washingtontimes--2020-11-11--A festival hit waylaid by the virus, ‘The Climb’ peddles on

NEW YORK ( AP ) - “ The Climb ” is a portrait of a male friendship told in single-shot chapters with cataclysmic happenings - marriage , death , children - in between .
With each lurch forward , we have to get our bearings for where Mike ( Michael Angelo Covino ) and Kyle ( Kyle Marvin ) are now .
Are they still friends ?
Have either of them matured at all ?
Over the past two years , you could do similar check-ins with Covino and Marvin - longtime friends who wrote the film together with Covino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s May 2019 .
They ’ re flying high along the French Riviera , basking in the reception for “ The Climb.
” It ’ s hailed as a breakthrough at the Cannes Film Festival for both Mike and Kyle , and celebrated as a fresh , innovative spin on the buddy comedy .
Take two .
It ’ s October 2020 .
Their movie , several times postponed , is still awaiting release .
Joined on a Zoom call , Kyle and Mike are hundreds of miles apart .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Connecticut .
His arm is in a sling .
“ First time I ’ ve talked to him in months , ” says Covino with a grin .
The pandemic has made a mess of countless movie schedules and upended coming-out parties for plenty of filmmakers , but the postponed path for “ The Climb ” is as awkward as any .
After Cannes , Covino and Marvin landed distribution from Sony Pictures Classics , rode the festival circuit and won a Film Independent Spirit nomination .
Then four days before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cinemas shut down .
“ That was the record-scratch stop , ” says Covino , who despite claiming otherwise speaks to Marvin nearly every day .
“ It ’ s an ice-dip bath after the glory of going to those festivals , ” says Marvin , speaking from Los Angeles .
” You ’ re throwing on tuxes , people are saying crazy things and you ’ re meeting your heroes in the bathroom.
” Covino nods and then , after a beat , asks : “ What hero did you meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that.
” “ The Climb ” will finally make its way into theaters Friday , the culmination in a long , uphill journey for Covino and Marvin , both in their mid-to-late 30s .
The two worked for years in commercials and producing independent films before trying to strike out on their own .
“ The Climb ” started as a one-shot , eight-minute short , which plays nearly unchanged as the feature ’ s opening chapter .
The two are on bikes mid-climb on a French country road .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wedding , and he ’ s full of excitement .
Despite his huffing and puffing , he ’ s also thrilled about adopting cycling as a more regular hobby .
That ’ s when Mike casually mentions that he ’ s sleeping with Kyle ’ s fiancee .
Their subsequent argument plays out while they keep biking up the hill , and Mike continues to give Kyle peddling instructions .
It ’ s the first in a series of vignettes , mostly in sinuous single shots , that dot years in the life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toxic friendship .
“ There was a whole slew of films that dealt with this subject matter of male love affairs and friendship and that fine line between , ‘ Well , we ’ re best friends but we kinda love each other.
’ I love those films , don ’ t get me wrong , ” say Covino .
“ But I think some of them handled it in more a tongue and cheek way .
What we were interested in doing is : No , this isn ’ t the joke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not a joke that these guys love each other , it ’ s just the sad state of things that they ’ re all each other has.
” Cycling has more than a cameo in “ The Climb.
” It ’ s woven into its DNA .
Biking even shaped the scripting .
When Covino and Marvin hit a wall while writing , they ’ d go for a ride to clear their heads and talk it over .
They took bikes along at film festivals , riding outside Cannes ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , peddling through snow at Sundance and riding right up to the red carpet at the oceanside Spirit Awards in Santa Monica , California .
Security initially turned them away .
“ We were like , ‘ We ’ re not people on the beach , ’ ” chuckles Marvin “ When we were on our press tour , we would travel with our bikes and basically ride from interview to interview , ” says Covino .
“ We would do , like , the morning shows , ‘ Good Morning Houston ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the studio .
It was a real schtick .
We ’ d be in full lycra.
” Covino ’ s shoulder injury , naturally , is from a biking accident .
A while back , he went over his handlebars in New York but only recently got around to surgery .
“ I figured we ’ re about to start a press tour right now , why not have a talking point ?
” laughs Covino .
In terms of timing , Covino and Marvin are luckier than many - they got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - and they don ’ t have any complaints about their situation .
The industry took notice of “ The Climb , ” and they ’ ve been busy since .
They ’ ve written a feature and two TV shows ; Covino has a small part in the Tom Hanks film “ News of the World.
” And the months spent on hold - Marvin compares it to being put in a sleep chamber like in a sci-fi space film - have given them time to figure out how they want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Climb.
” It ’ s one that combines slapstick with filmmaking agility .
In cycling terms , it has its own cadence .
“ What we found as we were watching a ton of old comedies that we love that there was just so much being left on the table aesthetically in terms of the choices made .
People maybe feel it ’ s just enough to have traditional coverage and jokes and chop it up , keep the pacing going , ” says Covino .
“ We were like : Why ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chaplin , these long master shots would play out and it ’ s the funniest thing you ’ ve ever seen in your life , and they don ’ t even move the camera .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - “The Climb” is a portrait of a male friendship told in single-shot chapters with cataclysmic happenings - marriage, death, children - in between. With each lurch forward, we have to get our bearings for where Mike (Michael Angelo Covino) and Kyle (Kyle Marvin) are now. Are they still friends? Have either of them matured at all?
Over the past two years, you could do similar check-ins with Covino and Marvin - longtime friends who wrote the film together with Covino making his directorial debut.
Take one. It’s May 2019. They’re flying high along the French Riviera, basking in the reception for “The Climb.” It’s hailed as a breakthrough at the Cannes Film Festival for both Mike and Kyle, and celebrated as a fresh, innovative spin on the buddy comedy.
Take two. It’s October 2020. Their movie, several times postponed, is still awaiting release. Joined on a Zoom call, Kyle and Mike are hundreds of miles apart. Mike is staying as his parents house in Connecticut. His arm is in a sling.
“First time I’ve talked to him in months,” says Covino with a grin.
What happened?
The pandemic has made a mess of countless movie schedules and upended coming-out parties for plenty of filmmakers, but the postponed path for “The Climb” is as awkward as any. After Cannes, Covino and Marvin landed distribution from Sony Pictures Classics, rode the festival circuit and won a Film Independent Spirit nomination. Then four days before the film’s theatrical opening in March, cinemas shut down.
“That was the record-scratch stop,” says Covino, who despite claiming otherwise speaks to Marvin nearly every day.
“It’s an ice-dip bath after the glory of going to those festivals,” says Marvin, speaking from Los Angeles. ”You’re throwing on tuxes, people are saying crazy things and you’re meeting your heroes in the bathroom.”
Covino nods and then, after a beat, asks: “What hero did you meet in the bathroom, Kyle? Elaborate on that.”
“The Climb” will finally make its way into theaters Friday, the culmination in a long, uphill journey for Covino and Marvin, both in their mid-to-late 30s. The two worked for years in commercials and producing independent films before trying to strike out on their own. “The Climb” started as a one-shot, eight-minute short, which plays nearly unchanged as the feature’s opening chapter.
The two are on bikes mid-climb on a French country road. It’s the day before Kyle’s wedding, and he’s full of excitement. Despite his huffing and puffing, he’s also thrilled about adopting cycling as a more regular hobby. That’s when Mike casually mentions that he’s sleeping with Kyle’s fiancee. Their subsequent argument plays out while they keep biking up the hill, and Mike continues to give Kyle peddling instructions. It’s the first in a series of vignettes, mostly in sinuous single shots, that dot years in the life of a sweetly loyal, very possibly toxic friendship.
“There was a whole slew of films that dealt with this subject matter of male love affairs and friendship and that fine line between, ‘Well, we’re best friends but we kinda love each other.’ I love those films, don’t get me wrong,” say Covino. “But I think some of them handled it in more a tongue and cheek way. What we were interested in doing is: No, this isn’t the joke. This is the reality. It’s not a joke that these guys love each other, it’s just the sad state of things that they’re all each other has.”
Cycling has more than a cameo in “The Climb.” It’s woven into its DNA. Biking even shaped the scripting. When Covino and Marvin hit a wall while writing, they’d go for a ride to clear their heads and talk it over. They took bikes along at film festivals, riding outside Cannes (the setting of the opening scene), peddling through snow at Sundance and riding right up to the red carpet at the oceanside Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California. Security initially turned them away.
“We were like, ‘We’re not people on the beach,’” chuckles Marvin
“When we were on our press tour, we would travel with our bikes and basically ride from interview to interview,” says Covino. “We would do, like, the morning shows, ‘Good Morning Houston’ or whatever and we would ride into the studio. It was a real schtick. We’d be in full lycra.”
Covino’s shoulder injury, naturally, is from a biking accident. A while back, he went over his handlebars in New York but only recently got around to surgery. “I figured we’re about to start a press tour right now, why not have a talking point?” laughs Covino.
In terms of timing, Covino and Marvin are luckier than many - they got to show their film in packed theaters pre-COVID - and they don’t have any complaints about their situation. The industry took notice of “The Climb,” and they’ve been busy since. They’ve written a feature and two TV shows; Covino has a small part in the Tom Hanks film “News of the World.”
And the months spent on hold - Marvin compares it to being put in a sleep chamber like in a sci-fi space film - have given them time to figure out how they want to carry on the tone of “The Climb.” It’s one that combines slapstick with filmmaking agility. In cycling terms, it has its own cadence.
“What we found as we were watching a ton of old comedies that we love that there was just so much being left on the table aesthetically in terms of the choices made. People maybe feel it’s just enough to have traditional coverage and jokes and chop it up, keep the pacing going,” says Covino. “We were like: Why? If you watch Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, these long master shots would play out and it’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen in your life, and they don’t even move the camera.”
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--German experts see economy shrinking 5.1% this year

BERLIN ( AP ) - The German government ’ s panel of independent economic advisers is predicting that the country ’ s economy , Europe ’ s biggest , will shrink by 5.1 % this year - a somewhat more optimistic forecast than one made recently by ministers .
In a report released Wednesday , the five-member German Council of Economic Experts predicted that gross domestic product will grow by 3.7 % in 2021 .
At the end of October , Economy Minister Peter Altmaier predicted a 5.5 % contraction this year , followed by 4.4 % growth next year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account of the resurgence of infections over the past two months and of new measures taken in an effort to curb it .
Germany is just over a week into a four-week partial shutdown , with restaurants , bars , sports and leisure facilities closed and new contact restrictions imposed .
This time , schools and nonessential shops have remained open .
“ The economic situation remains fragile due to the sharp rise in infections , ” panel chairman Lars Feld said in a statement .
“ How the pandemic can be contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the further development of the economy.
” Many other countries in Europe have imposed more or less drastic restrictions to curb surges in new cases across the continent that are , in several cases , more severe than Germany ’ s .

BERLIN (AP) - The German government’s panel of independent economic advisers is predicting that the country’s economy, Europe’s biggest, will shrink by 5.1% this year - a somewhat more optimistic forecast than one made recently by ministers.
In a report released Wednesday, the five-member German Council of Economic Experts predicted that gross domestic product will grow by 3.7% in 2021.
At the end of October, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier predicted a 5.5% contraction this year, followed by 4.4% growth next year.
The experts said their forecast takes account of the resurgence of infections over the past two months and of new measures taken in an effort to curb it. Germany is just over a week into a four-week partial shutdown, with restaurants, bars, sports and leisure facilities closed and new contact restrictions imposed. This time, schools and nonessential shops have remained open.
“The economic situation remains fragile due to the sharp rise in infections,” panel chairman Lars Feld said in a statement. “How the pandemic can be contained and how foreign economies develop are key to the further development of the economy.”
Many other countries in Europe have imposed more or less drastic restrictions to curb surges in new cases across the continent that are, in several cases, more severe than Germany’s.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Portland looks to remove gender from city charter

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - Words including she , he , herself and himself may be purged from Portland ’ s founding document .
The City Council will likely vote Thursday to remove all feminine and masculine terms from the city charter , substituting gender neutral wording , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
“ The intent is to be more inclusive in our language , ” said Amanda Lamb , chief deputy with the city auditor ’ s office , which drafted the proposed ordinance .
Such linguistic tweaks , more than five dozen in all , do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like other amendments to the city charter .
A decades-old provision in the document allows the city auditor - with approval of the city attorney - to remove gendered language from it .
Lamb said the decision to propose the changes now is in anticipation of the upcoming Charter Review Commission , a citizen-led body that forms once every 10 years .
Despite its progressive proclivities , Portland would not be the first major U.S. city to strike gendered references from its charter .
Philadelphia and Tulsa , Oklahoma both did so in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has scrapped words such as manhole , brother and policeman from its law books .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Words including she, he, herself and himself may be purged from Portland’s founding document.
The City Council will likely vote Thursday to remove all feminine and masculine terms from the city charter, substituting gender neutral wording, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
“The intent is to be more inclusive in our language,” said Amanda Lamb, chief deputy with the city auditor’s office, which drafted the proposed ordinance.
Such linguistic tweaks, more than five dozen in all, do not require a citywide referendum or voter approval like other amendments to the city charter.
A decades-old provision in the document allows the city auditor - with approval of the city attorney - to remove gendered language from it.
Lamb said the decision to propose the changes now is in anticipation of the upcoming Charter Review Commission, a citizen-led body that forms once every 10 years.
Despite its progressive proclivities, Portland would not be the first major U.S. city to strike gendered references from its charter. Philadelphia and Tulsa, Oklahoma both did so in the last year.
Berkeley, California has scrapped words such as manhole, brother and policeman from its law books.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--New Mexico university first to roll out licensed whiskey

ALBUQUERQUE , N.M. ( AP ) - New Mexico State University on Wednesday unveiled its own officially licensed whiskey , making it the first to do so as schools across the U.S. scramble for more revenue amid shrinking budgets .
Pistol Pete ’ s Six-Shooter whiskey builds on the university ’ s brand building effort , which started just a couple years ago with a golden ale crafted by one of the state ’ s largest brewing operations .
Last month , the school added a signature wine developed by vintners with deep roots in the state .
Like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership with another homegrown business - Dry Point Distillers .
New Mexico State Athletic Director Mario Moccia said licensed whiskey marks something new for the collegiate world .
He described it as a win-win for the university , for small businesses during a rough economic time and for the athletic program , which shares the proceeds from every sale .
“ For us to be the first , I think it ’ s a source of pride , it ’ s a source of innovation and I have no doubt other schools will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in today ’ s day and age when the budgets are being reduced , it ’ s incumbent upon us to do things to generate our own revenue , ” he told The Associated Press .

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico State University on Wednesday unveiled its own officially licensed whiskey, making it the first college to do so as schools across the U.S. try to create new revenue streams amid shrinking higher education budgets.
Pistol Pete’s Six-Shooter whiskey expands on the university’s brand building effort, which started several years ago with a golden ale crafted by one of the state’s largest brewing operations. Last month, the school added a signature wine developed by vintners with deep New Mexico roots.
Like the other ventures, this one involves a partnership with another homegrown business - Dry Point Distillers.
New Mexico State Athletic Director Mario Moccia said licensed whiskey marks something new for the collegiate world, which over the last several years has seen its share of officially licensed craft beers grow to more than two dozen while schools such as Michigan State, Wake Forest and Gonzaga added wines.
Moccia described the licensing partnerships as positive steps for the university, for small businesses that have been struggling during pandemic-forced closures and for the athletic program, which shares in the proceeds each time bottle or can is sold.
“For us to be the first, I think it’s a source of pride, it’s a source of innovation and I have no doubt other schools will say this is a good thing because in today’s day and age when the budgets are being reduced, it’s incumbent upon us to do things to generate our own revenue,” he told The Associated Press in an interview.
The pandemic has cut into ticket sales and other revenue that usually supports college athletic programs. Licensing fees - for everything from items that can be consumed like beer, wine and whiskey to sweatshirts and pennants - brings in around $130,000 to $150,000 for New Mexico State, Moccia said.
The university has worked on the whiskey project with Dry Point Distillers for about six months with the help of marketing professors and students sworn to secrecy. For Chris Schaefer, an owner of the distillery and an Aggie alumni, it was more than a chance to fuel his passion for whiskey.
“It’s throwing us a lifeline because with the pandemic bar sales are down,” he said. “To be able to add a product to our package wholesale liquor line, something with the backing of New Mexico State University and the notoriety of that and to tie in the trifecta of the beer and the wine and now to have the whiskey, I think is going to be very beneficial.”
Schaefer said his seven employees essentially have been working only part time because of the state’s coronavirus restrictions.
“We’re at 25% capacity in the bar so that means 25% of the tips, so it’s a difficult time to be in the bar and restaurant business,” Schaefer said. “But we’re navigating, we’re trying to figure it out and we’re doing what we can to maintain.”
Distribution of the new whiskey will start in Las Cruces. There are plans to expand to Albuquerque, Santa Fe and possibly beyond in coming weeks.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Atlanta's Ponce City Market plans expansion

ATLANTA ( AP ) - Atlanta ’ s popular Ponce City Market is planning a major expansion that would include @ @ @ @ @ .
The proposal calls for adding half a million square feet of new development and @ @ @ @ @ million square feet , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported , citing a press release from the @ @ @ @ @ plans also include a four-story office building and residential units .
The market lies alongside @ @ @ @ @ Trail in the city ’ s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood .
It uses a former @ @ @ @ @ building .

ATLANTA (AP) - Atlanta’s popular Ponce City Market is planning a major expansion that would include additional shopping and dining space.
The proposal calls for adding half a million square feet of new development and amenities to the existing two million square feet, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, citing a press release from the developer Jamestown.
The expansion plans also include a four-story office building and residential units. The market lies alongside the Beltline’s Eastside Trail in the city’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. It uses a former Sears, Roebuck & Company building.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Police: Woman on the run after evading police in mail truck

LEXINGTON , Ky. ( AP ) - Police in Kentucky said they are searching for a woman who escaped police custody Monday by slipping out of her handcuffs and stealing a mail truck .
Lexington police are looking for Brandi Spears , 23 , who evaded authorities while at a hospital , news outlets reported .
Police Lt. Samantha Moore said Spears was detained at a Sam ’ s Club Monday morning for outstanding warrants .
Spears said she needed medical attention following the arrest and was taken to a nearby hospital where she escaped , police said .
Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail truck and drove it back to her vehicle at the Sam Club ’ s parking lot .
She later fled in her car , which is a gray SUV .
Moore said some mail was missing from the truck when it was recovered .
The truck ’ s back door was open when Spears drove off , and the mail may have fallen out , Moore said .
In addition to the outstanding warrants , Spears has been charged with escaping police and theft of the mail truck .
She ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second person was detained with Spears at Sam ’ s Club .
He was charged with public intoxication .

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Police in Kentucky said they are searching for a woman who escaped police custody Monday by slipping out of her handcuffs and stealing a mail truck.
Lexington police are looking for Brandi Spears, 23, who evaded authorities while at a hospital, news outlets reported.
Police Lt. Samantha Moore said Spears was detained at a Sam’s Club Monday morning for outstanding warrants.
Spears said she needed medical attention following the arrest and was taken to a nearby hospital where she escaped, police said.
Moore said Spears stole a University of Kentucky mail truck and drove it back to her vehicle at the Sam Club’s parking lot. She later fled in her car, which is a gray SUV.
Moore said some mail was missing from the truck when it was recovered. The truck’s back door was open when Spears drove off, and the mail may have fallen out, Moore said.
In addition to the outstanding warrants, Spears has been charged with escaping police and theft of the mail truck. She’s been missing since Monday night.
A second person was detained with Spears at Sam’s Club. He was charged with public intoxication.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Sculpture restoration work draws laughs, memories in Spain

MADRID ( AP ) - Restoration work on a sculpture in northern Spain has resurrected memories of a restored Christ fresco in another Spanish city eight years ago that drew ridicule as well as tourists .
The latest incident concerns a relief sculpture on the exterior of an ornate office building in the city of Palencia .
What was once the bust of a smiling woman now looks more like the head of a cartoon character .
The disfigurement was bought to light by a local artist who lives near the office building and was tipped off by a florist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before and after photographs on ’ on his Facebook page , triggering a flurry of social media reaction and attention from journalists .
“ I was surprised .
How could they have done this ?
” Capel told The Associated Press on Wednesday .
“ This must be at least 10-years-old , and we ’ re only finding out now.
” He said the 20th century building belongs to a bank but tenants decided to fix the façade some years ago .
Now , Spanish media are showing images of people stopping to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take photos .
The poorly done restoration drew immediate comparisons with an “ Ecce Homo ” fresco in the northern Spain town of Borja .
A local amateur artist decided the circa 1930 depiction of Christ at the Sanctuary of Mercy church needed restoration , but the face she produced in 2012 immediately drew comparisons to a monkey .
However , her work turned into a Borja tourist attraction .
It remains to be seen if the Palencia job will have the same effect .
It was not immediately possible to get comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @

MADRID (AP) - Restoration work on a sculpture in northern Spain has resurrected memories of a restored Christ fresco in another Spanish city eight years ago that drew ridicule as well as tourists.
The latest incident concerns a relief sculpture on the exterior of an ornate office building in the city of Palencia. What was once the bust of a smiling woman now looks more like the head of a cartoon character.
The disfigurement was bought to light by a local artist who lives near the office building and was tipped off by a florist on his street. Antonio Capel posted before and after photographs on his Facebook page, triggering a flurry of social media reaction and attention from journalists.
“I was surprised. How could they have done this?” Capel told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “This must be at least 10-years-old, and we’re only finding out now.”
He said the 20th-century building belongs to a bank but tenants decided to fix the façade some years ago.
Now, Spanish media are showing images of people stopping to stare up at the building and to take photos.
The poorly done restoration drew immediate comparisons with an “Ecce Homo” fresco in the northern Spain town of Borja. A local amateur artist decided the circa 1930 depiction of Christ at the Sanctuary of Mercy church needed restoration, but the face she produced in 2012 immediately drew comparisons to a monkey.
However, her work turned into a Borja tourist attraction. It remains to be seen if the Palencia job will have the same effect.
A Palencia City Hall spokesman who declined to offer a name following internal procedure was unable to say when the work was carried out or by whom but said the restoration would most likely be investigated by regional authorities.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Police: Mask request at shop lead to beating of two workers

EDGEWATER , Md .
( AP ) - Police in Maryland say they ’ re looking for a man and @ @ @ @ @ of an ice cream store after they were asked to wear masks because of the @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday that the two employees ended up in the hospital .
One is still there @ @ @ @ @ Arundel County police said the incident took place inside a Cold Stone Creamery early Saturday @ @ @ @ @ mask request turned into a sidewalk beating .
“ Just asking someone to properly put @ @ @ @ @ that conversation it just escalated , ” Sgt .
Kam Cook said .

EDGEWATER, Md. (AP) - Police in Maryland say they’re looking for a man and a woman who attacked employees of an ice cream store after they were asked to wear masks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
WBAL-TV reported Tuesday that the two employees ended up in the hospital. One is still there with broken bones.
Anne Arundel County police said the incident took place inside a Cold Stone Creamery early Saturday evening. Police said the mask request turned into a sidewalk beating.
“Just asking someone to properly put on their mask and with that conversation it just escalated,” Sgt. Kam Cook said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--1 person killed in Douglas house fire

1 person killed in Douglas house fire

DOUGLAS , Mass .
( AP ) - One person was killed in a three-alarm house fire that broke out @ @ @ @ @ fire officials said .
The fire was reported around 10:30 p.m. and was fought by @ @ @ @ @ nearby communities , the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported .
Fire officials say one person @ @ @ @ @ The person ’ s name was not immediately released .
No other injuries were reported @ @ @ @ @ Vinson said it appears there were no working smoke detectors in the house .
State @ @ @ @ @ help investigate .

DOUGLAS, Mass. (AP) - A man was killed in a three-alarm house fire that broke out late Tuesday in Douglas, state fire officials said.
The fire was reported around 10:20 a.m. at 31 Glen Street. Crews from Douglas and other nearby communities responded to the single-family home to fight the fire.
State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said one person was killed in the blaze. The man’s name was not immediately released. No other injuries were reported.
Douglas Fire Chief Kent Vinson said there was no evidence that the home had working spoke or carbon monoxide detectors.
“On behalf of the Town of Douglas, I offer my deepest condolences to the man’s’ family. Fire is a difficult way to lose a loved one,” Vinson said in a written statement.
The fire is being investigated by state and local fire agencies.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Washington state hospital confirms 8 COVID-19 cases, 1 death

SEATTLE ( AP ) - A hospital in Washington state has reported at least five employees and eight patients tested positive for the coronavirus , after an outbreak on a fourth floor unit of the facility .
The Auburn Medical Center said in a statement Tuesday that one patient died after the outbreak was detected late last week , The Seattle Times reported .
The MultiCare hospital system , that owns the hospital , tested all 40 patients in the unit and 212 staffers who had worked there in the two-week period before the first positive test was reported , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from all of the patients and 156 staffers , health officials said .
It is unclear if some potentially exposed employees were awaiting testing or awaiting results .
All five of the infected employees are recovering and the infected patients are in isolation , officials said .
State health officials have reported 350 outbreaks in health care settings , including hospitals since Oct. 24 , a statewide outbreak report said .
An additional 706 outbreaks were counted at long-term care facilities over a similar time period .
The number of infections is thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
For most people , the 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 .

SEATTLE (AP) - A hospital in Washington state has reported at least five employees and eight patients tested positive for the coronavirus, after an outbreak on a fourth floor unit of the facility.
The Auburn Medical Center said in a statement Tuesday that one patient died after the outbreak was detected late last week, The Seattle Times reported.
The MultiCare hospital system, that owns the hospital, tested all 40 patients in the unit and 212 staffers who had worked there in the two-week period before the first positive test was reported, officials said.
The hospital received results from all of the patients and 156 staffers, health officials said. It is unclear if some potentially exposed employees were awaiting testing or awaiting results.
All five of the infected employees are recovering and the infected patients are in isolation, officials said.
State health officials have reported 350 outbreaks in health care settings, including hospitals since Oct. 24, a statewide outbreak report said. An additional 706 outbreaks were counted at long-term care facilities over a similar time period.
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.
For most people, the 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--2020-11-11--Lagarde: Recovery could be stop-and-go despite vaccine news

FRANKFURT , Germany ( AP ) - European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde says the current 1.35 trillion-euro ( $ 1.58 trillion ) bond purchase program and cheap loans to banks are “ likely to remain the main tools ” to help the economy as it prepares to offer more stimulus in December .
Lagarde said Wednesday that “ while all options are on the table , ” the bond purchase program and offers of long-term credit to banks - in some cases carrying a negative interest rate that pays the banks to borrow - had proven effective and could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the central bank ’ s last meeting on Oct. 28 Lagarde said there was “ little doubt ” that the monetary authority for the 19 countries that use the euro would step up its stimulus efforts at its Dec. 10 meeting .
Analysts have been predicting more stimulus as a renewed increase in virus infections and partial lockdowns weigh on economic growth .
Inflation , meanwhile , was at minus 0.3 % in September and continues to lag the ECB ’ s goal of below but close to 2 % .
Lagarde @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ECB online conference that the economy faces a “ bumpy , ” “ stop-and-start ” recovery despite good news about potential vaccines .
She warned that lasting changes in behavior could drag out the rebound , and that governments and central banks will need policies that bridge the gap until vaccination is widespread .

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde warned Wednesday that the economy could face a “bumpy,” “stop-start” recovery despite good news about vaccine development.
The top central banker for the 19 European Union countries that use the euro currency said there was a risk that fearful consumers could drag out the rebound, and that governments and central banks will need policies that bridge the gap until vaccination is widespread.
“We are seeing a strong resurgence of the virus and this has introduced a new dynamic,” she said in a speech opening an online ECB conference on monetary policy. “While the latest news on a vaccine looks encouraging, we could still face recurring cycles of accelerating viral spread and tightening restrictions until widespread immunity is achieved.”
She said “the recovery may not be linear, but rather unsteady, stop-start and contingent on the pace of vaccine roll-out. In the interim, output in the services sector may struggle to fully recover.”
Stock markets jumped after Pfizer said Monday that early results from tests of its experimental vaccine suggests the shots may be a surprisingly robust 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. The European Commission has said it plans to secure up to 300 million doses of the experimental vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. Several experimental COVID-19 vaccines are in late stage testing, but none have so far been proven safe and effective enough to use broadly.
The eurozone economy rebounded a strong 12.7% in the July-September quarter amid stimulus efforts by the ECB and governments, and as infection numbers receded from the earlier part of the year. But in recent weeks the number of infections has been rising across Europe, leading to predictions that the recovery will go into reverse in the last three months of the year with falling economic output.
Lagarde said policymakers must ensure that the exceptional downturn remains a one-off blow to the economy and does not turn into a recession that feeds on itself. If that happens, “we could see more lasting changes in behaviour than during the first wave,” she said. “Households could become more fearful about the future and increase their precautionary saving. Firms that have survived up to now by increasing borrowing could decide that remaining open no longer makes business sense.”
At the central bank’s last meeting on Oct. 28 Lagarde said there was “little doubt” that the monetary authority for the 19 countries that use the euro would step up its stimulus efforts at its Dec. 10 meeting. Analysts have been predicting more stimulus as a renewed increase in virus infections and partial lockdowns weigh on economic growth. Inflation was at minus 0.3% in October and continues to lag the ECB’s goal of below but close to 2%.
Lagarde said Wednesday that the current 1.35 trillion-euro ($1.58 trillion) bond purchase program and cheap loans to banks are “likely to remain the main tools” to help the economy as it prepares to offer more stimulus in December.
Lagarde said that “while all options are on the table,” the bond purchase program and offers of long-term credit to banks - in some cases carrying a negative interest rate that pays the banks to borrow - had proven effective and could be adjusted as the pandemic evolves.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Police say 21-year-old man fatally shot in Wichita home

WICHITA , Kan. ( AP ) - A man was fatally shot inside a Wichita home this week , police @ @ @ @ @ happened around 4 p.m. Monday in a neighborhood on the east side of the city @ @ @ @ @ a news release .
Officers called to the home discovered that Christopher Bell , 21 @ @ @ @ @ been shot there and had already been take by a private vehicle to a hospital @ @ @ @ @ Police said an investigation showed Bell had been inside the home when a disturbance broke @ @ @ @ @ several shots , hitting Bell .
No one else inside the house was hurt , @ @ @ @ @ said they know the identity of the gunman , but had not announced by Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ been made .

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A man was fatally shot inside a Wichita home this week, police there said.
The shooting happened around 4 p.m. Monday in a neighborhood on the east side of the city, Wichita police said in a news release. Officers called to the home discovered that Christopher Bell, 21, of Wichita, had been shot there and had already been taken by a private vehicle to a hospital, where he died.
Police said an investigation showed Bell had been inside the home when a disturbance broke out, and someone fired several shots, hitting Bell. No one else inside the house was hurt, police said.
Police have said they know the identity of the gunman, but had not announced by Wednesday morning that an arrest had been made.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Burgum asks for outside counsel on legislative appointment

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - Gov .
Doug Burgum is asking the state ’ s attorney general to appoint outside lawyers to handle a possible lawsuit over his appointment to fill a legislative seat that was won by a candidate who died before the election .
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is at odds with Burgum over the appointment of Washburn coal executive Wade Boeshans to the District 8 seat won by David Andahl , who died Oct. 5 from coronavirus complications .
Stenehjem said that Burgum ’ s appointment on the day following the election was “ both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2016 .
Burgum has asked Stenehjem to appoint three attorneys with Vogel Law Firm in Bismarck to represent him “ on legal matters ” related to the appointment .
Burgum has said that “ the only legal and constitutionally viable way to fill the District 8 seat is through gubernatorial appointment.
” Stenehjem disagrees , saying “ the Constitution provides that the Legislative branch , not the Executive branch , has the authority to fill a vacancy in the legislative assembly.
” Andahl and fellow District 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 3 for the two open House seats over a pair of Democratic candidates in the sprawling rural district north of Bismarck .
The governor told the attorney general he had not hired or retained legal counsel , and he requested Stenehjem make the appointments by noon on Wednesday , according to records obtained by the Bismarck Tribune .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Gov. Doug Burgum is asking the state’s attorney general to appoint outside lawyers to handle a possible lawsuit over his appointment to fill a legislative seat that was won by a candidate who died before the election.
Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is at odds with Burgum over the appointment of Washburn coal executive Wade Boeshans to the District 8 seat won by David Andahl, who died Oct. 5 from coronavirus complications.
Stenehjem said that Burgum’s appointment on the day following the election was “both inaccurate and untimely.” Burgum defeated Stenehjem in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2016.
Burgum has asked Stenehjem to appoint three attorneys with Vogel Law Firm in Bismarck to represent him “on legal matters” related to the appointment.
Burgum has said that “the only legal and constitutionally viable way to fill the District 8 seat is through gubernatorial appointment.”
Stenehjem disagrees, saying “the Constitution provides that the Legislative branch, not the Executive branch, has the authority to fill a vacancy in the legislative assembly.”
Andahl and fellow District 8 House candidate Dave Nehring were top vote-getters Nov. 3 for the two open House seats over a pair of Democratic candidates in the sprawling rural district north of Bismarck.
The governor told the attorney general he had not hired or retained legal counsel, and he requested Stenehjem make the appointments by noon on Wednesday, according to records obtained by the Bismarck Tribune.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--California voters give property tax breaks a makeover

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - California voters gave the state ’ s landmark 1978 law to limit property taxes a makeover Wednesday , passing a measure that gives exemptions to older homeowners , the disabled and wildfire victims and strips breaks from people who inherit homes but don ’ t live in them .
Proposition 19 received 51 % of the more than 15.3 million votes cast , giving a big victory to the California Association of Realtors , which made major changes to a similar initiative in 2018 that voters rejected by 20 percentage points .
The revamped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ token organized opposition .
Under 1978 rules established under the landmark Proposition 13 , property taxes are set at 1.1 % of the sales price and increase no more than 2 % a year for inflation until a property is sold , a system that can create huge savings for people whose homes greatly appreciate .
The newly approved Proposition 19 allows people 55 and older , the disabled and wildfire victims to carry their low property tax assessments with them when they move .
The exemption is expected to fuel home sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move because their tax bills would rise sharply .
Unlike two years ago , the 2020 version prohibits people from keeping their low assessments when they inherit properties and don ’ t live in them , using them instead for rental income .
The exemption for older homeowners and others will cut into property tax revenue but that will be more than offset by gains from ending breaks on inherited property , yielding a net gain that the state Legislative Analyst ’ s Office estimates could reach hundreds of millions of dollars a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over time .
Most of the new money would go to fire protection .
A vote of more than two-thirds of both houses in the state Legislature placed the measure on the ballot this year .
In 2018 , the Realtors Association got on the ballot by gathering voter signatures .
Labor unions became allies .
The California Professional Firefighters union spent money to defeat the 2018 measure and became a co-sponsor of the 2020 version .
Advertising saturated airwaves with a message on how the money would aid in fighting wildfires .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 19 campaign , said the 2020 version had “ much broader appeal ” and resulted from backers of the 2018 measure taking into account changes that other groups wanted to the 1978 tax-setting rules , which are enshrined in the state constitution .
“ It was about finding common ground , so you ultimately have a better result , ” he said .
Supporters raised $ 63.8 million , including $ 58.6 million from the California Association of Realtors and $ 4.9 million from the National Association of Realtors .
Opponents raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the brokers group raised far less money , a signal of how much more confident it was this time around .
The measure competed for attention with another proposition that would have partially dismantled the 1978 rules by reassessing commercial and industrial property every three years , instead of tying it to the sales price .
Voters narrowly rejected Proposition 15 .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - California voters gave the state’s landmark 1978 law to limit property taxes a makeover Wednesday, passing a measure that gives exemptions to older homeowners, the disabled and wildfire victims and strips breaks from people who inherit homes but don’t live in them.
Proposition 19 received 51% of the more than 15.3 million votes cast, giving a big victory to the California Association of Realtors, which made major changes to a similar initiative in 2018 that voters rejected by 20 percentage points.
The revamped proposal generated broad bipartisan support and only token organized opposition.
Under 1978 rules established under the landmark Proposition 13, property taxes are set at 1.1% of the sales price and increase no more than 2% a year for inflation until a property is sold, a system that can create huge savings for people whose homes greatly appreciate.
The newly approved Proposition 19 allows people 55 and older, the disabled and wildfire victims to carry their low property tax assessments with them when they move. The exemption is expected to fuel home sales by encouraging people who were reluctant to move because their tax bills would rise sharply.
Unlike two years ago, the 2020 version prohibits people from keeping their low assessments when they inherit properties and don’t live in them, using them instead for rental income.
The exemption for older homeowners and others will cut into property tax revenue but that will be more than offset by gains from ending breaks on inherited property, yielding a net gain that the state Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates could reach hundreds of millions of dollars a year each for schools and local governments over time. Most of the new money would go to fire protection.
A vote of more than two-thirds of both houses in the state Legislature placed the measure on the ballot this year. In 2018, the Realtors Association got on the ballot by gathering voter signatures.
Labor unions became allies. The California Professional Firefighters union spent money to defeat the 2018 measure and became a co-sponsor of the 2020 version.
Advertising saturated airwaves with a message on how the money would aid in fighting wildfires.
Josh Pulliam, consultant for the Yes on 19 campaign, said the 2020 version had “much broader appeal” and resulted from backers of the 2018 measure taking into account changes that other groups wanted to the 1978 tax-setting rules, which are enshrined in the state constitution.
“It was about finding common ground, so you ultimately have a better result,” he said.
Supporters raised $63.8 million, including $58.6 million from the California Association of Realtors and $4.9 million from the National Association of Realtors. Opponents raised less than $50,000.
In 2018, the brokers group raised far less money, a signal of how much more confident it was this time around.
The measure competed for attention with another proposition that would have partially dismantled the 1978 rules by reassessing commercial and industrial property every three years, instead of tying it to the sales price. Voters narrowly rejected Proposition 15.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Chicago police the target of 520 complaints since May

CHICAGO ( AP ) - The Chicago Police Department has received hundreds of complaints against its officers since late May , when demonstrations broke out in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , according to police officials .
Eight officers have been stripped of their police powers since that time due to the complaints , according to police officials .
Details of the conduct that led to the actions against the officers were not immediately available .
However , officials say some officers working the demonstrations were accused of verbally abusing protesters , denying them access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ searches among other allegations .
The number of complaints filed against officers was revealed Tuesday by Sydney Roberts , head of Chicago ’ s Civilian Office of Police Accountability during budget talks before the City Council on Tuesday .
Police officials said the protest-related complaints became so voluminous that COPA in June formed a specialized team of investigators to respond to them .
From May 29 through the end of October , there were 520 protest-related complaints , according to COPA .
Most of the protest-related complaints arose during the last weekend of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COPA , when the city also saw widespread looting .
Other complaints were tied to a mid-July protest at the site of a Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park and a mid-August demonstration .
After the July protest , Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said dozens of officers were injured during clashes with demonstrators .
The Chicago Police Department is operating under a federal court order that requires extensive changes to the way officers treat people .
In June , Maggie Hickey , the former federal prosecutor tasked with monitoring the department ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints police abused protesters .
She has yet to deliver her findings .

CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Police Department has received hundreds of complaints against its officers since late May, when demonstrations broke out in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, according to police officials.
Eight officers have been stripped of their police powers since that time due to the complaints, according to police officials. Details of the conduct that led to the actions against the officers were not immediately available. However, officials say some officers working the demonstrations were accused of verbally abusing protesters, denying them access to attorneys, and carrying out improper searches among other allegations.
The number of complaints filed against officers was revealed Tuesday by Sydney Roberts, head of Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability during budget talks before the City Council on Tuesday. Police officials said the protest-related complaints became so voluminous that COPA in June formed a specialized team of investigators to respond to them.
From May 29 through the end of October, there were 520 protest-related complaints, according to COPA.
Most of the protest-related complaints arose during the last weekend of May and early June, according to COPA, when the city also saw widespread looting. Other complaints were tied to a mid-July protest at the site of a Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park and a mid-August demonstration.
After the July protest, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said dozens of officers were injured during clashes with demonstrators.
The Chicago Police Department is operating under a federal court order that requires extensive changes to the way officers treat people. In June, Maggie Hickey, the former federal prosecutor tasked with monitoring the department’s progress, said she would investigate complaints police abused protesters. She has yet to deliver her findings.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Montgomery, Loudoun public schools approve plans for in-person instruction

The Montgomery County school board has tentatively approved a phased plan to allow students to return for in-person instruction in January , and the Loudoun County School Board has approved allowing nearly 7,000 students to begin hybrid learning next month .
The Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday tentatively approved opening classrooms , starting in December with special education assessment centers at three schools .
Beginning Jan. 12 , students in select special education , career and technology programs would return to classrooms , and other students would be phased in starting Feb. 1 .
Officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferred mode of instruction for their children , whether it ’ s to remain fully online or transition to “ direct , ” “ simultaneous ” or “ support ” learning .
• Direct instruction will be conducted primarily in-person by a teacher with “ limited virtual services.
” • Simultaneous learning will involve a teacher instructing some students in-person and others online at the same time .
• Support instruction will be conducted online by a teacher , but students will be physically in a classroom where they can receive help from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will “ need to reallocate current staff or hire additional staff ” to accommodate the support model , officials said .
Under the plan , schools can not reopen if Maryland ’ s COVID-19 case positivity rate goes over the 5 % benchmark set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Board members are to cast a final vote on the proposal on Dec. 3 .
Meanwhile , the board for Loudoun County Public Schools on Tuesday gave the green light for nearly 7,500 students to begin hybrid learning on Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , third- through fifth-grade and senior academy students will return to classrooms for two days a week and learn online two days , with one day reserved for “ independent work.
” The returning students will those those who opted to return in-person for the first semester in a summer survey .
Board members also approved a proposal for Loudoun County students in sixth through 12 grade to transition to hybrid instruction on Jan. 21 .
A survey sent to families Wednesday asks if they want their children to return for in-person instruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ semester .
The board voted to allow school officials to make adjustments to classroom layouts if the number of students who want to go back to face-to-face instruction “ increases significantly.
” In related news around the region : • Arlington Public Schools allowed students with disabilities to return for in-person instruction last week , but a recent hike in coronavirus cases led Superintendent Francisco Duran to put the brakes on allowing more students back this week .
Arlington Parents for Education tweeted : “ Arlington ’ s children will feel the effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” • Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand is set to present Thursday an updated plan to bring more students back into classrooms sooner .
Many students have been returning in phases since October .
• D.C. schools Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee said plans to begin sending children back in phases to classrooms last Friday were halted earlier in the week amid “ feedback ” from community members .
The initial proposal received criticism over equity and school operation disruption concerns due to reassigning staff to Canvas Academics and Real Engagement ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chancellor wrote in an email to parents that a revised plan will begin with opening CARE classrooms “ as soon as staffing plans are confirmed .
”

The Montgomery County school board has tentatively approved a phased plan to allow students to return for in-person instruction in January, and the Loudoun County School Board has approved allowing nearly 7,000 students to begin hybrid learning next month.
The Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday tentatively approved opening classrooms, starting in December with special education assessment centers at three schools.
Beginning Jan. 12, students in select special education, career and technology programs would return to classrooms, and other students would be phased in starting Feb. 1.
Officials have sent families a survey to select their preferred mode of instruction for their children, whether it’s to remain fully online or transition to “direct,” “simultaneous” or “support” learning.
• Direct instruction will be conducted primarily in-person by a teacher with “limited virtual services.”
• Simultaneous learning will involve a teacher instructing some students in-person and others online at the same time.
• Support instruction will be conducted online by a teacher, but students will be physically in a classroom where they can receive help from a staff member. The school system will “need to reallocate current staff or hire additional staff” to accommodate the support model, officials said.
Under the plan, schools cannot reopen if Maryland’s COVID-19 case positivity rate goes over the 5% benchmark set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Board members are to cast a final vote on the proposal on Dec. 3.
Meanwhile, the board for Loudoun County Public Schools on Tuesday gave the green light for nearly 7,500 students to begin hybrid learning on Dec. 1.
Under a hybrid instruction plan, third- through fifth-grade and senior academy students will return to classrooms for two days a week and learn online two days, with one day reserved for “independent work.” The returning students will those those who opted to return in-person for the first semester in a summer survey.
Board members also approved a proposal for Loudoun County students in sixth through 12 grade to transition to hybrid instruction on Jan. 21.
A survey sent to families Wednesday asks if they want their children to return for in-person instruction or remain learning online for the second semester.
The board voted to allow school officials to make adjustments to classroom layouts if the number of students who want to go back to face-to-face instruction “increases significantly.”
In related news around the region:
• Arlington Public Schools allowed students with disabilities to return for in-person instruction last week, but a recent hike in coronavirus cases led Superintendent Francisco Duran to put the brakes on allowing more students back this week.
Arlington Parents for Education tweeted: “Arlington’s children will feel the effects of this decision for years to come.”
• Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand is set to present Thursday an updated plan to bring more students back into classrooms sooner. Many students have been returning in phases since October.
• D.C. schools Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee said plans to begin sending children back in phases to classrooms last Friday were halted earlier in the week amid “feedback” from community members.
The initial proposal received criticism over equity and school operation disruption concerns due to reassigning staff to Canvas Academics and Real Engagement (CARE) classrooms.
Nonetheless, the chancellor wrote in an email to parents that a revised plan will begin with opening CARE classrooms “as soon as staffing plans are confirmed.”
• Emily Zantow can be reached at ezantow@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Man gets murder charge while out on bond in separate slaying

MOBILE , Ala. ( AP ) - A 22-year-old Alabama man who was charged with murder Tuesday was out on @ @ @ @ @ when he was arrested .
Authorities arrested LeQuinton King in the fatal shooting of Vincent @ @ @ @ @ Mobile , police said in a statement .
Police found Wilson the afternoon of Nov. @ @ @ @ @ an apartment , and medical personnel pronounced him dead shortly after , investigators said .
@ @ @ @ @ shooting , King was out on bond in a 2017 slaying .
He was arrested @ @ @ @ @ that case and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of James W. Byrd Jr. @ @ @ @ @ Anniston shopping center , news outlets reported .
King was released from the Calhoun County @ @ @ @ @ records showed .
Prosecutors filed a motion Tuesday to revoke King ’ s $ 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ of the new murder charge , according to state court records .
It was not @ @ @ @ @ an attorney who could comment on his behalf .

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - A 22-year-old Alabama man who was charged with murder Tuesday was out on bond in a separate slaying when he was arrested.
Authorities arrested LeQuinton King in the fatal shooting of Vincent Wilson, 22, in Mobile, police said in a statement.
Police found Wilson the afternoon of Nov. 6 with gunshot wounds in an apartment, and medical personnel pronounced him dead shortly after, investigators said.
At the time of the shooting, King was out on bond in a 2017 slaying. He was arrested by U.S. Marshals in that case and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of James W. Byrd Jr., 36, in an Anniston shopping center, news outlets reported.
King was released from the Calhoun County Jail in November 2017, records showed.
Prosecutors filed a motion Tuesday to revoke King’s $500,000 bond in that case because of the new murder charge, according to state court records.
It was not immediately clear whether King had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Measles case confirmed, possible Sea-Tac Airport exposure

SEATTLE ( AP ) - King County health officials say they ’ ve confirmed a new measles case in a child , with possible exposures at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport .
Public Health - Seattle & King County officials said Wednesday that the highly-contagious infection likely happened while the child was traveling outside the United States .
Before the child was diagnosed , he had been on Nov.5 near the airport ’ s Gate N-11 and Carousel 13 in the baggage claim area .
Health officials are advising anyone who was in that area from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measles .
“ Most people in our area have immunity to the measles through vaccination , so the risk to the general public is low , ” the statement said .
If people aren ’ t sure if they are up to date with the measles , mumps and rubella vaccine , health officials said people should check with their health care provider .
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever , rash , cough , and red , watery eyes .
It mainly spreads through the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sneezes .
Measles is contagious from about four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears .

SEATTLE (AP) - King County health officials say they’ve confirmed a new measles case in a child, with possible exposures at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Public Health - Seattle & King County officials said Wednesday that the highly-contagious infection likely happened while the child was traveling outside the United States. Before the child was diagnosed, he had been on Nov.5 near the airport’s Gate N-11 and Carousel 13 in the baggage claim area. Health officials are advising anyone who was in that area from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. that they could have been exposed to measles.
“Most people in our area have immunity to the measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low,” the statement said. If people aren’t sure if they are up to date with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, health officials said people should check with their health care provider.
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. It mainly spreads through the air after a person with measles coughs or sneezes.
Measles is contagious from about four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Teenager pleads guilty to slaying Louisiana airman in 2018

BENTON , La .
( AP ) - A 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to shooting a Louisiana airman to death @ @ @ @ @ more than two years ago .
Jareona Crosby entered the plea to second-degree murder Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ the slaying of Joshua Kidd , a 30-year-old technical sergeant at Barksdale Air Force Base @ @ @ @ @ Crosby was 17 at the time of the September 2018 shooting .
She and Alonzo @ @ @ @ @ was 15 at the time , were accused of entering Kidd ’ s garage and @ @ @ @ @ according to authorities .
Kidd confronted the two and chased them as they ran from @ @ @ @ @ .
Crosby , who was armed , turned and fatally shot him during the pursuit @ @ @ @ @ Jacobs said .
Wilson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2019 and was sentenced as @ @ @ @ @ without the possibility of parole .
Crosby was expected to be sentenced to life in @ @ @ @ @

BENTON, La. (AP) - A 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to shooting a Louisiana airman to death during a botched car burglary more than two years ago.
Jareona Crosby entered the plea to second-degree murder Tuesday in Bossier District Court in the slaying of Joshua Kidd, a 30-year-old technical sergeant at Barksdale Air Force Base, news outlets reported.
Crosby was 17 at the time of the September 2018 shooting. She and Alonzo Wilson, a co-defendant who was 15 at the time, were accused of entering Kidd’s garage and getting into a car, according to authorities. Kidd confronted the two and chased them as they ran from his home, prosecutors said.
Crosby, who was armed, turned and fatally shot him during the pursuit, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Jacobs said.
Wilson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2019 and was sentenced as an adult to 50 years without the possibility of parole.
Crosby was expected to be sentenced to life in prison on Dec. 15.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Ron Klain is Joe Biden chief of staff pick

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden has named Ron Klain as his White House chief of staff .
Mr. Klain , who has a long history with Mr. Biden , was widely considered to be the frontrunner for the job .
“ Ron has been invaluable to me over the many years that we have worked together , including as we rescued the American economy from one of the worst downturns in our history in 2009 and later overcame a daunting public health emergency in 2014 , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ His deep , varied experience and capacity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectrum is precisely what I need in a White House chief of staff as we confront this moment of crisis and bring our country together again.
” Mr. Klain , who served as a senior adviser to Mr. Biden ’ s 2020 presidential campaign , said the appointment was the “ honor of a lifetime.
” Mr. Klain , 59 , served as chief of staff to Mr. Biden during his first two years as vice president .
He also served in the same role for former Vice President Al Gore .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House ebola “ czar.
” During the 2020 election , Mr. Klain was perhaps best known for his critique of President Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus .
The announcement received rave reviews from Democrats — including the party ’ s left-wing .
“ He understands the magnitude of the health and economic crisis and he has the experience to lead this next administration through it , ” she said .
“ Ron has earned trust all across the entire Democratic Party .
”

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden has named Ron Klain as his White House chief of staff.
Mr. Klain, who has a long history with Mr. Biden, was widely considered to be the front-runner for the job.
“Ron has been invaluable to me over the many years that we have worked together, including as we rescued the American economy from one of the worst downturns in our history in 2009 and later overcame a daunting public health emergency in 2014,” Mr. Biden said. “His deep, varied experience and capacity to work with people all across the political spectrum is precisely what I need in a White House chief of staff as we confront this moment of crisis and bring our country together again.”
Mr. Klain, who served as a senior adviser to Mr. Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, said the appointment was the “honor of a lifetime.”
Mr. Klain, 59, served as chief of staff to Mr. Biden during his first two years as vice president. He also served in the same role for former Vice President Al Gore. In 2014, President Barack Obama named Mr. Klain the White House ebola “czar.”
During the 2020 election, Mr. Klain was perhaps best known for his critique of President Trump’s response to the coronavirus.
The announcement received rave reviews from Democrats — including the party’s left-wing.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said Mr. Klain “is a superb choice.”
“He understands the magnitude of the health and economic crisis, and he has the experience to lead this next administration through it,” she said. “Ron has earned trust all across the entire Democratic Party.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Price Wallace, Mississippi Republican, sorry for secession call

JACKSON , Miss .
— A white Republican lawmaker in Mississippi apologized Wednesday for a social media post advocating secession from the United States after Democrat Joe Biden became president-elect .
Rep. Price Wallace of Mendenhall made the comment Saturday on Twitter in response to former state Rep. Robert Foster , who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2019 .
After news organizations reported Biden had secured enough electoral votes to win the presidency , Foster tweeted that Democrats would “ riot and burn their own cities to the ground ” if the presidential election does not end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to succeed from the union and form our own country , ” Wallace wrote in response , misspelling “ secede.
” Mississippi was among the Southern states that tried to secede from the United States before and during the Civil War .
The Mississippi secession declaration , adopted by state lawmakers in January 1861 , stated : “ Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world.
” Wallace , a farmer , won a special election to the Republican-controlled Mississippi House in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote Wednesday on Twitter : “ I truly love the USA and Mississippi and would never support any idea of seceding from the union .
I am extremely sorry for my comment it was inappropriate and in no way represents the will of my constituents or myself .
I humbly ask for forgiveness for my poor lack of judgment.
” The Mississippi Free Press was the first news organization to report on Wallace ‘ s original tweet .
That tweet had been deleted by Wednesday , although The Associated Press had a screenshot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him a phone message seeking comment Wednesday , Price replied in a text message : “ I am going to refer you to my apology message on Twitter and that ’ s all I ’ m saying .
”

JACKSON, Miss. — A white Republican lawmaker in Mississippi apologized Wednesday for a social media post advocating secession from the United States after Democrat Joe Biden became president-elect.
Rep. Price Wallace of Mendenhall made the comment Saturday on Twitter in response to former state Rep. Robert Foster, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2019.
After news organizations reported Biden had secured enough electoral votes to win the presidency, Foster tweeted that Democrats would “riot and burn their own cities to the ground” if the presidential election does not end in their favor.
“We need to succeed from the union and form our own country,” Wallace wrote in response, misspelling “secede.”
Mississippi was among the Southern states that tried to secede from the United States before and during the Civil War. The Mississippi secession declaration, adopted by state lawmakers in January 1861, stated: “Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world.”
Wallace, a farmer, won a special election to the Republican-controlled Mississippi House in 2018 and was reelected in 2019.
Wallace wrote Wednesday on Twitter: “I truly love the USA and Mississippi and would never support any idea of seceding from the union. I am extremely sorry for my comment it was inappropriate and in no way represents the will of my constituents or myself. I humbly ask for forgiveness for my poor lack of judgment.”
The Mississippi Free Press was the first news organization to report on Wallace’s original tweet. That tweet had been deleted by Wednesday, although The Associated Press had a screenshot of it.
After the AP left him a phone message seeking comment Wednesday, Price replied in a text message: “I am going to refer you to my apology message on Twitter and that’s all I’m saying.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Mississippi lawmaker apologizes for tweet about secession

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - A white Republican lawmaker in Mississippi apologized Wednesday for a social media post advocating secession from the United States after Democrat Joe Biden became president-elect .
Rep. Price Wallace of Mendenhall made the comment Saturday on Twitter in response to former state Rep. Robert Foster , who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2019 .
After news organizations reported Biden had secured enough electoral votes to win the presidency , Foster tweeted that Democrats would “ riot and burn their own cities to the ground ” if the presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We need to succeed from the union and form our own country , ” Wallace wrote in response , misspelling “ secede.
” Mississippi was among the Southern states that tried to secede from the United States before and during the Civil War .
The Mississippi secession declaration , adopted by state lawmakers in January 1861 , stated : “ Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world.
” Wallace , a farmer , won a special election to the Republican-controlled Mississippi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
Wallace wrote Wednesday on Twitter : “ I truly love the USA and Mississippi and would never support any idea of seceding from the union .
I am extremely sorry for my comment it was inappropriate and in no way represents the will of my constituents or myself .
I humbly ask for forgiveness for my poor lack of judgment.
” The Mississippi Free Press was the first news organization to report on Wallace ’ s original tweet .
That tweet had been deleted by Wednesday , although The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AP left him a phone message seeking comment Wednesday , Price replied in a text message : “ I am going to refer you to my apology message on Twitter and that ’ s all I ’ m saying .
”

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A white Republican lawmaker in Mississippi apologized Wednesday for a social media post advocating secession from the United States after Democrat Joe Biden became president-elect.
Rep. Price Wallace of Mendenhall made the comment Saturday on Twitter in response to former state Rep. Robert Foster, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor in 2019.
After news organizations reported Biden had secured enough electoral votes to win the presidency, Foster tweeted that Democrats would “riot and burn their own cities to the ground” if the presidential election does not end in their favor.
“We need to succeed from the union and form our own country,” Wallace wrote in response, misspelling “secede.”
Mississippi was among the Southern states that tried to secede from the United States before and during the Civil War. The Mississippi secession declaration, adopted by state lawmakers in January 1861, stated: “Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world.”
Wallace, a farmer, won a special election to the Republican-controlled Mississippi House in 2018 and was reelected in 2019.
Wallace wrote Wednesday on Twitter: “I truly love the USA and Mississippi and would never support any idea of seceding from the union. I am extremely sorry for my comment it was inappropriate and in no way represents the will of my constituents or myself. I humbly ask for forgiveness for my poor lack of judgment.”
The Mississippi Free Press was the first news organization to report on Wallace’s original tweet. That tweet had been deleted by Wednesday, although The Associated Press had a screenshot of it.
After the AP left him a phone message seeking comment Wednesday, Price replied in a text message: “I am going to refer you to my apology message on Twitter and that’s all I’m saying.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Coronavirus hospitalizations in U.S. surpass pandemic record

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have reached the highest point of the pandemic , forcing leaders from Alaska to Massachusetts to propose stringent mask rules and limits on gatherings while avoiding , at least for now , the sweeping lockdowns that ruined the economy in the spring .
With 60,000-plus patients , the hospital crush exceeds the worst of the Sun Belt surge and springtime disaster in the Northeast .
North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum , a Republican , is allowing asymptomatic hospital workers to keep rendering care to reduce strain on the health care system .
El Paso , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sign of the rising death toll despite improvements in survival rates .
Governors are trying to maintain health care capacity by stamping out the spread of the virus on the front end .
Iowa Gov .
Kim Reynolds , a Republican who has resisted a statewide mask mandate , ordered people this week to cover their faces in large public gatherings .
Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker , a Republican , imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and told people to wear masks anywhere in public , even outdoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democrat , announced a “ surgical ” approach to restrictions this week .
He said bars and dine-in service must close at 10 p.m. and be capped at 50 % capacity to limit where young people congregate .
He capped funerals and weddings at 50 people as of Nov. 27 .
New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , a Democrat , said Wednesday that all restaurants must close at 10 p.m. and private gatherings must be limited to 10 people as of Friday .
The U.S. used blunt lockdowns to curb the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring because of fears that hospitals would be overwhelmed .
But experts say contact-tracing data gathered throughout the pandemic has given a better sense of where the virus is likely to spread , including bars , restaurants and gyms .
“ That allows targeted public health interventions to be put into place .
This could include capacity restrictions on certain venues , limits on the number of people at a gathering , in modifications of other points of interest such as gyms , ” said Amesh Adalja , senior health scholar at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said there is some evidence that approach can work .
States in the South and West used a mix of business closures , mask rules and other moves to reel in their midsummer spikes .
“ The goal should be to target those activities leading to spread while leaving others intact , but we need to be able to test enough to be well-informed about the epidemiology of spread , ” Dr. Adalja said .
Peter Hotez , dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ units will be key to keeping mortality rates low .
Some communities may be able to get by with limited , targeted measures while others may need to be more aggressive .
“ This is where we need depoliticized advice from the [ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ] , ” he said .
State leaders have been the public faces of mitigation efforts as the Trump administration focuses on progress in approving a vaccine and getting groundbreaking therapeutics to hospitals .
Progress in treating the disease has driven the case fatality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 % early in the year , though more than an average of 900 people are dying from COVID-19 every day .
The world also is cheering signs that the Pfizer vaccine is highly effective and could be approved within weeks , though the rollout campaign will take months and will face a series of challenges .
The vaccine must be stored at minus-94 degrees Fahrenheit , and those who take the vaccine must return for a second dose .
While the world waits for a vaccine , cases are surging well beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths are topping 240,000 .
President Trump has spent the week since Election Day contesting the results and highlighting claims of voter fraud instead of hosting the types of COVID-19 briefings that dominated the federal response earlier in the year .
Photos of a “ Save Our Majority ” rally for Republicans in Cobb County , Georgia , on Wednesday raised new questions about adherence to safety protocols .
The crowd stood shoulder to shoulder indoors , many without masks .
A CNN crew left because of the risk of transmission .
Presumptive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasize mask-wearing as he forms a COVID-19 advisory board during the transition process .
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia mandate face coverings in public in some form , according to AARP .
The CDC recently updated its guidance to say masks provide a protective benefit to the wearer by blocking infectious droplets .
Officials previously focused on the benefits of masking people so they don ’ t spread the virus , particularly if they are asymptomatic and don ’ t know they are infected .
Utah Gov .
Gary Herbert , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order requiring residents to wear masks in public and limit “ casual social gatherings ” to members of their household until Nov. 23 .
“ Laws are put in places to protect all of us .
That ’ s why we have traffic lights , speed limits and seat belts , and that ’ s why we now have a mask mandate , ” he said .
Other Republican leaders have resisted mask mandates .
That includes North Dakota and South Dakota , which over the past seven days have ranked first and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita .
Mr. Burgum , who is allowing asymptomatic health care workers to treat patients who have the virus , hasn ’ t issued a statewide mask mandate in North Dakota .
Instead , he emphasizes personal responsibility , but he is allowing local officials to issue mandates .
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken recently declined a mask mandate in his South Dakota city .
“ The small uptick we ’ ll see in compliance is not worth the community division that this will create , ” @ @ @

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have reached the highest point of the pandemic, forcing leaders from Alaska to Massachusetts to propose stringent mask rules and limits on gatherings while avoiding, at least for now, the sweeping lockdowns that ruined the economy in the spring.
With 60,000-plus patients, the hospital crush exceeds the worst of the Sun Belt surge and springtime disaster in the Northeast.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican, is allowing asymptomatic hospital workers to keep rendering care to reduce strain on the health care system. El Paso, Texas, is bringing in mobile morgues — a sign of the rising death toll despite improvements in survival rates.
Governors are trying to maintain health care capacity by stamping out the spread of the virus on the front end.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican who has resisted a statewide mask mandate, ordered people this week to cover their faces in large public gatherings. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, imposed a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and told people to wear masks anywhere in public, even outdoors.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, announced a “surgical” approach to restrictions this week. He said bars and dine-in service must close at 10 p.m. and be capped at 50% capacity to limit where young people congregate. He capped funerals and weddings at 50 people as of Nov. 27.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said Wednesday that all restaurants must close at 10 p.m. and private gatherings must be limited to 10 people as of Friday.
The U.S. used blunt lockdowns to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the spring because of fears that hospitals would be overwhelmed. But experts say contact-tracing data gathered throughout the pandemic has given a better sense of where the virus is likely to spread, including bars, restaurants and gyms.
“That allows targeted public health interventions to be put into place. This could include capacity restrictions on certain venues, limits on the number of people at a gathering, in modifications of other points of interest such as gyms,” said Amesh Adalja, senior health scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
He said there is some evidence that approach can work. States in the South and West used a mix of business closures, mask rules and other moves to reel in their midsummer spikes.
“The goal should be to target those activities leading to spread while leaving others intact, but we need to be able to test enough to be well-informed about the epidemiology of spread,” Dr. Adalja said.
Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, said preventing surges in intensive care units will be key to keeping mortality rates low. Some communities may be able to get by with limited, targeted measures while others may need to be more aggressive.
“This is where we need depoliticized advice from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention],” he said.
State leaders have been the public faces of mitigation efforts as the Trump administration focuses on progress in approving a vaccine and getting groundbreaking therapeutics to hospitals.
Progress in treating the disease has driven the case fatality rate to 2.4%, down from 6% early in the year, though more than an average of 900 people are dying from COVID-19 every day.
The world also is cheering signs that the Pfizer vaccine is highly effective and could be approved within weeks, though the rollout campaign will take months and will face a series of challenges. The vaccine must be stored at minus-94 degrees Fahrenheit, and those who take the vaccine must return for a second dose.
While the world waits for a vaccine, cases are surging well beyond 100,000 per day in the U.S. and deaths are topping 240,000.
President Trump has spent the week since Election Day contesting the results and highlighting claims of voter fraud instead of hosting the types of COVID-19 briefings that dominated the federal response earlier in the year.
Photos of a “Save Our Majority” rally for Republicans in Cobb County, Georgia, on Wednesday raised new questions about adherence to safety protocols. The crowd stood shoulder to shoulder indoors, many without masks. A CNN crew left because of the risk of transmission.
Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden is trying to emphasize mask-wearing as he forms a COVID-19 advisory board during the transition process.
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia mandate face coverings in public in some form, according to AARP. The CDC recently updated its guidance to say masks provide a protective benefit to the wearer by blocking infectious droplets. Officials previously focused on the benefits of masking people so they don’t spread the virus, particularly if they are asymptomatic and don’t know they are infected.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, recently issued an emergency order requiring residents to wear masks in public and limit “casual social gatherings” to members of their household until Nov. 23.
“Laws are put in places to protect all of us. That’s why we have traffic lights, speed limits and seat belts, and that’s why we now have a mask mandate,” he said.
Other Republican leaders have resisted mask mandates. That includes North Dakota and South Dakota, which over the past seven days have ranked first and second, respectively, in the nation in COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita.
Mr. Burgum, who is allowing asymptomatic health care workers to treat patients who have the virus, hasn’t issued a statewide mask mandate in North Dakota. Instead, he emphasizes personal responsibility, but he is allowing local officials to issue mandates.
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken recently declined a mask mandate in his South Dakota city. “The small uptick we’ll see in compliance is not worth the community division that this will create,” he said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-11--Michele Flournoy expected to become defense secretary in Biden administration

The betting odds are increasingly strong that former Obama administration defense official Michele Flournoy will be returning to the Pentagon as the first female secretary of defense in the nation ’ s history .
While handicapping remains fierce for other slots in presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden ’ s national security and diplomatic team , it would be major surprise at this point if the well-known and well-regarded Ms. Flournoy was not picked to head the Department of Defense .
“ A Democratic administration would want to be the first to appoint a female secretary of defense , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Center for Strategic and International Studies ’ ( CSIS ) International Security Program .
“ Her background — and this first opportunity — would make her certainly a very strong candidate.
” Ms. Flournoy ’ s time in the Pentagon began under former President Bill Clinton , when she served as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and threat reduction .
She then spent several years with CSIS and went on to cofound Washington-based think tank Center for a New American Security , which specializes in strategy to advance national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon under President Obama as undersecretary with the lead role in shaping the department ’ s policy agenda .
Her relationship with Mr. Biden dates back over a decade , and he jokingly volunteered in 2016 to vouch for her for the job as defense secretary in the hoped-for Hillary Clinton administration .
“ Well , madam secretary I ’ m writing a recommendation for her , you know , ” Mr. Biden told a CSIS audience that year .
Mr. Cancian , who previously worked in the Office of Management and Budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Flournoy ’ s first priorities would likely be putting a full stop to the military ’ s role in construction for the southern border wall .
He said he would expect the Biden administration to pull existing contracts , funding and service members who are deployed to work on Mr. Trump ’ s signature issue .
The next defense secretary will also likely move early on to reverse Mr. Trump ’ s order banning transgender service members from serving in an active capacity , Mr. Cancian said .
But she may also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallout if the Pentagon sees its funds cut by the new administration to finance some of Mr. Biden ’ s social programs .
Although widely expected to land at the Pentagon , Ms. Flournoy ’ s name has also been floated for the job of national security adviser , a job that would keep her much closer to the new president on a daily basis .
And although she is an experienced Washington hand , her potential selection as defense secretary still marks a historic moment .
“ Having a woman serve as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of defense is a big deal because it tells all of the women all of the young women who are in high school , maybe even as young as middle school , that this is something they can aspire to , ” said Rachel McCaffrey , the executive director of Women in Defense .
Ms. McCaffrey , who served in the Air Force for 28 years , said picking Ms. Flournoy would broaden “ the talent pool for America as a whole .
It helps ensure that we get the best possible leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety and security of the United States .
”

The betting odds are increasingly strong that former Obama administration defense official Michele Flournoy will be returning to the Pentagon as the first female secretary of defense in the nation’s history.
While handicapping remains fierce for other slots in presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden’s national security and diplomatic team, it would be major surprise at this point if the well-known and well-regarded Ms. Flournoy was not picked to head the Department of Defense.
“A Democratic administration would want to be the first to appoint a female secretary of defense,” said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser for the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ (CSIS) International Security Program. “Her background — and this first opportunity — would make her certainly a very strong candidate.”
Ms. Flournoy’s time in the Pentagon began under former President Bill Clinton, when she served as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and threat reduction.
She then spent several years with CSIS and went on to cofound Washington-based think tank Center for a New American Security, which specializes in strategy to advance national security. Ms. Flournoy returned to the Pentagon under President Obama as undersecretary with the lead role in shaping the department’s policy agenda.
Her relationship with Mr. Biden dates back over a decade, and he jokingly volunteered in 2016 to vouch for her for the job as defense secretary in the hoped-for Hillary Clinton administration.
“Well, madam secretary I’m writing a recommendation for her, you know,” Mr. Biden told a CSIS audience that year.
Mr. Cancian, who previously worked in the Office of Management and Budget overseeing military spending, said one of Ms. Flournoy’s first priorities would likely be putting a full stop to the military’s role in construction for the southern border wall.
He said he would expect the Biden administration to pull existing contracts, funding and service members who are deployed to work on Mr. Trump’s signature issue. The next defense secretary will also likely move early on to reverse Mr. Trump’s order banning transgender service members from serving in an active capacity, Mr. Cancian said.
But she may also be required to deal with the budgetary fallout if the Pentagon sees its funds cut by the new administration to finance some of Mr. Biden’s social programs.
Although widely expected to land at the Pentagon, Ms. Flournoy’s name has also been floated for the job of national security adviser, a job that would keep her much closer to the new president on a daily basis.
And although she is an experienced Washington hand, her potential selection as defense secretary still marks a historic moment.
“Having a woman serve as secretary of defense or the deputy secretary of defense is a big deal because it tells all of the women all of the young women who are in high school, maybe even as young as middle school, that this is something they can aspire to,” said Rachel McCaffrey, the executive director of Women in Defense.
Ms. McCaffrey, who served in the Air Force for 28 years, said picking Ms. Flournoy would broaden “the talent pool for America as a whole. It helps ensure that we get the best possible leaders into those critical positions to ensure the safety and security of the United States.”
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.