washingtontimes--2020-11-23--French ex-President Sarkozy stands trial for corruption

PARIS ( AP ) - Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy went on trial Monday on charges of corruption and influence peddling in a phone-tapping scandal , a first for the 65-year-old politician who has faced several other judicial investigations since leaving office in 2012 .
Sarkozy is being accused of having tried to illegally obtain information from a magistrate about an investigation involving him in 2014 .
He stands trial in a Paris court along with his lawyer Thierry Herzog , 65 , and the magistrate , Gilbert Azibert , 73 .
They face a prison sentence of up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million euros ( $ 1.2 million ) .
They deny any wrongdoing .
Sarkozy and Herzog are suspected of promising Azibert a job in Monaco in exchange for leaking information about an investigation into suspected illegal financing of the 2007 presidential campaign by France ’ s richest woman , L ’ Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt .
Sarkozy arrived at the court surrounded by his lawyers and bodyguards , in the presence of dozens of journalists .
The Paris court has been placed under high security as hearings in the case , scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time as another key trial - that of the 2015 attacks at the Charlie Hebdo offices and a kosher supermarket .
Sarkoy ’ s trial started Monday afternoon in the absence of Azibert .
His lawyer told news broadcaster BFM TV that he intends to request the postponement of the trial , arguing his client ’ s bad health makes it risky for him to travel and appear in court amid the coronavirus pandemic .
In 2014 , Sarkozy and Herzog used secret mobile phones - registered to the alias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be be able to have private talks as they feared their conversations were being tapped .
Sarkozy and Herzog explained that they bought the phones to avoid being targeted by illegal phone tapping .
Investigative judges , however , suspect they actually wanted to avoid being tapped by investigators .
Judges have found that discussions between Sarkozy and his lawyer suggested they had knowledge that judicial investigators at the time tapped their conversations on their official phones - they mentioned “ judges listening.
” Sarkozy argued that he never intervened to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and retired in 2014 .
Investigative judges consider that as soon as a deal has been offered , it constitutes a criminal offence even if the promises haven ’ t been fulfilled .
Legal proceedings against Sarkozy have been dropped in the Bettencourt case .
Sarkozy , a lawyer by training , pointed at judicial harassment , accusing judges of breaching lawyer-client privilege via wiretapping .
“ I don ’ t want things that I didn ’ t do to be held against me .
The French need to know… that I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told BFM TV earlier this month .
He said he was facing the trial in a “ combative ” mood .
Sarkozy ’ s predecessor , Jacques Chirac , was found guilty in 2011 of misuse of public money , breach of trust and conflict of interest and given a two-year suspended prison sentence for actions during his time as Paris mayor , before he was president from 1995 to 2007 .
Sarkozy ’ s name has appeared for years in several other judicial investigations .
Allegations , which include illegal financing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moammar Gadhafi , cast a shadow over Sarkozy ’ s comeback attempt for the 2017 presidential election .
After failing to be chosen as candidate by his conservative party , he withdrew from active politics .
Sarkozy remained the most popular figure amid French right-wing voters in recent years .
His memoirs published this summer , “ The Time of Storms , ” was a bestseller for weeks .
Sarkozy was handled preliminary charges including “ illegal campaign financing ” in the Libyan investigation , which has been underway since 2013 - and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this month , French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine retracted his previous statements that he delivered suitcases from Libya containing 5 million euros ( $ 5.9 million ) in cash to Sarkozy and his former chief of staff , Claude Gueant .
Instead , he told news broadcaster BFM and magazine Paris-Match that there were “ no Libyan financing.
” Sarkozy said that the truth “ finally comes out.
” Meanwhile , the former president will stand another trial in spring 2021 along with 13 other people on charges of illegal financing of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a company named Bygmalion are accused of using a special invoice system to conceal unauthorized overspending .
They are suspected of having spent 42.8 million euros ( $ 50.7 million ) , almost twice the maximum authorized , to finance the campaign , which ended up in victory for Socialist rival Francois Hollande .

PARIS (AP) - Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy went on trial Monday on charges of corruption and influence peddling in a phone-tapping scandal, a first for the 65-year-old politician who has faced several other judicial investigations since leaving office in 2012.
Sarkozy is being accused of having tried to illegally obtain information from a magistrate about an investigation involving him in 2014.
He stands trial in a Paris court along with his lawyer Thierry Herzog, 65, and the magistrate, Gilbert Azibert, 73. They face a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of 1 million euros ($1.2 million). They deny any wrongdoing.
Sarkozy and Herzog are suspected of promising Azibert a job in Monaco in exchange for leaking information about an investigation into suspected illegal financing of the 2007 presidential campaign by France’s richest woman, L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt.
Sarkozy arrived at the court surrounded by his lawyers and bodyguards, in the presence of dozens of journalists. The Paris court has been placed under high security as hearings in the case, scheduled until Dec. 10, are taking place at the same time as another key trial - that of the 2015 attacks at the Charlie Hebdo offices and a kosher supermarket.
Sarkoy’s trial started Monday afternoon in the absence of Azibert. His lawyer told news broadcaster BFM TV that he intends to request the postponement of the trial, arguing his client’s bad health makes it risky for him to travel and appear in court amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2014, Sarkozy and Herzog used secret mobile phones - registered to the alias name of “Paul Bismuth” - to be be able to have private talks as they feared their conversations were being tapped.
Sarkozy and Herzog explained that they bought the phones to avoid being targeted by illegal phone tapping. Investigative judges, however, suspect they actually wanted to avoid being tapped by investigators.
Judges have found that discussions between Sarkozy and his lawyer suggested they had knowledge that judicial investigators at the time tapped their conversations on their official phones - they mentioned “judges listening.”
Sarkozy argued that he never intervened to help Azibert, who never got the job and retired in 2014.
Investigative judges consider that as soon as a deal has been offered, it constitutes a criminal offence even if the promises haven’t been fulfilled.
Legal proceedings against Sarkozy have been dropped in the Bettencourt case.
Sarkozy, a lawyer by training, pointed at judicial harassment, accusing judges of breaching lawyer-client privilege via wiretapping.
“I don’t want things that I didn’t do to be held against me. The French need to know… that I’m not a rotten person,” he told BFM TV earlier this month.
He said he was facing the trial in a “combative” mood.
Sarkozy’s predecessor, Jacques Chirac, was found guilty in 2011 of misuse of public money, breach of trust and conflict of interest and given a two-year suspended prison sentence for actions during his time as Paris mayor, before he was president from 1995 to 2007.
Sarkozy’s name has appeared for years in several other judicial investigations.
Allegations, which include illegal financing of his 2007 campaign by then-Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, cast a shadow over Sarkozy’s comeback attempt for the 2017 presidential election.
After failing to be chosen as candidate by his conservative party, he withdrew from active politics.
Sarkozy remained the most popular figure amid French right-wing voters in recent years. His memoirs published this summer, “The Time of Storms,” was a bestseller for weeks.
Sarkozy was handled preliminary charges including “illegal campaign financing” in the Libyan investigation, which has been underway since 2013 - and prompted the wiretapping of his phones.
Earlier this month, French-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine retracted his previous statements that he delivered suitcases from Libya containing 5 million euros ($5.9 million) in cash to Sarkozy and his former chief of staff, Claude Gueant.
Instead, he told news broadcaster BFM and magazine Paris-Match that there were “no Libyan financing.”
Sarkozy said that the truth “finally comes out.”
Meanwhile, the former president will stand another trial in spring 2021 along with 13 other people on charges of illegal financing of his 2012 presidential campaign.
His conservative party and a company named Bygmalion are accused of using a special invoice system to conceal unauthorized overspending.
They are suspected of having spent 42.8 million euros ($50.7 million), almost twice the maximum authorized, to finance the campaign, which ended up in victory for Socialist rival Francois Hollande.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Air quality up in some EU cities during pandemic lockdown

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - Air quality significantly improved in European metropolitan areas such as Milan and Madrid because of lockdown restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic , European Union officials said Monday .
The improvements were particularly notable for the pollutant nitrogen dioxide ( NO2 ) and fine particulate matter , which both can have a serious impact on people ’ s health .
An EU report on air quality published Monday showed that among metropolitan areas with the largest NO2 concentrations , Barcelona ’ s levels sank by 59 % during the early spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels in Madrid dropped by 47 % .
In Italy , NO2 pollution in Milan fell by 54 % and in Rome by 39 % .
Levels in many other metropolitan areas across Europe , especially western Germany , Belgium and the Netherlands , also dropped by significant margins .
“ Now we realize that this is , of course , temporary and that we should not be reaching air quality standards by locking down society , ” said Hans Bruyninckx , the executive director of the European Environmental Agency .
“ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep pushing quality standards and if we can keep innovating in those sectors , that indeed serious benefits to society , to human health are there , ” he added .
Lockdown measures in several EU member states during the first wave of the pandemic had a major impact on economic activity , dramatically reducing road and air transport plus shipping .
That all affected the air quality in the regions .

BRUSSELS (AP) - Air quality significantly improved in European metropolitan areas such as Milan and Madrid because of lockdown restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, European Union officials said Monday.
The improvements were particularly notable for the pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter, which both can have a serious impact on people’s health.
An EU report on air quality published Monday showed that among metropolitan areas with the largest NO2 concentrations, Barcelona’s levels sank by 59% during the early spring compared to the year before. NO2 levels in Madrid dropped by 47%.
In Italy, NO2 pollution in Milan fell by 54% and in Rome by 39%. Levels in many other metropolitan areas across Europe, especially western Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, also dropped by significant margins.
“Now we realize that this is, of course, temporary and that we should not be reaching air quality standards by locking down society,” said Hans Bruyninckx, the executive director of the European Environmental Agency.
“”But it indicates that if we can keep pushing quality standards and if we can keep innovating in those sectors, that indeed serious benefits to society, to human health are there,” he added.
Lockdown measures in several EU member states during the first wave of the pandemic had a major impact on economic activity, dramatically reducing road and air transport plus shipping. That all affected the air quality in the regions.
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Group gathers outside Sununu's home to protest mask mandate

CONCORD , N.H. ( AP ) - At least 100 people protested New Hampshire Republican Gov .
Chris Sununu ‘ s mask mandate , chanting “ Breathe free or die , ” and “ We will not comply , ” outside his home in Newfields .
Sununu issued an executive order that took effect Friday requiring masks to be worn in public spaces , indoors or outside , when social distancing isn ’ t possible .
Seacoastonline.com reports protest organizer Frank Staples , working with a group called Absolute Defiance , was asked Sunday why the protest was held outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Statehouse .
“ The Statehouse is closed , ” Staples said .
“ He has shut everything down and is running the government from his house , so right now this is the Statehouse .
We will be here every weekend till he ends his executive orders and the state of emergency.
” It wasn ’ t known if Sununu was home at the time .
Sununu had resisted calls for a statewide mandate , even as surrounding states enacted similar measures .
He said last week a mandate was appropriate given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the fact that the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has doubled in the last two weeks , new outbreaks at five nursing homes and an “ incredibly alarming rate ” of asymptomatic community transmission .

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Families receiving food stamps won’t get a boost from New Hampshire’s federal coronavirus relief aid.
The state has allocated all but $991,120 of the $1.25 billion it received. Any funds not allocated by Dec. 31 must be returned to Washington, but that won’t happen, the head of the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery told a legislative advisory panel Monday. Whatever is left as the deadline nears will be put into the state’s unemployment trust fund, Taylor Caswell said.
“The bottom line is we are squarely on track to spend these funds down to the penny,” said Caswell, commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs.
Democrats on the panel wanted to use the remaining money for the food stamps program instead, but were defeated 4-3. They unsuccessfully argued that shifting the balance to the food stamps program would be easy to do within the existing structure and that the unemployment system would be more likely to benefit from any future federal aid packages.
“People not being able to eat, that’s a significant concern,” said Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, D-Manchester.
Republican lawmakers shared the concern but raised questions about whether recipients would be forced to return any money that wasn’t spent by the end of the year. Caswell suggested it was too late to change course.
“There are many causes and organizations that are in a difficult place that haven’t seen relief funds or have a developing financial need,” he said. “But the fact is these funds must be spoken for by Dec 30, and we are driven to meet that deadline and not return any funds to Washington.”
In other coronavirus-related developments:
ANTI-MASK PROTEST
At least 100 people protested New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s mask requirement, chanting “Breathe free or die” and “We will not comply” outside the Republican’s home in Newfields.
Sununu issued an executive order that took effect Friday requiring masks to be worn in public spaces, indoors or outside, when social distancing isn’t possible.
Seacoastonline.com reports protest organizer Frank Staples, working with a group called Absolute Defiance, was asked Sunday why the protest was held outside Sununu’s home rather than at the Statehouse.
“The Statehouse is closed,” Staples said. “He has shut everything down and is running the government from his house, so right now this is the Statehouse. We will be here every weekend till he ends his executive orders and the state of emergency.”
It wasn’t known if Sununu was home at the time.
Sununu had resisted calls for a statewide mandate, even as surrounding states enacted similar measures.
He said last week a mandate was appropriate, given the rising percentage of positive test results, the fact that the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has doubled in the past two weeks, new outbreaks at five nursing homes, and an “incredibly alarming rate” of community transmission by people who aren’t showing symptoms.
The order expires Jan. 15.
___
THE NUMBERS
More than 18,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in New Hampshire since the start of the pandemic, including 445 new cases announced Monday. The number of deaths remained at 512.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Hampshire has risen over the past two weeks from 182 on Nov. 8 to 418 on Sunday.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--US tells GM to recall nearly 6M trucks with Takata inflators

DETROIT ( AP ) - The U.S. is making General Motors recall and repair nearly 6 million big pickup trucks and SUVs equipped with potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators .
The decision announced Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will cost the automaker an estimated $ 1.2 billion , about one third of its net income this year .
GM had petitioned the agency four times starting in 2016 to avoid a recall , contending the air bag inflator canisters have been safe on the road and in testing .
But owners responded by accusing the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to fill air bags in a crash .
But the chemical can deteriorate when exposed to heat and humidity and explode with too much force , blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel .
Twenty-seven people have been killed worldwide by the exploding inflators including 18 in the U.S .
It took the agency more than four years to arrive at its decision , which comes toward the end of President Donald Trump ’ s four-year term .
Twenty-seven people , including 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hundreds injured by Takata inflators worldwide .

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. is making General Motors recall and repair nearly 6 million big pickup trucks and SUVs equipped with potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators.
The decision announced Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will cost the automaker an estimated $1.2 billion, about one third of its net income this year.
GM had petitioned the agency four times starting in 2016 to avoid a recall, contending the air bag inflator canisters have been safe on the road and in testing. But owners say the company has placed a priority on profits, not safety.
Exploding Takata inflators caused the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 63 million inflators recalled. The U.S. government says that as of September, more than 11.1 million had not been fixed. About 100 million inflators have been recalled worldwide.
The recall covers GM full-size pickup trucks and SUVs from the 2007 through 2014 model years, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups. The Silverado is GM’s top-selling vehicle and the second-best selling vehicle in the U.S. Also covered are the Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe and Avalanche, the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, and the GMC Yukon.
Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to fill air bags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate when exposed to heat and humidity and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.
Twenty-seven people have been killed worldwide by the exploding inflators including 18 in the U.S.
It took the agency more than four years to arrive at its decision, which comes toward the end of President Donald Trump’s four-year term.
NHTSA said in a prepared statement that it analyzed all available data on the air bags, including engineering and statistical analyses, aging tests and field data.
“Based on this information and information provided to the petition’s public docket, NHTSA concluded that the GM inflators in question are at risk of the same type of explosion after long-term exposure to high heat and humidity as other recalled Takata inflators,” the agency said.
The company has 30 days to give NHTSA a proposed schedule for notifying vehicle owners and starting the recall, the statement said.
GM said that although it believes a recall isn’t warranted based on the factual and scientific records, it will abide by NHTSA’s decision.
The safety and trust of those who drive our vehicles is at the forefront of everything we do at General Motors,” the company said in a prepared statement.
The decision means that all Takata ammonium nitrate inflators in the U.S. will be recalled, NHTSA said. Earlier this year the agency decided not to seek a recall of inflators with a moisture-absorbing chemical called a dessicant. But NHTSA said it would monitor those inflators and take action if a problem arose.
In a 2019 petition to NHTSA, GM said the inflators were designed to its specifications and are safe, with no explosions even though nearly 67,000 air bags have deployed in the field.
But Takata declared the GM front passenger inflators defective under a 2015 agreement with the government.
In its petition, GM said that Northrop Grumman tested 4,270 inflators by artificially exposing them to added humidity and temperature cycling, and there were no explosions or abnormal deployments. It says GM has “established that worse-than-worst-case humidity exposure and temperature cycling will not cause inflator ruptures … at any point within even unrealistically conservative vehicle service life estimates.”
Drivers can check to see if their vehicles have been recalled by going to https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and keying in their 17-digit vehicle identification number.
The recalls drove Japan’s Takata into bankruptcy and brought criminal charges against the company. Eventually it was purchased by a Chinese-owned auto parts supplier.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--US tells GM to recall and repair up to 6 million trucks with Takata inflators

DETROIT ( AP ) - US tells GM to recall and repair up to 6 million trucks with Takata inflators @

DETROIT (AP) - US tells GM to recall and repair up to 6 million trucks with Takata inflators.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Man leaves $3K tip for a beer as restaurant closes for virus

CLEVELAND ( AP ) - A customer left a $ 3,000 tip for a single beer as a restaurant voluntarily @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The man walked in Sunday , ordered the beer and asked for the @ @ @ @ @ $ 7.02 , Nighttown owner Brendan Ring wrote on Facebook .
Ring said the man @ @ @ @ @ him to share the tip with the four employees who were working brunch service .
@ @ @ @ @ , Ring wrote , he looked down at the tip and “ realized he left @ @ @ @ @ “ I ran after him and he said no mistake we will see you when @ @ @ @ @ said he would not post the customer ’ s name because he thinks the man @ @ @ @ @ .
The owner said he and his serving staff were “ humbly grateful for this @ @ @ @ @ .
”

CLEVELAND (AP) - A customer left a $3,000 tip for a single beer as a restaurant voluntarily closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The man walked into Nighttown on Sunday in Cleveland, ordered the beer and asked for the check, which came to $7.02, owner Brendan Ring wrote on Facebook.
Ring said the man wished him well and told him to share the tip with the four employees who were working brunch service.
As the man walked out, Ring wrote, he looked down at the tip and “realized he left a whopping $3,000.”
“I ran after him and he said no mistake we will see you when you reopen!”
Ring said he would not post the customer’s name because he thinks the man wouldn’t want that.
The owner said he and his serving staff were “humbly grateful for this incredibly kind and grand gesture.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Navajo Nation reports peak high of 383 new COVID-19 cases

WINDOW ROCK , Ariz. ( AP ) - The Navajo Nation is reporting 383 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 , an all-time high for the vast reservation .
Tribal health officials on Sunday announced the latest daily figure of new cases as well as five more coronavirus-related deaths .
The total number of known cases now stands at 15,039 , including 42 delayed reported cases .
The death toll for the Navajo Nation is now up to 631 .
Tribal health officials said 147,793 people have been tested for COVID-19 since the pandemic started and 8,131 have recovered .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home order .
Only essential workers are allowed to come and go .
Others are permitted to travel in cases of emergency or for essentials .
President Jonathan Nez is urging households not to have anyone over during the Thanksgiving holiday .
The coronavirus has affected 29 communities throughout the reservation , which spans more than 27,000 square miles ( 70,000 square kilometers ) in parts of Arizona , New Mexico and Utah .
Most people experience mild or moderate symptoms with the coronavirus , such as fever and cough that clear up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - The Navajo Nation is reporting 197 additional COVID-19 cases and no deaths from the virus as of Monday evening.
A day earlier, officials had reported 383 cases, an all-time high for the vast reservation.
In all, the tribe has reported more than 15,000 cases of the virus and 631 deaths since the pandemic began.
The Navajo Nation is currently under a three-week stay-at-home order. Only essential workers are allowed to come and go. Others are permitted to travel in cases of emergency or for essentials.
President Jonathan Nez is urging households not to have anyone over during the Thanksgiving holiday.
The coronavirus has affected 29 communities throughout the reservation, which spans more than 27,000 square miles (70,000 square kilometers) in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Most people experience mild or moderate symptoms with the coronavirus, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Maine wants wreath hangers to spread joy, not pests

AUGUSTA , Maine ( AP ) - Maine forestry officials are asking residents to take precautions this holiday season to @ @ @ @ @ when shipping items such as trees and wreaths .
Maine , the Pine Tree State @ @ @ @ @ holiday cheer in a few weeks , and that raises the possibility of abetting pests @ @ @ @ @ a ride on wreaths , holiday plants , firewood and elsewhere , the Maine Department @ @ @ @ @ Forestry said .
The department has asked residents to carefully inspect plant materials , check @ @ @ @ @ source firewood as close to where it will be burned as possible .
The department @ @ @ @ @ its website .
Maine ’ s forest products industry is vulnerable to invasive pests , @ @ @ @ @ of trees .

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine forestry officials are asking residents to take precautions this holiday season to prevent the spread of pests when shipping items such as trees and wreaths.
Maine, the Pine Tree State, will be alive with holiday cheer in a few weeks, and that raises the possibility of abetting pests. Invasive pests can hitch a ride on wreaths, holiday plants, firewood and elsewhere, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said.
The department has asked residents to carefully inspect plant materials, check state-by-state plant material regulations and source firewood as close to where it will be burned as possible. The department has detailed other precautions on its website.
Maine’s forest products industry is vulnerable to invasive pests, which can ruin important species of trees.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Hawaii island group distributes $7.5M in virus housing aid

HONOLULU ( AP ) - A group of Hawaii island organizations has distributed $ 7.5 million in federal funds to help pay rent and mortgages for 1,322 households during the COVID-19 economic and health crisis , officials said .
The organizations used their backgrounds in homeless assistance and disaster response to establish uniform applications and coordinate to prevent duplication and delays in distribution of federal coronavirus recovery funds , The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Sunday .
The organizations include Hawaiian Community Assets , Hawaii Community Lending , Hawaii First Federal Credit Union , Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island , HOPE Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Neighborhood Place of Puna .
“ We can not leave money on the table , ” said Brandee Menino , chairwoman of Bridging the Gap , an organization working with island agencies to distribute the rent and mortgage relief .
“ We don ’ t want to give any of it back to the state or to the feds.
” Each organization is eligible to use 15 % of its allotment of $ 10.9 million in federal funds for staff and operational costs .
To help respond to the volume of Hawaii @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , county officials issued an additional $ 1 million in federal funds Friday and plan to provide $ 1.4 million more this week , said Sharon Hirota , an executive assistant to Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim .
The additional money will help cover rent and mortgage payments for “ as many as we could who were still in the pipeline ” when applications closed Nov. 5 , Hirota said .
There were 1,516 applications awaiting approval on Hawaii island .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

HONOLULU (AP) - A group of Hawaii island organizations has distributed $7.5 million in federal funds to help pay rent and mortgages for 1,322 households during the COVID-19 economic and health crisis, officials said.
The organizations used their backgrounds in homeless assistance and disaster response to establish uniform applications and coordinate to prevent duplication and delays in distribution of federal coronavirus recovery funds, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Sunday.
The organizations include Hawaiian Community Assets, Hawaii Community Lending, Hawaii First Federal Credit Union, Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, HOPE Services Hawaii, Hawaii Island Home for Recovery and Neighborhood Place of Puna.
“We cannot leave money on the table,” said Brandee Menino, chairwoman of Bridging the Gap, an organization working with island agencies to distribute the rent and mortgage relief. “We don’t want to give any of it back to the state or to the feds.”
Each organization is eligible to use 15% of its allotment of $10.9 million in federal funds for staff and operational costs.
To help respond to the volume of Hawaii island renters and homeowners still seeking assistance, county officials issued an additional $1 million in federal funds Friday and plan to provide $1.4 million more this week, said Sharon Hirota, an executive assistant to Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim.
The additional money will help cover rent and mortgage payments for “as many as we could who were still in the pipeline” when applications closed Nov. 5, Hirota said.
There were 1,516 applications awaiting approval on Hawaii island.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Michigan inmate captured more than a week after jail escape

EATON RAPIDS , Mich. ( AP ) - A Lansing-area jail inmate who escaped more than a week ago was captured over the weekend after leading officers on two separate vehicle chases , police said .
Michael McKerchie , 32 , was captured Saturday in Eaton Rapids after he was first spotted at a convenience store before he fled , crashed his truck in a cemetery , fled on foot and stole another vehicle .
Officers who received a report that someone had stolen a truck in the area then located that vehicle , stopped it and arrested McKerchie , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
McKerchie had escaped from the Ingham County jail on Nov. 12 , when he dismantled his cell window , sneaked out of the jail , stole a truck and fled the area , police said .
He was discovered missing the next day when jail staff found mattress padding shaped to make it appear that he was in his bunk .
McKerchie had been in custody since Sept. 21 on charges accusing him of unlawfully driving a vehicle away from a donut shop and other crimes .
He will now face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those anticipated in Ingham County , police said .

EATON RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A Lansing-area jail inmate who escaped more than a week ago was captured over the weekend after leading officers on two separate vehicle chases, police said.
Michael McKerchie, 32, was captured Saturday in Eaton Rapids after he was first spotted at a convenience store before he fled, crashed his truck in a cemetery, fled on foot and stole another vehicle.
Officers who received a report that someone had stolen a truck in the area then located that vehicle, stopped it and arrested McKerchie, the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department said.
McKerchie had escaped from the Ingham County jail on Nov. 12, when he dismantled his cell window, sneaked out of the jail, stole a truck and fled the area, police said. He was discovered missing the next day when jail staff found mattress padding shaped to make it appear that he was in his bunk.
McKerchie had been in custody since Sept. 21 on charges accusing him of unlawfully driving a vehicle away from a donut shop and other crimes. He will now face additional charges in Eaton County on top of those anticipated in Ingham County, police said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Hawaii police union sues counties over name disclosures

HILO , Hawaii ( AP ) - Hawaii ’ s statewide police union has filed lawsuits against the state ’ s four counties in an effort to keep the names of officers fired or suspended for disciplinary reasons out of the public record while grievance proceedings are underway .
The two civil lawsuits filed Friday by the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers seek to have the names remain undisclosed until all grievance avenues for the officers have been exhausted , The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported .
The lawsuits filed against against Hawaii and Maui counties following similar complaints filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kauai and City and County of Honolulu .
The lawsuits challenge a law enacted Sept. 15 by Democratic Gov .
David Ige that places the disciplinary files of officers who are fired or suspended into the public record .
The police union argues the law violates the privacy rights of officers and the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the counties .
The lawsuits seek to have the law declared unconstitutional .
The law is arbitrary , unreasonable and has no substantial relation to public health , safety , morals or general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Malcolm Lutu did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Friday .
Hawaii Police Department Chief Paul Ferreira said Friday he had not been served with the lawsuit and subsequently could not comment .
Ferreira said he planned to discuss the issue with the county ’ s legal office after receiving the lawsuit .
Jeff Portnoy , a Honolulu attorney who represents the Tribune-Herald and other media outlets , said the union was trying to protect its officers from public disclosure .
“ It ’ s hard to understand or believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent the public from learning about bad police officers who commit bad acts , ” Portnoy said .
Union arguments that releasing the names violates the privacy of disciplined police officers or subjects them to potential harm have either been refuted or have no basis , Portnoy said .

HILO, Hawaii (AP) - Hawaii’s statewide police union has filed lawsuits against the state’s four counties in an effort to keep the names of officers fired or suspended for disciplinary reasons out of the public record while grievance proceedings are underway.
The two civil lawsuits filed Friday by the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers seek to have the names remain undisclosed until all grievance avenues for the officers have been exhausted, The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported.
The lawsuits filed against against Hawaii and Maui counties following similar complaints filed earlier this month against the County of Kauai and City and County of Honolulu.
The lawsuits challenge a law enacted Sept. 15 by Democratic Gov. David Ige that places the disciplinary files of officers who are fired or suspended into the public record.
The police union argues the law violates the privacy rights of officers and the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the counties.
The lawsuits seek to have the law declared unconstitutional.
The law is arbitrary, unreasonable and has no substantial relation to public health, safety, morals or general welfare, the lawsuits claim.
Union President Malcolm Lutu did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Friday.
Hawaii Police Department Chief Paul Ferreira said Friday he had not been served with the lawsuit and subsequently could not comment. Ferreira said he planned to discuss the issue with the county’s legal office after receiving the lawsuit.
Jeff Portnoy, a Honolulu attorney who represents the Tribune-Herald and other media outlets, said the union was trying to protect its officers from public disclosure.
“It’s hard to understand or believe that SHOPO would continue this unconstitutional battle to prevent the public from learning about bad police officers who commit bad acts,” Portnoy said.
Union arguments that releasing the names violates the privacy of disciplined police officers or subjects them to potential harm have either been refuted or have no basis, Portnoy said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Trucks keep striking Missouri overpass, over and over

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - Despite the warning signs and flashing lights , trucks just can ’ t seem to stop hitting a Kansas City , Missouri , overpass .
The Kansas City Star reports that the bridge on Independence Avenue is struck so often that it has its own satirical Facebook page proclaiming , “ I have been feasting on your human concoctions for decades .
Your wheeled steel boxes are quite delicious .
Please feed me more !
” The bridge has just 12 feet ( 3.7 meters ) of clearance , not quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tractor-trailers whose drivers too often don ’ t realize their rigs are just a little too tall to make it .
The Facebook page is a scrapbook of collisions .
One image shows a semi lodged between the concrete and asphalt .
Another shows a trailer crumpled up like foil , leaning onto its side .
The Kansas City Terminal Railway Company owns the bridge and said it gets hit about twice a month .
Just last week , at least three trucks collided with the bridge and a FedEx box truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on moving .
“ The problem sure doesn ’ t seem to be resolving anytime soon , ” said Shawn Lauby , director of safety and administration for the railroad .
He said the railroad frequently sends engineers to inspect the more-than-a-century-old structure and it remains structurally sound .
“ With regular upkeep , there ’ s no plans at all to replace that thing anytime soon , ” Lauby said .
“ It ’ s in good condition .
It was just designed at a time when you needed clearance for horse-drawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trucks hit the bridge so often .
But officials say a state highway designation brings lots of traffic .
The railroad and the city have worked to better mark the bridge , brightly advertising the low clearance .
Officials have looked at digging the street lower , but city utilities underneath the bridge would complicate that effort .
The city hopes state action might help divert truck traffic away from the bridge .
The Missouri Department of Transportation has been working on a plan to reroute U.S. 24 away from Independence Avenue .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Despite the warning signs and flashing lights, trucks just can’t seem to stop hitting a Kansas City, Missouri, overpass.
The Kansas City Star reports that the bridge on Independence Avenue is struck so often that it has its own satirical Facebook page proclaiming, “I have been feasting on your human concoctions for decades. Your wheeled steel boxes are quite delicious. Please feed me more!”
The bridge has just 12 feet (3.7 meters) of clearance, not quite enough for today’s box trucks and tractor-trailers whose drivers too often don’t realize their rigs are just a little too tall to make it.
The Facebook page is a scrapbook of collisions. One image shows a semi lodged between the concrete and asphalt. Another shows a trailer crumpled up like foil, leaning onto its side.
The Kansas City Terminal Railway Company owns the bridge and said it gets hit about twice a month. Just last week, at least three trucks collided with the bridge and a FedEx box truck scraped its roof, though it kept on moving.
“The problem sure doesn’t seem to be resolving anytime soon,” said Shawn Lauby, director of safety and administration for the railroad.
He said the railroad frequently sends engineers to inspect the more-than-a-century-old structure and it remains structurally sound.
“With regular upkeep, there’s no plans at all to replace that thing anytime soon,” Lauby said. “It’s in good condition. It was just designed at a time when you needed clearance for horse-drawn carriages.”
It’s unclear why trucks hit the bridge so often. But officials say a state highway designation brings lots of traffic.
The railroad and the city have worked to better mark the bridge, brightly advertising the low clearance. Officials have looked at digging the street lower, but city utilities underneath the bridge would complicate that effort.
The city hopes state action might help divert truck traffic away from the bridge. The Missouri Department of Transportation has been working on a plan to reroute U.S. 24 away from Independence Avenue.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Accident kills teenagers from Des Moines, Chariton

CHARITON , Iowa ( AP ) - Two teenagers have died after a car accident near Chariton .
The Iowa @ @ @ @ @ happened just after 5 p.m. Sunday when a Jeep turning from Highway 34 onto a @ @ @ @ @ , ejecting everyone in the Jeep .
Two Jeep passengers died .
They were identified @ @ @ @ @ Des Moines and 16-year-old Chase Lavely of Chariton .
The 18-year-old driver is hospitalized with @ @ @ @ @ of the pickup , both age 55 , are hospitalized .
Their conditions were not @ @ @

CHARITON, Iowa (AP) - Two teenagers have died after a car accident near Chariton.
The Iowa State Patrol said the accident happened just after 5 p.m. Sunday when a Jeep turning from Highway 34 onto a street struck a pickup truck, ejecting everyone in the Jeep.
Two Jeep passengers died. They were identified as 15-year-old Katilynn Spicer of Des Moines and 16-year-old Chase Lavely of Chariton. The 18-year-old driver is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
Both occupants of the pickup, both age 55, are hospitalized. Their conditions were not immediately released.
The patrol’s investigation is ongoing.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Barge rate increase expected to raise Alaska consumer prices

JUNEAU , Alaska ( AP ) - Alaska ’ s largest barge operator has announced a price increase starting next month , which analysts said could lead to higher prices for groceries and other consumer goods in the state next year .
Alaska Marine Lines posted a notice to customers last week saying prices would rise 5 % on all of its routes - including southeast Alaska , the Aleutian Islands and Prince William Sound , CoastAlaska reported .
The company is a subsidiary of global shipper Lynden Inc. of Seattle .
Lynden representatives did not immediately respond to calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Director of Pricing Margretta Grace wrote in the notice to customers that the price increase will go into effect Jan. 31 .
Alaska freight prices are overseen by the federal Surface Transportation Board without directly regulating how much shipping firms charge .
The board only reviews the reasonableness of rates if consumers file formal complaints .
Jim Calvin , senior vice president of research and consulting firm McKinley Research Group LLC , said more than 95 % of all freight that moves into Southeast Alaska communities travels on barges .
The McDowell Group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a buyout this year , studied the economic impact of freight costs to Juneau in 2017 .
A portion of increased shipping costs is expected to be absorbed by wholesalers , but often translate into higher retail prices , especially in coastal communities , the company ’ s research found .
“ So the cost of moving that material is certainly important to the prices that businesses pay and ultimately the prices that consumers pay for the products that they purchase , ” Calvin said .

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska’s largest barge operator has announced a price increase starting next month, which analysts said could lead to higher prices for groceries and other consumer goods in the state next year.
Alaska Marine Lines posted a notice to customers last week saying prices would rise 5% on all of its routes - including southeast Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and Prince William Sound, CoastAlaska reported.
The company is a subsidiary of global shipper Lynden Inc. of Seattle. Lynden representatives did not immediately respond to calls seeking additional comment.
Alaska Marine Lines Director of Pricing Margretta Grace wrote in the notice to customers that the price increase will go into effect Jan. 31.
Alaska freight prices are overseen by the federal Surface Transportation Board without directly regulating how much shipping firms charge. The board only reviews the reasonableness of rates if consumers file formal complaints.
Jim Calvin, senior vice president of research and consulting firm McKinley Research Group LLC, said more than 95% of all freight that moves into Southeast Alaska communities travels on barges.
The McDowell Group LLC, which became McKinley Research Group after a buyout this year, studied the economic impact of freight costs to Juneau in 2017.
A portion of increased shipping costs is expected to be absorbed by wholesalers, but often translate into higher retail prices, especially in coastal communities, the company’s research found.
“So the cost of moving that material is certainly important to the prices that businesses pay and ultimately the prices that consumers pay for the products that they purchase,” Calvin said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Wichita State grads finalists in contest seeking better mask

WICHITA , Kan. ( AP ) - Two recent Wichita State University graduates are among the finalists for a $ @ @ @ @ @ a contest that seeks to design a better mask .
The Wichita Eagle reports that @ @ @ @ @ are in the top 10 after beating out nearly 1,000 other mask designs from 70 @ @ @ @ @ win the $ 500,000 grand prize or a $ 250,000 secondary prize , and they @ @ @ @ @ mask to market .
Both men are graduates of Wichita State ’ s innovation design @ @ @ @ @ and they ’ re both in an apparel start-up called Montana Shirt Co .
The @ @ @ @ @ is to solve some of the issues surrounding masks , such as slippage , fogging @ @ @ @ @ become common during the coronavirus pandemic .

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Two recent Wichita State University graduates are among the finalists for a $1 million prize pool in a contest that seeks to design a better mask.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Jared Goering and Spencer Steinert are in the top 10 after beating out nearly 1,000 other mask designs from 70 countries. They hope to win the $500,000 grand prize or a $250,000 secondary prize, and they also want to take their mask to market.
Both men are graduates of Wichita State’s innovation design master’s program, and they’re both in an apparel start-up called Montana Shirt Co.
The point of the XPRIZE contest is to solve some of the issues surrounding masks, such as slippage, fogging and heat, that have become common during the coronavirus pandemic.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Mule deer rebound continues in western North Dakota

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - The North Dakota Game and Fish Department says a limited fall survey indicates another year of good mule deer fawn production in the western part of the state .
Biologists counted 2,116 mule deer in an aerial survey in October .
That ’ s down from 2,218 last fall , but this year ’ s snowfall and poor ground conditions meant officials were able to survey only 18 of 24 study areas .
This year ’ s ratio of 82 fawns per 100 does was similar to last year ’ s ratio of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
“ Overall , fawn production was good , which could lead to population growth depending on the severity of this winter , ” Big Game Management Supervisor Bruce Stillings said .
The ratio of 36 bucks per 100 does was lower than last year ’ s 41 per 100 , but still healthy and sufficient for adequate breeding , state Wildlife Chief Jeb Williams said .
The Badlands mule deer population made it through last year ’ s relatively mild winter fine , with spring survey numbers 22 % above the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ females was banned in North Dakota four straight seasons beginning in 2012 , to help the population recover following a string of harsh winters and record-low fawn production .
Restrictions have been lifted in phases since 2016 .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Game and Fish Department says a limited fall survey indicates another year of good mule deer fawn production in the western part of the state.
Biologists counted 2,116 mule deer in an aerial survey in October. That’s down from 2,218 last fall, but this year’s snowfall and poor ground conditions meant officials were able to survey only 18 of 24 study areas. This year’s ratio of 82 fawns per 100 does was similar to last year’s ratio of 84 per 100, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
“Overall, fawn production was good, which could lead to population growth depending on the severity of this winter,” Big Game Management Supervisor Bruce Stillings said.
The ratio of 36 bucks per 100 does was lower than last year’s 41 per 100, but still healthy and sufficient for adequate breeding, state Wildlife Chief Jeb Williams said.
The Badlands mule deer population made it through last year’s relatively mild winter fine, with spring survey numbers 22% above the long-term average.
Hunting of mule deer females was banned in North Dakota four straight seasons beginning in 2012, to help the population recover following a string of harsh winters and record-low fawn production. Restrictions have been lifted in phases since 2016.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Many Alaska adults have risk factors for severe COVID-19

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - New analysis suggests two out of three Alaska adults have at least one risk factor health officials link with a higher chance of severe COVID-19 infection .
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services findings indicate most adult Alaska residents are at an increased risk for hospitalization or worse after contracting COVID-19 , The Anchorage Daily News reported Saturday .
The risk factors include past or current smoking , obesity , diabetes , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , chronic kidney disease and heart disease or previous heart attacks .
Using information from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 and 2018 , researchers compared the health factors of the respondents to the conditions identified by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that can increase the likelihood of severe COVID-19 cases .
While the analysis found two out of three Alaska adults are likely to have at least one of the conditions increasing risk , other factors such as advanced age also make serious coronavirus infections more likely , said Ann Potempa , public health specialist with the state health department ’ s Chronic Disease Prevention section .
The combination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of Alaska adults living with vulnerability to severe coronavirus experiences to 71 % , Potempa said .
Following a death or hospitalization resulting from the coronavirus , “ the first thing everybody wants to know is about that underlying health condition , ” Chronic Disease Prevention section Director Karol Fink said .
People without the risk factors can believe the disease will not affect them in a serious way , while disregarding the threat to family members , friends or colleagues who might have underlying health conditions causing higher vulnerability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to put a number to that thought process to help people understand how many Alaskan adults are at risk for serious illness from COVID-19 , ” Fink said .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - New analysis suggests two out of three Alaska adults have at least one risk factor health officials link with a higher chance of severe COVID-19 infection.
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services findings indicate most adult Alaska residents are at an increased risk for hospitalization or worse after contracting COVID-19, The Anchorage Daily News reported Saturday.
The risk factors include past or current smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease and heart disease or previous heart attacks.
Using information from a survey of 8,500 Alaska adults between 2016 and 2018, researchers compared the health factors of the respondents to the conditions identified by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that can increase the likelihood of severe COVID-19 cases.
While the analysis found two out of three Alaska adults are likely to have at least one of the conditions increasing risk, other factors such as advanced age also make serious coronavirus infections more likely, said Ann Potempa, public health specialist with the state health department’s Chronic Disease Prevention section.
The combination of advanced age and chronic disease raises the number of Alaska adults living with vulnerability to severe coronavirus experiences to 71%, Potempa said.
Following a death or hospitalization resulting from the coronavirus, “the first thing everybody wants to know is about that underlying health condition,” Chronic Disease Prevention section Director Karol Fink said.
People without the risk factors can believe the disease will not affect them in a serious way, while disregarding the threat to family members, friends or colleagues who might have underlying health conditions causing higher vulnerability, Fink said.
“So we really wanted to put a number to that thought process to help people understand how many Alaskan adults are at risk for serious illness from COVID-19,” Fink said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Greek military setting up field hospital for COVID-19 cases

THESSALONIKI , Greece ( AP ) - Greece ’ s armed forces are setting up a field hospital with more than 50 beds in the northern city of Thessaloniki as part of plans to tackle a surge in the number of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations .
Deputy Defense Minister Alkiviadis Stefanis , who visited the site outside the city ’ s military hospital Monday , said the field hospital would be ready by the end of the week .
“ This mobile hospital is being created in case of a particularly difficult situation and as part of the planning that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stefanis said , adding that the military always plans based on the worst possible scenario .
The field hospital is to have 50 normal beds for coronavirus patients and two intensive care unit beds .
Thessaloniki has been at the center of a spike in coronavirus cases in Greece , with its hospitals and medical staff coming under severe pressure .
On Friday , health authorities appropriated two private clinics in the city and their staff to be used to treat COVID-19 patients .
“ After the rapid increase in admissions both the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have reached their limits , ” government spokesman Stelios Petsas said Monday .
According to figures released by health authorities on Friday , only 4 % of ICU beds dedicated to the treatment of coronavirus patients in Thessaloniki were still available , with 210 of the 218 already occupied .
Greece has seen daily COVID-19 deaths spiral to above 100 over the weekend , with 108 people dying on Saturday and another 103 on Sunday .
The country of about 11 million people now has more than 91,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,630 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A second nationwide lockdown was imposed earlier this month until the end of November but the restrictions are widely expected to be extended into December in some form .

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) - Greece is set to extend its lockdown measures beyond the end of November given the spread of COVID-19 and the pressure on hospitals, the country’s health minister warned Monday.
“Based on the epidemic figures, the pressure on the national health system and the spread of the disease, it is self-evident that the (lockdown) measures can’t be lifted at the end of the month,” Vassilis Kikilias told private Mega TV.
“The number of (new) infections must fall and the health system must gain some respite … if we are to gradually regain a partial normality,” he added.
The country of about 11 million people now has more than 92,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 1,714 deaths - more than 1,000 of which were over the past month - and intensive care unit beds are rapidly filling up. The second nationwide lockdown, including school closures, was imposed earlier this month until Nov. 30.
On Monday, the military was setting up a field hospital with more than 50 beds in the northern city of Thessaloniki, which leads the regional infection breakdown, as part of plans to tackle a surge in the number of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.
Deputy Defense Minister Alkiviadis Stefanis, who visited the site outside the city’s military hospital, said the field hospital would be ready by the end of the week.
“This mobile hospital is being created in case of a particularly difficult situation and as part of the planning that the armed forces always have” based on the worst possible scenario, Stefanis said.
The field hospital is to have 50 normal beds for COVID-19 patients and two ICU beds.
Thessaloniki has been at the center of the country’s spike in coronavirus cases. On Friday, health authorities appropriated two private clinics in the city and their staff to be used to treat COVID-19 patients.
“After the rapid increase in admissions, both the hospitals in Thessaloniki and their medical staff have reached their limits,” government spokesman Stelios Petsas said Monday.
According to figures released by health authorities on Friday, only 4% of ICU beds dedicated to the treatment of coronavirus patients in Thessaloniki were still available, with 210 of the 218 already occupied.
On Monday, authorities said the nationwide occupancy of COVID-19 ICU beds was 86% - and roughly 99% for northern Greece.
“We issue this final plea: Help us so we can help you. One in two people in the ICU will die - understand this,” said Panagiotis Touchtidis, head of the staff association at Thessaloniki’s Papageorgiou Hospital.
Touchtidis appealed to people he said displayed a lackadaisical attitude toward mask-wearing to strictly adhere to the rules.
“Some people still think this is the flu. But the flu never killed 110 people in a day, especially before winter sets in. Unfortunately, we will reach the point where, unless people observe the (restriction) measures, we will not be able to intubate people because there will be no respirators available,” he added.
Greece has seen daily COVID-19 deaths spiral to above 100 over the weekend, with 108 people dying on Saturday and another 103 on Sunday. On Monday, another 84 people died and 1,388 new confirmed infections were recorded.
Meanwhile at Greece’s only functioning road crossing into Bulgaria, a traffic jam built up on the Bulgarian side as Greek border officials tested all incoming motorists for COVID-19 before they were allowed entry.
—
Follow Costas Kantouris at https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Search on for 4-member crew of sunken Atlantic fishing boat

BOSTON ( AP ) - The Coast Guard is searching for the four-member crew of a Maine fishing boat that @ @ @ @ @ .
The 82-foot Emmy Rose went down about 20 miles northeast of Provincetown , Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ in an emailed statement .
The Coast Guard got the emergency alert around 1:30 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ by about 2:30 a.m. , Petty Officer Ryan Noel said in a phone interview .
@ @ @ @ @ were four people aboard , and the vessel ’ s satellite phone went unanswered , @ @ @ @ @ The first Coast Guard crews on the scene discovered debris and an empty life raft @ @ @ @ @ and two aircraft are involved in the search , which was being made more difficult @ @ @ @ @ and 35 mph ( 55 kph ) winds .
The Emmy Rose is based in @ @

BOSTON (AP) - The Coast Guard is searching for the four-member crew of a Maine fishing boat that sank off Massachusetts early Monday.
The 82-foot (25-meter) Emmy Rose went down about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Provincetown, Massachusetts, the Coast Guard said in an emailed statement.
The Coast Guard got the emergency alert around 1:30 a.m. and was on the scene by about 2:30 a.m., Petty Officer Ryan Noel said in a phone interview.
The crew did not make any sort of mayday or distress call, he said, and the Coast Guard was alerted when the vessel’s emergency beacon, known as an EPIRB, made contact with the water and sent out its signal.
The Emmy Rose is based in Portland. The vessel owner reported there were four people aboard, and the vessel’s satellite phone went unanswered, according to the statement. The first Coast Guard crews on the scene discovered debris and an empty life raft.
Three Coast Guard vessels and two aircraft are involved in the search, which was being made more difficult by 6- to 8-foot (2 to 2.5-meter) seas and 35 mph (55 kph) winds.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--South Africa judge files criminal complaint against ex-prez

JOHANNESBURG ( AP ) - A South African judge said he will file a criminal complaint against former South African president Jacob Zuma after he staged a dramatic walkout while attending a commission of inquiry looking into corruption during his tenure from 2009 to 2018 .
Zuma left the commission hearing without permission after Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo dismissed an application asking him to recuse himself as chair of the inquiry .
Zuma alleges Zondo is biased against him .
Zuma has been asked to respond to various allegations implicating him from at least 35 affidavits by witnesses who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include allegations , among others , that he was involved in ensuring that members of the controversial Gupta family secured lucrative state contracts and influenced his appointments of cabinet ministers .
Zondo announced Monday that he would also file an application to the Constitutional Court , the highest court in the country , to enforce a summons issued against Zuma and compel him to appear before the commission .
Zuma appeared before the commission last week for the first time in over a year after abandoning his testimony at the inquiry in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commission that Zuma would appeal against Zondo ’ s decision to dismiss his application , and would also file a complaint with the Judicial Services Commission , a statutory judicial regulatory body , against Judge Zondo for presiding over a matter involving himself .
Zuma ’ s legal steps against the commission and its chairperson are widely seen as delay tactics to avoid facing questions about his role in corruption and state capture allegations that occurred largely from 2009 to 2018 .
The criminal complaint will add to Zuma ’ s legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the country ’ s 1999 arms procurement deal in which he is accused of receiving bribes and for which he will possibly stand trial in 2021 .

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - A South African judge said he will file a criminal complaint against former South African president Jacob Zuma after he staged a dramatic walkout while attending a commission of inquiry looking into corruption during his tenure from 2009 to 2018.
Zuma left the commission hearing without permission after Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo dismissed an application asking him to recuse himself as chair of the inquiry. Zuma alleges Zondo is biased against him.
Zuma has been asked to respond to various allegations implicating him from at least 35 affidavits by witnesses who have appeared before the commission. These include allegations, among others, that he was involved in ensuring that members of the controversial Gupta family secured lucrative state contracts and influenced his appointments of cabinet ministers.
Zondo announced Monday that he would also file an application to the Constitutional Court, the highest court in the country, to enforce a summons issued against Zuma and compel him to appear before the commission.
Zuma appeared before the commission last week for the first time in over a year after abandoning his testimony at the inquiry in 2019.
His lawyer Muzi Sikhakhane SC told the commission that Zuma would appeal against Zondo’s decision to dismiss his application, and would also file a complaint with the Judicial Services Commission, a statutory judicial regulatory body, against Judge Zondo for presiding over a matter involving himself.
Zuma’s legal steps against the commission and its chairperson are widely seen as delay tactics to avoid facing questions about his role in corruption and state capture allegations that occurred largely from 2009 to 2018.
The criminal complaint will add to Zuma’s legal woes, which include corruption charges related to the country’s 1999 arms procurement deal in which he is accused of receiving bribes and for which he will possibly stand trial in 2021.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Man killed in triple shooting in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - Police were seeking a suspect after a triple shooting claimed the life of a man @ @ @ @ @ in the head and died at a hospital , police said .
Another 21-year-old was @ @ @ @ @ in critical condition while a 25-year-old who was shot in the abdomen was in stable @ @ @ @ @ .
A gun fell from the clothing of one of the victims and was recovered @ @ @ @ @ Scott Small said .
No arrests have been made .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police were seeking a suspect after a triple shooting claimed the life of a man.
Gunfire erupted Sunday night on South Alden Street.
A 21-year-old was shot in the head and died at a hospital, police said.
Another 21-year-old was shot multiple times and was in critical condition while a 25-year-old who was shot in the abdomen was in stable condition, according to police.
A gun fell from the clothing of one of the victims and was recovered by officers, Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
No arrests have been made.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Maine certifies Biden's victory in the state's election

AUGUSTA , Maine ( AP ) - Maine has certified the results of the 2020 election , Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ Maine is one of two states in the country that apportions single electoral votes for @ @ @ @ @ to awarding two for the statewide victory .
President-elect Joe Biden won the statewide vote @ @ @ @ @ , good for three of the state ’ s four total electoral votes .
President @ @ @ @ @ Congressional District , which he also carried in 2016 .
The other state that awards @ @ @ @ @ Nebraska .
Maine is also the only state in the country that uses ranked-choice voting @ @ @ @ @ The method didn ’ t come into play this year because the margins of victory @ @ @ @ @ the ranked round .
Dunlap said he handed the certified results to Democratic Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ on Monday , the day they were due .

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine has certified the results of the 2020 election, Secretary of State Matt Dunlap said Monday.
Maine is one of two states in the country that apportions single electoral votes for each congressional district in addition to awarding two for the statewide victory. President-elect Joe Biden won the statewide vote and the 1st Congressional District, good for three of the state’s four total electoral votes.
President Donald Trump won the 2nd Congressional District, which he also carried in 2016. The other state that awards electoral votes by district is Nebraska.
Maine is also the only state in the country that uses ranked-choice voting to elect the president. The method didn’t come into play this year because the margins of victory were too wide to trigger the ranked round.
Dunlap said he handed the certified results to Democratic Gov. Janet Mills at 2 p.m. on Monday, the day they were due.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--West Virginia miner killed; 6th US coal mining death of 2020

CHARLESTON , W.Va. ( AP ) - A coal miner died Monday in a workplace accident in southern West Virginia @ @ @ @ @ office said .
Taylor Meldin Halstead , 20 , of Bob White , was killed @ @ @ @ @ Mining LLC ’ s American Eagle Mine in the Kanawha County community of Dawes , @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
The statement did not give details surrounding the death , @ @ @ @ @ mining fatality nationwide this year .
There have been two deaths apiece in West Virginia @ @ @ @ @ According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration , the fewest coal mining fatalities in @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
Gov .
Jim Justice said he and his wife , Cathy , @ @ @ @ @ learn that we lost one of our incredible West Virginia coal miners today .
This @ @ @ @ @ close to the Thanksgiving holiday .
We can never appreciate our miners enough for the @ @ @ @ @ do every day to power our homes , state , and nation .
”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A coal miner died Monday in a workplace accident in southern West Virginia, the governor’s office said.
Taylor Meldin Halstead, 20, of Bob White, was killed in the accident at Panther Mining LLC’s American Eagle Mine in the Kanawha County community of Dawes, the governor’s office said in a statement.
The statement did not give details surrounding the death, which was the sixth coal mining fatality nationwide this year. There have been two deaths apiece in West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the fewest coal mining fatalities in a year nationally was eight in 2016.
Gov. Jim Justice said he and his wife, Cathy, “are deeply saddened to learn that we lost one of our incredible West Virginia coal miners today. This is especially devastating news so close to the Thanksgiving holiday. We can never appreciate our miners enough for the brave and important work they do every day to power our homes, state, and nation.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Wichita police officer arrested on misdemeanor DUI charge

WICHITA , Kan. ( AP ) - An off-duty Wichita police officer was arrested Monday on a misdemeanor charge of @ @ @ @ @ Officer Cory Masterson , who has been with the department for 12 years , was @ @ @ @ @ division , the Wichita Police Department said in a news release .
He has been @ @ @ @ @ .
The department said his case is being investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol and @ @ @ @ @ take place .

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - An off-duty Wichita police officer was arrested Monday on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.
Officer Cory Masterson, who has been with the department for 12 years, was assigned to the field services division, the Wichita Police Department said in a news release. He has been moved to an administrative assignment.
The department said his case is being investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol and an internal review will also take place.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Virus hospitalizations again reach record high in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
( AP ) - Known coronavirus cases in Arkansas rose by more than 1,000 on Monday as officials continued to urge caution ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday .
The Arkansas Department of Health said 30 more people have died from the virus in Arkansas , bringing the total to 2,387 since the pandemic began .
Hospitalizations for the virus again reached a new record , at 974 .
The true number of infections is likely higher because many people haven ’ t been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in new cases from last Monday , and this is a hopeful sign ; but our hospitalizations are still going up , ” Gov .
Asa Hutchinson said .
“ How we handle Thanksgiving this year will determine our hospitalizations around Christmas.
” As of Monday afternoon , there were 76 intensive care beds available in Arkansas out of a total of 1,136 , the health department said .
More than one-third of the ICU beds in use were being occupied by COVID patients , the department said .
According to researchers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 248 people in Arkansas tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week .
The state has seen its rolling average number of daily new cases increase by more than 37 % over the past two weeks , according to the university .

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Known coronavirus cases in Arkansas rose by more than 1,000 on Monday as officials continued to urge caution ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Arkansas Department of Health said 30 more people have died from the virus in Arkansas, bringing the total to 2,387 since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations for the virus again reached a new record, at 974.
The true number of infections is likely higher because many people haven’t been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
“We saw a decrease in new cases from last Monday, and this is a hopeful sign; but our hospitalizations are still going up,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “How we handle Thanksgiving this year will determine our hospitalizations around Christmas.”
As of Monday afternoon, there were 76 intensive care beds available in Arkansas out of a total of 1,136, the health department said. More than one-third of the ICU beds in use were being occupied by COVID patients, the department said.
According to researchers from Johns Hopkins University, one in every 248 people in Arkansas tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week. The state has seen its rolling average number of daily new cases increase by more than 37% over the past two weeks, according to the university.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Pandemic straining Kansas hospitals days before Thanksgiving

TOPEKA , Kan. ( AP ) - Surging pandemic numbers are straining hospitals across Kansas just days before Thanksgiving gatherings that public health officials fear could worsen the outbreak .
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported on Monday 95 new hospitalizations , bringing the total of hospitalizations to 4,777 since the start of the pandemic .
The state ’ s COVID-19 dashboard showed 240 coronavirus patients were in ICU units , with 36 % of ICU capacity remaining in Kansas .
State health officials added 7,526 cases to the state ’ s pandemic tally since Friday , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that Kansas averaged 2,760 new confirmed and probable coronavirus a day for the seven days ending Monday .
That is just slightly below the record average of 2,766 cases .
The number of COVID-19 related deaths also rose by 46 to 1,456 .
Kansas Gov .
Laura Kelly requested on Monday an extension of federal authority allowing the use of Kansas National Guard to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the state .
The letter requests extension of 100 % of funding for up to 500 National Guard members through the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s approval , this extension will enable Kansas to maintain community-based testing , continue distributing medical and testing supplies , and ensure Kansas businesses can stay open , ” Kelly said in a news release .
Chuck Welch , vice president of the Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System , said his hospital has averaged about 30 COVID-19 patients since October , compared to about four in the months before — an increase of more than 600 % .
Nurses have had to take about 10 shifts in a row , with less time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just the nurses , the physicians , we have four pulmonologists that are working around the clock , our respiratory therapists , our lab people , our imaging people .
Everybody is just stretched , ” Welch said , “ our housekeeping , they have to go in and clean those rooms thoroughly before we can put anybody else in on them.
” The University of Kansas Hospital broke records on Monday for the total number of hospitalized coronavirus patients , those in the ICU and the number of virus patients on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The hospital had 139 COVID-19 patients , said Dana Hawkinson , medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System .
Of the 100 patients deemed active coronavirus cases , 46 are in the intensive care unit , and 26 of those in the ICU are on a ventilator , he said .
In addition to those active cases , 39 other patients are in recovery at the hospital .

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Surging pandemic numbers are straining hospitals across Kansas just days before Thanksgiving gatherings that public health officials fear could worsen the outbreak.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported on Monday 95 new hospitalizations, bringing the total of hospitalizations to 4,777 since the start of the pandemic. The state’s COVID-19 dashboard showed 240 coronavirus patients were in ICU units, with 36% of ICU capacity remaining in Kansas.
State health officials added 7,526 cases to the state’s pandemic tally since Friday, bringing the total to 142,059. The data showed that Kansas averaged 2,760 new confirmed and probable coronavirus a day for the seven days ending Monday. That is just slightly below the record average of 2,766 cases.
The number of COVID-19 related deaths also rose by 46 to 1,456.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly requested on Monday an extension of federal authority allowing the use of Kansas National Guard to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the state. The letter requests extension of 100% of funding for up to 500 National Guard members through the end of March.
“With the President’s approval, this extension will enable Kansas to maintain community-based testing, continue distributing medical and testing supplies, and ensure Kansas businesses can stay open,” Kelly said in a news release.
Chuck Welch, vice president of the Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said his hospital has averaged about 30 COVID-19 patients since October, compared to about four in the months before — an increase of more than 600%. Nurses have had to take about 10 shifts in a row, with less time off, Welch said.
“And not just the nurses, the physicians, we have four pulmonologists that are working around the clock, our respiratory therapists, our lab people, our imaging people. Everybody is just stretched,” Welch said, “our housekeeping, they have to go in and clean those rooms thoroughly before we can put anybody else in on them.”
The University of Kansas Hospital broke records on Monday for the total number of hospitalized coronavirus patients, those in the ICU and the number of virus patients on ventilators, the Kansas City Star reported.
The hospital had 139 COVID-19 patients, said Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at The University of Kansas Health System.
Of the 100 patients deemed active coronavirus cases, 46 are in the intensive care unit, and 26 of those in the ICU are on a ventilator, he said. In addition to those active cases, 39 other patients are in recovery at the hospital.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Ex-San Francisco cop charged in 2017 fatal shooting of man

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - A former rookie San Francisco police officer who was on his fourth day on the job when he fatally shot an unarmed carjacking suspect in 2017 has been charged with manslaughter , the city ’ s top prosecutor announced Monday .
Christopher Samayoa was charged with voluntary manslaughter , involuntary manslaughter , assault by an executive officer , assault with a semi automatic firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm in the killing of 42-year-old Keita O ’ Neil , said District Attorney Chesa Boudin .
“ As far as we are aware , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the San Francisco District Attorney ’ s Office has filed charges against a law enforcement officer for a homicide , ” Boudin said at a news conference .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if Samayoa has an attorney .
The District Attorney ’ s Office and the Police Officers Association union did not immediately return messages seeking information about Samayoa ‘ s legal representation and who could comment on his behalf .
Samayoa ’ s firing had generated outrage from the police officer union , which said previously he was fired for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The organization said Monday it will support Samayoa during the legal process .
“ We are committed to ensuring that Christopher and his family are supported during this difficult time and that he is accorded his due process rights and provided with a vigorous defense against these charges , ” Tony Montoya , president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association , said in a statement .
His firing came three months after he fatally shot O ’ Neil on Dec. 1 , 2017 .
O ’ Neil , who died at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a California Lottery employee and stealing a van that belonged to the agency .
Police chased the van and another SUV seen traveling with it to a public housing area .
O ’ Neil abandoned the stolen vehicle and started running toward the patrol car occupied by Samayoa , who was in the passenger seat , and his training officer , police have said .
The footage shows Samayoa drawing his pistol while the cruiser was still moving .
The video then shows him open the side door and fire a single shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs by in the opposite direction .
O ’ Neil was not armed .
O ’ Neil ’ s relatives were told Monday about the decision to charge the officer and O ’ Neil ’ s aunt , April Green , expressed gratitude , Boudin said in a statement .
“ I am happy to hear this news , and hoping it brings some justice to our family , ” she said , according to the statement .

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A former rookie San Francisco police officer who was on his fourth day on the job when he fatally shot an unarmed carjacking suspect in 2017 has been charged with manslaughter, the city’s top prosecutor announced Monday.
Christopher Samayoa was charged with voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, assault by an executive officer, assault with a semi automatic firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm in the killing of 42-year-old Keita O’Neil, said District Attorney Chesa Boudin.
Boudin called the decision to file charges “historic.”
“As far as we are aware, this is the first ever time that the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against a law enforcement officer for a homicide,” Boudin said at a news conference.
It wasn’t immediately known if Samayoa has an attorney. The District Attorney’s Office and the Police Officers Association union did not immediately return messages seeking information about Samayoa’s legal representation and who could comment on his behalf.
Samayoa’s firing had generated outrage from the police officer union, which said previously he was fired for doing what he was trained to do.
The organization said Monday it will support Samayoa during the legal process.
“We are committed to ensuring that Christopher and his family are supported during this difficult time and that he is accorded his due process rights and provided with a vigorous defense against these charges,” Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said in a statement.
His firing came three months after he fatally shot O’Neil on Dec. 1, 2017.
O’Neil, who died at a hospital, was suspected of assaulting a California Lottery employee and stealing a van that belonged to the agency.
Police chased the van and another SUV seen traveling with it to a public housing area. O’Neil abandoned the stolen vehicle and started running toward the patrol car occupied by Samayoa, who was in the passenger seat, and his training officer, police have said.
The footage shows Samayoa drawing his pistol while the cruiser was still moving. The video then shows him open the side door and fire a single shot through the window as O’Neil runs by in the opposite direction. O’Neil was not armed.
O’Neil’s relatives were told Monday about the decision to charge the officer and O’Neil’s aunt, April Green, expressed gratitude, Boudin said in a statement.
“I am happy to hear this news, and hoping it brings some justice to our family,” she said, according to the statement.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Minnesota chef's 2-ton custom-made barbecue smoker stolen

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - A Minnesota chef whose business has been suffering because of the coronavirus pandemic showed up to work to find his 2-ton custom-built barbecue smoker was stolen over the weekend - but was found Monday , thanks to a tip from a good Samaritan .
Thomas Boemer , chef and co-owner of Revival and Revival Smoked Meats , said the steel-and-aluminum smoker , which is roughly the size of an SUV , was stolen from the parking lot of his former Corner Table restaurant in south Minneapolis , the Star Tribune reported .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boemer said .
“ It was a dream come true for me to get this smoker .
To have this happen during all of this , it ’ s just too much .
When I drove up and saw that it was gone , I just sat there .
It ’ s gut-wrenching.
” The unit built by Georgia-based Lang BBQ Smokers can handle 80 racks of ribs , or 60 briskets or whole pigs .
An attached charbroiler is used for oysters and sweet corn and a separate lower-temperature holding box can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Boemer had planned to smoke hundreds of hams for Christmas .
“ It ’ s the most fun thing there is for cooking , ” said Boemer .
“ You drive up , park it , fill the neighborhood with the most amazing smells and people line up.
” On Monday afternoon , a good Samaritan filled Boemer ’ s heart with joy when they called the restaurant and said they saw the smoker parked in a Minneapolis alley .
Boemer said he raced over and called the police , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoker to his SUV .
“ It was a joyous moment in the alley , ” said Boemer , suggesting a reward may be in order for the good Samaritan .
“ I have to figure something out , big-time .
And then reward the heck out of them .
”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A Minnesota chef whose business has been suffering because of the coronavirus pandemic showed up to work to find his 2-ton custom-built barbecue smoker was stolen over the weekend - but was found Monday, thanks to a tip from a good Samaritan.
Thomas Boemer, chef and co-owner of Revival and Revival Smoked Meats, said the steel-and-aluminum smoker, which is roughly the size of an SUV, was stolen from the parking lot of his former Corner Table restaurant in south Minneapolis, the Star Tribune reported.
“It’s my most prized possession,” Boemer said. “It was a dream come true for me to get this smoker. To have this happen during all of this, it’s just too much. When I drove up and saw that it was gone, I just sat there. It’s gut-wrenching.”
The unit built by Georgia-based Lang BBQ Smokers can handle 80 racks of ribs, or 60 briskets or whole pigs. An attached charbroiler is used for oysters and sweet corn and a separate lower-temperature holding box can smoke 20 King salmon filets at a time. Boemer had planned to smoke hundreds of hams for Christmas.
“It’s the most fun thing there is for cooking,” said Boemer. “You drive up, park it, fill the neighborhood with the most amazing smells and people line up.”
On Monday afternoon, a good Samaritan filled Boemer’s heart with joy when they called the restaurant and said they saw the smoker parked in a Minneapolis alley. Boemer said he raced over and called the police, who later helped him hitch the slightly damaged smoker to his SUV.
“It was a joyous moment in the alley,” said Boemer, suggesting a reward may be in order for the good Samaritan. “I have to figure something out, big-time. And then reward the heck out of them.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Barre to fly 22 different flags after push for BLM flag

BARRE , Vt. ( AP ) - A Vermont city approved raising the Black Lives Matter Flag , the “ Thin Blue Line ” flag and 20 other flags in a resolution that one city councilor called a “ compromise ” to satisfy opponents of a BLM proposal .
The Black Lives Matter flag will be flown at City Hall Park in Barre next month and will be lowered in January , Vermont Public Radio reported Monday .
The 22 flags will be flown over the next two years .
The resolution passed on a 4-3 vote last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 that the “ compromise ” resolution aims to “ diffuse a contentious , divisive council , and to be responsive to all the citizens of the City of Barre.
” “ So what I tried to do was to address everyone ’ s concern , and that made everyone unhappy - I ’ m sorry , ” Steinman said .
“ But I felt it was the right thing to do , because it represents everyone in the city equally.
” Teddy Waszazak , one of three city councilors who opposed Steinman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is ludicrous that somebody would propose the Thin Blue Line flag while also saying that they want unity and to end division.
” “ We have seen the Thin Blue Line flag fly in Vermont with Confederate flags , with the Don ’ t Tread on Me flag , ” Waszazak said .
“ And what happened ( Tuesday ) night shows that we can say , ‘ Black lives matter , ’ as long as we say , ‘ Everything else matters.
’ And that completely misses the point.
” Following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thin Blue Line flag will be raised in January , then a flag for the Green Mountain Boys in February , and then an Irish heritage flag in March .
Others included are multiple flags of other countries , the U.S. Marines , Autism Acceptance and the Star of David .
The resolution comes after Barre ’ s city government had been mulling a request to fly a Black Lives Matter flag since late spring , when Councilor Ericka Reil proposed raising the banner in City Hall Park in response to the killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is the compromise I have to do , then this is the compromise I have to do to have a Black Lives Matter flag flown , ” Reil said Tuesday .
“ It ’ s not what I wanted , but it ’ s what I got .
”

BARRE, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont city approved raising the Black Lives Matter Flag, the “Thin Blue Line” flag and 20 other flags in a resolution that one city councilor called a “compromise” to satisfy opponents of a BLM proposal.
The Black Lives Matter flag will be flown at City Hall Park in Barre next month and will be lowered in January, Vermont Public Radio reported Monday. The 22 flags will be flown over the next two years. The resolution passed on a 4-3 vote last week.
Barre City Councilor John Steinman said Nov. 18 that the “compromise” resolution aims to “diffuse a contentious, divisive council, and to be responsive to all the citizens of the City of Barre.”
“So what I tried to do was to address everyone’s concern, and that made everyone unhappy - I’m sorry,” Steinman said. “But I felt it was the right thing to do, because it represents everyone in the city equally.”
Teddy Waszazak, one of three city councilors who opposed Steinman’s resolution, said that “it is ludicrous that somebody would propose the Thin Blue Line flag while also saying that they want unity and to end division.”
“We have seen the Thin Blue Line flag fly in Vermont with Confederate flags, with the Don’t Tread on Me flag,” Waszazak said. “And what happened (Tuesday) night shows that we can say, ‘Black lives matter,’ as long as we say, ‘Everything else matters.’ And that completely misses the point.”
Following the Black Lives Matter Flag, the Thin Blue Line flag will be raised in January, then a flag for the Green Mountain Boys in February, and then an Irish heritage flag in March.
Others included are multiple flags of other countries, the U.S. Marines, Autism Acceptance and the Star of David.
The resolution comes after Barre’s city government had been mulling a request to fly a Black Lives Matter flag since late spring, when Councilor Ericka Reil proposed raising the banner in City Hall Park in response to the killing of George Floyd.
“So if this is the compromise I have to do, then this is the compromise I have to do to have a Black Lives Matter flag flown,” Reil said Tuesday. “It’s not what I wanted, but it’s what I got.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Altice, Korn Ferry rise; Newmont, Twist Bioscience fall

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Stocks that moved heavily or traded substantially Monday : The cable television provider is @ @ @ @ @ of its stock .
The life sciences software company is collaborating with Bristol-Myers in a @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.7 billion .
U.S. health officials agreed to allow emergency use of the pharmaceutical @ @ @ @ @ drug .
The maker of synthetic DNA for the biotechnology industry gave investors a disappointing @ @ @ @ @ mining company was weighed down by slumping gold prices .
Bank of America , up @ @ @ @ @ Bond yields , which allow banks to charge more lucrative interest on loans , rose @ @ @ @ @ line operators gained ground as encouraging vaccine developments raised hopes for a future recovery in @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks that moved heavily or traded substantially Monday:
Altice USA, up $2.76 to $35.03
The cable television provider is buying back $2.5 billion of its stock.
Korn Ferry, up 45 cents to $38.70
The consulting firm handily beat Wall Street’s fiscal second-quarter profit and revenue forecasts.
Schrodinger, $7.05 to $67.65
The life sciences software company is collaborating with Bristol-Myers in a deal potentially worth up to $2.7 billion.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, up $4.87 to $523.61
U.S. health officials agreed to allow emergency use of the pharmaceutical company’s COVID-19 antibody drug.
Twist Bioscience, up $1.62 to $117.18
The maker of synthetic DNA for the biotechnology industry gave investors a disappointing revenue forecast.
Newmont, down $2.97 to $58.68
The gold mining company was weighed down by slumping gold prices.
Bank of America, up 58 cents to $27.39
Bond yields, which allow banks to charge more lucrative interest on loans, rose amid economic optimism.
Carnival, up 81 cents to $18.18
Cruise line operators gained ground as encouraging vaccine developments raised hopes for a future recovery in bookings.


washingtontimes--2020-11-23--Kansas firm settles allegations it submitted false claims

KANSAS CITY , Kan. ( AP ) - A Lawrence , Kansas , engineering firm and its two top officials will pay $ 672,352 to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to obtain grant federal grant funds , the U.S. attorney ’ s office said Monday .
KalScott Engineering , Inc. and its president , Thomas Sherwood , and Vice President Suman Saripalli were accused of wrongfully obtaining funds from the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs .
The programs encourage American small businesses to engage in research on behalf of the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The government said that between 2012 and 2015 the company received grants from the National Institutes of Health , the National Aeronautics and Space Administration , and the Navy .
The U.S. attorney ’ s office said in a news release that the company wrongfully obtained the funds from NASA and the Navy because KalScott designated Saripalli as a principal investigator when he was not eligible to serve in that role .
It also alleged the firm did not perform a majority of work under the Air Force grant and that KalScott used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its proposal to obtain the NIH grant .
The settlement made no determination of liability .

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - A Lawrence, Kansas, engineering firm and its two top officials will pay $672,352 to settle allegations that the company submitted false claims to obtain grant federal grant funds, the U.S. attorney’s office said Monday.
KalScott Engineering, Inc. and its president, Thomas Sherwood, and Vice President Suman Saripalli were accused of wrongfully obtaining funds from the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
The programs encourage American small businesses to engage in research on behalf of the federal government that has the potential for commercialization.
The government said that between 2012 and 2015 the company received grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Navy.
The U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release that the company wrongfully obtained the funds from NASA and the Navy because KalScott designated Saripalli as a principal investigator when he was not eligible to serve in that role. It also alleged the firm did not perform a majority of work under the Air Force grant and that KalScott used different key personnel than it listed in its proposal to obtain the NIH grant.
The settlement made no determination of liability.