washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Family gives desks to students doing virtual learning

HARRISONBURG , Va. ( AP ) - There has been no shortage of people using their talents to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic , which shut things down in mid-March , including schools .
And regardless of certain areas of life opening back up and “ returning to normal , ” that generosity of spirit remains .
One of the hardest adjustments most families have faced is helping their kids learn virtually these past few months .
So many factors have either made this is a success for families or a challenge .
And there are aspects that might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering virtual learning .
One of those small but big things is the physical environment in which kids are sitting behind devices day in and day out and being asked to pay attention and learn .
Laura-Paige Keller , a teacher at Smithland Elementary School , was talking with another teacher and remarking that so often they observe students laying on their beds during Zoom lessons or laying on the floor .
They clearly lack a proper desk with which to learn .
Keller mentioned this to her father-in-law , Robert Keller , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create simple but useful desks for students who need them .
Smithland teachers put out a survey to students to see who might need one .
Forty-three surveys came back with a need .
Robert Keller contacted Lowe ’ s to see if it could assist with the cost of plywood , which runs about $ 48 a sheet .
After waiting for word from Lowe ’ s , Keller decided to revamp his plans to get the most out of each sheet and bought enough plywood to make 14 desks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stayed with me for a week and helped me cut up everything , ” Keller said .
The first batch of desks was delivered to students .
Seeing their excitement , and the improvement in attention span after having a space that felt less like home and more like school , motivated Keller to create more .
And it was around that time that Lowe ’ s contacted Keller and donated nine sheets of plywood for the project .
In total Keller has been able to create 45 desks for students at Smithland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rewarding , ” Keller said .
“ All that hard work , it was all worthwhile.
” Because it became very much a family undertaking , Keller ’ s son called Wednesday and asked what the next project would be .
“ So , we ’ re making little stools to go with them , ” Keller said .
On Wednesday , students swung by Smithland to pick up their new desks , Laura-Paige Keller said .
And it was a joyous occasion .
“ It was so sweet to see their smiles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t just the students - the parents were also touched by the kindness .
“ They are the ones I ’ m feeling for right now , having to figure all of this out .
”

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - There has been no shortage of people using their talents to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut things down in mid-March, including schools.
And regardless of certain areas of life opening back up and “returning to normal,” that generosity of spirit remains.
One of the hardest adjustments most families have faced is helping their kids learn virtually these past few months. So many factors have either made this is a success for families or a challenge. And there are aspects that might not immediately arise to the foreground when considering virtual learning.
One of those small but big things is the physical environment in which kids are sitting behind devices day in and day out and being asked to pay attention and learn. Laura-Paige Keller, a teacher at Smithland Elementary School, was talking with another teacher and remarking that so often they observe students laying on their beds during Zoom lessons or laying on the floor. They clearly lack a proper desk with which to learn.
Keller mentioned this to her father-in-law, Robert Keller, who decided to use his woodworking skills to create simple but useful desks for students who need them.
Smithland teachers put out a survey to students to see who might need one. Forty-three surveys came back with a need.
Robert Keller contacted Lowe’s to see if it could assist with the cost of plywood, which runs about $48 a sheet. After waiting for word from Lowe’s, Keller decided to revamp his plans to get the most out of each sheet and bought enough plywood to make 14 desks.
“One of my grandsons came and stayed with me for a week and helped me cut up everything,” Keller said.
The first batch of desks was delivered to students. Seeing their excitement, and the improvement in attention span after having a space that felt less like home and more like school, motivated Keller to create more.
And it was around that time that Lowe’s contacted Keller and donated nine sheets of plywood for the project. In total Keller has been able to create 45 desks for students at Smithland Elementary School.
“It was very rewarding,” Keller said. “All that hard work, it was all worthwhile.”
Because it became very much a family undertaking, Keller’s son called Wednesday and asked what the next project would be.
“So, we’re making little stools to go with them,” Keller said.
On Wednesday, students swung by Smithland to pick up their new desks, Laura-Paige Keller said. And it was a joyous occasion.
“It was so sweet to see their smiles,” she said. And it wasn’t just the students - the parents were also touched by the kindness. “They are the ones I’m feeling for right now, having to figure all of this out.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Police question children for supporting teacher's beheading

LE PECQ , France ( AP ) - Police in France questioned four 10-year-olds who voiced support for the beheading of a schoolteacher and who said they would kill their own teacher if he lampooned Islam ’ s prophet , the government reported as the prime minister warned Saturday that Islamic extremists are recruiting in France with “ ignorance and hate.
” The children and their parents were detained and questioned for several hours Thursday by police in the Alpine town of Albertville , Interior Ministry spokeswoman Camille Chaize said .
On Monday , when French schools held a nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher , Samuel Paty , the children voiced support for his killing last month near Paris , the spokeswoman said in a video statement Friday night .
They “ justified the teacher ’ s assassination by arguing that it was forbidden to offend the prophet and adding that they would kill their teacher if he caricatured the prophet , ” she said .
Paty was killed Oct. 16 outside his Paris-region school by an 18-year-old refugee of Chechen origin after he showed his class caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad for a debate on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were released after questioning .
Judicial authorities ordered educative training for them , the ministry spokeswoman said .
Police also searched their homes .
Paty ’ s killing was followed Oct. 29 by the killing of three people in a knife attack at a church in Nice .
Leading a Saturday memorial for the three victims in the Mediterranean city , French Prime Minster Jean Castex warned that extremists were recruiting French citizens .
“ We know the enemy , ” Castex said .
“ Not only is it identified , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radical Islamism , a political ideology that disfigures the Muslim religion by distorting its texts , its dogmas and its commandments to impose its dominance by ignorance and hate , an enemy that benefits from support overseas but , alas , also counts French citizens in its ranks.
” A choir sang “ What a Wonderful World , ” famously recorded by Louis Armstrong , and soldiers stood in silent ranks to honor the victims - Nadine Devillers , Simone Barreto Silva and Vincent Loques .
The chief suspect , Ibrahim Issaoui , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French hospital after being wounded by police as they arrested him .

LE PECQ, France (AP) - Police in France questioned four 10-year-olds who voiced support for the beheading of a schoolteacher and who said they would kill their own teacher if he lampooned Islam’s prophet, the government reported as the prime minister warned Saturday that Islamic extremists are recruiting in France with “ignorance and hate.”
The children and their parents were detained and questioned for several hours Thursday by police in the Alpine town of Albertville, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Camille Chaize said.
On Monday, when French schools held a nationwide minute of silence to honor the slain teacher, Samuel Paty, the children voiced support for his killing last month near Paris, the spokeswoman said in a video statement Friday night.
They “justified the teacher’s assassination by arguing that it was forbidden to offend the prophet and adding that they would kill their teacher if he caricatured the prophet,” she said.
Paty was killed Oct. 16 outside his Paris-region school by an 18-year-old refugee of Chechen origin after he showed his class caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad for a debate on free expression.
The children in Albertville were released after questioning. Judicial authorities ordered educative training for them, the ministry spokeswoman said. Police also searched their homes.
Paty’s killing was followed Oct. 29 by the killing of three people in a knife attack at a church in Nice. Leading a Saturday memorial for the three victims in the Mediterranean city, French Prime Minster Jean Castex warned that extremists were recruiting French citizens.
“We know the enemy,” Castex said. “Not only is it identified, but it also has a name: It is radical Islamism, a political ideology that disfigures the Muslim religion by distorting its texts, its dogmas and its commandments to impose its dominance by ignorance and hate, an enemy that benefits from support overseas but, alas, also counts French citizens in its ranks.”
A choir sang “What a Wonderful World,” famously recorded by Louis Armstrong, and soldiers stood in silent ranks to honor the victims - Nadine Devillers, Simone Barreto Silva and Vincent Loques.
The chief suspect, Ibrahim Issaoui, a 21-year-old Tunisian, is in a French hospital after being wounded by police as they arrested him.
Paty’s killer was shot dead by police.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Donald Trump claims 'illegally received' votes being tallied as Joe Biden pads lead

President Trump said Saturday that “ illegally received ” ballots are to blame for Democrat Joseph R. Biden ’ s overtaking him in key states like Pennsylvania as vote-counting continued in the 2020 election .
“ Tens of thousands of votes were illegally received after 8 P.M. on Tuesday , Election Day , totally and easily changing the results in Pennsylvania and certain other razor thin states , ” the president said on Twitter .
Mail ballots in Pennsylvania were legally allowed to be accepted until Friday if they were postmarked by Nov. 3 , Election Day .
The U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pennsylvania segregate ballots that arrived after 8 p.m. on Election Day .
State officials said they were already doing that , but Republicans had petitioned the high court to make sure that it was being done properly .
The ruling doesn ’ t mean the ballots won ’ t be counted , just that they ’ ll be kept separately from earlier-arriving ballots .
The outstanding mail and absentee ballots in Pennsylvania have broken heavily for Mr. Biden after the president had held a lead on election night .
Mr. Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the campaign , saying it would lead to massive fraud .
Pennsylvania is among a number of states where election workers could not start processing mail ballots until the morning of Election Day .
Mr. Trump also said Saturday that people aren ’ t being allowed proper access to observe the vote-counting .
“ Tractors blocked doors & windows were covered with thick cardboard so that observers could not see into the count rooms .
BAD THINGS HAPPENED INSIDE .
BIG CHANGES TOOK PLACE !
” he said .
His legal team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court did rule that the Trump campaign could have additional access to watch the vote count .
State officials say that observers on both sides have been granted access to watch the count , which is legally required .
The Pennsylvania dispute has been over how close people can be to review the ballots .

President Trump said Saturday that “illegally received” ballots are to blame for Democrat Joseph R. Biden’s overtaking him in key states like Pennsylvania as vote-counting continued in the 2020 election.
“Tens of thousands of votes were illegally received after 8 P.M. on Tuesday, Election Day, totally and easily changing the results in Pennsylvania and certain other razor thin states,” the president said on Twitter.
Twitter flagged the president’s Saturday morning tweetstorm as potentially misleading.
Mail ballots in Pennsylvania were legally allowed to be accepted until Friday if they were postmarked by Nov. 3, Election Day.
The U.S. Supreme Court ordered Friday that state officials in Pennsylvania segregate ballots that arrived after 8 p.m. on Election Day.
State officials said they were already doing that, but Republicans had petitioned the high court to make sure that it was being done properly.
The ruling doesn’t mean the ballots won’t be counted, just that they’ll be kept separately from earlier-arriving ballots.
The outstanding mail and absentee ballots in Pennsylvania have broken heavily for Mr. Biden after the president had held a lead on election night.
Mr. Trump had warned throughout the campaign that new state laws during the COVID-19 pandemic where voters were indiscriminately sent mail ballots could lead to massive fraud.
He has said absentee voting, where people actively provide a valid reason why they can’t vote in person, is OK.
Pennsylvania allowed all registered voters to request a mail or absentee ballot without providing a reason.
The president’s talk about mail voting might have prodded some of his supporters to vote in person on Election Day instead.
Pennsylvania is among a number of states where election workers could not start processing mail ballots until the morning of Election Day.
Mr. Trump also said Saturday that people aren’t being allowed proper access to observe the vote-counting.
“Tractors blocked doors & windows were covered with thick cardboard so that observers could not see into the count rooms. BAD THINGS HAPPENED INSIDE. BIG CHANGES TOOK PLACE!” he said.
His legal team had claimed a win after a Pennsylvania court did rule that the Trump campaign could have additional access to watch the vote count.
State officials say that observers on both sides have been granted access to watch the count, which is legally required.
The Pennsylvania dispute has been over how close people can be to review the ballots.
• Alex Swoyer contributed to this report.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Amid virus, Mississippi must set medical marijuana program

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - The Mississippi Department of Health has been working around the clock to respond to the coronavirus pandemic .
Now , the agency will be responsible for starting a statewide medical marijuana program within the next nine months .
Uncertified election results show 74 % of Mississippi voters approved the ballot measure that allows doctors to prescribe up to 5 ounces ( 142 grams ) of marijuana per month for people who have at least one of more than 20 serious medical conditions .
“ This vote shows minds are changing , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Madison County who lost her father-in-law to cancer and voted for Initiative 65 .
“ We don ’ t want our sick suffering.
” Both Gov .
Tate Reeves and state ’ s top health officer , Dr. Thomas Dobbs , opposed the initiative .
Reeves said passage would lead Mississippi to have the “ most liberal weed rules ” in the country - although it does not legalize recreational marijuana .
Dobbs said it would distract health officials who are working furiously to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health in charge of issuing medical marijuana identification cards and licensing treatment centers where patients will access marijuana for medical purposes .
Officials will have until August to begin licensing treatment centers and certifying eligible patients .
Health Department said Wednesday that it is in the “ planning stages and reviewing various elements important to creating a successful marijuana program.
” “ The Agency will do its best to manage both major ( COVID ) endeavors , ” spokeswoman Liz Sharlot said .
Initiative 65 places specific guidelines into the state constitution for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run .
Appointments for certification must be done in-person with licensed physicians ; treatment cards for patients , which can cost no more than $ 50 , are valid for up to 12 months ; medical marijuana can be prescribed for shorter periods or renewed for longer based on physicians ’ recommendations .
Minors can be prescribed marijuana with the consent of a parent or guardian .
The Health Department will not be able to limit the number of treatment centers or set the price of medical marijuana .
Treatment centers will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although not within 500 feet ( 152.4 meters ) of a school , day care or church .
Marijuana sales can be taxed up to the state tax rate of 7 % .
Proceeds from medical marijuana will go toward funding the program .
Before July 1 , the Health Department needs to finalize regulations on advertising , procedures for tracking and labeling marijuana at treatment centers and use of medical marijuana in nursing homes .
Voters chose Initiative 65 over a similar but more restrictive measure designed by lawmakers .
Alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possession limits and certain other details to the Legislature and had no start date .
Mary Collins Harwell of Jackson said she supported Initiative 65 because her 13-year-old son has severe autism and cerebral palsy and lives with intense pain that hasn ’ t responded to other treatment .
“ Unless you are put in a position in your life where you or somebody you love needs it , you just don ’ t think of marijuana as something that is going to help , ” Harwell said .
“ You think about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not what we ’ re talking about.
” Angie Calhoun of Puckett said her son suffers from chronic conditions such as focal seizures , severe joint pain and nausea .
He tried 17 prescriptions before moving to Colorado to try medical marijuana , which finally helped him .
Now , Calhoun ’ s son can come home to Mississippi .
“ My son doesn ’ t have to be a medical refugee any longer , ” she said .
“ This vote shows that most Mississippians , like us , want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s natural and safe.
” Leah Willingham is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Department of Health has been working around the clock to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the agency will be responsible for starting a statewide medical marijuana program within the next nine months.
Uncertified election results show 74% of Mississippi voters approved the ballot measure that allows doctors to prescribe up to 5 ounces (142 grams) of marijuana per month for people who have at least one of more than 20 serious medical conditions.
“This vote shows minds are changing,” said Jaqueline Temple Rudder, a homemaker from Madison County who lost her father-in-law to cancer and voted for Initiative 65. “We don’t want our sick suffering.”
Both Gov. Tate Reeves and state’s top health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, opposed the initiative. Reeves said passage would lead Mississippi to have the “most liberal weed rules” in the country - although it does not legalize recreational marijuana. Dobbs said it would distract health officials who are working furiously to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The constitutional amendment places the Mississippi Department of Health in charge of issuing medical marijuana identification cards and licensing treatment centers where patients will access marijuana for medical purposes. Officials will have until August to begin licensing treatment centers and certifying eligible patients.
Health Department said Wednesday that it is in the “planning stages and reviewing various elements important to creating a successful marijuana program.”
“The Agency will do its best to manage both major (COVID) endeavors,” spokeswoman Liz Sharlot said.
Initiative 65 places specific guidelines into the state constitution for how the medical marijuana program will be run.
Appointments for certification must be done in-person with licensed physicians; treatment cards for patients, which can cost no more than $50, are valid for up to 12 months; medical marijuana can be prescribed for shorter periods or renewed for longer based on physicians’ recommendations. Minors can be prescribed marijuana with the consent of a parent or guardian.
The Health Department will not be able to limit the number of treatment centers or set the price of medical marijuana. Treatment centers will be allowed where other commercial businesses are allowed, although not within 500 feet (152.4 meters) of a school, day care or church.
Marijuana sales can be taxed up to the state tax rate of 7%. Proceeds from medical marijuana will go toward funding the program.
Before July 1, the Health Department needs to finalize regulations on advertising, procedures for tracking and labeling marijuana at treatment centers and use of medical marijuana in nursing homes.
Voters chose Initiative 65 over a similar but more restrictive measure designed by lawmakers. Alternative 65A would have left tax rates, possession limits and certain other details to the Legislature and had no start date.
Mary Collins Harwell of Jackson said she supported Initiative 65 because her 13-year-old son has severe autism and cerebral palsy and lives with intense pain that hasn’t responded to other treatment.
“Unless you are put in a position in your life where you or somebody you love needs it, you just don’t think of marijuana as something that is going to help,” Harwell said. “You think about people sitting around smoking joints. That’s not what we’re talking about.”
Angie Calhoun of Puckett said her son suffers from chronic conditions such as focal seizures, severe joint pain and nausea. He tried 17 prescriptions before moving to Colorado to try medical marijuana, which finally helped him.
Now, Calhoun’s son can come home to Mississippi.
“My son doesn’t have to be a medical refugee any longer,” she said. “This vote shows that most Mississippians, like us, want help for our sick patients with something that’s natural and safe.”
___
Leah Willingham is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.
___
Find AP’s full election coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2020.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Louisiana lawmakers want more inpatient visitation rights

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - In response to complaints that family and clergy were barred from hospitals and nursing homes in the coronavirus pandemic , Louisiana legislators have rewritten state laws to lessen visitation restrictions during public health emergencies .
The bills passed unanimously in the special session that ended last month - and were signed into law by Gov .
John Bel Edwards .
They still will give discretion to the Louisiana Department of Health to decide just how wide open the visitation can be and what safety protections will have to be followed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Minden Republican , calls on the health department to create rules requiring inpatient health care facilities to allow pastors , priests and other members of the clergy to visit patients during a public health emergency - if the patient asks for the visit .
The hospital , nursing home or other inpatient health care facility will receive immunity from most civil lawsuits for injury or death for the exposure of the clergy member to COVID-19 or another infectious disease , unless the facility is proven to have been grossly negligent in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules must give broad leeway to the health care facility , however , allowing the facility to “ adopt reasonable time , place and manner restrictions ” on visitation to combat infectious disease transmission .
Other new laws sponsored by Republican Reps. Tony Bacala and Rhonda Butler require the health department to set rules letting family members visit residents of nursing homes , other adult residential care locations and facilities housing people with developmental disabilities during public health emergencies , such as the statewide emergency declared for the coronavirus pandemic .
Visitation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a freshman lawmaker from Ville Platte who was unable to see her son , Derek , for months because he lives in a residential facility for people with severe developmental disabilities .
The department still can enact restrictions on how the visits will work , and all the state rules can be preempted if federal regulators require tougher restrictions on patient visitation .
Several GOP lawmakers complained about decisions by the Democratic governor and health care facilities to block visitors during the coronavirus outbreak .
Those restrictions have since been loosened .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and House Bills 43 and 95 .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - In response to complaints that family and clergy were barred from hospitals and nursing homes in the coronavirus pandemic, Louisiana legislators have rewritten state laws to lessen visitation restrictions during public health emergencies.
The bills passed unanimously in the special session that ended last month - and were signed into law by Gov. John Bel Edwards. They still will give discretion to the Louisiana Department of Health to decide just how wide open the visitation can be and what safety protections will have to be followed.
One measure by Sen. Robert Mills, a Minden Republican, calls on the health department to create rules requiring inpatient health care facilities to allow pastors, priests and other members of the clergy to visit patients during a public health emergency - if the patient asks for the visit.
The hospital, nursing home or other inpatient health care facility will receive immunity from most civil lawsuits for injury or death for the exposure of the clergy member to COVID-19 or another infectious disease, unless the facility is proven to have been grossly negligent in its actions.
The health department’s rules must give broad leeway to the health care facility, however, allowing the facility to “adopt reasonable time, place and manner restrictions” on visitation to combat infectious disease transmission.
Other new laws sponsored by Republican Reps. Tony Bacala and Rhonda Butler require the health department to set rules letting family members visit residents of nursing homes, other adult residential care locations and facilities housing people with developmental disabilities during public health emergencies, such as the statewide emergency declared for the coronavirus pandemic.
Visitation was a particularly personal issue to Butler, a freshman lawmaker from Ville Platte who was unable to see her son, Derek, for months because he lives in a residential facility for people with severe developmental disabilities.
The department still can enact restrictions on how the visits will work, and all the state rules can be preempted if federal regulators require tougher restrictions on patient visitation.
Several GOP lawmakers complained about decisions by the Democratic governor and health care facilities to block visitors during the coronavirus outbreak. Those restrictions have since been loosened.
___
The bills are filed as Senate Bill 12 and House Bills 43 and 95.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Search is on for teen fisherman missing off Long Island

WESTHAMPTON BEACH , N.Y. ( AP ) - Authorities were searching Saturday for a 16-year-old who was swept out to @ @ @ @ @ Long Island .
Officials were told he disappeared around 4 p.m. Friday while fishing at @ @ @ @ @ Westhampton Beach as a fog was rolling in , Suffolk County police and the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ was last seen in the water off a jetty in the Moriches Inlet .
Agencies @ @ @ @ @ Guard continued looking for the teen Saturday morning .

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities were searching Saturday for a 16-year-old who was swept out to see while fishing on eastern Long Island.
Officials were told he disappeared around 4 p.m. Friday while fishing at Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton Beach as a fog was rolling in, Suffolk County police and the U.S. Coast Guard said. He was last seen in the water off a jetty in the Moriches Inlet.
Agencies including the police and Coast Guard continued looking for the teen Saturday morning.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Indians in Harris' ancestral home wake up to her victory

THULASENDRAPURAM , India ( AP ) - After rooting for Kamala Harris as President-elect Joe Biden ‘ s running mate , people in her small ancestral Indian village woke up Sunday morning to the news of her making history .
Most of them had gone to sleep by the time Biden clinched the winning threshold of 270 Electoral College votes .
“ Congratulations Kamala Harris .
Pride of our village .
Vanakkam ( Greetings ) America , ’ ’ one female resident wrote in color powder outside her residence .
“ We all have been waiting for this day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ village councilor , said .
The village of Thulasendrapuram , population 350 , planned to celebrate Harris ‘ success with singing , dancing and firecrackers at a temple later Sunday .
Already in the morning hours , groups gathered at street corners reading newspapers and chatting about the Democrats ’ victory before moving to the temple for prayers .
“ Kamala Harris is the daughter of our village .
From children to senior citizens , each one of us is awaiting the day she would take oath as the vice president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sudhakar , who organized prayers on Election Day , expressed his wish that Harris should now visit the village .
As Americans voted , nearly 50 residents , with folded hands , lined up in the temple that reverberated with the sounds of ringing bells , and a Hindu priest gave them sweets and flowers as a religious offering .
Women in the village , located 350 kilometers ( 215 miles ) from the southern coastal city of Chennai , used bright colors to write “ We Wish Kamala Harris Wins ” on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The lush green village is the hometown of Harris ’ maternal grandfather , who migrated to the U.S. there decades ago .
Inside the temple where people have been holding special prayers , Harris ’ name is sculpted into a stone that lists public donations made to the temple in 2014 , along with that of her grandfather who gave money decades ago .
Harris ’ late mother also was born in India , before moving to the U.S. at the age of 19 to study at the University of California .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ named their daughter Kamala , Sanskrit for “ lotus flower.
” India ’ s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet described Harris ’ success as pathbreaking , and a matter of immense pride not just for her relatives but also for all Indian-Americans .
“ I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership.
” There has been both excitement - and some concern - over Biden ’ s choice of Harris as his running mate .
Modi had invested in President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Modi ’ s many Hindu nationalist supporters also were upset with Harris when she expressed concern about the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir , whose statehood India ’ s government revoked in August last year .
Harris stood by Pramila Jayapal , another U.S. congresswoman of Indian origin , when India ’ s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar refused to attend a meeting in the United States over her participation last year .
Jayapal had earlier moved a resolution on the Kashmir issue critical of India in the House of Representatives .
Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Indian-controlled Kashmir , where insurgent groups have been fighting for independence or merger with neighboring Pakistan since 1989 .

THULASENDRAPURAM, India (AP) - Waking up to the news of Kamala Harris’ election as U.S. vice president, overjoyed people in her Indian grandfather’s hometown set off firecrackers and offered prayers on Sunday.
Groups gathered at street corners in Thulasendrapuram, a tiny village of 350 people, reading newspapers and chatting about Joe Biden and Harris’ victory before moving to a temple.
A woman wrote in color powder outside her home: “Congratulations Kamala Harris. Pride of our village. Vanakkam (Greetings) America.”
Most of them had gone to sleep by the time Biden clinched the winning threshold of 270 Electoral College votes, making Harris the first woman and the first person of South Asian descent to be elected vice president.
“For two or three days we kept our fingers crossed while the result was delayed,” said village resident Kalidas Vamdayar. “Now it’s a joyful moment for us. We are enjoying it.”
“We will celebrate with firecrackers, distributing Indian sweets to people and praying in the temple,” Vamdayar said. “We will request her to come here. She would have heard our voice and she may come.”
Tamil Nadu state Food Minister R. Kamraj led about 100 people at the Dharma Sastha temple for a 20-minute prayer during which the idol of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva, was washed with milk and decked with flowers by the priest. He chanted hymns after lighting oil lamps, and the villagers bowed their heads in respect.
“Kamala Harris is the daughter of our village,” said Aulmozhi Sudhakar, a village councilor. “From children to senior citizens, each one of us is awaiting the day she will take the oath as the vice president of the U.S.”
There was more singing, dancing and firecrackers throughout the day in the village, where cutouts and posters wishing Harris a “grand success” adorned walls.
People congregated in groups of 30-40 exchanging sweets, delicacies and snacks at different spots. They seemed to be celebrating Diwali, the most popular Hindu festival of lights, a week ahead of time.
Young children carrying placards with photos of Harris ran around the village.
Several politicians from nearby districts visited the village with their supporters, meeting local residents and visiting the temple. Musicians played wind and string instruments with cymbals and drums.
J. Sudhakar, who organized prayers on Election Day, expressed his wish that Harris will visit. As Americans voted, around 50 residents, with folded hands, lined up in the temple that reverberated with the sound of ringing bells, and a Hindu priest gave them sweets and flowers as a religious offering.
Women in the village, which is located 350 kilometers (215 miles) from the southern coastal city of Chennai, used bright colors to write “We Wish Kamala Harris Wins” on the ground, alongside a thumbs-up sign.
The lush green village is the hometown of Harris’ maternal grandfather, who had moved to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, decades ago.
Inside the temple where people have been holding special prayers, Harris’ name is sculpted into a stone that lists public donations made to the temple in 2014, along with that of her grandfather who gave money decades ago.
Harris’ late mother also was born in India, before moving to the U.S. at the age of 19 to study at the University of California. She married a Jamaican man, and they named their daughter Kamala, Sanskrit for “lotus flower.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Harris’ success as pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for her relatives but also for all Indian-Americans. “I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership,” he tweeted.
There has been both excitement - and some concern - over Biden’s choice of Harris as his running mate.
Modi had invested in President Donald Trump, who visited India in February. Modi’s many Hindu nationalist supporters also were upset with Harris when she expressed concern about Kashmir, the disputed Muslim-majority region whose statehood India’s government revoked last year.
Harris stood by U.S. Rep Pramila Jayapal, a Washington state congresswoman of Indian origin, when Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar refused to attend a meeting in the United States over her participation last year. Jayapal had earlier moved a resolution on the Kashmir issue critical of India in the House of Representatives.
Rights groups accuse India of human rights violations in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where insurgent groups have been fighting since 1989 for independence or merger with the portion of Kashmir controlled by Pakistan.
___
This story has been corrected to show that Harris’ maternal grandfather had moved to Chennai, not the U.S.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Conservatives dispute Biden victory: 'The media does not get to call the election'

Conservatives pushed back Saturday against the decision by media outlets to declare former Vice President Joseph R. Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election .
“ The media do not get to determine who the president is .
The people do , ” tweeted Sen. Josh Hawley , Missouri Republican .
“ When all lawful votes have been counted , recounts finished , and allegations of fraud addressed , we will know who the winner is.
” Conservative Women for America CEO Penny Nancy said the lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign challenging the vote counts should be resolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The news media does not get to call the election , ” Ms. Nance said .
“ We will let the legal process play out , and if former Vice President Biden is the winner , we will congratulate him , pray for him , and engage him to do the right thing on the issues about which we care.
” Conservative radio and television host Mark Levin concurred , saying that “ the media do not declare who ’ s president-elect.
” “ There ’ s a constitutional and statutory process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted Mr. Levin , referring to 2000 Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore ’ s challenge in Florida .
“ Clearly the media want this ended today.
” The Associated Press , NBC News , CNN , and Fox News projected Saturday that Mr. Biden had won the 2020 presidential election after declaring that he had won both Nevada and Pennsylvania , pushing him over the threshold of 270 electoral votes .
“ I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In the face of unprecedented obstacles , a record number of Americans voted .
Proving once again , that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.
” In a Saturday statement , the Trump campaign said “ Joe Biden has not been certified the winner of any states , let alone the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts , or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor.
” Ms. Nance said that the “ hundreds of thousands of conservative women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and defense , and we do not shy away from any circumstance.
” “ One thing is for sure .
Our election process needs reforming , ” Ms. Nance said .
“ It helps no party to have this many Americans show such strong distrust of the process .
I am glad to see some senators , like Sen. Josh Hawley , already looking to introduce legislation to safeguard our elections.
” Mr. Hawley said Thursday that he would introduce election integrity legislation to ban ballot-harvesting and guarantee poll-watcher access .

Conservatives pushed back Saturday against the decision by media outlets to declare former Vice President Joseph R. Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
“The media do not get to determine who the president is. The people do,” tweeted Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri Republican. “When all lawful votes have been counted, recounts finished, and allegations of fraud addressed, we will know who the winner is.”
Concerned Women for America CEO Penny Nance said the lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign challenging the vote counts should be resolved before the winner is declared.
“The news media does not get to call the election,” Ms. Nance said. “We will let the legal process play out, and if former Vice President Biden is the winner, we will congratulate him, pray for him, and engage him to do the right thing on the issues about which we care.”
Conservative radio and television host Mark Levin concurred, saying that “the media do not declare who’s president-elect.”
“There’s a constitutional and statutory process. Gore litigated for 37 days,” tweeted Mr. Levin, referring to 2000 Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore’s challenge in Florida. “Clearly the media want this ended today.”
The media do not get to determine who the president is. The people do. When all lawful votes have been counted, recounts finished, and allegations of fraud addressed, we will know who the winner is — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) November 7, 2020
1. The media do not declare who’s president-elect. There’s a constitutional and statutory process. Gore litigated for 37 days. Clearly the media want this ended today. — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) November 7, 2020
The Associated Press, NBC News, CNN, and Fox News projected Saturday that Mr. Biden had won the 2020 presidential election after declaring that he had won both Nevada and Pennsylvania, pushing him over the threshold of 270 electoral votes.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.”
In a Saturday statement, the Trump campaign said “Joe Biden has not been certified the winner of any states, let alone the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor.”
Ms. Nance said that the “hundreds of thousands of conservative women I represent know how to play offense and defense, and we do not shy away from any circumstance.”
“One thing is for sure. Our election process needs reforming,” Ms. Nance said. “It helps no party to have this many Americans show such strong distrust of the process. I am glad to see some senators, like Sen. Josh Hawley, already looking to introduce legislation to safeguard our elections.”
Mr. Hawley said Thursday that he would introduce election integrity legislation to ban ballot-harvesting and guarantee poll-watcher access.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Authorities probe death of man hit by Border Patrol agent

CALEXICO , Calif. ( AP ) - Authorities said Saturday they are investigating the death of a man who was @ @ @ @ @ by a U.S. Border Patrol agent near the U.S.-Mexico border .
The incident happened about @ @ @ @ @ agent was driving to a spot along the border to investigate reports of people illegally @ @ @ @ @ and Border Protection said in a statement .
The agent ’ s vehicle hit a @ @ @ @ @ the road , the agency said .
“ The agent immediately rendered aid to the @ @ @ @ @ of emergency medical services , ” the agency said .
The man was first taken @ @ @ @ @ then airlifted to a trauma center in Palm Springs , where he died , the @ @ @ @ @ Border Patrol is trying to identify the man .
The California Highway Patrol is investigating @ @ @ @ @ Border Patrol ’ s Office of Professional Responsibility .

CALEXICO, Calif. (AP) - Authorities said Saturday they are investigating the death of a man who was hit by a vehicle driven by a U.S. Border Patrol agent near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The incident happened about 8:40 p.m. Friday when the agent was driving to a spot along the border to investigate reports of people illegally crossing it, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.
The agent’s vehicle hit a man who was lying in the road, the agency said. “The agent immediately rendered aid to the injured individual until the arrival of emergency medical services,” the agency said.
The man was first taken to a nearby hospital and then airlifted to a trauma center in Palm Springs, where he died, the agency said.
The U.S. Border Patrol is trying to identify the man.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating, as is Customs and Border Patrol’s Office of Professional Responsibility.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Joe Biden: 'It's time for our better angels to prevail'

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden said Saturday evening that he plans to be a president for all Americans and that he ’ ll hit the ground running to try to “ heal ” the country as he claimed a mandate from the American people to govern cooperatively and reach across the aisle .
Mr. Biden spoke after multiple news outlets declared him the winner of the 2020 presidential election late Saturday morning , four days after Election Day on Tuesday .
“ The people of the nation have spoken .
They ’ ve delivered us a clear victory , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humbled by the trust and confidence you placed in me.
” Mr. Biden spoke outside the Chase Center in Wilmington , Delaware before one of his largest crowds in 2020 — if not the largest — of an unprecedented campaign that took place amid the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ To make progress , we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies , ” he said .
“ This is [ the ] time to heal in America.
” He said a “ grim era of demonization in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s time for our better angels to prevail , ” he said .
He touted that the more than 74 million votes he received is the most for a presidential candidate in U.S. history , but he also made a direct appeal to the more than 70 million people who voted for President Trump .
“ To those who voted for President Trump , I understand your disappointment tonight , ” he said .
“ But now , let ’ s give each other a chance.
” The delayed call on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Biden was leading Mr. Trump by in key battleground states as election officials grappled with ballot-counting and an expansion of vote-by-mail during the public health crisis .
Mr. Biden now faces the task of trying to pull together a country still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic , which is raging with new record daily case totals this week , and the associated economic fallout that has not yet fully abated .
He said he plans to announce a coronavirus task force next week as he tries to hit the ground running on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
“ Our work begins with getting COVID under control , ” he said .
“ I will spare no effort — none — or any commitment to turn around this pandemic.
” He was introduced on Saturday by his running mate , Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California , who would be the first female vice president .
Ms. Harris , who was born in Oakland , California , to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother , had already made history as the first woman of color to run on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I may be the first woman in this office , I will not be the last because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities , ” she said , also describing Mr. Biden as a “ healer , ” a “ uniter , ” and “ a tested and steady hand.
” Should the vote count hold , Mr. Biden , who turns 78 this month , would be the oldest-ever president to be sworn in for a first term in office .
He plans to almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being sworn into office , rejoin the Paris climate accords , and repeal Mr. Trump ’ s travel ban from many majority-Muslim countries , according to a Saturday report in the Washington Post .
If the current vote patterns hold , it appears that Mr. Biden will likely be dealing with a GOP-controlled U.S. Senate unless Democrats can sweep two runoff races in traditionally red Georgia in January .
House Democrats were also projected to lose seats and enter the new Congress with a diminished majority .
Mr. Biden said he views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his governing mandate .
“ If we can decide not to cooperate , then we can decide to cooperate , ” he said .
“ And I believe that this is part of the mandate given to us from the American people .
They want us to cooperate…and that ’ s the choice I ’ ll make.
” The left has already vowed to hold Mr. Biden ’ s feet to the fire , and he might not have much wiggle room in either direction if the era of divided government continues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead for Mr. Biden , some on the left criticized his expressions of conciliation toward Trump supporters .
Melina Abdullah , a Black Lives Matter organizer and professor at Cal State-Los Angeles , tweeted , “ Quit trying to unite with the damn Trump supporters who are blatant white-supremacists , who didn ’ t vote for your ass…Instead it ’ s time to DO SOMETHING for the Black folks who saved you/us and VOTED TRUMP OUT.
” Retiring Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan , a Libertarian who left the GOP last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech.
” “ We ’ ll disagree a lot , and I ’ ll hold President-elect Biden accountable , but I firmly believe liberty can flourish only in an environment of mutual respect and trust among Americans , ” Mr. Amash tweeted .
But it ’ s also unclear how much cooperation Mr. Biden would get in the transition from Mr. Trump , who has vowed to challenge the election results in court .
The president said earlier in the day that he , not Mr. Biden , won the election “ by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , the acting chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , said Saturday evening that Mr. Trump is well within his legal right to request recounts and contest unlawful votes .
“ The media can project an election winner , but they don ’ t get to decide if claims of broken election laws and irregularities are true , ” the Florida Republican said on Twitter .
It ’ s also unclear how much cooperation Mr. Biden would get in the transition from Mr. Trump , who has vowed to challenge the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier in the day that he , not Mr. Biden , won the election “ by a lot.
” Faced with a crowded Democratic presidential primary field , Mr. Biden bottomed out with a dismal fifth-place finish in the New Hampshire primary in February , which had followed a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucus .
Mr. Biden turned his campaign around by winning the South Carolina primary after a major endorsement from House Majority Whip James Clyburn .
“ Especially those moments when this campaign was at its lowest ebb , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , ” Mr. Biden said Saturday .
“ You ’ ve always had my back and I ’ ll have yours.
” After South Carolina , Mr. Biden then bulldozed his way through Super Tuesday in March after rivals like Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and former South Bend , Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg ended their campaigns and endorsed him .
Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont , the self-described democratic socialist who was once again the Democratic runner-up , got behind Mr. Biden after ending his campaign in April even as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not align perfectly .
As the pandemic took hold , Mr. Biden largely eschewed holding large , in-person events and was content to participate in virtual campaign events and fundraisers .
He eventually ventured back out onto the physical campaign trail in the closing stretch , though his smallish “ drive-in ” events were met with mockery by the president .
Mr. Biden , who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972 , spent eight years as vice president under former President Barack Obama from 2009-2017 .
This year marked his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his last run , in 2008 , Mr. Biden ended up ceding the spotlight to a budding rivalry between Mr. Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who would go on to win the Democratic nomination in 2016 only to lose to Mr. Trump in the general election .
Mr. Biden ’ s 1988 bid was derailed amid allegations that he plagiarized a speech from a British politician .

Dave Boyer, David Sherfinski and David Sherfinski, Dave Boyer

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden said Saturday evening that he plans to be a president for all Americans and that he’ll hit the ground running to try to “heal” the country as he claimed a mandate from the American people to govern cooperatively and reach across the aisle.
Mr. Biden spoke after multiple news outlets declared him the winner of the 2020 presidential election late Saturday morning, four days after Election Day on Tuesday.
“The people of the nation have spoken. They’ve delivered us a clear victory,” Mr. Biden said. “I am humbled by the trust and confidence you placed in me.”
Mr. Biden spoke outside the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware before one of his largest crowds in 2020 — if not the largest — of an unprecedented campaign that took place amid the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
“To make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies,” he said. “This is [the] time to heal in America.”
He said a “grim era of demonization in America” needed to end.
“It’s time for our better angels to prevail,” he said.
He touted that the more than 74 million votes he received is the most for a presidential candidate in U.S. history, but he also made a direct appeal to the more than 70 million people who voted for President Trump.
“For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight — I’ve lost a couple times myself,” he said. “But now, let’s give each other a chance.”
The delayed call on Saturday was a product of the razor-thin margins Mr. Biden was leading Mr. Trump by in key battleground states as election officials grappled with ballot-counting and an expansion of vote-by-mail during the public health crisis.
Mr. Biden now faces the task of trying to pull together a country still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is raging with new record daily case totals this week, and the associated economic fallout that has not yet fully abated.
He said he plans to announce a coronavirus task force next week as he tries to hit the ground running on crafting a robust federal response to the pandemic.
“Our work begins with getting COVID under control,” he said. “I will spare no effort — none — or any commitment to turn around this pandemic.”
He was introduced on Saturday by his running mate, Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California, who would be the first female vice president.
Ms. Harris, who was born in Oakland, California, to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, had already made history as the first woman of color to run on a major-party presidential ticket.
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities,” she said, also describing Mr. Biden as a “healer,” a “uniter,” and “a tested and steady hand.”
Should the vote count hold, Mr. Biden, who turns 78 this month, would be the oldest-ever president to be sworn in for a first term in office.
He plans to almost immediately sign a series of executive orders after being sworn into office, rejoin the Paris climate accords, and repeal Mr. Trump’s travel ban from many majority-Muslim countries, according to a Saturday report in the Washington Post.
If the current vote patterns hold, it appears that Mr. Biden will likely be dealing with a GOP-controlled U.S. Senate unless Democrats can sweep two runoff races in traditionally red Georgia in January.
House Democrats were also projected to lose seats and enter the new Congress with a diminished majority.
Mr. Biden said he views a call for cooperation as part of his governing mandate.
“If we can decide not to cooperate, then we can decide to cooperate,” he said. “And I believe that this is part of the mandate given to us from the American people. They want us to cooperate…and that’s the choice I’ll make.”
The left has already vowed to hold Mr. Biden’s feet to the fire, and he might not have much wiggle room in either direction if the era of divided government continues.
In a possible sign of the challenges ahead for Mr. Biden, some on the left criticized his expressions of conciliation toward Trump supporters.
Melina Abdullah, a Black Lives Matter organizer and professor at Cal State-Los Angeles, tweeted, “Quit trying to unite with the damn Trump supporters who are blatant white-supremacists, who didn’t vote for your ass…Instead it’s time to DO SOMETHING for the Black folks who saved you/us and VOTED TRUMP OUT.”
Retiring Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, a Libertarian who left the GOP last year, called it “a good, unifying speech.”
“We’ll disagree a lot, and I’ll hold President-elect Biden accountable, but I firmly believe liberty can flourish only in an environment of mutual respect and trust among Americans,” Mr. Amash tweeted.
But it’s also unclear how much cooperation Mr. Biden would get in the transition from Mr. Trump, who has vowed to challenge the election results in court.
The president said earlier in the day that he, not Mr. Biden, won the election “by a lot.”
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, the acting chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Saturday evening that Mr. Trump is well within his legal right to request recounts and contest unlawful votes.
“The media can project an election winner, but they don’t get to decide if claims of broken election laws and irregularities are true,” the Florida Republican said on Twitter.
It’s also unclear how much cooperation Mr. Biden would get in the transition from Mr. Trump, who has vowed to challenge the election results in court.
The president said earlier in the day that he, not Mr. Biden, won the election “by a lot.”
Faced with a crowded Democratic presidential primary field, Mr. Biden bottomed out with a dismal fifth-place finish in the New Hampshire primary in February, which had followed a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucus.
Mr. Biden turned his campaign around by winning the South Carolina primary after a major endorsement from House Majority Whip James Clyburn.
“Especially those moments when this campaign was at its lowest ebb, the African American community stood up again for me,” Mr. Biden said Saturday. “You’ve always had my back and I’ll have yours.”
After South Carolina, Mr. Biden then bulldozed his way through Super Tuesday in March after rivals like Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg ended their campaigns and endorsed him.
Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont, the self-described democratic socialist who was once again the Democratic runner-up, got behind Mr. Biden after ending his campaign in April even as he made clear that their two worldviews did not align perfectly.
As the pandemic took hold, Mr. Biden largely eschewed holding large, in-person events and was content to participate in virtual campaign events and fundraisers.
He eventually ventured back out onto the physical campaign trail in the closing stretch, though his smallish “drive-in” events were met with mockery by the president.
Mr. Biden, who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1972, spent eight years as vice president under former President Barack Obama from 2009-2017.
This year marked his third bid for the White House.
In his last run, in 2008, Mr. Biden ended up ceding the spotlight to a budding rivalry between Mr. Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who would go on to win the Democratic nomination in 2016 only to lose to Mr. Trump in the general election.
Mr. Biden’s 1988 bid was derailed amid allegations that he plagiarized a speech from a British politician.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Authorities investigate stabbing death of prison inmate

SOLEDAD , Calif. ( AP ) - Authorities said Saturday that they are investigating as a homicide the stabbing death @ @ @ @ @ a prison in Northern California .
Isaac M. McCuan was pronounced dead at 12:17 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ Prison , the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement .
McCuan @ @ @ @ @ in 2013 to serve a sentence of life with the possibility of parole , with @ @ @ @ @ a street gang act in commission of a violent felony .
McCuan ’ s cellmate @ @ @ @ @ , has been identified as the suspect .
Hernandez came to the prison in 2013 @ @ @ @ @ life without parole for , among other convictions , first-degree murder and a street gang @ @ @ @ @ violent felony , the department said .
Hernandez was re-housed in the Administrative Segregation Unit @ @ @ @ @ said .
The prison in Monterey County has nearly 2,800 minimum- and maximum-custody inmates .

SOLEDAD, Calif. (AP) - Authorities said Saturday that they are investigating as a homicide the stabbing death of a 40-year-old inmate at a prison in Northern California.
Isaac M. McCuan was pronounced dead at 12:17 p.m. Saturday in Salinas Valley State Prison, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement.
McCuan was admitted to the prison in 2013 to serve a sentence of life with the possibility of parole, with a 35-year offense enhancement for a street gang act in commission of a violent felony.
McCuan’s cellmate, Juan Hernandez, 31, has been identified as the suspect. Hernandez came to the prison in 2013 to serve a sentence of life without parole for, among other convictions, first-degree murder and a street gang act in commission of a violent felony, the department said.
Hernandez was re-housed in the Administrative Segregation Unit pending investigation, the department said.
The prison in Monterey County has nearly 2,800 minimum- and maximum-custody inmates.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Alaska hits daily record for coronavirus cases, agency says

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - Alaska on Saturday reported hitting a daily record in new coronavirus cases .
@ @ @ @ @ , the highest in a single day since Oct. 25 , when 526 cases were @ @ @ @ @ News reported .
The Department of Health and Social Services said there were no new @ @ @ @ @ The state has had 19,306 cases and 79 deaths since the coronavirus hit .
The @ @ @ @ @ people were currently hospitalized with the virus in Alaska as of Saturday , slightly down @ @ @ @ @ of 97 hospitalizations .
Another 10 hospital patients were suspected of having COVID-19 , according @ @ @ @ @ most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever @ @ @ @ @ in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with @ @ @ @ @ can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
The vast majority @ @ @ @

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska on Saturday reported hitting a daily record in new coronavirus cases.
The state reported 604 cases, the highest in a single day since Oct. 25, when 526 cases were tallied, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The Department of Health and Social Services said there were no new deaths from the virus.
The state has had 19,306 cases and 79 deaths since the coronavirus hit.
The Daily News reported that 95 people were currently hospitalized with the virus in Alaska as of Saturday, slightly down from Friday’s record of 97 hospitalizations. Another 10 hospital patients were suspected of having COVID-19, according to state data.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority of people recover.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Matt Gaetz accuses Republicans of giving up on Trump after Biden projected winner

Congressional Republican leaders were mostly quiet on Saturday about President Trump ’ s loss to Democrat Joseph R. Biden in election projections , and one Trump ally accused the GOP of “ throwing in the towel.
” Rep. Matt Gaetz , Florida Republican and one of the president ’ s staunchest allies , accused fellow Republicans of giving up on Mr. Trump .
“ Some Republicans are ready to throw in the towel now and fight for a future election , ” Mr. Gaetz tweeted .
“ There is no future for the Republican Party if we do not stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical moment.
” After news organizations called Pennsylvania and Nevada for Mr. Biden , House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana was one of the few GOP leaders to say publicly that the contest wasn ’ t over .
“ The election isn ’ t over until all legal votes are counted and certified .
There are still serious legal challenges that have been made , and until that process is resolved , the election is not final , ” Mr. Scalise tweeted .
House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California was quiet , as was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky .
Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota likewise had nothing to say on Twitter .
Nor did Sen. John Barrasso , Wyoming Republican , who chairs the Senate Republican Conference .
Corey Stapleton , Montana ’ s Republican secretary of state , tweeted at Mr. Trump , “ I have supported you , Mr. President , we ( Montana ) have supported you—and @ realDonaldTrump accomplished some incredible things during your time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now over .
Tip your hat , bite your lip , and congratulate @ JoeBiden .
Blessings on you and your family .
”

Congressional Republican leaders were mostly quiet on Saturday about President Trump’s loss to Democrat Joseph R. Biden in election projections, and one Trump ally accused the GOP of “throwing in the towel.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida Republican and one of the president’s staunchest allies, accused fellow Republicans of giving up on Mr. Trump.
“Some Republicans are ready to throw in the towel now and fight for a future election,” Mr. Gaetz tweeted. “There is no future for the Republican Party if we do not stand and fight for @realDonaldTrump in this critical moment.”
After news organizations called Pennsylvania and Nevada for Mr. Biden, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana was one of the few GOP leaders to say publicly that the contest wasn’t over.
“The election isn’t over until all legal votes are counted and certified. There are still serious legal challenges that have been made, and until that process is resolved, the election is not final,” Mr. Scalise tweeted.
House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney of Wyoming had nothing to say on social media.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California was quiet, as was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota likewise had nothing to say on Twitter. Nor did Sen. John Barrasso, Wyoming Republican, who chairs the Senate Republican Conference.
Corey Stapleton, Montana’s Republican secretary of state, tweeted at Mr. Trump, “I have supported you, Mr. President, we (Montana) have supported you—and @realDonaldTrump accomplished some incredible things during your time in office! But that time is now over. Tip your hat, bite your lip, and congratulate @JoeBiden. Blessings on you and your family.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Authentic goes wire-to-wire to win Breeders' Cup Classic

LEXINGTON , Ky. ( AP ) - From start to finish , Authentic left no doubt he was the horse to beat in the Breeders ’ Cup Classic .
His dominant performance on another big stage should also end the debate about this year ’ s top 3-year-old , strange as the season has been because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Authentic won the Classic in the same fashion he took the rescheduled Kentucky Derby two months ago , going wire-to-wire for a 2¼-length victory over Improbable that gave trainer Bob Baffert a 1-2 finish on a warm , sunny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erased Baffert ’ s regret over Authentic ’ s narrow runner-up finish to filly Swiss Skydiver in last month ’ s Preakness , also shifted to the fall because of the pandemic .
“ He just struggled that day , ” Baffert said , “ but we got him back and I ’ ve got a great team and we just tightened the screws on him .
“ He ’ s just matured .
He ’ s maturing right now and this … is the time of the year they catch up.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Authentic on Sautrday as he broke quickly out of the No .
9 gate between stablemates and set the pace for the 10-horse field to follow .
Maximum Security , last year ’ s 3-year-old champion , pursued for a while before Global Security overtook him and then was passed by Improbable entering the stretch .
Authentic , at 9-2 , never let up with John Velazquez aboard and extended his lead by the end .
“ I didn ’ t think it was that much speed in the race , other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on outside , ” said the Hall of Fame jockey , referring to Maximum Security .
“ And I thought we were going to be quicker than him anyway .
“ Once we got in front and I passed the wire for the first time , I mean , it was pretty easy from there , yeah.
” Authentic earned his fifth win with two seconds in seven starts this year , strengthening his case as the year ’ s top 3-year-old .
The victory bookended a successful day for Baffert , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season-ending world championships with a dominant , record-setting win in the $ 1 million Filly and Mare Sprint .
Both horses will certainly be named in any Eclipse Award discussion , and Baffert ’ s bias for Authentic was obvious .
“ There was a lot on the line , ” he said .
“ What he did today was pretty amazing.
” Authentic covered 1¼ miles in 1:59.19 in the $ 6 million marquee event and paid $ 10.40 , $ 5.40 and $ 4.20 .
Improbable returned $ 4.80 and $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As for Gamine , she beat retiring great Serengeti Empress by 6¼ lengths and clocked a track-record 1:20.20 over seven furlongs to top Taris ’ old mark of 1:21.32 on Oct. 18 , 2014 .
Her fourth victory this year comes after a tumultuous year in which she tested positive for lidocaine in May and for betamethasone , a regulated corticosteroid , in September .
Baffert is appealing a suspension in the first case , while results are pending from a split-sample test in the second .
He wasn ’ t necessarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the win and gushed over his filly .
“ She showed what a wonderful filly she is and there was no doubt today , ” Baffert said .
“ That was a tough field .
Serengeti Empress , we know she ’ s a great filly and there were some really nice fillies in there .
And to break a track record.
” There was tragedy just before the nine-race card began , when colt Absolutely Aiden had to be euthanized following an injury that occurred during a scary chain-reaction incident in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Landeros and fellow riders Tyler Gaffalione and David Cohen from Dinar and Strike That .
Optimum weather and conditions on the dirt and turf led to not only several record-breaking runs but also an impressive showing by European horses , a seasoned veteran and two wins by a substitute jockey .
Just before the Classic , even-money favorite Monomoy Girl blew by the leaders around the final turn and held off a challenge by 14-1 shot Valiance to win the 1 1/8-mile Distaff for the top fillies and mares 3 years old and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 13th time in 15th races , giving trainer Brad Cox his fourth win at this Breeders ’ Cup to tie the record .
“ I thought she was better than she ’ d ever been coming into this , I really , really did , and I think she proved that , ” said Cox , whose horse won in 1:47.84 .
“ Just a tremendous filly .
She ’ s a champion.
” This is likely Monomoy Girl ’ s last race before she becomes a broodmare .
Her second Cup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upset in the Mile by Order of Australia .
The 73-1 longshot , entered following a scratch and with a substitute rider aboard , won the $ 2 million race by a neck over Circus Maximus .
The Irish-bred colt entered the 15-horse field after One Master was scratched .
Jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot was riding in place of Christophe Soumillon , who tested positive for COVID-19 this week .
Earlier , Boudot rode 17-1 French bred Audarya to victory in the Filly & Mare Turf .
Another Irish bred , Tarnawa , won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turf immediately before the Classic with Colin Keane in Soumillon ’ s place .
British-bred filly Glass Slippers earned a half-length victory over Wet Your Whistle in the 5½-furlong Turf Sprint .
The 4-year-old filly ’ s time of 1:01.53 was just off the track record of 1:00.86 by Leinster in July .
Knicks Go also broke a track record , winning the Dirt Mile by 3 1/2 lengths over Jesus ’ Team and running 1:33.85 .
And then there was 7-year-old Whitmore , who showed there was plenty left in the tank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 2 million , 6-furlong Sprint .
The 18-1 choice saved his best for last as he stormed outside from near the rail in the stretch to win by 3¼ lengths and earn his first Breeders ’ Cup win in four starts .
As if 15 wins in 38 starts and more than $ 3 million in earnings weren ’ t remarkable enough for the graybeard .

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - From start to finish, Authentic left no doubt he was the horse to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
His dominant performance on another big stage should also end the debate about this year’s top 3-year-old, strange as the season has been because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Authentic won the Classic in the same fashion he took the rescheduled Kentucky Derby two months ago, going wire-to-wire for a 2¼-length victory over Improbable that gave trainer Bob Baffert a 1-2 finish on a warm, sunny fall Saturday at Keeneland.
And perhaps erased Baffert’s regret over Authentic’s narrow runner-up finish to filly Swiss Skydiver in last month’s Preakness, also shifted to the fall because of the pandemic.
“He just struggled that day,” Baffert said, “but we got him back and I’ve got a great team and we just tightened the screws on him.
“He’s just matured. He’s maturing right now and this … is the time of the year they catch up.”
There wasn’t any catching up to Authentic on Sautrday as he broke quickly out of the No. 9 gate between stablemates and set the pace for the 10-horse field to follow. Maximum Security, last year’s 3-year-old champion, pursued for a while before Global Security overtook him and then was passed by Improbable entering the stretch.
Authentic, at 9-2, never let up with John Velazquez aboard and extended his lead by the end.
“I didn’t think it was that much speed in the race, other than the other horse that Bob had on outside,” said the Hall of Fame jockey, referring to Maximum Security. “And I thought we were going to be quicker than him anyway.
“Once we got in front and I passed the wire for the first time, I mean, it was pretty easy from there, yeah.”
Authentic earned his fifth win with two seconds in seven starts this year, strengthening his case as the year’s top 3-year-old. The victory bookended a successful day for Baffert, whose filly Gamine opened the $31 million season-ending world championships with a dominant, record-setting win in the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint.
Both horses will certainly be named in any Eclipse Award discussion, and Baffert’s bias for Authentic was obvious.
“There was a lot on the line,” he said. “What he did today was pretty amazing.”
Authentic covered 1¼ miles in 1:59.19 in the $6 million marquee event and paid $10.40, $5.40 and $4.20. Improbable returned $4.80 and $3.30 while Global Campaign paid $8.80.
As for Gamine, she beat retiring great Serengeti Empress by 6¼ lengths and clocked a track-record 1:20.20 over seven furlongs to top Taris’ old mark of 1:21.32 on Oct. 18, 2014. Her fourth victory this year comes after a tumultuous year in which she tested positive for lidocaine in May and for betamethasone, a regulated corticosteroid, in September.
Baffert is appealing a suspension in the first case, while results are pending from a split-sample test in the second. He wasn’t necessarily seeking vindication but got it anyway with the win and gushed over his filly.
“She showed what a wonderful filly she is and there was no doubt today,” Baffert said. “That was a tough field. Serengeti Empress, we know she’s a great filly and there were some really nice fillies in there. And to break a track record.”
There was tragedy just before the nine-race card began, when colt Absolutely Aiden had to be euthanized following an injury that occurred during a scary chain-reaction incident in the $150,000 Lafayette that toppled mount Chris Landeros and fellow riders Tyler Gaffalione and David Cohen from Dinar and Strike That.
Optimum weather and conditions on the dirt and turf led to not only several record-breaking runs but also an impressive showing by European horses, a seasoned veteran and two wins by a substitute jockey.
Just before the Classic, even-money favorite Monomoy Girl blew by the leaders around the final turn and held off a challenge by 14-1 shot Valiance to win the 1 1/8-mile Distaff for the top fillies and mares 3 years old and up. The star 5-year-old won for the 13th time in 15th races, giving trainer Brad Cox his fourth win at this Breeders’ Cup to tie the record.
“I thought she was better than she’d ever been coming into this, I really, really did, and I think she proved that,” said Cox, whose horse won in 1:47.84. “Just a tremendous filly. She’s a champion.”
This is likely Monomoy Girl’s last race before she becomes a broodmare. Her second Cup win in three years followed a big upset in the Mile by Order of Australia.
The 73-1 longshot, entered following a scratch and with a substitute rider aboard, won the $2 million race by a neck over Circus Maximus.
The Irish-bred colt entered the 15-horse field after One Master was scratched. Jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot was riding in place of Christophe Soumillon, who tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Earlier, Boudot rode 17-1 French bred Audarya to victory in the Filly & Mare Turf.
Another Irish bred, Tarnawa, won the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf immediately before the Classic with Colin Keane in Soumillon’s place.
British-bred filly Glass Slippers earned a half-length victory over Wet Your Whistle in the 5½-furlong Turf Sprint. The 4-year-old filly’s time of 1:01.53 was just off the track record of 1:00.86 by Leinster in July.
Knicks Go also broke a track record, winning the Dirt Mile by 3 1/2 lengths over Jesus’ Team and running 1:33.85.
And then there was 7-year-old Whitmore, who showed there was plenty left in the tank with a stunning stretch run to win the $2 million, 6-furlong Sprint. The 18-1 choice saved his best for last as he stormed outside from near the rail in the stretch to win by 3¼ lengths and earn his first Breeders’ Cup win in four starts.
As if 15 wins in 38 starts and more than $3 million in earnings weren’t remarkable enough for the graybeard.
___
AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Pedro Pierluisi wins gubernatorial race in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico ( AP ) - Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico ’ s pro-statehood New Progressive Party won a majority of votes to become the U.S. territory ’ s next governor , according to official preliminary results released late Saturday .
Pierluisi received nearly 33 % of votes compared with nearly 32 % obtained by Carlos Delgado of the Popular Democratic Party , which supports the current territorial status , with 100 % of precincts reporting .
The results come four days after Puerto Rico held general elections , an unusual delay blamed on a record number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials .
It ’ s also the first time that Puerto Rico ‘ s two main parties fail to reach 40 % of votes .
“ These are times to unite wills and purposes , ” Pierluisi said in a statement .
Pierluisi had claimed victory the night of the election as Delgado refused to concede , noting that his opponent was leading by a very slim margin and that thousands of votes still had not been counted .
On Saturday , he congratulated Pierluisi : “ The island needs consensus , dialogue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the great challenges of the future.
” Saturday ’ s results were released hours after U.S. President-elect Joe Biden won the election in the U.S. mainland , a victory that Pierluisi said would help Puerto Rico finally gain statehood .
He congratulated Biden and said he looked forward to working with him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris “ for the benefit of all Puerto Ricans in their fight for progress and equality.
” Voters in Puerto Rico participated in a non-binding referendum the day of the local general election that asked , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the union as a state ?
” More than 52 % of voters approved , but any changes to the island ’ s political status needs approval from U.S. Congress .
It is the island ’ s sixth such referendum .
Biden has promised to work with local government officials who support a variety of political status for Puerto Rico to “ initiate a just and binding process ” for the island to determine its own status .
Biden also promised to fight against austerity measures sought by a federal control board overseeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic crisis ; accelerate the disbursement of federal funds for hurricane and earthquake reconstruction ; and push for equal funding of Medicaid , Medicare and Supplemental Security Income , since Puerto Rico receives less than U.S. states .
Other results released late Saturday included those of a tight race for the mayor of Puerto Rico ‘ s capital .
New Progressive Miguel Romero received more than 36 % of votes , compared with more than 34 % obtained by third-party candidate Manuel Natal of the Citizen Victory Movement .
Natal rejected the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted .

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood New Progressive Party won a majority of votes to become the U.S. territory’s next governor, according to official preliminary results released late Saturday.
Pierluisi received nearly 33% of votes compared with nearly 32% obtained by Carlos Delgado of the Popular Democratic Party, which supports the current territorial status, with 100% of precincts reporting.
The results come four days after Puerto Rico held general elections, an unusual delay blamed on a record number of early and absentee votes that overwhelmed officials. It’s also the first time that Puerto Rico’s two main parties fail to reach 40% of votes.
“These are times to unite wills and purposes,” Pierluisi said in a statement.
Pierluisi had claimed victory the night of the election as Delgado refused to concede, noting that his opponent was leading by a very slim margin and that thousands of votes still had not been counted.
On Saturday, he congratulated Pierluisi: “The island needs consensus, dialogue and convergence so that we can face the great challenges of the future.”
Saturday’s results were released hours after U.S. President-elect Joe Biden won the election in the U.S. mainland, a victory that Pierluisi said would help Puerto Rico finally gain statehood. He congratulated Biden and said he looked forward to working with him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris “for the benefit of all Puerto Ricans in their fight for progress and equality.”
Voters in Puerto Rico participated in a non-binding referendum the day of the local general election that asked, “Should Puerto Rico be admitted immediately into the union as a state?” More than 52% of voters approved, but any changes to the island’s political status needs approval from U.S. Congress. It is the island’s sixth such referendum.
Biden has promised to work with local government officials who support a variety of political status for Puerto Rico to “initiate a just and binding process” for the island to determine its own status.
Biden also promised to fight against austerity measures sought by a federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances amid an economic crisis; accelerate the disbursement of federal funds for hurricane and earthquake reconstruction; and push for equal funding of Medicaid, Medicare and Supplemental Security Income, since Puerto Rico receives less than U.S. states.
Other results released late Saturday included those of a tight race for the mayor of Puerto Rico’s capital. New Progressive Miguel Romero received more than 36% of votes, compared with more than 34% obtained by third-party candidate Manuel Natal of the Citizen Victory Movement. Natal rejected the results and said not all votes have been counted.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--First rain hits California after months of hot weather

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - After months of hot weather that fueled immense wildfires , the first thunderstorm of @ @ @ @ @ cooler temperatures and snow to parts of California on Saturday .
Scattered showers were reported @ @ @ @ @ most precipitation - 1.5 inches of rain - was recorded in the inland mountain areas @ @ @ @ @ Service offices in Oxnard and San Diego .
Up to seven inches of snow fell @ @ @ @ @ of Northern California missed out on the rain .
But forecasters said a second low-pressure @ @ @ @ @ showers to hills and coastal areas south of San Francisco late Saturday .
The region @ @ @ @ @ substantial rain since May .
Travelers were warned that a snowstorm would hit the Sierra @ @ @ @ @ dumping five to 8 inches of snow through Sunday night and up to 13 inches @ @ @ @ @ said .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - After months of hot weather that fueled immense wildfires, the first thunderstorm of the season brought rain, cooler temperatures and snow to parts of California on Saturday.
Scattered showers were reported across Southern California. The most precipitation - 1.5 inches of rain - was recorded in the inland mountain areas, according to National Weather Service offices in Oxnard and San Diego. Up to seven inches of snow fell on Lake Arrowhead.
Much of Northern California missed out on the rain. But forecasters said a second low-pressure front was expected to bring showers to hills and coastal areas south of San Francisco late Saturday.
The region hasn’t seen any substantial rain since May.
Travelers were warned that a snowstorm would hit the Sierra Nevada starting late Saturday, dumping five to 8 inches of snow through Sunday night and up to 13 inches at higher elevations, forecasters said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Biden's ancestral home in Ireland celebrates his victory

BALLINA , Ireland ( AP ) - Joe Biden is somewhat removed from the Irish town his great-great-great-grandfather left almost 200 years ago , but that is not stopping Ballina from celebrating his presidential victory .
The town in County Mayo , about 145 miles ( 235 kilometers ) northwest of Dublin , has for days been draped in the Stars and Stripes and Biden/Harris banners in anticipation , even though many businesses have had to close due to lockdown restrictions .
Joe Blewitt , a heating and plumbing engineer and a cousin of Biden ’ s , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prospect of a President Joe Biden .
“ Now he ’ ll be the President of the United States , they ’ re delighted , they ’ re absolutely delighted , ” Blewitt said .
“ To think one of their own is one of the most powerful men in the world.
” Blewitt , who was invited to the White House in 2017 when Biden was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama , said he hopes to be able to make it over again for the inauguration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in regular contact too : “ He ’ s a really nice fella .
He ’ s good to talk to.
” Biden , who visited Ballina in June 2016 when he was in his final few months as vice president , has pledged to visit again were he to prevail over Trump .
Biden ’ s great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt emigrated from the town , having worked as a brick-maker and as a civil engineer helping to map Ireland .
Ten of Biden ’ s 16 great-great grandparents were also born in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially sweet for Beryl McCrainey Slevin , a California native who has lived in Ballina for more than 15 years .
Her hope is that Biden will be able to reunite her homeland after a divisive four years under Trump .
“ I ’ m hoping that after this election we can really work on building alliances with everyone in the country , ” she said .
“ We are all American and the ideals of America are so important globally , that I think it ’ s really important that we come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue the work of building the American dream for everyone.
” She also laid out her hope that Biden will “ bring back dignity ” to the White House and help heal the racial problems afflicting the U.S. “ I also feel very strongly that Joe Biden is in a place now that he ’ s ready to do serious justice reform , police reform nationally , ” she said .
Cousin Blewitt is not ruling out the possibility of a Joe Biden plaza in Ballina , akin to the one built in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited his own ancestral home in southeast Ireland .
Irish prime minister Micheal Martin was one of the first leaders to congratulate Biden on his victory , a clear sign of how much Biden ’ s victory means to the country .
“ Joe Biden has been a true friend of this nation throughout his life and I look forward to working with him in the years ahead , ” he said in a tweet .
“ I also look forward to welcoming him back home when the circumstances allow .
”

BALLINA, Ireland (AP) - Joe Biden is somewhat removed from the Irish town his great-great-great-grandfather left almost 200 years ago, but that is not stopping Ballina from celebrating his presidential victory.
The town in County Mayo, about 145 miles (235 kilometers) northwest of Dublin, has for days been draped in the Stars and Stripes and Biden/Harris banners in anticipation, even though many businesses have had to close due to lockdown restrictions.
Joe Blewitt, a heating and plumbing engineer and a cousin of Biden’s, said the town of about 10,000 is ecstatic at the prospect of a President Joe Biden.
“Now he’ll be the President of the United States, they’re delighted, they’re absolutely delighted,” Blewitt said. “To think one of their own is one of the most powerful men in the world.”
Blewitt, who was invited to the White House in 2017 when Biden was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama, said he hopes to be able to make it over again for the inauguration in January.
Blewitt says the pair are in regular contact too: “He’s a really nice fella. He’s good to talk to.”
Biden, who visited Ballina in June 2016 when he was in his final few months as vice president, has pledged to visit again were he to prevail over Trump.
Biden’s great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt emigrated from the town, having worked as a brick-maker and as a civil engineer helping to map Ireland. Ten of Biden’s 16 great-great grandparents were also born in Ireland.
Biden’s victory was especially sweet for Beryl McCrainey Slevin, a California native who has lived in Ballina for more than 15 years.
Her hope is that Biden will be able to reunite her homeland after a divisive four years under Trump.
“I’m hoping that after this election we can really work on building alliances with everyone in the country,” she said. “We are all American and the ideals of America are so important globally, that I think it’s really important that we come together once again as a nation and continue the work of building the American dream for everyone.”
She also laid out her hope that Biden will “bring back dignity” to the White House and help heal the racial problems afflicting the U.S.
“I also feel very strongly that Joe Biden is in a place now that he’s ready to do serious justice reform, police reform nationally,” she said.
Cousin Blewitt is not ruling out the possibility of a Joe Biden plaza in Ballina, akin to the one built in Moneygall to honor Barack Obama when he visited his own ancestral home in southeast Ireland.
Irish prime minister Micheal Martin was one of the first leaders to congratulate Biden on his victory, a clear sign of how much Biden’s victory means to the country.
“Joe Biden has been a true friend of this nation throughout his life and I look forward to working with him in the years ahead,” he said in a tweet. “I also look forward to welcoming him back home when the circumstances allow.”
___
This story has been corrected to show that Biden was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, not the Congressional Medal of Honor, in 2017.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Wichita council member contracts COVID-19; mayor quarantined

WICHITA , Kan. ( AP ) - A council member in Kansas ’ largest city has tested positive for the @ @ @ @ @ and other council members to quarantine for about two weeks .
Wichita announced Council Member @ @ @ @ @ result Saturday in a tweet .
The city says Mayor Brandon Whipple , members of @ @ @ @ @ staff , including city manager Robert Layton , must temporarily stay away from city hall @ @ @ @ @ to strongly urge all Wichita residents and City employees to practice safe social distancing whenever @ @ @ @ @ masks when distancing isn ’ t possible , limit public exposure and to wash hands @ @ @ @ @ of Wichita tweeted .
The Wichita Eagle reports that Johnson said he had a cough @ @ @ @ @ so he went to be tested .
He received his results Saturday morning .

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A council member in Kansas’ largest city has tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing the mayor and other council members to quarantine for about two weeks.
Wichita announced Council Member Brandon Johnson’s positive result Saturday in a tweet. The city says Mayor Brandon Whipple, members of the City Council and some staff, including city manager Robert Layton, must temporarily stay away from city hall.
“The City continues to strongly urge all Wichita residents and City employees to practice safe social distancing whenever possible, to wear face masks when distancing isn’t possible, limit public exposure and to wash hands frequently,” the City of Wichita tweeted.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Johnson said he had a cough Thursday that worsened Friday, so he went to be tested. He received his results Saturday morning.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Delaware city OKs ban on Nativity scenes on public property

REHOBOTH BEACH , Del .
( AP ) - Nativity scenes or other religious displays will not be allowed on @ @ @ @ @ for the third year in a row .
The city ’ s commissioners and mayor @ @ @ @ @ ban on “ private holiday displays , ” the Daily Times of Salisbury reported .
@ @ @ @ @ up to $ 10,000 for a “ holiday display that celebrates the cultural diversity ” @ @ @ @ @ said the display will be on a prominent location this holiday season .
Any displays @ @ @ @ @ removed at the owner ’ s expense .
The controversy over the displays in the @ @ @ @ @ when officials asked a Catholic church to remove a Nativity scene installed at the Bandstand @ @ @ @ @ entertainment venue located steps from the beach .
Last year , opponents of the ban @ @ @ @ @ Officials at the time suggested that religious organizations work on a display inclusive of all @ @

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) - Nativity scenes or other religious displays will not be allowed on public property in Rehoboth Beach for the third year in a row.
The city’s commissioners and mayor voted Thursday to keep a ban on “private holiday displays,” the Daily Times of Salisbury reported. But officials authorized funding of up to $10,000 for a “holiday display that celebrates the cultural diversity” of the city.
Commissioners said the display will be on a prominent location this holiday season.
Any displays on public property will be removed at the owner’s expense.
The controversy over the displays in the city began in 2018, when officials asked a Catholic church to remove a Nativity scene installed at the Bandstand, an open-air music and entertainment venue located steps from the beach.
Last year, opponents of the ban protested outside City Hall. Officials at the time suggested that religious organizations work on a display inclusive of all denominations.