washingtontimes--2020-12-05--The Latest: India's daily cases below 50,000 for a month

NEW DELHI - India has registered 36,652 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours .
India ’ s health ministry on Saturday also recorded 512 deaths in the past 24 hours , taking total deaths to nearly 140,000 .
The pace of new cases has seen a downward trend , with single-day cases remaining below the 50,000 mark a month .
India has 9.6 million total cases , second behind the U.S. with 14.3 million .
But globally it has one of the lowest deaths per million population , according to the Health Ministry .
India ’ s home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions , such as night curfews .
It has asked state officials to consult before imposing lockdowns at state , district or city levels .
- Coronavirus relief on the table as U.S. Congress seeks deal - Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee has authorized medically trained National Guard soldiers to help overstretched health staffs HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : HARTFORD , Conn. - Connecticut Gov .
Ned Lamont has signed an order allowing the state Department of Labor to expand eligibility for a federal pandemic unemployment program to an estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under Friday ’ s order , $ 7.5 million from the state ’ s unemployment trust fund will be used make sure residents who are unemployed due to the coronavirus outbreak and were previously disqualified from receiving the temporary , extra financial benefit receive at least $ 100 a week in unemployment benefits .
That would then make them eligible retroactively for an additional $ 300 under the federal Lost Wages Assistance Program .
More than 160,000 Connecticut residents already received the supplemental federal benefits , resulting in a total of $ 370 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from July 26 to Sept. 5 .
CASPER , Wyo .
- An official in Wyoming ’ s Department of Health involved in the state ’ s response to the coronavirus is questioning the legitimacy of the pandemic and describes a forthcoming vaccine as a biological weapon .
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Igor Shepherd called COVID-19 a “ so-called pandemic ” at a Nov. 10 event in Loveland , Colorado .
It says Shepherd described efforts to develop a vaccine as a plot by Russia and China to spread communism worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health employee before his presentation .
Wyoming Gov .
Mark Gordon and other top state officials have declined to comment .
VENTNOR , N.J. - The FBI is telling anyone who underwent a coronavirus test at a New Jersey laboratory to get retested and to contact the agency .
In a statement Friday on Twitter , the FBI ’ s Newark office urges people who were recently tested for the virus at Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory in Ventnor “ to be retested as soon as possible.
” It also asks that anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the laboratory to contact a victim assistance unit at the FBI .
The announcement gave no further details , and a message left with the FBI seeking further information was not immediately returned .
Voicemail for the company ’ s operations director Friday evening said it was closed and didn ’ t offer the opportunity to leave a message .
NASHVILLE , Tenn. — Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee has authorized medically trained National Guard soldiers to fill nursing roles , drive ambulances and perform coronavirus testing for hospitals that are overstretched on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of coronavirus patients .
The order Friday allows the adjutant general to send hospitals reinforcements from the Tennessee National Guard .
The state is focusing on troops who are actively assigned , including those serving in coronavirus testing roles statewide , but not those currently serving in civilian jobs in health care .
State health officials decline to identify which hospitals have expressed interest , but say there is need statewide .
The state reports 2,485 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 , with only 14 % of floor beds and 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FRANCISCO - The health officers in six San Francisco Bay Area regions issued a new stay-at-home order Friday as the number of virus cases surge and hospitals fill .
The changes will take effect for most of the area at 10 p.m. Sunday and last through Jan. 4 .
The counties have not yet reached Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s threshold announced a day earlier requiring such an order when 85 % of ICU beds at regional hospitals are full , but officials said the hospital system will be overwhelmed before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order would apply .
It comes the same day the state recorded another daily record number of cases , with 22,018 , and hospitalizations topped 9,000 for first time .
It means restaurants will have to close to both indoor and outdoor dining , bars and wineries must close along with hair and nail salons and playgrounds .
Retail stores and shopping centers can operate with just 20 % customer capacity .
Gatherings of any size with people outside of your household are banned .
RALEIGH , N.C. - A judge agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 response within North Carolina ’ s prison system , which like the rest of the state is experiencing a surge in cases and hospitalizations .
Ruling again in ongoing litigation about health and safety within prisons , Superior Court Judge Vince Rozier said he ’ s worried about the pressure the coronavirus is now placing upon correctional institutions .
The prison system closed temporarily three units over the last two weeks to handle staffing challenges , brought on in part by the upward swing in positive cases and the medical care prisoners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says 370 correctional staff testing positive for coronavirus were out of work Friday , up 50 workers from last week .
There were 667 active cases among the roughly 30,000 prisoners statewide .
Twenty-five prisoners have died from COVID-19-related illnesses since the pandemic .
ATLANTA - Georgia ’ s coronavirus infections are soaring above their worst peaks of the summer , resulting in more hospitalizations and more deaths .
Hitting a new single-day record of more than 6,000 suspected and confirmed infections on Friday pushed Georgia ’ s rolling seven-day average of infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above its previous July record for the second day in a row .
Hospitalizations have not reached their summer heights in Georgia , but beds are filling rapidly with cases .
Nearly 2,400 COVID-19 patients were in the hospital Friday .
Georgia has now recorded 9,725 confirmed and suspected deaths .
BIRMINGHAM , Ala. - Alabama health officials have urged the state to extend its statewide mask mandate , set to expire next week .
Dr. Sarah Nafziger , who teaches emergency medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham , said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Kay Ivey to maintain the requirement , which is opposed by some who consider it an infringement on personal rights or discount the threat of the coronavirus .
The president of the Alabama Hospital Association , Dr. Donald Williamson , said the organization “ absolutely ” supports continuing the order as cases rise statewide .
The order , which expires Dec. 11 , requires anyone older than 6 to wear a mask when in public spaces indoors and outside if they can ’ t stay 6 feet away from others .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit the rule with a sharp decline in cases until a recent spike began nationwide .
HARRISBURG , Pa. - States faced a deadline on Friday to place orders for the coronavirus vaccine as many reported record infections , hospitalizations and deaths .
The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 hit an all-time high in the U.S. on Thursday at 100,667 , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
That figure has more than doubled over the past month .
New daily cases are averaging 210,000 and deaths are averaging 1,800 per day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins University .
Arizona on Friday reported more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day as the number of available intensive care unit beds fell below 10 % statewide .
Pennsylvania ’ s top health official says intensive care beds could be full this month .
SALEM , Ore. - As Oregon reached a new record number for reported daily coronavirus cases and deaths , lawmakers , advocates and others continue to call on Democratic Gov .
Kate Brown to declare a special legislative session .
The Oregon Health Authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 deaths .
The previous daily records have been 1,699 cases and 24 deaths .
Oregon also surpassed 80,000 cases since the start of the pandemic in March .
Housing advocates in the state are asking the Legislature to act on a proposal to extend a statewide eviction moratorium until July 1 .
The current eviction moratorium , which was ordered at the beginning of the pandemic , is scheduled to lapse on Dec. 31 .
TOPEKA , Kan. - Gov .
Laura Kelly says Kansas considers meatpacking plant workers and grocery store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second phase for possible vaccinations .
Kelly says the Kansas vaccine plan calls for the first shots to go to front-line health care workers with a high risk of coronavirus exposure .
She says the second phase will focus on vaccinating essential workers , including first responders but also grocery store and meatpacking plant workers .
The Democratic governor says members of the Legislature will get vaccinated at different times , based on their risk of being exposed or developing serious complications .
Next week , the Food and Drug Administration will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna .
Kansas has reported 168,295 confirmed cases , an increase of 6,234 since Wednesday , and 1,786 total confirmed deaths .
ATLANTA - Vice President Mike Pence is trying to boost Americans ’ confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines that are awaiting regulatory approval and distribution .
At the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention main campus in Atlanta , Pence said Friday the Food and Drug Administration could approve the first vaccines “ the week of Dec. 14 ” with the first wave of Americans being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within 48 hours of that approval .
Pence said “ the confidence piece is so important ” so that enough Americans will take the vaccine and ensure its maximum effectiveness .
Pence called on “ all of us in public life ” to vouch for the process that got vaccines to the cusp of mass distribution .
“ We ’ ve gone at record pace , but we ’ ve cut no corners in this , ” Pence said , sitting beside CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield .
“ What we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s been no compromise of safety or effectiveness in the development of this vaccine.
” Pence ’ s comments come the day after former Presidents Barack Obama , Bill Clinton and George W. Bush said they ’ d be willing to take a vaccine on television to boost confidence .
UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. health chief says positive results from coronavirus vaccine trials are encouraging but warns against poorer nations being left behind in “ the stampede for vaccines.
” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressed the U.N. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines must be shared “ as global public goods.
” Referring to the upsurge in cases and deaths : “ Where science is drowned out by conspiracy theories , where solidarity is undermined by division , where sacrifice is substituted with self-interest , the virus thrives , the virus spreads.
” Tedros urged all nations to unite and build the post-pandemic world by investing in vaccines , preparedness against the next pandemic and basic public health .
Tedros says Covax , an ambitious but troubled global project to buy and deliver virus vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , faces a $ 4.3 billion gap and needs $ 23.9 billion for 2021 .
He says the total is less than one-half of one percent of the $ 11 trillion in stimulus packages announced by the Group of 20 , the world ’ s richest countries .

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Medical Board has suspended the medical license of a doctor who said at a pro-Trump rally that he doesn’t wear a mask at his Dallas, Oregon, clinic.
KGW-TV reported Friday that Dr. Steven LaTulippe also said at the November rally that he also encourages others not to wear masks.
A state order requires health care workers to wear a mask in health care settings.
The medical board voted this week to suspend LaTulippe’s license immediately due to concerns about patient safety.
LaTulippe did not respond to a request for comment from KGW-TV and has previously declined to comment.
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THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
A coronavirus surge hitting much of the U.S. is threatening to overwhelm hospitals in California. Southern California, five San Francisco Bay Area counties and the San Joaquin Valley have imposed new, tighter restrictions that will take effect Sunday.
In Moscow, thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations ahead of a Russia-wide immunization effort, though the Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis children’s hospitals have started treating adult patients as area hospitals struggle to keep up with rising coronavirus cases.
Dr. Marya Strand, chief medical officer for SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that is treating adults who don’t have COVID-19 to take some of the pressure off other hospitals. St. Louis Children’s Hospital also has opened its doors to adults.
About 1,054 people were hospitalized in the St. Louis area Wednesday for COVID-19, including 221 patients in intensive care units. St. Louis-area hospitals are at about 82% capacity for in-patient beds and 81% capacity for ICU beds.
Staff at SSM Health and BJC Healthcare children’s hospitals have also started volunteering to work at other overwhelmed hospitals.
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PHOENIX - Arizona health officials used a blunt tone Saturday as the state reported 6,799 coronavirus cases, the second-highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic.
The Department of Health Services says on Twitter that people should wear masks “around anyone who isn’t a member of your household, even those you know and trust.”
Similarly, the department’s director, Dr. Cara Christ, says individuals “must take precautions as if we may be infected. And we must act as though anyone we are around may be infected.”
The cases reported Saturday trailed only the record 10,322 cases reported Tuesday. Officials have said record high included data delayed by the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. There were four daily reports of more than 5,000 cases this week.
The hospitalizations for coronavirus rose to 2,931 on Friday, five times as many since early October. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has not ordered a statewide mask mandate or curfews.
The state reported 40 deaths on Saturday. Arizona has 358,900 total cases and 6,935 confirmed deaths.
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ROME - Italy had more than 21,000 daily coronavirus cases and added 662 deaths in the last 24 hours.
The 21,052 new cases raised Italy’s total to nearly 1.6 million. There’s been 59,514 confirmed deaths, the second-highest toll in Europe behind Britain’s toll.
This week, Italy’s Premier Giuseppe Conte signed a decree limiting travel between regions Dec. 21 to Jan. 6, national Epiphany Day holiday. Conte hopes that will prevent holiday vacations that could fuel contagion.
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RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina reported a record increase in cases of the coronavirus and hospitalizations on Saturday.
The state reported 6,018 cases since Friday and 2,171 people with coronavirus in the hospitals. That’s up 14 from a day earlier.
“In less than a week, we went from exceeding 5,000 new cases reported in one day to exceeding 6,000,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the state’s health secretary. “This is very worrisome. This indicates we have even more viral spread across our state right now.”
North Carolina has a record number of people in intensive care, Cohen says. Another 49 people have died, bringing the confirmed total to 5,516, the health department says.
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OKLAHOMA CITY - There were 4,370 newly reported coronavirus cases Saturday in Oklahoma.
The rolling averages of cases rose from 2,843 per day on Nov. 20 to 3,044 on Friday. The daily average of deaths increased from 15 daily to 22 during the same period, according to data by Johns Hopkins University.
The increase is due largely to community spread, according Dr. Dale Bratzler of the University Oklahoma medical center. He says, “it’s typically places like restaurants, bars, gyms, places of worship.”
Oklahoma has 213,245 total confirmed cases. There were 14 more deaths reported Saturday, bringing the total to 1,874 confirmed deaths.
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BOISE, Idaho - National Guard troops are directing people outside a Boise urgent-care clinic revamped into a facility for coronavirus patients.
Health officials say Idaho’s attempt to hold the coronavirus in check is failing as infections and deaths surge. They’ve halted elective surgeries to save bed space.
Inside Primary Health Medical Group’s clinic, physician assistant Nicole Thomas works extra 12-hour shifts. She dons protective gear to examine 36 patients a day with symptoms. Some days, she says, half test positive for coronavirus.
In a state where many citizens are resisting pandemic restrictions, overworked staff are getting sick or quitting to avoid the stress. It takes at least two days to get an appointment for a test. Primary Health officials say they’ll turn three more facilities into COVID-19 clinics by Dec. 30.
More than 1,000 people have died from the coronavirus in Idaho. Confirmed infections have surpassed 100,000.
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DETROIT - Michigan state health officials reported more than 8,600 daily confirmed cases on Friday and 81 deaths.
“When we look at the number of daily deaths, we have doubled in numbers of daily deaths, again nationally and regionally in the past couple of weeks,” Dr. Adnan Munkarah, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.
He’s concerned about the possibility of travel and family gatherings at the holidays.
Munkarah says the health system currently has 576 employees out because they have tested positive, have pending tests or are quarantined because of close contact.
That number is up nearly 200 workers from a week ago, he says.
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LONDON - The leader of Britain’s main opposition party is in 14-day quarantine after a member of his office staff tested positive for the coronavirus.
A spokesman for Labour Party leader Keir Starmer says he hasn’t shown symptoms but would work from home until Dec. 16.
It is the second time Starmer has self-isolated. In September, one of his children developed possible symptoms of the virus, but a test came back negative two days later.
Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized with COVID-19 in April. Last month, he also self-isolated for 14 days after contact with a lawmaker who tested positive.
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LISBON, Portugal - Portugal’s prime minister says current restrictions against the coronavirus may be eased during the Christmas holidays if the coronavirus numbers continue a downward trend.
António Costa asked the country to take seriously the existing limitations, including partial curfews and a ban on driving from 1 p.m. during the next two weekends. He says the weeks up to Christmas will be key to make holiday gatherings possible.
The government will assess on Dec. 18 whether to give the final go-ahead to travel between different towns from Dec. 23-26, although there will be a 2 a.m. curfew for both Christmas Eve and Day, Costa says.
If cases grow again, he says the government will “apply the handbrake.”
Portugal has 318,000 coronavirus cases and more than 4,800 confirmed deaths.
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WASHINGTON - Coronavirus infections continue to spread at record levels in the United States, reaching a new daily high of nearly 228,000 cases on Friday.
The 227,885 cases eclipses the previous high of more than 217,000 on Thursday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 attributable deaths in the U.S. has passed 2,000 for the first time since the spring. It reached 2,011 on Friday. Two weeks ago, the seven-day average was 1,448. There were 2,607 deaths reported in the U.S. on Friday.
Globally, Johns Hopkins reports more than 1.5 million people have died from the coronavirus pandemic, including more than 279,000 in the United States.
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MOSCOW - Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups signed up Saturday for coronavirus vaccinations in Moscow.
The vaccination effort comes three days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a “large-scale” immunization campaign even though a Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety in line with established scientific protocols.
The Russian leader said Wednesday that more than 2 million doses of the Sputnik V shot will be available in the next few days, allowing authorities to offer shots to medical workers and teachers across the country starting late next week.
On Saturday, Russia reported a record 28,782 daily cases, including 7,993 in Moscow. Russia’s 2.4 million confirmed cases is the fourth-largest caseload in the world behind the United States, India and Brazil.
There’s been 42,684 total confirmed deaths in Russia.
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NEW DELHI - India has registered 36,652 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.
India’s health ministry on Saturday also recorded 512 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total deaths to nearly 140,000. The pace of new cases has seen a downward trend, with single-day cases remaining below the 50,000 mark for a month.
India has 9.6 million total cases, second behind the U.S. with 14.3 million. But globally it has one of the lowest deaths per million population, according to the Health Ministry.
India’s home ministry has allowed states to impose local restrictions, such as night curfews. It has asked state officials to consult before imposing lockdowns at state, district or city levels.
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HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has signed an order allowing the state Department of Labor to expand eligibility for a federal pandemic unemployment program to an estimated 38,000 people who were previously disqualified.
Under Friday’s order, $7.5 million from the state’s unemployment trust fund will be used make sure residents who are unemployed due to the coronavirus outbreak and were previously disqualified from receiving the temporary, extra financial benefit receive at least $100 a week in unemployment benefits.
That would then make them eligible retroactively for an additional $300 under the federal Lost Wages Assistance Program.
More than 160,000 Connecticut residents already received the supplemental federal benefits, resulting in a total of $370 million being allocated over six weeks, from July 26 to Sept. 5.
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CASPER, Wyo. - An official in Wyoming’s Department of Health involved in the state’s response to the coronavirus is questioning the legitimacy of the pandemic and describes a forthcoming vaccine as a biological weapon.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Igor Shepherd called COVID-19 a “so-called pandemic” at a Nov. 10 event in Loveland, Colorado. It says Shepherd described efforts to develop a vaccine as a plot by Russia and China to spread communism worldwide.
Shepherd was introduced as a Wyoming Department of Health employee before his presentation.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and other top state officials have declined to comment.
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VENTNOR, N.J. - The FBI is telling anyone who underwent a coronavirus test at a New Jersey laboratory to get retested and to contact the agency.
In a statement Friday on Twitter, the FBI’s Newark office urges people who were recently tested for the virus at Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory in Ventnor “to be retested as soon as possible.” It also asks that anyone who was administered a finger-prick blood test at the laboratory to contact a victim assistance unit at the FBI.
The announcement gave no further details, and a message left with the FBI seeking further information was not immediately returned.
Voicemail for the company’s operations director Friday evening said it was closed and didn’t offer the opportunity to leave a message.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has authorized medically trained National Guard soldiers to fill nursing roles, drive ambulances and perform coronavirus testing for hospitals that are overstretched with coronavirus patients.
The order Friday allows the adjutant general to send hospitals reinforcements from the Tennessee National Guard. The state is focusing on troops who are actively assigned, including those serving in coronavirus testing roles statewide, but not those currently serving in civilian jobs in health care.
State health officials decline to identify which hospitals have expressed interest, but say there is need statewide.
The state reports 2,485 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, with only 14% of floor beds and 8% of ICU beds available.
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SAN FRANCISCO - The health officers in six San Francisco Bay Area regions issued a new stay-at-home order Friday as the number of virus cases surge and hospitals fill.
The changes will take effect for most of the area at 10 p.m. Sunday and last through Jan. 4. The counties have not yet reached Gov. Gavin Newsom’s threshold announced a day earlier requiring such an order when 85% of ICU beds at regional hospitals are full, but officials said the hospital system will be overwhelmed before the end of December when Newsom’s order would apply.
It comes the same day the state recorded another daily record number of cases, with 22,018, and hospitalizations topped 9,000 for first time.
It means restaurants will have to close to both indoor and outdoor dining, bars and wineries must close along with hair and nail salons and playgrounds. Retail stores and shopping centers can operate with just 20% customer capacity. Gatherings of any size with people outside of your household are banned.
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washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Pope updates Vatican financial authority following scandals

VATICAN CITY ( AP ) - Pope Francis has revamped the Holy See ’ s financial intelligence and anti-money-laundering unit following financial scandals , including an ongoing in-house corruption probe , Vatican officials said Saturday .
The changes involve the governance and organization of the unit , which has been renamed the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority , or ASIF , the Vatican said .
Until Saturday , it was known as AIF , or Financial Information Authority .
The revamped authority ’ s president , Carmelo Barbagallo , a former Italian central bank official , said the changes ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new statute would strengthen the entity ’ s financial supervisory responsibilities .
Francis is intent on bringing greater accountability and transparency to the Vatican , building on efforts forged by his predecessor , Benedict XVI .
ASIF ’ s activities are being divided into three units : vigilance , rules and legal affairs , and financial information .
Its functions include “ supervision aimed at the prevention and countering of money laundering and the financing of terrorism , ” according to the new statute .
In signing off on the statute , Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive implementations of supervisory offices regarding anti-laundering , combating terrorism and the proliferation of the arms of mass destruction.
” Financial scandals have dogged the Vatican for decades .
One of the latest centers on a London real estate deal involving a $ 350 million Vatican investment .
Vatican investigators are looking into the case .

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis has revamped the Holy See’s financial intelligence and anti-money-laundering unit following financial scandals, including an ongoing in-house corruption probe, Vatican officials said Saturday.
The changes involve the governance and organization of the Vatican’s financial watchdog agency, which has been renamed the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority, or ASIF, the Vatican said. Until Saturday, the agency was known as AIF, or Financial Information Authority.
The revamped authority’s president, Carmelo Barbagallo, a former Italian central bank official, said the changes ordered by Francis in the form of a new statute would strengthen the entity’s financial supervisory responsibilities.
Earlier this year, Barbagallo indicated he was pressing for supervisory authority that the pontiff signed off on Saturday.
Francis is intent on bringing greater accountability and transparency to the Vatican, building on efforts forged by his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
ASIF’s activities are being divided into three units: vigilance, rules and legal affairs, and financial information.
Its functions include “supervision aimed at the prevention and countering of money laundering and the financing of terrorism,” according to the new statute.
In signing off on the statute, Francis cited the Holy See’s “progressive implementations of supervisory offices regarding anti-laundering, combating terrorism and the proliferation of the arms of mass destruction.”
Financial scandals have dogged the Vatican for decades.
One of the latest centers on a London real estate deal involving a $350 million investment by the Vatican secretariat of state. Vatican investigators are looking into the case.
ASIF’s predecessor agency was raided last year by Vatican police who seized confidential documentation as part of an investigation by Holy See prosecutors into the 2012 investment in a swank London residential building. Much of the money the Vatican poured into the investment came from donations from Catholic faithful.
When raided, the agency was conducting its own investigation of the deal, trying to discover who might have benefited from it. The sensational raid effectively torpedoed the agency’s own probe and led to the removal of its top two managers. Barbagallo was appointed a few weeks later.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--URI brightens the holidays with poinsettia donations

SOUTH KINGSTOWN , R.I. ( AP ) - The University of Rhode Island is brightening the holidays for residents at several of the state ’ s retirement communities .
The URI Master Gardeners are donating more than 650 poinsettias to several nursing homes and assisted living facilities , including the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol and the Little Sisters of the Poor in Pawtucket .
The plants were grown by the Master Gardeners as part of the North American Poinsettia Trials , an annual research program that contributes data to help commercial poinsettia growers learn about the growth stages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a wide range of poinsettia varieties .
The donations include not only the traditional red plants , but rare pink , variegated , yellow , white and other varieties .
“ Our ability to participate in propagation trials all these years has been a win-win for the commercial poinsettia growers and our plant-loving URI Master Gardener volunteers , ” Kate Venturini , URI Master Gardener program administrator said in a statement .
“ And this year , our ability to spread some colorful cheer during this dark time is icing on the @ @ @

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) - The University of Rhode Island is brightening the holidays for residents at several of the state’s retirement communities.
The URI Master Gardeners are donating more than 650 poinsettias to several nursing homes and assisted living facilities, including the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol and the Little Sisters of the Poor in Pawtucket.
The plants were grown by the Master Gardeners as part of the North American Poinsettia Trials, an annual research program that contributes data to help commercial poinsettia growers learn about the growth stages, leaf structure, colors and blooms of a wide range of poinsettia varieties.
The donations include not only the traditional red plants, but rare pink, variegated, yellow, white and other varieties.
“Our ability to participate in propagation trials all these years has been a win-win for the commercial poinsettia growers and our plant-loving URI Master Gardener volunteers,” Kate Venturini, URI Master Gardener program administrator said in a statement. “And this year, our ability to spread some colorful cheer during this dark time is icing on the cake.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Fund is set up to carry on work of late Chief Justice Gants

BOSTON ( AP ) - A new fund has been established to carry on late Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants ’ legacy and commitment to justice , racial equity and criminal justice reform .
The Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants Access to Justice Fund has already raised about $ 100,000 , according to a statement from the Massachusetts Bar Association .
Gants , who died unexpectedly in September at age 65 , devoted his six years as chief justice to ensuring that the court system worked for people of all backgrounds and income levels .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement for racial justice in May , Gants and his colleagues issued a letter urging legal professionals to help eliminate systemic barriers to universal equity under the law .
“ Ralph wore his heart out trying to rid the criminal justice system of systemic racism , improve access to justice and implement criminal justice reforms , ” his wife , Northeastern University School of Law Professor Deborah Ramirez , said in a statement .
The fund is a way of continuing his work , she said .
The fund is a collaboration involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , made up of Gants ’ family and close friends ; the Massachusetts Bar Association ; and the Massachusetts Bar Foundation .

BOSTON (AP) - A new fund has been established to carry on late Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants’ legacy and commitment to justice, racial equity and criminal justice reform.
The Chief Justice Ralph D. Gants Access to Justice Fund has already raised about $100,000, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Bar Association.
Gants, who died unexpectedly in September at age 65, devoted his six years as chief justice to ensuring that the court system worked for people of all backgrounds and income levels.
After the death of George Floyd sparked a nationwide movement for racial justice in May, Gants and his colleagues issued a letter urging legal professionals to help eliminate systemic barriers to universal equity under the law.
“Ralph wore his heart out trying to rid the criminal justice system of systemic racism, improve access to justice and implement criminal justice reforms,” his wife, Northeastern University School of Law Professor Deborah Ramirez, said in a statement.
The fund is a way of continuing his work, she said.
The fund is a collaboration involving the Access to Justice Fund Advisory Committee, made up of Gants’ family and close friends; the Massachusetts Bar Association; and the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Maine lawmakers' bid to stop ocean plastic passes Senate

PORTLAND , Maine ( AP ) - A proposal from Maine ’ s U.S. senators to keep more plastic out @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Senate .
Sens .
Susan Collins , a Republican , and Angus King @ @ @ @ @ the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act in June to build on the initial Save Our @ @ @ @ @ Their proposal would seek in part to find uses for plastic waste to keep it @ @ @ @ @ first place .
Collins said the proposal is critical for important Maine industries such as @ @ @ @ @ tourism .
Billions of pounds of plastic waste enter the oceans every year .
That @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Maine ’ s waters and Maine ’ s well-being are inextricably linked – @ @ @ @ @ oceans is also a threat to the livelihood of Maine people , ” King said @

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A proposal from Maine’s U.S. senators to keep more plastic out of the ocean has passed the U.S. Senate.
Sens. Susan Collins, a Republican, and Angus King, an independent, introduced the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act in June to build on the initial Save Our Seas Act from 2018. Their proposal would seek in part to find uses for plastic waste to keep it from entering oceans in the first place.
Collins said the proposal is critical for important Maine industries such as commercial fishing, aquaculture and tourism. Billions of pounds of plastic waste enter the oceans every year. That jeopardizes ecosystems and marine life.
“Maine’s waters and Maine’s well-being are inextricably linked – meaning any threat to our oceans is also a threat to the livelihood of Maine people,” King said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Dartmouth gets $2.4 million to research primary care

HANOVER , N.H. ( AP ) - Dartmouth College is getting $ 2.4 million to research how the coronavirus has @ @ @ @ @ .
The funding , announced Friday by New Hampshire ’ s congressional delegation , comes @ @ @ @ @ Health and Human Services to support research aimed at enhancing health care providers ’ response @ @ @ @ @ researchers will investigate the adoption of new health care delivery methods such as telehealth as @ @ @ @ @ impact of COVID-19 on health care providers and their patients .
The goal is to @ @ @ @ @ strengthen the delivery of primary care during this and any future pandemics .

HANOVER, N.H. (AP) - Dartmouth College is getting $2.4 million to research how the coronavirus has affected primary health care nationwide.
The funding, announced Friday by New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support research aimed at enhancing health care providers’ response to the pandemic. Dartmouth researchers will investigate the adoption of new health care delivery methods such as telehealth as well as variations in the impact of COVID-19 on health care providers and their patients.
The goal is to create guidance that will help strengthen the delivery of primary care during this and any future pandemics.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Vermont's Burlington International Airport opens new taxiway

SOUTH BURLINGTON , Vt. ( AP ) - A new $ 35.4 million taxiway that will make the airport safer @ @ @ @ @ control aircraft that are on the ground is in operation at Vermont ’ s Burlington @ @ @ @ @ ( 2.74 kilometers ) taxiway that parallels the main runway opened Friday after a decade @ @ @ @ @ of construction .
Airport Director Gene Richards says the taxiway eliminates the need for “ @ @ @ @ @ pilot drives to the end of the runway before taking off .
Richards says the @ @ @ @ @ airport safer and easier for air traffic controllers to guide ground traffic .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ stopping and eliminates the need to taxi across the runway , ” Richards told the @ @ @ @ @ Federal Aviation Administration paid 90 % of the cost of construction of Taxiway Golf , @ @ @ @ @ is known .
The airport , located in South Burlington , provided about $ 3.5 @ @

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A new $35.4 million taxiway that will make the airport safer by making it easier to control aircraft that are on the ground is in operation at Vermont’s Burlington International Airport.
The 1.7-mile (2.74 kilometers) taxiway that parallels the main runway opened Friday after a decade of planning and four years of construction.
Airport Director Gene Richards says the taxiway eliminates the need for “back-taxiing,” when a pilot drives to the end of the runway before taking off.
Richards says the new taxiway will make the airport safer and easier for air traffic controllers to guide ground traffic.
“It’s a lot less stopping and eliminates the need to taxi across the runway,” Richards told the Burlington Free Press.
The Federal Aviation Administration paid 90% of the cost of construction of Taxiway Golf, as the full-length parallel taxiway is known. The airport, located in South Burlington, provided about $3.5 million.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--High court to decide whether Nazi art case stays in US court

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - Jed Leiber was an adult before he learned that his family was once part-owner of a collection of centuries-old religious artworks now said to be worth at least $ 250 million .
Over a steak dinner at a New York City restaurant in the 1990s he had asked his mother about his grandfather , a prominent art dealer who fled Germany after Adolf Hitler came to power .
“ What was grandpa most proud of in his business ?
” he asked .
“ He was very , very proud to have acquired the Guelph @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell it to the Nazis , ” she told him .
That conversation set Leiber , of West Hollywood , California , on a decadeslong mission to reclaim some 40 pieces of the Guelph Treasure on display in a Berlin museum .
It ’ s a pursuit that has now landed him at the Supreme Court , in a case to be argued Monday .
For centuries , the collection , called the Welfenschatz in German , was owned by German royalty .
It includes elaborate containers used to store Christian relics ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many are silver or gold and decorated with gems .
In 2015 , Leiber ’ s quest for the collection led to a lawsuit against Germany and the the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation .
The state-run foundation owns the collection and runs Berlin ’ s Museum of Decorative Arts , where the collection is housed .
Germany and the foundation asked the trial-level court to dismiss the suit , but the court declined .
An appeals court also kept the suit alive .
Now , the Supreme Court , which has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic , will weigh in .
A separate case involving Hungarian Holocaust victims is being heard the same day .
At this point , the Guelph Treasure case is not about whether Leiber ’ s grandfather and the two other Frankfurt art dealer firms that joined to purchase the collection in 1929 were forced to sell it , a claim Germany and the foundation dispute .
It ’ s just about whether Leiber and two other heirs of those dealers , New Mexico resident Alan Philipp and London resident Gerald Stiebel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in U.S. courts .
In a statement , Hermann Parzinger , president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation , argued that the suit should be dismissed .
The foundation and Germany have the Trump administration ’ s support .
“ Our view is that Germany is the proper jurisdiction for a case which involves a sale of a collection of medieval German art by German art dealers to a German state , ” Parzinger said .
The suit ’ s claim that the Guelph Treasure was sold under Nazi pressure was also diligently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The foundation found that the sale was made voluntarily and for fair market value .
A German commission dedicated to investigating claims of property stolen by the Nazis agreed .
Parzinger said records “ clearly show that there were long and tough negotiations on the price and that the two sides met exactly in the middle of their initial starting prices.
” The art dealers ’ heirs , however , say the purchase price , 4.25 million Reichsmark , was about one-third of what the collection was worth .
Under international law principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nazi Germany are also presumed to have been done under pressure and therefore invalid , said the heirs ’ attorney , Nicholas O ’ Donnell .
Leiber ’ s grandfather , Saemy Rosenberg , and the two other Frankfurt art dealer firms he joined with to purchase the Guelph Treasure did sell other pieces of the collection outside of Germany .
But their timing was unfortunate .
The Great Depression hit soon after they purchased the collection .
Some of the pieces were sold to The Cleveland Museum of Art or private collectors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remaining pieces in 1935 .
The two sides disagree on whether the collection was ultimately presented to Hitler as a gift .
Leiber says his grandfather never said anything to him about the collection , though the two played chess together on Sundays from the time he was 5 to when he was 11 .
“ He never spoked of the war .
He never spoke of what he lost .
He never spoke of the horrors that he and the family experienced .
… I think it was very important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move forward , ” Leiber said .
Rosenberg reestablished his art business in New York .
When he died in 1971 , The New York Times called him a “ leading international art dealer , ” noting that his clients had included oil tycoon Paul Getty , CBS Chairman William S. Paley and the Metropolitan Museum of Art .
In the nearly 50 years since his grandfather ’ s death , Leiber has had his own star-studded career .
In 1992 , he founded NightBird Recording Studios at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included Madonna , U2 , Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber .
He ’ s particularly proud of his work with guitarist Jeff Beck and the late Aretha Franklin .
But his grandfather was a singular influence on him .
“ He ’ s a super-human figure in my life , ” Leiber said .
“ And I decided that I had to do whatever it took to have returned what was taken from him .
”

WASHINGTON (AP) - Jed Leiber was an adult before he learned that his family was once part-owner of a collection of centuries-old religious artworks now said to be worth at least $250 million.
Over a steak dinner at a New York City restaurant in the 1990s he had asked his mother about his grandfather, a prominent art dealer who fled Germany after Adolf Hitler came to power. “What was grandpa most proud of in his business?” he asked.
“He was very, very proud to have acquired the Guelph Treasure, and then was forced to sell it to the Nazis,” she told him.
That conversation set Leiber, of West Hollywood, California, on a decadeslong mission to reclaim some 40 pieces of the Guelph Treasure on display in a Berlin museum. It’s a pursuit that has now landed him at the Supreme Court, in a case to be argued Monday.
For centuries, the collection, called the Welfenschatz in German, was owned by German royalty. It includes elaborate containers used to store Christian relics; small, intricate altars and ornate crosses. Many are silver or gold and decorated with gems.
In 2015, Leiber’s quest for the collection led to a lawsuit against Germany and the the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. The state-run foundation owns the collection and runs Berlin’s Museum of Decorative Arts, where the collection is housed. Germany and the foundation asked the trial-level court to dismiss the suit, but the court declined. An appeals court also kept the suit alive.
Now, the Supreme Court, which has been hearing arguments by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic, will weigh in. A separate case involving Hungarian Holocaust victims is being heard the same day.
At this point, the Guelph Treasure case is not about whether Leiber’s grandfather and the two other Frankfurt art dealer firms that joined to purchase the collection in 1929 were forced to sell it, a claim Germany and the foundation dispute. It’s just about whether Leiber and two other heirs of those dealers, New Mexico resident Alan Philipp and London resident Gerald Stiebel, can continue seeking the objects’ return in U.S. courts.
In a statement, Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, argued that the suit should be dismissed. The foundation and Germany have the Trump administration’s support.
“Our view is that Germany is the proper jurisdiction for a case which involves a sale of a collection of medieval German art by German art dealers to a German state,” Parzinger said.
The suit’s claim that the Guelph Treasure was sold under Nazi pressure was also diligently investigated in Germany, he said. The foundation found that the sale was made voluntarily and for fair market value. A German commission dedicated to investigating claims of property stolen by the Nazis agreed.
Parzinger said records “clearly show that there were long and tough negotiations on the price and that the two sides met exactly in the middle of their initial starting prices.”
The art dealers’ heirs, however, say the purchase price, 4.25 million Reichsmark, was about one-third of what the collection was worth. Under international law principles, sales of property by Jews in Nazi Germany are also presumed to have been done under pressure and therefore invalid, said the heirs’ attorney, Nicholas O’Donnell.
Leiber’s grandfather, Saemy Rosenberg, and the two other Frankfurt art dealer firms he joined with to purchase the Guelph Treasure did sell other pieces of the collection outside of Germany. But their timing was unfortunate. The Great Depression hit soon after they purchased the collection. Some of the pieces were sold to The Cleveland Museum of Art or private collectors. The Nazi-controlled state of Prussia bought the remaining pieces in 1935. The two sides disagree on whether the collection was ultimately presented to Hitler as a gift.
Leiber says his grandfather never said anything to him about the collection, though the two played chess together on Sundays from the time he was 5 to when he was 11.
“He never spoked of the war. He never spoke of what he lost. He never spoke of the horrors that he and the family experienced. … I think it was very important to him to keep moving on, to move forward,” Leiber said.
Rosenberg reestablished his art business in New York. When he died in 1971, The New York Times called him a “leading international art dealer,” noting that his clients had included oil tycoon Paul Getty, CBS Chairman William S. Paley and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In the nearly 50 years since his grandfather’s death, Leiber has had his own star-studded career. In 1992, he founded NightBird Recording Studios at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood, where his clients have included Madonna, U2, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber. He’s particularly proud of his work with guitarist Jeff Beck and the late Aretha Franklin. But his grandfather was a singular influence on him.
“He’s a super-human figure in my life,” Leiber said. “And I decided that I had to do whatever it took to have returned what was taken from him.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--With virus limits at ski resorts, backcountry risks beckon

BOZEMAN , Mont .
( AP ) - Ben Werner glided up the craggy mountain bowl between Hardscrabble Peak and Frazier Basin in the Bridgers , his heels lifting off his skis with every step .
He paused periodically to assess his route up the slope .
Before Werner ascended the bowl , he ’ d tested the snow ’ s stability on a small hill with a similar slant and aspect .
He directed his skis toward the hillside and coasted along , looking around for any signs of cracks or slides .
The snow held .
He continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , deciding where to climb up or ski down a slope can be the difference between life and death .
And the mountains are deceiving .
Werner would know .
He ’ ll soon be releasing the third edition of his 2011 book , “ The Bozeman and Big Sky Backcountry Ski Guide.
” The book documents popular backcountry runs across the Gallatin , Bridger , Madison , Absaroka and Beartooth ranges .
Werner has never been caught in an avalanche in the mountains around Bozeman , but he ’ s witnessed them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gallatins particularly spook Werner because they feel safe .
Even though Mount Ellis has no cliffs and looks tame , it avalanches regularly .
“ Sometimes it lulls folks into letting their guard down , ” Werner told the Bozeman Chronicle .
Ski patrollers work to minimize avalanche hazards at ski areas , but backcountry conditions are unmanaged and often dangerous .
Whether someone triggers an avalanche often depends on their ability to assess risk and make educated decisions .
Whether they survive an avalanche largely depends on their equipment and training .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new restrictions at local ski areas could drive more inexperienced people into the backcountry this winter , increasing the risk of avalanche deaths .
Because of COVID-19 , Bridger Bowl Ski Area is limiting the number of people allowed on lifts daily , and people with lift tickets and season passes will have to reserve ski days ahead of time .
Big Sky Resort is retaining the right to issue daily caps on lift ticket sales , but is not adopting a reservation system .
Both mountains are limiting use of lodges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ski shop are surging .
Doug Chabot , director of Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center , said he predicts restrictions at Bridger Bowl and other ski areas will contribute to a huge increase in backcountry skiing , snowboarding and motorized recreation this winter .
Since the pandemic hit Montana in March , popular trailheads around Bozeman , Big Sky , Cooke City and West Yellowstone have seen more traffic than ever before .
“ These areas that were always popular are now really , really popular , ” Chabot said .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get out more and they ’ ve invested in gear.
” Chabot worries the influx could result in more avalanche-related deaths and strained search and rescue resources .
He hopes the people buying backcountry gear also invest in life-saving equipment , education and training .
“ Typically people will buy gear and get educated somewhere down the line , ” Chabot said .
“ If you want to go into the backcountry , we recommend getting educated first.
” At Uphill Pursuits , a local ski shop that specializes in backcountry equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year from last year , according to Riley Siddoway , the managing partner and owner .
The trend isn ’ t unique to Bozeman .
Manufacturers can ’ t keep up with demand in Colorado , Utah , Montana , Washington , Oregon , Wyoming , California and Nevada , he said .
“ They ’ ve reached a point where some products are just gone , ” Siddoway said .
Siddoway has heard many beginners say they want to try backcountry skiing because they ’ re uncertain about how new restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Siddoway tells them that it ’ s not as simple as buying new gear .
A beacon , probe , shovel and education are necessary components .
“ Most people are ready for that , but some people say they weren ’ t aware of the avalanche part of the equation , ” he said .
Avalanches occur when a weak layer in the snow pack fails to hold additional weight , causing the layers above it to fracture and fall down the slope .
Sometimes , heavy snow is enough to cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weight from a person or snowmobile is enough to trigger a slide .
GNFAC ’ s Chabot is particularly concerned about this year ’ s snowpack .
Whether an avalanche season turns deadly often depends on early season snowfall .
A snow storm this October was followed by extremely low temperatures , creating a weak , sugary layer of snow .
This base layer is expected to hold up the entire season ’ s snowpack .
“ I ’ m not sure it ’ s going to be able to .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Chabot said .
This year , Chabot is communicating with local search and rescue coordinators more than usual .
He said people who are new to Montana ’ s mountains need to understand there ’ s an expected level of self-sufficiency .
“ Realize that when you ’ re in the backcountry , you ’ re kind of on your own .
Don ’ t hesitate to call search and rescue , but be prepared to effect your own rescue or spend the night , ” Chabot said .
Chabot sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Victims often fail to recognize signs of instability in the snowpack , don ’ t travel up risky terrain one at a time or don ’ t know how to use their rescue gear .
People who have practiced using avalanche transceivers and are fit enough to dig someone out quickly have a better chance of saving a life .
“ The odds of your partner living are directly correlated in many cases to your ability to dig them out fast , ” Chabot said .
“ If you get someone out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 % chance they ’ ll survive .
If you get them out in 20 minutes , your odds are down to 30 % .
” GNFAC offers avalanche safety courses and issues daily avalanche forecasts .
The advisories aren ’ t slope-specific , but they can help people make good decisions .
Scott Secor , commander of the Gallatin County Sheriff Office Search and Rescue program , said he ’ s preparing for an uptick in calls this winter .
Visitors seeking to escape COVID-19 restrictions in their hometowns and local skiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resorts could increase backcountry use , he said .
This summer , calls to search and rescue did not increase , even though trails were packed with people .
Secor suspects this could have been because more people were there to help others execute their own rescues .
This could all change once winter rolls around and more rescue situations require a response .
“ It ’ s incredibly important that folks go out and get educated and recreate with others who are experienced and have gone through training , ” Secor said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and injuries could be avoided with the training that ( GNFAC ) provides.
” Secor said winter conditions can be deadly not only for the people being rescued , but for the rescuers themselves .
Fewer hours of daylight mean teams are sometimes forced to attempt missions in darkness or in bad weather .
“ Whenever a search and rescue team is deployed to save a life , another 20 to 30 rescuers are exposed to the same conditions and dangers , ” he said .
Karl Birkeland , director of the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 other avalanche centers , said the pandemic adds an additional risk since social distancing is impossible during most missions .
“ I believe that puts an even greater responsibility on backcountry users to make good decisions and try and minimize risk , ” Birkeland said .
Long-term trends have indicated increased backcountry use doesn ’ t necessarily lead to more accidents .
Over the past 20 to 25 years , there ’ s been explosive growth in numbers of people heading into the backcountry , but a relatively stable number of avalanche @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s at least partially because avalanche centers around the country are doing a good job of getting information out to people , and manufacturers are making better rescue gear .
Birkeland doesn ’ t know whether the long-term trend will carry into this winter .
“ If we mix all these new users in the backcountry and have a very dangerous and unstable snowpack , we might see a big jump in accidents , ” he said .
Fortunately , avalanche center services are widely available .
Any number of people can view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , people can access avalanche awareness courses online .
“ If you ’ re new to the backcountry , make sure you get the avalanche forecast and read it every day , follow the snow pack , figure out what ’ s going on , carry rescue gear and take an avalanche class , ” Birkeland said .
“ Hopefully in doing so , you can decrease your risk of getting caught in an avalanche this year.
” Ben Nobel , a backcountry skier who sits on the board of directors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in October set the stage for this winter , and much depends on what the next snowstorm looks like .
Every time he goes out , Nobel digs at least one snow pit to test the stability .
He always brings a good partner and a beacon , shovel and probe .
He ’ s had half a dozen friends who ’ ve died in avalanches , and he ’ s triggered them before .
Last spring , Nobel and his group of friends dodged a 300-foot-wide avalanche that took out an entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group was able to run out of the way , but they called a plane to pick them up shortly afterward .
“ We dodged a bullet , ” he said .
“ We were pushing kind of hard , admittedly.
” Nobel said his biggest fear for the upcoming season is that people will be packed on ridge tops , skiing on top of one another on a weak snowpack .
“ I guarantee there will be fatalities this year ” if that ’ s the case , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ manage everybody doing their own thing out in the mountains.
” Nobel thinks people should only try backcountry skiing if they start from scratch - take an avalanche course , find trustworthy partners and get good gear .
“ Do it right not only for yourself , but for the rest of us , ” he said .
“ The last thing we need is just a bunch of idiots out in the mountains putting all of us at risk.
” Morgan Westfall , another local backcountry skier , also said backcountry beginners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added that experienced users are also responsible for helping them out .
“ There ’ s plenty of backcountry terrain and educated people who can educate others , ” she said .
“ I think that sometimes the ski community and the backcountry community can come off as a bit elitist and exclusive .
Everyone was a beginner at some point.
” Westfall is concerned about an increase in backcountry use , but she thinks things can play out in a safe way if people aren ’ t reckless or selfish .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is back there .
Not just yourself , ” she said .
Werner said the pandemic can be an opportunity for people to explore new places .
To him , there ’ s no reason backcountry skiers should behave like cattle - following crowds and other tracks because they assume other skiers know where they are going .
“ You want to design an elegant and efficient approach for others to follow , not hack your way across the hill and track up the slope that everyone will be skiing down , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s trek up the bowl in the Bridgers was elegant , his path down was no masterpiece .
After the grueling hour-and-a-half journey up the mountainside , he skidded over brush and rocks on his way down .
It was what Werner calls “ Type 2 fun.
” “ The kind of ‘ fun ’ where it ’ s only fun after you forget about the pain and suffering you experienced on the journey , ” he said .
“ I ’ m in it for the long haul , and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tour in nature and enjoy the wonderful outdoors .
I don ’ t have to ski down my target objective in order for the trip to be considered a success in my mind .
”

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) - Ben Werner glided up the craggy mountain bowl between Hardscrabble Peak and Frazier Basin in the Bridgers, his heels lifting off his skis with every step. He paused periodically to assess his route up the slope.
Before Werner ascended the bowl, he’d tested the snow’s stability on a small hill with a similar slant and aspect. He directed his skis toward the hillside and coasted along, looking around for any signs of cracks or slides. The snow held. He continued his path upward.
In backcountry skiing, deciding where to climb up or ski down a slope can be the difference between life and death. And the mountains are deceiving.
Werner would know. He’ll soon be releasing the third edition of his 2011 book, “The Bozeman and Big Sky Backcountry Ski Guide.” The book documents popular backcountry runs across the Gallatin, Bridger, Madison, Absaroka and Beartooth ranges. Werner has never been caught in an avalanche in the mountains around Bozeman, but he’s witnessed them.
Areas like Mount Ellis in the Gallatins particularly spook Werner because they feel safe. Even though Mount Ellis has no cliffs and looks tame, it avalanches regularly.
“Sometimes it lulls folks into letting their guard down,” Werner told the Bozeman Chronicle.
Ski patrollers work to minimize avalanche hazards at ski areas, but backcountry conditions are unmanaged and often dangerous. Whether someone triggers an avalanche often depends on their ability to assess risk and make educated decisions. Whether they survive an avalanche largely depends on their equipment and training.
Officials and experienced backcountry skiers are worried new restrictions at local ski areas could drive more inexperienced people into the backcountry this winter, increasing the risk of avalanche deaths.
Because of COVID-19, Bridger Bowl Ski Area is limiting the number of people allowed on lifts daily, and people with lift tickets and season passes will have to reserve ski days ahead of time. Big Sky Resort is retaining the right to issue daily caps on lift ticket sales, but is not adopting a reservation system. Both mountains are limiting use of lodges.
Meanwhile, sales at a local backcountry ski shop are surging.
Doug Chabot, director of Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, said he predicts restrictions at Bridger Bowl and other ski areas will contribute to a huge increase in backcountry skiing, snowboarding and motorized recreation this winter. Since the pandemic hit Montana in March, popular trailheads around Bozeman, Big Sky, Cooke City and West Yellowstone have seen more traffic than ever before.
“These areas that were always popular are now really, really popular,” Chabot said. “People are enjoying the outdoors, they want to get out more and they’ve invested in gear.”
Chabot worries the influx could result in more avalanche-related deaths and strained search and rescue resources. He hopes the people buying backcountry gear also invest in life-saving equipment, education and training.
“Typically people will buy gear and get educated somewhere down the line,” Chabot said. “If you want to go into the backcountry, we recommend getting educated first.”
At Uphill Pursuits, a local ski shop that specializes in backcountry equipment, sales have gone up 500% this year from last year, according to Riley Siddoway, the managing partner and owner.
The trend isn’t unique to Bozeman. Manufacturers can’t keep up with demand in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, California and Nevada, he said.
“They’ve reached a point where some products are just gone,” Siddoway said.
Siddoway has heard many beginners say they want to try backcountry skiing because they’re uncertain about how new restrictions at ski areas will work out.
Siddoway tells them that it’s not as simple as buying new gear. A beacon, probe, shovel and education are necessary components.
“Most people are ready for that, but some people say they weren’t aware of the avalanche part of the equation,” he said.
Avalanches occur when a weak layer in the snow pack fails to hold additional weight, causing the layers above it to fracture and fall down the slope. Sometimes, heavy snow is enough to cause a fracture, but often the additional weight from a person or snowmobile is enough to trigger a slide.
GNFAC’s Chabot is particularly concerned about this year’s snowpack. Whether an avalanche season turns deadly often depends on early season snowfall. A snow storm this October was followed by extremely low temperatures, creating a weak, sugary layer of snow. This base layer is expected to hold up the entire season’s snowpack.
“I’m not sure it’s going to be able to. I think it might set us up for avalanches,” Chabot said.
This year, Chabot is communicating with local search and rescue coordinators more than usual. He said people who are new to Montana’s mountains need to understand there’s an expected level of self-sufficiency.
“Realize that when you’re in the backcountry, you’re kind of on your own. Don’t hesitate to call search and rescue, but be prepared to effect your own rescue or spend the night,” Chabot said.
Chabot sees several common threads in avalanche deaths. Victims often fail to recognize signs of instability in the snowpack, don’t travel up risky terrain one at a time or don’t know how to use their rescue gear. People who have practiced using avalanche transceivers and are fit enough to dig someone out quickly have a better chance of saving a life.
“The odds of your partner living are directly correlated in many cases to your ability to dig them out fast,” Chabot said. “If you get someone out in 10 minutes, there’s an 80% chance they’ll survive. If you get them out in 20 minutes, your odds are down to 30%.”
GNFAC offers avalanche safety courses and issues daily avalanche forecasts. The advisories aren’t slope-specific, but they can help people make good decisions.
Scott Secor, commander of the Gallatin County Sheriff Office Search and Rescue program, said he’s preparing for an uptick in calls this winter. Visitors seeking to escape COVID-19 restrictions in their hometowns and local skiers and snowboarders seeking to escape restrictions at resorts could increase backcountry use, he said.
This summer, calls to search and rescue did not increase, even though trails were packed with people. Secor suspects this could have been because more people were there to help others execute their own rescues. This could all change once winter rolls around and more rescue situations require a response.
“It’s incredibly important that folks go out and get educated and recreate with others who are experienced and have gone through training,” Secor said. “So many of these accidents and injuries could be avoided with the training that (GNFAC) provides.”
Secor said winter conditions can be deadly not only for the people being rescued, but for the rescuers themselves. Fewer hours of daylight mean teams are sometimes forced to attempt missions in darkness or in bad weather.
“Whenever a search and rescue team is deployed to save a life, another 20 to 30 rescuers are exposed to the same conditions and dangers,” he said.
Karl Birkeland, director of the National Avalanche Center, which oversees GNFAC and 13 other avalanche centers, said the pandemic adds an additional risk since social distancing is impossible during most missions.
“I believe that puts an even greater responsibility on backcountry users to make good decisions and try and minimize risk,” Birkeland said.
Long-term trends have indicated increased backcountry use doesn’t necessarily lead to more accidents. Over the past 20 to 25 years, there’s been explosive growth in numbers of people heading into the backcountry, but a relatively stable number of avalanche deaths, he said. That’s at least partially because avalanche centers around the country are doing a good job of getting information out to people, and manufacturers are making better rescue gear.
Birkeland doesn’t know whether the long-term trend will carry into this winter. “If we mix all these new users in the backcountry and have a very dangerous and unstable snowpack, we might see a big jump in accidents,” he said.
Fortunately, avalanche center services are widely available. Any number of people can view online avalanche advisories, and because of the pandemic, people can access avalanche awareness courses online.
“If you’re new to the backcountry, make sure you get the avalanche forecast and read it every day, follow the snow pack, figure out what’s going on, carry rescue gear and take an avalanche class,” Birkeland said. “Hopefully in doing so, you can decrease your risk of getting caught in an avalanche this year.”
Ben Nobel, a backcountry skier who sits on the board of directors for GNFAC, said the early storm in October set the stage for this winter, and much depends on what the next snowstorm looks like.
Every time he goes out, Nobel digs at least one snow pit to test the stability. He always brings a good partner and a beacon, shovel and probe. He’s had half a dozen friends who’ve died in avalanches, and he’s triggered them before.
Last spring, Nobel and his group of friends dodged a 300-foot-wide avalanche that took out an entire mountainside in Alaska, he said. The group was able to run out of the way, but they called a plane to pick them up shortly afterward.
“We dodged a bullet,” he said. “We were pushing kind of hard, admittedly.”
Nobel said his biggest fear for the upcoming season is that people will be packed on ridge tops, skiing on top of one another on a weak snowpack.
“I guarantee there will be fatalities this year” if that’s the case, he said. “It’s so hard to manage everybody doing their own thing out in the mountains.”
Nobel thinks people should only try backcountry skiing if they start from scratch - take an avalanche course, find trustworthy partners and get good gear.
“Do it right not only for yourself, but for the rest of us,” he said. “The last thing we need is just a bunch of idiots out in the mountains putting all of us at risk.”
Morgan Westfall, another local backcountry skier, also said backcountry beginners are responsible for getting educated. But she added that experienced users are also responsible for helping them out.
“There’s plenty of backcountry terrain and educated people who can educate others,” she said. “I think that sometimes the ski community and the backcountry community can come off as a bit elitist and exclusive. Everyone was a beginner at some point.”
Westfall is concerned about an increase in backcountry use, but she thinks things can play out in a safe way if people aren’t reckless or selfish.
“You have to focus on everyone who is back there. Not just yourself,” she said.
Werner said the pandemic can be an opportunity for people to explore new places. To him, there’s no reason backcountry skiers should behave like cattle - following crowds and other tracks because they assume other skiers know where they are going.
Werner compared cutting fresh skin tracks to laying out artwork.
“You want to design an elegant and efficient approach for others to follow, not hack your way across the hill and track up the slope that everyone will be skiing down,” he said.
While Werner’s trek up the bowl in the Bridgers was elegant, his path down was no masterpiece. After the grueling hour-and-a-half journey up the mountainside, he skidded over brush and rocks on his way down.
It was what Werner calls “Type 2 fun.”
“The kind of ‘fun’ where it’s only fun after you forget about the pain and suffering you experienced on the journey,” he said. “I’m in it for the long haul, and I’m very happy to get out on a tour in nature and enjoy the wonderful outdoors. I don’t have to ski down my target objective in order for the trip to be considered a success in my mind.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Report finds microwave energy likely made US diplomats ill

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - A new report by a National Academy of Sciences committee has found that “ directed ” microwave radiation is the likely cause of illnesses among American diplomats in Cuba and China .
The study commissioned by the State Department and released Saturday is the latest attempt to find a cause for the mysterious illnesses that started to emerge in late 2016 among U.S. personnel in Havana .
The study found that “ directed , pulsed radio frequency energy appears to be the most plausible ” explanation for symptoms that included intense head pressure , dizziness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explanation was more likely than other previously considered causes such as tropical disease or psychological issues .
The study did not name a source for the energy and did not say it came as the result of an attack , though it did note that previous research on this type of injury was done in the former Soviet Union .
In its report , the 19-member committee noted that it faced significant challenges in trying to get to the bottom of the medical mystery .
Among them , not everyone reported the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research did not have access to all the previous studies on the illnesses , some of which are classified .
“ The committee found these cases quite concerning , in part because of the plausible role of directed , pulsed radiofrequency energy as a mechanism , but also because of the significant suffering and debility that has occurred in some of these individuals , ” said committee chairman David Relman , a professor of medicine at Stanford University .
“ We as a nation need to address these specific cases as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerted , coordinated , and comprehensive approach.
” The health effects were experienced by about two dozen Americans affiliated with the U.S. Embassy in Cuba as well as Canadian diplomats and personnel at the U.S. consulate in Guanghzhou , China , in early 2017 .
Some of the Americans have been critical of the U.S. government ’ s response to their health complaints and at least one has filed suit against the State Department .
Between late 2016 and May 2018 , several U.S. and Canadian diplomats in Havana complained of health problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government count put the number of American personnel affected at 26 .
Some reported hearing high-pitched sounds similar to crickets while at home or staying in hotels , leading to an early theory of a sonic attack .

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new report by a National Academy of Sciences committee has found that “directed” microwave radiation is the likely cause of illnesses among American diplomats in Cuba and China.
The study commissioned by the State Department and released Saturday is the latest attempt to find a cause for the mysterious illnesses that started to emerge in late 2016 among U.S. personnel in Havana.
The study found that “directed, pulsed radio frequency energy appears to be the most plausible” explanation for symptoms that included intense head pressure, dizziness and cognitive difficulties. It found this explanation was more likely than other previously considered causes such as tropical disease or psychological issues. The study did not name a source for the energy and did not say it came as the result of an attack, though it did note that previous research on this type of injury was done in the former Soviet Union.
In its report, the 19-member committee noted that it faced significant challenges in trying to get to the bottom of the medical mystery. Among them, not everyone reported the same symptoms and the National Academy of Sciences research did not have access to all the previous studies on the illnesses, some of which are classified.
“The committee found these cases quite concerning, in part because of the plausible role of directed, pulsed radiofrequency energy as a mechanism, but also because of the significant suffering and debility that has occurred in some of these individuals,” said committee chairman David Relman, a professor of medicine at Stanford University. “We as a nation need to address these specific cases as well as the possibility of future cases with a concerted, coordinated, and comprehensive approach.”
The health effects were experienced by about two dozen Americans affiliated with the U.S. Embassy in Cuba as well as Canadian diplomats and personnel at the U.S. consulate in Guanghzhou, China, in early 2017.
Some of the Americans have been critical of the U.S. government’s response to their health complaints and at least one has filed suit against the State Department.
Between late 2016 and May 2018, several U.S. and Canadian diplomats in Havana complained of health problems from an unknown cause. One U.S. government count put the number of American personnel affected at 26.
Some reported hearing high-pitched sounds similar to crickets while at home or staying in hotels, leading to an early theory of a sonic attack.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Trump tells Georgia rally 'we will still win' presidential election

President Trump campaigned for Georgia ’ s Republican senators Saturday night in a rally in which he spent much of his speech telling supporters that he didn ’ t lose the presidential election on Nov. 3 .
“ We never lost an election .
We ’ re winning this election , ” Mr. Trump said in Valdosta , Georgia .
“ They cheated and rigged our presidential election , but we will still win it.
” The crowd of several thousand chanted “ Stop the steal !
” The president cited a list of “ irrefutable facts ” why he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President-elect Joseph R. Biden , who is preparing to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 .
“ If I lost , I ’ d be a very gracious loser , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ But you can ’ t ever accept when they steal and rob.
” He vowed that his legal team “ will be going up to the Supreme Court very shortly.
” “ We continue to fight , ” he said .
“ We just need somebody with courage to do what they have to do .
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know what the answer ’ s going to be .
I got more votes than any sitting president in history .
We got 74 million-plus , and they ’ re trying to convince us that we lost .
We didn ’ t lose.
” He said his campaign has raised about $ 250 million since the election “ because people believe in what we ’ re doing.
” The president ’ s lawyers have filed lawsuits to reverse the election in several key swing states , but have been rejected at nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president pressed Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp in a phone call to call a special legislative session to overturn Mr. Biden ’ s win in the state , but the Republican governor refused .
Mr. Trump held his first rally since the presidential election for Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , who face runoff elections on Jan. 5 against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , respectively .
Their races will determine control of the Senate .
The president called the Democrats “ dangerous extremists.
” He said Mr. Warnock is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to get out and vote for these two great [ Republican ] senators , ” Mr. Trump said .
The audience in Valdosta seemed far more interested in Mr. Trump than in the Senate candidates .
When the president called Ms. Loeffler and Mr. Perdue to the stage to say a few words , the senators were nearly drowned out by the crowd ’ s chants of “ Fight for Trump !
” Some Republicans have expressed concern that Mr. Trump ’ s allegations of election fraud could depress GOP turnout in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night , the president continued to rail against election fraud in the state , and complained that Mr. Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger were allowing Democrats to steal the election from him .
“ This election was rigged .
We can ’ t let it happen again , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ Your governor could stop it very easily if he knew what the hell he was doing .
For whatever reason , your governor and your secretary of state are afraid of Stacey Abrams.
” It was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrowly lost her bid for governor to Mr. Kemp in 2018 .
Mr. Biden won Georgia by more than 12,000 votes , becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state in nearly three decades .
Mr. Kemp certified the election totals on Nov. 20 , following a statewide audit including a hand recount .
Despite his continual allegations of election fraud in Georgia , Mr. Trump told supporters , “ You have to get out and you have to vote , and you have to make sure that every vote is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure that your secretary of state knows what the hell he is doing , ” he said .
“ And you have to make sure your governor gets a lot tougher than he ’ s been.
” The president acknowledged that the GOP is divided about the Georgia election , saying many of his friends are telling people not to vote .
He even said “ it was sort of an instinct of mine… because so many votes were stolen.
” “ But if you do that , the radical left wins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t do that .
We have to actually do just the opposite.
” Mr. Trump called Mr. Kemp earlier Saturday to call a special session of the Republican-led state legislature , with the goal of selecting pro-Trump presidential electors .
Mr. Kemp refused , and the president complained that Mr. Kemp and Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey were thwarting his efforts to overturn Mr. Biden ’ s victories in both states .
“ Between Governor @ DougDucey of Arizona and Governor @ BrianKempGA of Georgia , the Democrat Party could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ They fight harder against us than do the Radical Left Dems .
If they were with us , we would have already won both Arizona and Georgia .
We received more LEGAL votes by far .
All I can do is run , campaign , and be a good ( great ! )
President – it is 100 % up to the states to manage the election .
Republicans will NEVER forget this.
” Mr. Kemp , who did not attend the president ’ s rally , replied to Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President this morning , I ’ ve publicly called for a signature audit three times ( 11/20 , 11/24 , 12/3 ) to restore confidence in our election process and to ensure that only legal votes are counted in Georgia.
” The president tweeted back at Mr. Kemp , “ But you never got the signature verification !
Your people are refusing to do what you ask .
What are they hiding ?
At least immediately ask for a Special Session of the Legislature .
That you can easily , and immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republicans win the Senate on Jan. 5 , “ we ’ re going to win back the White House.
” “ And then in 2024 — hopefully I won ’ t have to be a candidate again — we ’ re going to win back the White House again , ” he said .

President Trump campaigned for Georgia’s Republican senators Saturday night in a rally in which he spent much of his speech telling supporters that he didn’t lose the presidential election on Nov. 3.
“We never lost an election. We’re winning this election,” Mr. Trump said in Valdosta, Georgia. “They cheated and rigged our presidential election, but we will still win it.”
The crowd of several thousand chanted “Stop the steal!”
The president cited a list of “irrefutable facts” why he couldn’t have lost to presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden, who is preparing to be inaugurated on Jan. 20.
“If I lost, I’d be a very gracious loser,” Mr. Trump said. “But you can’t ever accept when they steal and rob.”
He vowed that his legal team “will be going up to the Supreme Court very shortly.”
“We continue to fight,” he said. “We just need somebody with courage to do what they have to do. If we have courage and wisdom, I think you know what the answer’s going to be. I got more votes than any sitting president in history. We got 74 million-plus, and they’re trying to convince us that we lost. We didn’t lose.”
He said his campaign has raised about $250 million since the election “because people believe in what we’re doing.”
The president’s lawyers have filed lawsuits to reverse the election in several key swing states, but have been rejected at nearly every turn. Earlier Saturday, the president pressed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in a phone call to call a special legislative session to overturn Mr. Biden’s win in the state, but the Republican governor refused.
Mr. Trump held his first rally since the presidential election for Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who face runoff elections on Jan. 5 against Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, respectively. Their races will determine control of the Senate.
The president called the Democrats “dangerous extremists.” He said Mr. Warnock is “strongly anti-Israel.”
“Georgia patriots need to get out and vote for these two great [Republican] senators,” Mr. Trump said.
The audience in Valdosta seemed far more interested in Mr. Trump than in the Senate candidates. When the president called Ms. Loeffler and Mr. Perdue to the stage to say a few words, the senators were nearly drowned out by the crowd’s chants of “Fight for Trump!”
Some Republicans have expressed concern that Mr. Trump’s allegations of election fraud could depress GOP turnout in the crucial Senate races. On Saturday night, the president continued to rail against election fraud in the state, and complained that Mr. Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger were allowing Democrats to steal the election from him.
“This election was rigged. We can’t let it happen again,” Mr. Trump said. “Your governor could stop it very easily if he knew what the hell he was doing. For whatever reason, your governor and your secretary of state are afraid of Stacey Abrams.”
It was a reference to the influential Georgia Democrat who narrowly lost her bid for governor to Mr. Kemp in 2018.
Mr. Biden won Georgia by more than 12,000 votes, becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state in nearly three decades. Mr. Kemp certified the election totals on Nov. 20, following a statewide audit including a hand recount.
Despite his continual allegations of election fraud in Georgia, Mr. Trump told supporters, “You have to get out and you have to vote, and you have to make sure that every vote is counted.”
“You have to make sure that your secretary of state knows what the hell he is doing,” he said. “And you have to make sure your governor gets a lot tougher than he’s been.”
The president acknowledged that the GOP is divided about the Georgia election, saying many of his friends are telling people not to vote. He even said “it was sort of an instinct of mine… because so many votes were stolen.”
“But if you do that, the radical left wins,” Mr. Trump said. “We can’t do that. We have to actually do just the opposite.”
Mr. Trump called Mr. Kemp earlier Saturday to call a special session of the Republican-led state legislature, with the goal of selecting pro-Trump presidential electors. Mr. Kemp refused, and the president complained that Mr. Kemp and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey were thwarting his efforts to overturn Mr. Biden’s victories in both states.
“Between Governor @DougDucey of Arizona and Governor @BrianKempGA of Georgia, the Democrat Party could not be happier,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “They fight harder against us than do the Radical Left Dems. If they were with us, we would have already won both Arizona and Georgia. We received more LEGAL votes by far. All I can do is run, campaign, and be a good (great!) President – it is 100% up to the states to manage the election. Republicans will NEVER forget this.”
Mr. Kemp, who did not attend the president’s rally, replied to Mr. Trump on Twitter, “As I told the President this morning, I’ve publicly called for a signature audit three times (11/20, 11/24, 12/3) to restore confidence in our election process and to ensure that only legal votes are counted in Georgia.”
The president tweeted back at Mr. Kemp, “But you never got the signature verification! Your people are refusing to do what you ask. What are they hiding? At least immediately ask for a Special Session of the Legislature. That you can easily, and immediately, do.”
Mr. Trump said after the Republicans win the Senate on Jan. 5, “we’re going to win back the White House.”
“And then in 2024 — hopefully I won’t have to be a candidate again — we’re going to win back the White House again,” he said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Rescuers locate 2 bodies at Nicaragua mine collapse

MANAGUA , Nicaragua ( AP ) - Rescue workers on Saturday recovered the bodies of two miners killed in the @ @ @ @ @ mine near the border with Costa Rica , but as many as 13 others remain @ @ @ @ @ Río San Juan province said the bodies of two miners , aged 20 and 28 @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Johnny Gutiérrez said community members , soldiers , firefighters and police continued to dig @ @ @ @ @ other miners are still missing .
One injured miner was able to escape and report @ @ @ @ @ say between 10 and 15 miners were buried when a tunnel at the unregistered mine @ @ @

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - Rescue workers on Saturday recovered the bodies of two miners killed in the collapse of a wildcat gold mine near the border with Costa Rica, but as many as 13 others remain missing.
The mayor of Río San Juan province said the bodies of two miners, aged 20 and 28, had been recovered.
Mayor Johnny Gutiérrez said community members, soldiers, firefighters and police continued to dig at the site, where other miners are still missing. One injured miner was able to escape and report the collapse.
Local media say between 10 and 15 miners were buried when a tunnel at the unregistered mine collapsed Friday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--David Lander, 'Squiggy' on 'Laverne & Shirley,' dies at 73

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Actor David L. Lander , who played the character of Squiggy on the popular ABC comedy “ Laverne & Shirley , ” has died after a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis , his wife said .
He was 73 .
Lander died Friday in Los Angeles , surrounded by his wife , daughter and son-in-law , Kathy Fields Lander said in an email Saturday to the Associated Press .
“ It was very peaceful , ” Lander said .
“ He had a tough battle with MS for 37 years and he persevered like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it taught me a great deal about the important things of life.
” Lander had a longtime comedic partnership with Michael McKean , whom he met at Carnegie Mellon University .
Together they created the characters of Lenny and Squiggy that they would play on the show , which ran from 1976 to 1983 .
Lenny and Squiggy - or Lenny Kosnowski and Andrew “ Squiggy ” Squiggman - were friends and upstairs neighbors of Laverne DeFazio ( Penny Marshall ) and Shirley Feeney ( Cindy Williams ) , bottle-cappers in 1950s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo in tribute to Lander on Saturday of the two actors in the early days .
Lander is survived by his wife and a daughter , Natalie Lander .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Actor David L. Lander, who played the character of Squiggy on the popular ABC comedy “Laverne & Shirley,” has died after a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis, his wife said. He was 73.
Lander died Friday in Los Angeles, surrounded by his wife, daughter and son-in-law, Kathy Fields Lander said in an email Saturday to the Associated Press.
“It was very peaceful,” Lander said. “He had a tough battle with MS for 37 years and he persevered like no one I have ever seen, and it taught me a great deal about the important things of life.”
Lander had a longtime comedic partnership with Michael McKean, whom he met at Carnegie Mellon University. Together they created the characters of Lenny and Squiggy that they would play on the show, which ran from 1976 to 1983. Lenny and Squiggy - or Lenny Kosnowski and Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman - were friends and upstairs neighbors of Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams), bottle-cappers in 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
McKean tweeted a photo in tribute to Lander on Saturday of the two actors in the early days.
Lander is survived by his wife and a daughter, Natalie Lander.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Virginia reports highest increase in virus cases in a day

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - Virginia has reported the biggest increase in COVID-19 cases in one day during @ @ @ @ @ reported 3,793 cases of the coronavirus on Saturday .
The state ’ s health department @ @ @ @ @ were due to a backlog of data entering the system .
The previous record for @ @ @ @ @ set on Nov. 23 , when there were 3,242 cases .
Virginia has reported a @ @ @ @ @ with 220,510 of those cases confirmed and 30,663 determined to be probable .
Virginia ’ @ @ @ @ @ 10 % .

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia has reported the biggest increase in COVID-19 cases in one day during the pandemic.
The state reported 3,793 cases of the coronavirus on Saturday. The state’s health department says some of the cases were due to a backlog of data entering the system.
The previous record for new cases in Virginia was set on Nov. 23, when there were 3,242 cases.
Virginia has reported a total 251,173 virus cases, with 220,510 of those cases confirmed and 30,663 determined to be probable. Virginia’s seven-day positivity rate is 10%.


washingtontimes--2020-12-05--Rucker sets FBS freshman receiving record in A-State win

JONESBORO , Ark .
( AP ) - Corey Rucker set the NCAA FBS record for a freshman with 310 yards receiving and caught four touchdown passes to help Arkansas State beat UL Monroe 48-15 on Saturday .
Rucker , who caught nine passes , surpassed C.J .
Johnson ( 283 yards , East Carolina vs. Cincinnati , 2019 ) for the FBS freshman record and Lennie Johnson ( 284 yards , Arkansas State vs. Missouri State , 1997 ) for the program record .
His four TD receptions tied a program record with Omar Bayless ( 2019 ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s longest TD catch was a 66-yard reception to make it 35-7 in the first minute of the third quarter .
Rucker had catches of 69 and 55 yards in the first quarter and a 31-yard TD catch in the fourth .
The Red Wolves ( 4-7 , 2-6 Sun Belt Conference ) had 511 yards passing .
Layne Hatcher threw for 326 yards and a career-high five touchdowns , and Logan Bonner added 185 yards passing .
Jeff Foreman caught four passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns .
Jeremy Hunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a touchdown for the Warhawks ( 0-10 , 0-7 ) .

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) - Corey Rucker set the NCAA FBS record for a freshman with 310 yards receiving and caught four touchdown passes to help Arkansas State beat UL Monroe 48-15 on Saturday.
Rucker, who caught nine passes, surpassed C.J. Johnson (283 yards, East Carolina vs. Cincinnati, 2019) for the FBS freshman record and Lennie Johnson (284 yards, Arkansas State vs. Missouri State, 1997) for the program record. His four TD receptions tied a program record with Omar Bayless (2019) and Alfred Bentley (1959).
Rucker’s longest TD catch was a 66-yard reception to make it 35-7 in the first minute of the third quarter. Rucker had catches of 69 and 55 yards in the first quarter and a 31-yard TD catch in the fourth.
The Red Wolves (4-7, 2-6 Sun Belt Conference) had 511 yards passing. Layne Hatcher threw for 326 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, and Logan Bonner added 185 yards passing. Jeff Foreman caught four passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
Jeremy Hunt was 20 of 34 for 203 yards and a touchdown for the Warhawks (0-10, 0-7).
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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25