement is that?
Big-time college athletics is screwed up because it doesn’t keep score the way the rest of the world does. Think of this: Big-time CEOs are highly competitive people, just like coaches and athletic directors. But CEOs keep score with the bottom line. I’m better than you because my profit margin was 20% while yours was only 15%. Money isn’t used to keep score in college athletics, and thus it isn’t valued in the same way. It is just a means to an end that includes national championships and wins and losses recorded in a book.
Pro sports figured out this problem long ago, and most have salary caps. College athletics could create a similar system, except it would be an overall spending cap. Pro sports leagues make huge amounts of money, with the profits benefiting the owners. It would work the same in college athletics. Television contracts won’t get smaller with a spending cap. The profits simply would go to the academic sides of universities. A spending cap likely would take national legislation from Congress related to antitrust laws. That could be difficult, but it seems like that is one of the hallmarks of bold ideas.
So, no, this Knight recommendation isn’t bold. However, it may end up being fear-inducing at places like the University of Kansas. If big-time college football has to finally start paying all its costs, it may decided that the top tier of football really doesn’t need to be 130 schools. It may become pickier about who it lets into its club, based on what each school is bringing to the table. Bringing a basketball to a football table may finally catch up with KU. Probably not right away, though. The big-timers may want to let the dust settle before they tackle the political battle of carving off the hanger-ons.
Maybe in the interim, there will be some bold thinking in the world of higher education, and support for a spending cap can emerge in time. Don’t bet on it, though. College athletics isn’t about being bold. It is all about holding onto the gold.
Until that changes, college athletics will continue to be one of the most screwed-up value statements in America.
______


Recent Missouri editorials

We urge lawmakers to sit this fight out .
Last month , a St. Louis County executive ordered indoor dining at bars and restaurants shut down because of a rising COVID-19 caseload and concerns about overwhelmed hospitals .
He since has taken steps to close bars and restaurants that don ’ t comply .
The move is controversial there , as you might guess , and there are questions about whether the county executive has authority to do this without approval from the council .
This is for them to sort out .
Yet it seems some lawmakers want in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Manchester , some legislators are backing a measure allowing them to restrict what local government officials can do .
Cities and counties would only be able to shut down businesses for two weeks .
After that , both the Missouri House and Senate would have to approve and the governor would have to sign any extension .
Our advice : Lawmakers need to step back .
For months , the mantra coming out of Jefferson City , led by Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson , has been : “ Local control.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide for themselves what is best .
That was the argument after the Missouri Hospital Association , the medical establishment and some Missouri communities asked for a statewide mask mandate .
It was the argument after the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommended a statewide mask mandate .
Parson said recently : “ I ’ m always going to allow those local levels to make those decisions , and I think for the most part they are .
All across the state , they understand the situation , and they are implementing policy.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to what was then happening in the St. Louis area , said : “ I don ’ t want to be telling these cities and counties exactly how to run their business.
” If our elected leaders are not going to support a statewide mask mandate , citing “ local control , ” we don ’ t think they need to oversee those COVID-19 restrictions happening at the local level , either .
Although lawmakers may not agree with the steps individual counties and cities are taking , we counsel them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem like Missouri is entering the 11th month of a legislative session with no end .
It ’ s not quite true .
The General Assembly met for its regular session in January , took some time off for the coronavirus and gathered for two special sessions in the second half of the year .
That ’ s a lot of time in Jefferson City .
Now , with the 2021 regular session just a month away , Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson is asking lawmakers to address coronavirus liability protections in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he had previously suggested .
In terms of logistics , it ’ s hard to argue with a determination to use the current special session to focus on the core issue of approving a $ 1.2 billion coronavirus aid package before Uncle Sam wants its money back .
However , we hope that Missouri lawmakers also see the importance of making a strong push next year for a bill that would extend COVID-19 liability protections to health-care workers , schools , businesses and nonprofits .
Already , employers nationwide have been hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry .
Businesses see liability protection as an issue of fairness , making the case that companies shouldn ’ t be sued if they followed recommended health guidelines that tend to shift all the time .
Just this week , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened its recommended quarantine period for those who come into contact with a positive case but don ’ t show any symptoms .
Critics of liability protection say the number of lawsuits is low in Missouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance claims , rather than personal injury or tort filings .
As the debate continues , policymakers shouldn ’ t overlook the reality that this issue deals not just with the what , but the what if .
Businesses don ’ t fear losing a lawsuit , but they fear being targeted with one because they ’ re so costly and time-consuming to defend .
The pandemic already created a culture of aversion to risk .
In many cases , this is warranted as people take reasonable precautions , like wearing masks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the virus .
But on a broader level , as a vaccine is made available and the public health threat begins to recede , it will be difficult to return to normal and fully reopen the economy if employers face a nebulous fear of lawsuits , especially when it ’ s so hard to pinpoint exactly how someone contracted COVID-19 .
When Missouri lawmakers return for regular session , they should make it a point to address liability protections right away , instead of waiting for the last days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finish line .
There certainly must come a point when St. Louisans draw the line on the rampant criminality and murders terrorizing the region .
Last year ’ s spate of shooting deaths of children didn ’ t do it .
Now Fred Whitted , the brother of a woman killed Monday in crossfire on Interstate 170 , asks for anyone who will listen : “ Where is the outrage in the community ?
” With 72 % of homicides going unsolved in St. Louis city , people should get outraged and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it takes to stop the violence and bring criminals to justice .
To the credit of investigators in St. Louis County , at least one suspect in Monday ’ s shooting was arrested on Friday .
But it takes more than one shooter to create deadly crossfire .
The high number of senseless murders in St. Louis fuels a growing frustration among its citizens , especially the families of the victims .
“ My sister did everything right , ” Fred Whitted told reporters Thursday , flanked by grieving family .
Kristen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on her way to meet a friend for a walk at Forest Park .
Fred Whitted , himself a community activist who lives in Omaha , Nebraska , said the violence in St. Louis is one of the reasons he moved away .
He and his family pleaded for anyone with information to come forward .
He expressed the frustration shared by many about the increasing vulnerability of innocents caught up in this violence - and the well-founded frustrations of the families when the perpetrators aren ’ t brought to justice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has come forward in the murder of Kristen Whitted .
But if people know something about this or any of the other unsolved murders in St. Louis city and county , and are not coming forward , police commanders , prosecutors and elected leaders need to find out why .
If it ’ s because witnesses are afraid or unwilling to talk to police , they should know that County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell or city Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner have staffers who can get the information to the right people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ service Crimestoppers , which offers rewards as high as $ 15,000 for information leading to arrests .
Ample incentive exists for witnesses to abandon what Fred Whitted called a “ no-snitching street code.
” Strained relationships in law enforcement , such as that between the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Gardner , certainly don ’ t help to clear the city ’ s long list of unsolved homicide cases .
Neither does the strained relationship between police and the Black community , where most of the victims of homicide come from .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the Whitted family and all other loved ones of homicide victims deserve justice .
The words of Fred Whitted , “ Don ’ t let my sister ’ s case go cold , ” are a call to action for a city and region that must decide if this is what St. Louis wants as its identity .

The Joplin Globe, Dec. 3
We urge lawmakers to sit this fight out.
Last month, a St. Louis County executive ordered indoor dining at bars and restaurants shut down because of a rising COVID-19 caseload and concerns about overwhelmed hospitals. He since has taken steps to close bars and restaurants that don’t comply. The move is controversial there, as you might guess, and there are questions about whether the county executive has authority to do this without approval from the council.
This is for them to sort out.
Yet it seems some lawmakers want in.
Led by state Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, some legislators are backing a measure allowing them to restrict what local government officials can do. Cities and counties would only be able to shut down businesses for two weeks. After that, both the Missouri House and Senate would have to approve and the governor would have to sign any extension.
Our advice: Lawmakers need to step back.
For months, the mantra coming out of Jefferson City, led by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, has been: “Local control.” In short, let cities and counties decide for themselves what is best.
That was the argument after the Missouri Hospital Association, the medical establishment and some Missouri communities asked for a statewide mask mandate.
It was the argument after the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommended a statewide mask mandate.
Parson said recently: “I’m always going to allow those local levels to make those decisions, and I think for the most part they are. All across the state, they understand the situation, and they are implementing policy.”
And this spring, Parson, in response to what was then happening in the St. Louis area, said: “I don’t want to be telling these cities and counties exactly how to run their business.”
If our elected leaders are not going to support a statewide mask mandate, citing “local control,” we don’t think they need to oversee those COVID-19 restrictions happening at the local level, either.
Although lawmakers may not agree with the steps individual counties and cities are taking, we counsel them not to overstep themselves.
_____
The St. Joseph News-Press, Dec. 4
It may seem like Missouri is entering the 11th month of a legislative session with no end.
It’s not quite true. The General Assembly met for its regular session in January, took some time off for the coronavirus and gathered for two special sessions in the second half of the year.
That’s a lot of time in Jefferson City. Now, with the 2021 regular session just a month away, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is asking lawmakers to address coronavirus liability protections in January, instead of the special legislative session as he had previously suggested.
In terms of logistics, it’s hard to argue with a determination to use the current special session to focus on the core issue of approving a $1.2 billion coronavirus aid package before Uncle Sam wants its money back.
However, we hope that Missouri lawmakers also see the importance of making a strong push next year for a bill that would extend COVID-19 liability protections to health-care workers, schools, businesses and nonprofits.
Already, employers nationwide have been hit with more than 1,000 lawsuits regarding COVID-19, according to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Businesses see liability protection as an issue of fairness, making the case that companies shouldn’t be sued if they followed recommended health guidelines that tend to shift all the time. Just this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened its recommended quarantine period for those who come into contact with a positive case but don’t show any symptoms.
Critics of liability protection say the number of lawsuits is low in Missouri and most of the legal action involves insurance claims, rather than personal injury or tort filings.
As the debate continues, policymakers shouldn’t overlook the reality that this issue deals not just with the what, but the what if. Businesses don’t fear losing a lawsuit, but they fear being targeted with one because they’re so costly and time-consuming to defend.
The pandemic already created a culture of aversion to risk. In many cases, this is warranted as people take reasonable precautions, like wearing masks and avoiding travel, in order to limit the spread of the virus.
But on a broader level, as a vaccine is made available and the public health threat begins to recede, it will be difficult to return to normal and fully reopen the economy if employers face a nebulous fear of lawsuits, especially when it’s so hard to pinpoint exactly how someone contracted COVID-19.
When Missouri lawmakers return for regular session, they should make it a point to address liability protections right away, instead of waiting for the last days of the session to push something across the finish line.
_____
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dec. 7
There certainly must come a point when St. Louisans draw the line on the rampant criminality and murders terrorizing the region. Last year’s spate of shooting deaths of children didn’t do it. Now Fred Whitted, the brother of a woman killed Monday in crossfire on Interstate 170, asks for anyone who will listen: “Where is the outrage in the community?”
With 72% of homicides going unsolved in St. Louis city, people should get outraged and even risk getting involved if that’s what it takes to stop the violence and bring criminals to justice. To the credit of investigators in St. Louis County, at least one suspect in Monday’s shooting was arrested on Friday. But it takes more than one shooter to create deadly crossfire.
The high number of senseless murders in St. Louis fuels a growing frustration among its citizens, especially the families of the victims.
“My sister did everything right,” Fred Whitted told reporters Thursday, flanked by grieving family. Kristen Whitted was a 46-year-old mother of two, on her way to meet a friend for a walk at Forest Park.
Fred Whitted, himself a community activist who lives in Omaha, Nebraska, said the violence in St. Louis is one of the reasons he moved away.
He and his family pleaded for anyone with information to come forward. He expressed the frustration shared by many about the increasing vulnerability of innocents caught up in this violence - and the well-founded frustrations of the families when the perpetrators aren’t brought to justice.
It’s entirely possible someone already has come forward in the murder of Kristen Whitted. But if people know something about this or any of the other unsolved murders in St. Louis city and county, and are not coming forward, police commanders, prosecutors and elected leaders need to find out why. If it’s because witnesses are afraid or unwilling to talk to police, they should know that County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell or city Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner have staffers who can get the information to the right people. There’s also the anonymous tip service Crimestoppers, which offers rewards as high as $15,000 for information leading to arrests.
Ample incentive exists for witnesses to abandon what Fred Whitted called a “no-snitching street code.”
Strained relationships in law enforcement, such as that between the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and Gardner, certainly don’t help to clear the city’s long list of unsolved homicide cases. Neither does the strained relationship between police and the Black community, where most of the victims of homicide come from.
But St. Louis desperately needs answers. And the Whitted family and all other loved ones of homicide victims deserve justice.
The words of Fred Whitted, “Don’t let my sister’s case go cold,” are a call to action for a city and region that must decide if this is what St. Louis wants as its identity.
_____


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--Tesla seeks to raise another $5B in stock offering

Tesla is looking to raise up to $ 5 billion in capital through a stock offering as the electrical vehicle and solar panel maker seeks to take advantage of strong demand for its products .
This is the second such move for the company in three months .
In September Tesla said that it planned to sell up to $ 5 billion worth of common shares just one day after its 5-for-1 stock split took effect .
Similar to its prior capital raise , Tesla Inc. said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that the stock sales would be made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock will be sold through 10 different brokerage houses , and each will get up to a 0.25 % commission .
Wedbush ’ s Daniel Ives said in a client note that the current move makes sense given the strong rally in the company ’ s shares and investors ’ keen interest in the electric vehicle market .
Tesla ’ s stock has exploded this year , growing more than 600 % .
The shares closed up 7 % on Monday at $ 641.76 .
The Palo Alto , California-based company headed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital spending this year because it ’ s building a new factory in Germany and has plans for an additional plant outside of Austin , Texas .
It ’ s also gearing up to roll out its new “ Cybertruck ” pickup and a semi sometime next year .

Tesla said Tuesday it is looking to raise up to $5 billion in capital through a stock offering. The announcement came on the same day CEO Elon Musk said he has moved his home to Texas from California.
The stock sale is the second for the electric-vehicle and solar-panel company in three months. In September, Tesla said it planned to sell up to $5 billion worth of common shares just one day after a 5-for-1 stock split took effect.
Musk told The Wall Street Journal in an interview Tuesday that he has moved to Texas, saying that California has taken innovators for granted.
He also could be moving because Texas has no income tax. Musk’s 18% stake in Tesla is worth billions.
The newspaper didn’t say where he had moved in Texas, but it’s likely to be close to Austin, where Tesla is building a new factory. SpaceX, another Musk-led company, has operations nearby. Musk told the newspaper he’s been working on the move for months.
Musk had threatened to relocate Tesla’s Palo Alto, California, headquarters and future manufacturing to Texas earlier this year during a high-profile spat with county officials over whether Tesla’s San Francisco Bay Area factory should stay closed due to coronavirus restrictions.
On the stock offering, Tesla Inc. said in a regulatory filing that the sales would be made “from time to time.” The stock will be sold through 10 different brokerage houses, and each will get up to a 0.25% commission.
Wedbush’s Daniel Ives said in a client note that the current move makes sense given the strong rally in the company’s shares and investors’ keen interest in the electric vehicle market.
Tesla’s stock has exploded this year, rising more than 600%. It closed Tuesday up 1.3% at $649.88.
The company has to finance some big-ticket capital spending this year because it’s building a new factory in Germany and outside of Austin. It’s also gearing up to roll out its new “Cybertruck” pickup and a semi sometime next year.
The company posted a $331 million net profit for the July through September period, its fifth straight quarter of profitability. But as in previous quarters, the company relied heavily on $397 million it earned from selling electric vehicle credits to other automakers so they can meet government fuel economy and pollution regulations.
Tesla could post its first full-year profit when it reports fourth-quarter earnings early next year.
____
AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher contributed from Detroit.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--Tensions mount in Iraq's northern Kurdish region

IRBIL , Iraq ( AP ) - Tensions are high in Iraq ’ s northern Kurdish-run region after a protester was killed following days of angry demonstrations against dominant political parties over salary payment delays .
Protester Adham Suliman was shot and killed during a rally Monday night in Chamchamal , a town in northern Sulimaniyah province .
Ramak Ramadhan , the town mayor , confirmed the death on Tuesday .
For days , hundreds have been protesting in the streets of Sulimaniyah against two main Kurdish political blocs over public salary payment delays and perceived corruption .
Protesters burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Saidsadiq area of the province on Monday , with security forces trapped inside the building .
Three protesters and one member of the security forces were injured .
The protesters also torched key party headquarters in the town , demanding their rights , services and delayed salaries .
Most of the demonstrators were young unemployed people and government employees .
The semi-autonomous Kurdish government has not paid public workers in over two months amid a severe economic crisis and ongoing political turmoil with the federal government in Baghdad over budget allocations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of wages since the start of 2020 , and has deducted 21 % from the monthly pay to public workers .
The protests are not a new occurrence - salary delays have plagued the Kurdish-run region for years and protests have been held on and off since 2016 .
Previous governments in Baghdad have withheld budget allocations to the Kurdish region as punishment for its independent oil export policy .
Apart from the federal transfers , the region ’ s oil exports are its main source of revenue .
Under a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kurdish region was to receive a share of the state budget in exchange for half its customs revenues .
Iraq ’ s federal government is wrestling with a severe economic crisis spurred by low oil prices , and has appealed to the parliament to approve bills for emergency internal borrowing in two instances .

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) - Tensions are high in Iraq’s northern Kurdish-run region after a protester was killed following days of angry demonstrations against dominant political parties over salary payment delays.
Protester Adham Suliman was shot and killed during a rally Monday night in Chamchamal, a town in northern Sulimaniyah province. Ramak Ramadhan, the town mayor, confirmed the death on Tuesday.
For days, hundreds have been protesting in the streets of Sulimaniyah against two main Kurdish political blocs over public salary payment delays and perceived corruption. Protesters burned down the mayor’s home in the Saidsadiq area of the province on Monday, with security forces trapped inside the building. Three protesters and one member of the security forces were injured.
The protesters also torched key party headquarters in the town, demanding their rights, services and delayed salaries. Most of the demonstrators were young unemployed people and government employees.
The semi-autonomous Kurdish government has not paid public workers in over two months amid a severe economic crisis and ongoing political turmoil with the federal government in Baghdad over budget allocations. The Kurdish administration has only paid four months of wages since the start of 2020, and has deducted 21 % from the monthly pay to public workers.
The protests are not a new occurrence - salary delays have plagued the Kurdish-run region for years and protests have been held on and off since 2016.
Previous governments in Baghdad have withheld budget allocations to the Kurdish region as punishment for its independent oil export policy. Apart from the federal transfers, the region’s oil exports are its main source of revenue. Under a new agreement inked earlier this year, the Kurdish region was to receive a share of the state budget in exchange for half its customs revenues.
Iraq’s federal government is wrestling with a severe economic crisis spurred by low oil prices, and has appealed to the parliament to approve bills for emergency internal borrowing in two instances.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--If you want to grow apples, choose the tastiest

If you ’ re thinking about growing apples , take some time now to test varieties and talk with local growers .
I grow an apple called Hudson ’ s Golden Gem and I do so for one reason .
Yes , this apple ’ s russeted , golden skin is beautiful .
But it ’ s the flavor that puts it above the rest .
When you buy apples at the store or orchard , your choice is limited to the dozen or so varieties that have been chosen because they look pretty , ship well , store well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We gardeners , on the other hand , can plant any of more than 5,000 apple varieties that strike our fancy .
And we can plant and harvest without regard to a variety ’ s appearance , shelf-life or other commercial attributes .
What the doyen of American horticulture , Liberty Hyde Bailey , said early in the last century about apples applies equally well today : “ Why do we need so many kinds … ?
Because there are so many folks .
A person has the right to gratify his legitimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accorded that privilege.
” We can also harvest at each variety ’ s peak of perfection .
My Macoun apples , for instance , taste different — and much better — than any Macoun apples I can buy .
One reason is because I don ’ t harvest mine until they are so ripe they are about to or have fallen from the branches .
Here are some other flavorful apples I ’ ve planted .
They may have other shortcomings , but they all taste great !
Ashmead ’ s Kernel originated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Ashmead ’ s garden in Gloucester , England .
The fruit is a russeted golden brown with a reddish-bronze cheek when struck by sunlight .
Inside , a delicious , crisp , yellow flesh .
Cox ’ s Orange Pippin is another old variety that originated in England , thanks to a retired brewer named Richard Cox , in 1825 .
The color , orange and red , washed with carmine over a yellow background , limits its American market .
Prized strictly for its flavor , Cox is still grown by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellison ’ s Orange is a British apple , a relative youngster , that originated in Lincolnshire in 1911 .
It ’ s a late summer or early fall apple , golden yellow with carmine stripes , with juicy flesh and a vinous flavor that hints of anise .
Cox Orange Pippin is one of its parents .
Not all the good apples come from England .
Macoun , for instance , originated in New York , in 1923 , with McIntosh as one of its parents .
Hudson ’ s Golden Gem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oregon fencerow in 1931 .
Another American apple that I ’ ve grown is Newtown Pippin , which originated in New York City ( Queens ) about 300 years ago .
The light yellow fruit , tart with a hint of tangerine , rounds out the apple season by not developing its best flavor until it ’ s been in storage until after Christmas .
As testimonial to its good flavor , Newtown Pippins were shipped to England in colonial times .
And superior flavor isn ’ t limited to old apple varieties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crispin ) came from Japan in 1948 .
This large , round , yellow apple has a delicate , spicy flavor and a pleasantly coarse texture that is reminiscent of biting into a snowball .
Jonagold was introduced only 40 years ago from the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station .
It combines the flavors of its parents , the sprightly Jonathan and the aromatic Golden Delicious .
The large fruits are yellow with a splash of light scarlet .
Jonagold also has a nice “ cracking ” flavor - the crisp fruits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flavor .
I round out my present collection with the variety Liberty , also from New York , dating to 1978 .
Besides excellent flavor , not surprising with Macoun as one of its parents , Liberty is resistant to the major apple diseases .
The above is only a sampling of the many great-tasting apple varieties .
Take a little time to taste a lot of varieties and speak to locals in your area and you might find other varieties that tickle your taste buds and are well suited locally .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one caution : Apples are not an easy fruit to grow in many regions .
The plants require annual pruning and pest control .
( Even Liberty , although disease-resistant , still gets attacked by insects . )
But if you ’ re willing to learn about pests and make the efforts to thwart them , a few trees of apple varieties selected for excellence in flavor will reward you with years of delectable eating .

If you’re thinking about growing apples, take some time now to test varieties and talk with local growers.
I grow an apple called Hudson’s Golden Gem and I do so for one reason. Yes, this apple’s russeted, golden skin is beautiful. But it’s the flavor that puts it above the rest.
When you buy apples at the store or orchard, your choice is limited to the dozen or so varieties that have been chosen because they look pretty, ship well, store well and have flavor with broad appeal.
We gardeners, on the other hand, can plant any of more than 5,000 apple varieties that strike our fancy. And we can plant and harvest without regard to a variety’s appearance, shelf-life or other commercial attributes.
What the doyen of American horticulture, Liberty Hyde Bailey, said early in the last century about apples applies equally well today: “Why do we need so many kinds …? Because there are so many folks. A person has the right to gratify his legitimate tastes … (and) should be accorded that privilege.”
We can also harvest at each variety’s peak of perfection. My Macoun apples, for instance, taste different — and much better — than any Macoun apples I can buy. One reason is because I don’t harvest mine until they are so ripe they are about to or have fallen from the branches.
Here are some other flavorful apples I’ve planted. They may have other shortcomings, but they all taste great!
Ashmead’s Kernel originated more than 200 years ago in a Dr. Ashmead’s garden in Gloucester, England. The fruit is a russeted golden brown with a reddish-bronze cheek when struck by sunlight. Inside, a delicious, crisp, yellow flesh.
Cox’s Orange Pippin is another old variety that originated in England, thanks to a retired brewer named Richard Cox, in 1825. The color, orange and red, washed with carmine over a yellow background, limits its American market. Prized strictly for its flavor, Cox is still grown by British farmers despite some commercial flaws.
Ellison’s Orange is a British apple, a relative youngster, that originated in Lincolnshire in 1911. It’s a late summer or early fall apple, golden yellow with carmine stripes, with juicy flesh and a vinous flavor that hints of anise. Cox Orange Pippin is one of its parents.
Not all the good apples come from England. Macoun, for instance, originated in New York, in 1923, with McIntosh as one of its parents. Hudson’s Golden Gem is also American, originating in an Oregon fencerow in 1931.
Another American apple that I’ve grown is Newtown Pippin, which originated in New York City (Queens) about 300 years ago. The light yellow fruit, tart with a hint of tangerine, rounds out the apple season by not developing its best flavor until it’s been in storage until after Christmas. As testimonial to its good flavor, Newtown Pippins were shipped to England in colonial times.
And superior flavor isn’t limited to old apple varieties, British or American. Mutsu (Crispin) came from Japan in 1948. This large, round, yellow apple has a delicate, spicy flavor and a pleasantly coarse texture that is reminiscent of biting into a snowball.
Jonagold was introduced only 40 years ago from the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. It combines the flavors of its parents, the sprightly Jonathan and the aromatic Golden Delicious. The large fruits are yellow with a splash of light scarlet. Jonagold also has a nice “cracking” flavor - the crisp fruits explode in your mouth with juice and flavor.
I round out my present collection with the variety Liberty, also from New York, dating to 1978. Besides excellent flavor, not surprising with Macoun as one of its parents, Liberty is resistant to the major apple diseases.
The above is only a sampling of the many great-tasting apple varieties. Take a little time to taste a lot of varieties and speak to locals in your area and you might find other varieties that tickle your taste buds and are well suited locally.
Before you get too enthusiastic about planting apples, one caution: Apples are not an easy fruit to grow in many regions. The plants require annual pruning and pest control. (Even Liberty, although disease-resistant, still gets attacked by insects.)
But if you’re willing to learn about pests and make the efforts to thwart them, a few trees of apple varieties selected for excellence in flavor will reward you with years of delectable eating.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--UK: Lords vote to bar trade deals with genocidal countries

LONDON ( AP ) - Britain ’ s House of Lords has voted to back proposals aimed at preventing the U.K. from making trade deals with any country deemed by the British High Court to be committing genocide .
Members voted late Monday for two proposals to amend the government ’ s post-Brexit trade bill to bar trade deals with countries that commit serious human rights abuses .
Under one of the plans , minorities alleging they have been the subject of genocide can for the first time apply to the High Court of England and ask for judges to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.K. has perpetrated genocide .
Bilateral trade agreements can then be revoked if the court makes a preliminary ruling against that country .
The proposals were intended as a way around the lack of international action in addressing human rights abuses in countries such as China .
Proponents argue that despite mounting evidence of atrocities targeting Uighurs in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang , the United Nations is highly unlikely to refer Beijing to the International Criminal Court because China , a permanent member of the Security Council , will veto the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this unconscionable inertia .
We owe it to Uighurs to find another way , and now we have , ” said Conservative lawmaker Anthony Mangnall .
Britain ’ s Conservative government opposes the measures , which will go to the lower house of Parliament next for debate .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said he is considering further action to address the Chinese government ’ s alleged rights abuses against Uighur Muslims , including mass detentions and forced birth control .
Beijing has repeatedly denied Western reports of rights abuses in @ @

LONDON (AP) - Britain’s House of Lords has voted to back proposals aimed at preventing the U.K. from making trade deals with any country deemed by the British High Court to be committing genocide.
Members voted late Monday for two proposals to amend the government’s post-Brexit trade bill to bar trade deals with countries that commit serious human rights abuses. Under one of the plans, minorities alleging they have been the subject of genocide can for the first time apply to the High Court of England and ask for judges to determine if a country trading with the U.K. has perpetrated genocide.
Bilateral trade agreements can then be revoked if the court makes a preliminary ruling against that country.
The proposals were intended as a way around the lack of international action in addressing human rights abuses in countries such as China.
Proponents argue that despite mounting evidence of atrocities targeting Uighurs in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, the United Nations is highly unlikely to refer Beijing to the International Criminal Court because China, a permanent member of the Security Council, will veto the move.
“Parliament has had enough of this unconscionable inertia. We owe it to Uighurs to find another way, and now we have,” said Conservative lawmaker Anthony Mangnall.
Britain’s Conservative government opposes the measures, which will go to the lower house of Parliament next for debate.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said he is considering further action to address the Chinese government’s alleged rights abuses against Uighur Muslims, including mass detentions and forced birth control. Beijing has repeatedly denied Western reports of rights abuses in Xinjiang.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--Dartmouth College delays students' return next month

CONCORD , N.H. ( AP ) - Dartmouth College has decided to delay the return of undergraduates to campus next @ @ @ @ @ the surge in COVID-19 cases around the country and in New Hampshire .
Students were @ @ @ @ @ holidays on Jan. 5-6 , with classes starting on Jan. 7 .
Classes will start @ @ @ @ @ Joseph Helble said Monday in a campus email .
Students are now scheduled to return @ @ @ @ @ said students will take COVID-19 tests five days before arriving on campus , and that @ @ @ @ @ of quarantine by Jan. 26 .
Students and employees on campus will be tested twice @ @ @ @ @ .
Community transmission through November has grown and reached “ far higher levels ” than @ @ @ @ @ trend that is expected to continue , Helble said .
As of Friday , Dartmouth @ @ @ @ @ among students and staff .
Seven Dartmouth community members were in quarantine and 18 in @ @

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - At least 60 people have responded to a call for staffing help at the State Veterans Home in Tilton, which has been dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.
“LNAs, LPNs and RNs, we’re really looking for and the licensed positions,” Margaret LaBrecque, commandant of the home, told WMUR-TV on Monday. “We’re looking for some housekeepers just to go around, sanitize, remove the trash.”
Since the virus was first detected at the home Nov. 10, at least 53 residents and 64 staff members have tested positive, and over 20 veterans have died, according to the home.
On Saturday, LeBrecque called for an “all-hands on deck response” for help with clinical and non-clinical staff to help in day-to-day operations for the veterans home.
___
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
Dartmouth College has decided to delay the return of undergraduates to campus next month because of concerns about the surge in COVID-19 cases around the country and in New Hampshire.
Students were scheduled to return following the holidays on Jan. 5-6, with classes starting on Jan. 7. Classes will start remotely, instead, Provost Joseph Helble said Monday in a campus email. Students are now scheduled to return on Jan. 16-17.
Helble said students will take COVID-19 tests five days before arriving on campus, and that most students will be out of quarantine by Jan. 26. Students and employees on campus will be tested twice a week as of January.
Community transmission through November has grown and reached “far higher levels” than Dartmouth had anticipated, a trend that is expected to continue, Helble said.
As of Friday, Dartmouth had six active COVID-19 cases among students and staff. Seven Dartmouth community members were in quarantine and 18 in isolation.
___
THE NUMBERS
More than 26,000 people have tested positive for the virus in New Hampshire, including more than 800 cases announced Tuesday that included results from several days earlier in the week. The number of deaths remained at 566 since the pandemic began.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Hampshire has risen over the past two weeks from 430 new cases per day on Nov. 23 to nearly 690 new cases per day on Monday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--James Clyburn predicts Marcia Fudge will be nominated for Joe Biden's Cabinet

House Majority Whip James Clyburn predicted Tuesday that Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio will be nominated for some position in presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden ’ s Cabinet .
“ I think so — Marcia Fudge is a tremendous candidate , ” Mr. Clyburn , South Carolina Democrat , said on CNN .
“ I will continue to advocate for her.
” He said he ’ s pushing for her to be agriculture secretary but said he didn ’ t know if that ’ s where she would end up .
Longtime Biden ally Tom Vilsack , a former agriculture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also thought to be a leading contender for that post .
Mr. Biden has been facing pressure to put up more Black nominees for Cabinet-level posts .
Ms. Fudge is a past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus .
Mr. Biden is expected to name retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin as his pick to lead the Pentagon .
Gen. Austin would be the first Black defense secretary .
Mr. Clyburn is chairing Mr. Biden ’ s inaugural committee .
His endorsement ahead of the South Carolina primary in February was credited with turning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 Democratic primary contest .
Activists are already talking about the possibility that former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner , a top ally of Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont , could run for the vacated House seat if Ms. Fudge departs for the administration .
Ms. Fudge represents the heavily Democratic 11th Congressional District , which includes parts of Cleveland .

House Majority Whip James Clyburn predicted Tuesday that Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio will be nominated for some position in presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden’s Cabinet.
“I think so — Marcia Fudge is a tremendous candidate,” Mr. Clyburn, South Carolina Democrat, said on CNN. “I will continue to advocate for her.”
He said he’s pushing for her to be agriculture secretary but said he didn’t know if that’s where she would end up.
Longtime Biden ally Tom Vilsack, a former agriculture secretary and former Iowa governor, is also thought to be a leading contender for that post.
Mr. Biden has been facing pressure to put up more Black nominees for Cabinet-level posts. Ms. Fudge is a past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Mr. Biden is expected to name retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin as his pick to lead the Pentagon. Gen. Austin would be the first Black defense secretary.
Mr. Clyburn is chairing Mr. Biden’s inaugural committee. His endorsement ahead of the South Carolina primary in February was credited with turning around Mr. Biden’s fortunes in the 2020 Democratic primary contest.
Activists are already talking about the possibility that former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, a top ally of Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont, could run for the vacated House seat if Ms. Fudge departs for the administration.
Ms. Fudge represents the heavily Democratic 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of Cleveland.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--US-based group: Dramatic increase in Afghan gov't airstrikes

KABUL , Afghanistan ( AP ) - A U.S.-based institute warned on Tuesday that there has been a dramatic increase in airstrikes conducted by Afghan government forces from July to September this year , attacks that have led to a sharp rise in civilian casualties .
The Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs , a research center at Brown University , said in its report that 70 Afghan civilians have been killed in the third quarter of this year , compared to 86 killed in the first six months of 2020 .
The somber statistic comes even as Afghan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations about a peaceful resolution to the country ’ s 19-year war .
The talks have been underway since September in Qatar , where the Taliban maintain a political office .
The two sides last week finally made a step forward after a long impasse , agreeing on rules and procedures for the negotiations .
In its report , the institute also said that from 2017 through 2019 , civilian deaths due to U.S. and allied forces ’ airstrikes in Afghanistan dramatically increased .
In 2019 , airstrikes killed 700 civilians – more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of the war in 2001 and 2002 .
The civilians have borne the brunt of the fighting , despite repeated pleas from the United Nations to spare civilian lives .
A resurgent Taliban have gained control of almost half of Afghanistan over the past years , the strongest the insurgents have been since their regime was ousted by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 .
Among the casualties included in the research institute ’ s statistics are the 24 Afghan civilians , including children , killed in government airstrikes in northern Kunduz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an initial airstrike targeted a house belonging to a Taliban fighter , whose home doubled as a checkpoint for stopping and frisking people to ensure they were not connected to the government .
The explosion set fire to a nearby home , trapping a family inside , said Latif Rahmani , who witnessed the airstrikes and spoke to The Associated Press by phone .
Rahmani said farmers and villagers ran to douse the fire and rescue the trapped family members inside when a second airstrike hit , killing many of them .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has continued , claiming more lives , including those of children .
At least 12 civilians , mostly children , were killed in an airstrike that hit a madrassa , or an Islamic school , in northern Takhar province in mid-October .
Last Tuesday , 9-year-old Mohammad Bilal , a second-grader in eastern Ghazni province , had gone out to the village grocery store - a shipping container - to buy candy for himself , when Afghan helicopters bombarded his village .
He was killed when one of the 12 rockets that hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his father , Javed Zamani .
Two of the shopkeepers children were also killed in the store , while five children aged 10 to 12 were critically wounded and were transferred to a Kabul hospital .
Afghan officials claimed the helicopters were targeting Taliban militants in the village and hit the children by mistake .
The Taliban control much of Ghazni province , including the rural areas .

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A U.S.-based institute warned on Tuesday that there has been a dramatic increase in airstrikes conducted by Afghan government forces from July to September this year, attacks that have led to a sharp rise in civilian casualties.
The Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs, a research center at Brown University, said in its report that 70 Afghan civilians have been killed in the third quarter of this year, compared to 86 killed in the first six months of 2020.
The somber statistic comes even as Afghan government representatives and the Taliban are holding negotiations about a peaceful resolution to the country’s 19-year war. The talks have been underway since September in Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office. The two sides last week finally made a step forward after a long impasse, agreeing on rules and procedures for the negotiations.
In its report, the institute also said that from 2017 through 2019, civilian deaths due to U.S. and allied forces’ airstrikes in Afghanistan dramatically increased. In 2019, airstrikes killed 700 civilians – more civilians than in any other year since the beginning of the war in 2001 and 2002.
The civilians have borne the brunt of the fighting, despite repeated pleas from the United Nations to spare civilian lives. A resurgent Taliban have gained control of almost half of Afghanistan over the past years, the strongest the insurgents have been since their regime was ousted by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
Among the casualties included in the research institute’s statistics are the 24 Afghan civilians, including children, killed in government airstrikes in northern Kunduz province on Sept. 19.
Villagers said an initial airstrike targeted a house belonging to a Taliban fighter, whose home doubled as a checkpoint for stopping and frisking people to ensure they were not connected to the government. The explosion set fire to a nearby home, trapping a family inside, said Latif Rahmani, who witnessed the airstrikes and spoke to The Associated Press by phone.
Rahmani said farmers and villagers ran to douse the fire and rescue the trapped family members inside when a second airstrike hit, killing many of them.
Despite the talks in Qatar, the violence has continued, claiming more lives, including those of children. At least 12 civilians, mostly children, were killed in an airstrike that hit a madrassa, or an Islamic school, in northern Takhar province in mid-October.
Last Tuesday, 9-year-old Mohammad Bilal, a second-grader in eastern Ghazni province, had gone out to the village grocery store - a shipping container - to buy candy for himself, when Afghan helicopters bombarded his village.
He was killed when one of the 12 rockets that hit the village struck the store, said his father, Javed Zamani. Two of the shopkeepers children were also killed in the store, while five children aged 10 to 12 were critically wounded and were transferred to a Kabul hospital.
Afghan officials claimed the helicopters were targeting Taliban militants in the village and hit the children by mistake. The Taliban control much of Ghazni province, including the rural areas.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--Bosnia police arrest 7 for crimes from 1992-95 conflict

SARAJEVO , Bosnia-Herzegovina ( AP ) - Bosnian police on Tuesday arrested seven former Bosnian Serb police and army fighters on suspicion of committing atrocities against non-Serbs during the country ’ s devastating 1992-95 war .
The prosecutor ’ s office said the group is suspected of crimes against humanity over the imprisonment and torture of some 150 Bosniak and Croat civilians around the central Bosnian town of Donji Vakuf in the spring and summer of 1992 .
Many prisoners died as the result of inhuman treatment , beatings and harassment , or suffered permanent trauma , the statement said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the northern Bosnian Serb city of Banja Luka and that four of the initially detained seven people remain in jail .
The war in Bosnia erupted when the former Yugoslav republic declared independence from the Serb-led federation triggering a rebellion by the ethnic Serbs who took control of large swaths of land to create their own state , expelling and killing thousands of non-Serbs .
More than 100,000 people died before the conflict ended in a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that roughly divided Bosnia into two entities held together by joint central institutions @

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) - Bosnian police on Tuesday arrested seven former Bosnian Serb police and army fighters on suspicion of committing atrocities against non-Serbs during the country’s devastating 1992-95 war.
The prosecutor’s office said the group is suspected of crimes against humanity over the imprisonment and torture of some 150 Bosniak and Croat civilians around the central Bosnian town of Donji Vakuf in the spring and summer of 1992.
Many prisoners died as the result of inhuman treatment, beatings and harassment, or suffered permanent trauma, the statement said.
Police said the arrests were made in the northern Bosnian Serb city of Banja Luka and that four of the initially detained seven people remain in jail.
The war in Bosnia erupted when the former Yugoslav republic declared independence from the Serb-led federation triggering a rebellion by the ethnic Serbs who took control of large swaths of land to create their own state, expelling and killing thousands of non-Serbs.
More than 100,000 people died before the conflict ended in a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that roughly divided Bosnia into two entities held together by joint central institutions.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--Huntsville schools reopen after cyberattack minus computers

HUNTSVILLE , Ala. ( AP ) - Students have returned to class in one of Alabama ’ s largest school systems after a cyberattack shut down the system last week , but students in Huntsville are doing their work on paper rather than computers .
Huntsville city schools said in an update that students still didn ’ t have access to computers as classes resumed Monday , a week after the attack first forced a shutdown .
Workers spent the weekend helping teachers make copies and delivering them to schools , officials said in a message posted on the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t in traditional classes because of the pandemic also are getting paper copies rather than virtual lessons .
Teachers and students still aren ’ t allowed to turn on electronic devices .
Bol Coln , the principal of Challenger Middle School , said many parents had picked up lesson packets , and administrators were trying to make sure each child received the materials .
“ I personally will take it to their house if I have to , because they have to be getting the information .
So my assistant principal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them if they don ’ t pick them up , but I know we are having a pretty good turn out , ” Coln told news outlets .
With nearly 23,000 students , more than 2,000 employees and about 40 schools , Huntsville City Schools closed early on Nov. 30 because of what officials described as a ransomware attack and remained closed the rest of the week .
In a typical ransomware attack , hackers gain access to a computer system and threaten to withhold or destroy information unless money is paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details on the type of attack that forced the shutdown , and it ’ s unclear what information migth be compromised .

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) - Students have returned to class in one of Alabama’s largest school systems after a cyberattack shut down the system last week, but students in Huntsville are doing their work on paper rather than computers.
Huntsville city schools said in an update that students still didn’t have access to computers as classes resumed Monday, a week after the attack first forced a shutdown.
Workers spent the weekend helping teachers make copies and delivering them to schools, officials said in a message posted on the system’s website, and students who aren’t in traditional classes because of the pandemic also are getting paper copies rather than virtual lessons.
Teachers and students still aren’t allowed to turn on electronic devices.
Bol Coln, the principal of Challenger Middle School, said many parents had picked up lesson packets, and administrators were trying to make sure each child received the materials.
“I personally will take it to their house if I have to, because they have to be getting the information. So my assistant principal and I will probably deliver a lot of them if they don’t pick them up, but I know we are having a pretty good turn out,” Coln told news outlets.
With nearly 23,000 students, more than 2,000 employees and about 40 schools, Huntsville City Schools closed early on Nov. 30 because of what officials described as a ransomware attack and remained closed the rest of the week.
In a typical ransomware attack, hackers gain access to a computer system and threaten to withhold or destroy information unless money is paid. School officials haven’t released details on the type of attack that forced the shutdown, and it’s unclear what information migth be compromised.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--US productivity increased at 4.6% rate in third quarter

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - U.S. productivity increased at a solid 4.6 % pace in the July-September quarter , slightly below the initial estimate , while labor costs fell at a slower pace .
The third quarter increase in productivity was below the first estimate a month ago of a 4.9 % increase , the Labor Department reported Tuesday .
Productivity had surged at a 10.6 % rate in the second quarter .
Labor costs fell at a 6.6 % rate in the third quarter , a smaller drop than the 8.9 % decline estimated a month ago .
Productivity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of work , is the major factor determining living standards .
As productivity rises , employers can pay their workers more without having to boost the price of their products .
The revisions reflected the fact that there was a 0.1 percentage-point downward revision in output and a 0.3 percentage-point upward revision to hours worked .
Economists cautioned that the swings in productivity this year have been unusually large and are distorting the underlying trend in productivity .
“ The data have been especially volatile quarter-to-quarter reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on output @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rubeela Farooqi , chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics .
“ The underlying trend in productivity will likely moderate from the current pace over coming quarters.
” The big increase in productivity in the second quarter occurred because employers were laying off millions of workers and the decline people working was greater than the drop in production that occurred in the spring as a result of the widespread shutdowns to try to contain the coronavirus .
For all of 2019 , productivity rose by a modest 1.7 % following an even weaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lagged in recent years and economists have cited this slowdown as one of the major problems facing the country since sluggish productivity growth keeps living standards from rising at a faster pace .

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. productivity increased at a solid 4.6% pace in the July-September quarter, slightly below the initial estimate, while labor costs fell at a slower pace.
The third quarter increase in productivity was below the first estimate a month ago of a 4.9% increase, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. Productivity had surged at a 10.6% rate in the second quarter.
Labor costs fell at a 6.6% rate in the third quarter , a smaller drop than the 8.9% decline estimated a month ago.
Productivity, the amount of output per hour of work, is the major factor determining living standards. As productivity rises, employers can pay their workers more without having to boost the price of their products.
The revisions reflected the fact that there was a 0.1 percentage-point downward revision in output and a 0.3 percentage-point upward revision to hours worked.
Economists cautioned that the swings in productivity this year have been unusually large and are distorting the underlying trend in productivity.
“The data have been especially volatile quarter-to-quarter reflecting the impact of COVID-19 on output, hours and compensation,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. “The underlying trend in productivity will likely moderate from the current pace over coming quarters.”
The big increase in productivity in the second quarter occurred because employers were laying off millions of workers and the decline people working was greater than the drop in production that occurred in the spring as a result of the widespread shutdowns to try to contain the coronavirus.
For all of 2019, productivity rose by a modest 1.7% following an even weaker 1.4% gain in 2018..
Productivity has lagged in recent years and economists have cited this slowdown as one of the major problems facing the country since sluggish productivity growth keeps living standards from rising at a faster pace.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--Trump admin.'s TikTok restrictions blocked by second federal judge

A second federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration ’ s restrictions on TikTok , the China-owned social media app , as the controversy speeds toward oral arguments in a federal appeals court next week .
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in D.C. granted the temporary blockade on Monday against all of the Trump administration ’ s restrictions on TikTok .
In September , Judge Nichols issued an order blocking the Trump administration ’ s decision to halt TikTok ’ s distribution via Apple and Google ’ s app stores .
Judge Nichols is the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the Trump administration ’ s actions against TikTok , following U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone ’ s order in October .
Judge Beetlestone ’ s order was in response to a lawsuit brought by TikTok users in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania , while Judge Nichols ’ case in D.C. was responding to litigation from TikTok and its China-based owner ByteDance .
Next week , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is scheduled to hear oral arguments in TikTok ’ s lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel .
The Dec. 14 arguments in TikTok and ByteDance v. Trump are set to be heard by two judges appointed by former President Barack Obama and one judge appointed by former President Bill Clinton .
TikTok turned to the federal appeals court in November after the company said it received no clarity on whether the Trump administration would accept TikTok ’ s proposed solutions to alleviate the federal government ’ s concerns .

A second federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration’s restrictions on TikTok, the China-owned social media app, as the controversy speeds toward oral arguments in a federal appeals court next week.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in D.C. granted the temporary blockade on Monday against all of the Trump administration’s restrictions on TikTok. In September, Judge Nichols issued an order blocking the Trump administration’s decision to halt TikTok’s distribution via Apple and Google’s app stores.
Judge Nichols is the second federal judge to order a halt affecting all of the Trump administration’s actions against TikTok, following U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone’s order in October.
Judge Beetlestone’s order was in response to a lawsuit brought by TikTok users in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, while Judge Nichols’ case in D.C. was responding to litigation from TikTok and its China-based owner ByteDance.
Next week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is scheduled to hear oral arguments in TikTok’s lawsuit against the Trump administration before a three-judge panel. The Dec. 14 arguments in TikTok and ByteDance v. Trump are set to be heard by two judges appointed by former President Barack Obama and one judge appointed by former President Bill Clinton.
TikTok turned to the federal appeals court in November after the company said it received no clarity on whether the Trump administration would accept TikTok’s proposed solutions to alleviate the federal government’s concerns.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-08--9th Circuit sympathetic to Nevada churches in COVID-19 fight

RENO , Nev. ( AP ) - A three-member U.S. appeals court panel appeared sympathetic Tuesday to arguments by lawyers for two Nevada churches that say state COVID-19 restrictions treating churches differently than casinos and other secular businesses violate their First Amendment rights .
The 9th Circuit panel in San Francisco heard arguments via video from lawyers for Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley east of Reno and Cavalry Chapel Lone Mountain in Las Vegas who want the appellate court to reverse earlier district court rulings upholding hard attendance caps Gov .
Steve Sisolak has set on the size of indoor worship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held to the same standards that allow casinos , bars , restaurants and others to operate based on a percentage of their capacity - currently 25 % - not a hard cap .
“ What Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain is seeking is equal footing , ” said Sigal Chattah , its lead attorney .
All three justices cited recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that handed victories to churches waging similar battles over religious freedom in New York and California .
Each expressed skepticism about various arguments lawyers for Nevada made to justify disparate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think it ’ s more than skepticism , I think the Supreme Court has made it very clear when you treat bike repair shops and liquor stores and the like far more favorably than houses of worship , you are not meeting the applicable First Amendment test , ” Justice Mark Bennett said .
“ It seems to me what they are saying is that you can not treat houses of worship differently , less advantageously than you do retail businesses and casinos and the like because it is a violation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5-4 decision in July , the Supreme Court refused the Dayton Valley ’ s church ’ s request for a temporary order blocking enforcement of Nevada ’ s 50-person cap on religious gatherings in effect at that time while its appeal was pending before the 9th Circuit .
The church has since asked the high court to reconsider that ruling .
On Nov. 26 , the Supreme Court barred New York from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas designated as hard hit by the virus .
On Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower federal court to reexamine California restrictions on indoor religious services in light of the New York ruling .
The state ’ s new stay-home order permits outdoor religious services and protests because they ’ re constitutionally protected .
The justices threw out a federal district court ruling that rejected a challenge to the limits from Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry , which has more than 160 churches across the state .
Nevada Deputy Solicitor General Craig Newby told the 9th Circuit panel Tuesday that Nevada differs from New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were far more strict - as few as 10 people in zones with high virus spread in New York and an outright ban on any indoor worship services across most of California .
The circuit panel in San Francisco indicated that at a minimum it likely would follow the lead of the high court ’ s California ruling and return the cases to U.S. District Court in Nevada for further review .
Newby said that would be a more appropriate remedy than overturning previous rulings in the lower courts refusing to grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s COVID-19 directives .
Like the case in New York , the specific restrictions at issue in the legal proceedings no longer are in place .
In Nevada , the churches sued in May over Sisolak ’ s directive that capped all indoor religious gatherings at a maximum of 50 people regardless of the church ’ s capacity .
On Sept. 30 , he established a limit of 250 or 50 % of capacity , whichever is less .
And on Oct. 24 , returned to a cap of 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whichever is less .
Lawyers for the Nevada churches say the specific limits are beside the point .
Lone Mountain has a fire code capacity of 700 .
Dayton Valley ’ s is 200 .
“ Whatever directive comes now or in the future , the principal should be equal treatment , ” said David Cortland , a lawyer for the Alliance Defending Freedom representing the Dayton Valley church .
Newby said casinos are an especially different category because they are strictly regulated by the Nevada Gaming Commission , are subject to training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased enforcement abilities .
He said the nature of church services makes them especially vulnerable to the spread of the virus .
“ I read that in your brief and I couldn ’ t stop laughing .
The reality is , when you have all these people in casinos , they ’ re not paying attention to any rules , I don ’ t care how well it is regulated .
So I don ’ t see how you justify treating religious worse than casinos , ” he said .

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A three-member U.S. appeals court panel appeared sympathetic Tuesday to arguments by lawyers for two Nevada churches that say state COVID-19 restrictions treating churches differently than casinos and other secular businesses violate their First Amendment rights.
The 9th Circuit panel in San Francisco heard arguments via video from lawyers for Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley east of Reno and Cavalry Chapel Lone Mountain in Las Vegas who want the appellate court to reverse earlier district court rulings upholding hard attendance caps Gov. Steve Sisolak has set on the size of indoor worship services.
They say churches should be held to the same standards that allow casinos, bars, restaurants and others to operate based on a percentage of their capacity - currently 25% - not a hard cap.
“What Calvary Chapel Lone Mountain is seeking is equal footing,” said Sigal Chattah, its lead attorney.
All three justices cited recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that handed victories to churches waging similar battles over religious freedom in New York and California. Each expressed skepticism about various arguments lawyers for Nevada made to justify disparate treatment of churches and secular businesses.
“I think it’s more than skepticism, I think the Supreme Court has made it very clear when you treat bike repair shops and liquor stores and the like far more favorably than houses of worship, you are not meeting the applicable First Amendment test,” Justice Mark Bennett said.
Justice Milan Smith added later:
“It seems to me what they are saying is that you cannot treat houses of worship differently, less advantageously than you do retail businesses and casinos and the like because it is a violation of the First Amendment.”
In a 5-4 decision in July, the Supreme Court refused the Dayton Valley’s church’s request for a temporary order blocking enforcement of Nevada’s 50-person cap on religious gatherings in effect at that time while its appeal was pending before the 9th Circuit. The church has since asked the high court to reconsider that ruling.
On Nov. 26, the Supreme Court barred New York from enforcing certain limits on attendance at churches and synagogues in areas designated as hard hit by the virus.
On Dec. 3, the high court ordered a lower federal court to reexamine California restrictions on indoor religious services in light of the New York ruling. The state’s new stay-home order permits outdoor religious services and protests because they’re constitutionally protected.
The justices threw out a federal district court ruling that rejected a challenge to the limits from Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry, which has more than 160 churches across the state.
Nevada Deputy Solicitor General Craig Newby told the 9th Circuit panel Tuesday that Nevada differs from New York and California because restrictions on religious gatherings there were far more strict - as few as 10 people in zones with high virus spread in New York and an outright ban on any indoor worship services across most of California.
The circuit panel in San Francisco indicated that at a minimum it likely would follow the lead of the high court’s California ruling and return the cases to U.S. District Court in Nevada for further review.
Newby said that would be a more appropriate remedy than overturning previous rulings in the lower courts refusing to grant emergency injunctions the churches sought to block the state’s COVID-19 directives.
Like the case in New York, the specific restrictions at issue in the legal proceedings no longer are in place. In Nevada, the churches sued in May over Sisolak’s directive that capped all indoor religious gatherings at a maximum of 50 people regardless of the church’s capacity.
On Sept. 30, he established a limit of 250 or 50% of capacity, whichever is less. And on Oct. 24, returned to a cap of 50 people or 25% of capacity, whichever is less.
Lawyers for the Nevada churches say the specific limits are beside the point. Lone Mountain has a fire code capacity of 700. Dayton Valley’s is 200.
“Whatever directive comes now or in the future, the principal should be equal treatment,” said David Cortman, a lawyer for the Alliance Defending Freedom representing the Dayton Valley church.
Newby said casinos are an especially different category because they are strictly regulated by the Nevada Gaming Commission, are subject to training requirements and on-site COVID-19 testing and have increased enforcement abilities. He said the nature of church services makes them especially vulnerable to the spread of the virus.
Smith scoffed at that argument.
“I read that in your brief and I couldn’t stop laughing. The reality is, when you have all these people in casinos, they’re not paying attention to any rules, I don’t care how well it is regulated. So I don’t see how you justify treating religious worse than casinos,” he said.