washingtontimes--2020-12-30--2 detained in Louisiana after possible bomb on plane

ALEXANDRIA , La .
( AP ) - A United Airlines flight from Mississippi was diverted to Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana on Wednesday because of a possible explosive device onboard .
Two people were detained as “ persons of interest , ” the Rapides Parish Sheriff ’ s Office said in a news release .
The plane remained on a tarmac , away from the terminal , for more than three hours after landing just before 12:30 p.m. , news outlets reported .
All passengers were removed .
The flight left Jackson , Mississippi , at 11:39 a.m. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The sheriff office ’ s bomb squad and the FBI were at the airport .
A passenger , Megann Cox , told KALB-TV they were mid-air when the flight crew announced they would be making an unexpected stop in Alexandria .
She said the plane sat on the tarmac with the electricity off , including the air circulation .
“ They did not offer us any explanation until about 30 minutes in , that there was a customer service issue and they needed to address that , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alleged threat , whether an explosive was found or the people who were detained .

ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) - A United Airlines flight from Mississippi was diverted to Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana on Wednesday because of a possible explosive device onboard.
Two people were detained as “persons of interest,” the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The plane remained on a tarmac, away from the terminal, for more than three hours after landing just before 12:30 p.m., news outlets reported. All passengers were removed.
The flight left Jackson, Mississippi, at 11:39 a.m. and was in route to Houston, officials said.
The sheriff office’s bomb squad and the FBI were at the airport.
A passenger, Megann Cox, told KALB-TV they were mid-air when the flight crew announced they would be making an unexpected stop in Alexandria. She said the plane sat on the tarmac with the electricity off, including the air circulation.
“They did not offer us any explanation until about 30 minutes in, that there was a customer service issue and they needed to address that,” she said.
No other information was immediately released about the alleged threat, whether an explosive was found or the people who were detained.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Human remains found in 2 large suitcases in southwest Denver

DENVER ( AP ) - Police are investigating after human remains were found in two large suitcases near a trail in southwest Denver .
Lt. Matt Clark with the Denver Police Department ’ s Major Crimes Division said during a news conference Wednesday that city workers were clearing snow from the sidewalks in a residential area near Sanderson Gulch on Tuesday morning when they found the suitcases abandoned off the side of the road .
The workers examined the luggage and called police .
The Denver coroner ’ s office , which determined the unidentified remains belonged to one person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manner of death .
Clark said the death is being investigated as a homicide , but he did not have any information about possible suspects .
He described the victim as a “ recently deceased ” white man and declined to comment about the state of the remains .
Clark added that investigators are reviewing footage from residential security cameras to see if they captured anything suspicious and are trying to determine if the remains match any missing person reports .
“ At this point , I don ’ t have anybody to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ The investigators worked throughout the day on it.
” No other information has been released .

DENVER (AP) - Police are investigating after human remains were found in two large suitcases near a trail in southwest Denver.
Lt. Matt Clark with the Denver Police Department’s Major Crimes Division said during a news conference Wednesday that city workers were clearing snow from the sidewalks in a residential area near Sanderson Gulch on Tuesday morning when they found the suitcases abandoned off the side of the road. The workers examined the luggage and called police.
The Denver coroner’s office, which determined the unidentified remains belonged to one person, has not released a cause or manner of death.
Clark said the death is being investigated as a homicide, but he did not have any information about possible suspects. He described the victim as a “recently deceased” white man and declined to comment about the state of the remains.
Clark added that investigators are reviewing footage from residential security cameras to see if they captured anything suspicious and are trying to determine if the remains match any missing person reports.
“At this point, I don’t have anybody to connect directly to this incident yet,” he said. “The investigators worked throughout the day on it.”
No other information has been released.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Premier League club Burnley taken over by American investors

BURNLEY , England ( AP ) - Burnley became the latest Premier League club to become owned by Americans when a takeover was completed Wednesday .
ALK Capital ’ s sports investment arm , Velocity Sports Partners , has bought an 84 % stake in the northwest English club from British businessmen Mike Garlick and John Banaszkiewicz .
Burnley ’ s glory days came long ago - winning the English championship in 1921 and 1960 - but it is playing its fifth straight season in the world ’ s richest league .
ALK managing partner Alan Pace will replace Garlick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is based just north of Manchester .
He was previously CEO of Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake .
Garlick and Banaszkiewicz , will remain on the new board of directors at Burnley .
Unlike squads in the rest of the league , Burnley largely has players from Britain and Ireland rather than the rest of the world .
Of the 13 players used by manager Sean Dyche in a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday , only Erik Pieters of the Netherlands is from outside the British Isles .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an expansion of the club ’ s scouting and transfer network .
In August , ALK invested in two London-based football technology firms - AiScout and Player LENS - which are involved in data analytics and predictive assessment of players .
“ Today marks a new era for Burnley , ” Pace said , “ as we become stewards of this historic football club and build on the impressive work that Mike Garlick , Sean Dyche and everyone at Burnley has done to make it a financially stable , established Premier League club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community.
” Burnley is 16th in the 20-team standings , five points above the relegation zone after 15 matches of the 38-game season .
“ With a rich heritage , a brilliant academy , and a passionate fan base , this club has solid foundations to build upon , ” Pace said .
“ This is the start of an exciting journey for the entire Clarets family.
” American investors also own Arsenal , Crystal Palace , Fulham , Liverpool and Manchester United .

BURNLEY, England (AP) - Burnley became the latest Premier League club to become owned by Americans when a takeover was completed Wednesday.
ALK Capital’s sports investment arm, Velocity Sports Partners, has bought an 84% stake in the northwest English club from British businessmen Mike Garlick and John Banaszkiewicz.
Burnley’s glory days came long ago - winning the English championship in 1921 and 1960 - but it is playing its fifth straight season in the world’s richest league.
ALK managing partner Alan Pace will replace Garlick as chairman of the team, which is based just north of Manchester. He was previously CEO of Major League Soccer team Real Salt Lake. Garlick and Banaszkiewicz, will remain on the new board of directors at Burnley.
Unlike squads in the rest of the league, Burnley largely has players from Britain and Ireland rather than the rest of the world. Of the 13 players used by manager Sean Dyche in a 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday, only Erik Pieters of the Netherlands is from outside the British Isles.
But the change in ownership could lead to an expansion of the club’s scouting and transfer network. In August, ALK invested in two London-based football technology firms - AiScout and Player LENS - which are involved in data analytics and predictive assessment of players.
“Today marks a new era for Burnley,” Pace said, “as we become stewards of this historic football club and build on the impressive work that Mike Garlick, Sean Dyche and everyone at Burnley has done to make it a financially stable, established Premier League club that is a cornerstone of the local community.”
Burnley is 16th in the 20-team standings, five points above the relegation zone after 15 matches of the 38-game season.
“With a rich heritage, a brilliant academy, and a passionate fan base, this club has solid foundations to build upon,” Pace said. “This is the start of an exciting journey for the entire Clarets family.”
American investors also own Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Liverpool and Manchester United.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Police officer charged with assaulting man not wearing mask

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - A Baltimore police detective is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he slammed to the @ @ @ @ @ to wear a face mask inside a grocery store .
Prosecutors said Detective Andre Pringle @ @ @ @ @ store in West Baltimore in spring when 25-year-old Brandon Walker entered the store with a @ @ @ @ @ head but not covering his face , The Baltimore Sun reports .
A mask mandate @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Prosecutors say Walker yelled and cursed Pringle as he escorted him outside @ @ @ @ @ outside , Pringle slammed Walker to the ground face first , prosecutors said .
Pringle @ @ @ @ @ misdemeanor assault charge .
Pringle ’ s attorney , Chaz Ball , declined to comment @ @ @ @ @ was charged with multiple crimes , including resisting arrest and assault .
Those charges were @ @ @ @ @ pleaded guilty to violating orders under a state of emergency and was put on probation @

BALTIMORE (AP) - A Baltimore police detective is facing criminal charges after prosecutors say he slammed to the ground a man who refused to wear a face mask inside a grocery store.
Prosecutors said Detective Andre Pringle was stationed at a grocery store in West Baltimore in spring when 25-year-old Brandon Walker entered the store with a mask on top of his head but not covering his face, The Baltimore Sun reports.
A mask mandate was in effect because of the coronavirus.
Prosecutors say Walker yelled and cursed Pringle as he escorted him outside of the store. Once outside, Pringle slammed Walker to the ground face first, prosecutors said.
Pringle has been charged with a misdemeanor assault charge. Pringle’s attorney, Chaz Ball, declined to comment to the newspaper.
Walker was charged with multiple crimes, including resisting arrest and assault. Those charges were dropped in November. He pleaded guilty to violating orders under a state of emergency and was put on probation.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Professor sues Mississippi auditor in 'scholar strike' spat

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - A tenured professor at the University of Mississippi filed a lawsuit Wednesday saying that state auditor defamed him by saying the professor should be fired for participating in a two-day “ scholar strike.
” Sociology professor James Thomas said the Sept. 8-9 event was part of a national effort to draw attention to racism and injustice .
Auditor Shad White has accused Thomas of violating state law by taking part in a work stoppage .
White , who is a Republican , has said Thomas did not teach or respond to email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tuition-paying students and taxpayers to suffer a loss .
On Dec. 1 , White demanded $ 1,912 from the professor .
More than half of White ’ s demand is for the professor to pay the auditor ’ s investigative costs and interest .
Attorneys from the Mississippi Center for Justice , representing Thomas , filed the lawsuit in state circuit court .
They wrote that Thomas provided lesson plans in advance and that the professor answered students ’ email before and after the two days .
“ Dr .
Thomas earned his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , as he did every week during the academic year , ” his lawsuit said .
The lawsuit specifies that the professor is not seeking any public money if a jury finds in his favor .
It requests that White pay any judgment out of his own pocket .
“ By claiming that Dr. Thomas violated a law that carries a punishment of termination , Mr. White indicated that Dr. Thomas was unfit to remain in his job , ” the lawsuit said .
“ Mr .
White ‘ s statements constitute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law.
” White issued a brief statement after the suit was filed .
“ The lawsuit is not worth the paper it ’ s written on , ” he said .
Professors and others halted their classes and other duties during the protest to call attention to such issues as mass incarceration .
Organizers said the event was inspired by pro football player Colin Kaepernick and players from the NBA and WNBA who have brought attention to police shootings and “ racialized violence.
” In a Sept. 14 letter to University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the university should recover money it paid Thomas for those days of work and should go to court to try to remove him from his job .
Thomas was granted tenure in 2019 , which gives him additional job security .
Mississippi law bans public employees from striking .
Thomas ‘ s lawsuit repeats what one of his attorneys has said since September : Thomas was not trying to change his own work conditions or increase his own pay - two elements required to define participation in a strike .
White was appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Phil Bryant , a fellow Republican .
After Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court in October 2018 , Thomas came under broad criticism from conservatives after the professor said on Twitter that people should disrupt U.S. senators ’ meals .
“ They don ’ t deserve your civility , ” Thomas wrote .
At the time , Bryant criticized Thomas .
“ There is no place in a civilized society , and particularly on a college campus , for urging individuals to harass anyone , ” Bryant wrote on @ @

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A tenured professor at the University of Mississippi filed a lawsuit Wednesday saying that state auditor defamed him by saying the professor should be fired for participating in a two-day “scholar strike.”
Sociology professor James Thomas said the Sept. 8-9 event was part of a national effort to draw attention to racism and injustice. Auditor Shad White has accused Thomas of violating state law by taking part in a work stoppage.
White, who is a Republican, has said Thomas did not teach or respond to email from students during those days, causing tuition-paying students and taxpayers to suffer a loss. On Dec. 1, White demanded $1,912 from the professor. More than half of White’s demand is for the professor to pay the auditor’s investigative costs and interest.
Attorneys from the Mississippi Center for Justice, representing Thomas, filed the lawsuit in state circuit court. They wrote that Thomas provided lesson plans in advance and that the professor answered students’ email before and after the two days.
“Dr. Thomas earned his salary the week of September 7, 2020, as he did every week during the academic year,” his lawsuit said.
The lawsuit specifies that the professor is not seeking any public money if a jury finds in his favor. It requests that White pay any judgment out of his own pocket.
“By claiming that Dr. Thomas violated a law that carries a punishment of termination, Mr. White indicated that Dr. Thomas was unfit to remain in his job,” the lawsuit said. “Mr. White’s statements constitute defamation for which he is liable under the law.”
White issued a brief statement after the suit was filed.
“The lawsuit is not worth the paper it’s written on,” he said.
Professors and others halted their classes and other duties during the protest to call attention to such issues as mass incarceration. Organizers said the event was inspired by pro football player Colin Kaepernick and players from the NBA and WNBA who have brought attention to police shootings and “racialized violence.”
In a Sept. 14 letter to University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce, White said the university should recover money it paid Thomas for those days of work and should go to court to try to remove him from his job. Thomas was granted tenure in 2019, which gives him additional job security.
Mississippi law bans public employees from striking. Thomas’s lawsuit repeats what one of his attorneys has said since September: Thomas was not trying to change his own work conditions or increase his own pay - two elements required to define participation in a strike.
White was appointed state auditor in July 2018 by then-Gov. Phil Bryant, a fellow Republican. After Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court in October 2018, Thomas came under broad criticism from conservatives after the professor said on Twitter that people should disrupt U.S. senators’ meals. “They don’t deserve your civility,” Thomas wrote.
At the time, Bryant criticized Thomas. “There is no place in a civilized society, and particularly on a college campus, for urging individuals to harass anyone,” Bryant wrote on Twitter.
____
Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--MA high court: Judges can grant probation on 'third strike'

BOSTON ( AP ) - The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court says that defendants convicted under the state ’ s “ three strikes ” law can be sentenced to probation by a judge in lieu of hefty sentences for their third offense .
The state ’ s highest court found Tuesday that the law ’ s wording and legislative history were ambiguous , The Boston Globe reported .
The court cited the “ rule of lenity , ” saying that in the case of ambiguous wording or legislative intent that could not be determined , the defendant is entitled to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In its current form , the “ three strikes ” law calls for defendants to see enhanced sentencing if they have been convicted of a felony after two prior convictions that resulted in state or federal prison sentences of three or more years .
Under the law , if a person “ shall be considered a habitual criminal and shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison or state correctional facility for such felony for the maximum term provided by law.
” But it does not specifically bar probation .
The court also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habitual criminal ” section of the law and a separate section of the law that applies to “ habitual offenders.
” The law bars “ habitual offenders ” - who have been convicted of a string of three more serious , generally violent crimes - from probation .
The court invited the legislature to change the law if it saw fit .
“ Should the Legislature decide to do so , it may amend ( the section of the law ) to bar a judge from imposing probation .
It need not look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court says that defendants convicted under the state’s “three strikes” law can be sentenced to probation by a judge in lieu of hefty sentences for their third offense.
The state’s highest court found Tuesday that the law’s wording and legislative history were ambiguous, The Boston Globe reported.
The court cited the “rule of lenity,” saying that in the case of ambiguous wording or legislative intent that could not be determined, the defendant is entitled to the “benefit of any rational doubt.”
In its current form, the “three strikes” law calls for defendants to see enhanced sentencing if they have been convicted of a felony after two prior convictions that resulted in state or federal prison sentences of three or more years.
Under the law, if a person “shall be considered a habitual criminal and shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison or state correctional facility for such felony for the maximum term provided by law.” But it does not specifically bar probation.
The court also point out the difference between the “habitual criminal” section of the law and a separate section of the law that applies to “habitual offenders.” The law bars “habitual offenders” - who have been convicted of a string of three more serious, generally violent crimes - from probation.
The court invited the legislature to change the law if it saw fit. “Should the Legislature decide to do so, it may amend (the section of the law) to bar a judge from imposing probation. It need not look far for how to accomplish this goal.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Girl Scouts call on cookie bakers to address child labor

The Girl Scouts of the USA said Wednesday that child labor has no place in its iconic cookies and called on the two companies that bake them to act quickly to address any potential abuses linked to the palm oil in their supply chains .
The comments were sent in the form of a tweet to Associated Press reporters who released an investigation Tuesday linking Girl Scout cookies and the supply chains of other well-known food brands to an estimated tens of thousands of children who often work unpaid for long hours in hazardous conditions to help harvest palm fruits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Child labor has no place in Girl Scout Cookie production , ” the Girl Scouts tweeted .
“ Our investment in the development of our world ’ s youth must not be facilitated by the under-development of some.
” The Girl Scouts also referred to a not-for-profit global organization it belongs to called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil , which promotes ethical production , including the treatment of workers , writing : “ If certain suppliers are not following ethical practices , we expect our bakers and RSPO to take action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Girl Scouts had not responded to repeated requests from the AP for comment about the findings ahead of Tuesday ’ s story , which found many children working in the palm oil industry do not have access to adequate school or healthcare and that some never learn to read or write .
The story detailed how others live in fear of being rounded up by police and tossed in detention centers because they were born on plantations to parents who are working illegally , and how girls are vulnerable to sexual abuse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain of one of the Girl Scout cookies ’ bakers , Little Brownie Bakers , owned by the Italian confectionary brand Ferrero , which did not comment on the findings .
The other baker and its parent company , Canada-based Weston Foods , did not provide any details about its supply chain , citing proprietary reasons .
Both said they were committed to sourcing sustainable palm oil .

The Girl Scouts of the USA said Wednesday that child labor has no place in its iconic cookies and called on the two companies that bake them to act quickly to address any potential abuses linked to the palm oil in their supply chains.
The comments were sent in the form of a tweet to Associated Press reporters who released an investigation Tuesday linking Girl Scout cookies and the supply chains of other well-known food brands to an estimated tens of thousands of children who often work unpaid for long hours in hazardous conditions to help harvest palm fruits on plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia.
“Child labor has no place in Girl Scout Cookie production,” the Girl Scouts tweeted. “Our investment in the development of our world’s youth must not be facilitated by the under-development of some.”
The Girl Scouts also referred to a not-for-profit global organization it belongs to called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, which promotes ethical production, including the treatment of workers, writing: “If certain suppliers are not following ethical practices, we expect our bakers and RSPO to take action quickly to rectify those exceptions.”
The Girl Scouts had not responded to repeated requests from the AP for comment about the findings ahead of Tuesday’s story, which found many children working in the palm oil industry do not have access to adequate school or healthcare and that some never learn to read or write. The story detailed how others live in fear of being rounded up by police and tossed in detention centers because they were born on plantations to parents who are working illegally, and how girls are vulnerable to sexual abuse.
Reporters traced child labor to the supply chain of one of the Girl Scout cookies’ bakers, Little Brownie Bakers, owned by the Italian confectionary brand Ferrero, which did not comment on the findings. The other baker and its parent company, Canada-based Weston Foods, did not provide any details about its supply chain, citing proprietary reasons. Both said they were committed to sourcing sustainable palm oil.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--China gives conditional approval to Sinopharm vaccine

BEIJING ( AP ) - Chinese health regulators said Thursday that they have given conditional approval to a coronavirus vaccine developed by state-owned Sinopharm .
The inactivated , two-dose vaccine is the first one approved for general use in China .
The go-ahead comes as the country carries out a campaign to vaccinate 50 million people before a major holiday for the Lunar New Year in February .
Chen Shifei , the deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration , said at a news conference that the decision had been made the previous night .
The vaccine was developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a subsidiary of state-owned conglomerate Sinopharm .
The company announced Wednesday that preliminary data from last-stage trials had shown it to be 79.3 % effective .
Final proof of its effectiveness will depend on publication of more data .
Sinopharm is one of at least five Chinese developers that are in a global race to create vaccines for the disease that has killed more than 1.8 million people .
Conditional approval means that research is still ongoing , and the regulators can request more safety and effectiveness data about certain populations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former government immunologist , said at the news conference .
Usually , it means that the drug or product in question may be restricted for certain age groups , he said .
Officials declined to name a particular price .
“ It will certainly be in the limit of what people can afford , ” said Zheng Zhongwei , a National Health Commission official .
The Beijing Institute vaccine is already under mass production , though officials did not answer questions about current production capacity .
“ Production capacity is a dynamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Junfeng , Vice Director of the Department of Industry of Consumer Products of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology .
The name of China ’ s drug regulator has been corrected to the National Medical Products Administration , not the Medical Production Administration .

BEIJING (AP) - China authorized its first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine for general use Thursday, adding another shot that could see wide use in poorer countries as the virus surges back around the globe.
The Sinopharm vaccine had already been given to groups such as health care professionals and essential workers under emergency-use guidelines as part of China’s program to inoculate 50 million people before the Lunar New Year holiday in February. But the go-ahead should allow it to be supplied more broadly at home and moves Beijing closer to being able to ship it abroad. It comes one day after British regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s inexpensive and easy-to-handle vaccine.
Both shots have been closely watched by developing countries, many of which have been unable to secure the Pfizer and Moderna doses being snapped up by rich nations. Pakistan’s science minister said Thursday that his government will buy 1.2 million doses of a Sinopharm shot, two days after its death toll topped 10,000.
The greenlight came a day after the state-owned company announced that preliminary data from last-stage trials had shown it to be 79.3% effective. That announcement did not detail the size of the control group, how many people were vaccinated and at what point the efficacy rate was reached after injection, and experts have cautioned that trial data needs to be shared.
Officials have said the vaccine standards were developed in “close cooperation” with the World Health Organization. Securing WHO’s so-called pre-qualification could go some way toward assuring the rest of the world about the quality of Chinese vaccines, which already face a reputation problem back home. It would also open the path for the shots to be distributed in the global vaccine consortium, COVAX, and potentially in countries that don’t have their own regulatory agencies.
China is eager to ship its vaccines globally, driven by a desire to repair the damage to its image caused by the pandemic that started a year ago in the central city of Wuhan.
Technically, China granted conditional approval for the vaccine, meaning that research is still ongoing, and the company will be required to submit follow-up data as well as reports of any adverse effects after the vaccine is sold on the market, Chen Shifei, the deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration, told a news conference. Final proof of its effectiveness will depend on publication of more data.
Sinopharm, which has another shot under development, is one of at least five Chinese developers that are in a global race to create vaccines for the disease that has killed more than 1.8 million people. While the Pfizer and Moderna shots have been greeted with much fanfare in the West, those shots must be stored at ultra-cold or freezer temperatures, complicating distribution.
The Sinopharm vaccine, like the AstraZeneca one, could be easier for countries around the world to handle since they can be stored at normal fridge temperatures.
Both shots, as well as Russia’s Sputnik, are expected to be supply much of the developing world. That means the cost will also be important. AstraZeneca is expected to cost about $2.50 a dose, while Russia has said its doses will be priced at $10 for the global market. Pfizer’s vaccine costs about $20, while Moderna’s is $15 to $25, based on agreements with the U.S. government.
Chinese officials declined to name a particular price and gave conflicting statements about it. One official said it would be affordable for the Chinese public, but another jumped in to clarify that it will be free. President Xi Jinping had previously vowed to donate a Chinese-made vaccine as a public good to the world.
The Sinopharm shot is already under mass production, though officials did not answer questions about current capacity. It has already been approved in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and is slated for use next in Morocco.
Other countries have also been buying doses of another Chinese vaccine candidate, made by Sinovac Biotech. Turkey received shipments this week of 3 million doses, and Indonesia and Brazil have also purchased it.
Belarus and Argentina both launched mass vaccinations Wednesday using Russia’s vaccine, and Guinea has begun giving it to government officials.
In addition to the emergency vaccinations already underway in China, the country plans to start vaccinating high-risk population, such as seniors as well as people with existing chronic illnesses. Officials did not say what percentage of the population they will vaccinate in China.
“This is very exciting that there is another vaccine and one that can be distributed in locations that don’t have the cold chain,” said Ashley St. John, an immunologist at the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. “But at the same time we have to temper the excitement. We have to understand the long term efficacy, effect on transmission and effect on severe disease.”
___
Wu reported from Taipei, Taiwan.
___
The name of China’s drug regulator has been corrected to the National Medical Products Administration, not the Medical Production Administration.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Wisconsin health system: Employee 'intentionally' spoiled coronavirus vaccine

GRAFTON , Wis. — A Wisconsin health system said Wednesday that 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine that had to be @ @ @ @ @ unrefrigerated now appear to have been deliberately spoiled by an employee .
Aurora Medical Center @ @ @ @ @ doses on Saturday , and said they had been accidentally left out overnight by an @ @ @ @ @ in Grafton .
In a statement late Wednesday , Aurora said the employee involved “ @ @ @ @ @ removed the vaccine from refrigeration.
” Aurora ’ s statement said they had fired the @ @ @ @ @ to authorities for further investigation .
Their statement said nothing about a possible motive for @ @ @ @ @ system officials didn ’ t immediately respond to messages seeking more information .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ is our way out of the pandemic .
We are more than disappointed that this @ @ @ @ @ result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine , ” the @ @ @ @ @ to provide additional information , but said they would provide more details Thursday .

GRAFTON, Wis. — A Wisconsin health system said Wednesday that 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine that had to be discarded after they were left unrefrigerated now appear to have been deliberately spoiled by an employee.
Aurora Medical Center first reported on the spoiled doses on Saturday, and said they had been accidentally left out overnight by an employee at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.
In a statement late Wednesday, Aurora said the employee involved “today acknowledged that they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration.”
Aurora’s statement said they had fired the employee and referred the matter to authorities for further investigation. Their statement said nothing about a possible motive for the action, and health system officials didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking more information.
“We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine,” the statement said.
Aurora declined to provide additional information, but said they would provide more details Thursday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--China gives conditional approval to coronavirus vaccine; Sinopharm's is first one OK'd for general u

BEIJING ( AP ) - China gives conditional approval to coronavirus vaccine ; Sinopharm ’ s is first one OK @ @ @ @ @ in China .

BEIJING (AP) - China gives conditional approval to coronavirus vaccine; Sinopharm’s is first one OK’d for general use in China.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Wisconsin health system: Worker deliberately spoiled vaccine

GRAFTON , Wis. ( AP ) - A Wisconsin health system said Wednesday that 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine that had to be discarded after they were left unrefrigerated now appear to have been deliberately spoiled by an employee .
Aurora Medical Center first reported on the spoiled doses on Saturday , and said they had been accidentally left out overnight by an employee at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton .
In a statement late Wednesday , Aurora said the employee involved “ today acknowledged that they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration.
” Aurora ’ s statement said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter to authorities for further investigation .
Their statement said nothing about a possible motive for the action , and health system officials didn ’ t immediately respond to messages seeking more information .
“ We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic .
We are more than disappointed that this individual ’ s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine , ” the statement said .
Aurora declined to provide additional information , but said they would provide more details @ @

GRAFTON, Wis. (AP) - A Wisconsin health system said Wednesday that 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine that had to be discarded after they were left unrefrigerated now appear to have been deliberately spoiled by an employee.
Aurora Medical Center first reported on the spoiled doses on Saturday, and said they had been accidentally left out overnight by an employee at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.
In a statement late Wednesday, Aurora said the employee involved “today acknowledged that they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration.”
Aurora’s statement said they had fired the employee and referred the matter to authorities for further investigation. Their statement said nothing about a possible motive for the action, and health system officials didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking more information.
“We continue to believe that vaccination is our way out of the pandemic. We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine,” the statement said.
Aurora declined to provide additional information, but said they would provide more details Thursday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Baptist, Catholic leaders reconcile support for vaccine, opposition to abortion

Southern Baptist and Roman Catholic leaders are walking a tightrope in explaining their support for two COVID-19 vaccines , even though those drugs ’ effectiveness was tested using genetic material from a line of cells linked to a fetus aborted in the 1970s .
Neither vaccine produced by U.S. drugmakers Moderna and Pfizer comprise or are derived from fetal cells , according to the manufacturers and U.S. regulators .
However , both used fetal cell line HEK-293 in a “ confirmation test ” of their innovative vaccines — a step that gives pause to some pro-life Christians .
Russell Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention , peppered Dr. Francis Collins , director of the National Institutes of Health , with questions about the ethics of taking the vaccine in a video-broadcast interview early this month .
“ A lot of pastors and Christian leaders are going to have people coming up and saying … ‘ Well , maybe taking the vaccine compromises my pro-life convictions because , maybe , it ’ s resting on research that ’ s been done as a result of abortion , ’ ” Mr. Moore said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , acknowledged that many of the vaccines under development have used the HEK-293 cell line as a “ lab bench experiment ” to make sure “ everything is working the way it ’ s supposed to.
” But he encouraged persons skeptical of any medicine linked to abortion to see the greater good of ending a health crisis that has cost nearly 2 million lives worldwide .
“ If you ’ re trying to size up and if you believe that God gives us the opportunity to act as his agents to relieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this is a pretty good balance of benefits and risks , ” said Dr. Collins .
According to the University of Nebraska Medical Center , Moderna and Pfizer in their vaccines ’ “ confirmation phase ” used HEK-293 cells , which “ are descended from tissue taken from a 1973 elective abortion that took place in the Netherlands.
” Of the eight vaccines under development in the federal government ’ s Project Warp Speed , two relied on aborted fetal cells for production , according to the pro-life think tank The Charlotte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement approved by Pope Francis , the Vatican ’ s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said the moral complicity between a person taking a vaccination in 2020 or 2021 and an abortion in 1973 is “ remote.
” “ It is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process , ” reads the statement , signed by Cardinal Luis Ladaria and Archbishop Giacomo Morandi .
Some U.S. Catholic leaders have been less forgiving of British-Swiss biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has been tested and produced using the HEK-293 line .
That vaccine was approved Wednesday by health authorities in the United Kingdom , and is set for approval in the new year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
On Dec. 14 , a group of Catholic bishops in Colorado stressed in a letter that the AstraZeneca vaccine is not a “ morally valid option , because better options are available.
” “ Catholics have the duty to use vaccines that respect human life , when they are available , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Bishop Stephen J. Berg of Pueblo , Arizona ; Bishop Michael J. Sheridan of Colorado Springs , Colorado ; and Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez .
On the same day , however , the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that taking the AstraZeneca vaccine could be allowed , given the “ urgency of the crisis , ” and that persons may not “ have a choice ” without a lengthy delay or other serious health consequences .
“ In such a case , just as accepting a vaccination for rubella with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the lack of alternatives and the serious risk to the public health , so it would be permissible to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine , ” wrote Kansas City Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of Fort Wayne-South Bend , Indiana .

Southern Baptist and Roman Catholic leaders are walking a tightrope in explaining their support for two COVID-19 vaccines, even though those drugs’ effectiveness was tested using genetic material from a line of cells linked to a fetus aborted in the 1970s.
Neither vaccine produced by U.S. drugmakers Moderna and Pfizer comprise or are derived from fetal cells, according to the manufacturers and U.S. regulators.
However, both used fetal cell line HEK-293 in a “confirmation test” of their innovative vaccines — a step that gives pause to some pro-life Christians.
Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, peppered Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, with questions about the ethics of taking the vaccine in a video-broadcast interview early this month.
“A lot of pastors and Christian leaders are going to have people coming up and saying … ‘Well, maybe taking the vaccine compromises my pro-life convictions because, maybe, it’s resting on research that’s been done as a result of abortion,’” Mr. Moore said.
Dr. Collins, who is Christian, acknowledged that many of the vaccines under development have used the HEK-293 cell line as a “lab bench experiment” to make sure “everything is working the way it’s supposed to.” But he encouraged persons skeptical of any medicine linked to abortion to see the greater good of ending a health crisis that has cost nearly 2 million lives worldwide.
“If you’re trying to size up and if you believe that God gives us the opportunity to act as his agents to relieve suffering and death, then it seems like this is a pretty good balance of benefits and risks,” said Dr. Collins.
According to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Moderna and Pfizer in their vaccines’ “confirmation phase” used HEK-293 cells, which “are descended from tissue taken from a 1973 elective abortion that took place in the Netherlands.”
Of the eight vaccines under development in the federal government’s Project Warp Speed, two relied on aborted fetal cells for production, according to the pro-life think tank The Charlotte Lozier Institute.
In a Dec. 17 statement approved by Pope Francis, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said the moral complicity between a person taking a vaccination in 2020 or 2021 and an abortion in 1973 is “remote.”
“It is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process,” reads the statement, signed by Cardinal Luis Ladaria and Archbishop Giacomo Morandi.
Some U.S. Catholic leaders have been less forgiving of British-Swiss biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford’s vaccine, which has been tested and produced using the HEK-293 line.
That vaccine was approved Wednesday by health authorities in the United Kingdom, and is set for approval in the new year by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
On Dec. 14, a group of Catholic bishops in Colorado stressed in a letter that the AstraZeneca vaccine is not a “morally valid option, because better options are available.”
“Catholics have the duty to use vaccines that respect human life, when they are available,” wrote Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila; Bishop Stephen J. Berg of Pueblo, Arizona; Bishop Michael J. Sheridan of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez.
On the same day, however, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops stated that taking the AstraZeneca vaccine could be allowed, given the “urgency of the crisis,” and that persons may not “have a choice” without a lengthy delay or other serious health consequences.
“In such a case, just as accepting a vaccination for rubella with a morally compromised vaccine is morally permissible because of the lack of alternatives and the serious risk to the public health, so it would be permissible to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine,” wrote Kansas City Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann and Bishop Kevin C. Rhodes of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana.
• Christopher Vondracek can be reached at cvondracek@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Sergeant who alleged Joliet police misconduct indicted

JOLIET , Ill. ( AP ) - A grand jury has indicted a Joliet police sergeant on four counts of official misconduct for accessing the video of an arrested man ’ s fatal drug overdose .
The indictment on Tuesday of Sgt .
Javier Esqueda by a Kendall County grand jury alleges he used a laptop in his squad car to view a video of Eric Lurry ’ s death .
Lurry , 37 , died in January while riding in a police vehicle after he was arrested at the scene of an alleged drug deal .
The Will County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an accident due to heroin , fentanyl and cocaine intoxication .
Esqueda released video that shows officers slapping and cursing Lurry prior to his death .
Prosecutors determined there was no police misconduct .
Joliet police eventually released three hours of video related to the arrest of Lurry .
Lurry ’ s wife , Nicole , has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Joliet and four police officers , claiming they engaged in “ willful and wanton acts and reckless conduct ” that led to her husband ’ s death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors say Esqueda ’ s alleged misconduct took place in neighboring Kendall County .
Esqueda ’ s attorney Jeff Tomczak filed a motion on Oct. 21 to dismiss the case by arguing no actions by his client took place in that county .

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - A grand jury has indicted a Joliet police sergeant on four counts of official misconduct for accessing the video of an arrested man’s fatal drug overdose.
The indictment on Tuesday of Sgt. Javier Esqueda by a Kendall County grand jury alleges he used a laptop in his squad car to view a video of Eric Lurry’s death.
Lurry, 37, died in January while riding in a police vehicle after he was arrested at the scene of an alleged drug deal. The Will County coroner’s office ruled his death an accident due to heroin, fentanyl and cocaine intoxication.
Esqueda released video that shows officers slapping and cursing Lurry prior to his death. Prosecutors determined there was no police misconduct. Joliet police eventually released three hours of video related to the arrest of Lurry.
Lurry’s wife, Nicole, has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Joliet and four police officers, claiming they engaged in “willful and wanton acts and reckless conduct” that led to her husband’s death.
While Joliet is in Will County, prosecutors say Esqueda’s alleged misconduct took place in neighboring Kendall County. Esqueda’s attorney Jeff Tomczak filed a motion on Oct. 21 to dismiss the case by arguing no actions by his client took place in that county.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Senate moves closer to overriding Trump veto of defense bill

President Trump was on track to suffer the first veto override of his presidency Wednesday evening as the Republican-controlled Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle to joining the Democratic House in passing a popular $ 740.5 defense policy bill over his strong objections .
With just days to go before the end of the session , the Senate voted 80-12 to proceed with debate on Mr. Trump ‘ s veto of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) , a sign there were far more than enough votes to obtain the two-thirds majority needed to override .
Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately after the vote and said the final debate would start Thursday at noon , although it remained unclear when a final override vote would come .
Senators earlier this month had approved the original NDAA by a 84-13 margin .
Breaking from the White House , several longtime Trump allies including Mr. McConnell and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe , Oklahoma Republicans , have championed efforts to pass the massive bill .
Mr. Trump had repeatedly threatened to veto the legislation , citing an evolving litany of problems with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Sen. Elizabeth Warren , Massachusetts Democrat , to strip Confederate names from U.S. military installations , new restrictions on U.S. troop withdrawals abroad , and a last-minute White House demand that lawmakers include a repeal of federal telecommunications law giving broad legal immunity to “ Big Tech ” companies such as Facebook and Twitter for the content on their sites .
Mr. Trump kept up the pressure in a string of angry Twitter messages this week , castigating “ weak and tired Republican ‘ leadership ’ ” for failing back his veto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get better leaders , ” Mr. Trump tweeted Tuesday .
But the NDAA traditionally enjoys bipartisan support , and even many Republicans said such items as the measure dealing social media content did not belong in a bill setting budget and policy goals for the Pentagon .
“ President Trump has rightly noted this year ’ s defense bill doesn ’ t contain every provision that we Republicans would have wanted , ” Mr. McConnell said on the Senate floor Tuesday .
“ I ’ m confident our Democratic colleagues feel the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every year.
” “ And yet , ” he added , “ for 59 consecutive years and counting , Washington has put our differences aside , found common ground , and passed the annual defense bill.
” The Senate vote to proceed to debate came just two days after the House overwhelmingly voted to override Mr. Trump ‘ s veto by a margin of 322-87 .
Just a few Republicans switched to Mr. Trump ‘ s side compared to the earlier vote approving the bill .
But the Senate ’ s efforts hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filibuster the override vote until the chamber held a vote to increase stimulus checks from $ 600 to $ 2,000 , a move approved by Mr. Trump as well as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle .
The House approved the check increase on Monday .
Senators faced a tight deadline to approve legislation before the incoming Congress is sworn in Sunday .
As in the past , this year ’ s NDAA includes a number of attractive features for lawmakers , including a 3 % troop pay raise , funding for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deter China and Russia , and increases in housing protections and standards for military families .
It also rescinds Mr. Trump ‘ s emergency declaration to obtain funding for the Mexican border wall , puts at least a temporary hold on plans to draw down more troops in Afghanistan , Germany and South Korea , and orders a Government Accounting Office study of U.S. backing for Saudi Arabia in Yemen ’ s civil war .
In his four years in the White House , Mr. Trump has issued nine vetoes .
But until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been overturned by Congress .
He was just weeks short of becoming the first president since Lyndon Johnson not to have a veto reversed by Congress .

President Trump was on track to suffer the first veto override of his presidency Wednesday evening as the Republican-controlled Senate cleared a key procedural hurdle to joining the Democratic House in passing a popular $740.5 defense policy bill over his strong objections.
With just days to go before the end of the session, the Senate voted 80-12 to proceed with debate on Mr. Trump’s veto of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a sign there were far more than enough votes to obtain the two-thirds majority needed to override.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adjourned the chamber immediately after the vote and said the final debate would start Thursday at noon, although it remained unclear when a final override vote would come. Senators earlier this month had approved the original NDAA by a 84-13 margin.
Breaking from the White House, several longtime Trump allies including Mr. McConnell and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe, Oklahoma Republicans, have championed efforts to pass the massive bill.
Mr. Trump had repeatedly threatened to veto the legislation, citing an evolving litany of problems with the bill. They include a provision sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat, to strip Confederate names from U.S. military installations, new restrictions on U.S. troop withdrawals abroad, and a last-minute White House demand that lawmakers include a repeal of federal telecommunications law giving broad legal immunity to “Big Tech” companies such as Facebook and Twitter for the content on their sites.
Mr. Trump kept up the pressure in a string of angry Twitter messages this week, castigating “weak and tired Republican ‘leadership’” for failing back his veto. “Negotiate a better bill or get better leaders,” Mr. Trump tweeted Tuesday.
But the NDAA traditionally enjoys bipartisan support, and even many Republicans said such items as the measure dealing social media content did not belong in a bill setting budget and policy goals for the Pentagon.
“President Trump has rightly noted this year’s defense bill doesn’t contain every provision that we Republicans would have wanted,” Mr. McConnell said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “I’m confident our Democratic colleagues feel the same way. But that is the case every year.”
“And yet,” he added, “for 59 consecutive years and counting, Washington has put our differences aside, found common ground, and passed the annual defense bill.”
The Senate vote to proceed to debate came just two days after the House overwhelmingly voted to override Mr. Trump’s veto by a margin of 322-87. Just a few Republicans switched to Mr. Trump’s side compared to the earlier vote approving the bill.
But the Senate’s efforts hit a roadblock when Democratic lawmakers moved to filibuster the override vote until the chamber held a vote to increase stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000, a move approved by Mr. Trump as well as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. The House approved the check increase on Monday.
Senators faced a tight deadline to approve legislation before the incoming Congress is sworn in Sunday.
As in the past, this year’s NDAA includes a number of attractive features for lawmakers, including a 3% troop pay raise, funding for new weapons systems, new policies to deter China and Russia, and increases in housing protections and standards for military families.
It also rescinds Mr. Trump’s emergency declaration to obtain funding for the Mexican border wall, puts at least a temporary hold on plans to draw down more troops in Afghanistan, Germany and South Korea, and orders a Government Accounting Office study of U.S. backing for Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s civil war.
In his four years in the White House, Mr. Trump has issued nine vetoes. But until Wednesday, none of his vetoes had been overturned by Congress. He was just weeks short of becoming the first president since Lyndon Johnson not to have a veto reversed by Congress.
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Minneapolis police shooting: Man killed during traffic stop

MINNEAPOLIS — Police in Minneapolis shot and killed a man during a traffic stop on the city ’ s south @ @ @ @ @ said .
Department spokesman John Elder said the incident happened about 6:15 p.m. while officers @ @ @ @ @ stop with a man suspected of a felony .
Elder said gunshots were exchanged .
@ @ @ @ @ pronounced dead by medical personnel .
A woman in the car was unhurt , Elder @ @ @ @ @ officers were hurt .
He said he didn ’ t know how many officers were @ @ @ @ @ the traffic stop .
He said the officers ’ body cameras were on .
The @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Apprehension is handling an investigation .

MINNEAPOLIS — Police in Minneapolis shot and killed a man during a traffic stop on the city’s south side Wednesday night, authorities said.
Department spokesman John Elder said the incident happened about 6:15 p.m. while officers were carrying out a traffic stop with a man suspected of a felony.
Elder said gunshots were exchanged. He said the man was pronounced dead by medical personnel. A woman in the car was unhurt, Elder said.
Elder said no officers were hurt. He said he didn’t know how many officers were at the scene carrying out the traffic stop. He said the officers’ body cameras were on.
The state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is handling an investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-12-30--Minneapolis police shoot, kill man during traffic stop

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Police in Minneapolis shot and killed a man in an exchange of gunfire during a traffic stop on the city ’ s south side Wednesday night , authorities said .
Department spokesman John Elder said the incident happened about 6:15 p.m. while officers were carrying out a traffic stop with a man suspected of a felony .
Elder said the man was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel .
A woman in the car was unhurt , Elder said .
He declined to say whether police recovered a gun at the scene .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said he didn ’ t know how many officers were at the scene carrying out the traffic stop .
He said the officers ’ body cameras were on .
The state ’ s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is handling an investigation .
The shooting happened less than a mile ( 1.61 kilometers ) from the street corner where George Floyd died in May after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for minutes , even as Floyd pleaded that he couldn ’ t breathe .
Floyd ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that spread around the country .
In Minneapolis , Floyd ’ s death also led to a push for radical change in the police department , long criticized by activists for what they called a brutal culture that resisted change .
A push by some City Council members to replace the department with a new public safety unit failed this summer .
Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo , who opposed doing away with the department , have offered several policy changes since Floyd ’ s death , including limiting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use-of-force policies and requiring officers to report on their attempts to de-escalate situations .
All four officers involved in Floyd ’ s death were fired and quickly charged in his death .
They are scheduled for trial in March .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Police in Minneapolis shot and killed a man during a traffic stop on the city’s south side Wednesday night, stirring anxiety about renewed protests following the first police-involved death in the city since George Floyd’s death while being arrested in May.
Police said the man died in an exchange of gunfire, and Chief Medaria Arradondo said witnesses said the man fired first. He said the officers’ body cameras were turned on and promised to release the video on Thursday.
“I want our communities to see that so they can see for themselves,” he said. Until then, Arradondo said, “Please allow me, the (state) investigators, allow us the time, let us get the evidence, get the facts, so we can process this.”
Police spokesman John Elder said the incident happened about 6:15 p.m. while officers were carrying out a traffic stop with a man suspected of a felony. Police did not provide details of the supposed felony nor release any information about the man, including his race.
Elder said the man was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. A woman in the car was unhurt, Elder said. He declined to say whether police recovered a gun at the site of the shooting, a Holiday gas station.
Elder said no officers were hurt. He said he didn’t know how many officers were at the scene carrying out the traffic stop or how many were involved in the shooting.
The state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is handling an investigation.
Dozens of people gathered at the scene in the hours after the shooting, including some who interrupted Elder and sharply questioned him as he delivered a media briefing.
Arradondo said the traffic stop was carried out by members of a police community response team - longstanding units that respond to things like drug investigations and gun crime. He said he did not have additional details on why the man was sought.
The shooting happened less than a mile (1.61 kilometers) from the street corner where George Floyd, a Black man who died in May after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for minutes, even as Floyd pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Floyd’s death sparked days of sometimes violent protest that spread around the country.
In Minneapolis, Floyd’s death also led to a push for radical change in the police department, long criticized by activists for what they called a brutal culture that resisted change. A push by some City Council members to replace the department with a new public safety unit failed this summer.
Mayor Jacob Frey and Arradondo, who opposed doing away with the department, have offered several policy changes since Floyd’s death, including limiting the use of so-called no-knock warrants, revising use-of-force policies and requiring officers to report on their attempts to de-escalate situations.
Frey said in a statement late Wednesday he was working with Arradondo for information on the shooting and pledged to get it out as quickly as possible in coordination with the state investigation.
“Events of this past year have marked some of the darkest days in our city,” Frey said. “We know a life has been cut short and that trust between communities of color and law enforcement is fragile. .. We must all be committed to getting the facts, pursuing justice, and keeping the peace.”
All four officers involved in Floyd’s death were fired and quickly charged in his death. They are scheduled for trial in March.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Broadcaster: Boris Johnson's father seeks French citizenship

LONDON ( AP ) - As Britain prepares to split from the European Union , the father of Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears to be seeking closer ties with the bloc by applying for French citizenship .
Stanley Johnson told broadcaster RTL on Thursday that he was in the process of “ reclaiming ” his French identity .
“ It is not a question of becoming French .
If I understand correctly , I am French .
My mother was born in France .
Her mother was completely French , as was her grandfather , ” he told RTL , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French citizenship request .
“ So for me it is a question of reclaiming what I already have.
” The elder Johnson , 80 , is a former member of the European Parliament who backed remaining in the EU in Britain ’ s 2016 membership referendum .
He has since expressed support for his son as the prime minister led the U.K. out of the bloc .
Once Britain leaves the EU ’ s economic embrace at 11 p.m. ( 2300GMT ) on Thursday , Britons will lose the automatic right to live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but those with dual nationality will still be able to do so .
“ I will always be European .
That is certain , ” Stanley Johnson said .
“ You can not tell the English : ‘ You are not European.
’ Europe is always more than the common market , more than the European Union .
But having said that , yes , having a link like that to the European Union is important .
”

LONDON (AP) - As Britain prepares to split from the European Union, the father of Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears to be seeking closer ties with the bloc by applying for French citizenship.
Stanley Johnson told broadcaster RTL on Thursday that he was in the process of “reclaiming” his French identity.
“It is not a question of becoming French. If I understand correctly, I am French. My mother was born in France. Her mother was completely French, as was her grandfather,” he told RTL, which said Johnson is putting together a French citizenship request. “So for me it is a question of reclaiming what I already have.”
The elder Johnson, 80, is a former member of the European Parliament who backed remaining in the EU in Britain’s 2016 membership referendum. He has since expressed support for his son as the prime minister led the U.K. out of the bloc.
Once Britain leaves the EU’s economic embrace at 11 p.m. (2300GMT) on Thursday, Britons will lose the automatic right to live and work in the 27 EU countries, but those with dual nationality will still be able to do so.
“I will always be European. That is certain,” Stanley Johnson said. “You cannot tell the English: ‘You are not European.’ Europe is always more than the common market, more than the European Union. But having said that, yes, having a link like that to the European Union is important.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--More than 10,000 North Carolina students unaccounted for

RALEIGH , N.C. ( AP ) - North Carolina education officials recently estimated that educators can ’ t account for about 10,000 to 15,000 public school students this school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Lawmakers and educators worry more students are falling through cracks in the system than is presently known , as the coronavirus pandemic upends students ’ learning plans and keeps some out of virtual or physical classrooms .
David Stegall , the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction ’ s deputy superintendent of innovation , told lawmakers earlier this month that a survey the state conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of about 0.7 % to 1 % of the state ’ s 1.5 million K-12 public school students are unknown .
This happens when a school has lost contact with a student , often because the student dropped out without alerting the school or moved elsewhere without the parent notifying the school or responding to repeated requests to get their kid back in class .
If a student misses at least 10 consecutive days of school in North Carolina , they are typically unenrolled , and the school works to account for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement that “ unaccounted for ” doesn ’ t necessarily mean the school doesn ’ t know where a student is or that the student is in danger .
North Carolina has long kept track of enrollment and attendance numbers but has no database for counting the number of students who educators can ’ t account for .
Republicans and Democrats on the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee asked the department to provide the information and now worry the estimates grossly understate the scope of the problem .
Rep. Craig Horn , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports in his district and elsewhere earlier this year that upward of 1 in 5 students could not be found or had parents who didn ’ t inform the district that their child moved and enrolled elsewhere .
He believes that number has fallen slightly but remains nowhere close to the state ’ s claims .
“ I talk to superintendents , principals and teachers across this state , and I ’ m hearing numbers significantly higher than 1 % , ” Horn said .
“ I ’ m hearing numbers going from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just find it very difficult to believe that if we had 20-25 % students missing in May that now we only have .7 % .
I ’ m sorry .
It just doesn ’ t ring right.
” In the Dec. 1 hearing with members of Horn ’ s committee , Stegall said he was “ relieved ” the numbers weren ’ t higher and noted the state ’ s efforts to track people down .
“ Our schools are continually working with social workers , truancy officers , their counselors to track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And sometimes , that means not only home visits but visiting neighbors , friends , family and trying to find out where they may be.
” Erik Naglee , a principal at Page High School in Greensboro , has worked to support the roughly 1,800 students at his school who were learning entirely online during the two fall quarters this year .
He said several dozen students remain unaccounted for and dozens don ’ t have access to a computer or the Internet , disrupting their ability to show up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for .
Three or four buses serve as WiFi hotspots in some of the community ’ s lowest-income neighborhoods , but that is only helpful to those who already have devices at their disposal .
Naglee and fellow administrations spent a weekend earlier this month tracking down seniors to give them hard copies of learning materials and help them remain on course to graduate .
Before the pandemic , an average of 21 % students were failing at least one class .
During the first quarter of classes this academic year , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one class they were failing .
“ The gap will continue to widen and has widened during this time , ” Naglee said .
“ Our students that were struggling already are struggling even more during this time .
That ’ s very hard to address.
” State Rep. Ashton Clemmons previously worked as a local elementary school principal for eight years and has three children enrolled in public school .
The Democrat from Guilford questions the accuracy of the state ’ s estimates and wants the education department to adopt a broader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also factors in students who are technically enrolled but haven ’ t been able to learn and keep in contact with their teachers during the pandemic .
“ Signing in one time doesn ’ t mean you ’ re accounted for from my perspective , ” Clemmons said .
Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina education officials recently estimated that educators can’t account for about 10,000 to 15,000 public school students this school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawmakers and educators worry more students are falling through cracks in the system than is presently known, as the coronavirus pandemic upends students’ learning plans and keeps some out of virtual or physical classrooms.
David Stegall, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s deputy superintendent of innovation, told lawmakers earlier this month that a survey the state conducted of some districts concluded that the whereabouts of about 0.7% to 1% of the state’s 1.5 million K-12 public school students are unknown.
This happens when a school has lost contact with a student, often because the student dropped out without alerting the school or moved elsewhere without the parent notifying the school or responding to repeated requests to get their kid back in class.
If a student misses at least 10 consecutive days of school in North Carolina, they are typically unenrolled, and the school works to account for them. The education department said in a statement that “unaccounted for” doesn’t necessarily mean the school doesn’t know where a student is or that the student is in danger.
North Carolina has long kept track of enrollment and attendance numbers but has no database for counting the number of students who educators can’t account for. Republicans and Democrats on the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee asked the department to provide the information and now worry the estimates grossly understate the scope of the problem.
Rep. Craig Horn, a Republican from Union, said he heard reports in his district and elsewhere earlier this year that upward of 1 in 5 students could not be found or had parents who didn’t inform the district that their child moved and enrolled elsewhere. He believes that number has fallen slightly but remains nowhere close to the state’s claims.
“I talk to superintendents, principals and teachers across this state, and I’m hearing numbers significantly higher than 1%,” Horn said. “I’m hearing numbers going from 8% to 14%. I just find it very difficult to believe that if we had 20-25% students missing in May that now we only have .7%. I’m sorry. It just doesn’t ring right.”
In the Dec. 1 hearing with members of Horn’s committee, Stegall said he was “relieved” the numbers weren’t higher and noted the state’s efforts to track people down.
“Our schools are continually working with social workers, truancy officers, their counselors to track down every student,” Stegall said. “And sometimes, that means not only home visits but visiting neighbors, friends, family and trying to find out where they may be.”
Erik Naglee, a principal at Page High School in Greensboro, has worked to support the roughly 1,800 students at his school who were learning entirely online during the two fall quarters this year. He said several dozen students remain unaccounted for and dozens don’t have access to a computer or the Internet, disrupting their ability to show up to class even when they’re accounted for.
Three or four buses serve as WiFi hotspots in some of the community’s lowest-income neighborhoods, but that is only helpful to those who already have devices at their disposal. Naglee and fellow administrations spent a weekend earlier this month tracking down seniors to give them hard copies of learning materials and help them remain on course to graduate.
Before the pandemic, an average of 21% students were failing at least one class. During the first quarter of classes this academic year, however, 53% students had at least one class they were failing.
“The gap will continue to widen and has widened during this time,” Naglee said. “Our students that were struggling already are struggling even more during this time. That’s very hard to address.”
State Rep. Ashton Clemmons previously worked as a local elementary school principal for eight years and has three children enrolled in public school. The Democrat from Guilford questions the accuracy of the state’s estimates and wants the education department to adopt a broader definition of “unaccounted for” that also factors in students who are technically enrolled but haven’t been able to learn and keep in contact with their teachers during the pandemic.
“Signing in one time doesn’t mean you’re accounted for from my perspective,” Clemmons said.
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Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.
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Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Search continues for survivors after major Norway landslide

HELSINKI ( AP ) - Rescue workers in Norway on Thursday continued searching for 10 people , including children , who are missing a day after a massive landslide struck a residential area near the capital .
Time was running out to find survivors in destroyed buildings amid wintry weather conditions .
Authorities said it was too dangerous to send ground rescue patrols to the ravaged area in the village of Ask in the municipality of Gjerdrum , some 25 kilometers ( 16 miles ) northeast of Oslo .
Instead , the search was carried out with the help of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We still have hope of finding people and saving lives , ” police spokesman Dag Andre Sylju told the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK .
There were no reports of casualties , but some 10 people were injured , one of them seriously , in what Prime Minister Erna Solberg called “ probably one of the biggest landslides we have had.
” Officials said at least nine buildings with some 30 apartments were destroyed in the early Wednesday landslide .
Over 1,000 people have been evacuated , and officials said up to 1,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid fears of further landslides .
The landslide cut across a road through Ask , home to some 5,000 people , leaving a deep , crater-like ravine that cars could not pass .
Photos and video footage showed dramatic scenes of buildings on the edge of the ravine .
The area is known for having a lot of so-called quick clay , a form of clay that can change from solid to liquid form .
Experts said the substance of the clay combined with excessive precipitation and damp weather conditions may have contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that authorities in 2005 warned building companies not to construct houses in the area , but houses were eventually built there later in the decade .

HELSINKI (AP) - Rescue workers in Norway on Thursday continued searching for 10 people, including children, who are missing a day after a massive landslide struck a residential area near the capital.
Time was running out to find survivors in destroyed buildings amid wintry weather conditions. Authorities said it was too dangerous to send ground rescue patrols to the ravaged area in the village of Ask in the municipality of Gjerdrum, some 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of Oslo. Instead, the search was carried out with the help of helicopters, drones and heat cameras.
“We still have hope of finding people and saving lives,” police spokesman Dag Andre Sylju told the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.
There were no reports of casualties, but some 10 people were injured, one of them seriously, in what Prime Minister Erna Solberg called “probably one of the biggest landslides we have had.”
Officials said at least nine buildings with some 30 apartments were destroyed in the early Wednesday landslide.
Over 1,000 people have been evacuated, and officials said up to 1,500 people may be moved from the area amid fears of further landslides.
The landslide cut across a road through Ask, home to some 5,000 people, leaving a deep, crater-like ravine that cars could not pass. Photos and video footage showed dramatic scenes of buildings on the edge of the ravine.
The area is known for having a lot of so-called quick clay, a form of clay that can change from solid to liquid form. Experts said the substance of the clay combined with excessive precipitation and damp weather conditions may have contributed to the landslide.
Norwegian media reported that authorities in 2005 warned building companies not to construct houses in the area, but houses were eventually built there later in the decade.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Work begins to turn SC racist store into racial harmony site

LAURENS .
S.C. ( AP ) - Regan Freeman had spent more than a year organizing a project to tell the story of a Black South Carolina pastor who reached out to Ku Klux Klan members who wanted him dead because of his race .
Freeman thought he knew the story well .
Then came a tweet that led to two gray storage tubs of some of the most racist newspapers , flyers , posters , photographs and other material he had ever seen .
That brought Rev .
David Kennedy ’ s struggles as well as his patience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even those with evil in their hearts - into sharper focus for Freeman , who is working to turn what was once a store filled with racist merchandise into a diversity center and museum on racial reconciliation .
Freeman was born three months after the Redneck Shop and World ’ s Only Klan Museum , adorned with Confederate flags and a swastika on a back wall , opened in 1996 in Laurens .
He has raised more than $ 300,000 to renovate the historic Echo Theater , which was a segregated movie theater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting hall where dozens of hooded Klan members met in the back .
Freeman wants to collect the stories of Black people around Laurens whose ancestors struggled through slavery and segregation and maybe take on other projects like putting up historical markers at the site of each of the more than 150 known lynchings of Black people in the state .
“ There are so many stories out there that haven ’ t been told or we haven ’ t told completely , ” Freeman said .
And that led him to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he replied to a tweet by a woman who now owns the land where Redneck Shop owner John Howard lived letting the Southern Poverty Law Center know she had a ton of his stuff .
The woman didn ’ t respond , so Freeman drove up himself and after a unannounced visit , some negotiation and $ 500 , he had decades of stuff marking Howard ’ s racist life .
There are negatives of cross burnings .
Posters of Adolph Hitler .
A “ Klan Rally Instructions ” manual .
A flyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” with horribly offensive Black caricatures and stereotypes .
A business card Klan members would leave to intimidate Black families that said this was a social visit and “ don ’ t make the next visit a business call.
” “ This stuff isn ’ t from 100 years ago .
Some of it is maybe from the last decade or two , ” Freeman said .
“ I think it is important to see it and see how deep this hate goes so you can see why we need to fight so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have historians at the University of South Carolina help him look through the items with an eye toward preservation and display the ones that best tell a story in exhibits at the theater .
A Klan member named Michael Burden , who was once considering killing Kennedy , sold the theater to the pastor in 1997 after Kennedy helped him out when he and Howard had a falling out .
But Burden ’ s deal let Howard keep leasing the theater for the Redneck Shop .
Kennedy finally won a 15-year court fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story became the movie “ Burden ” released earlier this year .
Now Freeman is leading the project to turn the old theater into Kennedy ’ s dream of a community center where racial reconciliation and harmony is at the forefront .
“ We ’ re hoping The Echo Project will become a place where every race could be respected - a place where diversity is not only just talked about , but is celebrated through action , ” Kennedy said .
Freeman grew up in nearby Clinton , and while at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to talk to Kennedy about his work .
Kennedy asked him to lead the project and Freeman gave up a law firm job for his new calling .
“ This is a chance to tell a great story , ” Freeman said .
An architect and construction firm have been chosen , with work starting soon , and Freeman plans to relaunch the Echo Project ’ s website to expand its reach .
“ To be a part of a project that can use architecture and inflict change at the same time is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Founder Michael Allen said .
The first bit of work for the companies ?
Scraping off a Confederate flag sticker on the marquee for decades and replacing it with the project ’ s name and website .
“ It needs to be the opposite of a dilapidated old building that stands as a shrine to hatred , ” said David Walker , manager for the project for Sodexo ’ s Construction and Infrastructure Services .

LAURENS. S.C. (AP) - Regan Freeman had spent more than a year organizing a project to tell the story of a Black South Carolina pastor who reached out to Ku Klux Klan members who wanted him dead because of his race.
Freeman thought he knew the story well. Then came a tweet that led to two gray storage tubs of some of the most racist newspapers, flyers, posters, photographs and other material he had ever seen.
That brought Rev. David Kennedy’s struggles as well as his patience, love and caring for all men - even those with evil in their hearts - into sharper focus for Freeman, who is working to turn what was once a store filled with racist merchandise into a diversity center and museum on racial reconciliation.
Freeman was born three months after the Redneck Shop and World’s Only Klan Museum, adorned with Confederate flags and a swastika on a back wall, opened in 1996 in Laurens. He has raised more than $300,000 to renovate the historic Echo Theater, which was a segregated movie theater before housing the shop and a large meeting hall where dozens of hooded Klan members met in the back.
Freeman wants to collect the stories of Black people around Laurens whose ancestors struggled through slavery and segregation and maybe take on other projects like putting up historical markers at the site of each of the more than 150 known lynchings of Black people in the state.
“There are so many stories out there that haven’t been told or we haven’t told completely,” Freeman said.
And that led him to those gray plastic tubs.
In October, he replied to a tweet by a woman who now owns the land where Redneck Shop owner John Howard lived letting the Southern Poverty Law Center know she had a ton of his stuff.
The woman didn’t respond, so Freeman drove up himself and after a unannounced visit, some negotiation and $500, he had decades of stuff marking Howard’s racist life.
There are negatives of cross burnings. Posters of Adolph Hitler. A “Klan Rally Instructions” manual. A flyer called “A Boat Ticket To Africa” with horribly offensive Black caricatures and stereotypes. A business card Klan members would leave to intimidate Black families that said this was a social visit and “don’t make the next visit a business call.”
“This stuff isn’t from 100 years ago. Some of it is maybe from the last decade or two,” Freeman said. “I think it is important to see it and see how deep this hate goes so you can see why we need to fight so hard to change.”
Freeman plans to have historians at the University of South Carolina help him look through the items with an eye toward preservation and display the ones that best tell a story in exhibits at the theater.
A Klan member named Michael Burden, who was once considering killing Kennedy, sold the theater to the pastor in 1997 after Kennedy helped him out when he and Howard had a falling out. But Burden’s deal let Howard keep leasing the theater for the Redneck Shop. Kennedy finally won a 15-year court fight and shut the shop down. The story became the movie “Burden” released earlier this year.
Now Freeman is leading the project to turn the old theater into Kennedy’s dream of a community center where racial reconciliation and harmony is at the forefront.
“We’re hoping The Echo Project will become a place where every race could be respected - a place where diversity is not only just talked about, but is celebrated through action,” Kennedy said.
Freeman grew up in nearby Clinton, and while at the University of South Carolina, felt pulled to talk to Kennedy about his work. Kennedy asked him to lead the project and Freeman gave up a law firm job for his new calling.
“This is a chance to tell a great story,” Freeman said.
An architect and construction firm have been chosen, with work starting soon, and Freeman plans to relaunch the Echo Project’s website to expand its reach.
“To be a part of a project that can use architecture and inflict change at the same time is huge for me,” MOA Architecture Founder Michael Allen said.
The first bit of work for the companies? Scraping off a Confederate flag sticker on the marquee for decades and replacing it with the project’s name and website.
“It needs to be the opposite of a dilapidated old building that stands as a shrine to hatred,” said David Walker, manager for the project for Sodexo’s Construction and Infrastructure Services.
___
Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Remains found in southwestern Missouri identified

AVA , Mo .
( AP ) - The human remains found last weekend in a rural area of southwestern @ @ @ @ @ those of a man who was reported missing five years ago .
KYTV-TV reports that @ @ @ @ @ Mountain Grove reported him missing in September 2015 .
The skeletal remains were found in @ @ @ @ @ that had been previously searched .
Authorities say recent home construction turned up new evidence @ @ @ @ @ through dental records .
The Douglas County Sheriff ’ s Office said it has identified @ @ @ @ @ Wood ’ s death , but so far , no arrests have been made .

AVA, Mo. (AP) - The human remains found last weekend in a rural area of southwestern Missouri have been identified as those of a man who was reported missing five years ago.
KYTV-TV reports that relatives of Brandon Wood of Mountain Grove reported him missing in September 2015. The skeletal remains were found in Douglas County in an area that had been previously searched.
Authorities say recent home construction turned up new evidence. The remains were identified through dental records.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said it has identified three people of interest in Wood’s death, but so far, no arrests have been made.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Xi hails China's economic growth despite pandemic setback

BEIJING ( AP ) - China has made major progress in developing its economy and eradicating rural poverty over the past year despite the coronavirus pandemic , Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a New Year address Thursday .
China was the first major economy to register positive economic growth in 2020 , with its gross domestic product expected to exceed 100 trillion yuan ( almost $ 14 trillion ) for the year , Xi said on nationwide television , speaking from behind his desk in his wood-paneled office .
The International Monetary Fund forecast in October that China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would grow 1.9 % in 2020 , a sharp slowdown from its 6.1 % gain in 2019 , and then expand 8.2 % in 2021 .
That compares with an IMF forecast for a global economic contraction of 4.4 % for 2020 , the worst plunge since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
China has largely ended domestic transmission of the coronavirus , but Xi ’ s speech came as the government is ordering additional measures to prevent a resurgence over coming months .
China is encouraging tens of millions of migrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Lunar New Year holiday to prevent further spread of the coronavirus , disrupting the most important family gathering of the year .
Schools nationwide are also scheduled to begin the Lunar New Year vacation a week early and tourists have been told not to visit the capital Beijing during the holiday .
Xi called for increased international cooperation in fighting the virus , which is believed to have emerged from the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 .
“ People across the world should make joint efforts to drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic at an early date and build the planet Earth into a better home for all humanity , ” Xi said .
Xi also hailed progress in lifting close to 100 million rural Chinese out of poverty over the last eight years and in “ fully building a moderately prosperous society in all respects .
”

BEIJING (AP) - China has made major progress in developing its economy and eradicating rural poverty over the past year despite the coronavirus pandemic, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a New Year address Thursday.
China was the first major economy to register positive economic growth in 2020, with its gross domestic product expected to exceed 100 trillion yuan (almost $14 trillion) for the year, Xi said on nationwide television, speaking from behind his desk in his wood-paneled office.
The International Monetary Fund forecast in October that China, the world’s second-largest economy, would grow 1.9% in 2020, a sharp slowdown from its 6.1% gain in 2019, and then expand 8.2% in 2021.
That compares with an IMF forecast for a global economic contraction of 4.4% for 2020, the worst plunge since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
China has largely ended domestic transmission of the coronavirus, but Xi’s speech came as the government is ordering additional measures to prevent a resurgence over coming months.
China is encouraging tens of millions of migrant workers not to travel home during February’s Lunar New Year holiday to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, disrupting the most important family gathering of the year. Schools nationwide are also scheduled to begin the Lunar New Year vacation a week early and tourists have been told not to visit the capital Beijing during the holiday.
Xi called for increased international cooperation in fighting the virus, which is believed to have emerged from the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
“People across the world should make joint efforts to drive away the dark clouds of the COVID-19 pandemic at an early date and build the planet Earth into a better home for all humanity,” Xi said.
Xi also hailed progress in lifting close to 100 million rural Chinese out of poverty over the last eight years and in “fully building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Search continues for signs of missing Tampa fisherman

TAMPA , Fla. ( AP ) - Crews are searching for signs of a 54-year-old man who hasn ’ t been seen since leaving on a fishing trip near Tampa on Saturday evening .
A family member dropped Eugen Wilson off at a dock around 8 p.m. that night .
Hillsborough County Sheriff ’ s deputies were called the next afternoon when Wilson didn ’ t return home .
“ We ’ re just waiting for answers at this point , ” daughter Krystal Wilson told the Tampa Bay Times .
“ We ’ ve been here every day since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fishing gear was found nearby , and the search continued Wednesday for the father of six .
“ He was a very family-oriented person , ” Krystal Wilson , 28 , said .
“ The life of the party .
Just an all-around great guy.
” Hillsborough County Sheriff ’ s Office spokeswoman Amanda Granit told the newspaper that foul play is not suspected .
But she asked anyone with information to contact authorities .
“ If anyone heard anything or saw anything , please call , ” Krystal Wilson said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Crews have found the body of a 54-year-old man who went missing while on a weekend fishing trip near Tampa.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that the body of Eugene has been recovered, news outlets reported.
A family member dropped Wilson off at a dock around 8 p.m. Saturday. Sheriff’s deputies were called the next afternoon when Wilson didn’t return home.
A capsized boat with fishing gear was found nearby, and the search continued Wednesday for the father of six.
“He was a very family-oriented person,” daughter Krystal Wilson, 28, told the Tampa Bay Times. “The life of the party. Just an all-around great guy.”
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Amanda Granit told the newspaper that foul play is not suspected.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--Illinois deputy shoots suspect after chase into Missouri

SPANISH LAKE , Mo .
( AP ) - An armed robbery suspect is hospitalized after being shot by an @ @ @ @ @ chased the suspect into Missouri .
The shooting happened Wednesday night .
St. Louis County @ @ @ @ @ Illinois departments - Glen Carbon Police , Pontoon Beach Police and the Madison County Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ pursuing two suspects wanted for armed robbery and assault .
In north St. Louis County @ @ @ @ @ suspect vehicle got out and was shot by a Madison County deputy .
St. Louis @ @ @ @ @ was found at the scene , but did not immediately disclose any additional information .
@ @ @ @ @ s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening .
The vehicle driven by the other @ @ @ @ @ time later and he was taken into custody .
The Madison County deputy is an @ @ @ @ @

SPANISH LAKE, Mo. (AP) - An armed robbery suspect is hospitalized after being shot by an Illinois police officer who had chased the suspect into Missouri.
The shooting happened Wednesday night. St. Louis County police say officers from three Illinois departments - Glen Carbon Police, Pontoon Beach Police and the Madison County Sheriff’s Department - were pursuing two suspects wanted for armed robbery and assault.
In north St. Louis County, the passenger in the suspect vehicle got out and was shot by a Madison County deputy. St. Louis County police say a handgun was found at the scene, but did not immediately disclose any additional information.
Police say the man’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The vehicle driven by the other suspect was stopped a short time later and he was taken into custody.
The Madison County deputy is an 11-year law enforcement veteran.


washingtontimes--2020-12-31--2 North Dakotans have suspected allergic reaction to vaccine

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - The North Dakota Department of Health has reported two suspected severe allergic reactions @ @ @ @ @ .
The Bismarck Tribune reported the two people had no history of anaphylactic reactions .
@ @ @ @ @ Neither person was hospitalized , and the two have since recovered .
The allergic reactions @ @ @ @ @ observation period recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
State health officials @ @ @ @ @ vaccinated are rare .
For other vaccines , they occur at a rate of one @ @ @ @ @ The state is currently vaccinating health care workers and long-term care residents .
More than @ @ @ @ @ first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in North Dakota .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Department of Health has reported two suspected severe allergic reactions to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
The Bismarck Tribune reported that the two people had no history of anaphylactic reactions. The incidents were unrelated.
Neither person was hospitalized, and they have both since recovered.
The allergic reactions occurred during a 15-minute post-vaccine observation period recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State health officials said anaphylactic reactions after being vaccinated are rare. For other vaccines, they occur at a rate of one per 1 million doses.
The state is currently vaccinating health care workers and long-term care residents. More than 13,000 people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in North Dakota.
State health officials on Thursday reported 303 new cases and 10 additional deaths due to complications from the coronavirus.
The state’s death toll since the pandemic began was 1,292 on Thursday.
The number of hospitalizations due to complications from the coronavirus has remained below 100 for only the second time in more than three months.
The number of people receiving treatment in medical facilities dropped by two in the last day, for a total of 94. The hospitalizations were last in double figures on Sept. 24 and topped 300 for more than a week in mid-November.
The state’s hospital tracker shows there were 37 staffed intensive care unit beds and 330 staffed inpatient beds available throughout North Dakota as of Wednesday.