washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Suit: Atlanta area housing site illegally evicted residents

DECATUR , Ga. ( AP ) - The owners of an Atlanta area housing site are illegally throwing out residents struggling to make ends meet amid the coronavirus pandemic and have failed to address roaches , bed bugs and other problems in those living accommodations , protesters and a lawsuit say .
About two dozen former residents of the Efficiency Lodge in DeKalb County and others demonstrated Wednesday across from the suburban Atlanta complex .
The protest came as millions of Americans are struggling amid the lingering outbreak to make rent or other lodging payments that keep them off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing the owners of being slumlords .
One woman shouted through a bullhorn , and some raised clenched fists .
“ They ’ re not willing to do anything to bring this property up to par in a livable status for these tenants , ” said Stephanie Williams , a former resident .
Williams said she was evicted in March , and eleven families were recently forced to leave the property .
The Trump administration has issued a national moratorium on evictions in a bid to provide a measure of relief to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moratorium will only delay a wave of crushing debt and homelessness without additional relief .
Yet the moratorium doesn ’ t apply to motels and hotels , and some owners have argued they fall in that category though their properties function as permanent housing , said Viraj Parmar , managing attorney of the Housing Court Assistance Center , a free legal clinic that helps residents in the Atlanta area fight evictions .
Parmar said extended stay properties have become a more vital source of housing during the pandemic .
“ So many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting evicted , and that ’ s their only option , ” he said .
Federal , state and local governments have approved eviction moratoriums during the course of the pandemic for many renters , but those protections are expiring rapidly .
A woman who answered the phone at the lodge in DeKalb County said no one was available to talk and she didn ’ t have a number for a corporate office .
She declined to give her name .
A man who answered the phone at another number for Efficiency Lodge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a dozen properties in Georgia and Florida and offers “ cost-efficient accommodations , ” according to its website .
The website says it has nightly and weekly lodging options .
A lawsuit filed last week in Dekalb County includes two plaintiffs who say they have lived there for years .
The lodge has forced dozens of residents to leave in recent weeks without filing required eviction cases in court , the lawsuit alleges .
On one occasion , a private security guard carried a rifle and pointed it at residents as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , the lawsuit also alleged .
The suit seeks unspecified damages and a court order recognizing the residents as tenants .
DeKalb County officials found more than 300 code violations at the lodge in July 2018 and another 30 violations in January , county spokesman Quinn Hudson said in an email .
He said the problems included mold , trash and live roaches .
Valencia Gasper , another resident evicted from the lodge , said when she lived there with her three daughters , there were no lights for one month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ room was the stove and the air conditioning , ” she said .

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) - The owners of an Atlanta area housing site are illegally throwing out residents struggling to make ends meet amid the coronavirus pandemic and have failed to address roaches, bed bugs and other problems in those living accommodations, protesters and a lawsuit say.
About two dozen former residents of the Efficiency Lodge in DeKalb County and others demonstrated Wednesday across from the suburban Atlanta complex. The protest came as millions of Americans are struggling amid the lingering outbreak to make rent or other lodging payments that keep them off the streets.
Some on Wednesday carried signs accusing the owners of being slumlords. One woman shouted through a bullhorn, and some raised clenched fists.
“They’re not willing to do anything to bring this property up to par in a livable status for these tenants,” said Stephanie Williams, a former resident. Williams said she was evicted in March, and eleven families were recently forced to leave the property.
The Trump administration has issued a national moratorium on evictions in a bid to provide a measure of relief to those struggling. But critics warn that the moratorium will only delay a wave of crushing debt and homelessness without additional relief.
Yet the moratorium doesn’t apply to motels and hotels, and some owners have argued they fall in that category though their properties function as permanent housing, said Viraj Parmar, managing attorney of the Housing Court Assistance Center, a free legal clinic that helps residents in the Atlanta area fight evictions.
Parmar said extended stay properties have become a more vital source of housing during the pandemic. “So many people are struggling. So many people are getting evicted, and that’s their only option,” he said.
Federal, state and local governments have approved eviction moratoriums during the course of the pandemic for many renters, but those protections are expiring rapidly.
A woman who answered the phone at the lodge in DeKalb County said no one was available to talk and she didn’t have a number for a corporate office. She declined to give her name.
A man who answered the phone at another number for Efficiency Lodge hung up.
Efficiency Lodge has more than a dozen properties in Georgia and Florida and offers “cost-efficient accommodations,” according to its website. The website says it has nightly and weekly lodging options.
A lawsuit filed last week in Dekalb County includes two plaintiffs who say they have lived there for years.
The lodge has forced dozens of residents to leave in recent weeks without filing required eviction cases in court, the lawsuit alleges. On one occasion, a private security guard carried a rifle and pointed it at residents as he went door to door to get them out, the lawsuit also alleged.
The suit seeks unspecified damages and a court order recognizing the residents as tenants.
DeKalb County officials found more than 300 code violations at the lodge in July 2018 and another 30 violations in January, county spokesman Quinn Hudson said in an email. He said the problems included mold, trash and live roaches.
Valencia Gasper, another resident evicted from the lodge, said when she lived there with her three daughters, there were no lights for one month.
“The only thing working in this room was the stove and the air conditioning,” she said.
___
Thanawala reported from Atlanta.


washingtontimes--2020-10-07--Gen. Gary L. Thomas, Marine Corps No. 2 officer, tests positive for coronavirus

Gen. Gary L. Thomas , the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps , tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and is now in quarantine , military officials said .
It ’ s the latest positive test among the top brass of the Pentagon .
The Coast Guard ’ s vice commandant , Adm. Charles Ray , tested positive earlier this week and forced much of the Defense Department ’ s military leadership into quarantine .
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley , Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown , Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are among those in quarantine So far , however , only Adm. Ray and Gen. Thomas are known to have tested positive .
“ Today , the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps , General Gary L. Thomas , tested positive for # COVID19 .
The Marine Corps is following established policies for COVID , per @ CDCgov guidelines , to include quarantine and contact tracing , ” the Marine Corps said in a statement .
At the Pentagon , officials confirmed that there have been no other positive tests among senior leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas ’ positive test for COVID-19 , ” chief Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement .
“ At this time we have no additional senior leader positive test results to report .
We will continue to follow CDC guidance for self-quarantining and contact tracing.
” The two positive COVID-19 tests among military leaders came just days after President Trump , the commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces , tested positive last Thursday .

Gen. Gary L. Thomas, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and is now in quarantine, military officials said.
It’s the latest positive test among the top brass of the Pentagon. The Coast Guard’s vice commandant, Adm. Charles Ray, tested positive earlier this week and forced much of the Defense Department’s military leadership into quarantine.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville and a host of other top officers are among those in quarantine
So far, however, only Adm. Ray and Gen. Thomas are known to have tested positive.
“Today, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Gary L. Thomas, tested positive for #COVID19. The Marine Corps is following established policies for COVID, per @CDCgov guidelines, to include quarantine and contact tracing,” the Marine Corps said in a statement.
At the Pentagon, officials confirmed that there have been no other positive tests among senior leadership.
“We are aware of General Thomas’ positive test for COVID-19,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement. “At this time we have no additional senior leader positive test results to report. We will continue to follow CDC guidance for self-quarantining and contact tracing.”
The two positive COVID-19 tests among military leaders came just days after President Trump, the commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces, tested positive last Thursday.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Accident at Ohio construction site triggers gas line blast

MONTGOMERY , Ohio ( AP ) - An accident at a construction site in Ohio triggered a natural gas explosion @ @ @ @ @ the sky , officials said .
It started when a truck backed over a gas @ @ @ @ @ pole on Wednesday afternoon , officials said .
The surrounding area was rocked by the @ @ @ @ @ .
Flames and smoke filled the sky for hours as firefighters from nearby communities worked @ @ @ @ @ on the blaze .
Nearby buildings were evacuated and intersections were blocked to control traffic @ @ @ @ @ turned off and firefighters extinguished the flames .
Officials said no one was seriously injured @

MONTGOMERY, Ohio (AP) - An accident at a construction site in Ohio triggered a natural gas explosion that shot flames high in the sky, officials said.
It started when a truck backed over a gas line and struck a utility pole on Wednesday afternoon, officials said. The surrounding area was rocked by the blast as the gas ignited.
Flames and smoke filled the sky for hours as firefighters from nearby communities worked to get the upper hand on the blaze. Nearby buildings were evacuated and intersections were blocked to control traffic.
The gas was eventually turned off and firefighters extinguished the flames.
Officials said no one was seriously injured.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Karsten Thielker, Pulitzer-winning AP photographer, dies

BERLIN ( AP ) - Karsten Thielker , a Pulitzer Prize-winning German photographer with The Associated Press who covered human suffering in conflict zones around the globe , has died .
He was 54 .
Thielker died Oct. 3 in Berlin of esophageal cancer , his wife Janna Ressel said Thursday .
Thielker , who started his career at a Mainz-area regional newspaper before working for the AP from 1990-1996 , was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography in 1995 for photos of ethnic violence in Rwanda .
His photo of an overcrowded camp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was among those selected for the prizewinning package .
Thielker ’ s career took him to many other conflicts and war zones , including Bosnia , Somalia and Chechnya .
“ During the war in Bosnia , he made a photo project about a maternity ward in besieged Sarajevo - I think it says a lot about his love for mankind , ” Ressel said , reflecting upon the years her husband spent abroad covering people living , fleeing and dying in armed conflicts .
Beyond his photography , Thielker also trained photojournalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asia .
“ So many potential , and definitely unique photos , will no longer appear in taz , the Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung , Zeit , and other publications - this will leave a huge void , ” wrote Berlin photojournalist Stefan Boness in the Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung of his friend Thielker ’ s death .
“ Even greater , however , is the painful loss of an always positive , deeply sympathetic and supportive colleague and friend.
” After his years with the AP , which also included working on the photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his home base of Berlin where he focused on street photography .
“ Karsten was an excellent and highly talented photographer - his Pulitzer-winning work in Rwanda and long stints in the Balkans prove this beyond doubt , ” said Tony Hicks , AP ’ s Deputy Director of Photography , International .
“ He was also a lovely man who made a lot of friends throughout his career and someone I am glad to say I had the pleasure of working closely with when he came to work on the London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent work included photos of life in the German capital during the coronavirus pandemic .
He also founded the photo website Berlin Daily and sometimes worked together with his wife .
“ Our passion for Berlin city life connected us ; I work as a city guide in Berlin , ” Ressel said .
“ That way we could sometimes combine our work.
” Thielker is survived by two children , ages 16 and 18 , and a 16-year-old stepdaughter .

BERLIN (AP) - Karsten Thielker, a Pulitzer Prize-winning German photographer with The Associated Press who covered human suffering in conflict zones around the globe, has died. He was 54.
Thielker died Oct. 3 in Berlin of esophageal cancer, his wife Janna Ressel said Thursday.
Thielker, who started his career at a Mainz-area regional newspaper before working for the AP from 1990-1996, was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography in 1995 for photos of ethnic violence in Rwanda.
His photo of an overcrowded camp of Rwandan refugees in 1994 in Tanzania was among those selected for the prizewinning package.
Thielker’s career took him to many other conflicts and war zones, including Bosnia, Somalia and Chechnya.
“During the war in Bosnia, he made a photo project about a maternity ward in besieged Sarajevo - I think it says a lot about his love for mankind,” Ressel said, reflecting upon the years her husband spent abroad covering people living, fleeing and dying in armed conflicts.
Beyond his photography, Thielker also trained photojournalists in Eastern Europe, Central America and Asia.
“So many potential, and definitely unique photos, will no longer appear in taz, the Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung, Zeit, and other publications - this will leave a huge void,” wrote Berlin photojournalist Stefan Boness in the Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung of his friend Thielker’s death.
“Even greater, however, is the painful loss of an always positive, deeply sympathetic and supportive colleague and friend.”
After his years with the AP, which also included working on the photo desk in London, Thielker eventually returned to his home base of Berlin where he focused on street photography.
“Karsten was an excellent and highly talented photographer - his Pulitzer-winning work in Rwanda and long stints in the Balkans prove this beyond doubt,” said Tony Hicks, AP’s Deputy Director of Photography, International.
“He was also a lovely man who made a lot of friends throughout his career and someone I am glad to say I had the pleasure of working closely with when he came to work on the London photo desk.“
Some of his most recent work included photos of life in the German capital during the coronavirus pandemic.
He also founded the photo website Berlin Daily and sometimes worked together with his wife.
“Our passion for Berlin city life connected us; I work as a city guide in Berlin,” Ressel said. “That way we could sometimes combine our work.”
Thielker is survived by two children, ages 16 and 18, and a 16-year-old stepdaughter.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Paris hospitals on emergency footing as virus cases rise

PARIS ( AP ) - Paris region health authorities ordered hospitals to activate emergency measures starting Thursday to cope with fast-rising numbers of COVID-19 patients , who now fill 40 % of the region ’ s intensive care units .
The French health minister is expected to announce new restrictions for areas where hospitals are facing strain and infections are mounting , after shutting down bars in Paris and several cities and limiting private gatherings in recent weeks .
The director of the Paris region public health agency , Aurelien Rousseau , tweeted Thursday that he ordered hospital directors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up resources and protect medical staff .
The move was necessary , he said , “ given the pressure on intensive care units and on conventional hospital activity.
” Each hospital ’ s emergency plan can include such measures as adding hospital beds , postponing non-urgent surgery , transferring non-COVID-19 patients to other facilities or sending them home , recalling staff from vacation and soliciting help from volunteers , according to the health agency .
Such measures were taken in March and April as the pandemic first swept across Europe .
While some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus rules were imposed , French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday urged more restrictions in areas where the epidemic is still spreading rapidly .
“ We are not in a normal time , and we won ’ t be for several months , ” Macron said on national television .
As countries across Europe face resurgent virus cases , the French government is trying to avoid new blanket lockdowns and focusing on more targeted restrictions instead .
France reported a record daily count of 18,700 new confirmed cases Wednesday , and COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide .
France has reported 32,445 virus-related deaths since the pandemic began , among the highest tolls in Europe .

PARIS (AP) - French health authorities on Thursday ordered Paris hospitals to activate emergency measures to cope with fast-rising numbers of COVID-19 patients and announced stricter restrictions in four big cities were the virus is spreading rapidly.
Health Minister Olivier Veran said the virus situation “keeps deteriorating in France unfortunately” with “more and more people infected” and “more and more people who are getting sick.”
Hospitals in Paris and its suburbs activated an emergency plan as COVID-19 patients now fill 40% of the region’s intensive care units.
Veran announced new restrictions in areas where hospitals are facing strain and infections are mounting.
Starting from Saturday, the northern city of Lille, close to the border with Belgium, and the cities of Grenoble, Lyon and Saint-Etienne in eastern France will be placed under maximum virus alert, he said. They will join Paris, Marseille and the island of Guadeloupe in the French overseas.
The maximum alert level implies shutting down bars, implementing stricter measures in restaurants and limiting private gatherings.
Veran noted some “signs of improvement” in some regions which are seeing infections slowing down after new virus rules were imposed. This includes France’s second-biggest city, Marseille, Nice on the French Riviera and Bordeaux in western France.
“We hope we will be able to announce some good news next week,” he said.
The director of the Paris region public health agency, Aurelien Rousseau, tweeted Thursday that he ordered hospital directors to activate a special emergency plan to free up resources and protect medical staff. The move was necessary, he said, “given the pressure on intensive care units and on conventional hospital activity.”
Each hospital’s emergency plan can include such measures as adding hospital beds, postponing non-urgent surgery, transferring non-COVID-19 patients to other facilities or sending them home, recalling staff from vacation and soliciting help from volunteers, according to the health agency. Such measures were taken in March and April as the pandemic first swept across Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday urged more restrictions in areas where the epidemic is still spreading rapidly.
“We are not in a normal time, and we won’t be for several months,” Macron said on national television.
As countries across Europe face resurgent virus cases, the French government is trying to avoid new blanket lockdowns and focusing on more targeted restrictions instead.
France reported a record daily count of 18,700 new confirmed cases Wednesday, and COVID-19 patients now occupy a quarter of ICU beds nationwide. France has reported 32,445 virus-related deaths since the pandemic began, among the highest tolls in Europe.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Norway’s aging king to undergo heart valve operation

COPENHAGEN , Denmark ( AP ) - Norway ’ s 83-year-old King Harald V was admitted to the main hospital in Oslo Thursday to undergo an operation to replace a heart valve , the palace said .
“ This intervention is necessary to improve the king ’ s breathing .
This type of operation is performed several hundred times a year at Rikshospitalet , ” the monarch ’ s doctor , Bjoern Bendz , said in a palace statement .
The king was hospitalized last month with breathing difficulties .
Doctors ruled out COVID-19 .
The royal household in Oslo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until further notice and that his son and heir to the throne , Crown Prince Haakon , has stepped in and taken over his father ’ s duties .
The palace said the operation will not be open heart surgery .
The king will be awake , and the operation will be performed via the groin with local anesthesia .
It is scheduled for Friday at the hospital ’ s Cardiovascular and Lung Clinic .
In 2005 , the king ’ s aortic valve was replaced by an artificial heart valve .
Such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 15 years , the royal household said , adding it was “ not uncommon ” for such interventions to have to be repeated .
Harald ascended the throne upon the death of his father , King Olav , on Jan. 17 , 1991 .
The country ’ s first native-born king since the 14th century , he married a commoner as a prince and won hearts in his egalitarian country by leading the mourning in 2011 for the victims of mass killer Anders Behring Breivik .

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Norway’s 83-year-old King Harald V was admitted to the main hospital in Oslo Thursday to undergo an operation to replace a heart valve, the palace said.
“This intervention is necessary to improve the king’s breathing. This type of operation is performed several hundred times a year at Rikshospitalet,” the monarch’s doctor, Bjoern Bendz, said in a palace statement.
The king was hospitalized last month with breathing difficulties. Doctors ruled out COVID-19.
The royal household in Oslo said the monarch is on sick leave until further notice and that his son and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has stepped in and taken over his father’s duties.
The palace said the operation will not be open heart surgery. The king will be awake, and the operation will be performed via the groin with local anesthesia. It is scheduled for Friday at the hospital’s Cardiovascular and Lung Clinic.
In 2005, the king’s aortic valve was replaced by an artificial heart valve. Such valves have a lifespan of between 10 and 15 years, the royal household said, adding it was “not uncommon” for such interventions to have to be repeated.
Harald ascended the throne upon the death of his father, King Olav, on Jan. 17, 1991.
The country’s first native-born king since the 14th century, he married a commoner as a prince and won hearts in his egalitarian country by leading the mourning in 2011 for the victims of mass killer Anders Behring Breivik.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Trump says "I'm not going to do a virtual debate' with Biden, as  commission makes changes after his

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - Trump says “ I ’ m not going to do a virtual debate ’ with @ @ @ @ @ changes after his COVID-19 diagnosis .

WASHINGTON (AP) - Trump says “I’m not going to do a virtual debate’ with Biden, as commission makes changes after his COVID-19 diagnosis.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Cases in University of Washington student outbreak top 200

SEATTLE ( AP ) - University of Washington COVID-19 cases among students in more than a dozen sororities and fraternities have topped 200 .
As of Wednesday afternoon , 212 positive cases have been confirmed among 15 fraternities and sororities , spokesperson Victor Balta said on the school ’ s website .
That ’ s up from 179 cases as of Tuesday afternoon , and 131 cases on Friday .
According to the UW ’ s case tracking system , as of Oct. 6 , 476 students , 63 staff and 10 faculty have tested positive since Feb. 27 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greek community certainly presents a greater challenge and we will continue to work with them to respond effectively and try to limit the spread , ” Balta told The Seattle Times .
Students who have tested positive or have COVID-like symptoms are being told to isolate in their current place of residence , according to the university .
The university is not aware of any students who have been hospitalized or reported severe symptoms of the virus .
An outbreak in June infected 154 students in 15 fraternity houses at the university .

SEATTLE (AP) - University of Washington COVID-19 cases among students in more than a dozen sororities and fraternities have topped 200.
As of Thursday morning, 215 positive cases have been confirmed among 15 fraternities and sororities, spokesperson Victor Balta said on the school’s website.
That’s up from 179 cases as of Tuesday, and 131 cases on Friday.
According to the UW’s case tracking system, as of Oct. 6, 476 students, 63 staff and 10 faculty have tested positive since Feb. 27.
“The congregant living situation in the Greek community certainly presents a greater challenge and we will continue to work with them to respond effectively and try to limit the spread,” Balta told The Seattle Times.
Students who have tested positive or have COVID-like symptoms are being told to isolate in their current place of residence, according to the university. The university is not aware of any students who have been hospitalized or reported severe symptoms of the virus.
An outbreak in June infected 154 students in 15 fraternity houses at the university.
At a press conference Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee expressed frustration about the behavior on Greek Row “that is exposing all of us to great risk.”
“It has to change,” Inslee said. “They’ve got to step up and take responsibility for this because these things can just blow up, and frankly they are.”
Inslee said his office plans to make it clear that there needs to be leadership from the sororities and fraternities on this issue.
“There will be consequences of we don’t get that leadership,” he said. “This is too deadly to ignore.”
As of this week, there have been nearly 92,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide since the pandemic began, and 2,183 people have died. For most, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks, although long-term effects are unknown. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
___
AP reporter Rachel La Corte contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--AP Week in Pictures, Middle East

AP Week in Pictures, Middle East

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in the Middle @ @ @ @ @ Region between Oct. 1-7 , 2020 .
This week ’ s selection includes scenes from @ @ @ @ @ Shiites marked Arbaeen , or 40 days since the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein in @ @ @ @ @ modern day Iraq .
Lebanese mourners marked two months since a deadly Aug. 4 blast @ @ @ @ @ forces in the West Bank at a demonstration against Jewish settlements .
Israeli protesters clashed @ @ @ @ @ over new restrictions on protests during the countrywide coronavirus lockdown .
The gallery was curated @ @ @ @ @ News Director for Photography & Storytelling Dusan Vranic and photographer Maya Alleruzzo .

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in the Middle East, Afghanistan & Pakistan Region between Oct. 1-7, 2020.
This week’s selection includes scenes from across the region, where Shiites marked Arbaeen, or 40 days since the 7th-century death of Imam Hussein in the Battle of Karbala in modern day Iraq.
Lebanese mourners marked two months since a deadly Aug. 4 blast and Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in the West Bank at a demonstration against Jewish settlements.
Israeli protesters clashed with police in Tel Aviv over new restrictions on protests during the countrywide coronavirus lockdown.
The gallery was curated by AP Middle East Deputy News Director for Photography & Storytelling Dusan Vranic and photographer Maya Alleruzzo.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Morgan Stanley buying Eaton Vance in deal valued at $7B

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Morgan Stanley will buy the investment management firm Eaton Vance in a deal valued at about $ 7 billion .
Morgan Stanley has actively gone after potential targets this year .
The prosed acquisition Thursday comes just days after it closed on one of the biggest deals on Wall Street since the 2008 financial crisis , the $ 13 billion takeover of E-Trade Financial .
Eaton Vance , based in Boston , has over $ 500 billion in assets under management .
Morgan Stanley Chairman and CEO James P. Gorman said in a prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more fee-based revenues to its investment banking and institutional securities franchise .
The deal will give Morgan Stanley ’ s investment management arm approximately $ 1.2 trillion of assets under management and more than $ 5 billion of combined revenues .
Eaton Vance shareholders will receive $ 28.25 per share in cash and 0.5833 of Morgan Stanley common stock , or approximately $ 56.50 per share .
Based on the $ 56.50 per share , the amount paid to Eaton Vance shareholders will consist of about 50 % cash and 50 % Morgan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shareholder will have the option to choose all cash or all stock , subject to a proration and adjustment mechanism .
Eaton Vance shareholders will also receive a one-time special cash dividend of $ 4.25 per share to be paid before the transaction ’ s closing by Eaton Vance to its shareholders from existing balance sheet resources .
The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of next year .
Shares of Eaton Vance Corp. spiked 45 % before the opening bell .
Morgan Stanley ’ s stock declined nearly 3 @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - Morgan Stanley will buy the investment management firm Eaton Vance in a deal valued at about $7 billion.
Morgan Stanley has actively gone after potential targets this year. The prosed acquisition Thursday comes just days after it closed on one of the biggest deals on Wall Street since the 2008 financial crisis, the $13 billion takeover of E-Trade Financial.
Eaton Vance, based in Boston, has over $500 billion in assets under management.
Morgan Stanley Chairman and CEO James P. Gorman said in a prepared statement Thursday that Eaton Vance will add more fee-based revenues to its investment banking and institutional securities franchise. The deal will give Morgan Stanley’s investment management arm approximately $1.2 trillion of assets under management and more than $5 billion of combined revenues.
Eaton Vance shareholders will receive $28.25 per share in cash and 0.5833 of Morgan Stanley common stock, or approximately $56.50 per share. Based on the $56.50 per share, the amount paid to Eaton Vance shareholders will consist of about 50% cash and 50% Morgan Stanley common stock.
Each Eaton Vance shareholder will have the option to choose all cash or all stock, subject to a proration and adjustment mechanism. Eaton Vance shareholders will also receive a one-time special cash dividend of $4.25 per share to be paid before the transaction’s closing by Eaton Vance to its shareholders from existing balance sheet resources.
The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of next year.
Shares of Eaton Vance Corp. spiked 47% at the opening bell Morgan Stanley rose slightly.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Principal who declined to say Holocaust was real is rehired

WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) - A Florida high school principal who was fired last year after telling a student ’ s mother “ not everyone believes the Holocaust happened ” was rehired after a recommendation by an administrative law judge .
The Palm Beach County school board voted 4-3 on Wednesday to reinstate former Spanish River High School principal William Latson and give him $ 152,000 in back pay , the Palm Beach Post reported .
“ If we rehire Dr. Latson , it is going be a stain on this school district that will never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the board ’ s only Jewish member .
Board member Chuck Shaw , who voted to fire Latson last year , said he was voting to rehire him to avoid a costly court battle , the Post reported .
He said it was unfortunate Latson ’ s comments had damaged the public schools ’ image , but he blamed the situation primarily on the news media , which he said “ took over this entire conversation before the superintendent had an opportunity to even begin to address this.
” The board made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latson , saying the judge ’ s recommended order gave them little leeway .
Refusal to rehire him could lead to a lawsuit and a costly court battle .
The district has already spent more than $ 106,000 defending Latson ’ s termination in administrative court .
Board members said district officials assured them that Latson would not work on a school campus , but would be placed in the district ’ s assessment department as a “ principal on assignment.
” Superintendent Donald Fennoy had recommended earlier that the board take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last October to fire Latson on grounds of “ ethical misconduct ” and “ failure to carry out job responsibilities.
” The official justification for his termination was failure to return messages from school district officials in the days after his comments made international news .
Latson appealed the termination in state administrative court .
A judge sided with him in August , ruling that while his actions merited punishment , they were not serious enough to establish “ just cause ” for termination .
Latson had initially been reassigned from the Boca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the outcry over his email to a mother who inquired whether the school ’ s students study the Holocaust .
Latson , who had been at Spanish River for eight years , replied to the mother that as an educator his job was to be “ politically neutral.
” “ I can ’ t say the Holocaust is a factual , historical event because I am not in a position to do so as a school district employee , ” he wrote .
The mother , thinking Latson had expressed himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Holocaust is a factual , historical event .
It is not a right or belief.
” Latson replied , “ Not everyone believes the Holocaust happened.
” He added , “ You have your thoughts , but we are a public school and not all of our parents have the same beliefs.
” The Germans under Nazi rule killed 6 million Jews during the Holocaust .
The Nazis also exterminated another 5 million people during World War II , including Slavs ; Roma , also known as Gypsies ; gays and @ @ @ @

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A Florida high school principal who was fired last year after telling a student’s mother “not everyone believes the Holocaust happened” was rehired after a recommendation by an administrative law judge.
The Palm Beach County school board voted 4-3 on Wednesday to reinstate former Spanish River High School principal William Latson and give him $152,000 in back pay, the Palm Beach Post reported.
“If we rehire Dr. Latson, it is going be a stain on this school district that will never go away,” said Karen Brill, the board’s only Jewish member.
Board member Chuck Shaw, who voted to fire Latson last year, said he was voting to rehire him to avoid a costly court battle, the Post reported. He said it was unfortunate Latson’s comments had damaged the public schools’ image, but he blamed the situation primarily on the news media, which he said “took over this entire conversation before the superintendent had an opportunity to even begin to address this.”
The board made it clear it was reluctant to reinstate Latson, saying the judge’s recommended order gave them little leeway. Refusal to rehire him could lead to a lawsuit and a costly court battle. The district has already spent more than $106,000 defending Latson’s termination in administrative court.
Board members said district officials assured them that Latson would not work on a school campus, but would be placed in the district’s assessment department as a “principal on assignment.”
Superintendent Donald Fennoy had recommended earlier that the board take the action.
The board voted 5-2 last last October to fire Latson on grounds of “ethical misconduct” and “failure to carry out job responsibilities.” The official justification for his termination was failure to return messages from school district officials in the days after his comments made international news.
Latson appealed the termination in state administrative court. A judge sided with him in August, ruling that while his actions merited punishment, they were not serious enough to establish “just cause” for termination.
Latson had initially been reassigned from the Boca Raton school to a district office job because of the outcry over his email to a mother who inquired whether the school’s students study the Holocaust.
Latson, who had been at Spanish River for eight years, replied to the mother that as an educator his job was to be “politically neutral.”
“I can’t say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event because I am not in a position to do so as a school district employee,” he wrote.
The mother, thinking Latson had expressed himself poorly, wrote back, saying, “The Holocaust is a factual, historical event. It is not a right or belief.”
Latson replied, “Not everyone believes the Holocaust happened.” He added, “You have your thoughts, but we are a public school and not all of our parents have the same beliefs.”
The Germans under Nazi rule killed 6 million Jews during the Holocaust. The Nazis also exterminated another 5 million people during World War II, including Slavs; Roma, also known as Gypsies; gays and people with disabilities.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Second debate with Biden going virtual amid Trump's COVID-19

President Trump said Thursday he won ’ t participate in a virtual debate , shortly after the panel overseeing the presidential debates announced plans for the Oct. 15 debate to take place virtually as Mr. Trump recovers from COVID-19 .
“ I ’ m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate , ” Mr. Trump said on Fox Business Network .
“ That ’ s not what debating is all about.
” The Commission on Presidential Debates had made the announcement just minutes earlier on Thursday .
The second presidential debate was to take place on Oct. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee Joseph R. Biden would have been set to participate virtually from separate locations , while the moderator and participants for the town hall-style debate would be in Miami .
The commission said they made the move “ in order to protect the health and safety of all involved ” with the debate .
Mr. Trump was discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday after spending several days there following his positive COVID-19 diagnosis .
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said they ’ re planning to hold a rally instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they would accept the new format .
The former vice president “ looks forward to speaking directly to the American people ” and comparing his plans with Mr. Trump ’ s “ failed leadership ” on the coronavirus , said Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield .
Mr. Trump disclosed on Friday that he tested positive for the coronavirus , just days after he and Mr. Biden squared off in the first debate in Cleveland on Sept. 29 .
Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala D. Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential debate on Wednesday in Utah , though they were separated by plexiglass partitions while on stage .

President Trump on Thursday blew up the schedule for the remaining presidential debates, saying he won’t square off against Joseph R. Biden if the candidates can’t participate in person on Oct. 15.
Allies of the president swiftly cheered the move, saying the debate commission’s sudden decision to move to a virtual format while Mr. Trump recovers from COVID-19 is an invitation for mischief and cheating on the part of his Democratic challenger.
Mr. Trump laid down his red line after officials at the Commission on Presidential Debates said they were making the move out of public health concerns.
“I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate,” the president said on Fox Business. “You sit behind a computer and do a debate — it’s ridiculous. And then they cut you off whenever they want.”
The president made the declaration minutes after the Commission on Presidential Debates said the Oct. 15 town-hall-style debate would involve an in-person moderator and voters but that the president and Mr. Biden would participate remotely to protect the health and safety of the organizers.
After Mr. Trump’s comments, Mr. Biden’s campaign said it would plan for the candidate to be elsewhere on Oct. 15 and that the town-hall debate should be pushed to Oct. 22 — the day the third and final debate was scheduled to take place.
Campaigning in Arizona, Mr. Biden said the two sides agreed to three debates over the summer and that the format and schedule have been set in stone for years.
“I’m sticking with the dates. I’m showing up,” Mr. Biden said. “If he shows up, fine. If he doesn’t, fine.”
The Trump campaign floated the idea of pushing back the final two debates to Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 — an idea swiftly rejected by the Biden camp — before citing a note from Mr. Trump’s doctor to demand the debate proceed in person as originally scheduled.
“The American people can see through this obvious attempt to shield Biden from another shellacking like he got two weeks ago in Cleveland and the CPD must reverse course and let the debate proceed,” said Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien, who, like the president, is dealing with an infection from the coronavirus.
There’s a political risk for the White House in the stand-off: Trailing in many polls and unable for now to hold the kinds of energizing rallies with supporters he is known for, Mr. Trump may have only the debates as a way to shake up a race that is entering the home stretch.
Before the Trump campaign’s latest demand, ABC News had already announced that the network will host a town-hall event with Mr. Biden in Philadelphia on Oct. 15.
Mr. Trump appeared to be doing much better after spending three days in a military hospital and returning to the White House on Monday evening. He revealed that he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 in the early hours of Oct. 2.
Mr. Trump even worked out of the Oval Office for a period Thursday and kept up his rampant tweeting. His posts said news media are too soft on his Democratic rivals and warned Pennsylvania that it will lose its vital fracking industry if Mr. Biden wins the election. He also released Twitter videos to promote his efforts on military funding and the development of drug therapies for COVID-19.
“I want you to get the same care that I got,” he said in a video recorded Wednesday on the White House South Lawn.
Vice President Mike Pence, fresh from his debate Wednesday night with Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala D. Harris, told supporters in Nevada that the president is recuperating well.
“I spoke to the president this morning. He’s back to the White House, and he and the first lady are doing great,” Mr. Pence said.
Mr. Biden took what is called a PCR test for COVID-19 on Thursday and the result came back negative, his campaign said.
His team has been announcing his test results more regularly since Mr. Biden shared a debate stage with Mr. Trump on Sept. 29 in Cleveland.
Eric Beach, founder of the pro-Trump group Great America PAC, said Mr. Trump is capable of leveraging the debate commission’s decision to his advantage.
“The reality is this is a guy that understands how to generate buzz,” Mr. Beach said. “I think the disdain for the American media and really kind of the elites that think, ‘Oh, they control the process in who should be president’ — that, again, is a message that works in the president’s favor. So he ought to exploit it.”
Benefits for Trump
Others said it might not make sense for Mr. Trump, who trails Mr. Biden in much of the recent public polling on the race, to pass up one of his remaining chances to share any stage with his rival.
“Making the debates virtual is to Trump’s disadvantage, as would be his not participating at all,” said Richard Vatz, a professor of rhetoric and communication at Towson University. “First, it implies that Trump is still sick, a bad image for a candidate, and Trump’s physical presence, despite denials by the Biden people, is intimidating to Biden.”
David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, said polling from Florida found that Trump voters were more likely to have watched the first debate between the two candidates than were Biden voters.
“Based on that one crosstab from one state, it made sense to me that Trump wasn’t going to budge on the debate mechanics,” Mr. Paleologos said. “Either he was playing high-stakes poker by saying, ‘No, I’m not going to do it virtually,’ or maybe he felt, generally speaking, that more people [who] are Trump supporters would be debate watchers and less impacted by what was said and done at the debate.”
Public health experts say Mr. Trump should self-isolate for 10 days at a minimum from the onset of his symptoms, which would bring him to this weekend.
The president’s doctor, Sean P. Conley, said Saturday will be “day 10 since Thursday’s diagnosis, and based on the trajectory of advanced diagnostics the team has been conducting, I fully anticipate the president’s safe return to public engagements at that time.”
Amesh Adalja, a senior health scholar at Johns Hopkins University, said successive negative readings from PCR tests, which are a sensitive form of diagnostic, could also be used to determine when it is safe, assuming the president is also free of other symptoms.
The statement from the commission doesn’t say whether it believes Mr. Trump would still be infectious by Oct. 15. It says the change was made “to protect the health and safety of all involved.”
It’s unclear where or how Mr. Trump, who tested positive on Oct. 1, was infected with the coronavirus. The White House has declined to specify when the president last tested negative.
Two events are attracting scrutiny. Mr. Trump held a White House reception and Rose Garden ceremony to announce his pick for the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, and he joined Mrs. Trump in greeting the families of fallen soldiers the following evening.
A Coast Guard admiral who attended the indoor event with Gold Star families tested positive, leading top military brass to quarantine after they came into contact with him.
Speaking to Fox Business, Mr. Trump said it is difficult, as president, to adhere to guidelines and keep the public at an arm’s length, so it is not surprising he became infected.
“I met with Gold Star families. I didn’t want to cancel that,” he told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo. “But they all came in, and they all talked about their son and daughter and father. And, you know, they all came up to me and they tell me a story.”
He said he greeted dozens of people who shared their heartbreaking stories of sons or other family members who died in battle.
“I can’t back up, Maria, and say, ‘Give me room. I want room. Give me 12 feet. Stay 12 feet away when you talk,’” he said. “They come within an inch of my face, sometimes. They want to hug me and they want to kiss me and they do. And frankly, I’m not telling them to back up. I’m not doing it.”
The president doesn’t have to tell Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to keep his distance from the White House. The Kentucky Republican revealed Thursday that he has been doing it on his own.
“I haven’t actually been to the White House since August the 6th,” he said during an event at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. “Because my impression was their approach to how to handle this was different from mine and what I insisted that we do in the Senate, which is to wear a mask and practice social distancing.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com. • David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Police: Ex-boyfriend admitted to killing missing teen

NEWARK , Del .
( AP ) - A Delaware man was arrested and accused of killing his ex-girlfriend , who has been missing since last week , authorities said .
Noah M. Sharp , 19 , was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Madison Sparrow , news outlets reported .
Sharp was also charged with possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony and first-degree conspiracy .
Sparrow was reported missing on Friday , after she didn ’ t return home from getting ice cream with a friend and buying a birthday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She was a junior at Newark Charter School .
An interview with one of Sparrow ’ s friends led police to believe Sharp was a suspect .
Delaware State Police said Sharp confessed to killing Sparrow the day she went missing and later told police that he left her body in a wooded area near Interstate 95 and Del .
896 .
Police said Sharp used an aluminum baseball bat to fatally hit Sparrow in the head in another wooded area behind an elementary school .
Police later found the bat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sharp told police he planned the killing with an unidentified person .
Police said the investigation will continue .
It ’ s unclear whether Sharp had an attorney who would comment on his behalf .

NEWARK, Del. (AP) - A Delaware man was arrested and accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, who has been missing since last week, authorities said.
Noah M. Sharp, 19, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Madison Sparrow, news outlets reported. Sharp was also charged with possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony and first-degree conspiracy.
Sparrow was reported missing on Friday, after she didn’t return home from getting ice cream with a friend and buying a birthday gift for her sister the same afternoon. She was a junior at Newark Charter School.
An interview with one of Sparrow’s friends led police to believe Sharp was a suspect.
Delaware State Police said Sharp confessed to killing Sparrow the day she went missing and later told police that he left her body in a wooded area near Interstate 95 and Del. 896.
Police said Sharp used an aluminum baseball bat to fatally hit Sparrow in the head in another wooded area behind an elementary school. Police later found the bat, blood droplets and Sparrow’s clothing.
Sharp told police he planned the killing with an unidentified person.
Police said the investigation will continue.
It’s unclear whether Sharp had an attorney who would comment on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Student wanted in fatal shooting near South Carolina campus

COLUMBIA , S.C. ( AP ) - Police are searching for a University of South Carolina student accused of shooting @ @ @ @ @ the campus .
Zachery Jamell Williams , 20 , is wanted on murder and armed @ @ @ @ @ the fatal shooting of Wesley Colin Brown , 26 , about half a mile ( @ @ @ @ @ Columbia campus over the weekend , university police said in a statement Wednesday .
Police @ @ @ @ @ stole something from him and shot him before escaping with a second suspect , Xavier @ @ @ @ @ Glover was arrested and jailed Tuesday , Columbia police announced .
Williams , who lives @ @ @ @ @ be considered armed and dangerous , according to authorities .
Brown , a Greenville resident @ @ @ @ @ a wedding , Columbia police said Monday .
His body was discovered by a couple @ @ @ @ @ Sunday morning .
Glover was not identified as a student at the university .
It @ @ @ @ @ an attorney who could comment for him .

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Police are searching for a University of South Carolina student accused of shooting a man to death near the campus.
Zachery Jamell Williams, 20, is wanted on murder and armed robbery charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Wesley Colin Brown, 26, about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) from the Columbia campus over the weekend, university police said in a statement Wednesday.
Police said Williams approached Brown, stole something from him and shot him before escaping with a second suspect, Xavier York Glover, 20. Glover was arrested and jailed Tuesday, Columbia police announced.
Williams, who lives in off-campus housing, should be considered armed and dangerous, according to authorities.
Brown, a Greenville resident, was in town for a wedding, Columbia police said Monday. His body was discovered by a couple out for a walk on Sunday morning.
Glover was not identified as a student at the university. It was unclear whether he had an attorney who could comment for him.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Typhoon nears Japan, heavy weekend rain expected in Tokyo

TOKYO ( AP ) - A typhoon approaching Japan could bring heavy rains to the Tokyo region over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ , urging residents to take precautions early .
Typhoon Chan-hom was 260 kilometers ( 160 @ @ @ @ @ ’ s southern island of Tanegashima on Thursday evening with maximum winds of 126 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ hour , the Meteorological Agency said .
Chan-hom , a kind of tree in Laotian @ @ @ @ @ and wind to western Japan as early as Friday and to eastern Japan , including @ @ @ @ @ , officials said .
The agency urged residents to prepare early for high waves and @ @ @ @ @ .

TOKYO (AP) - A typhoon approaching Japan could bring heavy rains to the Tokyo region over the weekend, weather officials said Thursday, urging residents to take precautions early.
Typhoon Chan-hom was 260 kilometers (160 miles) southeast of Japan’s southern island of Tanegashima on Thursday evening with maximum winds of 126 kilometers (78 miles) per hour, the Meteorological Agency said.
Chan-hom, a kind of tree in Laotian, could bring heavy rain and wind to western Japan as early as Friday and to eastern Japan, including Tokyo, over the weekend, officials said.
The agency urged residents to prepare early for high waves and possible flooding from the storm.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Uncertainty in Madrid as court nixes partial virus lockdown

MADRID ( AP ) - A court in Madrid on Thursday struck down a national government order that imposed a partial lockdown in the Spanish capital and its suburbs , siding with regional officials who had resisted stricter measures against one of Europe ’ s most worrying virus clusters .
The judges said that travel restrictions in and out of the cities and other limitations might be necessary to fight the spread of the virus , but that under the current legal form they were violating residents ’ “ fundamental rights.
” Thursday ’ s decision means that police won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for leaving their municipalities without a justification .
It also leaves 4.8 million residents in Madrid and nine suburban towns wondering whether they can travel to other parts of Spain over a long weekend extended by Monday ’ s national day celebration .
Other restrictions not affected by the ruling include a six-person cap on gatherings and limits to restaurant , bar and shop capacity and opening hours .
Madrid has been at the center of a political impasse between Spain ’ s national and regional authorities that has irked many people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than real action against the pandemic .
The two sides were meeting later Thursday .
The region has a 14-day infection rate of 591 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents , more than twice Spain ’ s national average of 257 and five times the European average rate of 113 for the week ending Sept. 27 .
Speaking at a parliamentary commission , Health Minister Salvador Illa pledged to “ take the judicial decisions that better protect health.
” Madrid ’ s high population density and the fact that it attracts workers from many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make necessary to maintain a reinforced cooperation.
” The regional chief , Isabel Díaz Ayuso , has argued that milder measures are already flattening the region ’ s sharp infection curve and that the partial lockdown is decimating Madrid ’ s economy .
Spain controlled the first wave of the pandemic with a strict lockdown under a national state of emergency , but the Socialist-led government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez lost parliamentary support to extend the special measures at the end of June .
That meant giving most powers to respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional governments .
Without a state of emergency , the response to outbreaks over the summer has varied region by region , and courts in different parts of the country have responded in different ways to similar restrictions .
Popular Party chief Pablo Casado , the leader of Spain ’ s conservative opposition that leads a center-right coalition governing Madrid , offered to talk with the government about changing the law .
“ Spain has no legal framework with a midway point between a state of emergency and arbitrary decisions not based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved by a court , ” he said .
Casado also called for the health minister to step down for promoting measures that he claimed politically targeted the Madrid region .
Spain has the most confirmed coronavirus cases in the 27-nation European Union , at over 825,000 , and has Europe ’ s third-highest confirmed virus death toll of over 32,500 after Britain and Italy .
Experts say numbers in all countries understate the true toll of the virus due to limited testing , missed cases , government concealment and other factors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

MADRID (AP) - A Madrid court on Thursday struck down a national government order that imposed a partial lockdown in the Spanish capital and its suburbs, siding with regional officials who had resisted stricter measures against one of Europe’s most worrying virus clusters.
The judges said that travel restrictions in and out of the cities and other limitations might be necessary to fight the spread of the virus, but that under the current legal form they were violating residents’ “fundamental rights.”
Thursday’s decision meant that police won’t be able to fine people for leaving their municipalities without a justification. It also left 4.8 million residents in Madrid and nine suburban towns wondering whether it was appropriate to go away on a long weekend extended by Monday’s national day celebration.
Madrid’s regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, had appealed the national restrictions but asked for people to stay put while waiting for a new set of measures that she wanted to negotiate with central authorities and announce as early as Friday.
Ayuso, who has argued that milder measures were already flattening the region’s sharp infection curve, said she wanted “the economy not to sink while we are fighting the virus.”
Not affected by the ruling were a six-person cap on gatherings and limits to restaurant, bar and shop capacity and opening hours.
Madrid has been at the center of a political impasse between Spain’s national and regional authorities that has irked many people, who see more partisan strategy taking place than real action against the pandemic. The two sides were meeting later Thursday.
The region’s 14-day infection rate of 563 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents is more than twice Spain’s national average and five times the European average of 113 for the week ending Sept. 27.
“You can fight this government if you want, but let’s first fight the virus,” said Health Minister Salvador Illa, showing signs of exasperation at criticism by lawmakers. “The virus is our common enemy.”
Madrid’s high population density and the fact that it attracts workers from many surrounding areas “make necessary to maintain a reinforced cooperation,” he said.
Spain controlled the first wave of the pandemic with a strict lockdown under a national state of emergency, but the Socialist-led government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez lost parliamentary support to extend the special measures at the end of June. That meant giving most powers to respond to pandemic to the country’s 19 regional governments.
Without a state of emergency, the response to outbreaks over the summer has varied region by region, and courts in different parts of the country have responded in different ways to similar restrictions.
Popular Party chief Pablo Casado, the leader of Spain’s conservative opposition that leads a coalition governing Madrid, offered to talk with the government about changing the law.
“Spain has no legal framework with a midway point between a state of emergency and arbitrary decisions not based on the law that then need to be approved by a court,” he said.
Casado also called for the health minister to step down for promoting measures that he claimed politically targeted the Madrid region.
Thursday’s developments only deepened the confusion among residents like Ana de la Calle, a high school teacher in Vallecas, one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods, who had cancelled plans for a three-day trip out of Madrid before the restrictions were nullified.
“Politicians are lurching following their own interests and people are paying the price for it,” de la Calle said.
Spain has the most confirmed coronavirus cases in the 27-nation European Union, at over 848,000, and has Europe’s third-highest confirmed virus death toll of over 32,600 after Britain and Italy. Experts say numbers in all countries understate the true toll of the virus due to limited testing, missed cases, government concealment and other factors.
___
AP reporter Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Man who camped on private Disney island fined $100

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) - An Alabama man arrested for camping out for days on a shuttered Disney World island has been fined $ 100 and banned from the Florida theme park for life .
Richard McGuire , 42 , pleaded no contest to a trespassing charge under a plea agreement last week in Orange County , Florida , The Orlando Sentinel reported .
He faced up to a year in jail .
Orange County Sheriff ’ s deputies found McGuire on Disney ’ s abandoned Discovery Island in late April .
He said he had planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an arrest report .
The man , originally from Mobile , Alabama , said he did not hear numerous deputies searching the private island for him on foot , by boat and by air because he was asleep in a building .
He told the deputy he did not know it was a restricted area , despite there being numerous “ no trespassing ” signs .
“ Richard stated that he was unaware of that and that it looked like a tropical paradise , ” according to the arrest report .
Previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the site of a zoological park before the island was closed to the public in 1999 .

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - An Alabama man arrested for camping out for days on a shuttered Disney World island has been fined $100 and banned from the Florida theme park for life.
Richard McGuire, 42, pleaded no contest to a trespassing charge under a plea agreement last week in Orange County, Florida, The Orlando Sentinel reported. He faced up to a year in jail.
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies found McGuire on Disney’s abandoned Discovery Island in late April. He said he had planned to camp there for a week, according to an arrest report.
The man, originally from Mobile, Alabama, said he did not hear numerous deputies searching the private island for him on foot, by boat and by air because he was asleep in a building. He told the deputy he did not know it was a restricted area, despite there being numerous “no trespassing” signs.
“Richard stated that he was unaware of that and that it looked like a tropical paradise,” according to the arrest report.
Previously called Treasure Island, Discovery Island had been the site of a zoological park before the island was closed to the public in 1999.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--US jobless claims likely remain high as layoffs persist

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to a still-high 840,000 , evidence that job cuts remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession .
The latest sign of a flagging recovery comes two days after President Donald Trump cut off talks over a new rescue aid package that economists say is urgently needed for millions of unemployed Americans and struggling businesses .
A failure to enact another round of government aid would crimp household income and spending , and some economists say it would raise the risk of a double-dip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Labor Department said the number of people who are continuing to receive unemployment benefits dropped 1 million to 11 million .
The decline suggests that many of the unemployed are being recalled to their old jobs .
But it also reflects the fact that some have used up the 26 weeks of their regular state benefits and have transitioned to extended benefit programs that last an additional three months .
The weekly count of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has become less reliable as some states have increased their efforts to root @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have piled up .
California , for example , which accounts for more than one-quarter of the nation ’ s unemployment applications , last week simply provided the same figure it had supplied two weeks ago .
That was because the state has stopped accepting jobless claims online for two weeks so it can implement anti-fraud technology and catch up with a backlog of 600,000 applications .
Across the country , hiring has slowed just as federal rescue aid has run out , hampering an economy still climbing out of the deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added just 661,000 jobs in September , less than half of August ’ s gain and the third straight monthly decline .
Just over half the 22 million jobs lost to the coronavirus have been recovered , leaving the economy with 10.7 million fewer jobs than in February - a figure that exceeds all the job losses from the 2008-2009 Great Recession .
The $ 2 trillion financial aid package that Congress enacted in the spring provided enough support to more than fully offset the household income that was lost from the flood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Household incomes actually rose in that quarter because of the $ 600-a-week federal jobless benefit and $ 1,200 checks that the government sent to most adults .
That extra money enabled spending at retailers to regain pre-pandemic levels .
An analysis by Opportunity Insights , a research group , has found that spending has rebounded faster in lower-income neighborhoods than in wealthier ones because of the benefit of stimulus payments .
Yet economists have warned that without further aid , families across the country will struggle in coming months to pay bills , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eviction .
According to a Census Bureau survey released Wednesday , one-third of adults are struggling to pay for their usual expenses , including rent , food , car payments and utilities .
Oxford Economics projects that without further federal aid , the economy will eke out just a 1 % annual growth rate in the current quarter , down sharply from its previous forecast of 4 % .
On Tuesday , Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made clear his belief that unless the government supplied additional support , the recovery was at @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to a still-high 840,000, evidence that job cuts remain elevated seven months into the pandemic recession.
The latest sign of a flagging recovery comes two days after President Donald Trump cut off talks over a new rescue aid package that economists say is urgently needed for millions of unemployed Americans and struggling businesses. A failure to enact another round of government aid would crimp household income and spending, and some economists say it would raise the risk of a double-dip recession.
Thursday’s report from the Labor Department said the number of people who are continuing to receive unemployment benefits dropped 1 million to 11 million. The decline suggests that many of the unemployed are being recalled to their old jobs. But it also reflects the fact that some have used up the 26 weeks of their regular state benefits and have transitioned to extended benefit programs that last an additional three months.
The weekly count of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has become less reliable as some states have increased their efforts to root out fraudulent claims and process earlier applications that have piled up.
California, for example, which accounts for more than one-quarter of the nation’s unemployment applications, last week simply provided the same figure it had supplied two weeks ago. That was because the state has stopped accepting jobless claims online for two weeks so it can implement anti-fraud technology and catch up with a backlog of 600,000 applications.
Across the country, hiring has slowed just as federal rescue aid has run out, hampering an economy still climbing out of the deep hole created by the pandemic. Employers added just 661,000 jobs in September, less than half of August’s gain and the third straight monthly decline.
Just over half the 22 million jobs lost to the coronavirus have been recovered, leaving the economy with 10.7 million fewer jobs than in February - a figure that exceeds all the job losses from the 2008-2009 Great Recession.
The $2 trillion financial aid package that Congress enacted in the spring provided enough support to more than fully offset the household income that was lost from the flood of layoffs in the April-June quarter. Household incomes actually rose in that quarter because of the $600-a-week federal jobless benefit and $1,200 checks that the government sent to most adults.
That extra money enabled spending at retailers to regain pre-pandemic levels. An analysis by Opportunity Insights, a research group, has found that spending has rebounded faster in lower-income neighborhoods than in wealthier ones because of the benefit of stimulus payments.
Yet economists have warned that without further aid, families across the country will struggle in coming months to pay bills, make rent, afford food and avoid eviction. According to a Census Bureau survey released Wednesday, one-third of adults are struggling to pay for their usual expenses, including rent, food, car payments and utilities.
Oxford Economics projects that without further federal aid, the economy will eke out just a 1% annual growth rate in the current quarter, down sharply from its previous forecast of 4%.
On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made clear his belief that unless the government supplied additional support, the recovery was at risk of derailing.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Philly police shoot, kill suspect after woman gunned down

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - Police shot and killed a man suspected of gunning down a woman during a carjacking @ @ @ @ @ officers during a pursuit , police said .
The shooting occurred around 4:15 a.m. Thursday @ @ @ @ @ Germantown section .
Police said the man had abandoned a stolen car after it got @ @ @ @ @ to carjack the woman ’ s vehicle around Chelten Avenue and Green Street , WCAU-TV @ @ @ @ @ man shot and killed the woman before driving off .
After ditching that vehicle , @ @ @ @ @ on foot with officers in pursuit .
Investigators said he began shooting at officers , @ @ @ @ @ was taken to a hospital , where he died .
Authorities have not released the @ @ @ @ @ the woman .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police shot and killed a man suspected of gunning down a woman during a carjacking after he opened fire on officers during a pursuit, police said.
The shooting occurred around 4:15 a.m. Thursday in the city’s Germantown section.
Police said the man had abandoned a stolen car after it got a flat tire and tried to carjack the woman’s vehicle around Chelten Avenue and Green Street, WCAU-TV reported. Police said the man shot and killed the woman before driving off.
After ditching that vehicle, police said the man fled on foot with officers in pursuit. Investigators said he began shooting at officers, who returned fire. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Authorities have not released the names of the man or the woman.
The investigation was ongoing.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Greek, Turkish foreign ministers meet as tensions ease

ATHENS , Greece ( AP ) - The foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey have met on the sidelines of a conference in Slovakia and agreed to set a date for the start of a new round of exploratory talks between the two , officials said Wednesday .
A dispute between the two NATO allies and longtime rivals over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean this summer led to fears of open conflict as warships from both sides faced off .
Turkey ’ s foreign ministry released a short video of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and Turkish counterpart Mevlut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Globsec Forum in Bratislava .
The atmosphere of what both sides said was a brief meeting appeared cordial and even jovial as the two , both wearing masks , bumped elbows , patted each other on the shoulder and stood at a table to talk .
A Greek diplomatic official said the two agreed to set a date for the exploratory talks .
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal the contents of the meeting .
The talks will be the 61st round of a long-running process of talks between Greece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve relations that are often testy between the two neighbors .
At odds over a series of issues , including territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea , the two countries have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s .
Earlier this summer , Turkey sent a research vessel escorted by warships to prospect for energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean in an area Greece says is over its own continental shelf and where it claims exclusive economic rights .
Greece mobilized its own navy fleet and put its armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eased in recent weeks , with NATO helping set up a deconfliction mechanism whereby the Greek and Turkish militaries can communicate to avoid an accident that could lead to war and the two sides agree to restart their exploratory talks process .
Suzan Fraser in Ankara , Turkey , contributed to this report .

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - The foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey have met on the sidelines of a conference in Slovakia and agreed to set a date for the start of a new round of exploratory talks between the two, officials said Wednesday.
A dispute between the two NATO allies and longtime rivals over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean this summer led to fears of open conflict as warships from both sides faced off.
Turkey’s foreign ministry released a short video of Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusloglu meeting on the sidelines of the Globsec Forum in Bratislava. The atmosphere of what both sides said was a brief meeting appeared cordial and even jovial as the two, both wearing masks, bumped elbows, patted each other on the shoulder and stood at a table to talk.
A Greek diplomatic official said the two agreed to set a date for the exploratory talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal the contents of the meeting. The talks will be the 61st round of a long-running process of talks between Greece and Turkey designed to reduce tension and improve relations that are often testy between the two neighbors.
At odds over a series of issues, including territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea, the two countries have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s. Earlier this summer, Turkey sent a research vessel escorted by warships to prospect for energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean in an area Greece says is over its own continental shelf and where it claims exclusive economic rights.
Greece mobilized its own navy fleet and put its armed forces on standby. The tension has eased in recent weeks, with NATO helping set up a deconfliction mechanism whereby the Greek and Turkish militaries can communicate to avoid an accident that could lead to war and the two sides agree to restart their exploratory talks process.
___
Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Donald Trump says stimulus talks 'productive,' two days after he shut down negotiations

President Trump said on Thursday that stimulus talks with congressional Democrats are back on , two days after he shut @ @ @ @ @ election .
“ I shut down talks two days ago because they weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ are starting to work out , ” Mr. Trump told Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business @ @ @ @ @ starting to have some very productive talks.
” He said he called off the negotiations @ @ @ @ @ unemployed workers and struggling businesses on Tuesday because “ I didn ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ in any event , we got back — both sides very capable — we got @ @ @ @ @ again , ” the president said .
“ And we ’ re talking about airlines @ @ @ @ @ talking about a bigger deal than airlines .
We ’ re talking about a deal @ @ @ @ @ payments ] per person , we ’ re talking about other things.
” U.S. stock @ @ @ @ @ trading after Mr. Trump ’ s comments .

President Trump said on Thursday that stimulus talks with congressional Democrats are back on, two days after he shut down negotiations until after the election.
“I shut down talks two days ago because they weren’t working out. Now they are starting to work out,” Mr. Trump told Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business. “We’re starting to have some very productive talks.”
He said he called off the negotiations over aid for airlines, unemployed workers and struggling businesses on Tuesday because “I didn’t want to waste time.”
“But in any event, we got back — both sides very capable — we got back, we started talking again,” the president said. “And we’re talking about airlines, and we’re talking about a bigger deal than airlines. We’re talking about a deal with $1,200 [direct payments] per person, we’re talking about other things.”
U.S. stock futures rose slightly in premarket trading after Mr. Trump’s comments.
Drew Hammill, a senior aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said Wednesday night that Mrs. Pelosi spoke by phone with Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin for about 20 minutes on a standalone bill for airlines. He said they agreed to talk again on Thursday.
• Gabriella Muñoz contributed to this report.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--$56M gas explosions settlement with Massachusetts approved

BOSTON ( AP ) - A $ 56 million settlement that requires the natural gas utility found responsible for a series of explosions and fires in Massachusetts in 2018 has been approved by the state Department of Public Utilities .
The settlement with Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent , NiSource , was agreed to in July and approved Wednesday , the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced in a statement .
The explosions in Lawrence , Andover and North Andover in September 2018 killed one person , injured almost two dozen and damaged more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosions on overpressurized gas lines .
The $ 56 million will be used to provide debt relief to low-income natural gas customers and fund clean energy and energy efficiency measures in older homes and buildings .
The settlement also requires Columbia Gas to leave Massachusetts and transfer its assets to Eversource Energy by Nov. 1 .
“ Our approval of this settlement ensures that Columbia Gas is held accountable for the tragic gas incident in the Merrimack Valley , and provides needed support to the impacted communities and low-income residents , ” DPU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions , the company agreed to pay a $ 143 million settlement stemming from a class-action lawsuit , and a $ 53 million federal fine .

BOSTON (AP) - A $56 million settlement between Massachusetts and the natural gas utility found responsible for a series of explosions and fires in the state in 2018 was approved by the state Department of Public Utilities.
The settlement with Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent, NiSource, was agreed to in July and approved Wednesday, the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced in a statement.
The explosions in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover in September 2018 killed one person, injured almost two dozen and damaged more than 100 buildings. Federal investigators blamed the explosions on overpressurized gas lines.
The $56 million will be used to provide debt relief to low-income natural gas customers and fund clean energy and energy efficiency measures in older homes and buildings.
The settlement also requires Columbia Gas to leave Massachusetts and transfer its assets to Eversource Energy by Nov. 1.
“Our approval of this settlement ensures that Columbia Gas is held accountable for the tragic gas incident in the Merrimack Valley, and provides needed support to the impacted communities and low-income residents,” DPU Chairman Matthew Nelson said.
In separate actions, the company agreed to pay a $143 million settlement stemming from a class-action lawsuit, and a $53 million federal fine.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Judge tosses $30M lawsuit brought by wounded police trooper

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - A federal judge has dismissed a $ 30 million lawsuit filed by an @ @ @ @ @ was shot 12 times in December 2016 .
Nic Cederberg and his wife sued Legacy @ @ @ @ @ suspect , James Tylka , should not have been released from the hospital because police @ @ @ @ @ , KOIN-TV reported .
But the judge ruled it is not reasonable to conclude that @ @ @ @ @ his criminal actions .
Last year , the judge also dismissed a lawsuit Cederberg and @ @ @ @ @ County ’ s 911 center .
Cederberg was left with long-term disabilities from the shooting @ @ @ @ @ to file an appeal .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a $30 million lawsuit filed by an Oregon State Police trooper who was shot 12 times in December 2016.
Nic Cederberg and his wife sued Legacy Meridian Park Hospital claiming the suspect, James Tylka, should not have been released from the hospital because police requested a mental health hold, KOIN-TV reported.
But the judge ruled it is not reasonable to conclude that holding Tylka would have changed his criminal actions. Last year, the judge also dismissed a lawsuit Cederberg and his wife filed against Washington County’s 911 center.
Cederberg was left with long-term disabilities from the shooting. He has several weeks to file an appeal.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Albemarle County spent $100K on Confederate statue removal

CHARLOTTESVILLE , Va. ( AP ) - A county in Virginia spent more than $ 100,000 to take down its Confederate statue and hold and event around the removal .
The Daily Progress reported Tuesday that the cost to pay a construction company for the removal in Albemarle County cost about $ 60,000 .
But there were also costs that included staff overtime , setting up barricades and live-streaming the event because of virus restrictions .
The dollar figure comes from a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the newspaper .
Last month , the county removed the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base from outside its courthouse .
Crews also took down two cannons , a pile of cannonballs and the lights around the monument .
Confederate monuments have long been viewed by many as symbols of white supremacy .
But they ’ ve drawn increasing attention amid nationwide protests against racial inequality and the death of Black men in police custody .
In Charlottesville three years ago , hundreds of white supremacists gathered in part to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee .
They clashed with counterprotesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a white supremacist rammed his car through the crowd of people , killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer .

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - A county in Virginia spent more than $100,000 to take down its Confederate statue and hold and event around the removal.
The Daily Progress reported Tuesday that the cost to pay a construction company for the removal in Albemarle County cost about $60,000.
But there were also costs that included staff overtime, setting up barricades and live-streaming the event because of virus restrictions.
The dollar figure comes from a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the newspaper.
Last month, the county removed the “At Ready” soldier statue and its base from outside its courthouse. Crews also took down two cannons, a pile of cannonballs and the lights around the monument.
Confederate monuments have long been viewed by many as symbols of white supremacy. But they’ve drawn increasing attention amid nationwide protests against racial inequality and the death of Black men in police custody.
In Charlottesville three years ago, hundreds of white supremacists gathered in part to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. They clashed with counterprotesters during a day of violence in which a white supremacist rammed his car through the crowd of people, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer.


washingtontimes--2020-10-08--Intermodal rail service finally coming to North Dakota

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - A longtime effort to bring intermodal rail service to North Dakota is finally coming to fruition .
BNSF Railway ’ s plan to provide an intermodal unit train at a facility in Minot is a “ game changer , ” said Gov .
Doug Burgum .
It will reduce shipping costs for farm products by as much as 25 % , he said .
Intermodal service allows producers and processors to directly load containers on rail in Minot to ship to international destinations .
State officials have pursued intermodal rail service for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An intermodal train that will arrive in Minot next week will be “ arguably the first true intermodal operation in the state of North Dakota , ” said James Leiman , director of economic development and finance at the North Dakota Department of Commerce .
“ This is the real deal now.
” State officials said producers and processors across the state will now have access to competitively priced transportation and that will further grow and diversify the economy , the Bismarck Tribune reported .
The private company that will manage the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A longtime effort to bring intermodal rail service to North Dakota is finally coming to fruition.
BNSF Railway’s plan to provide an intermodal unit train at a facility in Minot is a “game changer,” said Gov. Doug Burgum. It will reduce shipping costs for farm products by as much as 25%, he said.
Intermodal service allows producers and processors to directly load containers on rail in Minot to ship to international destinations. State officials have pursued intermodal rail service for more than two decades, Burgum said.
An intermodal train that will arrive in Minot next week will be “arguably the first true intermodal operation in the state of North Dakota,” said James Leiman, director of economic development and finance at the North Dakota Department of Commerce. “This is the real deal now.”
State officials said producers and processors across the state will now have access to competitively priced transportation and that will further grow and diversify the economy, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
The private company that will manage the system will be named next week, Leiman said.