washingtontimes--2020-11-16--British diplomat praised for saving drowning woman in China

BEIJING ( AP ) - A British diplomat is being praised for saving a drowning woman in southwestern China .
Stephen Ellison jumped into a stream to rescue the woman after she fell into the water in a village on the outskirts of Chongqing .
Ellison is the British consul general in the Chinese city .
Ellison , 61 , told the BBC he had seen the woman pulled under a bridge with her head under the water .
“ So really , there wasn ’ t a lot of time to do anything other than to get in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onlookers showed Ellison tearing off his shoes and jumping in fully clothed .
A life ring was thrown to the pair but Ellison swam to the bank by himself as others pulled the woman from the water .
Ellison received overwhelming praise on the Chinese internet , with some contrasting his fast action during the Saturday morning incident with the relative passivity of the onlookers .
Footage posted online racked up millions of views , with commenters praising the selfless act .
“ We welcome this type of foreigner .
Saving lives really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment on the Twitter-like Wechat microblogging forum .
China-Britain relations have been under strain in recent months over trade , London ’ s condemnation of China ’ s crackdown on opposition figures in the former British colony of Hong Kong and Beijing ’ s detention of more than 1 million members of Muslim minority groups in the northwestern territory of Xinjiang .

BEIJING (AP) - A British diplomat is being praised for saving a drowning woman in southwestern China.
Stephen Ellison jumped into a stream to rescue the woman after she fell into the water in a village on the outskirts of Chongqing. Ellison is the British consul general in the Chinese city.
“We are all immensely proud of our Chongqing Consul General, Stephen Ellison, who dived into a river on Saturday to rescue a drowning student and swim her to safety,” the The British Embassy in Beijing said in a tweet.
Ellison was on a business trip Tuesday and could not immediately be reached for comment.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian joined the chorus of approval for Ellison expressed online and in state media. “His bravery is commendable, and I would like to give him a big compliment,” Zhao said at a daily news briefing.
In footage shot by onlookers and posted online, the 61-year-old Ellison, who competes in triathlons, is seen tearing off his shoes and jumping in fully clothed before swimming to the woman, who appeared to be unconscious. A life preserver was thrown to the pair, but Ellison swam to the bank by himself as others pulled the woman from the water.
Ellison received overwhelming praise on the Chinese internet, with some contrasting his fast action during the Saturday morning incident with the relative passivity of onlookers. Footage posted online racked up millions of views, with commenters praising the selfless act.
“We welcome this type of foreigner. Saving lives really has no borders,” read one comment on the Twitter-like Wechat microblogging forum.
China-Britain relations have been under strain in recent months over trade disputes, London’s condemnation of China’s crackdown on opposition figures in the former British colony of Hong Kong and Beijing’s detention of more than 1 million members of Muslim minority groups in the northwestern territory of Xinjiang.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Ilhan Omar terminates contract with husband Tim Mynett's consulting firm

MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is cutting ties with her husband ’ s political consulting firm after winning her bid for reelection , saying she wants to ensure her supporters feel there ’ s no perceived issue .
Omar married her political consultant , Tim Mynett , in March , sparking scrutiny and a complaint to the Federal Election Commission by a conservative group that alleged campaign funds paid for Mynett ’ s personal travel .
The FEC has taken no public action on that complaint , and Omar has said payments to Mynett ’ s firm , E @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email to her supporters on Sunday , Omar said her campaign was terminating its contract with E Street Group to “ make sure that anybody who is supporting our campaign with their time or financial support feels there is no perceived issue with that support , ” the Star Tribune reported .
She also wrote : “ Every dollar that was spent went to a team of more than twenty that were helping us fight back against attacks and organize on the ground and online in a COVID-19 world .
And Tim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - received no profit whatsoever from the consulting relationship the firm provided.
” A campaign spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday that Omar commits to not using Mynett ’ s firm in future campaigns .
Omar won reelection to a second term , easily defeating Republican challenger Lacy Johnson in the heavily Democratic 5th District .
She also defeated primary challenger Anton Melton-Meaux , whose well-funded race highlighted controversies involving Omar , including her connection to Mynett .
Omar told supporters , “ you deserve to be a part of a movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , and know that it is holding itself to the highest possible standards.
” Omar ’ s campaign was big business for E Street Group .
The campaign reported paying the firm more than $ 1.1 million for advertising and consulting in the third quarter of this year alone .

MINNEAPOLIS — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is cutting ties with her husband’s political consulting firm after winning her bid for reelection, saying she wants to ensure her supporters feel there’s no perceived issue.
Omar married her political consultant, Tim Mynett, in March, sparking scrutiny and a complaint to the Federal Election Commission by a conservative group that alleged campaign funds paid for Mynett’s personal travel. The FEC has taken no public action on that complaint, and Omar has said payments to Mynett’s firm, E Street Group, were legitimate.
In an email to her supporters on Sunday, Omar said her campaign was terminating its contract with E Street Group to “make sure that anybody who is supporting our campaign with their time or financial support feels there is no perceived issue with that support,” the Star Tribune reported.
She also wrote: “Every dollar that was spent went to a team of more than twenty that were helping us fight back against attacks and organize on the ground and online in a COVID-19 world. And Tim - beyond his salary at the firm - received no profit whatsoever from the consulting relationship the firm provided.”
A campaign spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday that Omar commits to not using Mynett’s firm in future campaigns.
Omar won reelection to a second term, easily defeating Republican challenger Lacy Johnson in the heavily Democratic 5th District. She also defeated primary challenger Anton Melton-Meaux, whose well-funded race highlighted controversies involving Omar, including her connection to Mynett.
Omar told supporters, “you deserve to be a part of a movement that you can rely on, believe in, and know that it is holding itself to the highest possible standards.”
Omar’s campaign was big business for E Street Group. The campaign reported paying the firm more than $1.1 million for advertising and consulting in the third quarter of this year alone.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Woman and her unborn child killed in Los Angeles shooting

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A woman and her unborn child were killed in a weekend shooting that also @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles , authorities said Monday .
Arlene Leonor Rodriguez , seven months pregnant , @ @ @ @ @ parked in the Wilmington area late Sunday morning as the man worked on the engine @ @ @ @ @ statement .
A shooter then “ approached on foot and fired multiple rounds ” into @ @ @ @ @ , the statement said .
The man , who was not identified , was hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ life-threatening , the Los Angeles Times reported .
Rodriguez , 24 , and her unborn @ @ @ @ @ .
The shooting was one of several in the city Sunday , pushing the total @ @ @ @ @ this year to 294 , the Times reported .
The city has not seen more @ @ @ @ @ year since 2009 , the newspaper said .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A woman and her unborn child were killed in a weekend shooting that also left a man wounded in Los Angeles, authorities said Monday.
Arlene Leonor Rodriguez, seven months pregnant, was sitting in a vehicle parked in the Wilmington area late Sunday morning as the man worked on the engine, according to a police statement.
A shooter then “approached on foot and fired multiple rounds” into the vehicle before running away, the statement said.
The man, who was not identified, was hospitalized with an injury not considered life-threatening, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Rodriguez, 24, and her unborn child died at a hospital.
The shooting was one of several in the city Sunday, pushing the total number of homicides in L.A. this year to 294, the Times reported. The city has not seen more than 300 homicides in a year since 2009, the newspaper said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Arizona' petition gathering firm accused of illegal bonuses

PHOENIX ( AP ) - State prosecutors have indicted Arizona ’ s largest petition gathering firm , alleging the company commissioned by the Proposition 208 campaign illegally gave bonuses to gatherers based on the number of signatures collected .
The indictment alleges AZ Petition Partners awarded at least 50 bonuses that ranged from $ 20 to $ 1,200 .
The Arizona Attorney General ’ s Office said Monday that a state law enacted in 2017 made it illegal to pay gatherers per signature they collected .
Each of the 50 misdemeanor charges carries a large fine if AZ Petition Partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a separate entity from Invest in Education , the committee that backed the ballot initiative .
“ The allegation that Petition Partners paid its circulators an illegal bonus by the signature is absolutely false , ” said David Leibowitz , a spokesperson for the company .
Proposition 208′s backers needed to collect 237,654 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot .
They filed more than 435,000 with the Secretary of State ’ s office .
Voters earlier this month approved the ballot initiative , which taxes the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for teacher and support staff and to fund career and technical education and teacher training .

PHOENIX (AP) - State prosecutors have indicted Arizona’s largest petition gathering firm, alleging the company commissioned by the Proposition 208 campaign illegally gave bonuses to gatherers based on the number of signatures collected.
The indictment alleges AZ Petition Partners awarded at least 50 bonuses that ranged from $20 to $1,200.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office said Monday that a state law enacted in 2017 made it illegal to pay gatherers per signature they collected. Each of the 50 misdemeanor charges carries a large fine if AZ Petition Partners is found guilty.
AZ Petition Partners is a separate entity from Invest in Education, the committee that backed the ballot initiative.
“The allegation that Petition Partners paid its circulators an illegal bonus by the signature is absolutely false,” said David Leibowitz, a spokesperson for the company.
Proposition 208′s backers needed to collect 237,654 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. They filed more than 435,000 with the Secretary of State’s office.
Voters earlier this month approved the ballot initiative, which taxes the state’s highest earners to raise money for raises for teacher and support staff and to fund career and technical education and teacher training.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--State seeks to bar Eyman from controlling political money

OLYMPIA , Wash. ( AP ) - Washington state is seeking to bar initiative promoter Tim Eyman from having any future financial control of political committees as a judge hears arguments that he solicited kickbacks , laundered donations and flouted campaign finance law in a long-running scheme to enrich himself .
Eyman ’ s trial before Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon opened Monday in a 2017 lawsuit brought by the attorney general ’ s office .
The court previously found Eyman committed other violations as part of the case , including that he failed to disclose more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received in personal accounts .
Eyman had to pay more than $ 300,000 in contempt-of-court sanctions for obstructing the state ’ s investigation .
Among the issues remaining at the trial is whether Eyman hid a $ 308,000 kickback from the for-profit signature-gathering firm Citizen Solutions .
The state is seeking steep financial penalties in addition to the ban on controlling political money .
“ Tim Eyman has continually and willfully violated the law for his own personal benefit , ” Assistant Attorney General S. Todd Sipe told the judge during his opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added : “ There is no reason to believe those violations will not continue without appropriate action taken by this court.
” Eyman has for the past two-decades-plus made a living promoting ballot initiatives , many of them designed to limit taxes - and for nearly as long he ’ s had a record of significant campaign finance violations .
In 2002 , the Public Disclosure Commission warned him that he could not accept political contributions personally by characterizing them as “ gifts , ” and the following year a judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any political committee .
The state argues that he subverted that ruling by continuing to act as treasurer even though someone else nominally held the position .
As for the kickback , the state says Eyman overpaid the signature gathering firm , and that it then funneled the money back to him by purportedly hiring him as a consultant .
Eyman ’ s attorney , former state Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders , insisted that Eyman disclosed everything required of him under the state ’ s campaign finance laws .
Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t with him , but with the treasurer of his political committees , Stan Long , a lawyer and accountant who died in a 2014 car crash , Sanders said .
“ Tim looked up to Stan and trusted his judgment , ” Sanders said .
“ That reporting was solely Mr. Long ’ s responsibility and absolutely not Mr. Eyman ’ s responsibility.
” Sanders portrayed Eyman as a citizen-activist whose life has fallen apart because of the lawsuit against him .
“ Mr .
Eyman is a man of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enthusiastic proponent of the initiative process , ” Sanders said .
“ As a results of this litigation , he ’ s lost his wife , he ’ s lost his home and he ’ s gone bankrupt.
” Sanders argued that the campaign paid a fair rate for the work Citizen Solutions did and that , after the fact , Citizen Solutions hired Eyman and his company as a consultant .
“ It was their money , ” Sanders said of Citizen Solutions .
“ There was no duty for the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to report it.
” The trial is expected to last about four days .
Voters in 2019 approved Eyman ’ s most recent ballot measure , Initiative 976 , which would have gutted transportation budgets throughout the state by severely cutting fees for car registrations .
The state Supreme Court unanimously struck it down last month as unconstitutional .

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington state is seeking to bar initiative promoter Tim Eyman from having any future financial control of political committees as a judge hears arguments that he solicited kickbacks, laundered donations and flouted campaign finance law in a long-running scheme to enrich himself.
Eyman’s trial before Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon opened Monday in a 2017 lawsuit brought by the attorney general’s office. The court previously found Eyman committed other violations as part of the case, including that he failed to disclose more than $766,000 in campaign contributions that he received in personal accounts. Eyman had to pay more than $300,000 in contempt-of-court sanctions for obstructing the state’s investigation.
Among the issues remaining at the trial is whether Eyman hid a $308,000 kickback from the for-profit signature-gathering firm Citizen Solutions. The state is seeking steep financial penalties in addition to the ban on controlling political money.
“Tim Eyman has continually and willfully violated the law for his own personal benefit,” Assistant Attorney General S. Todd Sipe told the judge during his opening statement Monday, The Seattle Times reported. He added: “There is no reason to believe those violations will not continue without appropriate action taken by this court.”
Eyman has for the past two-decades-plus made a living promoting ballot initiatives, many of them designed to limit taxes - and for nearly as long he’s had a record of significant campaign finance violations. In 2002, the Public Disclosure Commission warned him that he could not accept political contributions personally by characterizing them as “gifts,” and the following year a judge barred him from serving as the treasurer of any political committee.
The state argues that he subverted that ruling by continuing to act as treasurer even though someone else nominally held the position. As for the kickback, the state says Eyman overpaid the signature gathering firm, and that it then funneled the money back to him by purportedly hiring him as a consultant.
Eyman’s attorney, former state Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders, insisted that Eyman disclosed everything required of him under the state’s campaign finance laws. Even if Eyman hadn’t, the fault wasn’t with him, but with the treasurer of his political committees, Stan Long, a lawyer and accountant who died in a 2014 car crash, Sanders said.
“Tim looked up to Stan and trusted his judgment,” Sanders said. “That reporting was solely Mr. Long’s responsibility and absolutely not Mr. Eyman’s responsibility.”
Sanders portrayed Eyman as a citizen-activist whose life has fallen apart because of the lawsuit against him.
“Mr. Eyman is a man of modest means, he’s an enthusiastic proponent of the initiative process,” Sanders said. “As a results of this litigation, he’s lost his wife, he’s lost his home and he’s gone bankrupt.”
Sanders argued that the campaign paid a fair rate for the work Citizen Solutions did and that, after the fact, Citizen Solutions hired Eyman and his company as a consultant.
“It was their money,” Sanders said of Citizen Solutions. “There was no duty for the campaign to report that, Stan Long decided not to report it.”
The trial is expected to last about four days.
Voters in 2019 approved Eyman’s most recent ballot measure, Initiative 976, which would have gutted transportation budgets throughout the state by severely cutting fees for car registrations. The state Supreme Court unanimously struck it down last month as unconstitutional.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Woman headed to prison for fraud obtained COVID-relief loan

CHICAGO ( AP ) - An Illinois woman facing incarceration for stealing millions of dollars through her boyfriend ’ s business credit card allegedly obtained a pandemic relief loan as she prepared to report to prison , the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Chicago revealed Monday .
A U.S. District Court judge was asked by federal prosecutors to revoke the bond of Crystal Lundberg , who they say illegally obtained a $ 150,000 pandemic-relief loan .
Prosecutors allege in a court filing that Lundberg , 34 , lied on applications for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan application and failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison sentence .
Charges have yet to be filed against Lundberg .
The federal loan , which was disbursed in September , was to be used to keep a beauty salon Lundberg owned solvent during the COVID-19 pandemic .
However , Lundberg spent the money on trips , electronics , clothing and legal bills , prosecutors allege .
An FBI search of the bank account where the funds were sent had been drained of funds , prosecutors said .
Lundberg was sentenced last year to 52 months in prison for racking up nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items on the France-based drug delivery firm Nemera corporate credit card of Scott Kennedy .
Prosecutors said the couple spent much of the money after Lundberg moved in 2016 with her children and pets to San Diego .
Nemera unwittingly footed her $ 12,000-a-month rent for a 7,000-square-foot mansion .
Lundberg also spent about $ 585,000 on a failed medical spa , cars , jewelry and trips .
Kennedy , who was fired from his job as manager for Nemera ’ s Buffalo Grove plant , pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received a 25-month prison sentence .
Lundberg was scheduled to report to prison on Dec. 31 .
An attorney for Lundberg is arranging for her surrender , according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Eichenseer .
The attorney was not immediately available for comment .

CHICAGO (AP) - An Illinois woman facing incarceration for stealing millions of dollars through her boyfriend’s business credit card allegedly obtained a pandemic relief loan as she prepared to report to prison, the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago revealed Monday.
A U.S. District Court judge was asked by federal prosecutors to revoke the bond of Crystal Lundberg, who they say illegally obtained a $150,000 pandemic-relief loan. Prosecutors allege in a court filing that Lundberg, 34, lied on applications for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan application and failed to disclose her fraud conviction or her prison sentence. Charges have yet to be filed against Lundberg.
The federal loan, which was disbursed in September, was to be used to keep a beauty salon Lundberg owned solvent during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Lundberg spent the money on trips, electronics, clothing and legal bills, prosecutors allege. An FBI search of the bank account where the funds were sent had been drained of funds, prosecutors said.
Lundberg was sentenced last year to 52 months in prison for racking up nearly $5.8 million in charges on luxury items on the France-based drug delivery firm Nemera corporate credit card of Scott Kennedy.
Prosecutors said the couple spent much of the money after Lundberg moved in 2016 with her children and pets to San Diego. Nemera unwittingly footed her $12,000-a-month rent for a 7,000-square-foot mansion. Lundberg also spent about $585,000 on a failed medical spa, cars, jewelry and trips.
Kennedy, who was fired from his job as manager for Nemera’s Buffalo Grove plant, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed to cooperate with the government. He received a 25-month prison sentence.
Lundberg was scheduled to report to prison on Dec. 31. An attorney for Lundberg is arranging for her surrender, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Eichenseer. The attorney was not immediately available for comment.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--House Democrats trumpet election overhaul package

House Democrats on Monday rallied around their marquee legislation for the next Congress — a long-stalled package of broad election overhaul items that includes voting , campaign-finance and ethics laws .
They are looking to presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden to break through a Congressional logjam that has kept the legislation on ice for more than a year .
“ With this election , the American people had just participated in — it was a historic election .
A record-shattering 78 million Americans , the most in history , voted to send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi , California Democrat .
“ The other side had a big vote too and that ’ s good.
” “ Now with Joe Biden in the White House , we can turn this legislation into law , ” she said .
“ It ’ s always about who has the leverage.
” Mrs. Pelosi was joined by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and the bill ’ s sponsor , Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland , on a press call to trumpet the legislation , which will be introduced as H.R .
1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 117th Congress , and likely passed the first week of the new session .
Even with a Biden administration backing the bill , Democrats still will have to contend with Republicans in the Senate .
House Democrats originally passed the sweeping overhaul in March of 2019 on a stark party-line vote .
The massive , ambitious package includes changes on multiple levels .
For campaign finance , the bill includes incentives for politicians to rely on small donations while softening some spending requirements to allow for campaign funds to be used for certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclosure requirements for websites and interest groups .
Regarding voting , Democrats sought to create a national standard for federal voting with paper ballots , to expand voter registration to include same-day and automatic registration policies , and to block some efforts to purge names from voter rolls .
The changes to ethics laws include requiring candidates to release tax returns , ban congressional lawmakers from sitting on corporate boards , and apply a code of ethics on Supreme Court justices .
The bill was blocked in the GOP-run Senate for well over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell , Kentucky Republican , dubbed it the “ Democrat Politician Protection Act.
” Senate Republicans kept pushing back against the package Monday .
Mr. McConnell ’ s office dismissed it as Mrs. Pelosi ’ s “ far-left plan to federalize our elections.
” “ The Speaker of the House did not get to personally rewrite election law .
And yet , because of the sensible bipartisan steps that some of us championed , our defenses and countermeasures proved to be in radically better shape than in 2016 , ” Mr. McConnell said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections .
Control of the upper chamber for the next term is still up in the air with two seats up for grabs in a run-off election in Georgia .
Democrats need to win both seats to achieve a 50-50 split in the chamber with presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote .
Democrats plan to ramp up pressure on Mr. McConnell .
“ We ’ re going to make it clear to people that McConnell is the problem here , ” Mr. Sarbanes said .
“ He ’ s gon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than attacking our position.
” Declaration for American Democracy , a liberal activist group that hosted the press call , argued that Mr. Biden could make some of the changes with executive action if the bill can ’ t get through the Senate .
The group urged Mr. Biden to establish an advisory panel made up of members of various political parties that would screen candidates for the Federal Election Commission and require additional campaign finance disclosures .

House Democrats on Monday rallied around their marquee legislation for the next Congress — a long-stalled package of broad election overhaul items that includes voting, campaign-finance and ethics laws.
They are looking to presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden to break through a congressional logjam that has kept the legislation on ice for more than a year.
“With this election, the American people had just participated in — it was a historic election. A record-shattering 78 million Americans, the most in history, voted to send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat. “The other side had a big vote too and that’s good.”
“Now with Joe Biden in the White House, we can turn this legislation into law,” she said. “It’s always about who has the leverage.”
Mrs. Pelosi was joined by Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and the bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland, on a press call to trumpet the legislation, which will be introduced as H.R. 1, the first House bill of the 117th Congress, and likely passed the first week of the new session.
Even with a Biden administration backing the bill, Democrats still will have to contend with Republicans in the Senate.
House Democrats originally passed the sweeping overhaul in March of 2019 on a stark party-line vote.
The massive, ambitious package includes changes on multiple levels.
For campaign finance, the bill includes incentives for politicians to rely on small donations while softening some spending requirements to allow for campaign funds to be used for certain personal expenses. It also includes new disclosure requirements for websites and interest groups.
Regarding voting, Democrats sought to create a national standard for federal voting with paper ballots, to expand voter registration to include same-day and automatic registration policies, and to block some efforts to purge names from voter rolls.
The changes to ethics laws include requiring candidates to release tax returns, ban congressional lawmakers from sitting on corporate boards, and apply a code of ethics on Supreme Court justices.
The bill was blocked in the GOP-run Senate for well over a year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, dubbed it the “Democrat Politician Protection Act.”
Senate Republicans kept pushing back against the package Monday. Mr. McConnell’s office dismissed it as Mrs. Pelosi’s “far-left plan to federalize our elections.”
“The Speaker of the House did not get to personally rewrite election law. And yet, because of the sensible bipartisan steps that some of us championed, our defenses and countermeasures proved to be in radically better shape than in 2016,” Mr. McConnell said earlier this month, celebrating the 2020 elections.
Control of the upper chamber for the next term is still up in the air with two seats up for grabs in a run-off election in Georgia. Democrats need to win both seats to achieve a 50-50 split in the chamber with presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote.
Democrats plan to ramp up pressure on Mr. McConnell.
“We’re going to make it clear to people that McConnell is the problem here,” Mr. Sarbanes said. “He’s gonna have to defend his position rather than attacking our position.”
Declaration for American Democracy, a liberal activist group that hosted the press call, argued that Mr. Biden could make some of the changes with executive action if the bill can’t get through the Senate.
The group urged Mr. Biden to establish an advisory panel made up of members of various political parties that would screen candidates for the Federal Election Commission and require additional campaign finance disclosures.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Alaska governor defends virus approach amid criticism

JUNEAU , Alaska ( AP ) - Alaska Gov .
Mike Dunleavy faces criticism from across the political spectrum for his handling of COVID-19 , from those who think he ’ s not doing enough to address rising case counts to those who think he ’ s been overreaching in his approach .
He issued a new disaster declaration , which took effect Monday , despite questions from some lawmakers about its legal underpinnings .
He has declined requests to issue a statewide mask mandate but said he supports communities that have them .
He has urged calm in asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , amid what he called an escalating crisis , issued his call for residents “ to sacrifice a little more by changing your daily routines ” via the state ’ s emergency alert system .
Dunleavy ’ s spokesperson , Jeff Turner , said the Republican governor “ felt compelled to reach out to Alaskans in the most direct way possible to urge action to keep Alaskans safe.
” For some , it landed with a thud .
Vince Beltrami , president of the Alaska AFL-CIO , said it was attention-getting but lacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he uses a resource like this , for earthquake-type announcements , to just say more of the same , ” he said .
Dunleavy , under threat of an ongoing recall effort fueled last year by proposed budget cuts , in an appeal to Alaskans earlier this month said he , “ like you , ” is tired of the pandemic and its politicization and doesn ’ t “ like to be told what to do.
” “ I consider us to be the freest state in the country , in so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forever grateful for that .
But this pandemic doesn ’ t care about any of that stuff , ” he said .
In an interview with The Associated Press , Dunleavy said he tries to get “ as many data points as possible ” in making decisions on how to address COVID-19 .
“ I talk to the medical community .
I talk to the scientific community , the business community .
I talk with governors , ” he said .
“ … Everyone is looking for that one place that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and quite honestly it doesn ’ t exist.
” “ You do the best you can , ” he said .
“ You try to get as much information as possible.
” He said his job as governor is to make sure Alaska ’ s public health , law enforcement and other systems are intact .
The state has worked to address issues such as testing , hospital beds and protective equipment but a challenge more recently has been that the virus is “ dousing us now in such numbers ” that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the armed services and law enforcement , he said .
The state health department has said hospital capacity and staffing are concerns as hospitalizations for COVID-19 rise .
Since the start of the pandemic , the department has reported 23,240 confirmed resident cases .
Of those , about 16,600 are considered active cases .
The department says there have been 98 deaths related to COVID-19 .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death .
Sen. David Wilson , a Republican from Wasilla , said Dunleavy has done fairly well in his handling of the virus .
He said there ’ s no need to live in fear but “ we still have to take universal precautions , ” and he thinks the Dunleavy administration ’ s messaging has been consistent .
He said he did not see how a statewide mask mandate could be enforced .
But Rep. Zack Fields , an Anchorage Democrat , said if Dunleavy were to issue a statewide mandate it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that has been most resistant to wearing them.
” Masks are to be worn at state facilities , and some communities mandate masks in certain settings .
The administration also could do more to help people understand transmission risks indoors , Fields said .
Eagle River Republican Sen. Lora Reinbold has been a prominent critic of Dunleavy , saying in a recent Facebook post that he “ wants us to dramatically change our lives ” to help frontline workers who “ have supposedly been gearing up to take care of patients all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fear mongering .
Dunleavy announced earlier this month his plans to issue a new disaster declaration when the one approved by lawmakers expired Sunday .
Legislative leaders indicated that lawmakers did not have the votes to call themselves into a special session but urged Dunleavy to exercise his power to call a special session .
The new declaration is intended to last 30 days .
Dunleavy said having the recent elections out of the way could allow for greater focus on the issue of a possible special session .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperature is in having people go down to Juneau sooner than later to deal with this , ” he said .

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy faces criticism from across the political spectrum for his handling of COVID-19, from those who think he’s not doing enough to address rising case counts to those who think he’s been overreaching in his approach.
He issued a new disaster declaration, which took effect Monday, despite questions from some lawmakers about its legal underpinnings. He has declined requests to issue a statewide mask mandate but said he supports communities that have them. He has urged calm in asking Alaskans to take precautions but last week, amid what he called an escalating crisis, issued his call for residents “to sacrifice a little more by changing your daily routines” via the state’s emergency alert system.
Dunleavy’s spokesperson, Jeff Turner, said the Republican governor “felt compelled to reach out to Alaskans in the most direct way possible to urge action to keep Alaskans safe.”
For some, it landed with a thud. Vince Beltrami, president of the Alaska AFL-CIO, said it was attention-getting but lacked substance.
“It just irritates me that he uses a resource like this, for earthquake-type announcements, to just say more of the same,” he said.
Dunleavy, under threat of an ongoing recall effort fueled last year by proposed budget cuts, in an appeal to Alaskans earlier this month said he, “like you,” is tired of the pandemic and its politicization and doesn’t “like to be told what to do.”
“I consider us to be the freest state in the country, in so many respects. And I’m forever grateful for that. But this pandemic doesn’t care about any of that stuff,” he said.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Dunleavy said he tries to get “as many data points as possible” in making decisions on how to address COVID-19.
“I talk to the medical community. I talk to the scientific community, the business community. I talk with governors,” he said. “ … Everyone is looking for that one place that’s doing it, quote, right, and quite honestly it doesn’t exist.”
“You do the best you can,” he said. “You try to get as much information as possible.”
He said his job as governor is to make sure Alaska’s public health, law enforcement and other systems are intact. The state has worked to address issues such as testing, hospital beds and protective equipment but a challenge more recently has been that the virus is “dousing us now in such numbers” that it’s affecting health care workers and members of the armed services and law enforcement, he said.
The state health department has said hospital capacity and staffing are concerns as hospitalizations for COVID-19 rise. Since the start of the pandemic, the department has reported 23,240 confirmed resident cases. Of those, about 16,600 are considered active cases. The department says there have been 98 deaths related to COVID-19.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.
Sen. David Wilson, a Republican from Wasilla, said Dunleavy has done fairly well in his handling of the virus. He said there’s no need to live in fear but “we still have to take universal precautions,” and he thinks the Dunleavy administration’s messaging has been consistent.
He said he did not see how a statewide mask mandate could be enforced.
But Rep. Zack Fields, an Anchorage Democrat, said if Dunleavy were to issue a statewide mandate it would “depoliticize masks among that fringe group that has been most resistant to wearing them.” Masks are to be worn at state facilities, and some communities mandate masks in certain settings.
The administration also could do more to help people understand transmission risks indoors, Fields said.
Eagle River Republican Sen. Lora Reinbold has been a prominent critic of Dunleavy, saying in a recent Facebook post that he “wants us to dramatically change our lives” to help frontline workers who “have supposedly been gearing up to take care of patients all year.” She has accused administration officials of fear mongering.
Dunleavy announced earlier this month his plans to issue a new disaster declaration when the one approved by lawmakers expired Sunday. Legislative leaders indicated that lawmakers did not have the votes to call themselves into a special session but urged Dunleavy to exercise his power to call a special session. The new declaration is intended to last 30 days.
Dunleavy said having the recent elections out of the way could allow for greater focus on the issue of a possible special session. “We’ll engage folks and see what the temperature is in having people go down to Juneau sooner than later to deal with this,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Man in prison for murder charged in 1989 cold case killing

STAFFORD , Va. ( AP ) - A man imprisoned for killing a former girlfriend and federal worker in Washington a decade ago pleaded guilty Monday to slaying his estranged wife who disappeared from her Virginia home in 1989 , authorities said .
Jose Angel Rodriguez-Cruz , 55 , entered his plea to second-degree murder in Stafford Circuit Court , prosecutors said at a news conference .
Jose Rodriguez-Cruz was charged in October 2019 with killing Marta Haydee Rodriguez , then 28 , the Commonwealth ’ s Attorney for Stafford County said at the time .
She was last seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodriguez ’ s remains were found along a highway median in Stafford County in 1991 , but they were not positively identified until DNA testing was used in 2018 , news outlets reported , citing evidence presented by Stafford prosecutors .
Jose Rodriguez-Cruz said at the time that Rodriguez had left the country , and her remains weren ’ t identified for years because the sister of Jose Rodriguez-Cruz ’ s second wife had assumed her identity , authorities said .
Police said they made the discovery in 2017 .
By the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving a 12-year prison sentence for killing another woman , Pamela Butler , at her home in Washington in 2009 , and also dumping her body in Stafford .
The 47-year-old Environmental Protection Agency employee disappeared “ under mysterious circumstances , ” authorities have said .
Butler ’ s brother , Derrick Butler , encouraged Stafford authorities to pursue charges in the Rodriguez killing and is credited with being a key factor in the new charges .
“ I ’ m very thankful that this has taken place , ” news outlets quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Attorney Eric Olsen added that “ a lot of agencies came together to bring justice to Marta Rodriguez , even if it is 30 years later.
” Under Rodriguez–Cruz ’ s plea agreement , a first-degree murder charge was reduced and a charge of concealing a dead body was dropped .
He could face an additional 40 years in prison at a Feb. 4 sentencing , news outlets reported .

STAFFORD, Va. (AP) - A man imprisoned for killing a former girlfriend and federal worker in Washington a decade ago pleaded guilty Monday to slaying his estranged wife who disappeared from her Virginia home in 1989, authorities said.
Jose Angel Rodriguez-Cruz, 55, entered his plea to second-degree murder in Stafford Circuit Court, prosecutors said at a news conference.
Jose Rodriguez-Cruz was charged in October 2019 with killing Marta Haydee Rodriguez, then 28, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Stafford County said at the time. She was last seen in Arlington County 30 years ago.
Rodriguez’s remains were found along a highway median in Stafford County in 1991, but they were not positively identified until DNA testing was used in 2018, news outlets reported, citing evidence presented by Stafford prosecutors.
Jose Rodriguez-Cruz said at the time that Rodriguez had left the country, and her remains weren’t identified for years because the sister of Jose Rodriguez-Cruz’s second wife had assumed her identity, authorities said. Police said they made the discovery in 2017.
By the time Rodriguez-Cruz was indicted, he was already serving a 12-year prison sentence for killing another woman, Pamela Butler, at her home in Washington in 2009, and also dumping her body in Stafford. The 47-year-old Environmental Protection Agency employee disappeared “under mysterious circumstances,” authorities have said.
Butler’s brother, Derrick Butler, encouraged Stafford authorities to pursue charges in the Rodriguez killing and is credited with being a key factor in the new charges.
“I’m very thankful that this has taken place,” news outlets quoted Derrick Butler as saying Monday.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen added that “a lot of agencies came together to bring justice to Marta Rodriguez, even if it is 30 years later.”
Under Rodriguez–Cruz’s plea agreement, a first-degree murder charge was reduced and a charge of concealing a dead body was dropped. He could face an additional 40 years in prison at a Feb. 4 sentencing, news outlets reported.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Attorney general deciding charges in police restraint death

TACOMA , Wash. ( AP ) - The Washington State Patrol has finished its investigation into the death of Manuel Ellis , a Black man who died while being restrained by Tacoma police officers .
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Friday that his office will decide whether criminal charges will be filed in connection with the death .
Gov .
Jay Inslee assigned the case to a special investigative team in June after it became public that a deputy from the previous lead investigation agency had responded to the scene where Ellis died on March 3 .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ participated in restraining ” Ellis , Inslee said , amounting to “ an incurable conflict.
” Ellis , 33 , died after Tacoma police blocked his airway during an encounter as he walked home from a convenience store .
Ferguson gave no estimate of when charging decisions could be made , The Seattle Times reported .
With its investigation , the State Patrol did not offer a recommendation on charging any of the officers who restrained Ellis on the night he died .
The Pierce County Medical Examiner ’ s Office has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Ellis died from a lack of oxygen due to physical restraint .
Ellis ’ death - just weeks before George Floyd died in Minneapolis after a white officer pressed a knee to his neck , triggering a nationwide reckoning on race and policing - made Ellis ’ name synonymous with pleas for justice at protests in the Pacific Northwest .
It has drawn attention to gaps in Washington ’ s new police accountability law and inspired calls for legislation aimed at reducing deaths at the hands of law enforcement .
Early statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aggressor on the night he died have been contradicted by eyewitnesses .
Two eyewitnesses who made video of parts of the fatal interaction have come forward with identical stories .
They say police attacked Ellis without provocation .
Law enforcement said no one placed knees on Ellis ’ neck or head , but one witness video depicts that .
The State Patrol interviewed those witnesses , Sara McDowell and Samuel Cowden , according to the Ellis family ’ s lawyer , James Bible , who said he observed the interviews .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s probe more complete than the original investigation , handled by the Pierce County Sheriff ’ s Department , Bible said .
Four Tacoma officers are on paid home leave pending the result of the investigation : Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank , who are white ; Masyih Ford , who is Black ; and Timothy Rankine , who is Asian American .
Lawyers for the officers did not immediately return messages from the newspaper Friday seeking comment .
They previously urged the public to withhold judgment until the investigation is complete .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he appointed an internal review team of prosecutors , a representative of his office ’ s Civil Rights Division and two retired judges “ to assist in this important decision.
” Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards , who has unsuccessfully called for the officers ’ firing , also issued a statement .
“ We do not need the outcomes of the Attorney General ’ s review to know that the systems built up around policing have disparate outcomes not just in Tacoma but across the nation , ” she said .

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - The Washington State Patrol has finished its investigation into the death of Manuel Ellis, a Black man who died while being restrained by Tacoma police officers.
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Friday that his office will decide whether criminal charges will be filed in connection with the death.
Gov. Jay Inslee assigned the case to a special investigative team in June after it became public that a deputy from the previous lead investigation agency had responded to the scene where Ellis died on March 3. That Pierce County sheriff’s deputy had “participated in restraining” Ellis, Inslee said, amounting to “an incurable conflict.”
Ellis, 33, died after Tacoma police blocked his airway during an encounter as he walked home from a convenience store.
Ferguson gave no estimate of when charging decisions could be made, The Seattle Times reported. With its investigation, the State Patrol did not offer a recommendation on charging any of the officers who restrained Ellis on the night he died.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the death a homicide, concluding that Ellis died from a lack of oxygen due to physical restraint.
Ellis’ death - just weeks before George Floyd died in Minneapolis after a white officer pressed a knee to his neck, triggering a nationwide reckoning on race and policing - made Ellis’ name synonymous with pleas for justice at protests in the Pacific Northwest. It has drawn attention to gaps in Washington’s new police accountability law and inspired calls for legislation aimed at reducing deaths at the hands of law enforcement.
Early statements from law enforcement that cast Ellis as the aggressor on the night he died have been contradicted by eyewitnesses. Two eyewitnesses who made video of parts of the fatal interaction have come forward with identical stories. They say police attacked Ellis without provocation. Law enforcement said no one placed knees on Ellis’ neck or head, but one witness video depicts that.
The State Patrol interviewed those witnesses, Sara McDowell and Samuel Cowden, according to the Ellis family’s lawyer, James Bible, who said he observed the interviews. That step alone made the State Patrol’s probe more complete than the original investigation, handled by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, Bible said.
Four Tacoma officers are on paid home leave pending the result of the investigation: Matthew Collins and Christopher Burbank, who are white; Masyih Ford, who is Black; and Timothy Rankine, who is Asian American.
Lawyers for the officers did not immediately return messages from the newspaper Friday seeking comment. They previously urged the public to withhold judgment until the investigation is complete.
In a written statement Friday, Ferguson said he appointed an internal review team of prosecutors, a representative of his office’s Civil Rights Division and two retired judges “to assist in this important decision.”
Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, who has unsuccessfully called for the officers’ firing, also issued a statement.
“We do not need the outcomes of the Attorney General’s review to know that the systems built up around policing have disparate outcomes not just in Tacoma but across the nation,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Wyoming governor seeks another $500M in cuts to state budget

CHEYENNE , Wyo .
( AP ) - Wyoming Gov .
Mark Gordon will ask lawmakers to slash $ 500 million from the state budget in response to weak revenue from the coal , oil and natural gas industries .
The proposed cuts would lay off 62 state employees and eliminate 44 vacant positions , Gordon said in a news conference announcing his regular supplemental budget Monday .
The supplemental budget , approved in the in-between year of Wyoming ’ s two-year budget cycle , used to be a chance for state agency directors to score extra funding .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 400 million shortfall even after Gordon cut 10 % from state agencies last summer .
The new proposed cuts would bring the total agency reduction to about 15 % .
In all , the cuts would further reduce the state ’ s total , two-year budget from $ 3.3 billion , as approved in March , to $ 2.4 billion , Gordon said .
“ Taken together , they are going to impact the Wyoming people , they are going to impact Wyoming communities , ” Gordon said .
Wyoming will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover a $ 300 million shortfall in state public education funding , Gordon said .
Specific cuts include $ 135 million from the state Department of Health .
Gordon , a Republican , said he sought to avoid more steep cuts for Wyoming ’ s law enforcement and public safety agencies , attorney general , public defender and district attorneys .
Wyoming ’ s revenue has dropped sharply during the coronavirus pandemic and low global oil prices , which have all but stopped oil exploration and development in the state .
Wyoming ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even before the downturn .
The supplemental budget faces a long road in the months ahead , with changes likely in the Legislature ’ s Joint Appropriations Committee and the full Legislature after that .
“ It ’ s time we really face up to these facts .
Without improvements to our revenue picture , these cuts will likely be permanent , ” Gordon said .

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon will ask lawmakers to slash $500 million from the state budget in response to weak revenue from the coal, oil and natural gas industries.
The proposed cuts would lay off 62 state employees and eliminate 44 vacant positions, Gordon said in a news conference announcing his regular supplemental budget Monday.
The supplemental budget, approved in the in-between year of Wyoming’s two-year budget cycle, used to be a chance for state agency directors to score extra funding.
Not this year. Wyoming has been facing a $400 million shortfall even after Gordon cut 10% from state agencies last summer.
The new proposed cuts would bring the total agency reduction to about 15%.
In all, the cuts would further reduce the state’s total, two-year budget from $3.3 billion, as approved in March, to $2.4 billion, Gordon said.
“Taken together, they are going to impact the Wyoming people, they are going to impact Wyoming communities,” Gordon said.
Wyoming will continue to dip into state savings to cover a $300 million shortfall in state public education funding, Gordon said.
Specific cuts include $135 million from the state Department of Health. Gordon, a Republican, said he sought to avoid more steep cuts for Wyoming’s law enforcement and public safety agencies, attorney general, public defender and district attorneys.
Wyoming’s revenue has dropped sharply during the coronavirus pandemic and low global oil prices, which have all but stopped oil exploration and development in the state. Wyoming’s coal and gas industries were struggling even before the downturn.
The supplemental budget faces a long road in the months ahead, with changes likely in the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee and the full Legislature after that.
“It’s time we really face up to these facts. Without improvements to our revenue picture, these cuts will likely be permanent,” Gordon said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Georgia recount finds 2,600 uncounted ballots in Floyd County

The recount in Georgia has found that more than 2,600 votes in one conservative county were never tabulated .
According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , more than 2,600 ballots in Floyd County were not counted because a county election official didn ’ t upload a ballot-scanning machine ’ s memory card .
Gabriel Sterling , the state ’ s voting systems manager , said Floyd County ’ s elections director should resign over such “ an amazing blunder.
” “ It ’ s not an equipment issue .
It ’ s a person not executing their job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution .
“ This is the kind of situation that requires a change at the top of their management side.
” According to the AJC , the blunder cost President Trump about 800 net votes — 1,643 of the new votes were for him and 865 for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden .
Mr. Trump trailed Mr. Biden by about 14,000 votes statewide before the hand recount began .
Luke Martin , chairman of the Floyd County Republican Party , said the newly found votes had been cast in person during early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The recount in Georgia has found that more than 2,600 votes in one conservative county were never tabulated.
According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, more than 2,600 ballots in Floyd County were not counted because a county election official didn’t upload a ballot-scanning machine’s memory card.
Gabriel Sterling, the state’s voting systems manager, said Floyd County’s elections director should resign over such “an amazing blunder.”
“It’s not an equipment issue. It’s a person not executing their job properly,” he told the Journal Constitution. “This is the kind of situation that requires a change at the top of their management side.”
According to the AJC, the blunder cost President Trump about 800 net votes — 1,643 of the new votes were for him and 865 for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden.
Mr. Trump trailed Mr. Biden by about 14,000 votes statewide before the hand recount began.
Luke Martin, chairman of the Floyd County Republican Party, said the newly found votes had been cast in person during early voting at the Floyd County Administration Building.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--TVA to choose from 2 landfills for coal ash removal project

MEMPHIS , Tenn. ( AP ) - The Tennessee Valley Authority is considering moving toxin-laden coal ash from a retired plant in Memphis to one of two off-site landfills as it begins preparing for the $ 500 million removal project , the federal utility said Monday .
A TVA report said it has narrowed down the primary destination for coal ash removed from the retired Allen Fossil Plant to either a landfill in Shelby County , Tennessee - not far from the location of the Allen plant - or a landfill in Tunica , Mississippi , about 30 miles ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The federal utility plans to remove move 3.5 million cubic yards ( 2.6 million cubic meters ) of coal ash , the byproduct of burning coal for power .
The project is expected to take eight to 10 years , said Angela Austin , construction manager at the retired plant .
TVA is fielding public comments on the plan until Dec. 17 , the report said .
The utility , which provides power to more than 10 million people in parts of seven Southern states , has come under scrutiny for its handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2017 , high levels of arsenic , lead and fluoride were found in monitoring wells at Allen , sparking fears that the aquifer that supplies Memphis ’ drinking water could become tainted .
Testing has since deemed the public water supply unaffected .
But a report released by the utility also showed a connection between the shallow aquifer where toxins were found and the deeper Memphis Sand Aquifer that provides the city ’ s slightly sweet-tasting drinking water .
Allen ’ s three coal-fired units were retired in 2018 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grid from the site with the natural gas-powered Allen Combined Cycle Plant .
TVA had previously mentioned other sites in the South where the coal ash could be transported .
Other landfills that were considered were in Uniontown , Alabama ; Mauk , Georgia ; and Bishopville , South Carolina .
Austin said that while the other sites have not been completely ruled out , the primary destination of the coal ash will be landfills in either Shelby County or Tunica .
Proximity to the former Allen plant was a main reason why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about cost , daily loads and other factors are ongoing , Austin said .
TVA will use covered trucks that will keep the coal ash enclosed for transport , Austin said .
“ We have to have a certain amount of moisture to make sure we don ’ t have the ash flying out of the truck , ” she said .
Site preparation and mobilization may begin in late 2020 or early 2021 , the report said .
TVA also plans to extract and treat groundwater from the site , the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said toxins have affected the groundwater in the upper portion of the aquifer .
Concentrations of some toxins are above groundwater protection standards , but “ impacts to the underlying Memphis aquifer have not been observed , ” the report said .
Southern Environmental Law Center attorney Amanda Garcia said Monday that TVA must provide specifics about how the utility will protect removal workers from exposure to the toxic coal ash .
“ It could be any of our family , friends and neighbors working on this cleanup , ” Garcia said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulate coal ash after a six-story earthen dam failed in Kingston , Tennessee , spilling 5.4 million cubic yards ( 4.1 million cubic meters ) of ash into the Emory River and surrounding community in 2008 .
The EPA released regulations in 2015 that treat coal ash more like household garbage than a hazardous material .
Workers who helped remove coal ash from the Kingston plant have sued a TVA contractor , alleging the workers were exposed to dangerous toxins .
Under a separate lawsuit settlement , TVA agreed last year to dig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards ( 9.2 million cubic meters ) of coal ash from unlined pits at a coal-burning power plant in Gallatin , Tennessee .
According to court filings , pollutants leached from the ash into the groundwater and then entered the Cumberland River , a source of drinking water for Nashville .

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Valley Authority is considering moving toxin-laden coal ash from a retired plant in Memphis to one of two off-site landfills as it begins preparing for the $500 million removal project, the federal utility said Monday.
A TVA report said it has narrowed down the primary destination for coal ash removed from the retired Allen Fossil Plant to either a landfill in Shelby County, Tennessee - not far from the location of the Allen plant - or a landfill in Tunica, Mississippi, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Memphis.
The federal utility plans to remove move 3.5 million cubic yards (2.6 million cubic meters) of coal ash, the byproduct of burning coal for power. The project is expected to take eight to 10 years, said Angela Austin, construction manager at the retired plant.
TVA is fielding public comments on the plan until Dec. 17, the report said. The utility, which provides power to more than 10 million people in parts of seven Southern states, has come under scrutiny for its handling of coal ash at other Tennessee plants.
In 2017, high levels of arsenic, lead and fluoride were found in monitoring wells at Allen, sparking fears that the aquifer that supplies Memphis’ drinking water could become tainted.
Testing has since deemed the public water supply unaffected. But a report released by the utility also showed a connection between the shallow aquifer where toxins were found and the deeper Memphis Sand Aquifer that provides the city’s slightly sweet-tasting drinking water.
Allen’s three coal-fired units were retired in 2018. The authority then began supplying power to the grid from the site with the natural gas-powered Allen Combined Cycle Plant.
TVA had previously mentioned other sites in the South where the coal ash could be transported. Other landfills that were considered were in Uniontown, Alabama; Mauk, Georgia; and Bishopville, South Carolina.
Austin said that while the other sites have not been completely ruled out, the primary destination of the coal ash will be landfills in either Shelby County or Tunica. Proximity to the former Allen plant was a main reason why those sites were chosen, and negotiations about cost, daily loads and other factors are ongoing, Austin said.
TVA will use covered trucks that will keep the coal ash enclosed for transport, Austin said.
“We have to have a certain amount of moisture to make sure we don’t have the ash flying out of the truck,” she said.
Site preparation and mobilization may begin in late 2020 or early 2021, the report said. TVA also plans to extract and treat groundwater from the site, the report said.
In its report, TVA said toxins have affected the groundwater in the upper portion of the aquifer. Concentrations of some toxins are above groundwater protection standards, but “impacts to the underlying Memphis aquifer have not been observed,” the report said.
Southern Environmental Law Center attorney Amanda Garcia said Monday that TVA must provide specifics about how the utility will protect removal workers from exposure to the toxic coal ash.
“It could be any of our family, friends and neighbors working on this cleanup,” Garcia said.
The Environmental Protection Agency began working to regulate coal ash after a six-story earthen dam failed in Kingston, Tennessee, spilling 5.4 million cubic yards (4.1 million cubic meters) of ash into the Emory River and surrounding community in 2008. The EPA released regulations in 2015 that treat coal ash more like household garbage than a hazardous material.
Workers who helped remove coal ash from the Kingston plant have sued a TVA contractor, alleging the workers were exposed to dangerous toxins.
Under a separate lawsuit settlement, TVA agreed last year to dig up and remove about 12 million cubic yards (9.2 million cubic meters) of coal ash from unlined pits at a coal-burning power plant in Gallatin, Tennessee. According to court filings, pollutants leached from the ash into the groundwater and then entered the Cumberland River, a source of drinking water for Nashville.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Tanker truck carrying gas explodes in Mexico, killing 13

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - A double-tanker truck carrying liquified cooking gas lost control and flipped on a highway @ @ @ @ @ fire and exploded , killing at least a dozen people in nearby vehicles Monday , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s driver also apparently died .
The other 12 victims apparently did not have @ @ @ @ @ and were found sitting in their vehicles , burned beyond recognition .
Photos of the @ @ @ @ @ the Pacific coast state of Nayarit showed an SUV blown onto an adjacent hillside and @ @ @ @ @ flung into a nearby field .
The prosecutor ’ s office said charred bodies littered @ @ @ @ @ vehicles .
Many such large double-trailer freight trucks have been involved in horrifying crashes in @ @ @ @ @

MEXICO CITY (AP) - A double-tanker truck carrying liquified cooking gas lost control and flipped on a highway in western Mexico, caught fire and exploded, killing at least a dozen people in nearby vehicles Monday, authorities said.
The truck’s driver also apparently died. The other 12 victims apparently did not have time to attempt to escape and were found sitting in their vehicles, burned beyond recognition.
Photos of the scene distributed by prosecutors in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit showed an SUV blown onto an adjacent hillside and parts of the tanker truck flung into a nearby field.
The prosecutor’s office said charred bodies littered the road and three burned-out vehicles.
Many such large double-trailer freight trucks have been involved in horrifying crashes in Mexico in recent years.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--Body found after boys' canoe flips in Clear Creek Reservoir

GRANITE , Colo. ( AP ) - Divers have recovered a body from Clear Creek Reservoir while searching for a teenage boy who went missing after the canoe he was in capsized .
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say the body was found Monday after a two-day search , and the coroner ’ s office will determine a cause of death and formally identify the victim .
Officers were called to the reservoir Saturday evening after two boys were tossed into the water when their canoe flipped following a day of duck hunting .
The father of one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time as CPW officers and swam toward the boat .
He grabbed one of the boys but struggled to get back to shore in the frigid water and high winds .
CPW officers entered the water and saved the two , but they could not find the other boy .
Searchers used jet skis , a rescue boat , sonar and an underwater drone to search for the boy .
The body was found Monday afternoon about 270 yards ( 247 meters ) from shore in water about 25 feet ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in central Colorado between Leadville and Buena Vista .

GRANITE, Colo. (AP) - Divers have recovered a body from Clear Creek Reservoir while searching for a teenage boy who went missing after the canoe he was in capsized.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say the body was found Monday after a two-day search, and the coroner’s office will determine a cause of death and formally identify the victim.
Officers were called to the reservoir Saturday evening after two boys were tossed into the water when their canoe flipped following a day of duck hunting. The father of one of the boys arrived at the scene at about the same time as CPW officers and swam toward the boat. He grabbed one of the boys but struggled to get back to shore in the frigid water and high winds.
CPW officers entered the water and saved the two, but they could not find the other boy.
Searchers used jet skis, a rescue boat, sonar and an underwater drone to search for the boy. The body was found Monday afternoon about 270 yards (247 meters) from shore in water about 25 feet (7.6 meters) deep.
The reservoir is in central Colorado between Leadville and Buena Vista.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--WVa high court deals setback in state's Catholic church suit

CHARLESTON , W.Va. ( AP ) - West Virginia ’ s attorney general can not use a consumer protection law to sue a Roman Catholic diocese over sexual abuse allegations , the state ’ s high court said Monday .
The West Virginia Supreme Court issued its opinion in response to a lawsuit the state filed last year accusing the Wheeling-Charleston diocese of failing to publicly disclose the employment of sexual abusers in its schools and camps .
The absence of such disclosure amounted to a violation of a consumer protection law , Attorney General Patrick Morrisey argued .
Attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismiss the suit .
The narrow legal question concerned whether using the 2015 Consumer Credit and Protection Act to sue the diocese violates the separation of church and state .
A lower court judge had stayed his order to dismiss Morrisey ’ s lawsuit pending the Supreme Court ’ s review .
In its majority opinion , the high court said the law does not apply to services provided by a religious institution .
Tim Bishop , a spokesman for the diocese , said in a statement , “ We affirm our full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the protection of those young people entrusted to our care across the State of West Virginia.
” Among the lawsuit ’ s allegations was that the diocese failed to conduct more than 20 background checks at a Catholic elementary school in Charleston in 2007 and 2008 .
It also accused the diocese of covering up a 2006 report on sexual abuse allegations involving a teacher in Kanawha County .
Morrisey said in a statement that the case “ may have proceeded if not for the Legislature inserting an exception for religious schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislature could amend that exception in the future .
“ Despite the majority opinion , we remain proud of our efforts to protect West Virginia children , for our investigative subpoena is likely the only reason we have a list of 40 priests who are credibly accused of sexually abusing minors , ” Morrisey said .
The diocese released the list of 40 credibly accused priests over the past year , saying it was committed “ to transparency and accountability .
”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia’s attorney general cannot use a consumer protection law to sue a Roman Catholic diocese over sexual abuse allegations, the state’s high court said Monday.
The West Virginia Supreme Court issued its opinion in response to a lawsuit the state filed last year accusing the Wheeling-Charleston diocese of failing to publicly disclose the employment of sexual abusers in its schools and camps. The absence of such disclosure amounted to a violation of a consumer protection law, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey argued. Attorneys for the diocese asked the court to dismiss the suit.
The narrow legal question concerned whether using the 2015 Consumer Credit and Protection Act to sue the diocese violates the separation of church and state. A lower court judge had stayed his order to dismiss Morrisey’s lawsuit pending the Supreme Court’s review.
In its majority opinion, the high court said the law does not apply to services provided by a religious institution.
Tim Bishop, a spokesman for the diocese, said in a statement, “We affirm our full commitment to transparency about our schools and to the protection of those young people entrusted to our care across the State of West Virginia.”
Among the lawsuit’s allegations was that the diocese failed to conduct more than 20 background checks at a Catholic elementary school in Charleston in 2007 and 2008. It also accused the diocese of covering up a 2006 report on sexual abuse allegations involving a teacher in Kanawha County.
Morrisey said in a statement that the case “may have proceeded if not for the Legislature inserting an exception for religious schools in a separate statute.” He said the legislature could amend that exception in the future.
“Despite the majority opinion, we remain proud of our efforts to protect West Virginia children, for our investigative subpoena is likely the only reason we have a list of 40 priests who are credibly accused of sexually abusing minors,” Morrisey said.
The diocese released the list of 40 credibly accused priests over the past year, saying it was committed “to transparency and accountability.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--McCarrick scandal, pandemic pose challenges for US bishops

Meeting online rather than in person , America ’ s Catholic bishops worried Monday that the coronavirus pandemic is testing people ’ s faith and wrestled with how to respond to a Vatican report detailing the serial sexual misconduct of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick .
“ People ’ s faith in God has been shaken ” by the pandemic , said Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez , president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops .
“ In every diocese , we find people ’ s lives have been devastated.
” Gomez , in an address near the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the McCarrick report issued last week after a two-year investigation .
It found that over several decades , bishops , cardinals and popes dismissed or downplayed reports of McCarrick ’ s misconduct with young men as he rose through the ranks to become a cardinal and the archbishop of Washington , D.C. “ Remember all the victims of sex abuse , ” Gomez said .
“ We want to express our deep sorrow and pray that they might find healing and hope.
” The bishops first discussed the McCarrick report privately and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ livestreamed on the USCCB website .
Gomez ; conference vice president and Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron ; and the USCCB ’ s general secretary were the only people on the home screen , with other bishops raising their hands virtually from their far-flung dioceses to be called on to speak .
Several suggested specific steps to consider in response to the McCarrick report .
Among them : - Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth , Texas , said the conference should ascertain and publicize the details of monetary gifts that McCarrick - a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations during his rise .
Such details were not provided in the Vatican report .
- Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay , Wisconsin , depicted McCarrick as a manipulative sexual predator capable of “ grooming ” young people and luring them into dangerous situations .
Ricken said the church should seek professional assistance in trying to identify people with such personalities before they gain positions of trust they can exploit .
- Bishop Mark Brennan of West Virginia ’ s Wheeling-Charleston diocese , suggested the church change the way bishops are chosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 to 60 days before an announced appointment becomes final .
This would allow for allegations of misconduct to be raised by people who weren ’ t involved in the confidential vetting process , Brennan said .
- Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City , Missouri , said dioceses should be more active in seeking the assistance of lay experts in investigating reports of clergy sex abuse .
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The AP is solely responsible for this content .

Meeting online rather than in person, America’s Catholic bishops worried Monday that the coronavirus pandemic is testing people’s faith and wrestled with how to respond to a Vatican report detailing the serial sexual misconduct of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
“People’s faith in God has been shaken” by the pandemic, said Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “In every diocese, we find people’s lives have been devastated.”
Gomez, in an address near the start of the two-day meeting, also acknowledged the impact of the McCarrick report issued last week after a two-year investigation. It found that over several decades, bishops, cardinals and popes dismissed or downplayed reports of McCarrick’s misconduct with young men as he rose through the ranks to become a cardinal and the archbishop of Washington, D.C.
“Remember all the victims of sex abuse,” Gomez said. “We want to express our deep sorrow and pray that they might find healing and hope.”
The bishops first discussed the McCarrick report privately and then in an open session that was livestreamed on the USCCB website. Gomez; conference vice president and Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron; and the USCCB’s general secretary were the only people on the home screen, with other bishops raising their hands virtually from their far-flung dioceses to be called on to speak.
Several suggested specific steps to consider in response to the McCarrick report. Among them:
- Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth, Texas, said the conference should ascertain and publicize the details of monetary gifts that McCarrick - a prodigious fundraiser - made to individuals and organizations during his rise. Such details were not provided in the Vatican report.
- Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, depicted McCarrick as a manipulative sexual predator capable of “grooming” young people and luring them into dangerous situations. Ricken said the church should seek professional assistance in trying to identify people with such personalities before they gain positions of trust they can exploit.
- Bishop Mark Brennan of West Virginia’s Wheeling-Charleston diocese, suggested the church change the way bishops are chosen, allowing for a comment period of 30 to 60 days before an announced appointment becomes final. This would allow for allegations of misconduct to be raised by people who weren’t involved in the confidential vetting process, Brennan said.
- Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Missouri, said dioceses should be more active in seeking the assistance of lay experts in investigating reports of clergy sex abuse.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content.


washingtontimes--2020-11-16--California suspect flees using underwater ‘sea scooter’

REDDING , Calif. ( AP ) - A man wanted for his role in an alleged $ 35 million Ponzi scheme was arrested Monday after evading FBI agents by swimming into California ’ s largest reservoir using an underwater “ sea scooter , ” federal prosecutors said .
Matthew Piercey spent nearly 30 minutes in frigid Lake Shasta using the Yamaha 350Li submersible device before he eventually resurfaced and was handcuffed , the Sacramento Bee reported .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if the 44-year-old has an attorney .
When agents went to arrest Piercey , he hopped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chase that ended at the shoreline of the lake north of Redding .
“ Then , Piercey abandoned his truck near the edge of Lake Shasta , pulled something out of it , and swam into Lake Shasta , ” federal prosecutors wrote in court documents calling Piercey a flight risk .
“ Piercey spent some time out of sight underwater where law enforcement could only see bubbles.
” Agents later learned Piercey had a sea scooter , a motorized device that pull users underwater at speeds of about 4 miles per hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the newspaper said .
Last week , a grand jury indicted Piercey and his business partner , Kenneth Winton , 67 , of Oroville , the Bee reported .
Piercey is accused of bilking investors into giving $ 35 million to his companies , Family Wealth Legacy and Zolla , promising guaranteed returns using an “ Upvesting Fund ” that allegedly was an algorithmic trading fund with a history of success , prosecutors said .
Piercey allegedly admitted privately to an associate that there was no Upvesting Fund , prosecutors said .
Piercey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Winton eventually took on management responsibilities at Zolla .
They used some investor money for various business and personal expenses , including two residential properties and a houseboat .
Few , if any , liquid assets remain to repay investors , prosecutors said .
Piercey faces charges including wire fraud , mail fraud , money laundering , and witness tampering .
His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday .
Winton , who has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud , has an initial court appearance on Thursday .
If convicted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines .
Winton ’ s attorney , Adam G. Gasner , told the Bee his client “ looks forward to the judicial process shedding light on what actually occurred here .
”

REDDING, Calif. (AP) - A man wanted for his role in an alleged $35 million Ponzi scheme was arrested Monday after evading FBI agents by swimming into California’s largest reservoir using an underwater “sea scooter,” federal prosecutors said.
Matthew Piercey spent nearly 30 minutes in frigid Lake Shasta using the Yamaha 350Li submersible device before he eventually resurfaced and was handcuffed, the Sacramento Bee reported. It wasn’t immediately known if the 44-year-old has an attorney.
When agents went to arrest Piercey, he hopped in a pickup and led them on a chase that ended at the shoreline of the lake north of Redding.
“Then, Piercey abandoned his truck near the edge of Lake Shasta, pulled something out of it, and swam into Lake Shasta,” federal prosecutors wrote in court documents calling Piercey a flight risk. “Piercey spent some time out of sight underwater where law enforcement could only see bubbles.”
Agents later learned Piercey had a sea scooter, a motorized device that pull users underwater at speeds of about 4 miles per hour (6.4 kilometers per hour), the newspaper said.
Last week, a grand jury indicted Piercey and his business partner, Kenneth Winton, 67, of Oroville, the Bee reported.
Piercey is accused of bilking investors into giving $35 million to his companies, Family Wealth Legacy and Zolla, promising guaranteed returns using an “Upvesting Fund” that allegedly was an algorithmic trading fund with a history of success, prosecutors said.
Piercey allegedly admitted privately to an associate that there was no Upvesting Fund, prosecutors said. Piercey originally recruited Winton as an investor, but Winton eventually took on management responsibilities at Zolla.
They used some investor money for various business and personal expenses, including two residential properties and a houseboat. Few, if any, liquid assets remain to repay investors, prosecutors said.
Piercey faces charges including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and witness tampering. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday. Winton, who has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, has an initial court appearance on Thursday.
If convicted, both Winton and Piercey face 20 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Winton’s attorney, Adam G. Gasner, told the Bee his client “looks forward to the judicial process shedding light on what actually occurred here.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-17--Germany eyes ban on anti-lockdown protest at parliament

BERLIN ( AP ) - German security officials are considering banning protests this week outside the federal parliament by people opposed to coronavirus lockdown measures over fears a rally could turn violent .
The unusual move comes amid concerns that extremist groups could try to use a rally initially planned for Wednesday to attack the Bundestag , echoing an unsuccessful attempt to storm the parliament building during a similar demonstration in August .
According to an email sent to German lawmakers Tuesday by a parliamentary security official , a risk assessment by Berlin state police “ has given rise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bundestag building and on persons ” are to be expected if the protest goes ahead .
“ The ( Interior ) Ministry will therefore , with the agreement of the speaker of the Bundestag , likely refuse to permit ” protests from taking place within a specially designated zone around the parliament building , the official , Frank Grussendorf , said in his email , a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press .
Lawmakers are due to vote Wednesday on a bill that will provide the legal underpinning for social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in public and the closure of stores .
While such measures , designed to stop the spread of COVID-19 , are supported by most people in Germany , a vocal minority has staged regular rallies around the country arguing that the restrictions are unconstitutional .
In the email , Grussendorf said that gatherings outside the special security perimeter around parliament will be permitted .
German lawmakers have in recent days been subjected to a flood of emails , apparently automatically generated by protesters , that have clogged inboxes and slowed IT systems to @ @ @

BERLIN (AP) - German officials have cited security concerns in their decision to ban a series of protests planned Wednesday outside the federal parliament by people opposed to coronavirus lockdown measures.
The unusual move comes amid fears that extremist groups could try to use a rally initially planned for Wednesday to attack the Bundestag, echoing an unsuccessful attempt to storm the parliament building during a similar demonstration in August.
The Interior Ministry said Tuesday it had rejected 12 requests to hold rallies within a specially designated zone around parliament. Unlike elsewhere in Germany, protesters have to seek permission to stage demonstrations within the security perimeter surrounding certain federal buildings.
According to an email sent to German lawmakers Tuesday by a parliamentary security official, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, a risk assessment by Berlin state police “has given rise to the expectation … that attacks on the Bundestag building and on persons” were to be expected if the protest goes ahead.
Gatherings outside the special security perimeter around parliament are unaffected by the decision.
Lawmakers are due to vote Wednesday on a bill that will provide the legal underpinning for social distancing rules, requirements to wear masks in public and the closure of stores. While such measures, designed to stop the spread of COVID-19, are supported by most people in Germany, a vocal minority has staged regular rallies around the country arguing that the restrictions are unconstitutional.
A demonstration earlier this month in the eastern city of Leipzig ended in chaos when thousands of protesters defied police orders to wear masks and, later, to disperse. Some participants attacked police officers and journalists.
German lawmakers have in recent days been subjected to a flood of emails, apparently automatically generated by protesters, that have clogged inboxes and slowed IT systems to a crawl.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-17--University dean resigns over statements about Biden voters

VIRGINIA BEACH , Va. ( AP ) - A dean at a university in Virginia has resigned after posting a statement on Facebook that called supporters of President-elect Joe Biden “ ignorant , anti-American and anti-Christian.
” The Virginian-Pilot reports that Virginia Wesleyan University announced the resignation Monday in a statement on its website .
The school in Virginia Beach said Paul Ewell resigned as Dean of Virginia Wesleyan University Global Campus .
He ’ s also leaving his job as professor of management , business and economics .
Ewell ’ s post told Biden supporters to “ unfriend ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only the election but “ our youth … our country.
” His statements were made on his private Facebook page .
But they became public after someone circulated a screenshot .
The Virginian-Pilot reported on the dean ’ s comments last week .
President Donald Trump retweeted an Associated Press version of the story and used the word “ Progress !
” to apparently show approval of Ewell ’ s sentiments .
University spokeswoman Stephanie Smaglo said last week that Ewell has apologized for the post .
But she declined to comment further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the university ’ s student newspaper , the Marlin Chronicle , that he was upset and regrets the things he said .
He said he did not really mean them .
“ I have friends and family who are Democrats , and I love them dearly , ” Ewell told the Marlin Chronicle .
“ I have apologized on both accounts profusely .
I set a poor example in that post of what a Christian should be .
I know that God has forgiven me and already died for my sins .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well.
” Ewell added : “ We all need to be a little less quick to anger and a little more willing to forgive , and that certainly applies to me .
I am a Christian work-in-progress for sure .
”

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - A dean at a university in Virginia has resigned after posting a statement on Facebook that called supporters of President-elect Joe Biden “ignorant, anti-American and anti-Christian.”
The Virginian-Pilot reports that Virginia Wesleyan University announced the resignation Monday in a statement on its website.
The school in Virginia Beach said Paul Ewell resigned as Dean of Virginia Wesleyan University Global Campus. He’s also leaving his job as professor of management, business and economics.
Ewell’s post told Biden supporters to “unfriend” him and accused them of corrupting not only the election but “our youth … our country.” His statements were made on his private Facebook page. But they became public after someone circulated a screenshot.
The Virginian-Pilot reported on the dean’s comments last week. President Donald Trump retweeted an Associated Press version of the story and used the word “Progress!” to apparently show approval of Ewell’s sentiments.
University spokeswoman Stephanie Smaglo said last week that Ewell has apologized for the post. But she declined to comment further after Monday’s announcement.
Ewell told the university’s student newspaper, the Marlin Chronicle, that he was upset and regrets the things he said. He said he did not really mean them.
“I have friends and family who are Democrats, and I love them dearly,” Ewell told the Marlin Chronicle. “I have apologized on both accounts profusely. I set a poor example in that post of what a Christian should be. I know that God has forgiven me and already died for my sins. I hope others will forgive me as well.”
Ewell added: “We all need to be a little less quick to anger and a little more willing to forgive, and that certainly applies to me. I am a Christian work-in-progress for sure.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-17--Man sentenced to 50 years for sexually abusing children

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - A Salem man was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ guilty on seven counts related to the sexual abuse of two children .
The Clackamas @ @ @ @ @ first began investigating Michael Champagne in June 2019 , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
Investigators found @ @ @ @ @ girls under the age of 10 over a period of three years .
Champagne was @ @ @ @ @ abuse of a young child in 2008 .
He served just over one year in @ @ @ @ @

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Salem man was sentenced to 50 years in prison on Monday, after a jury found him guilty on seven counts related to the sexual abuse of two children.
The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office first began investigating Michael Champagne in June 2019, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Investigators found Champagne had been abusing two girls under the age of 10 over a period of three years.
Champagne was previously convicted of attempted sexual abuse of a young child in 2008. He served just over one year in prison for that case.