washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Liz Weston: Suddenly retired? Here’s what to do next

The pandemic seems to be driving a surge of early retirements as businesses close or downsize and older people weigh the health risks of continuing to work .
The share of unemployed people not looking for work who called themselves “ retired ” increased to 60 % in April from 53 % in January , according to a study by three economists .
The study was done in the early days of the pandemic , well before tens of thousands of businesses nationwide closed permanently and others began offering early retirement packages to trim their workforces .
“ It seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phenomenon , ” says study co-author Michael Weber , an economics professor at the University of Chicago .
Unfortunately , many people haven ’ t saved nearly enough to avoid a steep drop in their standard of living when they retire early , financial planners say .
Even those with substantial retirement accounts could make hasty decisions that cause them to run short of money .
Tally your expenses and identify any you can trim .
Include irregular expenses , such as home repairs or a car replacement , that you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your “ must-have ” expenses should include health insurance , says Catherine Valega , a certified financial planner in Waltham , Massachusetts .
People typically must be 65 to be eligible for Medicare .
Until then , prepare to pay for coverage because going without is especially dangerous during a pandemic .
If you had health insurance through your employer , you usually can extend that for up to 18 months , thanks to COBRA , the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act .
But you ’ ll have to pay the entire premium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last year , the average annual cost of health insurance was $ 7,188 for a single person and $ 20,576 for a family , according to the Kaiser Family Foundation , which tracks health insurance trends .
If your spouse has group health insurance and can add you as a dependent , that ’ s often the most cost-effective way to go .
If not , you may find a better deal through HealthCare.gov , since most people will qualify for tax subsidies that reduce premium costs .
You may face decisions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as whether to roll a 401 ( k ) account into an IRA or how to take a pension .
You may have to evaluate a buyout offer or figure out what to do with stock options .
These are complex decisions with huge consequences , so consider talking to a fee-only financial planner .
Many financial planning organizations , including the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors , the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education and the XY Planning Network offer free counseling sessions for those whose incomes have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big withdrawals from your retirement funds early in retirement can dramatically increase the odds you ’ ll run out of money .
A 4 % withdrawal rate - where you take 4 % of your retirement account balance the first year and adjust that payout for inflation each year afterward - has historically allowed savings to last for a 30-year retirement .
Some financial planners recommend a more conservative start of 3.5 % or 3 % , or starting at 4 % and cutting back during bad markets .
Working at least part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ savings and may give you access to valuable benefits , including health insurance and retirement accounts .
And staying connected to the workforce can increase your odds of finding a new full-time job if that ’ s your goal .
Social Security may be your largest source of income during retirement , and research shows most people would be better off delaying their applications to maximize their checks .
That ’ s not always possible , of course , but often financial planners recommend tapping other retirement funds first if that allows people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you ’ re married , it ’ s important to consider how your decisions affect your spouse , says CFP Brian Ellenbecker of Milwaukee .
The higher earner ’ s check determines how much the survivor receives after the first spouse dies , for example .
AARP has a free Social Security claiming calculator , and more sophisticated versions are available for a fee from Maximize My Social Security and Social Security Solutions .
If you can ’ t cover expenses with your income , you may have other alternatives .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equity ( at least 50 % ) and are at least 62 , a reverse mortgage can help you turn your home ’ s value into a guaranteed monthly check .
Or you may decide to sell your home and find somewhere cheaper to live .
Linda Rogers , a CFP from San Diego , says several of her clients discovered they can live well on less money by moving abroad for a few years .
Portugal is a particularly popular destination , Rogers says .
Obviously , an overseas move isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic when many countries are restricting travel .
But for some adventurous types , it could be at least a partial solution .
“ They ’ re loving it so far , ” Rogers says .
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet .
Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet , a certified financial planner and author of “ Your Credit Score.
” Email : lweston @ nerdwallet.com .
Twitter : @ lizweston .
NerdWallet : Retirement Savings : How Long Will My Money Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : //bit.ly/nerdwallet-savings-retirement

The pandemic seems to be driving a surge of early retirements as businesses close or downsize and older people weigh the health risks of continuing to work.
The share of unemployed people not looking for work who called themselves “retired” increased to 60% in April from 53% in January, according to a study by three economists. The study was done in the early days of the pandemic, well before tens of thousands of businesses nationwide closed permanently and others began offering early retirement packages to trim their workforces.
“It seems to be a persistent and quite widespread phenomenon,” says study co-author Michael Weber, an economics professor at the University of Chicago.
Unfortunately, many people haven’t saved nearly enough to avoid a steep drop in their standard of living when they retire early, financial planners say. Even those with substantial retirement accounts could make hasty decisions that cause them to run short of money.
CREATE YOUR RETIREMENT BUDGET
Tally your expenses and identify any you can trim. Include irregular expenses, such as home repairs or a car replacement, that you’re likely to face in coming years.
Your “must-have” expenses should include health insurance, says Catherine Valega, a certified financial planner in Waltham, Massachusetts. People typically must be 65 to be eligible for Medicare. Until then, prepare to pay for coverage because going without is especially dangerous during a pandemic.
If you had health insurance through your employer, you usually can extend that for up to 18 months, thanks to COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. But you’ll have to pay the entire premium plus a 2% administrative fee. Last year, the average annual cost of health insurance was $7,188 for a single person and $20,576 for a family, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which tracks health insurance trends.
If your spouse has group health insurance and can add you as a dependent, that’s often the most cost-effective way to go. If not, you may find a better deal through HealthCare.gov, since most people will qualify for tax subsidies that reduce premium costs.
EVALUATE ALL INCOME SOURCES
You may face decisions about what to do with workplace retirement accounts, such as whether to roll a 401(k) account into an IRA or how to take a pension. You may have to evaluate a buyout offer or figure out what to do with stock options.
These are complex decisions with huge consequences, so consider talking to a fee-only financial planner. Many financial planning organizations, including the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education and the XY Planning Network offer free counseling sessions for those whose incomes have been affected by the pandemic.
Taking big withdrawals from your retirement funds early in retirement can dramatically increase the odds you’ll run out of money. A 4% withdrawal rate - where you take 4% of your retirement account balance the first year and adjust that payout for inflation each year afterward - has historically allowed savings to last for a 30-year retirement. Some financial planners recommend a more conservative start of 3.5% or 3%, or starting at 4% and cutting back during bad markets.
Working at least part time can reduce the drain on your savings and may give you access to valuable benefits, including health insurance and retirement accounts. And staying connected to the workforce can increase your odds of finding a new full-time job if that’s your goal.
MAKE INFORMED SOCIAL SECURITY CHOICES
Social Security may be your largest source of income during retirement, and research shows most people would be better off delaying their applications to maximize their checks. That’s not always possible, of course, but often financial planners recommend tapping other retirement funds first if that allows people to delay drawing on Social Security.
If you’re married, it’s important to consider how your decisions affect your spouse, says CFP Brian Ellenbecker of Milwaukee. The higher earner’s check determines how much the survivor receives after the first spouse dies, for example. AARP has a free Social Security claiming calculator, and more sophisticated versions are available for a fee from Maximize My Social Security and Social Security Solutions.
CONSIDER DOWNSIZING - PERHAPS RADICALLY
If you can’t cover expenses with your income, you may have other alternatives. If you own a home, have substantial equity (at least 50%) and are at least 62, a reverse mortgage can help you turn your home’s value into a guaranteed monthly check. Or you may decide to sell your home and find somewhere cheaper to live.
Linda Rogers, a CFP from San Diego, says several of her clients discovered they can live well on less money by moving abroad for a few years. Portugal is a particularly popular destination, Rogers says.
Obviously, an overseas move isn’t for everyone, particularly in a pandemic when many countries are restricting travel. But for some adventurous types, it could be at least a partial solution.
“They’re loving it so far,” Rogers says.
_______________________________________
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of “Your Credit Score.” Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.
RELATED LINK:
NerdWallet: Retirement Savings: How Long Will My Money Last - and How to Stretch It http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-savings-retirement


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Federal judge upholds Minnesota’s extended ballot counting

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - A federal judge has upheld a state court agreement that extends Minnesota ’ s deadline for counting absentee ballots by seven days .
Republicans had asked U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel to block the seven-day extension that Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon agreed to in state court after a citizens ’ rights group cited concerns about voter safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
But Brasel ruled late Sunday night that the plaintiffs in the case - a pair of Republicans serving as electors in the presidential election - don ’ t have standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injunction .
Previously , ballots had to be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day - but a consent decree in the state case allowed ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted if they were received within the following seven days .
Brasel ’ s decision to keep the extension intact comes just days after a federal appeals court blocked a similar extension in Wisconsin - a win for Republicans who have fought attempts to expand voting across the country .
The Minnesota plaintiffs had pointed to that ruling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states require mail-in ballots to be received by Election Day , while others accept them days or even weeks later if they are postmarked by Election Day .
Tens of millions of Americans are likely to vote by mail this year because of concerns about coronavirus exposure at polling places .
The federal lawsuit in Minnesota was filed by Republican state Rep. Eric Lucero and GOP activist James Carson , who both would participate in the Electoral College if President Donald Trump carries Minnesota .
Their lawsuit , backed by the conservative-leaning Honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violates federal law that establishes Nov. 3 as the date of the 2020 election .
Attorneys for the state said the extension should stay in place , arguing that blocking it would create confusion and likely disenfranchise voters who are relying on instructions they have already received about deadlines for returning ballots by mail .
Brasel rejected a variety of claims from the plaintiffs in ruling against their request to stop the extended counting , including their assertion that it would dilute the value of their own votes by counting “ unlawful ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejected their claim that the consent decree created chaos and uncertainty , ruling that information about the new absentee process had been clearly communicated to voters .
“ In reality , the Electors are in danger of creating confusion rather ( than ) avoiding ” it , Brasel wrote .
Trump narrowly missed winning Minnesota in 2016 and had vowed in 2020 to become the first Republican to capture the state since Richard Nixon in 1972 .
But recent polls have showed Joe Biden leading , and Trump ’ s campaign has scaled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A federal judge has upheld a Minnesota state court agreement that allows the counting of absentee ballots received up to seven days after Election Day.
Republicans had asked U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel to block the seven-day extension that said ballots postmarked on or before Election Day must be counted.
Brasel ruled late Sunday night that the plaintiffs in the case - state Rep. Eric Lucero and another Republican who serves as an elector in the presidential election - don’t have standing and denied their motion for a preliminary injunction. She said giving voters conflicting information after absentee ballots have gone out would create confusion.
“This is a difficult genie to put back in the lamp,” Brasel ruled.
Messages left Monday with Lucero and the Republican Party were not immediately returned, but attorneys for the plaintiffs filed a notice saying they will appeal.
Richard Fiesta, executive director of the citizens’ group, the Alliance for Retired Americans, called it “an important common sense voting rights victory.”
“Thousands of older Minnesota voters can protect their health and cast a ballot that will be counted. As in any election, the rights of voters to cast their ballots in the least burdensome manner is paramount. This decision furthers that ability,” Fiesta said.
Before the consent decree, state law required absentee ballots to be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Now, that’s the deadline for the postmark. The consent decree includes a provision that says if a mailed ballot is missing a postmark, election officials should presume it was mailed by Election Day unless evidence shows otherwise.
Brasel’s decision came just days after a federal appeals court blocked a similar extension in Wisconsin - a win for Republicans who have fought attempts to expand voting across the country. The Minnesota plaintiffs had pointed to that ruling to bolster their case.
A majority of states require mail-in ballots to be received by Election Day, while others accept them days or even weeks later if they are postmarked by Election Day. Tens of millions of Americans are likely to vote by mail this year because of concerns about coronavirus exposure at polling places.
The federal lawsuit in Minnesota was filed by Lucero and GOP activist James Carson, who both would participate in the Electoral College if President Donald Trump carries Minnesota. Their lawsuit, backed by the conservative-leaning Honest Elections Project, argued that the extension violates federal law that establishes Nov. 3 as the date of the 2020 election.
Jason Snead, executive director of Honest Elections Project, said in a statement that the fight for fair, honest and lawful elections continues and that it’s foolish to presume no one would take advantage of the extended counting period.
“This plan will cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election’s results, and force litigation that could drag on for weeks,” he said.
Attorneys for the state said the extension should stay in place, arguing that blocking it would create confusion and likely disenfranchise voters who are relying on instructions they have already received about deadlines for returning ballots by mail.
Brasel rejected a variety of the plaintiffs’ claims, including their assertion that it would dilute the value of their own votes by counting “unlawful” ballots after Election Day. She also rejected their claim that the consent decree created chaos and uncertainty, ruling that information about the new absentee process had been clearly communicated to voters.
“In reality, the Electors are in danger of creating confusion rather (than) avoiding” it, Brasel wrote.
Trump narrowly missed winning Minnesota in 2016 and had vowed in 2020 to become the first Republican to capture the state since Richard Nixon in 1972. But recent polls have showed Joe Biden leading, and Trump’s campaign has scaled back some TV ad buys in the state.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Police: Van carrying 80 dogs overturns on Virginia highway

SALEM , Va. ( AP ) - A van carrying 80 dogs overturned on a highway in Virginia , causing @ @ @ @ @ be injured and others to escape the vehicle .
The crash occurred early Sunday morning @ @ @ @ @ County , according to Virginia State Police Sgt .
Rick Garletts .
It is unclear @ @ @ @ @ were injured or how many escaped .
Garletts told The Roanoke Times that it was @ @ @ @ @ the vehicle or where it was headed .
But the Fort Lewis Fire Department said @ @ @ @ @ that the van belonged to a rescue group that was transporting the dogs to other @ @ @

SALEM, Va. (AP) - A van carrying 80 dogs overturned on an interstate in Virginia, causing some of the animals to be injured and others to escape the vehicle, police say.
The crash occurred early Sunday on Interstate 81 in Roanoke County, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. Rick Garletts. It is unclear how many of the animals were injured or how many had escaped.
Garletts told The Roanoke Times that it also was not clear who owned the vehicle or where it was headed. But the Fort Lewis Fire Department said in a Facebook post Sunday that the van belonged to a rescue group that was transporting the dogs to other rescue groups.
Roanoke County Animal Control is helping house the animals.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Pope warmly greets Cardinal Pell after sex abuse trial

ROME ( AP ) - Pope Francis met Monday with Cardinal George Pell , warmly welcoming him for a private audience in the Apostolic Palace after the cardinal ’ s sex abuse conviction and acquittal in Australia .
The Vatican released a brief video clip of the meeting , a clear sign both the pope and Pell wanted the reception to be seen widely .
In it , Francis is heard saying “ Good to see you ” and “ more than a year ” - an apparent reference to the time Pell spent in prison .
Neither man was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge in coronavirus infections in the Lazio region surrounding the Vatican , and despite the Vatican ’ s own admission Monday that four Swiss Guards had tested positive .
Pell returned to Rome on Sept. 30 for the first time since 2017 to find a swirling financial corruption scandal implicating a half-dozen Holy See employees , including one of his Vatican nemeses , Cardinal Angelo Becciu .
Pell , brought in by Francis in 2014 to bring accountability and transparency to the Vatican ’ s opaque finances , was convicted but ultimately absolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations he molested two choirboys in St. Patrick ’ s Cathedral in Melbourne while he was archbishop in the 1990s .
He has long maintained his innocence and suggested , without evidence , that his prosecution was linked to his efforts to clean up the Vatican ’ s finances .
For seven years , Becciu largely controlled the secretariat of state ’ s multi-million-euro asset portfolio and donations from the faithful .
Francis sacked Becciu last month amid allegations he embezzled Holy See money .
He has denied wrongdoing .

ROME (AP) - Pope Francis met Monday with Cardinal George Pell and thanked him for his witness, warmly welcoming him for a private audience in the Apostolic Palace after the cardinal’s sex abuse conviction and acquittal in Australia.
The Vatican released photos and a brief video clip of the meeting, a clear sign that both the pope and Pell wanted the reception to be widely seen. In it, Francis is heard saying “Good to see you” and “more than a year” - an apparent reference to the 13 months that the 79-year-old Pell spent in prison.
The Vatican’s in-house media site, Vatican News, said the pope also thanked Pell for his witness, and recalled that after Pell was absolved in April, Francis delivered a homily in which he prayed for “all those who have suffered from unjust sentences.”
The audience was a moment of redemption for Pell, who left the Vatican in disgrace in 2017 to face trial only to return to find the Holy See enmeshed in a scandal of corruption, financial mismanagement and waste, the likes of which he had tried to uncover as Francis’ economy czar.
Over the past year, the Vatican has been hit by damaging revelations that it poured some 350 million euros, much of it donations from the faithful, into a London real estate venture. Vatican prosecutors are investigating a handful of Italian middlemen who are accused of having fleeced the Holy See of tens of millions of euros in fees while the Vatican’s incompetent money managers stood by.
The scandal has implicated a half-dozen Holy See employees, including one of Pell’s Vatican nemeses, Cardinal Angelo Becciu.
Becciu, the longtime No. 2 in the Vatican secretariat of state, was involved in the initial real estate investment but was fired last month after Francis said he had evidence that the Italian embezzled 100,000 euros from the secretariat of state to fund a charity controlled by his brother.
Becciu has admitted he sent the money but denied wrongdoing. He has also denied any wrongdoing in the London venture and defended it as a sound investment. He has not been named as a suspect in the case.
After Becciu was sacked, Pell issued a statement praising Francis and saying he hoped “the cleaning of the stables continues in both the Vatican and Victoria,” a reference to his belief that his prosecution in Victoria state was in some way connected to his efforts to root out corruption and waste in the Vatican.
Vatican prosecutors haven’t indicted anyone yet in the London venture investigation, and their case seems rife with holes and potential conflicts, given Vatican superiors approved the contracts with the middlemen that provided them with such huge management fees.
News reports this weekend suggested that Francis himself was aware of the problems of the London venture in late 2018 and that one of his friends was involved in introducing the middlemen most implicated in the deal into the Vatican.
The reports suggest that Francis once again trusted the wrong people in micromanaging the Vatican - a problem that has surfaced in the past when Francis’ friends ended up betraying, misleading or otherwise making problems for him.
In addition, just this week, one of the Vatican’s two prosecutors in the case appeared on Italian television wearing his other hat as a defense lawyer for a Rome businessman convicted in a sweeping Rome corruption trial dubbed “Mafia Capitale.”
His appearance on La 7 television was a reminder of the peculiar, and potentially problematic issue that Vatican prosecutors and magistrates also work in a foreign legal system, and have even gone up against each other in Italian courts.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Tenants displaced by fire at Fargo apartment building

FARGO , N.D. ( AP ) - A fire has caused heavy damage to a Fargo apartment building and left @ @ @ @ @ .
The three-alarm fire Sunday destroyed the roof of the 24-unit building and spread rapidly @ @ @ @ @ more than 30 mph .
One firefighter received minor injuries when part of a stairwell @ @ @ @ @ the building to make sure all tenants had evacuated , according to fire officials .
@ @ @ @ @ some , but not all pets .
The Red Cross is assisting residents with temporary @ @ @ @ @ The cause of the fire is under investigation .
Fargo firefighters were assisted by the @ @ @ @ @ police .

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A fire has caused heavy damage to a Fargo apartment building and left its tenants without a home.
The three-alarm fire Sunday destroyed the roof of the 24-unit building and spread rapidly because of wind gusts of more than 30 mph.
One firefighter received minor injuries when part of a stairwell ceiling collapsed as firefighters searched the building to make sure all tenants had evacuated, according to fire officials.
Firefighters were able to rescue some, but not all pets. The Red Cross is assisting residents with temporary housing, KFGO reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fargo firefighters were assisted by the Moorhead Fire Department and Fargo police.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Iran has highest daily virus death toll, new patient count

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - For the second day in a row , Iran shattered its single-day record for new deaths and infections from the coronavirus , with 272 people confirmed dead among more than 4,200 new cases on Monday .
Like in many other countries , the spiraling outbreak in Iran reflects the government ’ s contradictory virus response .
This month , as the daily recorded death toll reached the triple digits , authorities announced tighter restrictions for the hard-hit capital of Tehran .
Recently reopened universities and schools , as well as libraries , mosques @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shuttered .
On Saturday , the government mandated that all Tehran residents wear face masks outdoors and in public places , warning violators would be fined .
Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei promised those who tested positive would be closely tracked .
And yet enforcement in the country of 80 million remains a challenge .
Those who disobey face fines of just 500,000 riyals , or $ 1.60 , roughly the price of a burger downtown .
Many residents , tired of staying home , now ignore the rules about masks and social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cafes and restaurants .
As residents defy coronavirus precautions and the government resists a lockdown amid a worsening economic crisis , Iran ’ s caseload is skyrocketing .
Early in the pandemic , Iran emerged as a global epicenter of the virus and saw the worst outbreak in the Middle East , with more than 500,000 confirmed cases .
It has recorded over 28,800 deaths and 409,000 recoveries .
Initially , leaders played down the virus ’ s risks and , as hospitals filled up , the reported figures fueled skepticism among international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true number of infections and deaths .
Authorities have since admitted that outbreak is significantly bigger than reported , with a recent parliamentary report putting the number of infections at “ eight to 10 times ” higher than the official numbers .
Iran appeared to curb the spread of the virus somewhat in May with movement restrictions , only to see it return as the country reopened to boost economic activity the next month .
Early in the outbreak , religious considerations also played a role in the Shiite theocracy as authorities declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faithful touch or kiss the tombs ’ protective bars .
Over recent weeks , Iran has seen daily death tolls spike to their highest-ever levels .
The country has struggled to balance provincial lockdowns to stop the virus ’ s spread with the fear of stalling out an economy already suffering under U.S. sanctions after America ’ s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 from Tehran ’ s nuclear deal with world powers .
As in the White House , where President Donald Trump and a growing circle of his aides and staff recently tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has spread to the highest levels of Iran ’ s government .
Among those recently infected is the head of the country ’ s atomic energy organization and the country ’ s vice president in charge of budget and planning .
A number of Cabinet ministers also have tested positive , as well as top officials including senior Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri and Vice President Massoumeh Ebtekar .
The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to overreact about its spread was among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late February .
The virus first appeared in Iran at the same time the government was trying to shore up support for the country ’ s parliamentary elections , which saw the lowest voter turnout since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought its clerical leadership to power .
As the death toll reached new heights , the nation ’ s currency plunged to its lowest level ever on Sunday , following the Trump administration ’ s decision on Thursday to blacklist 18 Iranian banks that had so far escaped the bulk of re-imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeBre in Dubai , United Arab Emirates , contributed to this report .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - For the second day in a row, Iran shattered its single-day record for new deaths and infections from the coronavirus, with 272 people confirmed dead among more than 4,200 new cases on Monday.
Like in many other countries, the spiraling outbreak in Iran reflects the government’s contradictory virus response. This month, as the daily recorded death toll reached the triple digits, authorities announced tighter restrictions for the hard-hit capital of Tehran. Recently reopened universities and schools, as well as libraries, mosques, cinemas, museums and beauty salons, shut down. On Saturday, the government mandated that all Tehran residents wear face masks outdoors and in public places, warning violators would be fined. Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei promised those who tested positive would be closely tracked.
And yet enforcement and measures like contact-tracing in the country of 80 million remain a challenge. Those who disobey face fines of just 500,000 riyals, or $1.60, roughly the price of a burger downtown. Many residents, tired of staying home, now ignore the rules about masks and social distancing to pack indoor cafes and restaurants. As residents defy coronavirus precautions and the government resists a lockdown to salvage its economy, Iran’s caseload is skyrocketing.
Iran’s health minister Saeed Namaki made an appeal on Sunday for harsher punishments, according to the state-run IRNA news agency, noting the meager fines for maskless residents would do nothing to boost vigilance. Lamenting that the health ministry’s 7,000 inspectors couldn’t handle the sprawling city of over 10 million, he empowered the police and Basij forces, a paramilitary wing of the Revolutionary Guard used for internal security, to help enforce pandemic rules. In the coming weeks, Namaki added, authorities plan to extend the mask mandate to other major cities.
Iran emerged early in the pandemic as a global epicenter of the virus and has since seen the worst outbreak in the Middle East, with more than 500,000 confirmed cases and 28,800 deaths. Leaders first played down the virus’s risks and, as hospitals filled up, international experts suspected Iran was hiding the true number of infections and deaths. Authorities have since admitted that the outbreak is more severe than reported, with a recent parliamentary report putting the number of infections at “eight to 10 times” higher than official numbers.
Movement restrictions this spring somewhat checked the spread of the disease. Then the government swiftly reopened the country, desperate to boost its stricken economy. Since June, the case count has steadily increased - and spiked to new heights in recent weeks.
Long before the virus hit, Iran’s economy was ailing, pummeled by U.S. sanctions after the Trump administration’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018 from Tehran’s nuclear accord with world powers. As the death toll soared on Sunday, the nation’s currency plunged to its lowest level ever, following the U.S. administration’s decision last week to blacklist Iranian banks that had so far escaped the bulk of re-imposed American sanctions.
As in the White House, where U.S. President Donald Trump and a growing circle of his aides and staff recently tested positive for the coronavirus, the disease has spread to the highest levels of Iran’s government, even killing a senior adviser of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A number of Cabinet ministers have contracted the virus, as well as top officials including senior Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri and Vice President Massoumeh Ebtekar. The head of an Iranian government task force on the coronavirus who had urged the public not to panic over its spread was among the first officials to contract the virus in late February. On Sunday, local media reported the head of the country’s atomic energy organization and the country’s vice president in charge of budget and planning had also tested positive for the virus.
Iran’s initial outbreak coincided with major political events - the 41st anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution that brought its clerical leadership to power, as well as parliamentary elections in which the government desperately sought to boost turnout. Religious considerations also played a role in the Shiite theocracy as authorities declined for weeks to close shrines where the faithful touch or kiss the tombs’ protective bars.
___
Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--For the second day in a row, Iran announces highest single-day death toll from the coronavirus with

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - For the second day in a row , Iran announces highest single-day death @ @ @ @ @ 272 people killed .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - For the second day in a row, Iran announces highest single-day death toll from the coronavirus with 272 people killed.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Anti-India clashes after troops kill 2 rebels in Kashmir

SRINAGAR , India ( AP ) - Anti-India clashes erupted in the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday following the killing of two suspected rebels in a gunfight with government forces .
Police and paramilitary soldiers on a tip launched a counterinsurgency operation in a neighborhood in Srinagar overnight , leading to an exchange of gunfire between trapped militants and troops early Monday , police said in a statement .
Two suspected militants were killed in the fighting , police said .
Residents said troops set a civilian house on fire during the fighting .
Police said one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been operating in the region since earlier this year and was responsible for at least two deadly attacks on paramilitary soldiers in Srinagar .
There was no independent confirmation of the police claim .
As the fighting ended , scores of people , chanting slogans such as “ Go India , go back ” and “ We want freedom , ” threw stones at government forces .
Troops retaliated by firing tear gas and shotgun pellets .
No one was immediately reported injured in the clashes .
Kashmir is divided between India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region in its entirety .
Most Kashmiris support the rebel goal of uniting the territory , either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country .
India calls the Kashmir militancy Pakistan-sponsored terrorism .
Pakistan denies the charge , and most Kashmiris call it a legitimate freedom struggle .
Tens of thousands of civilians , rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict .

SRINAGAR, India (AP) - Anti-India clashes erupted in the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday following the killing of two suspected rebels in a gunfight with government forces.
Police and paramilitary soldiers on a tip launched a counterinsurgency operation in a neighborhood in Srinagar overnight, leading to an exchange of gunfire between trapped militants and troops early Monday, police said in a statement.
Two suspected militants were killed in the fighting, police said. Residents said troops set a civilian house on fire during the fighting.
Police said one of the dead was a Pakistani militant who had been operating in the region since earlier this year and was responsible for at least two deadly attacks on paramilitary soldiers in Srinagar.
There was no independent confirmation of the police claim.
As the fighting ended, scores of people, chanting slogans such as “Go India, go back” and “We want freedom,” threw stones at government forces. Troops retaliated by firing tear gas and shotgun pellets. No one was immediately reported injured in the clashes.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, which both claim the region in its entirety. Most Kashmiris support the rebel goal of uniting the territory, either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
India calls the Kashmir militancy Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and most Kashmiris call it a legitimate freedom struggle.
Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Inside the Beltway: Ipsos poll reveals China is happiest nation on Earth

Amid global turmoil and uncertainty , a massive new Ipsos poll of 19,516 adults in 27 countries reveals the happiest nation on the planet .
“ The happiness leader in 2020 is China , where 93 % say they are happy , up 11 percentage points from last year , ” says the poll analysis , released Monday .
“ The only country showing a significant increase in happiness since 2011 is China , ” the analysis notes .
Netherlands is ranked second at 87 % , followed by Saudi Arabia ( 80 % ) , France and Canada , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranked 11th on the list , with 70 % of respondents indicating they are happy .
On average , 63 % of the global population agree .
“ The incidence of happiness shows significant shifts in many countries : it has declined by eight percentage points or more in Peru , Chile , Mexico , India , the U.S. , Australia , Canada , and Spain , while it has increased by more than eight percentage points in China , Russia , Malaysia , and Argentina , ” Ipsos wrote .
The pollster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which range from physical health and well-being to family relations , personal safety , living conditions and meaningful employment .
Social media , incidentally , brought the world population the least happiness , cited by just 11 % .
In the last decade , the incidence of happiness has decreased sharply .
The percentage of those saying they are happy has fallen by 14 percentage points globally .
It is down by five percentage points or more in 17 out of 23 countries surveyed both years .
Mexico , Turkey , South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show drops of more than 20 points .
The poll of adults was conducted July 24-Aug. 7 in Australia , Belgium , Brazil , Britain , Canada , China ( mainland ) , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , Spain , the U.S. , Argentina , Chile , Hungary , India , Malaysia , Mexico , the Netherlands , Peru , Poland , Russia , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , South Korea , Sweden and Turkey .
“ COVID-19 : The Politics of Fear and the Power of Science ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear message .
Manipulative forces have co-opted coronavirus and stolen the nation ’ s peace of mind .
And who or what are these forces ?
They are government , the news media and our own psyche , says author Dr. Marc Siegel , a clinical professor of medicine at New York University ’ s Grossman School of Medicine and a Fox News analyst whose fans include President Trump and Fox News heavyweights Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin .
“ An attempt to put this pandemic in proper medical context was immediately overcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , citing partisan infighting , apocalyptic headlines , riots , protests , fear mongering and lockdowns which has marred everyday life .
“ The virus is dangerous .
The virus provokes fear out of proportion to the risk .
This fear is its own corrosive disease and causes us to jump to quick answers , often over-politicized by a media hoping for ratings and politicians anxious to control us .
This fear leads to dogma and distrust , premature judgement , hypocrisy and pseudoscience , ” Dr. Siegel tells Inside the Beltway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has been proceeding in an incredible rate both in terms of understanding the virus and treating it and vaccinating against it , ” the author continues — offering one more doctor ’ s order .
“ Exercise kindness to others , and courage .
These emotions are processed by the same brain centers which process fear , ” Dr. Siegel says .
Americans reject the notion that Judge Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Catholic faith should be a factor in her confirmation as Supreme Court justice .
“ Three-out-of-four voters say a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine whether he or she can serve on the high court , ” declares a new Rasmussen Reports survey which found finds that just 16 % of likely U.S. voters think a nominee ’ s religion should be a deciding factor in determining who sits on the Supreme Court .
Another 77 % reject the idea that Catholics should be barred from serving on the Supreme Court because of their abortion beliefs .
The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Oct. 8-11 .
What ’ s in store for the nation if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in three weeks ?
“ Here ’ s the game plan : Eliminate the filibuster so Democrats can pass whatever they want with a simple majority .
Pack the Supreme Court with far-left liberals to overwhelm any conservative majority .
Add four more Democratic Senate seats and 10 more Electoral College votes by making D.C. and Puerto Rico states , ” says an Issues & Insights editorial .
“ And voila , Democrats will have cleared the way for them to get their Green New Deal , Medicare for All , minimum-wage raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enacted .
They will have jammed the court with justices who won ’ t bat an eye at any Constitution-bending laws Democrats pass .
And they will have made it far more difficult for Republicans to win the presidency or a Senate majority in the future , ” the news organization says .
“ Democrats will also be able to enact the ‘ For the People Act , ’ which was the first bill they introduced when they took control of the House .
This legislation would dramatically expand government regulation of political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to raise money , and it would federalize the election process — making it easier for Democrats to cheat , ” the publications advises .
“ In short , if Biden wins and Democrats gain control of the Senate , they will be in a position to turn us into a California-style single-party nation.
” • 39 % of U.S. adults say Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris is “ very liberal ” ; 82 % of conservatives , 25 % of moderates and 12 % of liberals agree .
• 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; 9 % of conservatives , 27 % of moderates and 51 % of liberals agree .
• 20 % say she is “ moderate ” ; 3 % of conservatives , 32 % of moderates and 27 % of liberals agree .
• 2 % say she is “ conservative ” ; 1 % of conservatives , 3 % of moderates and 1 % of liberals agree .
• 14 % are not sure of her ideology ; 5 % of conservatives , 12 % of moderates and 9 % of liberals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 4-6 .

NEWS AND OPINION:
Amid global turmoil and uncertainty, a massive new Ipsos poll of 19,516 adults in 27 countries reveals the happiest nation on the planet.
“The happiness leader in 2020 is China, where 93% say they are happy, up 11 percentage points from last year,” says the poll analysis, released Monday.
“The only country showing a significant increase in happiness since 2011 is China,” the analysis notes.
Netherlands is ranked second at 87%, followed by Saudi Arabia (80%), France and Canada, both at 78%. The U.S. ranked 11th on the list, with 70% of respondents indicating they are happy. On average, 63% of the global population agree.
“The incidence of happiness shows significant shifts in many countries: it has declined by eight percentage points or more in Peru, Chile, Mexico, India, the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Spain, while it has increased by more than eight percentage points in China, Russia, Malaysia, and Argentina,” Ipsos wrote.
The pollster measured 29 “drivers” of happiness, which range from physical health and well-being to family relations, personal safety, living conditions and meaningful employment. Social media, incidentally, brought the world population the least happiness, cited by just 11%.
In the last decade, the incidence of happiness has decreased sharply. The percentage of those saying they are happy has fallen by 14 percentage points globally. It is down by five percentage points or more in 17 out of 23 countries surveyed both years. Mexico, Turkey, South Africa, Argentina, Spain and India show drops of more than 20 points.
The poll of adults was conducted July 24-Aug. 7 in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China (mainland), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the U.S., Argentina, Chile, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Turkey.
THE POLITICS OF FEAR
“COVID-19: The Politics of Fear and the Power of Science” arrives Tuesday from Turner Books with a clear message. Manipulative forces have co-opted coronavirus and stolen the nation’s peace of mind.
And who or what are these forces? They are government, the news media and our own psyche, says author Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and a Fox News analyst whose fans include President Trump and Fox News heavyweights Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin.
“An attempt to put this pandemic in proper medical context was immediately overcome by politics,” writes Dr. Siegel, citing partisan infighting, apocalyptic headlines, riots, protests, fear mongering and lockdowns which has marred everyday life.
“The virus is dangerous. The virus provokes fear out of proportion to the risk. This fear is its own corrosive disease and causes us to jump to quick answers, often over-politicized by a media hoping for ratings and politicians anxious to control us. This fear leads to dogma and distrust, premature judgement, hypocrisy and pseudoscience,” Dr. Siegel tells Inside the Beltway.
“The solution? Trust science — which has been proceeding in an incredible rate both in terms of understanding the virus and treating it and vaccinating against it,” the author continues — offering one more doctor’s order.
“Exercise kindness to others, and courage. These emotions are processed by the same brain centers which process fear,” Dr. Siegel says.
REJECTING THE RELIGIOUS LITMUS TEST
Americans reject the notion that Judge Amy Coney Barrett‘s Catholic faith should be a factor in her confirmation as Supreme Court justice.
“Three-out-of-four voters say a candidate’s religious faith should not determine whether he or she can serve on the high court,” declares a new Rasmussen Reports survey which found finds that just 16% of likely U.S. voters think a nominee’s religion should be a deciding factor in determining who sits on the Supreme Court.
Another 77% reject the idea that Catholics should be barred from serving on the Supreme Court because of their abortion beliefs.
The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted Oct. 8-11.
‘CALIFORNIA-STYLE SINGLE-PARTY NATION’
What’s in store for the nation if Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden wins in three weeks?
“Here’s the game plan: Eliminate the filibuster so Democrats can pass whatever they want with a simple majority. Pack the Supreme Court with far-left liberals to overwhelm any conservative majority. Add four more Democratic Senate seats and 10 more Electoral College votes by making D.C. and Puerto Rico states,” says an Issues & Insights editorial.
“And voila, Democrats will have cleared the way for them to get their Green New Deal, Medicare for All, minimum-wage raising, pro-union, open-borders, tax-the-rich agenda enacted. They will have jammed the court with justices who won’t bat an eye at any Constitution-bending laws Democrats pass. And they will have made it far more difficult for Republicans to win the presidency or a Senate majority in the future,” the news organization says.
“Democrats will also be able to enact the ‘For the People Act,’ which was the first bill they introduced when they took control of the House. This legislation would dramatically expand government regulation of political speech, making it harder for Republicans to raise money, and it would federalize the election process — making it easier for Democrats to cheat,” the publications advises.
“In short, if Biden wins and Democrats gain control of the Senate, they will be in a position to turn us into a California-style single-party nation.”
POLL DU JOUR
• 39% of U.S. adults say Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris is “very liberal”; 82% of conservatives, 25% of moderates and 12% of liberals agree.
• 26% say she is “liberal”; 9% of conservatives, 27% of moderates and 51% of liberals agree.
• 20% say she is “moderate”; 3% of conservatives, 32% of moderates and 27% of liberals agree.
• 2% say she is “conservative”; 1% of conservatives, 3% of moderates and 1% of liberals agree.
• 14% are not sure of her ideology; 5% of conservatives, 12% of moderates and 9% of liberals agree.
Source: AN Economist/YouGov poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 4-6.
• Kindly follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham stabbed, will recover

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham is recovering after he was stabbed in the back Sunday night , authorities said .
Pham was stabbed shortly after 10:30 p.m. outside the Pacers Showgirls International gentlemen ’ s club , police Lt. Shawn Takeuchi told the San Diego Union-Tribune .
Pham apparently didn ’ t know the attackers , who remain at large , he said .
“ While it was a very traumatic and eye-opening experience for me , I ’ m on the road to recovery and I know I ’ ll be back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , ” Pham said in a statement released by the team .
Two people who said they spoke with Pham told the Union-Tribune that Pham was leaving and saw an argument taking place near his car .
One person told the paper that Pham was attacked after asking the arguing people to get away from his car .
Pham was stabbed in the lower back and the wound pierced all three layers of skin but didn ’ t damage any organs , according to a statement from the Padres .
The team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is expected to fully recover .
Pham , 32 , was traded to the Padres last year after six seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals .
He hit .211 this year with three home runs , 12 RBIs and six stolen bases in 31 games , then batted .375 ( 9 for 24 ) in six postseason games before San Diego was eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham is recovering after he was stabbed in the back Sunday night, authorities said.
Pham was stabbed shortly after 10:30 p.m. outside the Pacers Showgirls International gentlemen’s club, police Lt. Shawn Takeuchi told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Pham apparently didn’t know the attackers, who remain at large, he said.
“While it was a very traumatic and eye-opening experience for me, I’m on the road to recovery and I know I’ll be back to my offseason training routine in no time,” Pham said in a statement released by the team.
Two people who said they spoke with Pham told the Union-Tribune that Pham was leaving and saw an argument taking place near his car. One person told the paper that Pham was attacked after asking the arguing people to get away from his car.
Pham was stabbed in the lower back and the wound pierced all three layers of skin but didn’t damage any organs, according to a statement from the Padres. The team said he was in good condition and is expected to fully recover.
Pham, 32, was traded to the Padres last year after six seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals.
He hit .211 this year with three home runs, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases in 31 games, then batted .375 (9 for 24) in six postseason games before San Diego was eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Joe Biden gaffes include 'Mormon' Romney,' running for Senate

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden had a few hiccups during his Monday campaign stop in Ohio , saying that he was running for “ the Senate ” and referring to Mitt Romney as the “ Mormon.
” “ I ’ m running as a proud Democrat for the Senate , ” Mr. Biden told the local United Auto Workers at a campaign stop in Toledo .
“ When I ran as a proud Democrat for vice president .
I ’ m running as a proud Democrat for president.
” The Democratic presidential candidate later appeared to forget the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama-Biden ticket as the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 .
“ You may remember , I got in trouble running against the senator who was a Mormon , the governor , okay ?
” Mr. Biden said on the tarmac , as shown on a video clip .
“ And I took him on .
And no one ’ s faith should be questioned.
” Former George W. Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer responded by tweeting : “ He doesn ’ t remember people ’ s names , but he calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weird.
” Mr. Romney was a former Massachusetts governor when he ran for president as the Republican nominee .
He was elected to the Senate from Utah in 2018 .
Mr. Biden also gave the wrong name for a Democratic website , calling it , “ Iwill.com/Ohio , ” instead of “ Iwillvote.com/Ohio , ” run by the Democratic National Committee .
President Trump took aim at the gaffes , tweeting that “ Sleepy Joe Biden had a particularly bad day today.
” “ He couldn ’ t remember the name of Mitt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the U.S. Senate , and forgot what State he was in , ” Mr. Trump tweeted .
“ If I did any of this , it would be disqualifying .
With him , he ’ s just Sleepy Joe !
”

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden had a few hiccups during his Monday campaign stop in Ohio, saying that he was running for “the Senate” and referring to Mitt Romney as the “Mormon.”
“I’m running as a proud Democrat for the Senate,” Mr. Biden told the local United Auto Workers at a campaign stop in Toledo. “When I ran as a proud Democrat for vice president. I’m running as a proud Democrat for president.”
The Democratic presidential candidate later appeared to forget the name of Mr. Romney, who challenged the Obama-Biden ticket as the Republican presidential nominee in 2012.
“You may remember, I got in trouble running against the senator who was a Mormon, the governor, OK?” Mr. Biden said on the tarmac, as shown on a video clip. “And I took him on. And no one’s faith should be questioned.”
Joe Biden: “I’m running as a proud Democrat for the Senate” pic.twitter.com/7LTFdJQMgF — Trump War Room - Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) October 12, 2020
He doesn’t remember people’s names, but he calls them by their religion. This is weird. https://t.co/opc9ItM1Wb — Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) October 12, 2020
Former George W. Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer responded by tweeting: “He doesn’t remember people’s names, but he calls them by their religion. This is weird.”
Mr. Romney was a former Massachusetts governor when he ran for president as the Republican nominee. He was elected to the Senate from Utah in 2018.
Mr. Biden also gave the wrong name for a Democratic website, calling it, “Iwill.com/Ohio,” instead of “Iwillvote.com/Ohio,” run by the Democratic National Committee.
President Trump took aim at the gaffes, tweeting that “Sleepy Joe Biden had a particularly bad day today.”
“He couldn’t remember the name of Mitt Romney, said again he was running for the U.S. Senate, and forgot what State he was in,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “If I did any of this, it would be disqualifying. With him, he’s just Sleepy Joe!”
Sleepy Joe Biden had a particularly bad day today. He couldn’t remember the name of Mitt Romney, said again he was running for the U.S. Senate, and forgot what State he was in. If I did any of this, it would be disqualifying. With him, he’s just Sleepy Joe! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2020
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Haley gives boost to McSally in Arizona Senate race

SCOTTSDALE , Ariz. ( AP ) - Arizona Sen. Martha McSally called in one of the Republican Party ’ s most prominent foreign policy hands Monday to press her case that Democrat Mark Kelly has problematic ties to China .
Former U.N .
Ambassador Nikki Haley said China is the largest geopolitical threat to the United States , and Kelly doing business with Chinese firms should be disqualifying .
“ I want to know that we ’ re going to send a senator from Arizona to D.C. that understands China is a national security threat , not someone who wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to get them to invest in his company , ” Haley said .
Kelly co-founded a high-altitude balloon company in Tucson that received an investment from Tencent Holdings , a massive Chinese investment firm .
Kelly no longer works for the firm but retains an equity stake , according to his financial disclosures .
While he was an astronaut , he participated in a forum for young leaders from both countries and met his wife , former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords .
After retiring , he pitched vitamins for a Chinese company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made in a debate last week with Kelly , and that she and her GOP allies have pressed aggressively for months in television ads .
Kelly has dismissed the attacks as an election-year ploy , pointing to a memo urging Republican Senate candidates to blame China for the pandemic .
He said last week he ’ s “ known China as an adversary my entire adult life.
” “ Sen .
McSally is using false , negative attacks trying to attack my patriotism again , ” Kelly said during last week ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think Arizonans are tired of it.
” McSally and Haley , the former governor of South Carolina and one of the most prominent women of color in the Republican Party , spoke to a crowd of several dozen masked and distanced supporters in a Scottsdale backyard .
They aimed their pitch particularly toward women , encouraging them to run for office and discussing their own fights against more powerful interests .
While McSally runs strongly with men , polls show her running far behind with women , mirroring the struggles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her supporters to ignore what she called “ fake polls , ” which have consistently showed her trailing Kelly .
Her race is a dead heat , as is the presidential contest in Arizona , she insisted .

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona Sen. Martha McSally called in one of the Republican Party’s most prominent foreign policy hands Monday to press her case that Democrat Mark Kelly has problematic ties to China.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said China is the largest geopolitical threat to the United States, and Kelly doing business with Chinese firms should be disqualifying.
“I want to know that we’re going to send a senator from Arizona to D.C. that understands China is a national security threat, not someone who wants to hold their hand and figure out how to get them to invest in his company,” Haley said.
Kelly co-founded a high-altitude balloon company in Tucson that received an investment from Tencent Holdings, a massive Chinese investment firm. Kelly no longer works for the firm but retains an equity stake, according to his financial disclosures.
While he was an astronaut, he participated in a forum for young leaders from both countries and met his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. After retiring, he pitched vitamins for a Chinese company.
It’s a case McSally made in a debate last week with Kelly, and that she and her GOP allies have pressed aggressively for months in television ads.
Kelly has dismissed the attacks as an election-year ploy, pointing to a memo urging Republican Senate candidates to blame China for the pandemic. He said last week he’s “known China as an adversary my entire adult life.”
“Sen. McSally is using false, negative attacks trying to attack my patriotism again,” Kelly said during last week’s debate when pressed on China by McSally. “I think Arizonans are tired of it.”
McSally and Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and one of the most prominent women of color in the Republican Party, spoke to a crowd of several dozen masked and distanced supporters in a Scottsdale backyard. They aimed their pitch particularly toward women, encouraging them to run for office and discussing their own fights against more powerful interests.
While McSally runs strongly with men, polls show her running far behind with women, mirroring the struggles facing President Donald Trump.
McSally urged her supporters to ignore what she called “fake polls,” which have consistently showed her trailing Kelly. Her race is a dead heat, as is the presidential contest in Arizona, she insisted.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Oklahoma County prosecutor reduces charges in protest case

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) - Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater agreed Monday to reduce criminal charges against five young people accused of inciting a riot following a confrontation with police in June .
Court records show five defendants initially charged with felony inciting a riot each received a deferred sentence after pleading guilty Monday to a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer .
“ I believe that the guilty pleas today acknowledge the conduct that led to charges being filed while offering the individual an opportunity to dispose of their criminal cases without ruining the remainder of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
Those who entered guilty pleas on Monday were Trevor Webb , 26 ; Tyreke Baker , 20 ; Mia Hogsett , 32 ; Sincere Terry , 19 ; and Preston Nabors , 23 .
The five were arrested after a confrontation with a police officer while they were painting a street mural outside the Oklahoma City Police Department .
The incident followed two days of street protests in Oklahoma City over racial injustice and police brutality .
Prater has faced some criticism for charging several people involved in those protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke windows of downtown businesses and set fire to a sheriff ’ s department van .

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater agreed Monday to reduce criminal charges against five young people accused of inciting a riot following a confrontation with police in June.
Court records show five defendants initially charged with felony inciting a riot each received a deferred sentence after pleading guilty Monday to a misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer.
“I believe that the guilty pleas today acknowledge the conduct that led to charges being filed while offering the individual an opportunity to dispose of their criminal cases without ruining the remainder of their young lives,” Prater said in a statement.
Those who entered guilty pleas on Monday were Trevor Webb, 26; Tyreke Baker, 20; Mia Hogsett, 32; Sincere Terry, 19; and Preston Nabors, 23.
The five were arrested after a confrontation with a police officer while they were painting a street mural outside the Oklahoma City Police Department. The incident followed two days of street protests in Oklahoma City over racial injustice and police brutality.
Prater has faced some criticism for charging several people involved in those protests with felony terrorism charges amid allegations they broke windows of downtown businesses and set fire to a sheriff’s department van.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Court mulls whether to end Arizona’s registration extension

PHOENIX ( AP ) - An appeals court considering whether to put on hold an extension of Arizona ’ s voter registration posed tough questions at a hearing Monday over whether state law allows such an extension .
Two advocacy groups seeking to register voters had asked a lower court to extend the deadline , saying its number of weekly registrations plummeted because of the pandemic ’ s restrictions , though those figures have returned to almost the same level as before the pandemic .
Last week , U.S. District Judge Steven Logan extended the deadline from Oct. 5 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermined election integrity by preventing a portion of the population from registering to vote .
Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich , Republican groups and Democrat Secretary of State Katie Hobbs are asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to put the ruling on hold while they appeal it .
Arizona has recorded more than 28,000 new registrations in the days since the deadline was extended .
Brnovich ’ s office said people who have already completed registrations during the extension period should be kept on the rolls for the Nov. 3 election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extension promptly .
Judge Jay Bybee said Arizona ’ s law requiring the registration to fall 29 days before election prevents the extension .
“ They are not eligible to vote in November 2020 , ” Bybee said of people who registered during the extension period .
Bybee also said the difficulties that arose in trying to register voters during the pandemic weren ’ t due to the actions of the government .
Matthew Brinckerhoff , a lawyer representing the groups that won the extension , said the pandemic had led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ register voters .
“ An event occurred of extreme and unpredictable circumstance , and it has had a profound impact on people ’ s lives , ” Brinckerhoff said .
“ This is one of them.
” Hobbs ’ office argued letting the new deadline run its full course could lead to administrative problems for elections officials .
She is seeking a grace period of several days to let voters complete their registration .
Brnovich ’ s office voiced opposition to a grace period , saying doing so would make the situation more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s chief election officer was the target of the lawsuit seeking an extension , had previously said she wouldn ’ t appeal the decision , leading Brnovich to join the Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee in appealing the decision .
Hobbs ’ office said on Monday that she ’ s now appealing the ruling .

PHOENIX (AP) - An appeals court considering whether to put on hold an extension of Arizona’s voter registration posed tough questions at a hearing Monday over whether state law allows such an extension.
Two advocacy groups seeking to register voters had asked a lower court to extend the deadline, saying its number of weekly registrations plummeted because of the pandemic’s restrictions, though those figures have returned to almost the same level as before the pandemic.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Steven Logan extended the deadline from Oct. 5 to Oct. 23, finding the pandemic has undermined election integrity by preventing a portion of the population from registering to vote.
Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich, Republican groups and Democrat Secretary of State Katie Hobbs are asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to put the ruling on hold while they appeal it.
Arizona has recorded more than 28,000 new registrations in the days since the deadline was extended. Brnovich’s office said people who have already completed registrations during the extension period should be kept on the rolls for the Nov. 3 election, but urged the appeals court to end the extension promptly.
Judge Jay Bybee said Arizona’s law requiring the registration to fall 29 days before election prevents the extension. “They are not eligible to vote in November 2020,” Bybee said of people who registered during the extension period.
Bybee also said the difficulties that arose in trying to register voters during the pandemic weren’t due to the actions of the government.
Matthew Brinckerhoff, a lawyer representing the groups that won the extension, said the pandemic had led to disruptions in his clients’ plans to register voters. “An event occurred of extreme and unpredictable circumstance, and it has had a profound impact on people’s lives,” Brinckerhoff said. “This is one of them.”
Hobbs’ office argued letting the new deadline run its full course could lead to administrative problems for elections officials. She is seeking a grace period of several days to let voters complete their registration. Brnovich’s office voiced opposition to a grace period, saying doing so would make the situation more complex.
Hobbs, who as Arizona’s chief election officer was the target of the lawsuit seeking an extension, had previously said she wouldn’t appeal the decision, leading Brnovich to join the Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee in appealing the decision.
Hobbs’ office said on Monday that she’s now appealing the ruling.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Joyce Dinkins, wife of former NYC Mayor David Dinkins, dies

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Joyce Dinkins , the former first lady of New York City , has died at 89 .
Dinkins died Sunday at home , her family said in a statement .
Her husband , David Dinkins , was the city ’ s first - and , to date , only - Black mayor .
During his term as mayor from 1990 to 1993 , Joyce Dinkins focused her efforts on the city ’ s children , and promoted programs that would improve their literacy as well as access to the arts .
She was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so dignified in everything she did , ” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio , who worked in the Dinkins administration .
He said she played “ a huge role ” in her husband ’ s political life .
“ Born in NYC , she spent her time as its First Lady with grace & purpose-dedicated to education and a champion for literacy , ” Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said on Twitter .
When her husband - a Democrat - became mayor , she retired from her job in the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took up her role as first lady .
Raised in Harlem , she grew up as one of two daughters of Daniel Burrows , a businessman who became involved in Democratic politics and was among the first Black men to serve in the state Assembly .
He encouraged his son-in-law to get into politics .
She went to Howard University , where she majored in sociology , became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and met her future husband , whom she married in 1953 .
Dinkins is survived by her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

NEW YORK (AP) - Joyce Dinkins, the former first lady of New York City, has died at 89.
Dinkins died Sunday at home, her family said in a statement.
Her husband, David Dinkins, was the city’s first - and, to date, only - Black mayor. During his term as mayor from 1990 to 1993, Joyce Dinkins focused her efforts on the city’s children, and promoted programs that would improve their literacy as well as access to the arts.
She was “such a strong and good woman, so dignified in everything she did,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who worked in the Dinkins administration. He said she played “a huge role” in her husband’s political life.
“Born in NYC, she spent her time as its First Lady with grace & purpose-dedicated to education and a champion for literacy,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Twitter.
When her husband - a Democrat - became mayor, she retired from her job in the State Department of Taxation and Finance, and took up her role as first lady.
Raised in Harlem, she grew up as one of two daughters of Daniel Burrows, a businessman who became involved in Democratic politics and was among the first Black men to serve in the state Assembly. He encouraged his son-in-law to get into politics.
She went to Howard University, where she majored in sociology, became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and met her future husband, whom she married in 1953.
Dinkins is survived by her husband, two children and two grandchildren.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Columbus Day fans, Italian Americans defy culture, coronavirus with celebrations

His statues have been toppled and his holiday increasingly displaced by Indigenous Peoples Day , but Christopher Columbus still has plenty of Italian American fans , who refused Monday to be shut down by the protests or the pandemic .
In New York , the Columbus Citizens Foundation replaced its annual extravaganza with a “ virtual parade , ” an Italian Heritage & Achievement event featuring Gov .
Andrew Cuomo that culminated in the unveiling of a statue of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini , also known as Mother Cabrini , in Battery Park .
“ I ’ m so happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said the foundation ’ s chairman , Angelo Vivolo , as shown on WABC-TV .
“ Ordinarily , we would be marching in the joyful Columbus Day parade looking at the bands that play and floats that come up Fifth Avenue , but this year we ’ re celebrating differently .
We ’ re celebrating our heritage by honoring a remarkable Italian woman of faith.
” In Chicago , the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans replaced its parade with a scaled-down , socially distanced celebration that included a wreath-laying , car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Positive ” rally at Little Italy ’ s Arrigo Park , the former site of a Columbus statue .
Why former ?
In July , Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered three Columbus memorials temporarily removed for public safety reasons after protesters sought to pull down the statues .
In a melee that ensued at the statue in Grant Park , 49 officers and four demonstrators were injured .
The Joint Civic Committee sent a letter Friday asking the mayor to restore the Columbus memorials , but Ms. Lightfoot said the city is taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ ways in which we can do a better job reflecting Chicago ’ s history.
” Certainly the Genovese navigator , viewed by his supporters as a courageous explorer and his critics as the colonizer responsible for bringing disease and slavery to the Americas , has had a rough summer .
An estimated 33 Columbus statues were pulled down or deliberately removed by local governments during the rioting sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody , the latest episode in a nearly 30-year campaign to consign the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia now observe Indigenous Peoples Day or Native Americans ’ Day along with , or instead of , Columbus Day , as do an estimated 130 cities , starting with Berkeley , California , in 1992 .
However , Columbus Day is still a federal holiday observed on the second Monday of October .
In Portland , Oregon , protesters held an “ Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage ” ahead of Columbus Day that devolved into a riot .
Vandals pulling down statues not of Columbus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public sculpture in Portland — but of former Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt .
Demonstrators held a march Sunday in Boston demanding that the city replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day and permanently remove the Columbus statue at Waterfront Park that was taken down after vandals beheaded it in June .
“ City by city , town by town , Christopher Columbus has to come down , ” the protesters chanted , according to WBUR-FM .
Meanwhile , Mayor Ben Walsh announced Friday that Syracuse , New York , would remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circle , where the statue has stood since 1934 .
“ This space should be both a tribute to Italian Americans and a place of healing at which we celebrate our shared accomplishments , ” Mr. Walsh said in a statement .
“ This decision is based on the fact that we can honor our Italian American community without focusing on a statue that has become the source of division over decades and overshadowed the original intent of the monument.
” Even as the tides of history threaten to engulf Columbus , fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovering ” America are fighting to preserve his legacy .
In July , five of the largest Italian American organizations founded the National Columbus Education Foundation with the aim of “ correcting the false narrative about Christopher Columbus.
” “ Up until now , critics of Columbus have refused to have an open discussion and based their vitriolic attacks on one or two accounts of Columbus ’ life written hundreds of years ago by people with their own agendas , and we think that ought to be corrected , ” John Viola , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
“ At this critical moment in American social history , if we really want to correct historical wrongs , then we can ’ t perform that delicate surgery by chopping at it with a blunt axe , and that is what is happening.
” The Knights of Columbus , a Catholic men ’ s service group , premiered Sunday “ Courage and Conviction : The True Story of Christopher Columbus , ” a 28-minute documentary narrated by actor Chazz Palminteri , which discusses the explorer ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as his deep desire to bring all nations to Christ.
” “ Finally , the film addresses the current indictments against Christopher Columbus with boldness and exposes the motives behind the attacks of revisionist historians , ” said the press release .
“ Courage and Conviction shows why Christopher Columbus remains not only a man worthy of admiration , but a noble icon of what it means to be a Catholic and an American.
” In their corner is President Trump , whose Columbus Day proclamation hailed the navigator ’ s achievements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists [ who ] have sought to undermine Christopher Columbus ’ s legacy.
” Even where Columbus Day is still celebrated , the holiday has frequently been reframed to place the emphasis on Italian-American heritage versus Columbus himself .
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio , who was in Massachusetts and did not attend the Cabrini statue ceremony , gave a shout-out on social media to Italian American Heritage Month as well as American Indians , with no mention of Columbus .
“ Today we also recognize this land ’ s Indigenous people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While we can never fully make amends for their unimaginable suffering , we can commit to investing in the communities and respecting the nations that were forever changed.
” Not so Mr. Cuomo , who served as grand marshal of the celebration and wished everyone a “ Happy Columbus Day.
” “ Today is Columbus Day , so we celebrate the Italian legacy as beautiful as it is , ” he said .

His statues have been toppled and his holiday increasingly displaced by Indigenous Peoples Day, but Christopher Columbus still has plenty of Italian American fans, who refused Monday to be shut down by the protests or the pandemic.
In New York, the Columbus Citizens Foundation replaced its annual extravaganza with a “virtual parade,” an Italian Heritage & Achievement event featuring Gov. Andrew Cuomo that culminated in the unveiling of a statue of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, also known as Mother Cabrini, in Battery Park.
“I’m so happy that this day has finally arrived,” said the foundation’s chairman, Angelo Vivolo, as shown on WABC-TV. “Ordinarily, we would be marching in the joyful Columbus Day parade looking at the bands that play and floats that come up Fifth Avenue, but this year we’re celebrating differently. We’re celebrating our heritage by honoring a remarkable Italian woman of faith.”
In Chicago, the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans replaced its parade with a scaled-down, socially distanced celebration that included a wreath-laying, car procession, Mass and “Proud and Positive” rally at Little Italy’s Arrigo Park, the former site of a Columbus statue.
Why former? In July, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered three Columbus memorials temporarily removed for public safety reasons after protesters sought to pull down the statues. In a melee that ensued at the statue in Grant Park, 49 officers and four demonstrators were injured.
The Joint Civic Committee sent a letter Friday asking the mayor to restore the Columbus memorials, but Ms. Lightfoot said the city is taking an inventory of its monuments and studying “ways in which we can do a better job reflecting Chicago’s history.”
Certainly the Genovese navigator, viewed by his supporters as a courageous explorer and his critics as the colonizer responsible for bringing disease and slavery to the Americas, has had a rough summer.
An estimated 33 Columbus statues were pulled down or deliberately removed by local governments during the rioting sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, the latest episode in a nearly 30-year campaign to consign the explorer to the ash heap of history.
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia now observe Indigenous Peoples Day or Native Americans’ Day along with, or instead of, Columbus Day, as do an estimated 130 cities, starting with Berkeley, California, in 1992. However, Columbus Day is still a federal holiday observed on the second Monday of October.
In Portland, Oregon, protesters held an “Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage” ahead of Columbus Day that devolved into a riot. Vandals pulling down statues not of Columbus — who doesn’t have a public sculpture in Portland — but of former Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Demonstrators held a march Sunday in Boston demanding that the city replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day and permanently remove the Columbus statue at Waterfront Park that was taken down after vandals beheaded it in June.
“City by city, town by town, Christopher Columbus has to come down,” the protesters chanted, according to WBUR-FM.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ben Walsh announced Friday that Syracuse, New York, would remove its downtown Columbus statue and rename Columbus Circle, where the statue has stood since 1934.
“This space should be both a tribute to Italian Americans and a place of healing at which we celebrate our shared accomplishments,” Mr. Walsh said in a statement. “This decision is based on the fact that we can honor our Italian American community without focusing on a statue that has become the source of division over decades and overshadowed the original intent of the monument.”
Knights of Columbus
Even as the tides of history threaten to engulf Columbus, fans of the explorer long credited with “discovering” America are fighting to preserve his legacy.
In July, five of the largest Italian American organizations founded the National Columbus Education Foundation with the aim of “correcting the false narrative about Christopher Columbus.”
“Up until now, critics of Columbus have refused to have an open discussion and based their vitriolic attacks on one or two accounts of Columbus’ life written hundreds of years ago by people with their own agendas, and we think that ought to be corrected,” John Viola, the foundation’s executive director, said in a statement. “At this critical moment in American social history, if we really want to correct historical wrongs, then we can’t perform that delicate surgery by chopping at it with a blunt axe, and that is what is happening.”
The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men’s service group, premiered Sunday “Courage and Conviction: The True Story of Christopher Columbus,” a 28-minute documentary narrated by actor Chazz Palminteri, which discusses the explorer’s “remarkable genius as a sea navigator as well as his deep desire to bring all nations to Christ.”
“Finally, the film addresses the current indictments against Christopher Columbus with boldness and exposes the motives behind the attacks of revisionist historians,” said the press release. “Courage and Conviction shows why Christopher Columbus remains not only a man worthy of admiration, but a noble icon of what it means to be a Catholic and an American.”
In their corner is President Trump, whose Columbus Day proclamation hailed the navigator’s achievements and took a swipe at “radical activists [who] have sought to undermine Christopher Columbus’s legacy.”
Even where Columbus Day is still celebrated, the holiday has frequently been reframed to place the emphasis on Italian-American heritage versus Columbus himself.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was in Massachusetts and did not attend the Cabrini statue ceremony, gave a shout-out on social media to Italian American Heritage Month as well as American Indians, with no mention of Columbus.
“Today we also recognize this land’s Indigenous people,” tweeted the mayor. “While we can never fully make amends for their unimaginable suffering, we can commit to investing in the communities and respecting the nations that were forever changed.”
Not so Mr. Cuomo, who served as grand marshal of the celebration and wished everyone a “Happy Columbus Day.”
“Today is Columbus Day, so we celebrate the Italian legacy as beautiful as it is,” he said.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Judge rejects council member's effort to halt recall

SEATTLE ( AP ) - A King County judge has rejected Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant ’ s effort to stop a recall attempt against her from moving forward .
Sawant had appealed a decision by Superior Court Judge Jim Rogers that said some of her recent actions crossed the threshold to initiate a recall .
On Monday , Rogers in a five-page ruling reiterated his earlier finding that four of the six charges leveled against Sawant are both specific enough and sufficient to permit the process to continue , and denied Sawant ’ s motion for reconsideration in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ruling means that the recall effort against Sawant can proceed .
Sawant , a socialist and vocal proponent of cutting Seattle ’ s police budget , also has appealed Rogers ’ earlier ruling to the state Supreme Court , which has not made a decision or said they will accept the case .
A group of Seattle residents is pushing for the Sawant recall , alleging violations including when she allowed demonstrators into City Hall during a nighttime protest in June and spoke at a protest at Mayor Jenny Durkan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city resources to promote a ballot initiative and delegated employment decisions in her office to her political party .
Rogers ’ role is to assume the charges against Sawant are true and to determine whether they are specific and serious enough to merit a recall .
Dmitri Iglitzin , Sawant ’ s attorney , said previously in arguments that Sawant has been elected three times , most recently less than a year ago , and said the recall petitioners were trying to redo those elections because they disagree with her politics .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Sawant ’ s legal defense in the matter .

SEATTLE (AP) - A King County judge has rejected Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant’s effort to stop a recall attempt against her from moving forward.
Sawant had appealed a decision by Superior Court Judge Jim Rogers that said some of her recent actions crossed the threshold to initiate a recall.
On Monday, Rogers in a five-page ruling reiterated his earlier finding that four of the six charges leveled against Sawant are both specific enough and sufficient to permit the process to continue, and denied Sawant’s motion for reconsideration in its entirety, news outlets reported. The ruling means that the recall effort against Sawant can proceed.
Sawant, a socialist and vocal proponent of cutting Seattle’s police budget, also has appealed Rogers’ earlier ruling to the state Supreme Court, which has not made a decision or said they will accept the case.
A group of Seattle residents is pushing for the Sawant recall, alleging violations including when she allowed demonstrators into City Hall during a nighttime protest in June and spoke at a protest at Mayor Jenny Durkan’s house.
They also say she used city resources to promote a ballot initiative and delegated employment decisions in her office to her political party.
Rogers’ role is to assume the charges against Sawant are true and to determine whether they are specific and serious enough to merit a recall.
Dmitri Iglitzin, Sawant’s attorney, said previously in arguments that Sawant has been elected three times, most recently less than a year ago, and said the recall petitioners were trying to redo those elections because they disagree with her politics.
The Seattle City Council has voted to pay for Sawant’s legal defense in the matter.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Tennessee officials investigating fatal shooting by police

BETHEL SPRINGS , Tenn. ( AP ) - A man who led police through two counties was fatally wounded by an officer Monday , officials in Tennessee said .
Anthony Jones , 24 , was shot in McNairy County after police in Henderson in neighboring Chester County tried to stop the vehicle Jones was driving , the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said .
Police received a call about a possible impaired driver and located the vehicle shortly after 1 a.m. Jones led officers on a pursuit that reached speeds of more than 100 mph ( 160 kph ) , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Bethel Springs , got out of the vehicle “ and portrayed , with actions and statements , to have a firearm , ” the TBI said .
He disregarded verbal commands from two Henderson officers , and an electroshock weapon was ineffective , a TBI news release said .
One of the officers fired two shots , hitting Jones , the release said .
He died at a hospital in Corinth , Mississippi .
No firearm was recovered at the scene .
The vehicle Jones was driving had been reported stolen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not identified by TBI .
The agency did not immediately respond to an email seeking information about the race of the officers and Jones .

BETHEL SPRINGS, Tenn. (AP) - A man who led police through two counties was fatally wounded by an officer Monday, officials in Tennessee said.
Anthony Jones, 24, was shot in McNairy County after police in Henderson in neighboring Chester County tried to stop the vehicle Jones was driving, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.
Police received a call about a possible impaired driver and located the vehicle shortly after 1 a.m. Jones led officers on a pursuit that reached speeds of more than 100 mph (160 kph), the TBI said.
Jones wrecked the vehicle in Bethel Springs, got out of the vehicle “and portrayed, with actions and statements, to have a firearm,” the TBI said. He disregarded verbal commands from two Henderson officers, and an electroshock weapon was ineffective, a TBI news release said.
One of the officers fired two shots, hitting Jones, the release said. He died at a hospital in Corinth, Mississippi. No firearm was recovered at the scene.
The vehicle Jones was driving had been reported stolen, the TBI said.
No officers were injured.
The officers involved were not identified by TBI. The agency did not immediately respond to an email seeking information about the race of the officers and Jones.


washingtontimes--2020-10-12--Nevada voters receive election materials with minor errors

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Election officials in two rural Nevada counties mailed voting materials to all active voters in their jurisdictions that contained proofreading errors .
Neither error will affect eligibility or election procedures , state election officials said .
In Humboldt County , the return envelope sent to voters along with their ballots contained a reference to “ White Pine County , ” KOLO 8 News Now reported Friday .
In Lyon County , the ballot instructions erroneously stated that only a voter or designated family member could return a ballot on someone ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were sent to more than 47,000 voters due to a new law passed by the Legislature directing election officials to mail ballots to all active voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election .
The law was designed to accommodate voters reluctant to vote in person amid the pandemic and , after its passage , became ensnared in partisan controversy .
Republicans , all the way up to President Donald Trump , blasted the Democratic-controlled Legislature for what they called an unnecessary change .
They said a provision that expanded who could collect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s behalf would lead to so-called “ ballot harvesting ” and could compromise the election ’ s integrity .
County clerks accustomed to relatively few requests for mail-in ballots have had to adjust their procedures as they prepare to send more than 3 million to voters throughout the state .
In Humboldt County , 8,144 ballots were mailed to active voters who had registered by Sept. 18 .
Humboldt County Clerk Tami Rae Spero said Pro-Vote , the vendor it contracts with the print election materials , had provided a template for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process , she had missed one reference to White Pine County .
“ We didn ’ t catch that reference in the affirmation language .
It was a really busy week , ” Spero said .
All other references to Humboldt County - both on the ballot and return envelope - are correct .
Voters can use the envelopes without fear of having their ballots disqualified , Spero said .
They can chose to scratch out and write “ Humboldt County ” on their return envelopes , but don ’ t have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replacement envelopes to all voters “ early next week , ” Spero said .
Humboldt County voters can also bring their ballots to the county clerk and request an “ in house ” envelope or vote in-person , either early or on Election Day , Spero said .
In Lyon County , 38,907 ballots were sent to voters in late September .
The ballots and return envelopes contain no errors , but an accompanying ballot instruction sheet contained outdated information on who is eligible to collect and return a ballot on another voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nikki Bryan said she had missed the instructions when she approved the proof copy sent to KHN , the Washington state-based company the county uses to print ballots .
The instructions state that only a voter or designated family member can return a ballot on someone ’ s behalf , reflecting Nevada law before the Legislature revised it in August .
Under the new rules , designated individuals can return ballots on other voters ’ behalf regardless of if they are family members or not .
Bryan said new ballot instructions were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske acknowledged the errors on Monday and assured voters that neither would affect their ability to vote , either in person or by mail .
“ The ballot material errors in these two counties have no effect on whether their mail ballot will be accepted and counted , ” she said in a statement .
“ The mail ballots that were sent to registered voters in both counties are accurate and can be used by those voters if they want to vote by mail.
” Sam Metz is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Election officials in two rural Nevada counties mailed voting materials to all active voters in their jurisdictions that contained proofreading errors. Neither error will affect eligibility or election procedures, state election officials said.
In Humboldt County, the return envelope sent to voters along with their ballots contained a reference to “White Pine County,” KOLO 8 News Now reported Friday. In Lyon County, the ballot instructions erroneously stated that only a voter or designated family member could return a ballot on someone’s behalf.
The voting materials containing errors were sent to more than 47,000 voters due to a new law passed by the Legislature directing election officials to mail ballots to all active voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
The law was designed to accommodate voters reluctant to vote in person amid the pandemic and, after its passage, became ensnared in partisan controversy.
Republicans, all the way up to President Donald Trump, blasted the Democratic-controlled Legislature for what they called an unnecessary change. They said a provision that expanded who could collect and return a ballot on a voter’s behalf would lead to so-called “ballot harvesting” and could compromise the election’s integrity.
County clerks accustomed to relatively few requests for mail-in ballots have had to adjust their procedures as they prepare to send more than 3 million to voters throughout the state.
In Humboldt County, 8,144 ballots were mailed to active voters who had registered by Sept. 18.
Humboldt County Clerk Tami Rae Spero said Pro-Vote, the vendor it contracts with the print election materials, had provided a template for the return envelopes and, in the review process, she had missed one reference to White Pine County.
“We didn’t catch that reference in the affirmation language. It was a really busy week,” Spero said.
All other references to Humboldt County - both on the ballot and return envelope - are correct. Voters can use the envelopes without fear of having their ballots disqualified, Spero said. They can chose to scratch out and write “Humboldt County” on their return envelopes, but don’t have to. Additionally, Humboldt County will send replacement envelopes to all voters “early next week,” Spero said.
Humboldt County voters can also bring their ballots to the county clerk and request an “in house” envelope or vote in-person, either early or on Election Day, Spero said.
In Lyon County, 38,907 ballots were sent to voters in late September. The ballots and return envelopes contain no errors, but an accompanying ballot instruction sheet contained outdated information on who is eligible to collect and return a ballot on another voter’s behalf.
Lyon County Clerk Nikki Bryan said she had missed the instructions when she approved the proof copy sent to KHN, the Washington state-based company the county uses to print ballots.
The instructions state that only a voter or designated family member can return a ballot on someone’s behalf, reflecting Nevada law before the Legislature revised it in August. Under the new rules, designated individuals can return ballots on other voters’ behalf regardless of if they are family members or not.
Bryan said new ballot instructions were being sent to voters on Monday and Tuesday.
Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske acknowledged the errors on Monday and assured voters that neither would affect their ability to vote, either in person or by mail.
“The ballot material errors in these two counties have no effect on whether their mail ballot will be accepted and counted,” she said in a statement. “The mail ballots that were sent to registered voters in both counties are accurate and can be used by those voters if they want to vote by mail.”
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.