washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Alabama single mom struggles with kids' remote learning

MONTGOMERY , Ala. ( AP ) - When LaMonica Cochran-Ray awoke on a Friday before daybreak , it was to the plain and unfamiliar walls of a Montgomery hotel room .
At 5:30 a.m. , she opened her eyes , took a deep breath and prepared to move .
She ’ d need to wake her two children , get them dressed and ready for school before they hit the road after check-out .
But first , she must get out of bed .
Cochran-Ray pulsed her fingers and toes , then she massaged her hands and feet to stave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt since last July , when she collided with a drunken driver who had pulled into oncoming traffic .
The family has been on the move since this summer , after an area homicide set off a spate of shootings that forced them to flee when police warned her and the neighbors about revenge attempts from the victim ’ s family .
One week in October , Cochran-Ray , her 9-year-old son , Jeremiah , and her 3-year-old daughter , Ziah , stayed with her brother in Montgomery , and an aunt and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before the end of the week , they were back in Montgomery , in a hotel room .
So much movement adds to the challenge of setting up a remote classroom .
Cochran-Ray ’ s injuries don ’ t make it any easier .
To sit , to stand and to lie too long is painful .
It ’ s prevented her from working her former job as a cosmetologist and being out of work means no insurance .
She manages the constant aches and sharp pain by rationing medication from week to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are unbearable , rather than just aggravating .
The family decamped that morning to the hotel lobby , where they could spread out at a long worktable .
Jeremiah needed to study for a math test , while Ziah practiced her letters .
This time they ’ d remembered everything : laptop and charger , tablet , log-in password sheet .
But before they could settle in , a new problem foiled them : faulty wiring meant the laptop charger wouldn ’ t work when plugged into the outlet closest to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Jeremiah sat reading his new chapter book , part of an accelerated reading program , while his mother attempted to pull up some practice problems on her cell phone that he could copy onto scratch paper .
Hope for a more settled life lies ahead .
The family plans to move about 40 miles north to Clanton , where Cochran-Ray has picked out a parcel of land for their modular home .
But even with the move , she doesn ’ t expect their school days to get any easier .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Head Start , but between the move and COVID-19 concerns , Cochran-Ray chose to keep her out .
Jeremiah , now a fifth grader , is enrolled in Chilton County schools , where parents have a choice between in-person instruction or an at-home version the district calls blended learning .
Jeremiah is patient , with searching brown eyes that evince a maturity beyond his age .
But he is growing tired of his mother ’ s frets and gentle reminders to keep distance from neighborhood kids .
You can ’ t play basketball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
Ziah is nearly fed up too .
Filled with the probing curiosity of a 3-year-old , she displays frank authority when she surmises that , despite what her mother has told her , they are not , in fact , in school but instead in a kitchen .
“ They don ’ t understand how very serious this is , ” Cochran-Ray said .
Both the single mom and her son have asthma , and his is severe .
Some mornings he can barely catch his breath and wears a nebulizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a silicone mask .
So , Cochran-Ray felt she had little choice but to keep him home , even as she struggles with guilt over her decision .
While other children have returned to classrooms , met teachers and made new friends , Jeremiah has yet to even hear his teacher ’ s voice .
His classes are organized via a learning management system where teachers upload coursework and assignments .
Students are given until 8 p.m. each day to check in and claim attendance .
The system offers flexibility and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has been helpful given the family ’ s movements but also puts pressure on Cochran-Ray to be a full-time teacher , tackling everything from long division to natural science .
She worries Jeremiah isn ’ t as engaged at home as he was at school , where hands-on projects and demonstrations could excite his interest .
And some of the third-party applications and websites can be glitchy .
Last year Jeremiah received A ’ s and B ’ s .
His latest progress report shows him with C ’ s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision about what to do next semester until she sees what the county ’ s coronavirus case numbers look like this winter .
“ Seventy-five percent of me wants him at home , ” Cochran-Ray said .
“ The other 25 is thinking about what a 9-year-old needs .
They need to interact .
It ’ s unfair for him , but the safety aspect weighs heavy on me.
” Before the pandemic set in , the family traveled often , visiting family in Chicago or driving to beaches on the Gulf Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a visit to California and Australia when he ’ s older .
“ I plan to write a book about five friends that travel the world , ” he said with the sureness of a man with tickets already in hand .
“ I want to learn about the world.
” They do the best they can with what they have for now .
In the hotel lobby , Jeremiah got started on his math problems while Ziah wore headphones , her tiny fingers wrapped around a tablet dressed in a bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflections from the screen before darting to her mother , to her brother then around the room .
Cochran-Ray shifted her weight in her chair , then soon favored her feet .
The members of a girls ’ volleyball team shuffled in and out , a coach shouting reminders to the players .
Soon after , a hotel cleaner fired up an industrial vacuum .
Jeremiah worked along as if it were merely the hum of a distant wave .

SAFIYA CHARLES, The Montgomery Advertiser

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - When LaMonica Cochran-Ray awoke on a Friday before daybreak, it was to the plain and unfamiliar walls of a Montgomery hotel room. At 5:30 a.m., she opened her eyes, took a deep breath and prepared to move.
She’d need to wake her two children, get them dressed and ready for school before they hit the road after check-out. But first, she must get out of bed.
Cochran-Ray pulsed her fingers and toes, then she massaged her hands and feet to stave off the persistent numbness she’s felt since last July, when she collided with a drunken driver who had pulled into oncoming traffic.
The family has been on the move since this summer, after an area homicide set off a spate of shootings that forced them to flee when police warned her and the neighbors about revenge attempts from the victim’s family.
One week in October, Cochran-Ray, her 9-year-old son, Jeremiah, and her 3-year-old daughter, Ziah, stayed with her brother in Montgomery, and an aunt and uncle 100 miles away in Georgia. Before the end of the week, they were back in Montgomery, in a hotel room.
So much movement adds to the challenge of setting up a remote classroom. Cochran-Ray’s injuries don’t make it any easier. To sit, to stand and to lie too long is painful.
It’s prevented her from working her former job as a cosmetologist and being out of work means no insurance. She manages the constant aches and sharp pain by rationing medication from week to week, storing up pills for days that are unbearable, rather than just aggravating.
The family decamped that morning to the hotel lobby, where they could spread out at a long worktable. Jeremiah needed to study for a math test, while Ziah practiced her letters.
This time they’d remembered everything: laptop and charger, tablet, log-in password sheet. But before they could settle in, a new problem foiled them: faulty wiring meant the laptop charger wouldn’t work when plugged into the outlet closest to the big table in the lobby.
Instead, Jeremiah sat reading his new chapter book, part of an accelerated reading program, while his mother attempted to pull up some practice problems on her cell phone that he could copy onto scratch paper.
Hope for a more settled life lies ahead. The family plans to move about 40 miles north to Clanton, where Cochran-Ray has picked out a parcel of land for their modular home. But even with the move, she doesn’t expect their school days to get any easier.
This would have been the year Ziah entered Head Start, but between the move and COVID-19 concerns, Cochran-Ray chose to keep her out. Jeremiah, now a fifth grader, is enrolled in Chilton County schools, where parents have a choice between in-person instruction or an at-home version the district calls blended learning.
Jeremiah is patient, with searching brown eyes that evince a maturity beyond his age. But he is growing tired of his mother’s frets and gentle reminders to keep distance from neighborhood kids. You can’t play basketball without touching the ball he recently reminded her. Ziah is nearly fed up too. Filled with the probing curiosity of a 3-year-old, she displays frank authority when she surmises that, despite what her mother has told her, they are not, in fact, in school but instead in a kitchen.
“They don’t understand how very serious this is,” Cochran-Ray said.
Both the single mom and her son have asthma, and his is severe. Some mornings he can barely catch his breath and wears a nebulizer machine that allows him to inhale medicine through a silicone mask. So, Cochran-Ray felt she had little choice but to keep him home, even as she struggles with guilt over her decision. While other children have returned to classrooms, met teachers and made new friends, Jeremiah has yet to even hear his teacher’s voice.
His classes are organized via a learning management system where teachers upload coursework and assignments. Students are given until 8 p.m. each day to check in and claim attendance. The system offers flexibility and the option to go at your own pace, which has been helpful given the family’s movements but also puts pressure on Cochran-Ray to be a full-time teacher, tackling everything from long division to natural science.
She worries Jeremiah isn’t as engaged at home as he was at school, where hands-on projects and demonstrations could excite his interest. And some of the third-party applications and websites can be glitchy. Last year Jeremiah received A’s and B’s. His latest progress report shows him with C’s. She’s holding off on a decision about what to do next semester until she sees what the county’s coronavirus case numbers look like this winter.
“Seventy-five percent of me wants him at home,” Cochran-Ray said. “The other 25 is thinking about what a 9-year-old needs. They need to interact. It’s unfair for him, but the safety aspect weighs heavy on me.”
Before the pandemic set in, the family traveled often, visiting family in Chicago or driving to beaches on the Gulf Coast. Lately, Jeremiah has been dreaming of a visit to California and Australia when he’s older.
“I plan to write a book about five friends that travel the world,” he said with the sureness of a man with tickets already in hand. “I want to learn about the world.”
They do the best they can with what they have for now. In the hotel lobby, Jeremiah got started on his math problems while Ziah wore headphones, her tiny fingers wrapped around a tablet dressed in a bright pink sleeve. Her eyes filled with reflections from the screen before darting to her mother, to her brother then around the room. Cochran-Ray shifted her weight in her chair, then soon favored her feet.
The members of a girls’ volleyball team shuffled in and out, a coach shouting reminders to the players. Soon after, a hotel cleaner fired up an industrial vacuum.
Jeremiah worked along as if it were merely the hum of a distant wave.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Satsumas, and love, grow in this Alabama orchard

MOBILE , Ala. ( AP ) - Chad Thornburg probably didn ’ t have to plant an orchard to get his future wife ’ s attention .
But that was part of his plan a decade ago , when he planted the very first satsuma tree on his grandparents ’ property in west Mobile .
Chad had been cutting the grass on his grandmother ’ s 20-acre property anyway , and he figured satsumas would be a good crop to grow in the former pecan orchard .
He dug up the trees that were no longer producing , leaving his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few others , and gradually planted the rows of satsuma trees that are now so tall they hide her brick house .
Before she died , his beloved grandmother ate the first satsuma he picked .
Now , his orchard has nearly 400 trees , and Chad has been married to his wife , Jenny , for eight years .
Their love story is as sweet as the mandarin oranges growing abundantly on each tree Chad planted .
Together , the couple run Southern Orchards , where the public can pick the easy-to-peel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And if you don ’ t live nearby , you can order fresh-picked satsumas that will be shipped to your doorstep .
Chad and Jenny each have full-time jobs – she ’ s an accountant at an advertising agency , and he ’ s a firefighter with the Mobile Fire Department – but they also have farming in their blood .
Her family owns the third-generation Sessions Farm in Grand Bay , and his father , Andy Thornburg , farms cotton and peanuts .
The farming community in Mobile County is close-knit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other since they were children .
Several years ago , Jenny , who had already been single for a while , learned that Chad was going through a divorce .
“ I sent him a message to say I was sorry to hear that , ” she says .
Soon afterward , Chad went to seek advice and guidance from her father , Art Sessions – the largest citrus farmer in the area – about how to get started with his own orchard .
“ I ran away from farming for a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But this was something I could do on a smaller scale .
My mom and dad fronted the funds , and I fronted the labor.
” Going to the Sessions Farm was also a good excuse to see Jenny again .
Soon after that visit , they started dating .
As their love blossomed , so did the orchard .
“ It ’ s been a learning process , ” says Chad .
He learned a hard lesson about satsumas when he had to replant the trees twice after they froze .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he won ’ t grow , ” he says – which is , basically , anywhere north of Montgomery .
“ We ’ ve shipped to Alaska already this year.
” Southern Orchards will ship seven pounds of satsumas for $ 25 and 15 pounds for $ 39 .
They are also open on Friday , Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those who want to pick a gallon of satsumas for $ 20 .
Clippers and a bucket are provided .
And if you ’ re lucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Chad ’ s mother Beverly ’ s homemade satsuma pepper jelly .
Jenny , who grew up working in the fields with her family , loves to see young families bring children to pick .
“ They ’ re introduced to where the fruit comes from , ” she says .
Visitors can also see the horses Chad ’ s sister and her family keep , as well as the cows on the other neighbor ’ s side of the fence .
“ As much as an experience as it is for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to watch their excitement about something we might take for granted.
” During satsuma season , which started around the first of November and will go through the weekend before Christmas , family members on both sides , including the couple ’ s three teenage children and their three cousins who live next door to the orchard , pitch in to help on weekends .
“ Even though it ’ s work , farming still gives you the opportunity to have family relationships and time together you might not otherwise have , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reminded of the time she spent working in the fields alongside her grandmother when she was growing up .
As much as they enjoy sharing their crop with others , Chad loves to be alone among the trees .
“ Ten months out of the year , I ’ m out here by myself , ” he says .
When satsuma season is over , he spends a couple of days each week maintaining the trees and grass .
“ It ’ s peaceful.
” Even though it ’ s located just off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like it ’ s a million miles away .
“ Being in the orchard gives you a chance to disconnect , ” Jenny says .
“ While the world is changing and people enjoy delivery and pickup , there ’ s still a desire to have this experience , too.
” She still likes to tease her husband about the cold winter day he spent with her dad to talk about satsumas – and get her attention .
“ Getting into farming was a crazy thing to do just for a date , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He went all-in.
” Southern Orchards is located at 11000 Calvert Road in Mobile .
For more information , visit www.southernorchards1.com , or call ( 251 ) 751-4714 .
Pick your own satsumas every Friday , Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m .

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - Chad Thornburg probably didn’t have to plant an orchard to get his future wife’s attention. But that was part of his plan a decade ago, when he planted the very first satsuma tree on his grandparents’ property in west Mobile.
Chad had been cutting the grass on his grandmother’s 20-acre property anyway, and he figured satsumas would be a good crop to grow in the former pecan orchard. He dug up the trees that were no longer producing, leaving his Grandma’s favorite one and a few others, and gradually planted the rows of satsuma trees that are now so tall they hide her brick house.
Before she died, his beloved grandmother ate the first satsuma he picked. Now, his orchard has nearly 400 trees, and Chad has been married to his wife, Jenny, for eight years. Their love story is as sweet as the mandarin oranges growing abundantly on each tree Chad planted.
Together, the couple run Southern Orchards, where the public can pick the easy-to-peel satsumas to their hearts’ content. And if you don’t live nearby, you can order fresh-picked satsumas that will be shipped to your doorstep.
Chad and Jenny each have full-time jobs – she’s an accountant at an advertising agency, and he’s a firefighter with the Mobile Fire Department – but they also have farming in their blood. Her family owns the third-generation Sessions Farm in Grand Bay, and his father, Andy Thornburg, farms cotton and peanuts.
The farming community in Mobile County is close-knit, so Chad and Jenny have known each other since they were children. Several years ago, Jenny, who had already been single for a while, learned that Chad was going through a divorce. “I sent him a message to say I was sorry to hear that,” she says.
Soon afterward, Chad went to seek advice and guidance from her father, Art Sessions – the largest citrus farmer in the area – about how to get started with his own orchard. “I ran away from farming for a long time,” says Chad. “But this was something I could do on a smaller scale. My mom and dad fronted the funds, and I fronted the labor.”
Going to the Sessions Farm was also a good excuse to see Jenny again. Soon after that visit, they started dating. As their love blossomed, so did the orchard.
“It’s been a learning process,” says Chad. He learned a hard lesson about satsumas when he had to replant the trees twice after they froze.
His goal is “to ship to areas where he won’t grow,” he says – which is, basically, anywhere north of Montgomery. “We’ve shipped to Alaska already this year.”
Southern Orchards will ship seven pounds of satsumas for $25 and 15 pounds for $39. They are also open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those who want to pick a gallon of satsumas for $20. Clippers and a bucket are provided. And if you’re lucky, you can pick up a jar of Chad’s mother Beverly’s homemade satsuma pepper jelly.
Jenny, who grew up working in the fields with her family, loves to see young families bring children to pick. “They’re introduced to where the fruit comes from,” she says. Visitors can also see the horses Chad’s sister and her family keep, as well as the cows on the other neighbor’s side of the fence. “As much as an experience as it is for them, it is for us to get to watch their excitement about something we might take for granted.”
During satsuma season, which started around the first of November and will go through the weekend before Christmas, family members on both sides, including the couple’s three teenage children and their three cousins who live next door to the orchard, pitch in to help on weekends.
“Even though it’s work, farming still gives you the opportunity to have family relationships and time together you might not otherwise have,” says Jenny. She’s reminded of the time she spent working in the fields alongside her grandmother when she was growing up.
As much as they enjoy sharing their crop with others, Chad loves to be alone among the trees. “Ten months out of the year, I’m out here by myself,” he says. When satsuma season is over, he spends a couple of days each week maintaining the trees and grass. “It’s peaceful.”
Even though it’s located just off Airport Boulevard, the satsuma farm feels like it’s a million miles away. “Being in the orchard gives you a chance to disconnect,” Jenny says. “While the world is changing and people enjoy delivery and pickup, there’s still a desire to have this experience, too.”
She still likes to tease her husband about the cold winter day he spent with her dad to talk about satsumas – and get her attention. “Getting into farming was a crazy thing to do just for a date,” she says with a big smile. “He went all-in.”
Southern Orchards is located at 11000 Calvert Road in Mobile. For more information, visit www.southernorchards1.com, or call (251) 751-4714. Pick your own satsumas every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--An effort to plant Queen Bess Island for Louisiana pelicans

QUEEN BESS ISLAND , La .
( AP ) - After Louisiana officials finished restoring 37-acre Queen Bess Island in February , much of the vegetation planted on its small footprint of newly pumped sand didn ’ t have time to take root before more than 6,000 brown pelicans arrived for breeding season .
The birds pulled up some sprouts to use in their nests .
So on Nov. 13 , the squawks of a few lingering pelicans mixed with the hum of drills boring shallow holes in the island ’ s surface , preparing spots for about 50 volunteers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s newest wildlife refuge .
Matt Benoit , who coordinates habitat restoration for the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program , demonstrated how to take young black mangrove shrubs and matrimony vines out of their plastic pots and place them in the drilled holes .
“ You have to pack the sand around the roots real tight .
They don ’ t like any air down there , ” he said as he pulled sand around a mangrove seedling .
His agency brought about 1,500 of the plants , while Nicholls State University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation supplied the remainder .
Todd Baker , the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries ’ coastal resource scientist manager for wildlife , said the goal was to secure the plants with enough time for them to bolster nesting habitat ahead of the pelicans ’ next nesting season three months hence .
“ We could allow the island to naturally vegetate , but it ’ s going to take years for it to do it , so this is a good way to give it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re losing a lot of pelican nesting habitat all around , so the more we can provide it here , the more it substitutes for the habitat being lost.
” Queen Bess , which provides 70 % of Louisiana ’ s pelican nesting habitat , benefitted from $ 18.7 million provided by the BP oil disaster settlement .
The island and its feathered inhabitants , located in Barataria Bay about two miles north of Grand Isle , were some of the first to be oiled after the Deepwater Horizon explosion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population of brown pelicans , Louisiana ’ s state bird , had climbed its way back after a 1960s decline caused by the widespread use of the since-banned pesticide DDT .
“ To see that money go right back into this habitat and for those exact birds is significant , ” Baker said .
“ And then to see these organizations come together to make another investment in this island is pretty special .
It ’ s not very often we get to do bird projects at this kind of scale.
” As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pelicans build their nests on top , squishing the plants slightly when they sit and care for their eggs .
The plants also help hold sand in place , limiting erosion caused by the wind and water .
Between the coronavirus pandemic and the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season , Baker said , there was a lot of uncertainty around whether the Nov. 13 event would continue .
That uncertainty only increased as Hurricane Eta approached the Gulf of Mexico , though the storm ultimately struck Florida .
Despite the number of storms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Hurricane Zeta two weeks ago , executive director Bren Haase , of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority , said the restored island fared well , with only a couple areas showing minor erosion and some water still held on the island .
Other restoration projects that were still under construction , such as marsh-building efforts near Port Fourchon on West Belle Pass and at Caminada Headlands , were the most damaged .
While restoration project surveys continue , Haase said , “ what we found generally just from looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done actually did pretty well.
” While tucking a black mangrove into the ground , Nicholls State graduate student Katie Gray said she was drawn to the Nov. 13 event to “ do her part ” to address the state ’ s land loss crisis .
Because of Louisiana ’ s rapidly eroding coastline , “ us planting these black mangroves to stabilize these barrier islands is so important , ” she said .
Haase said the volunteer turnout showed “ what the coast brings out in the souls of Louisiana.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a work day on their own time volunteering to get plants in the ground for the sake of our state bird , for the sake of our ecosystem , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a testament to the passion that people have for our culture and for our coast .
”

HALLE PARKER, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate

QUEEN BESS ISLAND, La. (AP) - After Louisiana officials finished restoring 37-acre Queen Bess Island in February, much of the vegetation planted on its small footprint of newly pumped sand didn’t have time to take root before more than 6,000 brown pelicans arrived for breeding season. The birds pulled up some sprouts to use in their nests.
So on Nov. 13, the squawks of a few lingering pelicans mixed with the hum of drills boring shallow holes in the island’s surface, preparing spots for about 50 volunteers to plant another 6,000 seedlings on the state’s newest wildlife refuge.
Matt Benoit, who coordinates habitat restoration for the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, demonstrated how to take young black mangrove shrubs and matrimony vines out of their plastic pots and place them in the drilled holes.
“You have to pack the sand around the roots real tight. They don’t like any air down there,” he said as he pulled sand around a mangrove seedling. His agency brought about 1,500 of the plants, while Nicholls State University’s farm provided about 200 and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation supplied the remainder.
Todd Baker, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ coastal resource scientist manager for wildlife, said the goal was to secure the plants with enough time for them to bolster nesting habitat ahead of the pelicans’ next nesting season three months hence.
“We could allow the island to naturally vegetate, but it’s going to take years for it to do it, so this is a good way to give it a jump start,” he said. “We’re losing a lot of pelican nesting habitat all around, so the more we can provide it here, the more it substitutes for the habitat being lost.”
Queen Bess, which provides 70% of Louisiana’s pelican nesting habitat, benefitted from $18.7 million provided by the BP oil disaster settlement. The island and its feathered inhabitants, located in Barataria Bay about two miles north of Grand Isle, were some of the first to be oiled after the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010. The island’s population of brown pelicans, Louisiana’s state bird, had climbed its way back after a 1960s decline caused by the widespread use of the since-banned pesticide DDT.
“To see that money go right back into this habitat and for those exact birds is significant,” Baker said. “And then to see these organizations come together to make another investment in this island is pretty special. It’s not very often we get to do bird projects at this kind of scale.”
As the native mangroves and vines grow, the pelicans build their nests on top, squishing the plants slightly when they sit and care for their eggs. The plants also help hold sand in place, limiting erosion caused by the wind and water.
Between the coronavirus pandemic and the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season, Baker said, there was a lot of uncertainty around whether the Nov. 13 event would continue. That uncertainty only increased as Hurricane Eta approached the Gulf of Mexico, though the storm ultimately struck Florida.
Despite the number of storms this year, including a direct hit from Hurricane Zeta two weeks ago, executive director Bren Haase, of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, said the restored island fared well, with only a couple areas showing minor erosion and some water still held on the island. Other restoration projects that were still under construction, such as marsh-building efforts near Port Fourchon on West Belle Pass and at Caminada Headlands, were the most damaged.
While restoration project surveys continue, Haase said, “what we found generally just from looking at aerial photography is that projects that were done actually did pretty well.”
While tucking a black mangrove into the ground, Nicholls State graduate student Katie Gray said she was drawn to the Nov. 13 event to “do her part” to address the state’s land loss crisis. Because of Louisiana’s rapidly eroding coastline, “us planting these black mangroves to stabilize these barrier islands is so important,” she said.
Haase said the volunteer turnout showed “what the coast brings out in the souls of Louisiana.”
“These people are all out here on a work day on their own time volunteering to get plants in the ground for the sake of our state bird, for the sake of our ecosystem,” he said. “It’s a testament to the passion that people have for our culture and for our coast.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Ecologist leads projects to protect, preserve the Eel River

DENVER , Ind .
( AP ) - Over the last eight years , the Eel River in northern Miami County has undergone a stunning transformation .
Four low-head dams have been removed , making the river safer than ever before for paddlers .
Fish and other aquatic animals are thriving that haven ’ t lived in the stream in decades .
The water quality has vastly improved , thanks to efforts to curb the amount of nutrient runoff from farm fields .
And behind all those changes is Jerry Sweeten , a 67-year-old stream ecologist who has partnered with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improve the river he ’ s come to love .
Sweeten , who lives right beside the Eel River in northern Miami County , has spent nearly a decade implementing projects to improve the river ’ s quality , safety and biodiversity .
Those conservation efforts in 2016 received national attention , when the Eel River was named one of the top 10 improved watersheds by the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service .
But transforming the nearly 100-mile river , which runs from Allen County to Logansport , wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It all fell into place when he accepted a position at Manchester University as a professor of biology and environmental studies .
Sweeten said he was looking for a good way to give his students some hands-on experience , and saw his opportunity with the Eel River , which runs beside the campus .
“ A textbook only provides very limited information , ” he said .
“ In our field , to train a biologist , you need applied experience and understanding on how research works .
This provided a great laboratory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our backyard .
It was just like an open book in terms of research.
” The first research effort was studying how water quality affected the spawning habits of smallmouth bass .
But the first major project that would eventually transform the river came after Sweeten helped secure federal funding to take out the low-head dams at North Manchester and Liberty Mills .
It took two years to get the proper permits in place ; no one had ever used federal money to take out low-head dams in Indiana .
But after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dams came down in 2012 .
“ We decided if we were going to do it , we wanted to study how the stream would respond , ” Sweeten said .
“ What happens when you take out a dam ?
” The answer , he discovered , was everything .
“ We said , ‘ Holy cow , things have changed so much , ’ ” Sweeten said .
“ Dams being gone make the river safer and makes the water cleaner.
” It also opened up large portions of the stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from migrating up and down the river .
After the structures were removed , smallmouth bass ended up moving upstream and spawning for the first time in decades .
The success of the project spurred Sweeten to go after funding that would eventually pay for the removal of the dams in Mexico and Collamer , where a 31-year-old Warsaw man died in a kayaking accident in 2017 .
Now , Sweeten is working to remove the low-head dam in Logansport .
He said the city ’ s utility board just voted to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once the structure is gone , the entire river will be open from top to bottom to the fish that previously couldn ’ t move up and down the stream .
That means , for the first time since the dams were installed , people will be able to fish for walleye at Stockdale Mill near Roann .
Sweeten made another huge contribution to improving the river ’ s fish population when he helped find funding to build a one-of-a-kind fish ladder around the dam at Stockdale Mill .
The device allows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and down the stream .
He said there are 57 species of fish in the river , and they ’ ve documented 47 species using the ladder .
But his efforts to boost the biodiversity of the stream didn ’ t end there .
In 2016 , he and government partners reintroduced a species of mussel into the river they knew had once lived there because they found their shells in the river bed .
They brought in 150 of the animals and tagged them with tracking devices .
“ It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mine , because there ’ s no way of telling how many decades it ’ s been since they ’ ve been alive here , ” Sweeten said .
A year later , they discovered all but one of the mussels had survived .
The experiment was a huge success , so they brought in 3,000 more to place throughout the river .
Today , the mussels have the highest survival rate in the Eel River compared to any other stream in the nation where they ’ ve been reintroduced .
On top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sweeten also has worked closely with local farmers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture on conservation initiatives to prevent nutrient and chemical runoff from fields .
He ’ s currently working to restore native eelgrass into the river to improve water quality .
Sweeten retired in 2018 from Manchester University , where he spearheaded most of the restoration projects on the river .
He said his initial plan was to take it easy and go fishing with his wife , Melinda .
Instead , the two founded Ecosystems Connections Institute , a private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studying waterways around the state .
And through the business , Sweeten is carrying on his mission of restoring the Eel River .
In the end , he said , it ’ s impossible to restore the stream to what it once was before the arrival of Europeans , who would irrevocably change the waterway for centuries to come .
But that ’ s not the point , Sweeten said .
Instead , much of his research aims to show that humans can coexist with waterways without polluting or damaging them , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River is valuable in its own right .
“ People have to value that resource as more than just a place to dump , ” he said .
“ Rivers are a living system that are full of life , that are responding to what humans allow it to be .
If you try to look at it through the lens of the river ’ s eyes instead of the lens of a human ’ s eyes , then you begin to understand some of those things .
”

DENVER, Ind. (AP) - Over the last eight years, the Eel River in northern Miami County has undergone a stunning transformation.
Four low-head dams have been removed, making the river safer than ever before for paddlers. Fish and other aquatic animals are thriving that haven’t lived in the stream in decades. The water quality has vastly improved, thanks to efforts to curb the amount of nutrient runoff from farm fields.
And behind all those changes is Jerry Sweeten, a 67-year-old stream ecologist who has partnered with universities, government agencies and nonprofit groups to improve the river he’s come to love.
Sweeten, who lives right beside the Eel River in northern Miami County, has spent nearly a decade implementing projects to improve the river’s quality, safety and biodiversity. Those conservation efforts in 2016 received national attention, when the Eel River was named one of the top 10 improved watersheds by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
But transforming the nearly 100-mile river, which runs from Allen County to Logansport, wasn’t something Sweeten set out to do. It all fell into place when he accepted a position at Manchester University as a professor of biology and environmental studies.
Sweeten said he was looking for a good way to give his students some hands-on experience, and saw his opportunity with the Eel River, which runs beside the campus.
“A textbook only provides very limited information,” he said. “In our field, to train a biologist, you need applied experience and understanding on how research works. This provided a great laboratory for us. It was right here in our backyard. It was just like an open book in terms of research.”
The first research effort was studying how water quality affected the spawning habits of smallmouth bass. But the first major project that would eventually transform the river came after Sweeten helped secure federal funding to take out the low-head dams at North Manchester and Liberty Mills.
It took two years to get the proper permits in place; no one had ever used federal money to take out low-head dams in Indiana. But after cutting through the red tape, the dams came down in 2012.
“We decided if we were going to do it, we wanted to study how the stream would respond,” Sweeten said. “What happens when you take out a dam?”
The answer, he discovered, was everything.
“We said, ‘Holy cow, things have changed so much,’” Sweeten said. “Dams being gone make the river safer and makes the water cleaner.”
It also opened up large portions of the stream to fish that had been cut off from migrating up and down the river. After the structures were removed, smallmouth bass ended up moving upstream and spawning for the first time in decades.
The success of the project spurred Sweeten to go after funding that would eventually pay for the removal of the dams in Mexico and Collamer, where a 31-year-old Warsaw man died in a kayaking accident in 2017.
Now, Sweeten is working to remove the low-head dam in Logansport. He said the city’s utility board just voted to allow them to move forward on the project.
Once the structure is gone, the entire river will be open from top to bottom to the fish that previously couldn’t move up and down the stream. That means, for the first time since the dams were installed, people will be able to fish for walleye at Stockdale Mill near Roann.
Sweeten made another huge contribution to improving the river’s fish population when he helped find funding to build a one-of-a-kind fish ladder around the dam at Stockdale Mill.
The device allows fish to bypass the structure and migrate up and down the stream. He said there are 57 species of fish in the river, and they’ve documented 47 species using the ladder.
“It’s been wildly successful,” Sweeten said.
But his efforts to boost the biodiversity of the stream didn’t end there. In 2016, he and government partners reintroduced a species of mussel into the river they knew had once lived there because they found their shells in the river bed. They brought in 150 of the animals and tagged them with tracking devices.
“It was like dropping a canary in the coal mine, because there’s no way of telling how many decades it’s been since they’ve been alive here,” Sweeten said.
A year later, they discovered all but one of the mussels had survived. The experiment was a huge success, so they brought in 3,000 more to place throughout the river. Today, the mussels have the highest survival rate in the Eel River compared to any other stream in the nation where they’ve been reintroduced.
On top of removing dams and reintroducing wildlife, Sweeten also has worked closely with local farmers through the U.S. Department of Agriculture on conservation initiatives to prevent nutrient and chemical runoff from fields. He’s currently working to restore native eelgrass into the river to improve water quality.
Sweeten retired in 2018 from Manchester University, where he spearheaded most of the restoration projects on the river. He said his initial plan was to take it easy and go fishing with his wife, Melinda.
Instead, the two founded Ecosystems Connections Institute, a private company dedicated to managing, preserving and studying waterways around the state. And through the business, Sweeten is carrying on his mission of restoring the Eel River.
In the end, he said, it’s impossible to restore the stream to what it once was before the arrival of Europeans, who would irrevocably change the waterway for centuries to come.
But that’s not the point, Sweeten said. Instead, much of his research aims to show that humans can coexist with waterways without polluting or damaging them, and showing that a stream like the Eel River is valuable in its own right.
“People have to value that resource as more than just a place to dump,” he said. “Rivers are a living system that are full of life, that are responding to what humans allow it to be. If you try to look at it through the lens of the river’s eyes instead of the lens of a human’s eyes, then you begin to understand some of those things.”
-
Source: Kokomo Tribune


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Mississippi Coast florist to help with White House Christmas

GULFPORT , Miss .
( AP ) - Forget Me Not Florist has been selected to help decorate the White House with first lady Melania Trump this year .
Mother and daughter duo Theresa Cuevas and Courtney Jane Cuevas applied to be among the floral designers nationwide that President Donald Trump and the first lady welcome into their home for the holiday festivities this year .
“ When it ( the application ) became available , I said let ’ s do it , let ’ s try it , ” Theresa said .
The good news came a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 deadline .
“ We were so excited , very happy , ” Theresa said about the moment the two got the confirmation email .
“ She was screaming , ” Courtney said .
Theresa ’ s mother opened Forget Me Not Florist in 1978 , and her grandmother was a florist as well .
The flower shop has a location in Gulfport and Long Beach .
Courtney , her daughter , has helped with the shop along with her siblings since she was a little girl .
Although she ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veer away from the flower business , she was excited for the opportunity to volunteer with her mother .
They ’ ve made a few trips to Washington , D.C. , but this one will be special .
“ I knew she would just love It , ” Theresa said .
Courtney is in school for legal studies and is interested in politics .
They hope that while volunteering they ’ ll be able to see a different side of the White House .
Soon after they learned of their selection in mid-October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store ’ s Facebook page .
The mother and daughter said they were proud to be able to represent the Mississippi Coast .
“ It ’ s a huge honor to be able to represent Long Beach , ” Courtney said .
The two will leave for Washington on Sunday , but not before getting orders ready for the next couple weeks .
The shop has two large orders for a wedding and a dance recital this weekend .
The mother and daughter duo will help assist the White House florist and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House a winter wonderland with the First Lady .
They ’ re not sure yet sure about their specific tasks , but they ’ ll help carry out this year ’ s theme and design once they arrive .
They were also invited to eat lunch with Melania Trump on Monday , something that they are looking forward to .
“ We ’ re both so excited to meet the first lady , ” Courtney said .
“ It ’ s going to be a great moment .
”

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Forget Me Not Florist has been selected to help decorate the White House with first lady Melania Trump this year.
Mother and daughter duo Theresa Cuevas and Courtney Jane Cuevas applied to be among the floral designers nationwide that President Donald Trump and the first lady welcome into their home for the holiday festivities this year.
“When it (the application) became available, I said let’s do it, let’s try it,” Theresa said.
The good news came a month after the two applied by the Oct. 1 deadline.
“We were so excited, very happy,” Theresa said about the moment the two got the confirmation email. “She was screaming,” Courtney said.
Theresa’s mother opened Forget Me Not Florist in 1978, and her grandmother was a florist as well. The flower shop has a location in Gulfport and Long Beach. Courtney, her daughter, has helped with the shop along with her siblings since she was a little girl.
Although she’s a student at Southern Miss and plans to veer away from the flower business, she was excited for the opportunity to volunteer with her mother. They’ve made a few trips to Washington, D.C., but this one will be special.
“I knew she would just love It,” Theresa said. Courtney is in school for legal studies and is interested in politics. They hope that while volunteering they’ll be able to see a different side of the White House.
Soon after they learned of their selection in mid-October, they shared the news on the store’s Facebook page. The mother and daughter said they were proud to be able to represent the Mississippi Coast.
“It’s a huge honor to be able to represent Long Beach,” Courtney said.
The two will leave for Washington on Sunday, but not before getting orders ready for the next couple weeks. The shop has two large orders for a wedding and a dance recital this weekend.
The mother and daughter duo will help assist the White House florist and other volunteers from around the country make the White House a winter wonderland with the First Lady.
They’re not sure yet sure about their specific tasks, but they’ll help carry out this year’s theme and design once they arrive.
They were also invited to eat lunch with Melania Trump on Monday, something that they are looking forward to.
“We’re both so excited to meet the first lady,” Courtney said. “It’s going to be a great moment.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Georgia Cancer Center offers skin cancer screenings on phone

AUGUSTA , Ga. ( AP ) - Dr. Loretta Davis takes the device attached to her iPhone and presses it against a sunspot on the wrist of Dr. Jorge Cortes , the director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University .
After glancing at the sharp image it sends to her screen , the chair of the AU Department of Dermatology tells him it is “ pretty boring , which is a good thing.
” The images the mobile dermatoscope can take and send , which Davis said are as good as the device she uses in a clinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new effort by the cancer center to create links with 15 medical centers in 14 rural communities , mostly in southwest and central Georgia , to provide skin cancer screening and education .
The project is funded by $ 576,035 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture ’ s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program .
The project will also reach out to primary care residency programs in the state that might not be in rural communities “ but their residents graduate and end up serving primarily in these rural communities , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Medical College of Georgia ’ s Southwest Campus at Phoebe Putney Health System in Albany .
The program will allow primary care providers seeing patients to use MoleScope II , a mobile dermatoscope connected to a smartphone , to image suspicious moles or lesions and share those with experts at the cancer center , Cortes said .
Many rural areas lack access to a dermatologist , Patten said .
“ Sometimes that lack of access is geographic .
There is just not one nearby , or if they are nearby , transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community can be a challenge , ” he said .
“ But sometimes that lack of access is based on the ability to pay for the service.
” The dermatoscopes “ just revolutionize the way we examine lesions , ” Davis said .
“ My eye is pretty good at doing this after 30 years , but it is way better if this is used.
” The image is magnified and the light used allows the practitioner to see further into the skin and recognize asymmetrical colors , patterns or blood vessels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazingly easy to use , ” she said , holding the small round scope .
“ You just press this up against the skin .
So a practitioner in rural Georgia can hold this up against a concerning spot and it is transmitted to us .
It is amazing technology.
” The visualization helps with patients with darker skin tones , particularly with Black patients , Patten said .
“ Those can be some of the most tricky to diagnose , especially if you are just looking at them with the naked eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this enhances access , it enhances the quality of the evaluation and hopefully will allow us to intervene earlier in some of these potentially life-threatening skin cancers.
” Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer , with 108,420 cases expected in the U.S. in 2020 and 11,480 deaths , according to the American Cancer Society .
Being able to tell patients that a suspicious rash is nothing can give them peace of mind and save them time and money from having to take a trip to see a specialist , or more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrutiny and treatment , Cortes said .
“ The biggest concern in skin cancer , and particularly those that are most aggressive , is that when you diagnose early is when you have your best chance to eliminate the threat , ” he said .

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Dr. Loretta Davis takes the device attached to her iPhone and presses it against a sunspot on the wrist of Dr. Jorge Cortes, the director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University.
After glancing at the sharp image it sends to her screen, the chair of the AU Department of Dermatology tells him it is “pretty boring, which is a good thing.”
The images the mobile dermatoscope can take and send, which Davis said are as good as the device she uses in a clinic, are at the heart of a new effort by the cancer center to create links with 15 medical centers in 14 rural communities, mostly in southwest and central Georgia, to provide skin cancer screening and education. The project is funded by $576,035 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants program.
The project will also reach out to primary care residency programs in the state that might not be in rural communities “but their residents graduate and end up serving primarily in these rural communities,” said Dr. Doug Patten, the dean of the Medical College of Georgia’s Southwest Campus at Phoebe Putney Health System in Albany.
The program will allow primary care providers seeing patients to use MoleScope II, a mobile dermatoscope connected to a smartphone, to image suspicious moles or lesions and share those with experts at the cancer center, Cortes said.
Many rural areas lack access to a dermatologist, Patten said.
“Sometimes that lack of access is geographic. There is just not one nearby, or if they are nearby, transportation from the small community into a larger community can be a challenge,” he said. “But sometimes that lack of access is based on the ability to pay for the service.”
The dermatoscopes “just revolutionize the way we examine lesions,” Davis said. “My eye is pretty good at doing this after 30 years, but it is way better if this is used.”
The image is magnified and the light used allows the practitioner to see further into the skin and recognize asymmetrical colors, patterns or blood vessels, Davis said.
“And it is amazingly easy to use,” she said, holding the small round scope. “You just press this up against the skin. So a practitioner in rural Georgia can hold this up against a concerning spot and it is transmitted to us. It is amazing technology.”
The visualization helps with patients with darker skin tones, particularly with Black patients, Patten said.
“Those can be some of the most tricky to diagnose, especially if you are just looking at them with the naked eye,” he said. “So this enhances access, it enhances the quality of the evaluation and hopefully will allow us to intervene earlier in some of these potentially life-threatening skin cancers.”
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, with 108,420 cases expected in the U.S. in 2020 and 11,480 deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.
Being able to tell patients that a suspicious rash is nothing can give them peace of mind and save them time and money from having to take a trip to see a specialist, or more importantly, identify those that need further scrutiny and treatment, Cortes said.
“The biggest concern in skin cancer, and particularly those that are most aggressive, is that when you diagnose early is when you have your best chance to eliminate the threat,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Hundreds of cities still eligible for COVID-19 relief money

SPRINGFIELD , Ill. ( AP ) - Gov .
J.B. Pritzker ’ s administration is reminding local government officials of @ @ @ @ @ submit applications for federal relief from the coronavirus pandemic .
Congress approved so-called Local CURE @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 relief package last spring .
The money must be spent by Dec. 30 .
@ @ @ @ @ and Economic Opportunity reports that it has initiated the process with the 1,400 eligible government @ @ @ @ @ complete required steps .
DCEO said 503 local governments have received or will receive a @ @ @ @ @ thus far .
But more than 400 government bodies are still eligible and have not @ @ @ @ @ incurred between March 1 and Dec. 30 include payrolls for public health and public safety @ @ @ @ @ tracing , emergency medical expenses , and public health spending necessary to comply with government @ @ @ @ @ by year ’ s end is returned to the federal government .

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is reminding local government officials of a Dec. 1 deadline to submit applications for federal relief from the coronavirus pandemic.
Congress approved so-called Local CURE funds as part of a COVID-19 relief package last spring. The money must be spent by Dec. 30.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity reports that it has initiated the process with the 1,400 eligible government but many have yet to complete required steps.
DCEO said 503 local governments have received or will receive a total of $112 million thus far. But more than 400 government bodies are still eligible and have not completed applications.
Eligible costs incurred between March 1 and Dec. 30 include payrolls for public health and public safety, COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, emergency medical expenses, and public health spending necessary to comply with government orders.
Money not spent by year’s end is returned to the federal government.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Pakistan says soldier, 4 militants killed in border shootout

ISLAMABAD ( AP ) - Pakistan ’ s military said a soldier and four militants were killed Sunday in a shootout during a raid near the border with Afghanistan .
The military said two soldiers were also injured during the raid in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan , in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province .
North Waziristan served as a headquarters for local and foreign militants until 2017 , when the army said it had cleared the mountainous region of insurgents following several operations .
The region still sees sporadic attacks , mainly targeting security forces .
Such incidents have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regrouping .
Separately , in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir , a Pakistani official said Indian cross-border firing killed a 7-year-old girl and wounded 10 villagers .
Umar Azam , the deputy commissioner of Kotli district in Pakistani-administered Kashmir , said Pakistani troops returned fire across the border .
There was no immediate comment from India .
The fighting came amid increasing tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors .
Earlier this month , Pakistani and Indian troops exchanged fire across the frontier , leaving 12 people dead , including three Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 36 on both sides .
The fatalities were some of the highest reported in recent years .
Since gaining independence from Britain in 1947 , Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir , which is split between them and claimed by both in its entirety .
Pakistan and India routinely accuse each other of unprovoked attacks along the tense Kashmir frontier in violation of a 2003 cease-fire agreement .
Associated Press reporters Roshan Mughal in Muzaffarabad , Pakistan and Asim Tanveer in Multan , Pakistan contributed @ @ @ @

ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan’s military said a soldier and four militants were killed Sunday in a shootout during a raid near the border with Afghanistan.
The military said two soldiers were also injured during the raid in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
North Waziristan served as a headquarters for local and foreign militants until 2017, when the army said it had cleared the mountainous region of insurgents following several operations. The region still sees sporadic attacks, mainly targeting security forces.
Such incidents have raised fears that the Pakistani Taliban are regrouping.
Separately, in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, a Pakistani official said Indian cross-border firing killed a 7-year-old girl and wounded 10 villagers.
Umar Azam, the deputy commissioner of Kotli district in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, said Pakistani troops returned fire across the border.
There was no immediate comment from India.
The fighting came amid increasing tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors.
Earlier this month, Pakistani and Indian troops exchanged fire across the frontier, leaving 12 people dead, including three Indian and one Pakistani soldier, and wounding at least 36 on both sides. The fatalities were some of the highest reported in recent years.
Since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, Pakistan and India have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, which is split between them and claimed by both in its entirety.
Pakistan and India routinely accuse each other of unprovoked attacks along the tense Kashmir frontier in violation of a 2003 cease-fire agreement.
___
Associated Press reporters Roshan Mughal in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Cape Cod National Seashore to get winter upgrades

WELLFLEET , Mass .
( AP ) - Winter may be setting in , but work to improve the visitor @ @ @ @ @ National Seashore is continuing through the colder months , officials say .
The new or @ @ @ @ @ of new bathhouse facilities at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham and ongoing rehabilitation of Highland @ @ @ @ @ Brian Carlstrom said in a statement , according to the Cape Cod Times .
Smaller @ @ @ @ @ , septic system replacements and the completion of a new accessible path at Province Lands @ @ @ @ @ work at the Provincetown visitor center and interior work at the Race Point Beach bathhouse @ @ @ @ @ winter .
Work on the Nauset Light Beach bathhouse is expected to be completed next @ @ @ @ @ be installed on the former Nauset Coast Guard Station and the public restroom at Coast @ @ @ @ @ A replacement septic system will be installed at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet to meet current @ @ @ @

WELLFLEET, Mass. (AP) - Winter may be setting in, but work to improve the visitor experience at the Cape Cod National Seashore is continuing through the colder months, officials say.
The new or ongoing projects include the construction of new bathhouse facilities at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham and ongoing rehabilitation of Highland Light in Truro, Superintendent Brian Carlstrom said in a statement, according to the Cape Cod Times.
Smaller projects include public restroom upgrades, septic system replacements and the completion of a new accessible path at Province Lands Visitor Center.
Exterior rehabilitation work at the Provincetown visitor center and interior work at the Race Point Beach bathhouse will take place over the winter.
Work on the Nauset Light Beach bathhouse is expected to be completed next summer.
New roofs will be installed on the former Nauset Coast Guard Station and the public restroom at Coast Guard Beach in Eastham.
A replacement septic system will be installed at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet to meet current public health codes.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Vaccine czar: Coronavirus immunizations could begin in three weeks

Moncef Slaoui , who oversees vaccine development for the White House , said Sunday that he thinks the American people @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 in about three weeks .
Mr. Slaoui told CNN that the federal government is @ @ @ @ @ the states as soon as an emergency-use authorization is approved by the Food and Drug @ @ @ @ @ is to be able to ship vaccines to the immunization sites within 24 hours from @ @ @ @ @ would expect maybe on Day Two after approval , ” Mr. Slaoui said on CNN @ @ @ @ @ or the 12th of December , hopefully , the first people will be immunized across @ @ @ @ @ all states.
” Mr. Slaoui said the vaccines will be delivered to where individual states @ @ @ @ @ they should go .
Herd immunity from the COVID-19 virus would take place near May @ @ @ @ @ House ’ s plan for distributing the vaccines , according to Mr. Slaoui .

Moncef Slaoui, who oversees vaccine development for the White House, said Sunday that he thinks the American people could begin getting immunized from COVID-19 in about three weeks.
Mr. Slaoui told CNN that the federal government is working to move vaccines to the states as soon as an emergency-use authorization is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Our plan is to be able to ship vaccines to the immunization sites within 24 hours from the approval, so I would expect maybe on Day Two after approval,” Mr. Slaoui said on CNN. “On the 11th or the 12th of December, hopefully, the first people will be immunized across the United States, across all states.”
Mr. Slaoui said the vaccines will be delivered to where individual states’ health departments have instructed they should go.
Herd immunity from the COVID-19 virus would take place near May 2021 based on the White House’s plan for distributing the vaccines, according to Mr. Slaoui.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Confrontation at German coronavirus protest goes viral

BERLIN ( AP ) - A video went viral Sunday in Germany of a confrontation at a coronavirus protest , where a young woman compared herself to a famous Nazi resistance fighter only to be confronted by a security guard who accused her of “ trivalizing ” the Holocaust .
Several people protesting coronavirus restrictions in Germany that seek to tamp down new infections have tried to depict themselves as victims of government persecution .
Some have even put on Stars of David , symbols that the Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Third Reich before they killed them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening in the northern city of Hannover , telling fellow protesters “ I feel like Sophie Scholl , since I ’ ve been active in the resistance , giving speeches , going to protests , distributing flyers.
” Scholl fought the Nazis with her brother and other members of the resistance group White Rose .
After distributing flyers at a Munich university , she was convicted of high treason and was executed at age 22 by the Nazis in 1943 .
While the female protester is talking , a young security guard approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not going to be a security guard for this kind of idiocy.
” The woman looks at him in disbelief while he calls her speech “ a trivialization of the Holocaust.
” He is ushered away by security and she throws down the mic in anger .
The Nazis orchestrated the genocide of six million European Jews during the Third Reich .
German officials , meanwhile , have been generally praised for their handling of the pandemic .
The European Union nation has reported over 14,000 coronavirus-related deaths , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

BERLIN (AP) - A video went viral Sunday in Germany of a confrontation at a coronavirus protest, where a young woman compared herself to a famous Nazi resistance fighter and then was accused by a security guard of “trivializing” the Holocaust.
Several people protesting coronavirus restrictions in Germany that seek to tamp down new infections have tried to depict themselves as victims of government persecution. Some have even put on Stars of David, symbols that the Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Third Reich before they killed them.
The woman spoke on stage Saturday evening in the northern city of Hannover, telling fellow protesters “I feel like Sophie Scholl, since I’ve been active in the resistance, giving speeches, going to protests, distributing flyers.”
Scholl fought the Nazis with her brother and other members of the resistance group White Rose. After distributing flyers at a Munich university, she was convicted of high treason and was executed at age 22 by the Nazis in 1943.
While the female protester was talking, a young security guard approached the stage, saying repeatedly that “I’m not going to be a security guard for this kind of idiocy.” The woman looked at him in disbelief while he called her speech “a trivialization of the Holocaust.” He was ushered away by security and she threw down the mic in anger.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted Sunday that the comparison with Scholl “mocks the bravery that was needed to take a stand against the Nazis.”
“Nothing connects the corona protests with the resistance fighters. Nothing!” Maas wrote.
The Nazis orchestrated the genocide of six million European Jews during the Third Reich. They also killed tens of thousands of other people who opposed their regime, such as communists, Social Democrats, members of the church or resistance fighters.
German officials, meanwhile, have been generally praised for their handling of the pandemic. The European Union nation has reported over 14,000 coronavirus-related deaths, a toll only one-fourth that of Britain’s.
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--House Democratic Caucus chairman: Trump's presidency was a 'scam'

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries , chairman of the House Democratic Caucus , dismissed President Trump ’ s allegations of voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ scammed the American people .
Asked on CNN about a tweet from Mr. Trump that @ @ @ @ @ ” had taken place in the election in Detroit , Mr. Jeffries said the president @ @ @ @ @ “ The scam that has been perpetrated on the American people for the last four @ @ @ @ @ s presidency , ” the New York Democrat said on CNN .
“ That ’ @ @ @ @ @ Jeffries said he thought the GOP was finished and had been replaced with the “ @ @ @ @ @ he said was here to stay .
When pressed by CNN personality Dana Bash how @ @ @ @ @ with Republicans in 2021 , Mr. Jeffries answered that he thought an inauguration for presumptive @ @ @ @ @ make Republicans change their minds and become open to working with Democrats .

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, dismissed President Trump’s allegations of voter fraud and said Mr. Trump had scammed the American people.
Asked on CNN about a tweet from Mr. Trump that said a “giant scam” had taken place in the election in Detroit, Mr. Jeffries said the president was undergoing a meltdown.
“The scam that has been perpetrated on the American people for the last four years is Donald Trump’s presidency,” the New York Democrat said on CNN. “That’s the scam.”
Mr. Jeffries said he thought the GOP was finished and had been replaced with the “cult of Trump” that he said was here to stay.
When pressed by CNN personality Dana Bash how Mr. Jeffries intended to work with Republicans in 2021, Mr. Jeffries answered that he thought an inauguration for presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden could make Republicans change their minds and become open to working with Democrats.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Trump petitions for Georgia recount -- with signature review

The Trump campaign ’ s legal team is petitioning for another recount in Georgia after officials certified the race for presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden .
“ We are focused on ensuring that every aspect of Georgia State Law and the U.S. Constitution are followed so that every legal vote is counted .
President Trump and his campaign continue to insist on an honest recount in Georgia , which has to include signature matching and other vital safeguards .
Without signature matching , this recount would be a sham and again allow for illegal votes to be counted .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be as phony as the initial vote count and recount .
Let ’ s stop giving the People false results , ” President Trump ’ s lawyers said in a statement Saturday .
The state had conducted a hand recount but there was no review of signatures on mail-in ballots .
The hand recount did uncover more than three thousand ballots that had not originally been tabulated but the results of the election did not change .
Georgia officials announced Mr. Biden as the winner on Friday .
He captured the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a .2 % lead over Mr. Trump .
The Trump campaign also has a recount underway in two of Wisconsin ’ s biggest counties , as they challenge that battleground state ’ s results .

The Trump campaign’s legal team is petitioning for another recount in Georgia after officials certified the race for presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden.
“We are focused on ensuring that every aspect of Georgia State Law and the U.S. Constitution are followed so that every legal vote is counted. President Trump and his campaign continue to insist on an honest recount in Georgia, which has to include signature matching and other vital safeguards. Without signature matching, this recount would be a sham and again allow for illegal votes to be counted. If there is no signature matching, this would be as phony as the initial vote count and recount. Let’s stop giving the People false results,” President Trump’s lawyers said in a statement Saturday.
The state had conducted a hand recount but there was no review of signatures on mail-in ballots.
The hand recount did uncover more than three thousand ballots that had not originally been tabulated but the results of the election did not change. Georgia officials announced Mr. Biden as the winner on Friday.
He captured the state’s 16 electoral college votes by a .2% lead over Mr. Trump.
The Trump campaign also has a recount underway in two of Wisconsin’s biggest counties, as they challenge that battleground state’s results.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Credit counseling CEO discusses aid in the time of pandemic

Rebecca Steele is the president and CEO of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling , the largest nonprofit financial counseling organization in the U.S. NFCC aims to help Americans lead financially healthy lives .
It offers services such as debt management planning , foreclosure prevention and home ownership counseling through its network of 600 offices nationwide .
No one is turned away and its services are provided either free or for a modest fee .
A : Nonprofit credit counseling has been around for a while , but we have been working on updating it and providing more types of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially as it relates to the pandemic .
We really think of ourselves as financial counseling for all the masses .
Q : What can someone expect ?
A : One thing that really sets us apart are the counseling sessions .
Anyone can reach out , either by phone or by an e-mail , and get assigned to one person to help you .
It starts with really listening to their situation and educating people on what their options are .
Going through their budget : What is your income ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ What are your expenses ?
What is your housing situation ?
How do you get by and put food on the table ?
We ’ ll work with them to really try to make their income balance their expenses and maybe even provide a little bit of savings .
Now , that ’ s real challenging at this time , so sometimes we can ’ t do that .
When we can ’ t , we go through their options and what to expect .
If they can ’ t pay a credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let them know what happens next .
We want them to be aware of who ’ s going to be calling , what alternatives they have and how to talk to lenders , creditors and collectors .
Because , you know , that ’ s really a big , scary thing .
And you want to understand your rights and how you can get back on track .
Q : How many people does NFCC serve ?
A : We expect to see anywhere from 1.2 million to 1.5 million this year through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be much larger than that ; our forecast is over 2.5 million , maybe upward of 5 million .
Q : Has there been a change in demand because of the pandemic ?
A : At the beginning of the crisis , we saw a spike in concerns and fear .
We ’ re talking about hundreds of thousands of people calling to find out , ‘ Hey , what do I do if I can ’ t make my payments ?
’ Very quickly , the government turned around with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially for this lower income band .
That helped them get through their rent payments .
Their mortgages were able to go on a forbearance and there was a deferment on eviction .
So , all of that served to really help , as well as the additional payments from the federal government and some of the supplemental state payments .
Now what we see is that has leveled off and some of that ( pressure ) has begun to climb back up .
We ’ re really , really concerned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just not a safety net .
Q : So how does a counselor help ?
A : One of the things credit counseling does is really serve as your trusted advisor .
And that ’ s really a smart thing .
There ’ s no judgment .
And we ’ re not collectors , so we ’ re not working on behalf of any lender .
Trying to do it on your own , it ’ s really complex by virtue of how many credit cards you have , how many lenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counselor works with the lenders , too .
It ’ s about partnering with the lenders to have that open line of communication that is important .
Our secondary purpose is to reach out to lenders , understand what a modified payment would be , how to reduce interest , how to reduce your cash flow obligations on a monthly basis , both in the short term and sometimes in the longer term , up to five years .
Q : How can a consumer distinguish between a good resource and one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no Good Housekeeping seal .
There ’ s a lot of choices out there ; it ’ s almost like you are entering into this wild , wild west and that ’ s really scary .
A couple things that I always say are : look online and make sure that the nonprofit credit counselor has a specific nonprofit , 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) designation .
Make sure that it is legitimate .
You should never be charged fees upfront .
There are no fees for that counseling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive sales tactics .
I would be careful of someone that tells you to stop paying your bills .
I would also be suspect if someone is not answering your questions and listening to you .
You have to be so careful out there because there are so many bad actors and fraudulent companies .
Q : If you had to give one piece of advice to people , what would it be ?
A : If folks are struggling , I would say : Hey , just pick up the phone or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Don ’ t be afraid .
Just do it .
Have an initial conversation .
Even if it ’ s just 10 minutes to introduce yourself , get to know a little bit about what the counseling agency does , their background , the person you ’ re talking to .
Do your homework , but act now , because even though you might be able to pay all your bills today , something might happen as a result of this pandemic , whether it ’ s a second shut down or slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been edited for clarity and length .

Rebecca Steele is the president and CEO of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, the largest nonprofit financial counseling organization in the U.S.
NFCC aims to help Americans lead financially healthy lives. It offers services such as debt management planning, foreclosure prevention and home ownership counseling through its network of 600 offices nationwide.
No one is turned away and its services are provided either free or for a modest fee.
Q: What is credit counseling?
A: Nonprofit credit counseling has been around for a while, but we have been working on updating it and providing more types of counseling services in the last few years, especially as it relates to the pandemic. We really think of ourselves as financial counseling for all the masses.
Q: What can someone expect?
A: One thing that really sets us apart are the counseling sessions. Anyone can reach out, either by phone or by an e-mail, and get assigned to one person to help you.
It starts with really listening to their situation and educating people on what their options are. Going through their budget: What is your income? What is your loss in income? What are your expenses? What is your housing situation? How do you get by and put food on the table?
We’ll work with them to really try to make their income balance their expenses and maybe even provide a little bit of savings. Now, that’s real challenging at this time, so sometimes we can’t do that.
When we can’t, we go through their options and what to expect. If they can’t pay a credit card bill, for example, we let them know what happens next. We want them to be aware of who’s going to be calling, what alternatives they have and how to talk to lenders, creditors and collectors. Because, you know, that’s really a big, scary thing. And you want to understand your rights and how you can get back on track.
Q: How many people does NFCC serve?
A: We expect to see anywhere from 1.2 million to 1.5 million this year through our network. We expect next year to be much larger than that; our forecast is over 2.5 million, maybe upward of 5 million.
Q: Has there been a change in demand because of the pandemic?
A: At the beginning of the crisis, we saw a spike in concerns and fear. We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people calling to find out, ‘Hey, what do I do if I can’t make my payments?’
Very quickly, the government turned around with the CARES Act and provided really needed stimulus, especially for this lower income band. That helped them get through their rent payments. Their mortgages were able to go on a forbearance and there was a deferment on eviction. So, all of that served to really help, as well as the additional payments from the federal government and some of the supplemental state payments.
Now what we see is that has leveled off and some of that (pressure) has begun to climb back up. We’re really, really concerned, especially with the fact that there’s just not a safety net.
Q: So how does a counselor help?
A: One of the things credit counseling does is really serve as your trusted advisor. And that’s really a smart thing. There’s no judgment. And we’re not collectors, so we’re not working on behalf of any lender.
Trying to do it on your own, it’s really complex by virtue of how many credit cards you have, how many lenders, the housing situation.
The credit counselor works with the lenders, too. It’s about partnering with the lenders to have that open line of communication that is important. Our secondary purpose is to reach out to lenders, understand what a modified payment would be, how to reduce interest, how to reduce your cash flow obligations on a monthly basis, both in the short term and sometimes in the longer term, up to five years.
Q: How can a consumer distinguish between a good resource and one that’s not?
A: There’s no Good Housekeeping seal. There’s a lot of choices out there; it’s almost like you are entering into this wild, wild west and that’s really scary.
A couple things that I always say are: look online and make sure that the nonprofit credit counselor has a specific nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) designation. Make sure that it is legitimate. You should never be charged fees upfront. There are no fees for that counseling service.
I would be cautious of aggressive sales tactics. I would be careful of someone that tells you to stop paying your bills. I would also be suspect if someone is not answering your questions and listening to you. You have to be so careful out there because there are so many bad actors and fraudulent companies.
Q: If you had to give one piece of advice to people, what would it be?
A: If folks are struggling, I would say: Hey, just pick up the phone or contact a nonprofit credit counselor immediately. Don’t be afraid. Just do it. Have an initial conversation. Even if it’s just 10 minutes to introduce yourself, get to know a little bit about what the counseling agency does, their background, the person you’re talking to. Do your homework, but act now, because even though you might be able to pay all your bills today, something might happen as a result of this pandemic, whether it’s a second shut down or slow down or something else.
___
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Illinois agency launches study of gambling addiction

CHICAGO ( AP ) - A state agency has launched a one-year roughly $ 500,000 study on gambling addiction in Illinois .
Results will be used by the Illinois Department of Human Services to help determine future efforts to prevent problem gambling and increase access to treatment and services .
Among other things , researchers will study populations that are vulnerable or marginalized because of race , culture , economic or social disparity .
They ’ ll also look at risk factors leading to a gambling problem .
“ This gambling prevalence study is unprecedented in Illinois and will give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gambling disorder in the state .
Understanding the pervasiveness of gambling disorder will allow us to target communities that may be disproportionality impacted by the expansion of gambling in the state , ” IDHS Secretary Grace Hou said in a statement .
“ The study will also help us to understand where we can make further investments in Illinois communities to support treatment and recovery as well as education for responsible gambling.
” Money for the study comes from revenue from Illinois ’ gambling tax and money set aside from the 2021 @ @ @ @

CHICAGO (AP) - A state agency has launched a one-year roughly $500,000 study on gambling addiction in Illinois.
Results will be used by the Illinois Department of Human Services to help determine future efforts to prevent problem gambling and increase access to treatment and services.
Among other things, researchers will study populations that are vulnerable or marginalized because of race, culture, economic or social disparity. They’ll also look at risk factors leading to a gambling problem.
“This gambling prevalence study is unprecedented in Illinois and will give us a clearer understanding of the prevalence of gambling disorder in the state. Understanding the pervasiveness of gambling disorder will allow us to target communities that may be disproportionality impacted by the expansion of gambling in the state,” IDHS Secretary Grace Hou said in a statement. “The study will also help us to understand where we can make further investments in Illinois communities to support treatment and recovery as well as education for responsible gambling.”
Money for the study comes from revenue from Illinois’ gambling tax and money set aside from the 2021 fiscal year budget.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--2 women die in high-rise apartment fire in upper Manhattan

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Two women died Sunday in a high-rise fire in upper Manhattan , police said @ @ @ @ @ shortly after midnight on the 24th floor of a 32-story building in Washington Heights , @ @ @ @ @ .
More than 75 firefighters responded and brought the blaze under control in about an @ @ @ @ @ .
A 78-year-old woman and a 37-year-old woman were taken to hospitals suffering from smoke @ @ @ @ @ dead , police said .
Their names were not immediately released .
The fire was @ @ @ @ @ the Fire Department said .
The cause is under investigation .

NEW YORK (AP) - Two women died Sunday in a high-rise fire in upper Manhattan, police said.
The fire was reported shortly after midnight on the 24th floor of a 32-story building in Washington Heights, a Fire Department spokesperson said. More than 75 firefighters responded and brought the blaze under control in about an hour, the department said.
A 78-year-old woman and a 37-year-old woman were taken to hospitals suffering from smoke inhalation. Both were pronounced dead, police said. Their names were not immediately released.
The fire was confined to one apartment, the Fire Department said. The cause is under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Sen. Kelly Loeffler self-isolating for coronavirus test results

Sen. Kelly Loeffler is self-isolating after receiving mixed coronavirus test results , including one positive result followed by an inconclusive result , according to her campaign .
The mixed test results come as the Georgia Republican is headed to a January run-off election to keep her seat in a contest against Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock .
“ Senator Loeffler took two COVID tests on Friday morning .
Her rapid test results were negative and she was cleared to attend Friday ’ s events , ” Loeffler campaign spokesman Stephen Lawson said in a statement .
“ She was informed later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday that her PCR test came back positive , but she was retested Saturday morning after conferring with medical officials and those results came back inconclusive on Saturday evening.
” Mr. Lawson said Ms. Loeffler had experienced none of the symptoms associated with coronavirus and would follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding quarantining and notifying people who had prolonged contact with her .
“ Senator Loeffler is in my thoughts , ” Mr. Warnock said .
“ I pray that her test results come back negative and that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Blessings.
” Mr. Lawson said the campaign will provide an update on Ms. Loeffler ’ s status when additional tests produce a conclusive result .

Sen. Kelly Loeffler is self-isolating after receiving mixed coronavirus test results, including one positive result followed by an inconclusive result, according to her campaign.
The mixed test results come as the Georgia Republican is headed to a January run-off election to keep her seat in a contest against Democratic challenger Raphael Warnock.
“Senator Loeffler took two COVID tests on Friday morning. Her rapid test results were negative and she was cleared to attend Friday’s events,” Loeffler campaign spokesman Stephen Lawson said in a statement. “She was informed later in the evening after public events on Friday that her PCR test came back positive, but she was retested Saturday morning after conferring with medical officials and those results came back inconclusive on Saturday evening.”
Mr. Lawson said Ms. Loeffler had experienced none of the symptoms associated with coronavirus and would follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding quarantining and notifying people who had prolonged contact with her.
Mr. Warnock wished Ms. Loeffler well on Twitter.
“Senator Loeffler is in my thoughts,” Mr. Warnock said. “I pray that her test results come back negative and that she is back on the campaign trail soon. Blessings.”
Mr. Lawson said the campaign will provide an update on Ms. Loeffler’s status when additional tests produce a conclusive result.
On Sunday afternoon, Ms. Loeffler’s campaign said her results were retested and came back negative.
“Senator Loeffler’s previously inconclusive PCR results were retested overnight and the results thankfully came back negative,” said Mr. Lawson in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, she will continue to self-isolate and be retested again to hopefully receive consecutive negative test results. We will share those results as they are made available.”
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Black clergy, United Way to launch anti-coronavirus effort

Black clergy leaders are joining forces with the United Way of New York City for a new initiative designed to combat the coronavirus ’ outsized toll on African Americans through ramped-up testing , contact tracing and treatment management .
Details of the new effort , shared with The Associated Press in advance of its Monday launch , rest on harnessing the on-the-ground influence of church leaders to circulate resources that can better equip Black Americans in safeguarding against and treating the virus .
Its rollout will begin in five major cities with initial seven-figure funding , focusing on expanded testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal of further expansion and ultimately reaching several hundred thousand underinsured or uninsured Black Americans .
The Rev .
Calvin Butts , pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City , said participating churches were stepping forward to serve as a “ first line of defense ” for the Black community against the virus .
“ I ’ m delighted to say we are strongly together across denominational lines and , even when there may be political differences , we still stand shoulder to shoulder in meeting this crisis , ” Butts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 250,000 Americans , with hospitalizations reaching an all-time high this week as U.S. deaths from the virus reached their highest levels since the pandemic surged in the spring .
The Black community has been hit hard , with an August study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finding that African Americans had a virus hospitalization rate 4.7 times higher and a death rate 2.1 times higher than the white population .
Sheena Wright , CEO of the United Way of New York City , highlighted that impact in describing plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technical and fundraising capacities .
“ We are focused on really closing the opportunity gap for communities of color around the city , and we ’ ve certainly seen in COVID-19 the profound disparities and impact on the Black community , ” Wright said , pointing to a historic “ lack of investment in health institutions ” that serve Black Americans .
The virus testing is set to start in January in five cities : New York , Detroit , Atlanta , Washington and Newark , New Jersey .
Among the clergy helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights activist the Rev .
Al Sharpton and the Rev .
Raphael Warnock , pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and a Democratic Senate candidate in Georgia .
Funding support will come from testing company Quest Diagnostics and Resolve to Save Lives , a nonprofit-backed public health initiative led by Tom Frieden , director of the CDC during the Obama administration .
The project is modeled in part on the strategy used by the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS , founded in the 1980s to battle another epidemic that disproportionally hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involve the establishment of leadership roles at participating churches with responsibility to coordinate testing , tracing and connection of virus-positive people with health care , said Debra Fraser-Howze , founder of the AIDS commission and a partner in the new project .
The coronavirus struggle “ is similar to the AIDS epidemic ” in that the Black community has “ been again left out , locked out of resources , ” Fraser-Howze said .
“ We have the highest rates of death and illness .
So it is time for those that lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The AP is solely responsible for this content .

NEW YORK (AP) -
Black clergy leaders are joining forces with the United Way of New York City for a new initiative designed to combat the coronavirus’ outsized toll on African Americans through ramped-up testing, contact tracing and treatment management.
Details of the new effort, shared with The Associated Press in advance of its Monday launch, rest on harnessing the on-the-ground influence of church leaders to circulate resources that can better equip Black Americans in safeguarding against and treating the virus. Its rollout will begin in five major cities with initial seven-figure funding, focusing on expanded testing and public health education, with a goal of further expansion and ultimately reaching several hundred thousand underinsured or uninsured Black Americans.
The Rev. Calvin Butts, pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City, said participating churches were stepping forward to serve as a “first line of defense” for the Black community against the virus.
“I’m delighted to say we are strongly together across denominational lines and, even when there may be political differences, we still stand shoulder to shoulder in meeting this crisis,” Butts said.
The coronavirus has killed more than 250,000 Americans, with hospitalizations reaching an all-time high this week as U.S. deaths from the virus reached their highest levels since the pandemic surged in the spring. The Black community has been hit hard, with an August study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finding that African Americans had a virus hospitalization rate 4.7 times higher and a death rate 2.1 times higher than the white population.
Sheena Wright, CEO of the United Way of New York City, highlighted that impact in describing plans to help boost the partnership’s technical and fundraising capacities.
“We are focused on really closing the opportunity gap for communities of color around the city, and we’ve certainly seen in COVID-19 the profound disparities and impact on the Black community,” Wright said, pointing to a historic “lack of investment in health institutions” that serve Black Americans.
The virus testing is set to start in January in five cities: New York, Detroit, Atlanta, Washington and Newark, New Jersey. Among the clergy helping to spearhead the effort are the civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and a Democratic Senate candidate in Georgia.
Funding support will come from testing company Quest Diagnostics and Resolve to Save Lives, a nonprofit-backed public health initiative led by Tom Frieden, director of the CDC during the Obama administration.
The project is modeled in part on the strategy used by the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, founded in the 1980s to battle another epidemic that disproportionally hit Black Americans. The coronavirus initiative will involve the establishment of leadership roles at participating churches with responsibility to coordinate testing, tracing and connection of virus-positive people with health care, said Debra Fraser-Howze, founder of the AIDS commission and a partner in the new project.
The coronavirus struggle “is similar to the AIDS epidemic” in that the Black community has “been again left out, locked out of resources,” Fraser-Howze said. “We have the highest rates of death and illness. So it is time for those that lead us to understand what is going on.”
__
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content.