washingtontimes--2020-04-19--Trump reelection hinges on coronavirus rebound

President Trump ’ s plan to run for reelection on a strong economy evaporated in just a month as 22 million Americans lost their jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic , and now his prospects rest on economic comebacks in some battleground states with Democratic governors .
“ His ace in the hole was a powerful economy , and he no longer has that , at least not at the moment , ” said Republican pollster Whit Ayres .
More than 90 % of the country is under a stay-at-home or shelter-in-place order as governors start planning to reopen businesses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most optimistic forecasts envision the U.S. economy showing signs of recovery by September or October .
The president last week issued guidelines for governors to reopen safely and expressed hope that as many as 29 states with low rates of infection will begin to get back to work by the end of this month .
“ We ’ re going to bring our country back , ” Mr. Trump said .
A day after he announced the guidelines , the president took to Twitter to goad the Democratic governors of Michigan , Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states from stay-at-home orders .
“ I think elements of what they ’ ve done is too much , ” Mr. Trump said , referring to the governors .
He singled out Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam ’ s gun control efforts .
Washington state Gov .
Jay Inslee , a Democrat who also has clashed with the president during the crisis , said Mr. Trump ’ s tweets about “ liberating ” states put millions at risk of contracting COVID-19 .
“ The president is fomenting domestic rebellion and spreading lies even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is real and is deadly , ” Mr. Inslee said .
Mr. Trump denied he was fomenting “ rebellion ” and said the crisis was “ too tough ” for some leaders such as Mr. Inslee .
He said the demonstrators “ seem to be very responsible people to me .
They ’ ve been treated a little bit rough .
“ I just think that some of the governors have gotten carried away , ” he told reporters .
“ I really believe somebody sitting in a boat in a lake should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state capitals of Texas and Maryland , both with Republican governors , calling on legislators to ease restrictions .
Rallies also were held this weekend in Indiana , Nevada and Wisconsin .
Demonstrators in Michigan , Minnesota and North Carolina have also called for governors to allow people to get back to work .
Michigan has been hit especially hard by layoffs .
More than 1 million people there have their jobs in the past month .
The Trump campaign has targeted Michigan and Minnesota as key battlegrounds in the November elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 and lost Minnesota to Democrat Hillary Clinton by 1.5 percentage points .
Virginia looks like a steeper hill for the president to climb .
He lost the state by 5.3 percentage points four years ago .
In Pennsylvania , a state Mr. Trump won narrowly in 2016 , about 1.3 million people or one-fifth of the work force have been thrown out of their jobs in the past four weeks .
The president said this month that Democrats “ shouldn ’ t be allowed to win ” the presidential race in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strong economy he had forged .
Mr. Ayers , president of North Star Opinion Research , pointed out that the crisis has thrown the race into uncharted territory .
“ If we can get the pandemic to the point where it no longer looks like a threat and the economy roars back , then obviously the president can run on his handling of the pandemic and the fact that it didn ’ t kill the economy , ” Mr. Ayres said .
“ On the other hand , if we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and October , then it ’ s a completely different story.
” Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden is making Mr. Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak a campaign issue , but the Trump campaign has shifted gears from the economy to Mr. Biden ’ s policy on China .
Campaign officials say they will continue to hammer Mr. Biden through Election Day for being too cozy with Beijing and for Mr. Biden ’ s role in his son Hunter ’ s lucrative business deals in China .
Throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval rating hasn ’ t changed dramatically .
At the end of February , his approval rating in the Real Clear Politics average of polls was 45.9 % ; on Friday , it was 45.7 % .
“ It ’ s been remarkably stable , even in the midst of a pandemic , ” Mr. Ayres said .
“ The reason is that people have made up their minds about this president .
Just as job approval did not go up as much as you would expect for a normal president with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his job approval has not gone down as much as you would expect with a cratering economy and soaring unemployment .
His job approval is driven far more by people ’ s judgment about his conduct and behavior in office than it is by any objective criteria.
” The president said this weekend that he expects the Democrats ’ campaign to focus on criticism of his handling of the public health crisis .
He pointed to a conference call that Vice President Mike Pence held Friday with Democratic senators , who criticized him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing for coronavirus infection .
“ He gave them everything that they would have wanted to hear in terms of gaining ground on the CoronaVirus , but nothing that anyone could have said , including ‘ it ’ s over , ’ could have made them happy , or even a little bit satisfied , ” the president tweeted .
“ They were rude and nasty .
This is their political playbook , and they will use it right up to the election on November 3rd .
They will not change because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can win .
America will not be fooled !
!
!
” Timetables are not clear for any of the key battleground states to resume normal operations for work and education .
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation ’ s model , which the White House uses to track infection rates , said some states could relax certain social distancing measures by May 4 if “ robust containment strategies ” are implemented to prevent a second wave of infections .
Those states include Vermont , West Virginia , Montana and Hawaii @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toss-up in November .
The institute said other states , including the battlegrounds of Florida , Iowa and Georgia , “ may need to wait until late June or early July ” to ease social distancing .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a Republican and close ally of the president , said he will announce his plan this week for reopening the state .
Mr. DeSantis said municipalities could reopen beaches and parks if they do so safely .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott , a Republican , said state parks could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business for pickup , delivery and mail order on Friday .
“ We have demonstrated that we can corral the coronavirus , ” Mr. Abbott said , though he acknowledged that the school year is finished .
Iowa is one of eight states that never ordered residents to stay at home .
The others are Arkansas , Nebraska , North Dakota , Oklahoma , South Dakota , Utah and Wyoming .
“ We ’ ve avoided the cataclysmic outcomes we ’ ve seen in other countries and other locations , ” North Dakota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said last week .
Other states that appear to be readying for opening in phases sooner rather than later include Alabama , Arizona , Idaho , Mississippi , Ohio , Oklahoma , South Carolina and Tennessee .
Governors in both parties said their states won ’ t return to normal operations without assistance from the administration to expand testing “ The federal government can not wipe its hands of this and say , ‘ Oh , the states are responsible for testing , ’ ” said New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not do it without federal help.
” In Illinois , it ’ s safe to say that Democratic Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and the White House won ’ t be coordinating , at least for now .
Mr. Pritzker said he has given up on receiving assistance from the federal government and announced that Illinois was “ doing what we need to do despite ” the president ’ s decisions .
White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere responded by saying , “ Whether through ignorance or incompetence or a propensity to politicize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being truthful with the people of Illinois when he says his state has not been provided resources from President Trump ’ s administration.
” The president said the administration has given states the capacity to ramp up testing and it ’ s governors ’ responsibility to use more of that capacity .
“ At some point in the not-too-distant future , we ’ re going to have our country back , ” Mr. Trump said .

President Trump’s plan to run for reelection on a strong economy evaporated in just a month as 22 million Americans lost their jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic, and now his prospects rest on economic comebacks in some battleground states with Democratic governors.
“His ace in the hole was a powerful economy, and he no longer has that, at least not at the moment,” said Republican pollster Whit Ayres.
More than 90% of the country is under a stay-at-home or shelter-in-place order as governors start planning to reopen businesses and schools on their own timetables. The most optimistic forecasts envision the U.S. economy showing signs of recovery by September or October.
The president last week issued guidelines for governors to reopen safely and expressed hope that as many as 29 states with low rates of infection will begin to get back to work by the end of this month.
“We’re going to bring our country back,” Mr. Trump said.
A day after he announced the guidelines, the president took to Twitter to goad the Democratic governors of Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia to “liberate” their states from stay-at-home orders.
“I think elements of what they’ve done is too much,” Mr. Trump said, referring to the governors. He singled out Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s gun control efforts.
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat who also has clashed with the president during the crisis, said Mr. Trump’s tweets about “liberating” states put millions at risk of contracting COVID-19.
“The president is fomenting domestic rebellion and spreading lies even while his own administration says the virus is real and is deadly,” Mr. Inslee said.
Mr. Trump denied he was fomenting “rebellion” and said the crisis was “too tough” for some leaders such as Mr. Inslee. He said the demonstrators “seem to be very responsible people to me. They’ve been treated a little bit rough.
“I just think that some of the governors have gotten carried away,” he told reporters. “I really believe somebody sitting in a boat in a lake should be OK.”
Protesters rallied Saturday in the state capitals of Texas and Maryland, both with Republican governors, calling on legislators to ease restrictions. Rallies also were held this weekend in Indiana, Nevada and Wisconsin.
Demonstrators in Michigan, Minnesota and North Carolina have also called for governors to allow people to get back to work. Michigan has been hit especially hard by layoffs. More than 1 million people there have their jobs in the past month.
The Trump campaign has targeted Michigan and Minnesota as key battlegrounds in the November elections. Mr. Trump won Michigan narrowly in 2016 and lost Minnesota to Democrat Hillary Clinton by 1.5 percentage points.
Virginia looks like a steeper hill for the president to climb. He lost the state by 5.3 percentage points four years ago.
In Pennsylvania, a state Mr. Trump won narrowly in 2016, about 1.3 million people or one-fifth of the work force have been thrown out of their jobs in the past four weeks.
The president said this month that Democrats “shouldn’t be allowed to win” the presidential race in November based solely on a pandemic that ruined the strong economy he had forged. Mr. Ayers, president of North Star Opinion Research, pointed out that the crisis has thrown the race into uncharted territory.
“If we can get the pandemic to the point where it no longer looks like a threat and the economy roars back, then obviously the president can run on his handling of the pandemic and the fact that it didn’t kill the economy,” Mr. Ayres said. “On the other hand, if we’re still struggling with massive unemployment come September and October, then it’s a completely different story.”
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden is making Mr. Trump’s response to the coronavirus outbreak a campaign issue, but the Trump campaign has shifted gears from the economy to Mr. Biden’s policy on China. Campaign officials say they will continue to hammer Mr. Biden through Election Day for being too cozy with Beijing and for Mr. Biden’s role in his son Hunter’s lucrative business deals in China.
Throughout the crisis, the president’s job approval rating hasn’t changed dramatically. At the end of February, his approval rating in the Real Clear Politics average of polls was 45.9%; on Friday, it was 45.7%.
“It’s been remarkably stable, even in the midst of a pandemic,” Mr. Ayres said. “The reason is that people have made up their minds about this president. Just as job approval did not go up as much as you would expect for a normal president with a booming economy and rock-bottom unemployment, so his job approval has not gone down as much as you would expect with a cratering economy and soaring unemployment. His job approval is driven far more by people’s judgment about his conduct and behavior in office than it is by any objective criteria.”
The president said this weekend that he expects the Democrats’ campaign to focus on criticism of his handling of the public health crisis. He pointed to a conference call that Vice President Mike Pence held Friday with Democratic senators, who criticized him for failing to provide specifics on increasing testing for coronavirus infection.
“He gave them everything that they would have wanted to hear in terms of gaining ground on the CoronaVirus, but nothing that anyone could have said, including ‘it’s over,’ could have made them happy, or even a little bit satisfied,” the president tweeted. “They were rude and nasty. This is their political playbook, and they will use it right up to the election on November 3rd. They will not change because they feel that this is the only way they can win. America will not be fooled!!!”
Timetables are not clear for any of the key battleground states to resume normal operations for work and education.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s model, which the White House uses to track infection rates, said some states could relax certain social distancing measures by May 4 if “robust containment strategies” are implemented to prevent a second wave of infections. Those states include Vermont, West Virginia, Montana and Hawaii, none of which is considered a toss-up in November.
The institute said other states, including the battlegrounds of Florida, Iowa and Georgia, “may need to wait until late June or early July” to ease social distancing.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican and close ally of the president, said he will announce his plan this week for reopening the state. Mr. DeSantis said municipalities could reopen beaches and parks if they do so safely.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said state parks could reopen Monday and retail stores could resume business for pickup, delivery and mail order on Friday.
“We have demonstrated that we can corral the coronavirus,” Mr. Abbott said, though he acknowledged that the school year is finished.
Iowa is one of eight states that never ordered residents to stay at home. The others are Arkansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
“We’ve avoided the cataclysmic outcomes we’ve seen in other countries and other locations,” North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican, said last week.
Other states that appear to be readying for opening in phases sooner rather than later include Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Governors in both parties said their states won’t return to normal operations without assistance from the administration to expand testing
“The federal government cannot wipe its hands of this and say, ‘Oh, the states are responsible for testing,’” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. “We cannot do it without federal help.”
In Illinois, it’s safe to say that Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the White House won’t be coordinating, at least for now. Mr. Pritzker said he has given up on receiving assistance from the federal government and announced that Illinois was “doing what we need to do despite” the president’s decisions.
White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere responded by saying, “Whether through ignorance or incompetence or a propensity to politicize everything, Gov. Pritzker is not being truthful with the people of Illinois when he says his state has not been provided resources from President Trump’s administration.”
The president said the administration has given states the capacity to ramp up testing and it’s governors’ responsibility to use more of that capacity.
“At some point in the not-too-distant future, we’re going to have our country back,” Mr. Trump said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-19--Omaha man arrested on suspicion of arson in house fire

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - A 36-year-old Omaha man has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire @ @ @ @ @ Omaha Fire Department says the fire was reported Friday evening around 5:30 p.m. near 50th @ @ @ @ @ investigators determined the fire in the basement of the home was set intentionally .
A @ @ @ @ @ home was able to escape without injury .
Firefighters extinguished the fire within roughly half @ @ @

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A 36-year-old Omaha man has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to a home.
The Omaha Fire Department says the fire was reported Friday evening around 5:30 p.m. near 50th and Leavenworth streets. Fire investigators determined the fire in the basement of the home was set intentionally.
A person who lived at the home was able to escape without injury.
Firefighters extinguished the fire within roughly half an hour.


washingtontimes--2020-04-19--2 teens facing several charges after Omaha shooting

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - Two teenage boys are facing several charges in connection with the shooting @ @ @ @ @ northeast Omaha .
Omaha Police officers responded to the shooting near 18th and Spencer streets @ @ @ @ @ and saw a vehicle that had been stolen earlier leaving the area .
Around the @ @ @ @ @ boy was brought to a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound .
Officers followed the @ @ @ @ @ before it was abandoned .
Police arrested two boys , a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old @ @ @ @ @ facing charges of felony assault , shooting at an occupied vehicle and obstructing police .
@ @ @ @ @ the Douglas County Youth Detention Center .

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Two teenage boys are facing several charges in connection with the shooting of a third teen in northeast Omaha.
Omaha Police officers responded to the shooting near 18th and Spencer streets just before 10 p.m. Saturday and saw a vehicle that had been stolen earlier leaving the area. Around the same time, a 16-year-old boy was brought to a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
Officers followed the stolen vehicle for several blocks before it was abandoned. Police arrested two boys, a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old.
The two teens are facing charges of felony assault, shooting at an occupied vehicle and obstructing police. They are being held at the Douglas County Youth Detention Center.


washingtontimes--2020-04-19--Richard Grenell reveals Russia fed Christopher Steele disinformation

Two Republican senators knew of some explosive details lurking inside an inspector general ’ s report when on April 2 they reached out to Richard Grenell , the newly installed acting director of national intelligence who was already making his mark in just two months .
The senators had read classified footnotes that showed Russia fed disinformation for the infamous Christopher Steele dossier used by the FBI to try to bring down President Trump .
They wanted the secret spilled , legally .
Mr. Grenell ’ s decision that day would provide further evidence that a new type of government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast intelligence collection networks .
Mr. Grenell didn ’ t come out of the spying woodwork of which Mr. Trump remains suspicious .
Mr. Trump in February tapped an avowed supporter who displayed his pro-administration bent on Twitter as ambassador to Germany .
On April 2 , a fascinating and still-secret story of Mr. Steele and his Democratic Party-financed dossier remained hidden .
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report in December on FBI surveillance abuse , but the juicy details on the Kremlin and the dossier remained blacked out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI team investigating Mr. Trump and his campaign already looked bad enough based on open material .
Mr. Horowitz detailed how the bureau committed over a dozen offenses of giving false information , while omitting exonerating evidence , when agents won four warrants from judges to spy on Trump volunteer Carter Page .
The secret footnotes told another scandalous story .
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley , Iowa Republican , and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson , Wisconsin Republican , asked the Justice Department in January to free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice , run by Attorney General William Barr , had said “ no.
” But no one had said “ yes , ” either .
So the two senators , now a team in forcing disclosures of FBI abuses , contacted Mr. Grenell .
Hours later , a letter arrived from Justice containing the coveted declassified footnotes for public release .
And then a bonus : Mr. Grenell on April 15 declassified additional footnotes and removed redacted parts of footnotes released on April 2 .
“ Grenell was pivotal , ” a Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He released more information than we actually asked for.
” Mr. Grenell told the senators , “ I agree transparency is now needed more than ever.
” In sum , the footnotes showed that on at least two occasions in early 2017 , the FBI was warned by intelligence sources , including in the U.S. government .
They said Mr. Steele ’ s most sensational allegations , such as Mr. Trump ’ s supposed romp with Russian prostitutes , were the products of Russian intelligence disinformation .
The FBI apparently ignored the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team investigating Trump-Russia collusion continued to pursue dossier leads for the next two years and obtained more Steele-based surveillance warrants .
Already known : Mr. Horowitz documented that the dossier ’ s main source told the FBI that the material he fed to Mr. Steele was merely Moscow gossip .
Now it is known that was the same month agents learned of Russian disinformation .
The dossier , in the hands of Crossfire Hurricane agents in September 2016 , alleged that Mr. Trump was a Russian spy and financed Russia ’ s computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this proved true .
Mr. Steele was financed by Hillary Clinton ’ s presidential campaign and the Democratic Party through the investigative firm Fusion GPS .
The dossier fueled a long investigation .
In the end , special counselor Robert Mueller reported in March 2019 that he had not established a Trump campaign-Russia election conspiracy .
A reading of the Mueller-Horowitz reports shows there was never evidence of a Trump conspiracy — no email , communication intercept , informant or memo — outside of the disproven dossier .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatally flawed because of Russian disinformation .
These footnotes confirm that there was a direct Russian disinformation campaign in 2016 , and there were ties between Russian intelligence and a presidential campaign — the Clinton campaign , not Trump ’ s , ” Mr. Grassley and Mr. Johnson said in a written statement .
⦁ No .
350 .
The FBI Crossfire Hurricane team was told on Jan. 12 , 2017 , that information about former Trump attorney Michael Cohen was Russian disinformation .
Mr. Steele ’ s sensational claim was that Cohen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet aides of Russian President Vladimir Putin and pay hush money to computer hackers .
The trip never happened , the FBI concluded .
⦁ No .
350 .
U.S. intelligence told the FBI in February that the story about Mr. Trump and the Moscow hotel room in 2013 came from the Russian intelligence service .
⦁ No .
339 .
The source who provided allegations that Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page met in Moscow with two Putin associates was tied to Russian intelligence .
The Mueller report cleared Mr .
Page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence told the FBI that two people affiliated with Russian intelligence knew in July 2016 that Mr. Steele had taken on the Democratic Party project to sink candidate Trump .
Analysts say the heads-up gave the Kremlin ample time to penetrate Mr. Steele ’ s operation and plant fake news .
⦁ No .
347 .
One of Mr. Steele ’ s sources had contacts with the Russian presidential administration , Mr. Putin ’ s personal staff , in June and July 2016 .
This sub-source favored candidate Clinton .
⦁ No .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Horowitz report as “ Person 1 ” had historical ties to the Russian intelligence service .
The bottom line : Mr. Putin interfered in the 2016 election by ordering his intelligence forces to hack computers and spew anti-Clinton social media .
Russia also interfered on the other side by filling a dossier used by the FBI , the Justice Department and liberal news media with lies about Mr. Trump that have haunted his presidency .
Mr. Barr said in a Fox News interview that the FBI “ sabotaged ” the Trump White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CIA officer and Moscow station chief , told The Washington Times that exposing the footnotes is a good defense against further Russian meddling .
“ It ’ s really important for our citizens to know the extent to which Russia is trying to interfere in our political process , and this looks like it was just another way where they were trying to use the Steele so-called dossier as a conduit to pass disinformation , ” Mr. Hoffman said .
Mr. Hoffman wrote in 2018 that Russia likely would have detected what Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public knows that it did .
Mr. Grenell , the acting U.S. intelligence chief , has been notable in other ways .
He has begun an agenda to pare down the staff at the director of national intelligence headquarters , as well as at the National Counterterrorism Center .
The argument is that some positions are duplicative and could be better used in intelligence agencies or abroad .
Rep. Adam B. Schiff , California Democrat and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence , is opposing the drawdown .
He wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 saying the reorganization plan needs congressional oversight .
The letter was leaked to the news media .
Perhaps in the past the DNI would have responded simply in a letter .
Mr. Grenell responded on Twitter , with veiled reference to Republican complaints that Mr. Schiff ’ s committee Democrats leak constantly , sometimes inaccurately .
“ His letter was sent to the press before it was sent to me , ” Mr. Grenell tweeted .
“ These press leaks politicizing the intelligence community must stop.
” In 2017 , Mr. Schiff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s dossier .
He read from it at a March 2017 hearing as he questioned then-FBI Director James B. Comey .
Mr. Schiff defended Mr. Steele , and other committee Democrats portrayed the former MI6 Moscow-based spy as a first-rate intelligence officer .
The Washington Times asked Mr. Schiff ’ s spokesman for reaction to new disclosures that Russia fed disinformation into the dossier .
The spokesman didn ’ t reply .
“ There is a lot of bureaucratic resistance to these declassifications , but Grenell made it a priority , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s got the guts to say , ‘ Just get it done .
’ ”

Two Republican senators knew of some explosive details lurking inside an inspector general’s report when on April 2 they reached out to Richard Grenell, the newly installed acting director of national intelligence who was already making his mark in just two months.
The senators had read classified footnotes that showed Russia fed disinformation for the infamous Christopher Steele dossier used by the FBI to try to bring down President Trump. They wanted the secret spilled, legally.
Mr. Grenell’s decision that day would provide further evidence that a new type of government operative was running the nation’s vast intelligence collection networks. Mr. Grenell didn’t come out of the spying woodwork of which Mr. Trump remains suspicious. Mr. Trump in February tapped an avowed supporter who displayed his pro-administration bent on Twitter as ambassador to Germany.
On April 2, a fascinating and still-secret story of Mr. Steele and his Democratic Party-financed dossier remained hidden. Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released a report in December on FBI surveillance abuse, but the juicy details on the Kremlin and the dossier remained blacked out in a series of narrative footnotes.
The FBI team investigating Mr. Trump and his campaign already looked bad enough based on open material. Mr. Horowitz detailed how the bureau committed over a dozen offenses of giving false information, while omitting exonerating evidence, when agents won four warrants from judges to spy on Trump volunteer Carter Page. The secret footnotes told another scandalous story.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican, asked the Justice Department in January to free up the footnotes.
No one at Justice, run by Attorney General William Barr, had said “no.” But no one had said “yes,” either.
So the two senators, now a team in forcing disclosures of FBI abuses, contacted Mr. Grenell. Hours later, a letter arrived from Justice containing the coveted declassified footnotes for public release.
And then a bonus: Mr. Grenell on April 15 declassified additional footnotes and removed redacted parts of footnotes released on April 2.
“Grenell was pivotal,” a Senate aide told The Washington Times. “He released more information than we actually asked for.”
Mr. Grenell told the senators, “I agree transparency is now needed more than ever.”
In sum, the footnotes showed that on at least two occasions in early 2017, the FBI was warned by intelligence sources, including in the U.S. government. They said Mr. Steele’s most sensational allegations, such as Mr. Trump’s supposed romp with Russian prostitutes, were the products of Russian intelligence disinformation.
The FBI apparently ignored the Kremlin angle because the “Crossfire Hurricane” team investigating Trump-Russia collusion continued to pursue dossier leads for the next two years and obtained more Steele-based surveillance warrants.
Already known: Mr. Horowitz documented that the dossier’s main source told the FBI that the material he fed to Mr. Steele was merely Moscow gossip. Now it is known that was the same month agents learned of Russian disinformation.
The dossier, in the hands of Crossfire Hurricane agents in September 2016, alleged that Mr. Trump was a Russian spy and financed Russia’s computer hacking into Democratic Party computers. None of this proved true. Mr. Steele was financed by Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and the Democratic Party through the investigative firm Fusion GPS.
The dossier fueled a long investigation. In the end, special counselor Robert Mueller reported in March 2019 that he had not established a Trump campaign-Russia election conspiracy.
A reading of the Mueller-Horowitz reports shows there was never evidence of a Trump conspiracy — no email, communication intercept, informant or memo — outside of the disproven dossier.
“It’s ironic that the Russian collusion narrative was fatally flawed because of Russian disinformation. These footnotes confirm that there was a direct Russian disinformation campaign in 2016, and there were ties between Russian intelligence and a presidential campaign — the Clinton campaign, not Trump’s,” Mr. Grassley and Mr. Johnson said in a written statement.
The once-secret key declassified footnotes:
⦁ No. 350. The FBI Crossfire Hurricane team was told on Jan. 12, 2017, that information about former Trump attorney Michael Cohen was Russian disinformation. Mr. Steele’s sensational claim was that Cohen secretly traveled to Prague in August 2016 to meet aides of Russian President Vladimir Putin and pay hush money to computer hackers. The trip never happened, the FBI concluded.
⦁ No. 350. U.S. intelligence told the FBI in February that the story about Mr. Trump and the Moscow hotel room in 2013 came from the Russian intelligence service.
⦁ No. 339. The source who provided allegations that Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page met in Moscow with two Putin associates was tied to Russian intelligence. The Mueller report cleared Mr. Page.
⦁ No. 342. U.S. intelligence told the FBI that two people affiliated with Russian intelligence knew in July 2016 that Mr. Steele had taken on the Democratic Party project to sink candidate Trump.
Analysts say the heads-up gave the Kremlin ample time to penetrate Mr. Steele’s operation and plant fake news.
⦁ No. 347. One of Mr. Steele’s sources had contacts with the Russian presidential administration, Mr. Putin’s personal staff, in June and July 2016. This sub-source favored candidate Clinton.
⦁ No. 302. A dossier source identified in the Horowitz report as “Person 1” had historical ties to the Russian intelligence service.
The bottom line: Mr. Putin interfered in the 2016 election by ordering his intelligence forces to hack computers and spew anti-Clinton social media. Russia also interfered on the other side by filling a dossier used by the FBI, the Justice Department and liberal news media with lies about Mr. Trump that have haunted his presidency. Mr. Barr said in a Fox News interview that the FBI “sabotaged” the Trump White House.
Daniel Hoffman, a former CIA officer and Moscow station chief, told The Washington Times that exposing the footnotes is a good defense against further Russian meddling.
“It’s really important for our citizens to know the extent to which Russia is trying to interfere in our political process, and this looks like it was just another way where they were trying to use the Steele so-called dossier as a conduit to pass disinformation,” Mr. Hoffman said.
Mr. Hoffman wrote in 2018 that Russia likely would have detected what Mr. Steele was doing — and now the public knows that it did.
Mr. Grenell, the acting U.S. intelligence chief, has been notable in other ways. He has begun an agenda to pare down the staff at the director of national intelligence headquarters, as well as at the National Counterterrorism Center. The argument is that some positions are duplicative and could be better used in intelligence agencies or abroad.
Rep. Adam B. Schiff, California Democrat and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is opposing the drawdown. He wrote a letter to Mr. Grenell on April 7 saying the reorganization plan needs congressional oversight. The letter was leaked to the news media.
Perhaps in the past the DNI would have responded simply in a letter. Mr. Grenell responded on Twitter, with veiled reference to Republican complaints that Mr. Schiff’s committee Democrats leak constantly, sometimes inaccurately.
“His letter was sent to the press before it was sent to me,” Mr. Grenell tweeted. “These press leaks politicizing the intelligence community must stop.”
In 2017, Mr. Schiff was a big fan of Mr. Steele’s dossier. He read from it at a March 2017 hearing as he questioned then-FBI Director James B. Comey. Mr. Schiff defended Mr. Steele, and other committee Democrats portrayed the former MI6 Moscow-based spy as a first-rate intelligence officer.
The Washington Times asked Mr. Schiff’s spokesman for reaction to new disclosures that Russia fed disinformation into the dossier. The spokesman didn’t reply.
“There is a lot of bureaucratic resistance to these declassifications, but Grenell made it a priority,” said a Republican congressional staffer. “He’s got the guts to say, ‘Just get it done.’”
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-19--Missouri coronavirus death toll grows to 198; 5,991 infected

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - The coronavirus outbreak has now claimed nearly 200 lives in Missouri and sickened thousands @ @ @ @ @ Missouri rose to 198 , up 13 from Saturday , according to data from Johns @ @ @ @ @ for Systems Science and Engineering , which has been tracking cases worldwide .
The data @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases in the state increased to 5,991 , up 219 .
The deaths include @ @ @ @ @ Health and Rehabilitation in St. Charles County .
Another roughly 60 Frontier residents and a @ @ @ @ @ .
Frontier houses 113 mostly elderly patients who are recovering from medical procedures .
Such @ @ @ @ @ hit in the outbreak .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or @ @ @ @ @ within three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health @ @ @ @ @ more severe illness and death .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The coronavirus outbreak has now claimed nearly 200 lives in Missouri and sickened thousands more.
COVID-19-related deaths in Missouri rose to 198, up 13 from Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering, which has been tracking cases worldwide. The data also showed the number of confirmed cases in the state increased to 5,991, up 219.
The deaths include 11 residents residents of Frontier Health and Rehabilitation in St. Charles County. Another roughly 60 Frontier residents and a dozen employees have tested positive.
Frontier houses 113 mostly elderly patients who are recovering from medical procedures. Such facilities have been particularly hard hit in the outbreak.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Soccer team from Wuhan returns home nearly 4 months later

MADRID ( AP ) - The soccer team based in the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in China is back home , nearly four months after it left for a preseason tour and got stuck abroad .
Wuhan Zall returned home this weekend after the government lifted the last restrictions on movement in the city where the COVID-19 outbreak emerged late last year .
The nearly 50 members of the squad had been away since Jan. 2 , when the team left to begin training for the Chinese league season that was supposed to start in February but was eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started in the Chinese city of Guangzhou , nearly 1,000 kilometers ( 620 miles ) from Wuhan .
It was told about 20 days later that it would not be allowed to return to its base because of the coronavirus outbreak .
Wuhan ended its 76-day lockdown in early April , allowing people to leave for destinations across China .
Wuhan Zall had already planned a training period in southern Spain , where it arrived in late January .
The team ’ s presence near the city of Málaga prompted fear among local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading outbreak .
The team had been away from Wuhan for nearly a month but members of the squad had to be repeatedly tested in Spain before concerns about their condition abated .
None of the squad members tested positive in Spain , but Spanish coach José González said at the time that one of them lost a family member back home because of the virus .
The team went to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid to watch the Spanish league “ clásico ” between Real Madrid and Barcelona on March 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reward ” for the team .
The squad was expected to leave Spain in mid-February but had to extend its stay as conditions back home hadn ’ t fully improved .
The team was going to stay training in Spain until at least the end of March but plans had to change again after the situation in Europe took a turn for the worse .
Spain became one of the hardest-hit countries by the pandemic and Wuhan Zall officials decided it was time to leave .
The team left on March 14 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of emergency and said the entire nation would have to abide by lockdown measures to try to contain the spread of the virus .
González said at the time that “ things were well ” in China so it was better to leave Spain as soon as possible .
The team initially went to the city of Shenzen as restrictions in Wuhan remained in place when the team left Spain .
Members of the squad had to enter a mandatory quarantine after arriving in China .
The team went to the nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over , and it finally returned home to Wuhan on Saturday .

MADRID (AP) - The soccer team based in the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in China is back home, nearly four months after it left for a preseason tour and got stuck abroad.
Wuhan Zall returned home this weekend after the government lifted the last restrictions on movement in the city where the COVID-19 outbreak emerged late last year.
The nearly 50 members of the squad had been away since Jan. 2, when the team left to begin training for the Chinese league season that was supposed to start in February but was eventually suspended.
The team’s preseason started in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, nearly 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Wuhan. It was told about 20 days later that it would not be allowed to return to its base because of the coronavirus outbreak. Wuhan ended its 76-day lockdown in early April, allowing people to leave for destinations across China.
Wuhan Zall had already planned a training period in southern Spain, where it arrived in late January. The team’s presence near the city of Málaga prompted fear among local residents in the midst of the rapidly spreading outbreak. The team had been away from Wuhan for nearly a month but members of the squad had to be repeatedly tested in Spain before concerns about their condition abated.
None of the squad members tested positive in Spain, but Spanish coach José González said at the time that one of them lost a family member back home because of the virus.
The team went to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid to watch the Spanish league “clásico” between Real Madrid and Barcelona on March 1, which González called a “well-deserved reward” for the team.
The squad was expected to leave Spain in mid-February but had to extend its stay as conditions back home hadn’t fully improved. The team was going to stay training in Spain until at least the end of March but plans had to change again after the situation in Europe took a turn for the worse. Spain became one of the hardest-hit countries by the pandemic and Wuhan Zall officials decided it was time to leave.
The team left on March 14, the day the Spanish government declared a state of emergency and said the entire nation would have to abide by lockdown measures to try to contain the spread of the virus. González said at the time that “things were well” in China so it was better to leave Spain as soon as possible.
The team initially went to the city of Shenzen as restrictions in Wuhan remained in place when the team left Spain. Members of the squad had to enter a mandatory quarantine after arriving in China.
The team went to the nearby city of Foshan after the quarantine was over, and it finally returned home to Wuhan on Saturday.
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Sheriff: Man dies after car backs into North Carolina river

LEXINGTON , N.C. ( AP ) - Authorities in North Carolina have recovered the body of a man who died @ @ @ @ @ boat into a river on Sunday morning , officials said .
The Davidson County Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ an access point on the Yadkin River south of Lexington around 10 a.m. and found @ @ @ @ @ water , officials told news outlets .
Investigators determined the victim was trying to back @ @ @ @ @ when the car it was attached to went under with the man inside , the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s windows were rolled down at the time , The Winston-Salem Journal reported , @ @ @ @ @ office .
No additional details were released .
Authorities did not immediately identify the victim @

LEXINGTON, N.C. (AP) - Authorities in North Carolina have recovered the body of a man who died while trying to unload a boat into a river on Sunday morning, officials said.
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office responded to an access point on the Yadkin River south of Lexington around 10 a.m. and found a vehicle submerged in the water, officials told news outlets.
Investigators determined the victim was trying to back the boat into the water when the car it was attached to went under with the man inside, the office said. The vehicle’s windows were rolled down at the time, The Winston-Salem Journal reported, citing the sheriff’s office.
No additional details were released. Authorities did not immediately identify the victim.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Novartis wins approval from FDA to start hydroxychloroquine clinical trial

Novartis has reached a deal with the Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a clinical trial on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine , a malaria drug , in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients , the Swiss drug company announced on Monday .
The trial of about 440 patients is supposed to be conducted at more than a dozen sites across the U.S. “ We recognize the importance of answering the scientific question of whether hydroxychloroquine will be beneficial for patients with COVID-19 disease , ” said John Tsai , head of global drug development and chief medical officer at the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow doctors to administer the drug to COVID-19 patients under certain conditions , though there is no official FDA-approved product available to treat the coronavirus .
President Trump has repeatedly touted hydroxychloroquine as a potential “ game-changer ” in the battle against the new coronavirus .
A recent international poll of more than 6,200 doctors found that it was the most effective therapy for COVID-19 out of a list of more than a dozen options .
But some health experts have cautioned against jumping to conclusions and have warned of potential side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on chloroquine , a similar drug , had to be stopped early in one group of patients after some had developed heart rhythm problems .

Novartis has reached a deal with the Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a clinical trial on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug, in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the Swiss drug company announced on Monday.
The trial of about 440 patients is supposed to be conducted at more than a dozen sites across the U.S.
“We recognize the importance of answering the scientific question of whether hydroxychloroquine will be beneficial for patients with COVID-19 disease,” said John Tsai, head of global drug development and chief medical officer at the company.
The FDA has issued emergency-use authorization to allow doctors to administer the drug to COVID-19 patients under certain conditions, though there is no official FDA-approved product available to treat the coronavirus.
President Trump has repeatedly touted hydroxychloroquine as a potential “game-changer” in the battle against the new coronavirus. A recent international poll of more than 6,200 doctors found that it was the most effective therapy for COVID-19 out of a list of more than a dozen options.
But some health experts have cautioned against jumping to conclusions and have warned of potential side effects. A recent study in Brazil on chloroquine, a similar drug, had to be stopped early in one group of patients after some had developed heart rhythm problems.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--The Latest: Bobcat resuming production after COVID-19 break

WEST FARGO , N.D. ( AP ) - The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak in North Dakota ( all times @ @ @ @ @ is resuming production in North Dakota and Minnesota after a two-week shutdown to deal with @ @ @ @ @ shutdown went into effect on April 6th at its operations in Gwinner , Bismarck and @ @ @ @ @ Litchfield , Minn .
The company also has administrative offices in West Fargo .
The @ @ @ @ @ increased cleaning and disinfecting at its facilities , has implemented social distancing , limited visitors @ @ @ @ @ The company says it ’ s closely monitoring inventory levels , though the supply of @ @ @ @ @ meet current orders and market demand .

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak in North Dakota (all times local):
6:45 a.m.
Doosan Bobcat is resuming production in North Dakota and Minnesota after a two-week shutdown to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
The shutdown went into effect on April 6th at its operations in Gwinner, Bismarck and Wahpeton, North Dakota and Litchfield, Minn. The company also has administrative offices in West Fargo.
The equipment manufacturer says it has increased cleaning and disinfecting at its facilities, has implemented social distancing, limited visitors and encouraged working remotely.
KFGO reports full production restarts Monday.
The company says it’s closely monitoring inventory levels, though the supply of available products is adequate to meet current orders and market demand.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Police: Man shot, killed outside Springfield gas station

SPRINGFIELD , Mo .
( AP ) - A man died of his injuries after being shot outside a Springfield @ @ @ @ @ said .
The shooting happened Sunday night , and the victim was taken by a @ @ @ @ @ Hospital in Springfield , television station KYTV reported .
The victim was then transferred to @ @ @ @ @ he died , police said .
The man was able to give police a brief @ @ @ @ @ he died , investigators said .
Police later arrested a 27-year-old man suspected in the @ @ @ @ @ with police .
Police had not released the names of the man killed or the @ @ @ @ @ , and did not give details about what led up to the shooting .

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A man died of his injuries after being shot outside a Springfield gas station, police there said.
The shooting happened Sunday night, and the victim was taken by a private vehicle to Cox North Hospital in Springfield, television station KYTV reported. The victim was then transferred to Cox South Hospital, where he died, police said.
The man was able to give police a brief description of the shooter before he died, investigators said. Police later arrested a 27-year-old man suspected in the shooting after a short standoff with police.
Police had not released the names of the man killed or the man arrested by Monday morning, and did not give details about what led up to the shooting.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Student-run Purdue farm raising produce for food banks

WEST LAFAYETTE , Ind .
( AP ) - Purdue University students who operate a small community farm are raising crops for local food banks to help feed students and local residents alike during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Purdue Student Farm usually sells its produce to Purdue food services , which serves those vegetables at the university ’ s dining service .
But the student farm found itself without customers after on-campus classes were canceled and most students returned home amid the pandemic .
“ We didn ’ t want to stop producing the food because we know there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Steve Hallett , a horticulture and landscape architecture professor and adviser to the student farm .
Chris Adair , who manages the students who work at the farm , said they ’ re currently harvesting spinach and bagging it for donation to the Food Finders Food Bank , which serves residents in the area , and Purdue ’ s own food bank .
He said four students are still working on the farm and more will join them later this spring to plant crops for the summer and fall and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be donated to the food pantries until students return to campus and Purdue ’ s dining services resumes purchasing the food .
“ The plan with sales is to continue growing and donating until the markets open back up to us , ” Adair told the Journal and Courier .
The fresh produce helps at the Food Finders Food Bank , said CEO Katy Bunder .
She said demand for the food bank ’ s foods has increased since Indiana issued a stay-at-home order last month and people began losing their paychecks amid @ @ @ @

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Purdue University students who operate a small community farm are raising crops for local food banks to help feed students and local residents alike during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Purdue Student Farm usually sells its produce to Purdue food services, which serves those vegetables at the university’s dining service. But the student farm found itself without customers after on-campus classes were canceled and most students returned home amid the pandemic.
“We didn’t want to stop producing the food because we know there would be a need in the community,” said Steve Hallett, a horticulture and landscape architecture professor and adviser to the student farm.
Chris Adair, who manages the students who work at the farm, said they’re currently harvesting spinach and bagging it for donation to the Food Finders Food Bank, which serves residents in the area, and Purdue’s own food bank.
He said four students are still working on the farm and more will join them later this spring to plant crops for the summer and fall and harvest them. The fresh produce will be donated to the food pantries until students return to campus and Purdue’s dining services resumes purchasing the food.
“The plan with sales is to continue growing and donating until the markets open back up to us,” Adair told the Journal and Courier.
The fresh produce helps at the Food Finders Food Bank, said CEO Katy Bunder. She said demand for the food bank’s foods has increased since Indiana issued a stay-at-home order last month and people began losing their paychecks amid the economic downturn.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--New sentence ordered in case of Detroit firefighter's death

DETROIT ( AP ) - A man convicted of arranging an arson that killed a Detroit firefighter has been sentenced three times since the 2008 crime .
Twelve years and two judges later , the trial court still hasn ’ t been able to get it right , the Michigan appeals court said .
Mario Willis was convicted of second-degree murder after being charged with paying a handyman $ 20 to burn down an abandoned house .
The roof collapsed on firefighter Walt Harris while he was fighting the fire , killing him .
The appeals court last week acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ case to Wayne County Judge Margaret Van Houten .
The court said she had failed to adequately explain why he deserved a minimum prison sentence of 37 years .
Van Houten exceeded the guidelines , which would put the minimum sentence anywhere from about 19 years to 31 years .
A prisoner is eligible for parole review after the minimum sentence .
The appeals court noted that Willis , now 38 , has had “ exemplary behavior ” behind bars .
“ A defendant ’ s behavior in prison since his prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the court said .

DETROIT (AP) - A man convicted of arranging an arson that killed a Detroit firefighter has been sentenced three times since the 2008 crime.
Twelve years and two judges later, the trial court still hasn’t been able to get it right, the Michigan appeals court said.
Mario Willis was convicted of second-degree murder after being charged with paying a handyman $20 to burn down an abandoned house. The roof collapsed on firefighter Walt Harris while he was fighting the fire, killing him.
The appeals court last week acknowledged the “tragedy” but returned Willis’ case to Wayne County Judge Margaret Van Houten. The court said she had failed to adequately explain why he deserved a minimum prison sentence of 37 years.
Van Houten exceeded the guidelines, which would put the minimum sentence anywhere from about 19 years to 31 years. A prisoner is eligible for parole review after the minimum sentence.
The appeals court noted that Willis, now 38, has had “exemplary behavior” behind bars.
“A defendant’s behavior in prison since his prior sentencing is a proper consideration on resentencing,” the court said.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--I-80 Mississippi bridge plan to be discussed in webinar

DIXON , Ill. ( AP ) - The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a virtual public meeting Wednesday on plans for replacing a more than 50-year-old Mississippi River bridge in the Quad Cities area .
The meeting is being held online because of social distancing restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The public can participate via an online link during the webinar , which begins at 2 p.m. IDOT officials will introduce a Planning and Environmental Linkages study of Interstate 80 over the Mississippi River .
The plan is to replace the I-80 bridge in the Quad Cities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will examine nine miles from the Interstate 88 interchange with I-80 to about the Middle Road interchange in Bettendorf , Iowa .
It will evaluate safety , capacity and improved mobility and conclude with a report later this year .
Participants may click on an I-80 Mississippi River Bridge webinar link and register with their name and email address .
There will be a video presentation and exhibits to review .
IDOT officials will answer questions after the video .
The video and materials will be available after the meeting at www.I80MississippiBridge.com .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ become part of the public meeting record .

DIXON, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold a virtual public meeting Wednesday on plans for replacing a more than 50-year-old Mississippi River bridge in the Quad Cities area.
The meeting is being held online because of social distancing restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. The public can participate via an online link during the webinar, which begins at 2 p.m.
IDOT officials will introduce a Planning and Environmental Linkages study of Interstate 80 over the Mississippi River. The plan is to replace the I-80 bridge in the Quad Cities, which opened in 1966.
The study will examine nine miles from the Interstate 88 interchange with I-80 to about the Middle Road interchange in Bettendorf, Iowa. It will evaluate safety, capacity and improved mobility and conclude with a report later this year.
Participants may click on an I-80 Mississippi River Bridge webinar link and register with their name and email address. There will be a video presentation and exhibits to review. IDOT officials will answer questions after the video.
The video and materials will be available after the meeting at www.I80MississippiBridge.com. Public comments received through May 6 will become part of the public meeting record.
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Online
Interstate 80 Mississippi River Bridge project: https://www.i80mississippibridge.com/


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Scott Gottlieb, former FDA head: 'Hopefully,' we'll be there on testing by September

Former Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Monday said it likely won ’ t be until September before the United States is at an ideal testing capacity amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Mr. Gottlieb said an ideal target is to have roughly 1 % of the U.S. population , or about 3 million people , tested every week .
There have been about 3.9 million total tests conducted in the U.S. as of Monday morning , according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University .
“ We ’ re not going to be there — we ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re not going to be there in June , ” Dr. Gottlieb said on NBC ’ s “ Today ” show .
“ Hopefully we ’ ll be there by September.
” “ We won ’ t have the testing we want until September , I think , in terms of the kind of broad coverage .
You ’ re still going to see high positivity rates heading into May , ” he said .
“ We ’ re also not going to have all the public health workers to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be another limitation.
” Dr. Gottlieb acknowledged that it ’ s a risk for states to start reopening some businesses and relaxing social distancing measures in the coming weeks , but that it ’ s not realistic for them to take a “ wait and see ” approach until the fall .
“ If we wait until we have sort of the optimal framework for testing , we ’ ll be waiting until the fall and that ’ s just not going to be possible from an economic , social , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ There are public health costs to keeping things shut down — people aren ’ t seeking routine care ; vaccination rates are down.
” He said the hope is the summer will be something of a “ backstop ” in the fight against the virus but it ’ s unclear whether that will be the case .
Dr. Gottlieb is one of about 200 business leaders and experts the White House recently announced will work the administration on charting a path forward .
He is also advising Maryland Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lamont on coronavirus response issues .

Former Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Monday said it likely won’t be until September before the United States is at an ideal testing capacity amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Mr. Gottlieb said an ideal target is to have roughly 1% of the U.S. population, or about 3 million people, tested every week. There have been about 3.9 million total tests conducted in the U.S. as of Monday morning, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University.
“We’re not going to be there — we’re not going to be there in May; we’re not going to be there in June,” Dr. Gottlieb said on NBC’s “Today” show. “Hopefully we’ll be there by September.”
“We won’t have the testing we want until September, I think, in terms of the kind of broad coverage. You’re still going to see high positivity rates heading into May,” he said. “We’re also not going to have all the public health workers to do the contact tracing — that’s going to be another limitation.”
Dr. Gottlieb acknowledged that it’s a risk for states to start reopening some businesses and relaxing social distancing measures in the coming weeks, but that it’s not realistic for them to take a “wait and see” approach until the fall.
“If we wait until we have sort of the optimal framework for testing, we’ll be waiting until the fall and that’s just not going to be possible from an economic, social, or public health standpoint,” he said. “There are public health costs to keeping things shut down — people aren’t seeking routine care; vaccination rates are down.”
He said the hope is the summer will be something of a “backstop” in the fight against the virus but it’s unclear whether that will be the case.
Dr. Gottlieb is one of about 200 business leaders and experts the White House recently announced will work the administration on charting a path forward.
He is also advising Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on coronavirus response issues.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--1 dead in Maple Grove shooting, 1 in custody

MAPLE GROVE , Minn. ( AP ) - Police in Maple Grove say a man has been fatally shot and @ @ @ @ @ .
Officers responding to a call about the shooting went to the scene and found @ @ @ @ @ .
Another man was arrested at the scene .
Police said the shooting is an @ @ @ @ @ no threat to the community .
The shooting remains under investigation .

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. (AP) - Police in Maple Grove say a man has been fatally shot and another man is in custody.
The shooting happened Sunday about 7 p.m.
Officers responding to a call about the shooting went to the scene and found a man who had died. Another man was arrested at the scene.
Police said the shooting is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community. The shooting remains under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Turnpike crash involving 3 motorcycles leaves 2 dead, 1 hurt

EAST BRUNSWICK , N.J. ( AP ) - A crash involving three motorcycles on the New Jersey Turnpike has left @ @ @ @ @ seriously injured , state police said .
The accident occurred around 1:20 p.m. Sunday in @ @ @ @ @ the highway near mile marker 84 in East Brunswick .
The two people killed were @ @ @ @ @ , while the injured person was being treated at a hospital .
Their names have @ @ @ @ @ cause of the accident remains under investigation .

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) - A crash involving three motorcycles on the New Jersey Turnpike has left two New Jersey men dead and a Pennsylvania man seriously injured, state police said.
The accident occurred around 1:20 p.m. Sunday in the southbound outer lanes of the highway near mile marker 84 in New Brunswick.
Marcus Wood, 30, of Willingboro, and Brayan Portillo-Padilla, 22, of Sayreville, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The third rider - identified only as a 29-year-old Morrisville, Pennsylvania man - was thrown from his motorcycle when it flipped over, authorities said. He was being treated at a hospital for undisclosed moderate injuries, bu further details were not disclosed.
It’s not clear if the three men were traveling in a group when the crash occurred, authorities said, and it appeared that no other vehicles were involved.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Guard injured in attack at Florida prison on COVID lockdown

BUSHNELL , Fla. ( AP ) - A corrections officer was injured Sunday during an attack by inmates at a state prison in central Florida that ’ s become a hot spot for COVID-19 cases , officials said .
The Sumter Correctional Institution guard suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening and is recovering at a hospital , according to a news release from the Florida Department of Corrections .
The statement said the guard was attacked by an unspecified number of inmates .
“ I want to commend the staff and inmates who came to this officer ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Secretary Mark Inch in a news release .
“ Our officer showed courage and perseverance under extreme duress.
” The inmates who were involved in the attack will face disciplinary action including possible criminal charges , the statement said .
The agency ’ s inspector general is conducting an investigation .
On Sunday evening , 113 inmates and 80 staff members across Florida ’ s prison system had tested positive for the new coronavirus , according to the Miami Herald .
The number of cases of the virus at Sumter Correctional rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the number of inmates in medical isolation dropped from 21 to 18 .
The dorm where the guard was attacked was not under medical isolation .
However the entire facility in Bushnell has been on restricted movement during the pandemic .
Such lockdowns , which restrict access to commissaries and showers , among other amenities , are known to exacerbate conditions for prisoners and officers alike , the Herald reported .

BUSHNELL, Fla. (AP) - A corrections officer was injured Sunday during an attack by inmates at a state prison in central Florida that’s become a hot spot for COVID-19 cases, officials said.
The Sumter Correctional Institution guard suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening and is recovering at a hospital, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Corrections. The statement said the guard was attacked by an unspecified number of inmates.
“I want to commend the staff and inmates who came to this officer’s aid during this vicious attack,” said Secretary Mark Inch in a news release. “Our officer showed courage and perseverance under extreme duress.”
The inmates who were involved in the attack will face disciplinary action including possible criminal charges, the statement said. The agency’s inspector general is conducting an investigation.
On Sunday evening, 113 inmates and 80 staff members across Florida’s prison system had tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to the Miami Herald. The number of cases of the virus at Sumter Correctional rose from seven to 24 on Sunday, while the number of inmates in medical isolation dropped from 21 to 18.
The dorm where the guard was attacked was not under medical isolation. However the entire facility in Bushnell has been on restricted movement during the pandemic. Such lockdowns, which restrict access to commissaries and showers, among other amenities, are known to exacerbate conditions for prisoners and officers alike, the Herald reported.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Missing brothers found dead in Lincoln County crash

TOMAHAWK , Wis. ( AP ) - Two missing brothers have been found dead , a week after their SUV @ @ @ @ @ The Lincoln County Sheriff ’ s Office says 23-year-old Andrew Griffin Jr. and his 18-year-old @ @ @ @ @ likely died in an April 11 crash northwest of Tomahawk .
Their vehicle had been @ @ @ @ @ ’ t discovered by a passerby until Saturday afternoon , sheriff ’ s officials said @ @ @ @ @ reports the SUV was traveling on Highway 8 when it left the road and rolled @ @ @ @ @ from Medford .

TOMAHAWK, Wis. (AP) - Two missing brothers have been found dead, a week after their SUV crashed in northern Wisconsin.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office says 23-year-old Andrew Griffin Jr. and his 18-year-old brother, Elisha Griffin, likely died in an April 11 crash northwest of Tomahawk.
Their vehicle had been hidden by snow and wasn’t discovered by a passerby until Saturday afternoon, sheriff’s officials said.
Wausau Daily Herald Media reports the SUV was traveling on Highway 8 when it left the road and rolled over. The brothers were from Medford.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Liz Weston: Is your financial adviser really helping you?

Stock market crashes don ’ t just test investors ’ mettle .
Abrupt downturns also can reveal what kind of financial adviser you have .
Some people will discover , to their horror , that they ’ ve been dealing with outright crooks .
Ponzi schemes are among the cons that fall apart when markets do , as investors try to pull their money out and discover it ’ s gone .
More commonly , people learn that their advisers didn ’ t put the clients ’ best interests first .
The adviser may have recommended investments that were unsuitably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to adequately diversify clients ’ portfolios .
Even if you dodge the worst , your adviser may not deliver the value you expected .
It ’ s reasonable to assume you ’ ll get some degree of hand-holding , reassurance and personal service when you choose a human adviser over less expensive options , such as a robo-adviser or investing on your own .
The answers to the following questions could help you decide whether it ’ s time to look for an adviser willing to live up to those expectations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Demanding instant responses isn ’ t realistic at a time when advisers , like the rest of us , are grappling with pandemic-wrought changes .
They may be working from home , struggling with unfamiliar technologies , trying to keep their pantry filled and home-schooling their kids .
Family members may be ill or at risk .
Plus , they may be busy responding to clients who are a lot more freaked out than you are , or at least more vocal about it .
Still , by now your adviser should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass communications such as email newsletters don ’ t count .
If you ’ ve called or emailed , you should be getting responses .
“ We return emails and calls within 24 hours , ” says Catherine S. Gearig , a certified financial planner with LifePlan Financial Advisory Group in Rochester Hills , Michigan .
“ We ’ re reaching out to every client on our roster via telephone to see how they are doing and talking through their concerns.
” Let ’ s say you have heard from your adviser .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lecture or a conversation ?
Good advisers remind clients of their goals , encourage them to stick with their strategy and reassure them that markets always bounce back eventually .
But good advisers also ask plenty of questions and pay attention to the answers .
“ This is the time for collaboration and listening to how you feel , how you see yourself being impacted by a recession , or even personal or medical health concerns you have , ” says Pam Krueger , CEO of Wealthramp , an online service that connects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s not about portfolios and investments and mutual funds all the time.
” IS YOUR ADVISER LEANING IN ?
If you ’ ve lost your job , you may need to find health insurance , file for unemployment , evaluate a severance package and figure out how to make ends meet - all tasks that a good adviser should help you with , Krueger says .
If you ’ re in or near retirement , you need to know how bear markets might affect your future spending and whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home equity .
Even if you ’ re decades away from retirement , you may want reassurance that your plan is still on track .
The stimulus package that Congress approved in late March , meanwhile , has a wide range of provisions to help individuals and businesses .
Your adviser should be evaluating whether any could help you .
Even if you don ’ t have a pressing financial need , it might be a good time to do a Roth conversion , sell losing stocks to offset gains from winners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your retirement contributions .
CFP Malcolm Ethridge , executive vice president of CIC Wealth in Rockville , Maryland , is encouraging his younger clients whose job prospects are good to boost their 401 ( k ) and IRA contributions now .
“ That way , you get those dollars in there while the market is selling at a discount and take full advantage of the buying opportunity , ” Ethridge says .
Bad markets and trying economic times are an opportunity to see how seriously advisers take their responsibilities to their clients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Eudaimonia Wealth in Buffalo , New York .
“ Our character is often determined by how we show up at times of adversity , ” Koeppel says .
“ Now is the time to lean into it , and step up for the families that count on us to do so.
” This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet .
Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet , a certified financial planner and author of “ Your Credit Score.
” Email : [ email protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a financial advisor , and what do they do ?
https : //bit.ly/financial-advisor-101

Stock market crashes don’t just test investors’ mettle. Abrupt downturns also can reveal what kind of financial adviser you have.
Some people will discover, to their horror, that they’ve been dealing with outright crooks. Ponzi schemes are among the cons that fall apart when markets do, as investors try to pull their money out and discover it’s gone.
More commonly, people learn that their advisers didn’t put the clients’ best interests first. The adviser may have recommended investments that were unsuitably risky or hard to sell, or failed to adequately diversify clients’ portfolios.
Even if you dodge the worst, your adviser may not deliver the value you expected. It’s reasonable to assume you’ll get some degree of hand-holding, reassurance and personal service when you choose a human adviser over less expensive options, such as a robo-adviser or investing on your own. The answers to the following questions could help you decide whether it’s time to look for an adviser willing to live up to those expectations.
HAVE YOU EVEN HEARD FROM YOUR ADVISER?
Demanding instant responses isn’t realistic at a time when advisers, like the rest of us, are grappling with pandemic-wrought changes. They may be working from home, struggling with unfamiliar technologies, trying to keep their pantry filled and home-schooling their kids. Family members may be ill or at risk. Plus, they may be busy responding to clients who are a lot more freaked out than you are, or at least more vocal about it.
Still, by now your adviser should have checked in with you - and mass communications such as email newsletters don’t count. If you’ve called or emailed, you should be getting responses.
“We return emails and calls within 24 hours,” says Catherine S. Gearig, a certified financial planner with LifePlan Financial Advisory Group in Rochester Hills, Michigan. “We’re reaching out to every client on our roster via telephone to see how they are doing and talking through their concerns.”
IS YOUR ADVISER LISTENING?
Let’s say you have heard from your adviser. Was it a pep talk, a lecture or a conversation? Good advisers remind clients of their goals, encourage them to stick with their strategy and reassure them that markets always bounce back eventually. But good advisers also ask plenty of questions and pay attention to the answers.
“This is the time for collaboration and listening to how you feel, how you see yourself being impacted by a recession, or even personal or medical health concerns you have,” says Pam Krueger, CEO of Wealthramp, an online service that connects consumers with vetted, independent fiduciary advisers. “It’s not about portfolios and investments and mutual funds all the time.”
IS YOUR ADVISER LEANING IN?
If you’ve lost your job, you may need to find health insurance, file for unemployment, evaluate a severance package and figure out how to make ends meet - all tasks that a good adviser should help you with, Krueger says. If you’re in or near retirement, you need to know how bear markets might affect your future spending and whether to tap other assets, such as home equity. Even if you’re decades away from retirement, you may want reassurance that your plan is still on track.
The stimulus package that Congress approved in late March, meanwhile, has a wide range of provisions to help individuals and businesses. Your adviser should be evaluating whether any could help you.
Even if you don’t have a pressing financial need, it might be a good time to do a Roth conversion, sell losing stocks to offset gains from winners, rebalance your investments or even speed up your retirement contributions. CFP Malcolm Ethridge, executive vice president of CIC Wealth in Rockville, Maryland, is encouraging his younger clients whose job prospects are good to boost their 401(k) and IRA contributions now.
“That way, you get those dollars in there while the market is selling at a discount and take full advantage of the buying opportunity,” Ethridge says.
Bad markets and trying economic times are an opportunity to see how seriously advisers take their responsibilities to their clients, says CFP Brett A. Koeppel, president of Eudaimonia Wealth in Buffalo, New York.
“Our character is often determined by how we show up at times of adversity,” Koeppel says. “Now is the time to lean into it, and step up for the families that count on us to do so.”
___________________________
This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Liz Weston is a columnist at NerdWallet, a certified financial planner and author of “Your Credit Score.” Email: lweston@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lizweston.
RELATED LINK:
What is a financial advisor, and what do they do? https://bit.ly/financial-advisor-101


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Philadelphia shooting leaves teenage girl critically injured

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - A street shooting in Philadelphia has left a teenage girl hospitalized in critical condition , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not clear what sparked the shooting , which occurred around 6:30 p.m. Sunday @ @ @ @ @ shot in the ankle and lower abdomen , city police said .
Her name and @ @ @ @ @ were not disclosed , and authorities said no one else was wounded or injured in @ @ @ @ @ have been made .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A street shooting in Philadelphia has left a teenage girl hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said.
But it’s not clear what sparked the shooting, which occurred around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
The 16-year-old girl was shot in the ankle and lower abdomen, city police said. Her name and further details on the shooting were not disclosed, and authorities said no one else was wounded or injured in the incident.
No arrests have been made.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--N.C. farm rents out miniature donkey to crash video calls

INDIAN TRAIL , N.C. ( AP ) - A miniature donkey named Mambo is getting some online love in North Carolina , where a farm is getting in on the idea of having animals spice up tedious virtual meetings during the coronavirus pandemic .
Peace N Peas Farm will rent Mambo , the 8-year-old miniature donkey , and his friends to crash company conference calls , The Charlotte Observer reported .
This camera crowding donkey is “ like a pesky little brother ” that “ doesn ’ t let anyone relax too long , ” Francie Dunlap , Mambo ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose other farm animals they want to invite as guests on their video calls .
According to the farm animal ’ s meeting registration website , they include three horses , Heiren , Zeus and Eddie , along with some chickens and ducks .
“ I think it would get some laughs , ” Dunlap said .
Customers can reserve 10 minutes with the animals for $ 50 , and Dunlap said co-workers can also choose a virtual meeting name for the farm animal .
Since she created the website on Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from teachers who want the animals to crash their virtual classrooms .

INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. (AP) - A miniature donkey named Mambo is getting some online love in North Carolina, where a farm is getting in on the idea of having animals spice up tedious virtual meetings during the coronavirus pandemic.
Peace N Peas Farm will rent Mambo, the 8-year-old miniature donkey, and his friends to crash company conference calls, The Charlotte Observer reported. This camera crowding donkey is “like a pesky little brother” that “doesn’t let anyone relax too long,” Francie Dunlap, Mambo’s owner, said.
Companies can choose other farm animals they want to invite as guests on their video calls. According to the farm animal’s meeting registration website, they include three horses, Heiren, Zeus and Eddie, along with some chickens and ducks.
“I think it would get some laughs,” Dunlap said. Customers can reserve 10 minutes with the animals for $50, and Dunlap said co-workers can also choose a virtual meeting name for the farm animal.
Since she created the website on Saturday, Dunlap said she has also gotten requests from teachers who want the animals to crash their virtual classrooms.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Harry and Meghan say they won't cooperate with U.K. tabloids

LONDON ( AP ) — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they will no longer cooperate with several British tabloid newspapers because of what they call “ distorted , false or invasive ” stories .
Meghan and Prince Harry have written to the editors of The Sun , the Daily Mail , the Daily Express and the Daily Mirror saying they won ’ t “ offer themselves up as currency for an economy of click bait and distortion.
” They say stories based on “ salacious gossip ” have upended the lives of acquaintances and strangers alike .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple ’ s representative , said Harry and Meghan will have “ zero engagement ” with the newspapers , but says the couple “ believe that a free press is a cornerstone to any democracy.
” Harry , who is a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and sixth in line to the British throne , married the American actress Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May 2018 , in a ceremony watched around the world .
The couple later said they found scrutiny by the British media — which they said tipped into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had an uncomfortable relationship with the media , which he blames for the death of his mother , Princess Diana .
She died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi .
Harry ’ s unhappiness with the media increased after he began dating Markle , then the star of TV legal drama “ Suits.
” In 2016 , he accused the media of harassing his then-girlfriend , and criticized “ racial undertones ” in some coverage of the biracial Markle .
In January , they announced they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek financial independence and move to North America .
The split became official at the end of March , and the couple are currently in California , where Meghan was raised .
The duchess is suing the Daily Mail ’ s publisher , Associated Newspapers , for invasion of privacy over a 2018 article that included portions of a letter she had written to her father .
A hearing in the case is due to be held Friday in a London court .

LONDON (AP) — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they will no longer cooperate with several British tabloid newspapers because of what they call “distorted, false or invasive” stories.
Meghan and Prince Harry have written to the editors of The Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express and the Daily Mirror saying they won’t “offer themselves up as currency for an economy of click bait and distortion.” They say stories based on “salacious gossip” have upended the lives of acquaintances and strangers alike.
The letter, released Monday by the couple’s representative, said Harry and Meghan will have “zero engagement” with the newspapers, but says the couple “believe that a free press is a cornerstone to any democracy.”
Harry, who is a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and sixth in line to the British throne, married the American actress Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in May 2018, in a ceremony watched around the world.
The couple later said they found scrutiny by the British media — which they said tipped into harassment — intolerable.
Harry has long had an uncomfortable relationship with the media, which he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana. She died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.
Harry’s unhappiness with the media increased after he began dating Markle, then the star of TV legal drama “Suits.” In 2016, he accused the media of harassing his then-girlfriend, and criticized “racial undertones” in some coverage of the biracial Markle.
In January, they announced they planned to quit as senior royals, seek financial independence and move to North America. The split became official at the end of March, and the couple are currently in California, where Meghan was raised.
The duchess is suing the Daily Mail’s publisher, Associated Newspapers, for invasion of privacy over a 2018 article that included portions of a letter she had written to her father. A hearing in the case is due to be held Friday in a London court.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Afghan officials: Taliban attacks on checkpoints kill 29

KABUL , Afghanistan ( AP ) - A wave of Taliban attacks on checkpoints across Afghanistan has killed 29 members of the security forces , officials said Monday .
In northern Takhar province , 19 security personnel were killed in a battle Sunday night in the district of Khwaja Ghor , according to Jawad Hajri , spokesman for the provincial governor .
The Taliban fled the scene after reinforcement arrived , Hajri added .
Meanwhile , in northern Balkh province , a Taliban attack on Sunday morning in the Sholgara district killed seven , according to Adil Shah Adil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A child was caught in the crossfire and wounded during the attack , which also killed five Taliban , he added .
And in western Badghis province , the Taliban struck an army checkpoint early on Sunday morning , killing three soldiers and wounding 10 , said Tahsel Haideri , spokesman for the provincial police chief .
The Taliban , who have not claimed responsibility for the attacks , and President Ashraf Ghani ’ s government in Kabul are in the process of exchanging prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of February in Doha , Qatar .
The release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 government officials held captive by the insurgents ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations is a condition of the U.S.-Taliban deal .
At the heart of most of the talks , say Taliban and U.S. officials , is the demand for a reduction of violence .
The Taliban have not been attacking U.S. and NATO troops since the agreement was signed but have struck Afghan forces in outlying areas .
Washington wants a reduction in those attacks .

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A wave of Taliban attacks on checkpoints across Afghanistan has killed 29 members of the security forces, officials said Monday.
In northern Takhar province, 19 security personnel were killed in a battle Sunday night in the district of Khwaja Ghor, according to Jawad Hajri, spokesman for the provincial governor. The Taliban fled the scene after reinforcement arrived, Hajri added.
Meanwhile, in northern Balkh province, a Taliban attack on Sunday morning in the Sholgara district killed seven, according to Adil Shah Adil, spokesman for the provincial police chief. A child was caught in the crossfire and wounded during the attack, which also killed five Taliban, he added.
And in western Badghis province, the Taliban struck an army checkpoint early on Sunday morning, killing three soldiers and wounding 10, said Tahsel Haideri, spokesman for the provincial police chief.
The Taliban, who have not claimed responsibility for the attacks, and President Ashraf Ghani’s government in Kabul are in the process of exchanging prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by the U.S. and the Taliban at the end of February in Doha, Qatar.
The release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 government officials held captive by the insurgents ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations is a condition of the U.S.-Taliban deal.
At the heart of most of the talks, say Taliban and U.S. officials, is the demand for a reduction of violence. The Taliban have not been attacking U.S. and NATO troops since the agreement was signed but have struck Afghan forces in outlying areas. Washington wants a reduction in those attacks.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--Sri Lanka in quandary over holding elections amid virus

COLOMBO , Sri Lanka ( AP ) - Sri Lanka ’ s election commission is meeting with government officials on Monday to discuss ways to avoid a possible constitutional crisis if the country fails to hold parliamentary elections before a mandated deadline of June 2 because of the coronavirus .
The commission must decide whether to hold the polls , which could expose more people to the virus , or let the country plunge into its second constitutional crisis in less than two years .
Sri Lanka reported 24 new infections on Monday , its most in a single day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 295 confirmed cases , with seven deaths and 96 recoveries .
“ We will be dealing with legal questions and whether it is safe , ” said Ratnajeevan Hoole , one of three election commissioners .
“ I don ’ t think we have the right to ask the people to go and expose themselves to the virus without expert opinion , ” he said .
Also on Monday , the government lifted a daytime curfew in many areas of the country , except ones identified as high risk , to restart the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to a standstill for 52 days after then President Maithripala Sirisena sacked his prime minister .
The crisis was ended by a Supreme Court decision that restored the prime minister .
Last month , President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved the opposition-controlled Parliament six months early , hoping his party could win a majority in new elections .
He has complained that a 2015 constitutional change curtailed presidential powers and wants a constitutional amendment to strengthen his office , which would require the support of two-thirds of Parliament .
Rajapaksa announced elections for April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polls indefinitely after the coronavirus spread and the government declared an island-wide curfew .
The constitution stipulates that a dissolved Parliament must be replaced within three months .
“ There will be a constitutional crisis , because the Parliament has to meet within three months of the dissolution .
If by the second of June the Parliament is not in a position to meet , there is a crisis , ” said Naganathan Selvakumaran , former dean of the college of law at the University of Colombo .
“ The constitution has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis ) because it has not anticipated such a situation , ” he said .
Rajapaksa rejected the election commission ’ s suggestion that the Supreme Court be asked to help find a solution .
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa , the president ’ s brother , said the election commission could not ignore its legal duty to schedule a new election because of “ imaginary situations that may or may not come in the coming weeks or months.
” The government has also rejected suggestions by the opposition that presidential powers be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties say an election during the pandemic poses too much risk since candidates typically rely upon large public rallies and door-to-door campaigning .
“ Yes , we need an election and we want to have it as early as possible .
However , it should be done in a responsible way without putting people at risk , ” said former opposition lawmaker Harsha de Silva .
Health authorities say they have managed to keep the spread of the virus under control , limiting its spread within the community through identification and isolation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a top health official , said 12 of the country ’ s 25 districts have not reported any patients and that the lockdown could be gradually eased .
Associated Press writer Bharatha Mallawarachi contributed to this report .

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka’s election commission on Monday set the country’s Parliament elections for June 20, invoking a hitherto unused legal provision to avoid a possible constitutional crisis if the country failed to hold the vote because of the coronavirus.
The commission had to decide whether to open the polls, which could expose more people to the virus, or let the country plunge into its second constitutional crisis in less than two years.
Ratnajeevan Hoole, one of the three commission members told The Associated Press after the meeting that the commission decided to invoke a section in the Parliamentary Elections Act that allows the panel to issue necessary directions to manage any special or unforeseen circumstances.
Hoole said the date was set considering an increasing coronavirus threat and the inability to organize an election with a limited number of staff allowed to work to maintain social distancing.
The commission could postpone the election further if needed, he said.
Sri Lanka reported 33 new infections on Monday, its most in a single day. It now has at least 304 cases, with seven deaths and 98 recoveries.
The government on Monday lifted a daytime curfew in many areas of the country, except ones identified as high risk, to restart the economy.
In 2018, Sri Lanka came to a standstill for 52 days after then President Maithripala Sirisena sacked his prime minister. The crisis was ended by a Supreme Court decision that restored the prime minister.
Last month, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved the opposition-controlled Parliament six months early, hoping his party could win a majority in new elections.
He has complained that a 2015 constitutional change curtailed presidential powers and wants a constitutional amendment to strengthen his office, which would require the support of two-thirds of Parliament.
Rajapaksa had announced elections for April 25, but the election commission postponed the vote indefinitely after the coronavirus spread and the government declared an island-wide curfew.
The constitution stipulates that a dissolved Parliament must be replaced within three months. The deadline had been June 2.
Rajapaksa previously rejected the election commission’s suggestion that the Supreme Court be asked to help find a solution.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president’s brother, said the commission could not ignore its legal duty to schedule a new election because of “imaginary situations that may or may not come in the coming weeks or months.”
The government also rejected suggestions by the opposition that presidential powers be used to recall the dissolved Parliament.
Opposition parties said an election during the pandemic poses too much risk since candidates typically rely upon large public rallies and door-to-door campaigning.
Health authorities say they have managed to keep the spread of the virus under control, limiting its spread within the community through identification and isolation of patients and their contacts.
Anil Jasinghe, a top health official, said 12 of the country’s 25 districts have not reported any patients and the lockdown could be gradually eased.
___
Associated Press writer Bharatha Mallawarachi contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-04-20--5 things to know today - that aren't about the virus

Your daily look at late-breaking news , upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today : 1 .
SHOOTING RAMPAGE IN CANADA KILLS 16 A gunman disguised as a police officer shot people in their homes in a rampage across the Canadian province of Nova Scotia , the deadliest such attack in the country ’ s history .
2 .
EFFECTS OF GULF OIL SPILL STILL FELT A DECADE LATER Scientists who spent the last 10 years studying the Deepwater Horizon spill still worry about its effects on dolphins , whales , sea turtles , small fish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ancient corals in the cold , dark depths .
3 .
AUSTRALIA TO CHARGE GOOGLE , FACEBOOK FOR NEWS CONTENT The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will release draft rules in late July for the platforms to pay fair compensation for the journalistic content siphoned from news media .
4 .
ISRAELIS RALLY AGAINST NETANYAHU More than 2,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv to demonstrate against the prime minister ’ s attempts to form an “ emergency ” government with his chief rival .
5 .
‘ WE DON ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BREATHING ’ Communities of color say they are living on the front line of the Trump administration ’ s public health and environment rollbacks .

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
1. SHOOTING RAMPAGE IN CANADA KILLS 18 Police fan out across more than a dozen crime scenes after a rampage by a gunman disguised as a police officer left at least 18 dead and homes in smoldering ruins in rural communities across Nova Scotia.
2. EFFECTS OF GULF OIL SPILL STILL FELT A DECADE LATER Scientists who spent the last 10 years studying the Deepwater Horizon spill still worry about its effects on dolphins, whales and other sea creatures, and ancient corals in the cold, dark depths.
3. IMPASSE BROKEN IN ISRAEL Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival announce that they have forged a deal to form a coalition government, ending months of political paralysis.
4. ‘WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE’RE BREATHING’ Communities of color, especially on the Texas Gulf Coast, say they are living on the front line of the Trump administration’s public health and environment rollbacks.
5. CELEBRATED WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER FOUND DEAD Peter Beard’s body is discovered in a wooded area near his home on Long Island, New York, three weeks after the artist and adventurer was reported missing. He was 82.