washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Gunman in Tacoma mass shooting could one day be released

TACOMA , Wash. ( AP ) - A man sentenced to life in prison without parole for his role as a 16-year-old in Pierce County ’ s worst mass shooting might one day be released after he was resentenced due to a change in the law about mandatory life sentences for juveniles .
The News Tribune reports that John Phet , now 39 , was one of the gunmen in the 1998 Trang Dai Cafe massacre in Tacoma , in which five people were killed and five others were injured .
On Friday , Superior Court Judge Stanley Rumbaugh sentenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which means the state ’ s Indeterminate Sentence Review Board will decide when or if he ’ ll be released .
Phet was convicted of five counts of aggravated first-degree murder and five counts of first-degree assault in 2002 , and at the time the only sentence available was life without parole .
Phet , one of six charged and convicted , was the youngest participant .
The law about such sentences for youths has since changed .
The U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. Alabama said mandatory sentences of life without parole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punishment .
The state ’ s response in 2014 was to change Washington law to allow such defendants to be re-sentenced , with hearings that take their youth into account .
If a judge at re-sentencing finds life without parole isn ’ t appropriate for someone who was 16 or 17 at the time of their crime , the minimum sentence that judge can give is 25 years to life , with the state review board determining the end date .
Phet and another man were told to shoot anyone who came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21-year-old waitress Tuyen Vo was killed .
“ Mr .
Phet is alive today , ” deputy prosecutor Jim Schacht told the court Friday .
“ She is not .
… This is the worst mass shooting that Pierce County has had , and that part of this case needs to be taken into account.
” Schacht also acknowledged that Phet has been a “ model prisoner.
” By video , Jeremiah Bourgeois told the court he ’ s known Phet for about 10 years , and that they met while Bourgeois was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison for more than 27 years , he said , starting at the age of 14 .
Bourgeois said he was recently released and today is studying law at Gonzaga University , “ in large part due to ” Phet ’ s positive influence .
Phet himself said : “ I understand and I take full responsibility ” for the crimes .
He talked about the impact of others who supported him behind bars and encouraged him to get an education .
He said he knows he can ’ t “ erase @ @ @ @ @ @ @

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - A man sentenced to life in prison without parole for his role as a 16-year-old in Pierce County’s worst mass shooting might one day be released after he was resentenced due to a change in the law about mandatory life sentences for juveniles.
The News Tribune reports that John Phet, now 39, was one of the gunmen in the 1998 Trang Dai Cafe massacre in Tacoma, in which five people were killed and five others were injured.
On Friday, Superior Court Judge Stanley Rumbaugh sentenced Phet to 25 years to life, which means the state’s Indeterminate Sentence Review Board will decide when or if he’ll be released.
Phet was convicted of five counts of aggravated first-degree murder and five counts of first-degree assault in 2002, and at the time the only sentence available was life without parole. Phet, one of six charged and convicted, was the youngest participant.
The law about such sentences for youths has since changed. The U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. Alabama said mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles amount to cruel and unusual punishment.
The state’s response in 2014 was to change Washington law to allow such defendants to be re-sentenced, with hearings that take their youth into account.
If a judge at re-sentencing finds life without parole isn’t appropriate for someone who was 16 or 17 at the time of their crime, the minimum sentence that judge can give is 25 years to life, with the state review board determining the end date.
Phet and another man were told to shoot anyone who came out the back door, which is how 21-year-old waitress Tuyen Vo was killed.
“Mr. Phet is alive today,” deputy prosecutor Jim Schacht told the court Friday. “She is not. … This is the worst mass shooting that Pierce County has had, and that part of this case needs to be taken into account.”
Schacht also acknowledged that Phet has been a “model prisoner.”
By video, Jeremiah Bourgeois told the court he’s known Phet for about 10 years, and that they met while Bourgeois was serving life without parole. He was in prison for more than 27 years, he said, starting at the age of 14.
Bourgeois said he was recently released and today is studying law at Gonzaga University, “in large part due to” Phet’s positive influence.
Phet himself said: “I understand and I take full responsibility” for the crimes.
He talked about the impact of others who supported him behind bars and encouraged him to get an education.
He said he knows he can’t “erase the pain of the families.”
“I’m sorry,” Phet said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--'American Idol' contestant Nikki McKibbin dies at 42

ARLINGTON , Texas ( AP ) - Nikki McKibbin , a singer from Texas best known for her third place finish in the first season of American Idol , has died .
She was 42 .
McKibbin ’ s husband , Craig Sadler , confirmed her death in a Facebook post , saying that she had died after suffering a brain aneurysm on Wednesday and was taken off life support early Sunday .
Her husband did not say where she died .
McKibbin ’ s son , Tristen Langley , told The New York Times that his mother died in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so loved that I know thousands of you will be grieving with us , ” Sadler said .
“ She loved so many of you and I know you loved her too.
” McKibbin appeared on American Idol in 2002 , when the show started and became an instant hit .
A 23-year-old from Grand Prairie , Texas , McKibbin impressed the judges with soulful performances of songs by Janis Joplin , Stevie Nicks and a stirring cover of Alanna Myles ’ song “ Black Velvet.
” McKibbin finished third on the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly Clarkson , who won the competition .
Gracious in defeat , McKibbin tearfully hugged her fellow contestants when she was voted out in 2002 .
“ What an incredible journey this has been , ” McKibbin said before leaving the stage .
“ Just to know that so many people support me and enjoy what I do means more than anything in the world.″ The often acid-tongued Simon Cowell was equally gracious .
“ Reality check : Out of 10,000 people , you are third .
This is not a time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You ’ ve got a career ahead of you.″ In a statement , American Idol sent its condolences to McKibbin ’ s family and friends .
“ Nikki McKibbin was an incredible talent and we are deeply saddened by the news of her passing , ” the TV show said in a statement posted on Twitter .
“ She was part of our American Idol family and will be truly missed .
”

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Nikki McKibbin, a singer from Texas best known for her third place finish in the first season of American Idol, has died. She was 42.
McKibbin’s husband, Craig Sadler, confirmed her death in a Facebook post, saying that she had died after suffering a brain aneurysm on Wednesday and was taken off life support early Sunday. Her husband did not say where she died.
McKibbin’s son, Tristen Langley, told The New York Times that his mother died in Arlington, Texas.
“She was so loved that I know thousands of you will be grieving with us,” Sadler said. “She loved so many of you and I know you loved her too.”
McKibbin appeared on American Idol in 2002, when the show started and became an instant hit.
A 23-year-old from Grand Prairie, Texas, McKibbin impressed the judges with soulful performances of songs by Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks and a stirring cover of Alanna Myles’ song “Black Velvet.”
McKibbin finished third on the show that year, behind Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson, who won the competition.
Gracious in defeat, McKibbin tearfully hugged her fellow contestants when she was voted out in 2002.
“What an incredible journey this has been,” McKibbin said before leaving the stage. “Just to know that so many people support me and enjoy what I do means more than anything in the world.″
The often acid-tongued Simon Cowell was equally gracious.
“Reality check: Out of 10,000 people, you are third. This is not a time for tears,″ he told McKibbin. “You’ve got a career ahead of you.″
In a statement, American Idol sent its condolences to McKibbin’s family and friends.
“Nikki McKibbin was an incredible talent and we are deeply saddened by the news of her passing,” the TV show said in a statement posted on Twitter. “She was part of our American Idol family and will be truly missed.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Trump hidden vote expected to deliver reelection

President Trump ’ s rallies , pandemic or no pandemic , continue to attract boisterous , energetic crowds — supporters who represent just the tip of an ignored majority that the president says will deliver a second term this week .
Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden , meanwhile , draws smaller and quieter crowds , often to drive-in rallies where supporters are socially distanced and voice their approval with car horns .
He says crowd size doesn ’ t matter because there is a quarantined majority of Americans who are eager to oust Mr. Trump and are more likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings to protect against COVID-19 .
Most national surveys show Mr. Biden running away with the election , though a few suggest a closer race , similar to the one in 2016 when Mr. Trump lost the popular vote but won the White House after maximizing support in key Rust Belt states .
Now , with some of Mr. Trump ’ s crowds topping 10,000 — even as COVID-19 resurges — analysts are pondering whether Trump lightning might strike twice .
The president certainly thinks so .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size was a good barometer for voter turnout , and that ’ s bad news for Mr. Biden .
“ They say the fact that he has nobody at all show up is because of COVID , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ No , it ’ s because nobody shows up .
And I think that ’ s the ultimate poll.
” Brian Klein , who has been selling Trump flags , hats and shirts at the Hillside Flea Market in Shepherd , Michigan , told The Washington Times in September that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air their preference .
“ I have people who will buy stuff from me , but they will not buy a sign because they said , ‘ I don ’ t want to put it in my yard and have my neighbors harass me , ’ and I ’ ve had some people say they wouldn ’ t buy a hat because of that , ” Mr. Klein said .
“ But I still sell a lot of hats.
” Still , Trump fans are more vocal than they were in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bold … and I think you are going to see conservatives coming out in record numbers this year , ” he said , dismissing polls showing Mr. Biden as the front-runner .
“ They said the same thing last time , ” he said .
“ Clinton had it in the bag , they said .
What happened to that ?
I have a hard time believing there are that many people excited about Biden.
” One of the more vocal Trump backers is Doug Miller , whose wife bought him a Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bed of his truck this summer — not far from a “ TRUMP 2020 [ expletive ] YOUR FEELINGS ” sticker on his back driver ’ s side window .
“ The older I get , the less I care about people ’ s feelings , ” Mr. Miller , a welder , said in a mall parking lot in Mount Pleasant .
“ Before , I was always tiptoeing around stuff .
Now I give a [ expletive ] less .
You don ’ t like my flag , walk away.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post he saw gauging support based on yard signs in central and northern Michigan .
Trump signs were the most popular , Mr. Miller said .
“ Yard sale signs were next .
Then it was corn for sale .
Then firewood signs and then Biden signs .
“ So , you know yard sales , corn and firewood for sale up here in the north are ahead of Biden , ” he said with a smile .
Robert Cahaly , a pollster and political consultant who is the founder of the Trafalgar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of polls showing Mr. Trump running stronger in battleground states than conventional wisdom suggests .
“ These polls are predominantly missing the hidden Trump vote — what is referred to as the shy Trump voters , ” Mr. Cahaly said recently on Fox News .
“ I definitely think it is going to be a surprise , ” he told The Washington Times last week .
“ I think people just lie to pollsters.
” In that sense , it ’ s a repeat of 2016 , when most pollsters missed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton win .
Trafalgar was one of the few to spot the Trump trend .
But John Couvillon , founder of JMC Analytics and Polling , doubts the notion of masses of uncounted Trump voters ready to surprise again .
He described hidden 2016 Trump supporters as apolitical voters who came off the sidelines to back the Republican .
Those who backed Mr. Trump last time are unlikely to be silent now , he said , and he doubts there will be another wave .
“ If you were not enthusiastic to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could one logically say they will show up this time ?
” he said .
That is exactly what Biden backers see .
“ My experience is the Trump voter will not only tell you he is for Trump , but he will also tell you why , and he will insult you if you are not for Trump , ” said Thomas Rath , a veteran Republican operative in New Hampshire who has already voted for Mr. Biden .
“ They are not shy .
There is an in-your-face quality of it.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trumpers in Minnesota tried to drown out Mr. Biden ’ s message by blowing whistles and horns and ringing cowbells .
In Texas , vehicles flying Trump flags harassed a bus on a highway carrying supporters campaigning on behalf of Mr. Biden to the point that the Democratic campaign canceled the event where they were headed .
Crowd size may be a way of gauging intensity , but Kevin Madden , a Republican Party consultant who worked on Mitt Romney ’ s 2012 presidential campaign , said it isn ’ t a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly against the backdrop of COVID-19 , which has changed attitudes about attending big campaign events .
“ Armchair activism is their default , ” Mr. Madden said of Biden backers .
“ Send in a bit of money to help Biden and prioritize their mail-in ballot .
That ’ s how they ’ re currently rallying , and you see it in Biden ’ s fundraising totals and early vote metrics .
”

President Trump’s rallies, pandemic or no pandemic, continue to attract boisterous, energetic crowds — supporters who represent just the tip of an ignored majority that the president says will deliver a second term this week.
Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden, meanwhile, draws smaller and quieter crowds, often to drive-in rallies where supporters are socially distanced and voice their approval with car horns.
He says crowd size doesn’t matter because there is a quarantined majority of Americans who are eager to oust Mr. Trump and are more likely to heed the advice of health officials about wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings to protect against COVID-19.
Polling suggests Mr. Biden is correct.
Most national surveys show Mr. Biden running away with the election, though a few suggest a closer race, similar to the one in 2016 when Mr. Trump lost the popular vote but won the White House after maximizing support in key Rust Belt states.
Now, with some of Mr. Trump’s crowds topping 10,000 — even as COVID-19 resurges — analysts are pondering whether Trump lightning might strike twice.
The president certainly thinks so.
He insisted at a recent rally that crowd size was a good barometer for voter turnout, and that’s bad news for Mr. Biden.
“They say the fact that he has nobody at all show up is because of COVID,” Mr. Trump said. “No, it’s because nobody shows up. And I think that’s the ultimate poll.”
Brian Klein, who has been selling Trump flags, hats and shirts at the Hillside Flea Market in Shepherd, Michigan, told The Washington Times in September that some Trump backers are still reluctant to air their preference.
“I have people who will buy stuff from me, but they will not buy a sign because they said, ‘I don’t want to put it in my yard and have my neighbors harass me,’ and I’ve had some people say they wouldn’t buy a hat because of that,” Mr. Klein said. “But I still sell a lot of hats.”
Still, Trump fans are more vocal than they were in 2016.
“They are becoming more and more bold … and I think you are going to see conservatives coming out in record numbers this year,” he said, dismissing polls showing Mr. Biden as the front-runner.
“They said the same thing last time,” he said. “Clinton had it in the bag, they said. What happened to that? I have a hard time believing there are that many people excited about Biden.”
One of the more vocal Trump backers is Doug Miller, whose wife bought him a Trump flag that he started flying from the bed of his truck this summer — not far from a “TRUMP 2020 [expletive] YOUR FEELINGS” sticker on his back driver’s side window.
“The older I get, the less I care about people’s feelings,” Mr. Miller, a welder, said in a mall parking lot in Mount Pleasant. “Before, I was always tiptoeing around stuff. Now I give a [expletive] less. You don’t like my flag, walk away.”
Mr. Miller chuckled over a social media post he saw gauging support based on yard signs in central and northern Michigan.
Trump signs were the most popular, Mr. Miller said. “Yard sale signs were next. Then it was corn for sale. Then firewood signs and then Biden signs.
“So, you know yard sales, corn and firewood for sale up here in the north are ahead of Biden,” he said with a smile.
Robert Cahaly, a pollster and political consultant who is the founder of the Trafalgar Group, is helping fuel questions with a series of polls showing Mr. Trump running stronger in battleground states than conventional wisdom suggests.
“These polls are predominantly missing the hidden Trump vote — what is referred to as the shy Trump voters,” Mr. Cahaly said recently on Fox News.
“I definitely think it is going to be a surprise,” he told The Washington Times last week. “I think people just lie to pollsters.”
In that sense, it’s a repeat of 2016, when most pollsters missed some Trump voters and predicted a Hillary Clinton win. Trafalgar was one of the few to spot the Trump trend.
But John Couvillon, founder of JMC Analytics and Polling, doubts the notion of masses of uncounted Trump voters ready to surprise again. He described hidden 2016 Trump supporters as apolitical voters who came off the sidelines to back the Republican.
Those who backed Mr. Trump last time are unlikely to be silent now, he said, and he doubts there will be another wave.
“If you were not enthusiastic to vote for Trump the first time, how could one logically say they will show up this time?” he said.
That is exactly what Biden backers see.
“My experience is the Trump voter will not only tell you he is for Trump, but he will also tell you why, and he will insult you if you are not for Trump,” said Thomas Rath, a veteran Republican operative in New Hampshire who has already voted for Mr. Biden. “They are not shy. There is an in-your-face quality of it.”
That was apparent over the weekend.
Trumpers in Minnesota tried to drown out Mr. Biden’s message by blowing whistles and horns and ringing cowbells. In Texas, vehicles flying Trump flags harassed a bus on a highway carrying supporters campaigning on behalf of Mr. Biden to the point that the Democratic campaign canceled the event where they were headed.
Crowd size may be a way of gauging intensity, but Kevin Madden, a Republican Party consultant who worked on Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, said it isn’t a good yardstick for voter turnout and support, particularly against the backdrop of COVID-19, which has changed attitudes about attending big campaign events.
“Armchair activism is their default,” Mr. Madden said of Biden backers. “Send in a bit of money to help Biden and prioritize their mail-in ballot. That’s how they’re currently rallying, and you see it in Biden’s fundraising totals and early vote metrics.”
• Alex Swoyer contributed to this report.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Springer, LeMahieu, Realmuto among 6 given qualifying offers

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Houston outfielder George Springer , New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu and Philadelphia catcher J.T .
Realmuto were among just six free agents who received $ 18.9 million qualifying offers on Sunday from their former teams .
Three right-handed pitchers also received the offers , Cincinnati ’ s Trevor Bauer , the New York Mets ’ Marcus Stroman and San Francisco ’ s Kevin Gausman .
Those six players have until 5 p.m. on Nov. 11 to accept the offers or press ahead as free agents , who could start negotiating contracts with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the only ones subject to compensation among the 181 players who became free agents in a market that also includes pitcher Masahiro Tanaka , outfielder Marcell Ozuna , shortstop Didi Gregorius and designated hitter Nelson Cruz .
A brutal market is expected , with many teams likely to cut payrolls following a regular season played with no fans in the seats due to the novel coronavirus pandemic .
If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major league contract with another club before the June amateur draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draft pick as compensation at the end of the first round or at the end of competitive balance round B .
The placement depends on whether the new contract is worth $ 50 million or more and the revenue-sharing and luxury tax status of the team losing the player .
A free agent could be made a qualifying offer only if he had been with the same team continuously since opening day and had never received a qualifying offer before .
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season , and only five of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Mets second baseman Neil Walker and Philadelphia pitcher Jeremy Hellickson after the 2016 season ; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu after the 2018 season and Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu last season .
Abreu later agreed to a $ 50 million , three-year contract .
The qualifying offer price started at $ 13.3 million in 2012 and rose to $ 14.1 million in 2013 , $ 15.3 million in 2014 , $ 15.8 million in 2015 , $ 17.2 million in 2016 and $ 17.4 million in 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Boston DH J.D .
Martinez kept their contracts rather than go free and test the market following subpar seasons .
Stanton is owed $ 218 million for seven seasons and Martinez $ 38.75 million for two years .
Stanton , who turns 31 on Nov. 8 , hit .266 with 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first season with the Yankees in 2018 .
He batted .288 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 2019 , when he was limited to 18 games by a left biceps strain that sidelined him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a right knee strain that kept him out from June 26 to Sept. 18 .
Stanton hit .250 with four homers and 11 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season , limited to 23 games by a left hamstring strain that sidelined him from Aug. 9 to Sept. 15 .
He rebounded to become the Yankees ’ best offensive player in the playoffs , hitting .308 ( 8 for 26 ) with six homers and 13 RBIs in seven games .
Martinez gets $ 19,375,000 in each of the next two seasons and can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a career-low .213 in the pandemic-shortened season with seven homers and 27 RBIs , his lowest output since 2013 .
His salary was cut from $ 23.75 million to a prorated $ 8,796,296 .
Boston declined a $ 6.85 million option on left-hander Martín Pérez and opted to pay a $ 500,000 buyout to the 29-year-old , who became a free agent .
Perez was 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts , striking out 46 and walking 28 in 62 innings in his first season with Boston after leaving Minnesota as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 6 million salary , reduced to $ 2,222,222 in prorated pay .
Reliever Dellin Betances exercised his $ 6 million player option with the Mets , deciding against taking a $ 3 million buyout and becoming a free agent .
A 6-foot-8 right-hander who turns 33 on March 23 , Betances signed with the Mets last December for a deal that guaranteed $ 10.5 million .
A four-time All-Star during seven seasons with the New York Yankees , Betances slumped to a 7.71 ERA in 15 relief appearances with the Mets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 2/3 innings .
Earlier , Mets reliever Brad Brach exercised his $ 2,075,000 player option for next season .
Arizona exercised a $ 4.25 million option on pitcher Merrill Kelly rather than pay a $ 500,000 buyout , and Baltiore exercised a $ 3.5 million option on shortstop José Iglesias rather than pay a $ 500,000 buyout .
Houston exercised an option on left-hander Brooks Raley calling for a $ 2 million salary in the major leagues and a $ 250,000 salary in the minors , and San Diego declined a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreland , which calls for a $ 500,000 buyout .
Raley was 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA and one save in 17 relief appearances and pitched scoreless relief in five of six playoff appearances .
He entered with a tie score in Game 3 of the Division Series against Oakland and allowed a pair of sacrifice flies in a 9-7 loss .
Moreland hit .203 with two homers and eight RBIs in 69 at-bats for San Diego , which acquired him from Boston on Aug. 30 , and was 4 for 8 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ batted .328 with eight homers and 21 RBIs for the Red Sox , and had $ 925,926 in prorated pay from a $ 2.5 million salary .

NEW YORK (AP) - Houston outfielder George Springer, New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu and Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto were among just six free agents who received $18.9 million qualifying offers on Sunday from their former teams.
Three right-handed pitchers also received the offers, Cincinnati’s Trevor Bauer, the New York Mets’ Marcus Stroman and San Francisco’s Kevin Gausman.
Those six players have until 5 p.m. on Nov. 11 to accept the offers or press ahead as free agents, who could start negotiating contracts with all teams on Sunday night.
They are the only ones subject to compensation among the 181 players who became free agents in a market that also includes pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, outfielder Marcell Ozuna, shortstop Didi Gregorius and designated hitter Nelson Cruz.
A brutal market is expected, with many teams likely to cut payrolls following a regular season played with no fans in the seats due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
If a team makes a qualifying offer to a player who signs a major league contract with another club before the June amateur draft, his former club would receive a draft pick as compensation at the end of the first round or at the end of competitive balance round B. The placement depends on whether the new contract is worth $50 million or more and the revenue-sharing and luxury tax status of the team losing the player.
A free agent could be made a qualifying offer only if he had been with the same team continuously since opening day and had never received a qualifying offer before.
Qualifying offers began after the 2012 season, and only five of 90 offers have been accepted: New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker and Philadelphia pitcher Jeremy Hellickson after the 2016 season; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu after the 2018 season and Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu last season. Abreu later agreed to a $50 million, three-year contract.
The qualifying offer price started at $13.3 million in 2012 and rose to $14.1 million in 2013, $15.3 million in 2014, $15.8 million in 2015, $17.2 million in 2016 and $17.4 million in 2017.
New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and Boston DH J.D. Martinez kept their contracts rather than go free and test the market following subpar seasons.
Stanton is owed $218 million for seven seasons and Martinez $38.75 million for two years.
Stanton, who turns 31 on Nov. 8, hit .266 with 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first season with the Yankees in 2018. He batted .288 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 2019, when he was limited to 18 games by a left biceps strain that sidelined him from April 1 to June 18 and a right knee strain that kept him out from June 26 to Sept. 18.
Stanton hit .250 with four homers and 11 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, limited to 23 games by a left hamstring strain that sidelined him from Aug. 9 to Sept. 15. He rebounded to become the Yankees’ best offensive player in the playoffs, hitting .308 (8 for 26) with six homers and 13 RBIs in seven games.
Martinez gets $19,375,000 in each of the next two seasons and can opt out after 2021.
Martinez hit a career-low .213 in the pandemic-shortened season with seven homers and 27 RBIs, his lowest output since 2013. His salary was cut from $23.75 million to a prorated $8,796,296.
Boston declined a $6.85 million option on left-hander Martín Pérez and opted to pay a $500,000 buyout to the 29-year-old, who became a free agent. Perez was 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts, striking out 46 and walking 28 in 62 innings in his first season with Boston after leaving Minnesota as a free agent. He had a $6 million salary, reduced to $2,222,222 in prorated pay.
Reliever Dellin Betances exercised his $6 million player option with the Mets, deciding against taking a $3 million buyout and becoming a free agent. A 6-foot-8 right-hander who turns 33 on March 23, Betances signed with the Mets last December for a deal that guaranteed $10.5 million. A four-time All-Star during seven seasons with the New York Yankees, Betances slumped to a 7.71 ERA in 15 relief appearances with the Mets, walking 12 and striking out 11 in 11 2/3 innings.
Earlier, Mets reliever Brad Brach exercised his $2,075,000 player option for next season.
Arizona exercised a $4.25 million option on pitcher Merrill Kelly rather than pay a $500,000 buyout, and Baltiore exercised a $3.5 million option on shortstop José Iglesias rather than pay a $500,000 buyout.
Houston exercised an option on left-hander Brooks Raley calling for a $2 million salary in the major leagues and a $250,000 salary in the minors, and San Diego declined a $3 million option on first baseman Mitch Moreland, which calls for a $500,000 buyout.
Raley was 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA and one save in 17 relief appearances and pitched scoreless relief in five of six playoff appearances. He entered with a tie score in Game 3 of the Division Series against Oakland and allowed a pair of sacrifice flies in a 9-7 loss.
Moreland hit .203 with two homers and eight RBIs in 69 at-bats for San Diego, which acquired him from Boston on Aug. 30, and was 4 for 8 with an RBI in the playoffs. He batted .328 with eight homers and 21 RBIs for the Red Sox, and had $925,926 in prorated pay from a $2.5 million salary.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--Tuberville, Jones fight for Senate seat in Alabama

GARDENDALE , Ala. ( AP ) - U.S. Sen. Doug Jones , often called the Senate ’ s most endangered Democrat , will try to pull off another Deep South win Tuesday as former college football coach Tommy Tuberville tries to recapture the seat once reliably held by Republicans .
The race pits the incumbent former U.S. attorney , who has positioned himself as a moderate , against Tuberville , who has made support for President Donald Trump the central pillar of his campaign .
The outcome could impact partisan control of the U.S. Senate where Republicans now hold a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in several states .
Jones , a former U.S. attorney best known for prosecuting Klansmen who bombed a Birmingham church in 1963 , three years ago became the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century .
In an interview with The Associated Press , Jones said he holds no illusions that this race will be easier than three years ago .
“ This is a slugfest .
It ’ s an uphill battle .
We ’ re battling tribalism , ” Jones said in adding that he thinks it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stops , he has emphasized his bipartisan record and urged people not to listen to what he called “ damn lies ” such as an ad calling the avid hunter and gun collector a supporter of “ gun grabbers ” because he supports some gun control measures such as expanded background checks .
“ Go back and look at my record .
Examine , take the time to look at what all I ’ ve done for veterans and talk to them , what we ’ ve done for teachers , what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think a coach who quit on the last four football teams and told his students to go to hell when they gave him a hard time , versus somebody who has tried to lead and represent all of Alabama , then make that choice , ” Jones said , referencing a time that Tuberville yelled at hecklers while leaving the field .
At a Sunday rally in Gardendale , which Tuberville said was his final stop of the race , Tuberville ended with the same message he began his campaign with : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent Trump to the Oval Office .
“ I ’ ve said this several times .
People say , ‘ Ah you don ’ t believe that.
’ Hell yeah , I do believe it .
God sent us and elected Donald Trump , ” Tuberville said to applause .
During his 10-minute speech , Tuberville spoke mostly of the national political landscape , barely mentioning Jones and saying he was nervous not for his race , but others around the country .
“ I ’ m going to speak for you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The guy I ’ m running against hasn ’ t done that one time .
We are going to send him to California where he raised all his money , ” Tuberville said as he closed .
Tuberville , armed with name recognition from years as a college football coach and Trump ’ s endorsement , defeated former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in this summer ’ s GOP runoff , blocking Sessions ’ hope of a political comeback .
After he spoke to a crowd of about 100 people , Tuberville autographed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both political and football fans .
Tuberville has limited media appearances and refused to debate the incumbent .
Jones has called Tuberville “ Coach Clueless ” saying he is unprepared to be senator or answer questions about policy .
Tuberville told The Associated Press on Sunday that he saw no need to debate Jones .
“ Tuberville is obviously trying to run the ball and grind out the clock and Jones is trying to throw everything he has at it , ” said David Mowery , an Alabama-based political consultant .
Tuberville has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the votes that Jones took , including his February vote to remove Trump from office .
Jones said he voted that way after a careful examination of the evidence in the impeachment trial .
“ This was not about Republicans and Democrats , it was really not about Donald Trump , it was about the constitution and what we believe that should be the behavior of our President , ” Jones said .
Jones is expected to benefit from an aggressive GOTV effort and a campaign that has outspent Tuberville by 4-1 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a state where Democratic candidates frequently top out with around 40 % on the vote .
Mowery said Trump won 62 % of the vote in Alabama four years ago .
Eddie Culpepper , a 63-year-old Gardendale business owner , said he didn ’ t support Jones ’ opponent Roy Moore three years ago because he thought Moore was “ too far right.
” He is voting straight Republican this year and says he thinks Jones leans “ too left.
” “ I think Senator Jones , he is a good guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of good things .
But right now , I feel like he ’ s almost like a puppet .
He is trying to please a lot of people , ” Culpepper said .
Cosette Frazier , a 56-year employee at Lockheed Martin , came to hear Jones speak at a drive-in rally in Troy in late October .
Wearing a mask that paid tribute to the late civil rights icon John Lewis she said Jones ’ election three years ago “ felt outstanding ” in a state often dominated by conservative Republicans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance , although Alabama is a red state , Democrats live here , ” Frazier said .

GARDENDALE, Ala. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, often called the Senate’s most endangered Democrat, will try to pull off another Deep South win Tuesday as former college football coach Tommy Tuberville tries to recapture the seat once reliably held by Republicans.
The race pits the incumbent former U.S. attorney, who has positioned himself as a moderate, against Tuberville, who has made support for President Donald Trump the central pillar of his campaign. The outcome could impact partisan control of the U.S. Senate where Republicans now hold a majority, but are in tough battles in several states.
Jones, a former U.S. attorney best known for prosecuting Klansmen who bombed a Birmingham church in 1963, three years ago became the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in a quarter century. In an interview with The Associated Press, Jones said he holds no illusions that this race will be easier than three years ago.
“This is a slugfest. It’s an uphill battle. We’re battling tribalism,” Jones said in adding that he thinks it is a winnable race.
In campaign stops, he has emphasized his bipartisan record and urged people not to listen to what he called “damn lies” such as an ad calling the avid hunter and gun collector a supporter of “gun grabbers” because he supports some gun control measures such as expanded background checks.
“Go back and look at my record. Examine, take the time to look at what all I’ve done for veterans and talk to them, what we’ve done for teachers, what we’ve done in healthcare. …If you think a coach who quit on the last four football teams and told his students to go to hell when they gave him a hard time, versus somebody who has tried to lead and represent all of Alabama, then make that choice,” Jones said, referencing a time that Tuberville yelled at hecklers while leaving the field.
Former President Barack Obama recorded a robocall that went out Sunday night urging Alabama voters to get to the polls for Jones and the Democratic presidential ticket. Obama cited Jones’ record of prosecuting Klansmen and fighting for “our jobs, our healthcare,” in the call paid for by the state Democratic Party Executive Committee.
“Vote to leave no doubt about what this country stands for today and all our days to come,” Obama said.
At a Sunday rally in Gardendale, which Tuberville said was his final stop of the race, Tuberville ended with the same message he began his campaign with: Fealty to Trump, saying that God sent Trump to the Oval Office.
“I’ve said this several times. People say, ‘Ah you don’t believe that.’ Hell yeah, I do believe it. God sent us and elected Donald Trump,” Tuberville said to applause.
During his 10-minute speech, Tuberville spoke mostly of the national political landscape, barely mentioning Jones and saying he was nervous not for his race, but others around the country.
“I’m going to speak for you, the people of the state of Alabama. The guy I’m running against hasn’t done that one time. We are going to send him to California where he raised all his money,” Tuberville said as he closed.
Tuberville, armed with name recognition from years as a college football coach and Trump’s endorsement, defeated former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in this summer’s GOP runoff, blocking Sessions’ hope of a political comeback. After he spoke to a crowd of about 100 people, Tuberville autographed yard signs and posed for pictures with both political and football fans.
Tuberville has limited media appearances and refused to debate the incumbent. Jones has called Tuberville “Coach Clueless” saying he is unprepared to be senator or answer questions about policy. Tuberville told The Associated Press on Sunday that he saw no need to debate Jones.
Jones spent the weekend in a busy series of stops around Birmingham and the Alabama’s Black Belt. His campaign emphasized an article from Slate with some of Tuberville’s former players questioning his qualifications to be senator.
“Tuberville is obviously trying to run the ball and grind out the clock and Jones is trying to throw everything he has at it,” said David Mowery, an Alabama-based political consultant.
Tuberville has tried to capitalize on a few of the votes that Jones took, including his February vote to remove Trump from office. Jones said he voted that way after a careful examination of the evidence in the impeachment trial.
“This was not about Republicans and Democrats, it was really not about Donald Trump, it was about the constitution and what we believe that should be the behavior of our President,” Jones said.
Jones is expected to benefit from an aggressive GOTV effort and a campaign that has outspent Tuberville by 4-1.
But the math gets difficult for Jones in a state where Democratic candidates frequently top out with around 40% on the vote. Mowery said Trump won 62% of the vote in Alabama four years ago.
Eddie Culpepper, a 63-year-old Gardendale business owner, said he didn’t support Jones’ opponent Roy Moore three years ago because he thought Moore was “too far right.” He is voting straight Republican this year and says he thinks Jones leans “too left.”
“I think Senator Jones, he is a good guy. He’s done a lot of good things. But right now, I feel like he’s almost like a puppet. He is trying to please a lot of people,” Culpepper said.
Cosette Frazier, a 56-year employee at Lockheed Martin, came to hear Jones speak at a drive-in rally in Troy in late October. Wearing a mask that paid tribute to the late civil rights icon John Lewis she said Jones’ election three years ago “felt outstanding” in a state often dominated by conservative Republicans.
“I think Doug has a good chance, although Alabama is a red state, Democrats live here,” Frazier said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-01--New Mexico reports 747 new COVID-19 cases and 8 more deaths

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - New Mexico health officials on Sunday reported 747 new COVID-19 cases and eight additional deaths .
State Department of Health officials said the total number of cases since the pandemic began now is 47,232 with 1,026 known deaths .
They said 224 of the new cases and three of the eight deaths were in Bernalillo County , the state ’ s largest that includes metro Albuquerque , with 111 cases in Dona Ana County .
Officials said 61 new cases involved inmates at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 592 additional known virus cases and 11 additional deaths after reporting over 1,000 additional cases Friday with a single-day record of 13 deaths .
State health officials have renewed their pleas that people adhere to the public health order , which calls for residents to stay home whenever possible , limit contact with others and wear face coverings , among other things .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling @ @

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico health officials on Sunday reported 747 new COVID-19 cases and eight additional deaths.
State Department of Health officials said the total number of cases since the pandemic began now is 47,232 with 1,026 known deaths.
They said 224 of the new cases and three of the eight deaths were in Bernalillo County, the state’s largest that includes metro Albuquerque, with 111 cases in Dona Ana County.
Officials said 61 new cases involved inmates at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Valencia County.
On Saturday, health officials reported 592 additional known virus cases and 11 additional deaths after reporting over 1,000 additional cases Friday with a single-day record of 13 deaths.
State health officials have renewed their pleas that people adhere to the public health order, which calls for residents to stay home whenever possible, limit contact with others and wear face coverings, among other things.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.


washingtontimes--2020-11-02--California judge orders church to stop indoor services

A California judge Monday ordered a San Jose church to stop holding weekly indoor services for hundreds of people , granting county officials a restraining order against the church that has accrued more than $ 350,000 in fines for violating coronavirus shutdown orders .
Santa Clara County last week filed for a restraining order against Calvary Chapel San Jose and Pastor Mike McClure over the weekly services that attract about 600 people who don ’ t wear masks or social distance .
Under the county health order , indoor gatherings for religious or any other purposes are limited to 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and social distancing requirements must be followed .
The San Jose-based church has been hosting weekly indoor church services with approximately 600 people who do not wear face coverings or socially distance from one another .
“ The Court agreed with the County that Calvary ’ s manner of hosting indoor gatherings poses a threat of a large outbreak , and it explained that Calvary must comply with the same set of rules that apply to the rest of the community , ” county officials said in a statement .
County officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representatives to get them to come into compliance voluntarily and issued fines when they refused , official said .
“ The County fully supports the right to worship , and the health orders create a pathway for religious institutions to do so in a safer manner that helps protect the community ’ s wellbeing during a pandemic , ” said Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams .
Mariah Gondeiro , an attorney representing McClure and the church , said the ruling was disappointing and that shutting down the church is unnecessary .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not experienced one known COVID-19 case , ” Gondeiro said .
“ Pastor Mike McClure ’ s church has been a refuge for so many hurting people suffering from anxiety , depression , and even thoughts of suicide .
”

A California judge Monday ordered a San Jose church to stop holding weekly indoor services for hundreds of people, granting county officials a restraining order against the church that has accrued more than $350,000 in fines for violating coronavirus shutdown orders.
Santa Clara County last week filed for a restraining order against Calvary Chapel San Jose and Pastor Mike McClure over the weekly services that attract about 600 people who don’t wear masks or social distance.
Under the county health order, indoor gatherings for religious or any other purposes are limited to 100 people, face coverings must be worn, and social distancing requirements must be followed. The San Jose-based church has been hosting weekly indoor church services with approximately 600 people who do not wear face coverings or socially distance from one another.
“The Court agreed with the County that Calvary’s manner of hosting indoor gatherings poses a threat of a large outbreak, and it explained that Calvary must comply with the same set of rules that apply to the rest of the community,” county officials said in a statement.
County officials spent months trying to work with church representatives to get them to come into compliance voluntarily and issued fines when they refused, official said.
“The County fully supports the right to worship, and the health orders create a pathway for religious institutions to do so in a safer manner that helps protect the community’s wellbeing during a pandemic,” said Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams.
Mariah Gondeiro, an attorney representing McClure and the church, said the ruling was disappointing and that shutting down the church is unnecessary.
“The reality is, the church has not experienced one known COVID-19 case,” Gondeiro said. “Pastor Mike McClure’s church has been a refuge for so many hurting people suffering from anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of suicide.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-02--Trump mocks Biden for trying to be Tom Cruise at Michigan rally

President Trump told supporters in Traverse City , Michigan on Monday that his opponent Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden is trying to look like Tom Cruise in his aviators — but is too “ fragile.
” Taking swipes at his competitor , who is often seen wearing a mask with his aviator sunglasses , the president rallied thousands of voters in the swing state he turned red in 2016 and is hoping to maintain its 16 electoral votes .
“ A vote for Biden is a vote for lockdowns , layoffs , and misery , ” the president said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump told the Michigan voters that Mr. Biden supports COVID-19 lockdowns , but his administration is trying to open America back up after the coronavirus pandemic sparked most states to lockdown .
Michigan ’ s Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer had particularly strict lockdown restrictions .
The president recalled his victory in Michigan four years ago , saying he did better than expected — including with female voters .
He said the same was true for Pennsylvania , another swing state worth 20 electoral votes that he turned red in 2016 .
Sounding confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump said polls were looking positive for him .
“ We are going to win Pennsylvania .
We are going to win Michigan too , ” he said .
“ We can finish the job we started.
” “ We see the real numbers , ” the president added .
The Real Clear Politics average of polls has Mr. Biden up 5.1 % .
In 2016 , it had Hillary Clinton up by 3.4 % .
For Pennsylvania , The RCP average shows Mr. Biden up 2.9 % , whereas in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump won both Michigan and Pennsylvania by less than 1 % four years ago .

President Trump told supporters in Traverse City, Michigan on Monday that his opponent Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden is trying to look like Tom Cruise in his aviators — but is too “fragile.”
Taking swipes at his competitor, who is often seen wearing a mask with his aviator sunglasses, the president rallied thousands of voters in the swing state he turned red in 2016 and is hoping to maintain its 16 electoral votes.
“A vote for Biden is a vote for lockdowns, layoffs, and misery,” the president said just hours before Election Day.
Mr. Trump told the Michigan voters that Mr. Biden supports COVID-19 lockdowns, but his administration is trying to open America back up after the coronavirus pandemic sparked most states to lockdown. Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had particularly strict lockdown restrictions.
The president recalled his victory in Michigan four years ago, saying he did better than expected — including with female voters. He said the same was true for Pennsylvania, another swing state worth 20 electoral votes that he turned red in 2016.
Sounding confident the night ahead of Election Day, Mr. Trump said polls were looking positive for him.
“We are going to win Pennsylvania. We are going to win Michigan too,” he said. “We can finish the job we started.”
“We see the real numbers,” the president added.
The Real Clear Politics average of polls has Mr. Biden up 5.1%. In 2016, it had Hillary Clinton up by 3.4%.
For Pennsylvania, The RCP average shows Mr. Biden up 2.9%, whereas in 2016 Ms. Clinton was up 1.9%.
Mr. Trump won both Michigan and Pennsylvania by less than 1% four years ago.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-02--Trump 'army' of poll watchers led by veteran of fraud claims

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - A veteran Republican operative who got his start in politics by helping to persuade a judge to throw out hundreds of mail-in ballots is organizing an “ army ” of volunteers for President Donald Trump ’ s campaign to monitor voting in Democratic-leaning areas on Tuesday .
Mike Roman , Trump ’ s director of Election Day Operations , is a former White House aide from Pennsylvania who gathered claims in 1993 of voter fraud , resulting in a court ruling overturning election results and getting his candidate seated in the Pennsylvania State Senate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been advocating on Twitter and on the stump .
For months the president has been trying to undercut the validity of mail-in ballots , a long-used method of voting that was up this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Over the last week , Trump has also suggested that any votes tabulated after Election Day are suspect , even as his campaign has opposed plans by elections officials to start counting mail-in ballots early .
Roman , who previously ran the secretive in-house intelligence unit for the political network led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has organized what the campaign claims is 50,000 poll watchers .
Many many of them registered through an “ Army For Trump ” website that asks his supporters to “ enlist ” in his reelection fight .
The campaign also has hired full-time staff in at least 11 battleground states to organize the effort , several of them young lawyers .
“ Our Elections Day Operations are designed to make sure that everyone that is legally entitled to vote has the opportunity to vote , once , ” Erin Perrine , the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a video aimed at recruiting volunteers .
“ We all know that the Democrats will be up to their old dirty tricks on Election Day to make sure President Trump doesn ’ t win .
We can not let that happen.
” The Trump campaign portrays its Election Day Operations effort as traditional poll-watching long carried out by both parties .
But Democrats and some Republicans who have followed Roman ’ s political career are worried that Trump ’ s team is interested more in sowing doubt about the vote than safeguarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and rigging , he has a history and general reputation as someone who stirs things up , so his presence in any Election Day issues gives me pause , ” said Rick Hasen , a law professor at the University of California , Irvine , who studies elections law .
Trump 2020 spokeswoman Thea McDonald called such assertions “ laughable.
” She said the campaign ’ s “ rule-abiding poll watchers ” are simply trying to “ ensure a fair election.
” Both campaigns have zeroed in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decide the election .
Speaking about the Keystone State on Sunday , Trump said that when election night is over , “ We ’ re going in with our lawyers.
” “ I don ’ t think it ’ s fair that we have to wait a long period of time , ” Trump said .
“ They should have put their ballots in.
” Roman , who declined to comment for this story , has experience doing what Trump describes .
He got his political start running ballot security operations in Philadelphia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1993 and lost narrowly to his Democratic opponent .
As Roman and Marks tell it in a June blog post on Marks ’ website , control of the Pennsylvania State Senate turned on the race , and “ the Democratic machine ’ s operatives descended on the District to steal the election.
” Their legal team later convinced a federal judge that there were so many ballots in Latino neighborhoods with irregularities that he threw out hundreds of ballots , overturning the result and sending Marks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has made his legal career representing wealthy Ukrainian and Russian clients and briefly defended Trump ’ s 2016 campaign , said Roman ’ s working-class background gave him an innate understanding of ballot-box politics .
“ He is not some Ivy leaguer with a bow tie , he learned what it is like to be exposed to elections and face voter fraud on the street , ” said Marks , adding that Roman grew up in a rowhouse .
“ If there are problems on Election Day and after , I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a great guy.
” In the 2008 presidential election , Roman made a splash by promoting a video of two members of the New Black Panther Party standing outside a polling place in Philadelphia , one of them holding a billy club .
Though no violence occurred , the video was hyped nationally by those on the right as evidence of Democratic voter intimidation , while those on the left criticized it as an attempt to stoke racial divisions during the election of the nation ’ s first black president , Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised Roman ’ s profile within the Republican Party , and he soon landed a job at the Koch network investigating Democrats , environmental activists and others on the left .
A 2014 tax return for the Koch-supported Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce Inc. lists Roman ’ s title as vice president of research , and says he was paid more than $ 285,000 in annual salary and benefits .
In 2016 , the Kochs disbanded the intelligence unit and Roman went to work for the Trump campaign organizing poll-watching operations .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the office of then-White House counsel Don McGahn as director of special projects and research , though it is not immediately clear what his duties entailed .
Roman left the White House in 2018 and soon shifted back to Trump ’ s campaign .
There he has led an aggressive effort that hasn ’ t waited for Election Day to begin challenging the voting process .
In Pennsylvania last month , a Trump campaign lawyer submitted surveillance photos of three voters who appeared to be depositing more than one ballot in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , voters must return their own ballots unless they are disabled or otherwise unable to do so for themselves .
However , elections officials said the Trump campaign produced insufficient evidence to prove the voters in the photos were violating the law .
The Pennsylvania complaint appears to be part of a wider national strategy by Trump and his allies to raise accusations of voter fraud and challenge ballots in areas with high rates of registered Democrats .
In Texas , Republicans sought to toss out almost 127,000 votes cast from drive-thru lanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which includes Houston .
Both the GOP-dominated Texas Supreme Court and a federal judge appointed by President George W. Bush rejected claims that drive-thru voting is illegal .
And some Democrats and election watchers also worry that Trump allies may seek to intimidate voters headed to the polls .
In Minnesota last week , the head of the Minneapolis police union forwarded an email to members seeking 20 to 30 retired officers to help serve as “ poll challengers ” at precincts in “ problem ” areas of the city .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose email signature identified him as a senior legal adviser and state director of Election Day operations for the Trump campaign .
“ Poll Challengers do not ‘ stop ’ people , per se , but act as our eyes and ears in the field and call our hotline to document fraud , ” said the email , a copy of which was obtained by the Minneapolis Star Tribune .
“ We don ’ t necessarily want our Poll Challengers to look intimidating , they can not carry a weapon in the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just want people who won ’ t be afraid in rough neighborhoods or intimidating situations.
” The Trump campaign later tried to distance itself from the request for retired cops , but the email reinforced fears among voting-rights advocates that the Trump campaign could revive old voter-suppression tactics .
In 1981 , the Democratic Party sued the Republican Party after a disputed state election in New Jersey where GOP officials hired off-duty police officers to patrol Black and Latino neighborhoods wearing armbands that read “ National Ballot Security Task Force.
” Without admitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a national consent decree the following year to forgo such tactics .
However , at the behest of the GOP a federal judge allowed that agreement to expire in 2017 .
In August , Trump himself suggested his campaign might send law enforcement officials to voting sites .
“ We ’ re going to have sheriffs , and we ’ re going to have law enforcement , and we ’ re going to have , hopefully , U.S. attorneys , and we ’ re going to have everybody and attorney generals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sean Hannity on Fox News .
Federal law prohibits intimidation at the polls and makes it illegal for any federal officer to order “ troops or armed men ” to polling places , unless needed to “ repel armed enemies of the United States.
” But such statements from the president have stoked concerns among voting-rights advocates that some Trump supporters may take it upon themselves to show up outside polling sites in military style-gear , brandishing semi-automatic weapons .
Reed Galen , a veteran political consultant who worked for John McCain ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Trump ’ s nomination , said he was concerned about Roman ’ s involvement with Trump ’ s Elections Day Operations after hearing about his reputation as a local operative in Philadelphia .
“ Here you have the Army for Trump that might be official , enrolling people through the texting mechanism , but there might be tens of thousands of other people taking their own initiative ” and may become violent , said Galen .
“ This is what this guy does and it is bad news , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press writers Juliet Linderman in Baltimore , Jason Dearen in New York and Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz , California , contributed to this report .
Follow Associated Press investigative reporters Michael Biesecker at http : //twitter.com/mbieseck and Garance Burke at http : //twitter.com/garanceburke

WASHINGTON (AP) - A veteran Republican operative who got his start in politics by helping to persuade a judge to throw out hundreds of mail-in ballots is organizing an “army” of volunteers for President Donald Trump’s campaign to monitor voting in Democratic-leaning areas on Tuesday.
Mike Roman, Trump’s director of Election Day Operations, is a former White House aide from Pennsylvania who gathered claims in 1993 of voter fraud, resulting in a court ruling overturning election results and getting his candidate seated in the Pennsylvania State Senate.
It’s a strategy that Trump has been advocating on Twitter and on the stump.
For months the president has been trying to undercut the validity of mail-in ballots, a long-used method of voting that was up this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last week, Trump has also suggested that any votes tabulated after Election Day are suspect, even as his campaign has opposed plans by elections officials to start counting mail-in ballots early.
Roman, who previously ran the secretive in-house intelligence unit for the political network led by GOP mega-donors Charles and David Koch, has organized what the campaign claims is 50,000 poll watchers. Many many of them registered through an “Army For Trump” website that asks his supporters to “enlist” in his reelection fight. The campaign also has hired full-time staff in at least 11 battleground states to organize the effort, several of them young lawyers.
“Our Elections Day Operations are designed to make sure that everyone that is legally entitled to vote has the opportunity to vote, once,” Erin Perrine, the Trump 2020 director of press communications, says in a video aimed at recruiting volunteers. “We all know that the Democrats will be up to their old dirty tricks on Election Day to make sure President Trump doesn’t win. We cannot let that happen.”
The Trump campaign portrays its Election Day Operations effort as traditional poll-watching long carried out by both parties. But Democrats and some Republicans who have followed Roman’s political career are worried that Trump’s team is interested more in sowing doubt about the vote than safeguarding it.
“Mike Roman has made many unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and rigging, he has a history and general reputation as someone who stirs things up, so his presence in any Election Day issues gives me pause,” said Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, who studies elections law.
Trump 2020 spokeswoman Thea McDonald called such assertions “laughable.” She said the campaign’s “rule-abiding poll watchers” are simply trying to “ensure a fair election.”
Both campaigns have zeroed in on Pennsylvania as the battleground state that might decide the election. Speaking about the Keystone State on Sunday, Trump said that when election night is over, “We’re going in with our lawyers.”
“I don’t think it’s fair that we have to wait a long period of time,” Trump said. “They should have put their ballots in.”
Roman, who declined to comment for this story, has experience doing what Trump describes.
He got his political start running ballot security operations in Philadelphia for Republican Bruce Marks, who campaigned for the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1993 and lost narrowly to his Democratic opponent.
As Roman and Marks tell it in a June blog post on Marks’ website, control of the Pennsylvania State Senate turned on the race, and “the Democratic machine’s operatives descended on the District to steal the election.” Their legal team later convinced a federal judge that there were so many ballots in Latino neighborhoods with irregularities that he threw out hundreds of ballots, overturning the result and sending Marks to a State Senate seat.
Marks, who has made his legal career representing wealthy Ukrainian and Russian clients and briefly defended Trump’s 2016 campaign, said Roman’s working-class background gave him an innate understanding of ballot-box politics.
“He is not some Ivy leaguer with a bow tie, he learned what it is like to be exposed to elections and face voter fraud on the street,” said Marks, adding that Roman grew up in a rowhouse. “If there are problems on Election Day and after, I am ready and willing to help. Mike is a great guy.”
In the 2008 presidential election, Roman made a splash by promoting a video of two members of the New Black Panther Party standing outside a polling place in Philadelphia, one of them holding a billy club. Though no violence occurred, the video was hyped nationally by those on the right as evidence of Democratic voter intimidation, while those on the left criticized it as an attempt to stoke racial divisions during the election of the nation’s first black president, Barack Obama.
The New Black Panther video raised Roman’s profile within the Republican Party, and he soon landed a job at the Koch network investigating Democrats, environmental activists and others on the left. A 2014 tax return for the Koch-supported Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce Inc. lists Roman’s title as vice president of research, and says he was paid more than $285,000 in annual salary and benefits.
In 2016, the Kochs disbanded the intelligence unit and Roman went to work for the Trump campaign organizing poll-watching operations. After Trump won, Roman landed a job in the office of then-White House counsel Don McGahn as director of special projects and research, though it is not immediately clear what his duties entailed.
Roman left the White House in 2018 and soon shifted back to Trump’s campaign. There he has led an aggressive effort that hasn’t waited for Election Day to begin challenging the voting process.
In Pennsylvania last month, a Trump campaign lawyer submitted surveillance photos of three voters who appeared to be depositing more than one ballot in an elections drop box. Under state law, voters must return their own ballots unless they are disabled or otherwise unable to do so for themselves. However, elections officials said the Trump campaign produced insufficient evidence to prove the voters in the photos were violating the law.
The Pennsylvania complaint appears to be part of a wider national strategy by Trump and his allies to raise accusations of voter fraud and challenge ballots in areas with high rates of registered Democrats.
In Texas, Republicans sought to toss out almost 127,000 votes cast from drive-thru lanes in the Democratic stronghold of Harris County, which includes Houston. Both the GOP-dominated Texas Supreme Court and a federal judge appointed by President George W. Bush rejected claims that drive-thru voting is illegal.
And some Democrats and election watchers also worry that Trump allies may seek to intimidate voters headed to the polls.
In Minnesota last week, the head of the Minneapolis police union forwarded an email to members seeking 20 to 30 retired officers to help serve as “poll challengers” at precincts in “problem” areas of the city. The message was signed by William Willingham, whose email signature identified him as a senior legal adviser and state director of Election Day operations for the Trump campaign.
“Poll Challengers do not ‘stop’ people, per se, but act as our eyes and ears in the field and call our hotline to document fraud,” said the email, a copy of which was obtained by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “We don’t necessarily want our Poll Challengers to look intimidating, they cannot carry a weapon in the polls due to state law. … We just want people who won’t be afraid in rough neighborhoods or intimidating situations.”
The Trump campaign later tried to distance itself from the request for retired cops, but the email reinforced fears among voting-rights advocates that the Trump campaign could revive old voter-suppression tactics.
In 1981, the Democratic Party sued the Republican Party after a disputed state election in New Jersey where GOP officials hired off-duty police officers to patrol Black and Latino neighborhoods wearing armbands that read “National Ballot Security Task Force.” Without admitting any wrongdoing, the Republican Party agreed to a national consent decree the following year to forgo such tactics. However, at the behest of the GOP a federal judge allowed that agreement to expire in 2017.
In August, Trump himself suggested his campaign might send law enforcement officials to voting sites.
“We’re going to have sheriffs, and we’re going to have law enforcement, and we’re going to have, hopefully, U.S. attorneys, and we’re going to have everybody and attorney generals,” Trump said during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News.
Federal law prohibits intimidation at the polls and makes it illegal for any federal officer to order “troops or armed men” to polling places, unless needed to “repel armed enemies of the United States.” But such statements from the president have stoked concerns among voting-rights advocates that some Trump supporters may take it upon themselves to show up outside polling sites in military style-gear, brandishing semi-automatic weapons.
Reed Galen, a veteran political consultant who worked for John McCain’s presidential bid before leaving the GOP after Trump’s nomination, said he was concerned about Roman’s involvement with Trump’s Elections Day Operations after hearing about his reputation as a local operative in Philadelphia.
“Here you have the Army for Trump that might be official, enrolling people through the texting mechanism, but there might be tens of thousands of other people taking their own initiative” and may become violent, said Galen.
“This is what this guy does and it is bad news,” he said.
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Burke reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Juliet Linderman in Baltimore, Jason Dearen in New York and Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California, contributed to this report.
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Follow Associated Press investigative reporters Michael Biesecker at http://twitter.com/mbieseck and Garance Burke at http://twitter.com/garanceburke
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Contact AP’s global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org


washingtontimes--2020-11-02--LA County official: All gatherings pose virus spread risk

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Gatherings large and small are likely to blame for a slight uptick in daily coronavirus cases in California ’ s largest county , according to a top health official who warned Monday that upcoming holiday parties pose a risk for renewed spread and a spike in hospitalizations .
There ’ s been a steady increase in the number of residents of Los Angeles County who have been getting together with people from outside their households , according to weekly survey data from the University of Southern California Center for Social and Economic Research .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs by the Los Angeles Lakers and Dodgers in recent weeks that brought fans together through watch parties and celebrations .
“ With our case numbers already on the rise , we are concerned about the upcoming holiday gatherings and cooler weather , where people are more likely to gather indoors are perfect conditions for spreading COVID-19 , ” said Barbara Ferrer , the county ’ s public health director .
“ And while it ’ s easy to believe that the virus won ’ t spread among your family and friends , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are so many examples that prove otherwise.
” For the week ending Oct. 20 , more than 10 % of respondents reported that they ’ d been at a gathering of 10 or more people in the past seven days , Ferrer said .
She warned that if just 10 % of Los Angeles County ’ s 10 million residents attended a gathering outside their households , that translates to about a million people .
“ And if we assume that 2 % of people can be infected , we could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others who are milling about at these gatherings , each week , ” she said .
Los Angeles County , the nation ’ s most populous , reported more than 1,400 new cases Monday for a total of 310,595 .
There have been more than 7,000 deaths in the county .
The state is moving more slowly than the reopening last spring that brought with it a dramatic spike in cases , hospitalizations and deaths .
California , the most populous state , is second in the nation with more than 930,600 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 17,672 deaths in the state .
Statewide hospitalizations have increased by about 11 % in the last week to 2,537 while the seven-day daily average is 4,231 confirmed cases , down about 1 % from previous week .
Many businesses remain closed as Los Angeles County remains in California ’ s most restrictive tier , purple .
It will likely remain there through November , Ferrer said .
Last Friday , San Francisco said it would temporarily halt the reopening of additional activities and businesses planned for this week because of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California last month eased restrictions to allow up to three households to socialize outdoors , an expansion of rules aimed at people tempted to have even larger gatherings around Halloween , Thanksgiving and end-of-year holidays .
State health officials previously discouraged gatherings outside of a single household .
The goal of those rules was not to encourage larger gatherings , Ferrer said , but to recognize the increasing pressure for get-togethers and provide ways for people to act appropriately .
Everyone should wear masks and follow other safety precautions , especially around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You should designate one person as the server , ” she said .
“ They should wear gloves , and obviously have their face covering on , and be the only one that ’ s touching those utensils.
” For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Gatherings large and small are likely to blame for a slight uptick in daily coronavirus cases in California’s largest county, according to a top health official who warned Monday that upcoming holiday parties pose a risk for renewed spread and a spike in hospitalizations.
There’s been a steady increase in the number of residents of Los Angeles County who have been getting together with people from outside their households, according to weekly survey data from the University of Southern California Center for Social and Economic Research.
That may be partly because of championship runs by the Los Angeles Lakers and Dodgers in recent weeks that brought fans together through watch parties and celebrations.
“With our case numbers already on the rise, we are concerned about the upcoming holiday gatherings and cooler weather, where people are more likely to gather indoors are perfect conditions for spreading COVID-19,” said Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director. “And while it’s easy to believe that the virus won’t spread among your family and friends, and that none of you are infected, there are so many examples that prove otherwise.”
For the week ending Oct. 20, more than 10% of respondents reported that they’d been at a gathering of 10 or more people in the past seven days, Ferrer said. She warned that if just 10% of Los Angeles County’s 10 million residents attended a gathering outside their households, that translates to about a million people.
“And if we assume that 2% of people can be infected, we could possibly have 20,000 people capable of infecting others who are milling about at these gatherings, each week,” she said.
Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous, reported more than 1,400 new cases Monday for a total of 310,595. There have been more than 7,000 deaths in the county.
The state is moving more slowly than the reopening last spring that brought with it a dramatic spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. California, the most populous state, is second in the nation with more than 930,600 confirmed cases. There have been a total of 17,672 deaths in the state.
Statewide hospitalizations have increased by about 11% in the last week to 2,537 while the seven-day daily average is 4,231 confirmed cases, down about 1% from previous week.
Many businesses remain closed as Los Angeles County remains in California’s most restrictive tier, purple. It will likely remain there through November, Ferrer said.
Last Friday, San Francisco said it would temporarily halt the reopening of additional activities and businesses planned for this week because of an increase in case rates and hospitalizations.
California last month eased restrictions to allow up to three households to socialize outdoors, an expansion of rules aimed at people tempted to have even larger gatherings around Halloween, Thanksgiving and end-of-year holidays. State health officials previously discouraged gatherings outside of a single household.
The goal of those rules was not to encourage larger gatherings, Ferrer said, but to recognize the increasing pressure for get-togethers and provide ways for people to act appropriately. Everyone should wear masks and follow other safety precautions, especially around the serving of food, she said.
“You should designate one person as the server,” she said. “They should wear gloves, and obviously have their face covering on, and be the only one that’s touching those utensils.”
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-11-02--California health group to pay $31.5M over drug billing

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A non-profit California health care chain will pay more than $ 31.5 million to settle allegations that it overbilled Medi-Cal for drugs bought through a federal program , authorities said Monday .
Memorial Health Services , based in Fountain Valley southeast of Los Angeles , didn ’ t acknowledge any wrongdoing in agreeing to the payment , according to statements from the state attorney general ’ s office and the U.S. attorney ’ s office .
Memorial Health , also known as MemorialCare , operates hospitals , clinics and a health plan in Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Memorial Health disclosed that its audit had determined that from 2016 to 2019 , its hospitals and pharmacies overbilled California and the federal government $ 21 million for medication supplied under the federal 340B drug pricing program that helps lower-income people with their medical costs , authorities said .
Program particiapnts bill Medicaid , which is known as Medi-Cal in California .
Memorial Health improperly submitted reimbursement claims for outpatient drug prescriptions at its usual and customary rate , which was higher than what the group actually paid for the drugs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settlement was the result of Memorial Health coming forward , doing the right thing , and alerting the authorities of their error , ” Attorney General Becerra said in a statement .
“ The money from the settlement will go back where it belongs : to California ’ s residents , particularly low-income families and children who rely on Medi-Cal for their healthcare coverage .
”

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A non-profit California health care chain will pay more than $31.5 million to settle allegations that it overbilled Medi-Cal for drugs bought through a federal program, authorities said Monday.
Memorial Health Services, based in Fountain Valley southeast of Los Angeles, didn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing in agreeing to the payment, according to statements from the state attorney general’s office and the U.S. attorney’s office.
Memorial Health, also known as MemorialCare, operates hospitals, clinics and a health plan in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Last year, Memorial Health disclosed that its audit had determined that from 2016 to 2019, its hospitals and pharmacies overbilled California and the federal government $21 million for medication supplied under the federal 340B drug pricing program that helps lower-income people with their medical costs, authorities said.
Program particiapnts bill Medicaid, which is known as Medi-Cal in California.
Memorial Health improperly submitted reimbursement claims for outpatient drug prescriptions at its usual and customary rate, which was higher than what the group actually paid for the drugs, authorities said.
“Today’s settlement was the result of Memorial Health coming forward, doing the right thing, and alerting the authorities of their error,” Attorney General Becerra said in a statement. “The money from the settlement will go back where it belongs: to California’s residents, particularly low-income families and children who rely on Medi-Cal for their healthcare coverage.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-02--Colorado prosecutor pleads guilty to drug charge, misconduct

GREELEY , Colo. ( AP ) - A district attorney who serves a large area of northeastern Colorado pleaded guilty Monday to a drug charge stemming from an investigation by the state ’ s attorney general .
Brittny Lewton , who serves Colorado ’ s 13th Judicial District , struck a deal with prosecutors in the attorney general ’ s office and pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance , unlawful conduct on public property and second-degree official misconduct .
She was sentenced to two years of supervised probation .
A grand jury indicted Lewton , 41 , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count of first-degree official misconduct .
She was accused of taking a bottle of prescription opioid painkiller from one of her employees and ingesting the pills at home .
“ The abuse of an official position is a serious cause for concern , ” said Attorney General Phil Weiser , who was appointed to the case by Gov .
Jared Polis .
“ In today ’ s plea , Ms. Lewton takes responsibility for her actions and is held accountable for them .
Significantly , she has committed to a complete course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use disorder.
” According to the biography posted on the district attorney ’ s website , Lewton started working as an intern for the 13th Judicial District before being hired in 2005 .
For the next eight years , she was the lead drug and sexual assault prosecutor before being promoted to chief deputy and then to assistant district attorney .
Lewton , a Republican , was first elected district attorney in 2012 .
She is not on the ballot in Tuesday ’ s election because she is term-limited .
In exchange for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General ’ s Office asked the court to dismiss the original drug and first-degree official misconduct charges .
Lewton must undergo a substance abuse evaluation , complete 48 hours of public service and take a course of treatment as a condition of probation .
She also is subject to a professional misconduct review by the state Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel .

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - A district attorney who serves a large area of northeastern Colorado pleaded guilty Monday to a drug charge stemming from an investigation by the state’s attorney general.
Brittny Lewton, who serves Colorado’s 13th Judicial District, struck a deal with prosecutors in the attorney general’s office and pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, unlawful conduct on public property and second-degree official misconduct. She was sentenced to two years of supervised probation.
A grand jury indicted Lewton, 41, in February on three drug counts and one count of first-degree official misconduct. She was accused of taking a bottle of prescription opioid painkiller from one of her employees and ingesting the pills at home.
“The abuse of an official position is a serious cause for concern,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser, who was appointed to the case by Gov. Jared Polis. “In today’s plea, Ms. Lewton takes responsibility for her actions and is held accountable for them. Significantly, she has committed to a complete course of treatment to address her struggles with opioid use disorder.”
According to the biography posted on the district attorney’s website, Lewton started working as an intern for the 13th Judicial District before being hired in 2005. For the next eight years, she was the lead drug and sexual assault prosecutor before being promoted to chief deputy and then to assistant district attorney.
Lewton, a Republican, was first elected district attorney in 2012. She is not on the ballot in Tuesday’s election because she is term-limited.
In exchange for Lewton’s guilty plea, the Attorney General’s Office asked the court to dismiss the original drug and first-degree official misconduct charges.
Lewton must undergo a substance abuse evaluation, complete 48 hours of public service and take a course of treatment as a condition of probation. She also is subject to a professional misconduct review by the state Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.