washingtontimes--2020-12-04--MLB sues insurance providers, cites billions in virus losses

Major League Baseball and all 30 of its teams are suing their insurance providers , citing billions of dollars in losses during the 2020 season played almost entirely without fans due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The suit , filed in October in California Superior Court in Alameda County , was obtained Friday by The Associated Press .
It says providers AIG , Factory Mutual and Interstate Fire and Casualty Company have refused to pay claims made by MLB despite the league ’ s “ all-risk ” policy purchases .
The league claims to have lost billions of dollars on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concessions , tens of millions on parking and millions more on suites and luxury seat licenses , in-park merchandise sales and corporate sponsorships .
It also cites over a billion dollars in local and national media losses , plus tens of millions in missed income for MLB Advanced Media .
It says all of those losses should be covered by their policies .
MLB cut short spring training and postponed the start of its regular season in March , then began a truncated schedule in late July during which fans were barred from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular-season games , down from 162 .
Most postseason games were played without fans , though there was limited capacity of about 11,000 per game for the National League Championship Series and World Series at Arlington , Texas .
“ Due to COVID-19 , the Major League Baseball entities , including those of the 30 major league clubs , have incurred significant financial losses as a result of our inability to play games , host fans and otherwise conduct normal business operations during much of the 2020 season , ” the league said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We strongly believe these losses are covered in full by our insurance policies , and are confident that the court and jury will agree.
” Messages seeking comment were not immediately returned by the insurance providers .
Over 1,400 lawsuits have been brought against insurance companies regarding business interruptions claims related to the pandemic , according to data compiled by the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School .
That includes several similar suits by minor league baseball teams , whose season was wiped out completely when baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred canceled it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league cases , filed in Arizona and led by the Chattanooga Lookouts , has already been dismissed due to a virus exclusion in the policy .
Insurers in many cases have insisted that financial losses caused by the coronavirus do not constitute physical loss or property damage .
MLB is claiming the virus has led to both .
“ The presence of the coronavirus and COVID-19 , including but not limited to coronavirus droplets or nuclei on solid surfaces and in the air at insured property , has caused and will continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ambient air at the premises , ” the suit says .
“ Coronavirus , a physical substance , has attached and adhered to Plaintiffs ’ property and by doing so , altered that property .
Such presence has also directly resulted in loss of use of those facilities.
” Many teams have laid off front office employees in response to the pandemic , and many are predicting a slow offseason for players in free agency .
Several clubs have already cut loose high-level players as a way to save money , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 million club option on three-time All-Star Brad Hand and the Chicago Cubs failed to offer a contract to popular slugger Kyle Schwarber , allowing the 2016 World Series champion to become a free agent .
MLB has not said whether 2021 spring training or the season will start on time .

Major League Baseball and all 30 of its teams are suing their insurance providers, citing billions of dollars in losses during the 2020 season played almost entirely without fans due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The suit, filed in October in California Superior Court in Alameda County, was obtained Friday by The Associated Press. It says providers AIG, Factory Mutual and Interstate Fire and Casualty Company have refused to pay claims made by MLB despite the league’s “all-risk” policy purchases.
The league claims to have lost billions of dollars on unsold tickets, hundreds of millions on concessions, tens of millions on parking and millions more on suites and luxury seat licenses, in-park merchandise sales and corporate sponsorships. It also cites over a billion dollars in local and national media losses, plus tens of millions in missed income for MLB Advanced Media. It says all of those losses should be covered by their policies.
MLB cut short spring training and postponed the start of its regular season in March, then began a truncated schedule in late July during which fans were barred from stadiums. Teams were limited to 60 regular-season games, down from 162.
Most postseason games were played without fans, though there was limited capacity of about 11,000 per game for the National League Championship Series and World Series at Arlington, Texas.
“Due to COVID-19, the Major League Baseball entities, including those of the 30 major league clubs, have incurred significant financial losses as a result of our inability to play games, host fans and otherwise conduct normal business operations during much of the 2020 season,” the league said in a statement to the AP. “We strongly believe these losses are covered in full by our insurance policies, and are confident that the court and jury will agree.”
Messages seeking comment were not immediately returned by the insurance providers.
Over 1,400 lawsuits have been brought against insurance companies regarding business interruptions claims related to the pandemic, according to data compiled by the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. That includes several similar suits by minor league baseball teams, whose season was wiped out completely when baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred canceled it.
At least one of those minor league cases, filed in Arizona and led by the Chattanooga Lookouts, has already been dismissed due to a virus exclusion in the policy.
Insurers in many cases have insisted that financial losses caused by the coronavirus do not constitute physical loss or property damage. MLB is claiming the virus has led to both.
“The presence of the coronavirus and COVID-19, including but not limited to coronavirus droplets or nuclei on solid surfaces and in the air at insured property, has caused and will continue to cause direct physical damage to physical property and ambient air at the premises,” the suit says. “Coronavirus, a physical substance, has attached and adhered to Plaintiffs’ property and by doing so, altered that property. Such presence has also directly resulted in loss of use of those facilities.”
Many teams have laid off front office employees in response to the pandemic, and many are predicting a slow offseason for players in free agency. Several clubs have already cut loose high-level players as a way to save money, including when the Cleveland Indians declined a $10 million club option on three-time All-Star Brad Hand and the Chicago Cubs failed to offer a contract to popular slugger Kyle Schwarber, allowing the 2016 World Series champion to become a free agent.
MLB has not said whether 2021 spring training or the season will start on time.
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washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Louisiana man convicted of murder in wife's strangulation

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - A Louisiana man accused of strangling his wife in their bedroom in 2016 while their 11-year-old daughter slept has been convicted of second-degree murder .
Donald Wayne Germany II , 46 , was found guilty in East Baton Rouge Parish on Thursday of killing Nichole Michelle Jones , 41 , The Advocate reported .
Germany testified during the trial that he was confronting his wife of more than 15 years about why she did not call for help when he had attempted suicide two years before .
He then became angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the neck , ” the newspaper said .
Germany said he later called 911 and confessed to the crime .
Germany ’ s attorney , Margaret Lagattuta , told the jury that he and his wife had been having marital problems , and he snapped , according to court testimony .
His defense sought a manslaughter conviction carrying a 40-year sentence .
The defendant apologized to his wife ’ s family in court and added that Jones and his daughter were his “ world.
” Germany and Jones met while serving in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He faces a mandatory term of life in prison at a February sentencing .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Louisiana man accused of strangling his wife in their bedroom in 2016 while their 11-year-old daughter slept has been convicted of second-degree murder.
Donald Wayne Germany II, 46, was found guilty in East Baton Rouge Parish on Thursday of killing Nichole Michelle Jones, 41, The Advocate reported.
Germany testified during the trial that he was confronting his wife of more than 15 years about why she did not call for help when he had attempted suicide two years before. He then became angry and admitted he “grabbed her by the neck,” the newspaper said.
Germany said he later called 911 and confessed to the crime.
Germany’s attorney, Margaret Lagattuta, told the jury that he and his wife had been having marital problems, and he snapped, according to court testimony. His defense sought a manslaughter conviction carrying a 40-year sentence.
The defendant apologized to his wife’s family in court and added that Jones and his daughter were his “world.”
Germany and Jones met while serving in the U.S. Army and were married in 2000.
He faces a mandatory term of life in prison at a February sentencing.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--DeVos suspends student federal loan payments through January

The Trump administration on Friday suspended all federal student loan payments through the end of January and kept interest rates at 0 % , extending a moratorium that started early in the pandemic but was set to expire at the end of this month .
By extending payments by one month , the administration is effectively leaving it to the Biden administration or Congress to decide whether to provide longer-term relief to millions of student borrowers .
The measure was included in a March relief package and the White House extended it in August , but its fate was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill .
In announcing the extension , Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rebuked Congress for failing to act .
“ The added time also allows Congress to do its job and determine what measures it believes are necessary and appropriate , ” DeVos said in a statement .
“ The Congress , not the Executive Branch , is in charge of student loan policy.
” Under the measure , students will not be required to make payments , their loans will not accrue interest and all collection activity will halt until the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her authority to pause federal student loan payments in March .
Congress later cemented the measure in legislation and Trump extended it through December , but the looming deadline stoked fears that millions of borrowers would be forced to resume payments even as unemployment rates soared .
Last month , the American Council on Education and dozens of other higher education associations urged DeVos to extend the relief , saying the recent surge in COVID-19 cases would likely lead to even more economic turmoil .
“ Bringing millions of Americans back into repayment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cause additional financial hardship and force borrowers to make difficult decisions about their limited resources , ” the groups wrote in a letter to DeVos .
Even DeVos ‘ own agency warned of looming trouble if the moratorium lapsed .
In its annual report last month , Federal Student Aid , the office that oversees student loans , said that without an extension it would face a “ heavy burden ” in moving millions of borrowers to active repayment at the same time .
President-elect Joe Biden has not directly addressed the moratorium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including “ relief from rent and student loans.
” He has also supported proposals to erase up to $ 10,000 in student debt for all borrowers as part of a future virus relief package .
In Friday ’ s announcement , DeVos said her agency is working to notify the loan servicing companies that the Education Department contracts with to manage collections .
A federal lawsuit filed against DeVos in April alleged that thousands of overdue borrowers were still getting pay withheld despite the mortarium .
The department blamed the error on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that any defaulted borrowers who continue to have wages withheld will receive refunds .

The Trump administration on Friday suspended all federal student loan payments through the end of January and kept interest rates at 0%, extending a moratorium that started early in the pandemic but was set to expire at the end of this month.
By extending payments by one month, the administration is effectively leaving it to the Biden administration or Congress to decide whether to provide longer-term relief to millions of student borrowers. The measure was included in a March relief package and the White House extended it in August, but its fate was in doubt amid stalemate over a new relief bill.
In announcing the extension, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rebuked Congress for failing to act. “The added time also allows Congress to do its job and determine what measures it believes are necessary and appropriate,” DeVos said in a statement. “The Congress, not the Executive Branch, is in charge of student loan policy.”
Under the measure, students will not be required to make payments, their loans will not accrue interest and all collection activity will halt until the end of January.
DeVos won praise for using her authority to pause federal student loan payments in March. Congress later cemented the measure in legislation and Trump extended it through December, but the looming deadline stoked fears that millions of borrowers would be forced to resume payments even as unemployment rates soared.
Last month, the American Council on Education and dozens of other higher education associations urged DeVos to extend the relief, saying the recent surge in COVID-19 cases would likely lead to even more economic turmoil.
“Bringing millions of Americans back into repayment in the thick of this crisis will cause additional financial hardship and force borrowers to make difficult decisions about their limited resources,” the groups wrote in a letter to DeVos.
Even DeVos’ own agency warned of looming trouble if the moratorium lapsed. In its annual report last month, Federal Student Aid, the office that oversees student loans, said that without an extension it would face a “heavy burden” in moving millions of borrowers to active repayment at the same time.
President-elect Joe Biden has not directly addressed the moratorium but on Tuesday called for immediate relief including “relief from rent and student loans.” He has also supported proposals to erase up to $10,000 in student debt for all borrowers as part of a future virus relief package.
In Friday’s announcement, DeVos said her agency is working to notify the loan servicing companies that the Education Department contracts with to manage collections. A federal lawsuit filed against DeVos in April alleged that thousands of overdue borrowers were still getting pay withheld despite the mortarium. The department blamed the error on its servicers.
DeVos’ Friday release says that any defaulted borrowers who continue to have wages withheld will receive refunds.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Court backs Trump using military funds for border wall

HOUSTON — A federal appeals court ruled Friday that a lower court was wrong to bar the Trump administration from taking $ 3.6 billion from military construction projects for a border wall .
A panel of the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals said that El Paso County and the nonprofit Border Network for Human Rights did not have the standing to challenge President Donald Trump ’ s redirecting funds from more than 100 military construction projects , including a $ 20 million road project at a base located in the city .
The appeals court found that neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was directly harmed by Trump ’ s move .
The court reversed a December 2019 ruling by U.S. District Judge David Briones .
Trump took roughly $ 6 billion from military funds under a national emergency he declared in early 2019 after Congress refused to fully fund his demands for wall funding , leading to the longest government shutdown in history .
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end that national emergency , though the Trump administration has locked in construction contracts with the funding and already built many new stretches of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to review a different ruling on the use of military construction funds .
The 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals previously agreed with a coalition of border states and environmental groups that contended the transfer of money was unlawful and that building the wall would pose environmental threats .
In its order Friday , the 5th Circuit said it disagreed with the 9th Circuit ’ s ruling and would “ decline to follow it .
”

HOUSTON — A federal appeals court ruled Friday that a lower court was wrong to bar the Trump administration from taking $3.6 billion from military construction projects for a border wall.
A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that El Paso County and the nonprofit Border Network for Human Rights did not have the standing to challenge President Donald Trump’s redirecting funds from more than 100 military construction projects, including a $20 million road project at a base located in the city. The appeals court found that neither the county nor the Border Network proved it was directly harmed by Trump’s move. The court reversed a December 2019 ruling by U.S. District Judge David Briones.
Trump took roughly $6 billion from military funds under a national emergency he declared in early 2019 after Congress refused to fully fund his demands for wall funding, leading to the longest government shutdown in history.
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end that national emergency, though the Trump administration has locked in construction contracts with the funding and already built many new stretches of wall across the southwest border.
The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to review a different ruling on the use of military construction funds. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously agreed with a coalition of border states and environmental groups that contended the transfer of money was unlawful and that building the wall would pose environmental threats.
In its order Friday, the 5th Circuit said it disagreed with the 9th Circuit’s ruling and would “decline to follow it.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Sanford Health suspends merger talks with Intermountain

SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
( AP ) - More than a week after Sanford Health parted ways with its longtime CEO , the health system announced that it has indefinitely suspended merger talks with Utah-based Intermountain Healthcare .
Sanford Health and Intermountain Healthcare made the announcement Friday , saying that with the leadership change , Sanford decided to put merger talks on hold while other organizational needs are addressed .
The two systems said roughly a month ago that they planned to merge , and that then-Sanford Health CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft would become president emeritus .
But Krabbenhoft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Krabbenhoft told employees that he had recovered from COVID-19 and was not wearing a mask around the office .
The Sanford Health Board of Trustees last week appointed Bill Gassen as the organization ’ s new president and CEO .
“ With this leadership change , it ’ s an important time to refocus our efforts internally as we assess the future direction of our organization , ” Gassen said in a statement .
“ We continue to prioritize taking care of our patients , our people , and the communities we serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward.
” Marc Harrison , the president and CEP of Intermountain Healthcare , said in a statement : “ We are disappointed but understand the recent leadership change at Sanford Health has influenced their priorities .
There ’ s much to admire about the work that Sanford Health is doing .
We continue to share a strong vision for the future of healthcare.
” Sanford Health said last week that it “ mutually agreed to part ways ” with Krabbenhoft , who took over in 1996 and helped expand the organization from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest rural nonprofit health system in the country .
Krabbenhoft ’ s departure came after he told employees in an email that he believes he ’ s now immune to COVID-19 for “ at least seven months and perhaps years to come ” and that he isn ’ t a threat to transmit it to anyone .
He said wearing a mask would be merely for show .
Other Sanford executives tried to distance themselves from the comments .
Sanford Health , based in Sioux Falls , South Dakota , has 46 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in South Dakota , North Dakota , Minnesota and Iowa .
Intermountain Healthcare is based in Salt Lake City and has 225 clinics and 24 hospitals in Utah , Idaho , and Nevada .

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - More than a week after Sanford Health parted ways with its longtime CEO, the health system announced that it has indefinitely suspended merger talks with Utah-based Intermountain Healthcare.
Sanford Health and Intermountain Healthcare made the announcement Friday, saying that with the leadership change, Sanford decided to put merger talks on hold while other organizational needs are addressed.
The two systems said roughly a month ago that they planned to merge, and that then-Sanford Health CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft would become president emeritus. But Krabbenhoft and Sanford parted ways last week, after Krabbenhoft told employees that he had recovered from COVID-19 and was not wearing a mask around the office.
The Sanford Health Board of Trustees last week appointed Bill Gassen as the organization’s new president and CEO.
“With this leadership change, it’s an important time to refocus our efforts internally as we assess the future direction of our organization,” Gassen said in a statement. “We continue to prioritize taking care of our patients, our people, and the communities we serve as we look to shape our path forward.”
Marc Harrison, the president and CEP of Intermountain Healthcare, said in a statement: “We are disappointed but understand the recent leadership change at Sanford Health has influenced their priorities. There’s much to admire about the work that Sanford Health is doing. We continue to share a strong vision for the future of healthcare.”
Sanford Health said last week that it “mutually agreed to part ways” with Krabbenhoft, who took over in 1996 and helped expand the organization from a community hospital into what is billed as the largest rural nonprofit health system in the country.
Krabbenhoft’s departure came after he told employees in an email that he believes he’s now immune to COVID-19 for “at least seven months and perhaps years to come” and that he isn’t a threat to transmit it to anyone. He said wearing a mask would be merely for show. Other Sanford executives tried to distance themselves from the comments.
Sanford Health, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has 46 hospitals and more than 200 clinics concentrated in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa.
Intermountain Healthcare is based in Salt Lake City and has 225 clinics and 24 hospitals in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--$5M bond for man accused of killing 12-year-old girl in 1984

GREELEY , Colo. ( AP ) - A Colorado judge set a $ 5 million bond on Friday for a man who is accused of kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old girl in 1984 .
Prosecutors said that there was enough circumstantial evidence to charge Steve Pankey , 69 , with the killing of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews .
Her body was found in July 2019 - 35 years after her death - by construction workers digging a pipeline in a rural area southeast of Greeley , a city some 50 miles ( 80 kilometers ) north of Denver .
Weld County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an incident in 1985 in which Pankey went to the Greeley Police Department and claimed he was an ordained Baptist minister and that a parishioner told him information about the case , Miller said .
Police said they determined that Pankey had never been an ordained minister and that he was trying to glean more information about the status of the murder investigation .
Prosecutors also referred to an alibi letter Pankey sent to the district attorney ’ s office in 2011 .
The letter contained details about Pankey ’ s family trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details were not consistent with the information investigators had initially compiled from Pankey .
He had claimed to have gotten gas at a Texaco when there wasn ’ t one in Greeley and he said he did not own more than one car while he was a car salesman with several cars in 1984 , the Greeley Tribune reported .
The 69-year-old also filed two documents prosecutors said raised alarm .
In a 1999 document , Pankey told investigators they could not solve Matthews ’ case without his cooperation , Miller said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had relevant information about the case and that he wanted to make a deal in order to provide the location of Matthews ’ body without needing to provide names , Miller said .
Pankey ‘ s defense attorney Anthony Viorst said all of the information presented had nothing to do with Matthews ’ murder .
Pankey is facing two first-degree murder charges , two violent crime charges and one second-degree kidnapping charge .
All are felonies .
The provisions of Pankey ’ s bond prevent him from leaving the state without written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possessing firearms .
He will be tracked by GPS and was also required to surrender his passport .
The case ’ s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 30 .

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - A Colorado judge set a $5 million bond on Friday for a man who is accused of kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old girl in 1984.
Prosecutors said that there was enough circumstantial evidence to charge Steve Pankey, 69, with the killing of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews. Her body was found in July 2019 - 35 years after her death - by construction workers digging a pipeline in a rural area southeast of Greeley, a city some 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Denver.
Weld County Assistant District Attorney Rob Miller pointed to an incident in 1985 in which Pankey went to the Greeley Police Department and claimed he was an ordained Baptist minister and that a parishioner told him information about the case, Miller said. Police said they determined that Pankey had never been an ordained minister and that he was trying to glean more information about the status of the murder investigation.
Prosecutors also referred to an alibi letter Pankey sent to the district attorney’s office in 2011. The letter contained details about Pankey’s family trip after Jonelle’s disappearance. The details were not consistent with the information investigators had initially compiled from Pankey. He had claimed to have gotten gas at a Texaco when there wasn’t one in Greeley and he said he did not own more than one car while he was a car salesman with several cars in 1984, the Greeley Tribune reported.
The 69-year-old also filed two documents prosecutors said raised alarm. In a 1999 document, Pankey told investigators they could not solve Matthews’ case without his cooperation, Miller said. In a 2003 document, Pankey said he had relevant information about the case and that he wanted to make a deal in order to provide the location of Matthews’ body without needing to provide names, Miller said.
Pankey’s defense attorney Anthony Viorst said all of the information presented had nothing to do with Matthews’ murder.
Pankey is facing two first-degree murder charges, two violent crime charges and one second-degree kidnapping charge. All are felonies.
The provisions of Pankey’s bond prevent him from leaving the state without written authorization, contacting any listed witnesses and possessing firearms. He will be tracked by GPS and was also required to surrender his passport.
The case’s next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 30.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Texas brings nursing home residents to front of vaccine line

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) - Texas health officials Friday moved nursing home residents to the front of the line for coronavirus vaccines after initially deciding that only health care workers would have access to the first round of doses that are expected to arrive this month .
The reversal comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week issued nonbiding guidance that called for putting nursing home residents first along with frontline medical staff .
Advocacy groups have also pressed states to give nursing home residents first access to a vaccine , pointing to outbreaks that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of the pandemic .
The change was recommended by a state panel of health experts and lawmakers following the new guidance from the CDC , according to the Texas Department of State Health Services .
Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott has said an initial round of 1.4 million vaccine doses is expected to arrive soon as Dec. 14 .
State health officials say the first allocation of more than 224,00 doses of a vaccine made by Pfizer will be shipped to 109 hospitals in 34 counties .
Early estimates from Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers in frontline medical jobs .
The vulnerable population in Texas includes more than 137,00 nursing home residents and nearly 4 million residents over the age of 65 , according to a draft of the state ’ s COVID-19 vaccination plan released in October .
Texas has a statewide population of about 29 million .
Texas this week surpassed 9,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the first time since summer .
Texas reported more than 13,000 confirmed cases Friday and 255 additional deaths .
The virus is blamed for more than 22,200 deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fatalities in the country .

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas health officials Friday moved nursing home residents to the front of the line for coronavirus vaccines after initially deciding that only health care workers would have access to the first round of doses that are expected to arrive this month.
The reversal comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week issued nonbiding guidance that called for putting nursing home residents first along with frontline medical staff. Advocacy groups have also pressed states to give nursing home residents first access to a vaccine, pointing to outbreaks that have spread through long-term care facilities since the start of the pandemic.
The change was recommended by a state panel of health experts and lawmakers following the new guidance from the CDC, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has said an initial round of 1.4 million vaccine doses is expected to arrive soon as Dec. 14. State health officials say the first allocation of more than 224,00 doses of a vaccine made by Pfizer will be shipped to 109 hospitals in 34 counties.
Early estimates from Texas health officials identified more than 1 million workers in frontline medical jobs. The vulnerable population in Texas includes more than 137,00 nursing home residents and nearly 4 million residents over the age of 65, according to a draft of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan released in October.
Texas has a statewide population of about 29 million.
Texas this week surpassed 9,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients for the first time since summer. Texas reported more than 13,000 confirmed cases Friday and 255 additional deaths. The virus is blamed for more than 22,200 deaths in Texas, which is the second-highest number of fatalities in the country.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Judge: Nevada jobless office in contempt in gig workers case

RENO , Nev. ( AP ) - A state court judge held the Nevada unemployment office in contempt and gave it until the end of the month to comply with his July court order to resume paying pandemic relief benefits to almost 9,500 out-of-work gig workers and independent contractors .
“ These people need to be paid , ” Washoe County District Court Judge Barry Breslow declared Thursday as he imposed a $ 1,000 fine on the Department of Employment , Training and Rehabilitation , the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported .
The judge scheduled a Dec. 31 compliance hearing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t release Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds by Christmas .
Bradford McEwen , an independent contractor who had the pandemic payments frozen after 21 weeks , told the Review-Journal he was disappointed with the ruling .
He said claimants deserve compensation for hours of fruitless calls to Department of Employment , Training and Rehabilitation hotlines .
Self-employed photographer Dave Cherkis is waiting to receive pandemic benefits that he filed for in May .
He derided the nominal fine as “ a Band-Aid on a compound fracture.
” Breslow ’ s order came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed in May on behalf of independent contractors and self-employed workers seeking immediate payment of pending pandemic claims .
At the time , Nevada was the last state in the nation to begin taking applications for the pandemic payments .
State officials contended the jobless benefits office was battling rampant fraud and needed to determine the legitimacy of each claim before paying it out .
Breslow commissioned a 310-page report from a special hearing master that identified bottlenecks and breaks in processing payments for so-called gig workers .
The judge determined the swamped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that pandemic applicants were ineligible unless they completely ceased working .
His July 22 order said the Department of Employment , Training and Rehabilitation could not stop paying pandemic claims , with exceptions for failing to meet certain eligibility benchmarks and suspected fraud , unless a worker received a hearing or was provided some means to protest .
As of Nov. 21 , nearly 650,000 claims were filed and 74,000 Nevadans continued to receive pandemic payments since the program rolled out in May , the Review-Journal reported .

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A state court judge held the Nevada unemployment office in contempt and gave it until the end of the month to comply with his July court order to resume paying pandemic relief benefits to almost 9,500 out-of-work gig workers and independent contractors.
“These people need to be paid,” Washoe County District Court Judge Barry Breslow declared Thursday as he imposed a $1,000 fine on the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported .
The judge scheduled a Dec. 31 compliance hearing and warned of additional action if the state doesn’t release Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds by Christmas.
Bradford McEwen, an independent contractor who had the pandemic payments frozen after 21 weeks, told the Review-Journal he was disappointed with the ruling. He said claimants deserve compensation for hours of fruitless calls to Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation hotlines.
Self-employed photographer Dave Cherkis is waiting to receive pandemic benefits that he filed for in May. He derided the nominal fine as “a Band-Aid on a compound fracture.”
Breslow’s order came in a lawsuit that attorney Mark Thierman filed in May on behalf of independent contractors and self-employed workers seeking immediate payment of pending pandemic claims.
At the time, Nevada was the last state in the nation to begin taking applications for the pandemic payments.
State officials contended the jobless benefits office was battling rampant fraud and needed to determine the legitimacy of each claim before paying it out.
Breslow commissioned a 310-page report from a special hearing master that identified bottlenecks and breaks in processing payments for so-called gig workers.
The judge determined the swamped state unemployment office should not have decided that pandemic applicants were ineligible unless they completely ceased working.
His July 22 order said the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation could not stop paying pandemic claims, with exceptions for failing to meet certain eligibility benchmarks and suspected fraud, unless a worker received a hearing or was provided some means to protest.
As of Nov. 21, nearly 650,000 claims were filed and 74,000 Nevadans continued to receive pandemic payments since the program rolled out in May, the Review-Journal reported.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Appeals court rules for Trump taking military money for wall

HOUSTON ( AP ) - A federal appeals court ruled Friday that a lower court was wrong to bar the Trump administration from taking $ 3.6 billion from military construction projects for a border wall .
A panel of the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals said that El Paso County and the nonprofit Border Network for Human Rights did not have the standing to challenge President Donald Trump ’ s redirecting funds from more than 100 military construction projects , including a $ 20 million road project at a base located in the city .
The appeals court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Border Network proved it was directly harmed by Trump ’ s move .
The court reversed a December 2019 ruling by U.S. District Judge David Briones .
Trump took roughly $ 6 billion from military funds under a national emergency he declared in early 2019 after Congress refused to fully fund his demands for wall funding , leading to the longest government shutdown in history .
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end that national emergency , though the Trump administration has locked in construction contracts with the funding and already built many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border .
The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to review a different ruling on the use of military construction funds .
The 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals previously agreed with a coalition of border states and environmental groups that contended the transfer of money was unlawful and that building the wall would pose environmental threats .
In its order Friday , the 5th Circuit said it disagreed with the 9th Circuit ’ s ruling and would “ decline to follow it .
”

HOUSTON (AP) - A federal appeals court ruled Friday that a lower court was wrong to bar the Trump administration from taking $3.6 billion from military construction projects for a border wall.
A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that El Paso County and the nonprofit Border Network for Human Rights did not have the standing to challenge President Donald Trump’s redirecting funds from more than 100 military construction projects, including a $20 million road project at a base located in the city. The appeals court found that neither the county nor the Border Network proved it was directly harmed by Trump’s move. The court reversed a December 2019 ruling by U.S. District Judge David Briones.
Trump took roughly $6 billion from military funds under a national emergency he declared in early 2019 after Congress refused to fully fund his demands for wall funding, leading to the longest government shutdown in history.
President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end that national emergency, though the Trump administration has locked in construction contracts with the funding and already built many new stretches of wall across the southwest border.
The U.S. Supreme Court has already agreed to review a different ruling on the use of military construction funds. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously agreed with a coalition of border states and environmental groups that contended the transfer of money was unlawful and that building the wall would pose environmental threats.
In its order Friday, the 5th Circuit said it disagreed with the 9th Circuit’s ruling and would “decline to follow it.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Arkansas doctor facing charges wants to practice medicine

TEXARKANA , Ark .
( AP ) - A southwest Arkansas doctor who has been accused of overprescribing drugs has filed a motion seeking permission to practice medicine while his federal case is pending .
Lonnie Joseph Parker , 55 , has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of prescribing opiates and cough medicine in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas .
He is free on an unsecured appearance bond and is not allowed to practice medicine , the Texarkana Gazette reported Friday .
Parker ’ s lawyers , John Wesley Hall and Jeffery Rosenzweig , filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modification of Parker ’ s release conditions .
The motion cites the Arkansas State Medical Board ’ s decision in 2019 that previously suspended Parker ’ s license because of concerns he was over-prescribing drugs of abuse .
He was allowed to continue practicing as long as he didn ’ t prescribe Schedule II narcotics , codeine cough syrup or Ketamine .
The motion also mentions that Parker ’ s trial has been postponed because of the pandemic and that jury selection is scheduled for August 2021 .
“ There is an ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortage of medical personnel to treat and for which Parker can make a contribution and the continuation of this case will cause Parker serious financial strain which can be alleviated by permitting him to practice without causing violation of the medical board ’ s conditions , ” the modification motion states .
In opposition to the motion , the government said that Parker faces an enhanced punishment because his actions allegedly caused a patient ’ s death .
It also said that Parker is a “ danger ” to the community through his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request earlier this year to practice medicine in New York .
“ The United States opposes the current request for modification of bond due to the defendant having a prior felony conviction that would disqualify him from having a medical license in other states , and because of the serious nature of the offenses charged in the pending Superseding Indictment , ” the government ’ s response states .
Parker was convicted in 2000 for possession of child pornography .
He served more than four years in prison .
His medical license was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This month , a hearing has been scheduled before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant to address the motion .

TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) - A southwest Arkansas doctor who has been accused of overprescribing drugs has filed a motion seeking permission to practice medicine while his federal case is pending.
Lonnie Joseph Parker, 55, has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of prescribing opiates and cough medicine in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas. He is free on an unsecured appearance bond and is not allowed to practice medicine, the Texarkana Gazette reported Friday.
Parker’s lawyers, John Wesley Hall and Jeffery Rosenzweig, filed the motion in November asking for a modification of Parker’s release conditions.
The motion cites the Arkansas State Medical Board’s decision in 2019 that previously suspended Parker’s license because of concerns he was over-prescribing drugs of abuse. He was allowed to continue practicing as long as he didn’t prescribe Schedule II narcotics, codeine cough syrup or Ketamine.
The motion also mentions that Parker’s trial has been postponed because of the pandemic and that jury selection is scheduled for August 2021.
“There is an ongoing pandemic for which there is a current shortage of medical personnel to treat and for which Parker can make a contribution and the continuation of this case will cause Parker serious financial strain which can be alleviated by permitting him to practice without causing violation of the medical board’s conditions,” the modification motion states.
In opposition to the motion, the government said that Parker faces an enhanced punishment because his actions allegedly caused a patient’s death. It also said that Parker is a “danger” to the community through his profession and that he made a similar request earlier this year to practice medicine in New York.
“The United States opposes the current request for modification of bond due to the defendant having a prior felony conviction that would disqualify him from having a medical license in other states, and because of the serious nature of the offenses charged in the pending Superseding Indictment,” the government’s response states.
Parker was convicted in 2000 for possession of child pornography. He served more than four years in prison. His medical license was reinstated by the board in 2005.
This month, a hearing has been scheduled before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant to address the motion.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Woman facing murder counts for Oklahoma crash that killed 4

EL RENO , Okla. ( AP ) - A woman has been charged with four counts of second-degree murder for @ @ @ @ @ a family of four in October in central Oklahoma .
Charges were filed Thursday against @ @ @ @ @ of Moore , according to court records .
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol alleges that Ricks @ @ @ @ @ on Interstate 40 near El Reno at about 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 17 when she @ @ @ @ @ vehicle with three adults and a girl .
The car that Ricks is accused of @ @ @ @ @ median and burst into flames as the four people within were trapped inside .
Ricks @ @ @ @ @ .
Ricks was being held on Friday in the Canadian County Jail .
Court records @ @ @ @ @ for Ricks .
A court hearing in her case was scheduled for Jan. 4 .

EL RENO, Okla. (AP) - A woman has been charged with four counts of second-degree murder for a wrong-way crash that killed a family of four in October in central Oklahoma.
Charges were filed Thursday against 33-year-old Ashley Louise Ricks, of Moore, according to court records.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol alleges that Ricks was going the wrong way on Interstate 40 near El Reno at about 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 17 when she slammed head on into a vehicle with three adults and a girl.
The car that Ricks is accused of hitting went into the center median and burst into flames as the four people within were trapped inside.
Ricks was hospitalized after the collision.
Ricks was being held on Friday in the Canadian County Jail. Court records did not list an attorney for Ricks.
A court hearing in her case was scheduled for Jan. 4.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Judge tosses 15 cases involving accused LAPD officers

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A judge on Friday threw out 15 criminal cases that were based on statements from three police officers accused of falsifying records .
Superior Court Judge Sergio C. Tapia II said he was throwing out the convictions in nine felony and six misdemeanor cases “ in the interests of justice , ” the Los Angeles Times reported .
The cases involved sentences ranging from probation to a year in jail on charges that included reckless driving and weapons offenses .
The cases involved LAPD officers Braxton Shaw , Michael Coblentz and Raul Uribe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAPD ’ s Metropolitan Division who have been charged with falsifying field interview cards to say dozens of people they had stopped were admitted gang members .
Video from police body-worn cameras showed those listed were not asked about gang membership or denied gang affiliations .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if the officers had lawyers to comment for them .
Los Angeles County and city prosecutors requested the dismissals .
They have been reviewing hundreds of cases worked by the six officers .
Judges have dismissed 24 cases so far .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged , the California attorney general made it impossible for law enforcement agencies to access entries that Los Angeles police made in the state ’ s gang database .
LAPD records provided roughly 25 % of the CalGang database of about 80,000 people , which critics have long said fosters racial profiling .
The LAPD vowed to stop using the database except for removing people from it .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge on Friday threw out 15 criminal cases that were based on statements from three police officers accused of falsifying records.
Superior Court Judge Sergio C. Tapia II said he was throwing out the convictions in nine felony and six misdemeanor cases “in the interests of justice,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
The cases involved sentences ranging from probation to a year in jail on charges that included reckless driving and weapons offenses.
The cases involved LAPD officers Braxton Shaw, Michael Coblentz and Raul Uribe. They are among six officers in the LAPD’s Metropolitan Division who have been charged with falsifying field interview cards to say dozens of people they had stopped were admitted gang members.
Video from police body-worn cameras showed those listed were not asked about gang membership or denied gang affiliations.
It wasn’t immediately known if the officers had lawyers to comment for them.
A dozen other officers remain under investigation.
Los Angeles County and city prosecutors requested the dismissals. They have been reviewing hundreds of cases worked by the six officers. Judges have dismissed 24 cases so far.
In July, after several officers were charged, the California attorney general made it impossible for law enforcement agencies to access entries that Los Angeles police made in the state’s gang database.
LAPD records provided roughly 25% of the CalGang database of about 80,000 people, which critics have long said fosters racial profiling.
The LAPD vowed to stop using the database except for removing people from it.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Researchers: Starvation, weather to blame for bird die-off

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - Starvation and unexpected weather are to blame for a statewide die-off among migratory birds in New Mexico , researchers said Friday .
Biologists from multiple agencies collected hundreds of samples of warblers , swallows and other birds and sent them to the U.S. Geological Survey ’ s National Wildlife Health Center in Wisconsin to be analyzed .
The researchers found that nearly all the birds were severely emaciated , already starving when they moved into New Mexico .
An unusual storm likely made things worse , they said , causing the birds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and objects .
Some died from exposure to the cold weather , were killed by predators or hit by vehicles .
The evidence of starvation included kidney failure , empty stomachs , small amounts of blood , depleted fat deposits , irritated lung tissue and shrunken breast muscles that control the birds ’ wings , the researchers said .
The researchers didn ’ t identify a single , definitive cause of death .
They ruled out disease and poisoning .
Countless birds died earlier this year , with the first signs in late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taos area and at Valles Caldera National Preserve in the north to the cottonwood forest along the Rio Grande to southern New Mexico , including at White Sands Missile Range .
Residents reported seeing them dying in groups , flying low and exhibiting lethargic and unusual behavior .
Large-scale birds deaths are rare , researchers at New Mexico State University have said .

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Starvation and unexpected weather are to blame for a statewide die-off among migratory birds in New Mexico, researchers said Friday.
Biologists from multiple agencies collected hundreds of samples of warblers, swallows and other birds and sent them to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Wisconsin to be analyzed.
The researchers found that nearly all the birds were severely emaciated, already starving when they moved into New Mexico. An unusual storm likely made things worse, they said, causing the birds to become disoriented and fly into buildings and objects. Some died from exposure to the cold weather, were killed by predators or hit by vehicles.
The evidence of starvation included kidney failure, empty stomachs, small amounts of blood, depleted fat deposits, irritated lung tissue and shrunken breast muscles that control the birds’ wings, the researchers said.
The researchers didn’t identify a single, definitive cause of death. They ruled out disease and poisoning.
Countless birds died earlier this year, with the first signs in late August. They were reported in the Taos area and at Valles Caldera National Preserve in the north to the cottonwood forest along the Rio Grande to southern New Mexico, including at White Sands Missile Range. Residents reported seeing them dying in groups, flying low and exhibiting lethargic and unusual behavior.
Large-scale birds deaths are rare, researchers at New Mexico State University have said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Chinese state TV reports 18 coal miners killed by lethal gas

BEIJING ( AP ) - China ’ s state TV says at least 18 coal miners have been killed by @ @ @ @ @ in the country ’ s southwest .
One miner was found alive following the disaster @ @ @ @ @ in Chongqing , the report said .
Rescuers are looking for five others .
China @ @ @ @ @ used to be the world ’ s deadliest , suffering more than 5,000 fatalities a @ @ @ @ @ after authorities overhauled the industry starting about 15 years ago .

BEIJING (AP) - China’s state TV says at least 18 coal miners have been killed by high levels of carbon monoxide in the country’s southwest.
One miner was found alive following the disaster Friday in the Diaoshidong mine in Chongqing, the report said. Rescuers are looking for five others.
China’s coal mining industry used to be the world’s deadliest, suffering more than 5,000 fatalities a year. Safety improved dramatically after authorities overhauled the industry starting about 15 years ago.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Anti-mask doctor's medical license suspended

DALLAS , Ore. ( AP ) - The Oregon Medical Board has suspended the license of a doctor who said he refuses to wear a mask in his clinic west of Salem and encouraged others to not wear masks .
Dr. Steven LaTulippe told a pro-Trump rally in November that he and his staff do not wear masks while working in his Dallas clinic , KGW-TV reported .
A state order requires health care workers to wear face coverings in health care settings to help stem the spread of COVID-19 .
The medical board voted Thursday to suspend LaTulippe ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevents LaTulippe from practicing medicine anywhere in the state .
According to a statement on the Oregon Medical Board website , the suspension was issued “ due to the board ’ s concern for the safety and welfare of licensee ’ s current and future patients.
” His comments came during a “ Stop the Steal ” election rally in Salem on Nov. 7 .
The video was posted on YouTube by the Multnomah County Republican Party .
“ I and my staff , none of us , not once , wore a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the rally .
He also said people should “ take off the mask of shame.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federation of State Medical Boards both urge health care professionals to wear face masks while inside health care facilities .
In a report updated in late November , the CDC reiterated that multiple studies have shown that widespread use of cloth masks controls the spread of COVID-19 .
LaTulippe did not answer a phone call from the media outlet on Friday morning seeking comment .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .

DALLAS, Ore. (AP) - The Oregon Medical Board has suspended the license of a doctor who said he refuses to wear a mask in his clinic west of Salem and encouraged others to not wear masks.
Dr. Steven LaTulippe told a pro-Trump rally in November that he and his staff do not wear masks while working in his Dallas clinic, KGW-TV reported.
A state order requires health care workers to wear face coverings in health care settings to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
The medical board voted Thursday to suspend LaTulippe’s license immediately. The indefinite suspension prevents LaTulippe from practicing medicine anywhere in the state. According to a statement on the Oregon Medical Board website, the suspension was issued “due to the board’s concern for the safety and welfare of licensee’s current and future patients.”
LaTulippe ran a family practice clinic called South View Medical Arts in Dallas.
His comments came during a “Stop the Steal” election rally in Salem on Nov. 7. The video was posted on YouTube by the Multnomah County Republican Party.
“I and my staff, none of us, not once, wore a mask in my clinic,” LaTulippe said at the rally. He also said people should “take off the mask of shame.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federation of State Medical Boards both urge health care professionals to wear face masks while inside health care facilities. In a report updated in late November, the CDC reiterated that multiple studies have shown that widespread use of cloth masks controls the spread of COVID-19.
LaTulippe did not answer a phone call from the media outlet on Friday morning seeking comment. He also declined to give an interview earlier this week.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--1st openly gay justice sworn in to California Supreme Court

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California ’ s Supreme Court has its first openly gay justice .
Martin Jenkins was sworn in on Friday by Gov .
Gavin Newsom in a virtual rather than in-person ceremony because of coronavirus safety restrictions .
“ In swearing in Justice Jenkins today , our state once again makes history , and we elevate an extraordinary Californian to the bench , ” Newsom said in a statement .
“ The people of our state could not ask for a finer jurist or better person to serve them in this capacity.
” Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who retired on Aug. 31 .
The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed Jenkins in November , praising him for his “ brilliant intellect , first-class temperament , and boundless humanity.
” During a news conference in October , Jenkins said his identity as a gay man has been “ perhaps the greatest challenge of my life.
” Jenkins also is the third Black justice to serve on the court .
He joins a diverse bench that includes another Black justice , Leondra Kruger ; Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar , who is Latino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye and Justice Goodwin Liu ; and white justices Joshua Groban and Carol Corrigan.. Jenkins grew up in San Francisco .
His father was a clerk and janitor at the city ’ s iconic Coit Tower .
He was a prosecutor in Alameda County and a civil rights attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Reagan administration .
He was appointed as a federal judge in 1998 joined the state Courts of Appeal in 2008 .
He retired last year and joined Newsom ’ s administration as the judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointments for judgeships .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California’s Supreme Court has its first openly gay justice.
Martin Jenkins was sworn in on Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom in a virtual rather than in-person ceremony because of coronavirus safety restrictions.
“In swearing in Justice Jenkins today, our state once again makes history, and we elevate an extraordinary Californian to the bench,” Newsom said in a statement. “The people of our state could not ask for a finer jurist or better person to serve them in this capacity.”
Newsom nominated Jenkins to replace Justice Ming Chin, who retired on Aug. 31. The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed Jenkins in November, praising him for his “brilliant intellect, first-class temperament, and boundless humanity.”
During a news conference in October, Jenkins said his identity as a gay man has been “perhaps the greatest challenge of my life.”
Jenkins also is the third Black justice to serve on the court. He joins a diverse bench that includes another Black justice, Leondra Kruger; Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar, who is Latino; two Asian Americans, Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye and Justice Goodwin Liu; and white justices Joshua Groban and Carol Corrigan..
Jenkins grew up in San Francisco. His father was a clerk and janitor at the city’s iconic Coit Tower. He was a prosecutor in Alameda County and a civil rights attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Reagan administration.
He was appointed as a federal judge in 1998 joined the state Courts of Appeal in 2008. He retired last year and joined Newsom’s administration as the judicial appointment secretary, helping Newsom vet potential appointments for judgeships.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Britton, Cole, Castro, Lindor, Semien join union top panel

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Yankees pitchers Zack Britton and Gerrit Cole , free agent catcher Jason Castro , Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor and free agent shortstop Marcus Semien were elected Friday to the executive subcommittee of the Major League Baseball Players Association .
They join St. Louis pitcher Andrew Miller , free agent pitcher James Paxton and Washington pitcher Max Scherzer on the union ’ s highest-ranking member body .
The newcomers replace Elvis Andrus , Cory Gearrin , Chris Iannetta , Collin McHugh and Daniel Murphy on the executive subcommittee .
Lindor and Semien were elected alternate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee representative , and Cole an alternate pension committee representatives .
Britton , Cole , Paxton and Scherzer are clients of agent Scott Boras .
Semien is represented by the Wasserman agency , Lindor by SportsMeter , Miller by Frontline Athlete Management and Castro by ISE Baseball .
Cole at $ 324 million over eight years and Scherzer at $ 210 million over six seasons are among baseball ’ s highest-paid players .
Britton has a $ 53 million , three-year deal and Miller a $ 34.5 million , three-year contract .
Lindor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17.5 million .
Semien had a $ 13 million salary last season , Paxton $ 12.5 million and Castro $ 6.85 million .

NEW YORK (AP) - Yankees pitchers Zack Britton and Gerrit Cole, free agent catcher Jason Castro, Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor and free agent shortstop Marcus Semien were elected Friday to the executive subcommittee of the Major League Baseball Players Association.
They join St. Louis pitcher Andrew Miller, free agent pitcher James Paxton and Washington pitcher Max Scherzer on the union’s highest-ranking member body.
The newcomers replace Elvis Andrus, Cory Gearrin, Chris Iannetta, Collin McHugh and Daniel Murphy on the executive subcommittee.
Lindor and Semien were elected alternate association player representatives, Britton a pension committee representative, and Cole an alternate pension committee representatives.
Britton, Cole, Paxton and Scherzer are clients of agent Scott Boras. Semien is represented by the Wasserman agency, Lindor by SportsMeter, Miller by Frontline Athlete Management and Castro by ISE Baseball.
Cole at $324 million over eight years and Scherzer at $210 million over six seasons are among baseball’s highest-paid players.
Britton has a $53 million, three-year deal and Miller a $34.5 million, three-year contract. Lindor is eligible for arbitration after making $17.5 million. Semien had a $13 million salary last season, Paxton $12.5 million and Castro $6.85 million.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
¶


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Nicaraguans search for miners buried after mine collapse

MANAGUA , Nicaragua ( AP ) - An unregulated gold mine collapsed Friday in southern Nicaragua near the border with @ @ @ @ @ 10 wildcat miners missing .
Vice President Rosario Murillo said firefighters and rescue personnel were @ @ @ @ @ in the hamlet of La Esperanza .
Murillo did not specify how many people were @ @ @ @ @ put the number at 10 to 15 .
They reported that one injured miner was @ @ @ @ @ the collapse .
President Daniel Ortega said that “ we hope we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ the mine .

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - An unregulated gold mine collapsed Friday in southern Nicaragua near the border with Costa Rica, leaving about 10 wildcat miners missing.
Vice President Rosario Murillo said firefighters and rescue personnel were being sent to the scene in the hamlet of La Esperanza.
Murillo did not specify how many people were trapped, but local media put the number at 10 to 15. They reported that one injured miner was able to escape and report the collapse.
President Daniel Ortega said that “we hope we don’t have major tragedies” at the mine.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Asia Today: Seoul enforces distancing rules amid fresh spike

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) - South Korea ’ s capital on Saturday began enforcing stricter distancing rules @ @ @ @ @ 600 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day .
The restrictions require large stores @ @ @ @ @ , barbershops and amusement parks to shut down after 9 p.m. , and restaurants to @ @ @ @ @ after that time .
Public transportation will also be reduced after 9 p.m. in an @ @ @ @ @ .
The 583 cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency brought the @ @ @ @ @ including 540 deaths .
The agency said 411 of the cases were from the densely @ @ @ @ @ where health officials are struggling to track infections tied to various places , including hospitals @ @ @ @ @ saunas and gyms .
The country had reported 629 new cases on Friday , its @ @ @ @ @ months .

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea’s capital on Saturday began enforcing stricter distancing rules as the country added nearly 600 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day.
The restrictions require large stores, gyms, movie theaters, barbershops and amusement parks to shut down after 9 p.m., and restaurants to provide only deliveries and takeouts after that time.
Public transportation will also be reduced after 9 p.m. in an aim to discourage unnecessary gatherings.
The 583 cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency brought the national caseload to 36,915, including 540 deaths.
The agency said 411 of the cases were from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health officials are struggling to track infections tied to various places, including hospitals, churches, schools, saunas and gyms.
The country had reported 629 new cases on Friday, its highest daily jump in nine months.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Murphy, lawmakers say they reached deal on cannabis bill

TRENTON , N.J. ( AP ) - New Jersey Gov .
Phil Murphy said Friday he and legislative leaders have reached a deal on legislation to set up the new recreational marijuana marketplace .
Despite announcing the agreement , the governor and lawmakers did not disclose details .
“ We ’ re proud to announce today that we ’ ve reached an agreement on legislation providing the framework for legalization , which is a critical step in reducing racial disparities and social inequities that have long plagued our criminal justice system , ” the governor ’ s office said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a constitutional amendment on Election Day to legalize recreational marijuana , but legislators must still pass a measure to set up the marketplace .
They had been at an impasse on whether to cap the number of licenses and over how much of the tax proceeds should go to towns and cities whose residents were disproportionately likely to face marijuana-related charges .
The constitutional amendment takes effect on New Year ’ s Day .
Lawmakers have set their final voting session of the year for Dec. 17 , when it ’ s expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another pending issue is legislation on decriminalizing marijuana possession .

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday he and legislative leaders have reached a deal on legislation to set up the new recreational marijuana marketplace.
Despite announcing the agreement, the governor and lawmakers did not disclose details.
“We’re proud to announce today that we’ve reached an agreement on legislation providing the framework for legalization, which is a critical step in reducing racial disparities and social inequities that have long plagued our criminal justice system,” the governor’s office said in an emailed statement.
Voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on Election Day to legalize recreational marijuana, but legislators must still pass a measure to set up the marketplace.
They had been at an impasse on whether to cap the number of licenses and over how much of the tax proceeds should go to towns and cities whose residents were disproportionately likely to face marijuana-related charges.
The constitutional amendment takes effect on New Year’s Day. Lawmakers have set their final voting session of the year for Dec. 17, when it’s expected they will take up the marijuana legislation.
Another pending issue is legislation on decriminalizing marijuana possession.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--No. 5 Louisville women break school scoring record

UNCASVILLE , Conn. ( AP ) - Hailey Van Lith and Kianna Smith each scored 21 points in the highest-scoring game in Louisville history , a 116-75 romp over No .
20 DePaul on Friday night in the Jimmy V Classic .
The No .
5 Cardinals ( 3-0 ) surpassed the 115 points they scored against Murray State in 2017 , reaching that point total with 3:53 left in the game that wasn ’ t finalized until earlier this week .
Louisville was supposed to play UConn at Mohegan Sun in this game , but the Huskies have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test .
DePaul was originally going to open its Big East season Friday against Villanova .
The Wildcats agreed to move that game .
The Cardinals extended the advantage to 101-50 after three quarters , crossing the century mark in the final seconds of the third .
EUGENE , Ore. ( AP ) - Nyara Sabally had 20 points and 10 rebounds and No .
10 Oregon set a school record for consecutive victories with 22 , beating Colorado in the Pac-12 opener .
Oregon ( 3-0 ) broke the mark set in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school record with their 21st straight home victory , topping the mark set from 1998-2000 .
Sabally - a 6-foot-5 sophomore whose sister , Satou , was an All-American last season for the Ducks - made all nine of her shots from the field , including one 3-pointer .
Peanut Tuitele and Charlotte Whittaker each scored 10 points for Colorado ( 2-1 ) .

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - Hailey Van Lith and Kianna Smith each scored 21 points in the highest-scoring game in Louisville history, a 116-75 romp over No. 20 DePaul on Friday night in the Jimmy V Classic.
The No. 5 Cardinals (3-0) surpassed the 115 points they scored against Murray State in 2017, reaching that point total with 3:53 left in the game that wasn’t finalized until earlier this week.
Louisville was supposed to play UConn at Mohegan Sun in this game, but the Huskies have been on pause because of a positive COVID-19 test. DePaul was originally going to open its Big East season Friday against Villanova. The Wildcats agreed to move that game.
The Cardinals extended the advantage to 101-50 after three quarters, crossing the century mark in the final seconds of the third.
Darrione Rogers scored 25 points for DePaul (1-2).
NO. 7 ARIZONA 68, NO. 9 UCLA 65
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Trinity Baptiste had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Aari McDonald added 17 points and Arizona held off UCLA in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.
The Bruins rallied after Arizona went up eight, pulling to 67-65 on Charisma Osborne’s 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. Arizona’s Cate Reese made 1 of 2 free throws to give UCLA a last chance, but Osborne’s 3-pointer with 5 seconds left hit the back of the rim.
Arizona (2-0) labored early against the physical Bruins and shot 6 of 25 from 3-point range. The Wildcats made up for it with stifling defense in the third quarter and some big shots late to win the first meeting with both teams in the top-10 since 1998.
UCLA (1-1) used an 18-4 run spanning the first and second quarters to go up nine, but missed 17 of 18 shots in the third quarter as Arizona surged into the lead. Osborne led UCLA with 15 points.
The Bruins went cold again in the third quarter, missing 16 straight shots during a scoreless drought of nearly 6 1/2 minutes. Arizona took advantage, going on a 9-0 run to go up 48-42.
NO. 10 OREGON 82, COLORADO 53
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Nyara Sabally had 20 points and 10 rebounds and No. 10 Oregon set a school record for consecutive victories with 22, beating Colorado in the Pac-12 opener.
Oregon (3-0) broke the mark set in 1978-79. The Ducks also set a school record with their 21st straight home victory, topping the mark set from 1998-2000.
Sabally - a 6-foot-5 sophomore whose sister, Satou, was an All-American last season for the Ducks - made all nine of her shots from the field, including one 3-pointer.
Peanut Tuitele and Charlotte Whittaker each scored 10 points for Colorado (2-1).


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Honduras asks U.S. to grant deportation amnesty after hurricanes

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez asked the U.S. on Friday to renew the special Temporary Protected Status for some 44,000 of his citizens living here , saying his own country was battered by recent storms and can ’ t be expected to welcome them back .
Hurricanes Eta and Iota battered the country last month , leaving tens of thousands homeless .
Mr. Hernandez ’ s demand for a renewed TPS could be one of the first immigration tests facing presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden — and one he ’ s likely to grant .
Most of the 44,000 Hondurans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitch blasted through that country in 1998 .
U.S. administrations repeatedly renewed their status over the ensuing two decades , saying Honduras had yet to fully recover .
President Trump , however , said the country had been given enough time to recover and ordered TPS to end .
That move has been put on hold by the courts , as have a handful of other TPS sunsets for countries such as Haiti and El Salvador , covering hundreds of thousands of people .
Mr. Biden is expected to reverse the Trump position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TPS grants a stay of deportation and work permits .
Critics of the program say those granted TPS end up competing with Americans for jobs , while backers point to a significant percentage who end up working as nurses or other essential positions .

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez asked the U.S. on Friday to renew the special Temporary Protected Status for some 44,000 of his citizens living here, saying his own country was battered by recent storms and can’t be expected to welcome them back.
Hurricanes Eta and Iota battered the country last month, leaving tens of thousands homeless.
Mr. Hernandez’s demand for a renewed TPS could be one of the first immigration tests facing presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden — and one he’s likely to grant.
Most of the 44,000 Hondurans in question have been here since Hurricane Mitch blasted through that country in 1998.
U.S. administrations repeatedly renewed their status over the ensuing two decades, saying Honduras had yet to fully recover.
President Trump, however, said the country had been given enough time to recover and ordered TPS to end. That move has been put on hold by the courts, as have a handful of other TPS sunsets for countries such as Haiti and El Salvador, covering hundreds of thousands of people.
Mr. Biden is expected to reverse the Trump position and renew TPS for the countries.
TPS grants a stay of deportation and work permits. Critics of the program say those granted TPS end up competing with Americans for jobs, while backers point to a significant percentage who end up working as nurses or other essential positions.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Van Lith helps No. 5 Louisville break school points record

UNCASVILLE , Conn. ( AP ) - It was a record-setting performance for Jeff Walz ’ s No .
5 Louisville Cardinals .
Hailey Van Lith and Kianna Smith each scored 21 points in the highest-scoring game in Louisville history , a 116-75 romp over No .
20 DePaul on Friday night in the Jimmy V Classic .
The Cardinals ( 3-0 ) surpassed the 115 points they scored against Murray State in 2017 , reaching that point total with 3:53 left in the game that wasn ’ t finalized until earlier this week .
“ The pace of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we like to get up and down the floor trying to play as fast as we can , ” Walz said .
“ That ’ s how DePaul plays .
They have a style of play and they are going to press the entire game .
We did a really nice job looking for our teammates and making easy opportunities and made shots.
” Louisville was supposed to play UConn at Mohegan Sun in this game , but the Huskies have been on pause because of a positive COVID-19 test .
DePaul was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season Friday against Villanova .
The Wildcats agreed to move that game so the Blue Demons could play the Cardinals .
“ The victory on the whole night was being able to play the game , ” Walz said .
“ Give a huge shoutout to Doug ( Bruno ) , DePaul and his program when he saw this was possibly a game that was needed .
Got to give the Big East a lot of credit to make this happen .
They had to move some games .
… There was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play this game.
” Louisville led 30-24 after one quarter before opening the second period with a 25-6 run to blow it open .
Van Lith , a freshman , had nine points during the game-changing spurt .
The Cardinals led 61-37 at the half .
They extended the advantage to 101-50 after three quarters , crossing the century mark in the final seconds of the third .
DePaul ( 1-2 ) came into the game averaging 109.5 points , but couldn ’ t come close to matching that against the Cardinals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Demons struggles was its lack of success behind the 3-point arc .
The Blue Demons came into the game hitting 14 3-pointers a game .
They missed their first 14 attempts from behind the arc against Louisville before Dee Bekelja made one with 52 seconds left in the half .
Freshman Darrione Rogers scored 25 points to lead DePaul , which finished 4 or 27 from behind the arc .
Despite their struggles from 3 , one positive for the Blue Demons was that they took 37 free throws , making 25 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter and that ’ s all , ” DePaul coach Doug Bruno said .
“ We didn ’ t defend , we didn ’ t rebound and had no offensive patience whatsoever .
We were putting a square peg into a round hole all night and it turned into a disaster .
The former Big East foes foes have played 33 times , with DePaul holding a 17-16 edge .
The last meeting before Friday came in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016 - a win by the Blue Demons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kneeling during the national anthem while Louisville opted to be in the back off the court .
DePaul didn ’ t wear masks while playing for the first time this season .
Coach Doug Bruno said his team wore masks on the court at the advice of the school ’ s medical staff to help potentially lessen the chance of catching the coronavirus .
His team has worn masks in every practice since Aug. 7 .
The Blue Demons did warm up in them .
While the Cardinals have played three games now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canceled by the coronavirus .
Louisville was supposed to play games against Middle Tennessee , Cincinnati and UConn .
Those were all lost because of the virus .
Walz has taken to Twitter to find games as well as forming a group text with about 25 coaches to try and schedule games at the last minute if the need arises .
Bruno and Walz donated $ 50 apiece for each 3-pointer made and each assist in the game .
Couple that with the $ 50 that ESPN announcers Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 and $ 5,100 was raised from the game .
The women ’ s classic debuted in 2002 .
Louisville : hosts UT Martin on Sunday before beginning ACC play Wednesday at Duke .
For more women ’ s basketball stories : https : //apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https : //twitter.com/AP_Top25

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - It was a record-setting performance for Jeff Walz’s No. 5 Louisville Cardinals.
Hailey Van Lith and Kianna Smith each scored 21 points in the highest-scoring game in Louisville history, a 116-75 romp over No. 20 DePaul on Friday night in the Jimmy V Classic.
The Cardinals (3-0) surpassed the 115 points they scored against Murray State in 2017, reaching that point total with 3:53 left in the game that wasn’t finalized until earlier this week.
“The pace of the game was something that we like. we like to get up and down the floor trying to play as fast as we can,” Walz said. “That’s how DePaul plays. They have a style of play and they are going to press the entire game. We did a really nice job looking for our teammates and making easy opportunities and made shots.”
Louisville was supposed to play UConn at Mohegan Sun in this game, but the Huskies have been on pause because of a positive COVID-19 test. DePaul was originally going to open its Big East season Friday against Villanova. The Wildcats agreed to move that game so the Blue Demons could play the Cardinals.
“The victory on the whole night was being able to play the game,” Walz said. “Give a huge shoutout to Doug (Bruno), DePaul and his program when he saw this was possibly a game that was needed. Got to give the Big East a lot of credit to make this happen. They had to move some games. … There was a lot of work that went in to play this game.”
Louisville led 30-24 after one quarter before opening the second period with a 25-6 run to blow it open. Van Lith, a freshman, had nine points during the game-changing spurt. The Cardinals led 61-37 at the half.
They extended the advantage to 101-50 after three quarters, crossing the century mark in the final seconds of the third.
DePaul (1-2) came into the game averaging 109.5 points, but couldn’t come close to matching that against the Cardinals. Part of the reason for the Blue Demons struggles was its lack of success behind the 3-point arc. The Blue Demons came into the game hitting 14 3-pointers a game.
They missed their first 14 attempts from behind the arc against Louisville before Dee Bekelja made one with 52 seconds left in the half.
Freshman Darrione Rogers scored 25 points to lead DePaul, which finished 4 or 27 from behind the arc. Despite their struggles from 3, one positive for the Blue Demons was that they took 37 free throws, making 25 of them.
“We hung for a quarter and that’s all,” DePaul coach Doug Bruno said. “We didn’t defend, we didn’t rebound and had no offensive patience whatsoever. We were putting a square peg into a round hole all night and it turned into a disaster.
TIP-INS
The former Big East foes foes have played 33 times, with DePaul holding a 17-16 edge. The last meeting before Friday came in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016 - a win by the Blue Demons. … DePaul had a few players kneeling during the national anthem while Louisville opted to be in the back off the court.
MASKLESS WONDERS
DePaul didn’t wear masks while playing for the first time this season. Coach Doug Bruno said his team wore masks on the court at the advice of the school’s medical staff to help potentially lessen the chance of catching the coronavirus. His team has worn masks in every practice since Aug. 7. The Blue Demons did warm up in them.
SCHEDULING CHAOS
While the Cardinals have played three games now, they’ve had four games canceled by the coronavirus. Louisville was supposed to play games against Middle Tennessee, Cincinnati and UConn. Those were all lost because of the virus. Walz has taken to Twitter to find games as well as forming a group text with about 25 coaches to try and schedule games at the last minute if the need arises.
RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY
Bruno and Walz donated $50 apiece for each 3-pointer made and each assist in the game. Couple that with the $50 that ESPN announcers Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco pledged to the V Foundation for every 3 and $5,100 was raised from the game. The women’s classic debuted in 2002.
UP NEXT
Louisville: hosts UT Martin on Sunday before beginning ACC play Wednesday at Duke.
DePaul: hosts Xavier on Sunday to open Big East play.
___
Follow Doug Feinberg on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dougfeinberg
___
For more women’s basketball stories: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Bill to criminalize doping schemes signed into law

A bill that will criminalize international doping conspiracies became law Friday with President Donald Trump ’ s signature , closing out a two-year legislative process during which the only true opposition to the bill came from outside the United States .
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act had earlier passed both houses of Congress on voice votes .
It passed despite lobbying efforts from the World Anti-Doping Agency , which said it will “ disrupt the global legal anti-doping framework.
” The bill is designed to allow U.S. prosecutors to go after doping schemes at international events in which Americans are involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is named after Grigory Rodchenkov , the former Moscow lab director who helped uncover widespread cheating directed by the Russian government to help the country ’ s athletes at the Sochi Olympics and other major events .
It was the response to the Russian scandal from WADA , the IOC and other international sports federations that led the U.S. to pursue the law .
Representatives from the U.S. drug-control office bristled at WADA ’ s efforts to lobby for extensive changes in the bill .
Rodchenkov ’ s attorney , Jim Walden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Justice a powerful and unique set of tools to eradicate doping fraud and related criminal activities from international competitions.
” The law is in line with others that have helped U.S. authorities crack down on international corruption in different areas .
It calls for fines of up to $ 1 million and prison sentences of up to 10 years for those who participate in schemes designed to influence international sports competitions through doping .
It is not designed to go after individual athletes .
Among WADA ’ s concerns is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider similar legislation that could undermine the harmonization of the global anti-doping rules .

A bill that will criminalize international doping conspiracies became law Friday with President Donald Trump’s signature, closing out a two-year legislative process during which the only true opposition to the bill came from outside the United States.
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act had earlier passed both houses of Congress on voice votes. It passed despite lobbying efforts from the World Anti-Doping Agency, which said it will “disrupt the global legal anti-doping framework.”
The bill is designed to allow U.S. prosecutors to go after doping schemes at international events in which Americans are involved as athletes, sponsors or broadcasters. It is named after Grigory Rodchenkov, the former Moscow lab director who helped uncover widespread cheating directed by the Russian government to help the country’s athletes at the Sochi Olympics and other major events.
It was the response to the Russian scandal from WADA, the IOC and other international sports federations that led the U.S. to pursue the law. Representatives from the U.S. drug-control office bristled at WADA’s efforts to lobby for extensive changes in the bill.
Rodchenkov’s attorney, Jim Walden, said the law gives “the Department of Justice a powerful and unique set of tools to eradicate doping fraud and related criminal activities from international competitions.”
The law is in line with others that have helped U.S. authorities crack down on international corruption in different areas. It calls for fines of up to $1 million and prison sentences of up to 10 years for those who participate in schemes designed to influence international sports competitions through doping.
It is not designed to go after individual athletes.
Among WADA’s concerns is that this law will tempt other countries to consider similar legislation that could undermine the harmonization of the global anti-doping rules.


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Man sentenced for kidnapping, killing 17-year-old girl

RIVERSIDE , Calif. ( AP ) - A Southern California man was sentenced to death Friday for kidnapping and killing a 17-year-old girl as she walked from school .
Jesse Perez Torres , 34 , was sentenced for the July 2010 abduction and murder of Norma Lopez , the Riverside County district attorney ’ s office said .
“ The killing of Norma Lopez and the dumping of her body like a piece of garbage can only be described as disgusting , ” Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard J. Schwartz said before sentencing Torres , according to the Riverside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utter disregard for human life and is a threat to society.
” The teen was walking from summer school in Moreno Valley , east of Los Angeles , to a friend ’ s house when she was abducted , authorities said .
Her body was found five days later in a dirt field a few miles away , the DA ’ s office said .
Torres , who lives in the neighborhood where the kidnapping occurred , was charged with the killing in 2011 after DNA evidence from the girl ’ s broken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a domestic violence arrest , the Press-Enterprise said .
He was convicted in March of first-degree murder with special circumstances that the crime occurred during a kidnapping .
A letter from the teen ’ s mother was read at the sentencing hearing by Lopez ‘ s sister , the DA ’ s office said .
“ I took Norma to school that day not knowing it was the last time I will ever see her again , ” the letter said .
“ That ’ s the day this nightmare started .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with pain and sadness .
”

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - A Southern California man was sentenced to death Friday for kidnapping and killing a 17-year-old girl as she walked from school.
Jesse Perez Torres, 34, was sentenced for the July 2010 abduction and murder of Norma Lopez, the Riverside County district attorney’s office said.
“The killing of Norma Lopez and the dumping of her body like a piece of garbage can only be described as disgusting,” Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard J. Schwartz said before sentencing Torres, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise. “The defendant displays an utter disregard for human life and is a threat to society.”
The teen was walking from summer school in Moreno Valley, east of Los Angeles, to a friend’s house when she was abducted, authorities said. Her body was found five days later in a dirt field a few miles away, the DA’s office said.
Torres, who lives in the neighborhood where the kidnapping occurred, was charged with the killing in 2011 after DNA evidence from the girl’s broken earring matched a sample taken from Torres after a domestic violence arrest, the Press-Enterprise said.
He was convicted in March of first-degree murder with special circumstances that the crime occurred during a kidnapping.
A letter from the teen’s mother was read at the sentencing hearing by Lopez’s sister, the DA’s office said.
“I took Norma to school that day not knowing it was the last time I will ever see her again,” the letter said. “That’s the day this nightmare started. Without Norma, my house was filled with pain and sadness.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-04--Treatment underway for rare sea turtles from ocean cold snap

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) - A group of 30 endangered sea turtles are being treated for hypothermia and pneumonia in Louisiana after a sudden cold spell nearly froze them in New England waters , caretakers say .
The Audubon Nature Institute ’ s Coastal Wildlife Network announced this week that it took in the reptiles at a New Orleans rehabilitation facility after they were brought on a rough ride from Massachusetts .
The rare Kemp ’ s ridley sea turtles , considered among the world ’ s most endangered sea turtles , were swimming off the Massachusetts coast before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winds sickened hundreds of them in what experts called a “ massive cold-stunning event , ” according to the organization .
Nearly killed by falling ocean temperatures , many of the turtles have since been moved to wildlife centers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts .
“ When these cold snaps happen , the turtles can go into shock , ” The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate quoted Gabriella Harlamert , a rehabilitation coordinator , as saying .
“ Their organs shut down one by one.
” She added that all of the turtles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition before being loaded onto a plane and then a van for their journey from New England .
They have since been receiving around-the-clock care .
Many of the turtles were swimming in a tank as of Wednesday and nine others were showing promising signs , rescuers said .
Three remained in what Harlamert described as “ super critical condition.
” The turtles washed up near Cape Cod , Massachusetts , last month after having been held up from migrating to warmer waters before temperatures dropped , the Audubon Nature Institute said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be released into the Gulf of Mexico this winter following rehabilitation , though the ones in need of more care may not be released until March , experts said .
Kemp ’ s ridley turtles are the smallest sea turtles in the world , growing to a little over 2 feet ( .6 meters ) .
They are found in the Atlantic as far north as Nova Scotia but are seen most often in the Gulf of Mexico .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A group of 30 endangered sea turtles are being treated for hypothermia and pneumonia in Louisiana after a sudden cold spell nearly froze them in New England waters, caretakers say.
The Audubon Nature Institute’s Coastal Wildlife Network announced this week that it took in the reptiles at a New Orleans rehabilitation facility after they were brought on a rough ride from Massachusetts.
The rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, considered among the world’s most endangered sea turtles, were swimming off the Massachusetts coast before Thanksgiving when the cold snap and high winds sickened hundreds of them in what experts called a “massive cold-stunning event,” according to the organization.
Nearly killed by falling ocean temperatures, many of the turtles have since been moved to wildlife centers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
“When these cold snaps happen, the turtles can go into shock,” The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate quoted Gabriella Harlamert, a rehabilitation coordinator, as saying. “Their organs shut down one by one.”
She added that all of the turtles bound for New Orleans were in critical condition before being loaded onto a plane and then a van for their journey from New England. They have since been receiving around-the-clock care.
Many of the turtles were swimming in a tank as of Wednesday and nine others were showing promising signs, rescuers said. Three remained in what Harlamert described as “super critical condition.”
The turtles washed up near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, last month after having been held up from migrating to warmer waters before temperatures dropped, the Audubon Nature Institute said in a statement.
Most of the turtles could be released into the Gulf of Mexico this winter following rehabilitation, though the ones in need of more care may not be released until March, experts said.
Kemp’s ridley turtles are the smallest sea turtles in the world, growing to a little over 2 feet (.6 meters). They are found in the Atlantic as far north as Nova Scotia but are seen most often in the Gulf of Mexico.