washingtontimes--2020-11-19--The Latest: German hockey league to resume next month

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : The German hockey league will resume play next month for the first time since March .
The 2020-21 season will begin on Dec. 17 with the 14 clubs split into a pair of seven-team regional groups and playing fewer games than normal .
The playoffs will be best-of-three games rather than best-of-seven .
The start of the new season was delayed twice as clubs faced an uncertain financial future while playing in empty arenas .
The league says clubs have received assurances of financial help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play last season on March 10 and no champion was named .
German soccer club Hoffenheim says it tried to move its match against Stuttgart from Saturday to Sunday because of coronavirus cases but its request was refused .
Seven Hoffenheim players have tested positive for the virus in the last two weeks .
The club hoped that the delay would allow more players to end their quarantine periods or regain fitness in training .
Hoffenheim sports director Alexander Rosen says the league rejected the application and “ we accept the decision but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13th place in the Bundesliga and Stuttgart is in eighth .

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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Lou Holtz has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The 83-year-old former college football coach confirmed the test Thursday to Columbia, South Carolina, TV station WOLO.
“I don’t have a lot of energy right now,” Holtz told the ABC station.
Holtz led Notre Dame to the 1988 national title in a Hall of Fame career. He has worked for ESPN and campaigned for President Donald Trump. Holtz is set to receiver the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump.
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The San Francisco 49ers have placed two more players on the COVID-19 list.
Offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu and linebacker Joe Walker were added to the list Thursday. The team has placed four players on the list this week.
Defensive lineman Arik Armstead went on Monday following a positive test for the novel coronavirus. Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was added Wednesday and Grasu and Walker went on a day later.
The list is used for players who either test positive for COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has been infected.
The Niners have a bye this week.
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DePaul men’s basketball is pausing all team activities following positive COVID-19 test results, and the first three games of the season are being canceled.
The test results were in the team’s Tier 1 group, which includes athletes, athletic trainers, physical therapists, medical staff, equipment staff and officials. For reasons of medical privacy, the school will not identify anybody who tests positive.
Coach Dave Leitao said the team will return to practice and competition after completing all mandated protocols and procedures.
DePaul and Big East foes Seton Hall, Marquette, and UConn have been forced to pause activities because of positive COVID-19 test results.
The cancellations include games scheduled for Nov. 25, Nov. 28 and Dec. 1.
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UAlbany men’s basketball has canceled its season-opener at home against Marist, and the Great Danes won’t participate in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun in December.
The Great Danes have not practiced since Nov. 2, after a pooled test returned a presumptive positive within the team. A surge in cases within the university community initiated the protocols for a full pause in line with state guidelines. That began Nov. 10.
The season opener was originally scheduled for Nov. 28 and the Great Danes were scheduled to play Drexel and Quinnipiac in the tournament.
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Pittsburgh’s pandemic-delayed game at Georgia Tech now will be played on Thursday night, Dec. 10.
The game, originally scheduled for Nov. 14, was postponed due to problems in both programs with positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. The game was rescheduled for Dec. 12 before being pushed back two days.
Georgia Tech is off this week after its game at Miami scheduled for Saturday was pushed back to Dec. 19 due to COVID-19 problems in the Miami program.
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The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Saint John Sea Dogs have suspended in-person activities after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
The Sea Dogs are the fifth team in the league to announce a positive test. The league says the team’s next five games will be postponed.
The Cape Breton Eagles, who faced the Sea Dogs on Wednesday night, will not play again until public health officials conclude an investigation.
The QMJHL league is the only Canadian major junior league to start play this season. The Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League have said they plan to begin their seasons in the new year.
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A jockey based at Woodbine Racetrack on the outskirts of Toronto has tested positive for COVID-19.
Woodbine Entertainment made the announcement Thursday but didn’t identify the jockey.
The track’s COVID-19 prevention protocols do not allow access to Woodbine for at least 14 days while self-quarantining. The jockey will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before being allowed to resume racing.
The organization said contact tracing has been performed and individuals who were in close contact with the jockey are being notified. Those individuals, including at least one other rider, will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test prior to being permitted to enter the facility.
Woodbine Entertainment said the case of COVID-19 was contracted outside the racetrack. The organization added that the jockey room and other common areas received thorough electrostatic disinfection Saturday, which is the last day the facility hosted live racing.
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The German hockey league will resume play next month for the first time since March.
The 2020-21 season will begin on Dec. 17 with the 14 clubs split into a pair of seven-team regional groups and playing fewer games than normal. The playoffs will be best-of-three games rather than best-of-seven.
The start of the new season was delayed twice as clubs faced an uncertain financial future while playing in empty arenas. The league says clubs have received assurances of financial help from German politicians.
The league suspended play last season on March 10 and no champion was named.
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German soccer club Hoffenheim says it tried to move its match against Stuttgart from Saturday to Sunday because of coronavirus cases but its request was refused.
Seven Hoffenheim players have tested positive for the virus in the last two weeks. The club hoped that the delay would allow more players to end their quarantine periods or regain fitness in training.
Hoffenheim sports director Alexander Rosen says the league rejected the application and “we accept the decision but we regret it.”
Hoffenheim is in 13th place in the Bundesliga and Stuttgart is in eighth.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Federal Way woman sentenced in aircraft fraud scheme

SEATTLE ( AP ) - A Federal Way woman who falsified documents in a fraud scheme designed to steal and sell aircraft was sentenced in federal court to four years , three months in prison , according to prosecutors .
Michelle Renee Hughes , 43 , pleaded guilty to mail fraud and identity theft in April and was sentenced Thursday by Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez , who warned her that she faces more prison time if she doesn ’ t change her behavior .
“ This defendant has pursued identity theft and fraud crimes for more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moran .
“ These are not victimless crimes-real people have to sort out the damage done to their credit and financial life .
In this case victims ’ sense of health and well-being and their ability to help others was derailed by this brazen fraud scheme.
” According to court documents , Hughes sent forged bills of sale and falsely changed aircraft registrations in a public Federal Aviation Administration database .
She made it look like she had bought the aircraft and then tried to sell them .
She would try to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The true owners of the aircraft incurred legal fees and stress trying to get the clear title to their planes restored .
Martinez ordered Hughes to complete three years of supervised release after serving her prison term and pay one of her victims more than $ 11,000 in compensation .

SEATTLE (AP) - A Federal Way woman who falsified documents in a fraud scheme designed to steal and sell aircraft was sentenced in federal court to four years, three months in prison, according to prosecutors.
Michelle Renee Hughes, 43, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and identity theft in April and was sentenced Thursday by Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez, who warned her that she faces more prison time if she doesn’t change her behavior.
“This defendant has pursued identity theft and fraud crimes for more than a decade,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. “These are not victimless crimes-real people have to sort out the damage done to their credit and financial life. In this case victims’ sense of health and well-being and their ability to help others was derailed by this brazen fraud scheme.”
According to court documents, Hughes sent forged bills of sale and falsely changed aircraft registrations in a public Federal Aviation Administration database. She made it look like she had bought the aircraft and then tried to sell them. She would try to get payments from unsuspecting buyers, documents said.
The true owners of the aircraft incurred legal fees and stress trying to get the clear title to their planes restored.
Martinez ordered Hughes to complete three years of supervised release after serving her prison term and pay one of her victims more than $11,000 in compensation.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--FIFA bans Haitian soccer president for life for sexual abuse

GENEVA ( AP ) - Haitian soccer federation president Yves Jean-Bart was banned from the sport for life on Friday following accusations of systematic sexual abuse of female players .
The FIFA ethics committee found Jean-Bart guilty of “ having abused his position and sexually harassed and abused various female players , including minors ” from 2014 until this year .
He was also fined 1 million Swiss francs ( $ 1.1 million ) .
Jean-Bart has denied the allegations , which involve national team players .
The accusations were first revealed by British newspaper The Guardian in April .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court of Arbitration for Sport , a spokesman for Jean-Bart said in a statement .
“ FIFA ’ s decision is a travesty of justice and purely political move to avoid further controversy and bad press following a series of high-profile scandals , ” spokesman Evan Nierman said .
The abuse is said to have happened at the country ’ s national training center at Croix-des-Bouquets , which FIFA helped fund .
It was known as “ The Ranch.
” As the head of Haitian soccer since 2000 , Jean-Bart “ wielded huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government , political , and legal systems , ” Human Rights Watch said .
Haitian state authorities have been urged by the advocacy group to investigate the allegations and protect the players , who also said they were intimidated and threatened .
“ This is not a case of one bad apple , ” Human Rights Watch global initiatives director Minky Worden said ahead of the FIFA verdict .
“ Athletes have testified that many other officials in the Haitian Football Federation - officials responsible for their safety - either participated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blind eye.
” Three more Haitian federation officials have been suspended from work while FIFA investigators gather evidence , technical director Wilner Etienne , national center girls ’ supervisor Nela Joseph , and assistant coach Yvette Félix .
Federation officials are accused of being “ principals , accomplices or instigators ” in the systematic abuse , FIFA said Friday .
Jean-Bart had been “ actually investigated and cleared ” by the judicial system in Haiti , his spokesman said .
“ FIFA failed to review actual evidence which is why Dr. Jean-Bart expects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport , ” Nierman said .
Since the allegations were revealed , FIFA has pledged to work on safeguarding players in an agreement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime .

GENEVA (AP) - Haitian soccer federation president Yves Jean-Bart was banned from the sport for life on Friday following accusations of systematic sexual abuse of female players.
The FIFA ethics committee found Jean-Bart guilty of “having abused his position and sexually harassed and abused various female players, including minors” from 2014 until this year.
The 73-year-old official was also fined 1 million Swiss francs ($1.1 million).
Jean-Bart has denied the allegations, which involve national team players, including minors. The local Haitian judicial system so far has refused to file charges, with a judge declaring last week there is no evidence.
The accusations were first revealed by British newspaper The Guardian in April.
Haiti follows Afghanistan in having its long-time soccer leader expelled from the sport by FIFA after players in the women’s national teams alleged widespread sexual abuse.
An appeal will be filed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a spokesman for Jean-Bart said in a statement.
“FIFA’s decision is a travesty of justice and purely political move to avoid further controversy and bad press following a series of high-profile scandals,” spokesman Evan Nierman said.
The abuse is said to have happened at the country’s national training center at Croix-des-Bouquets, which FIFA helped fund. It was known as “The Ranch.”
As the head of Haitian soccer since 2000, Jean-Bart “wielded huge power … and has high-level connections into the government, political and legal systems,” Human Rights Watch said.
Haitian state authorities have been urged by the advocacy group to investigate the allegations and protect the players, who also said they were intimidated and threatened.
“This is not a case of one bad apple,” Human Rights Watch global initiatives director Minky Worden said ahead of the FIFA verdict. “Athletes have testified that many other officials in the Haitian Football Federation - officials responsible for their safety - either participated in sexual abuse or knew and turned a blind eye.”
Three other Haitian federation officials have been suspended from work while FIFA investigators gather evidence: technical director Wilner Etienne, national center girls’ supervisor Nela Joseph and assistant coach Yvette Félix.
FIFA said Friday that federation officials are accused of being “principals, accomplices or instigators” in the systematic abuse.
World players’ union FIFPro praised “the extraordinary courage of the survivors, victims and witnesses.”
The union said Haitian soccer officials misused their power “to lure in young children, often from impoverished backgrounds, so they could groom, manipulate as well as sexually and emotionally abuse them.”
Jean-Bart had been “actually investigated and cleared” by the judicial system in Haiti, his spokesman said.
“FIFA failed to review actual evidence, which is why Dr. Jean-Bart expects to be fully exonerated and reinstated after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” Nierman said.
In the appeal case of Afghan soccer official Keramuddin Karim, CAS upheld FIFA’s punishment and said: “With his appalling acts, he had destroyed not only their careers, but severely damaged their lives.”
Last week, an investigative judge in Haiti ruled that authorities found no evidence to press charges against Jean-Bart despite the allegations.
In the Nov. 12 ruling made public this week, the judge noted that the government’s investigation included visits to the national training center and interviews with certain players. He wrote that none of the accusers identified any victims and that human rights organizations “shined for their absence” when asked to meet with officials as part of the investigation. He did not identify those organizations.
Marie-Yolène Gilles, executive director of the human rights group Fondasyon Je Kler, told The Associated Press that she was disappointed in the ruling and disagreed with it.
“If you have money, you’re able to get justice,” she said.
Justice officials in Croix-des-Bouquets could not be immediately reached for comment.
Gilles said victims have the right to appeal the ruling, but it wasn’t known yet if they planned to do so.
Since the allegations were revealed, FIFA has pledged to work on safeguarding players in an agreement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
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Associated Press journalist Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, contributed to this report.
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Probed for discriminatory comment, Florida sergeant resigns

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. ( AP ) - A detention sergeant in Florida has resigned as he was probed on accusations he said he did not “ want any more Black females ” in a training division .
The Pinellas County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a release Thursday that Sgt .
Richard Nascimento Jr. , 53 , chose to resign a day before the matter was heard by the Administrative Review Board .
The law enforcement agency said Thursday in a news release that Sheriff Bob Gualtieri would have fired Nascimento later that day during the official meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtained “ establishing Nascimiento ’ s racial and gender-based discriminatory remarks.
” The sheriff ’ s office says Nascimiento was in his office speaking with another supervisor regarding the selection of deputies for the training division back in August .
When he stated that he did not want any more Black women in the division , the only Black female deputy assigned to it happened to walk into the room and heard him .
The incident went unreported until late October , when Nascimiento was placed on administrative leave .
He resigned Wednesday @

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - A detention sergeant in Florida has resigned as he was probed on accusations he said he did not “want any more Black females” in a training division.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in a release Thursday that Sgt. Richard Nascimento Jr., 53, chose to resign a day before the matter was heard by the Administrative Review Board.
The law enforcement agency said Thursday in a news release that Sheriff Bob Gualtieri would have fired Nascimento later that day during the official meeting with the board based on the evidence obtained “establishing Nascimiento’s racial and gender-based discriminatory remarks.”
The sheriff’s office says Nascimiento was in his office speaking with another supervisor regarding the selection of deputies for the training division back in August. When he stated that he did not want any more Black women in the division, the only Black female deputy assigned to it happened to walk into the room and heard him.
The incident went unreported until late October, when Nascimiento was placed on administrative leave. He resigned Wednesday.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Mayor vetoes bills giving hospitality workers job protection

Baltimore ’ s mayor has vetoed two bills that would have required hospitality businesses to rehire laid-off workers in the city once they reopen and hotels to retain staff if their owners change .
The Baltimore City Council approved both bills by wide margins amid pushback from the hotel industry , but Mayor Bernard C. “ Jack ” Young called the bills government overreach when they got to his desk this week , The Baltimore Sun reported .
“ While I appreciate the intent of this bill and agree that the city needs to continue doing everything it can to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , I can not in good conscience sign this particular piece of legislation which overreaches the authority of the Council and of City Government , ” Young wrote in his veto letter .
The legislations were supported by Unite Here , a union that represents workers in the hospitality industry .
Roxie Herbekian , Unite Here ’ s Local 7 president , said in a statement that Young ’ s claims “ that the legislation oversteps the law is bogus.
” “ It is more than disappointing that outgoing Mayor Young has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hospitality workers who are out of work through no fault of their own , ” she said .

BALTIMORE (AP) -
Baltimore’s mayor has vetoed two bills that would have required hospitality businesses to rehire laid-off workers in the city once they reopen and hotels to retain staff if their owners change.
The Baltimore City Council approved both bills by wide margins amid pushback from the hotel industry, but Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young called the bills government overreach when they got to his desk this week, The Baltimore Sun reported.
“While I appreciate the intent of this bill and agree that the city needs to continue doing everything it can to help our service workers weather the COVID-19 pandemic, I cannot in good conscience sign this particular piece of legislation which overreaches the authority of the Council and of City Government,” Young wrote in his veto letter.
The legislations were supported by Unite Here, a union that represents workers in the hospitality industry. Roxie Herbekian, Unite Here’s Local 7 president, said in a statement that Young’s claims “that the legislation oversteps the law is bogus.”
“It is more than disappointing that outgoing Mayor Young has shown such little regard for Baltimore’s hospitality workers who are out of work through no fault of their own,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Man has life-threatening injuries after being shot in Fargo

FARGO , N.D. ( AP ) - A man has life-threatening injuries after being shot in Fargo early Friday morning @ @ @ @ @ Authorities provided few other details about the shooting which happened just after 1 a.m .
@ @ @ @ @ they have detained everyone they believe was involved in the shooting .
Officials said they @ @ @ @ @ Friday .

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A man has life-threatening injuries after being shot in Fargo early Friday morning, according to police.
Authorities provided few other details about the shooting which happened just after 1 a.m. But, police did say they have detained everyone they believe was involved in the shooting.
Officials said they will provide more information later Friday.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Auto detailer gets prison for not paying $1.5M in taxes

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - A Battle Ground , Washington man who ran a Portland , Oregon auto detailing business was sentenced Wednesday to a year in federal prison for a scheme in which he hid his income and evaded paying $ 1.5 million in taxes .
Thomas Rennie , 58 , pleaded guilty to one count of attempted tax evasion , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon ordered Rennie to surrender to prison in late March in an effort to avoid placing him in custody until a time when the coronavirus pandemic is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is available .
He also was ordered to pay $ 1.5 million in restitution .
Rennie owned and operated the Autobella detailing business for over 28 years .
He avoided paying taxes from 2005 through 2017 and also lied on a bankruptcy petition in an attempt to hide his income and assets , according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire Fay .
He evaded paying personal , corporate and employment taxes , the prosecutor said .
Rennie in court said he felt shame for his actions .
“ Please know I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions , ” he told the judge .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Battle Ground, Washington man who ran a Portland, Oregon auto detailing business was sentenced Wednesday to a year in federal prison for a scheme in which he hid his income and evaded paying $1.5 million in taxes.
Thomas Rennie, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted tax evasion, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon ordered Rennie to surrender to prison in late March in an effort to avoid placing him in custody until a time when the coronavirus pandemic is expected to be less severe or a vaccine is available. He also was ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution.
Rennie owned and operated the Autobella detailing business for over 28 years.
He avoided paying taxes from 2005 through 2017 and also lied on a bankruptcy petition in an attempt to hide his income and assets, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire Fay.
He evaded paying personal, corporate and employment taxes, the prosecutor said.
Rennie in court said he felt shame for his actions.
“Please know I’m very remorseful. I made some bad decisions,” he told the judge.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Police: 4-year-old left on school bus, found 2 hours later

NEWNAN , Ga. ( AP ) - A 4-year-old boy was left on a Georgia school bus Thursday morning and @ @ @ @ @ driver ’ s home , authorities said .
A Jefferson Parkway Elementary pre-kindergarten student had @ @ @ @ @ while students were being dropped off at school , Coweta County School System spokesman Dean @ @ @ @ @ Jackson said the driver of the bus didn ’ t see the boy and eventually @ @ @ @ @ bus outside his home around 7:45 a.m .
The student remained on the bus for @ @ @ @ @ said .
The boy left the bus and walked down the street , where he @ @ @ @ @ construction who called police , officials said .
Jackson said officers brought the student to @ @ @ @ @ called .
Newnan police Deputy Chief Mark Cooper said no charges were filed as there @ @ @ @ @ criminal intent .
Jackson said the driver was placed on administrative leave while the school @ @ @

NEWNAN, Ga. (AP) - A 4-year-old boy was left on a Georgia school bus Thursday morning and ended up outside of the driver’s home, authorities said.
A Jefferson Parkway Elementary pre-kindergarten student had fallen asleep on the bus while students were being dropped off at school, Coweta County School System spokesman Dean Jackson told news outlets.
Jackson said the driver of the bus didn’t see the boy and eventually drove away, parking the bus outside his home around 7:45 a.m. The student remained on the bus for about two hours, Jackson said.
The boy left the bus and walked down the street, where he was later spotted by a construction who called police, officials said.
Jackson said officers brought the student to school and his parents were called.
Newnan police Deputy Chief Mark Cooper said no charges were filed as there wasn’t evidence of criminal intent.
Jackson said the driver was placed on administrative leave while the school system investigates.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--2nd Virginia man convicted in fatal shooting of 9-year-old

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - A jury is recommending 33 years in prison for a Virginia man convicted of murder and other charges for the shooting death of a 9-year-old girl and the wounding of another boy during a cookout in a Richmond park last year .
A Richmond City Circuit Court jury reached the verdict against Jermaine Davis , 23 , Thursday evening following a two day trial , news outlets reported .
The victim , Markiya Dickson , was killed in May 2019 when bullets ripped through the Memorial Day weekend cookout at Carter Jones Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person were also wounded .
Prosecutors said Davis , his younger brother Quinshawn Betts , and a third co-defendent , Jesus Turner , fired in the direction of the children as a fourth shooter fired at them .
The wounded child testified at the trial , saying he was playing tag when he heard what he thought was fireworks .
Before the verdict was reached , Davis told the jury that he felt sorry for Markiya and “ her family for what they had to go through , ” but said he never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ convictions include second degree murder and two counts of malicious wounding .
He is expected to be sentenced in February , but defense attorney Leonard McCall said they are planning an appeal .
Betts , 19 , was convicted of murder and other charges earlier this year , and sentenced to 68 years in prison , with all but 22 years suspended .
Turner is set to face trial in January .

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A jury is recommending 33 years in prison for a Virginia man convicted of murder and other charges for the shooting death of a 9-year-old girl and the wounding of another boy during a cookout in a Richmond park last year.
A Richmond City Circuit Court jury reached the verdict against Jermaine Davis, 23, Thursday evening following a two day trial, news outlets reported. The victim, Markiya Dickson, was killed in May 2019 when bullets ripped through the Memorial Day weekend cookout at Carter Jones Park. An 11-year-old boy and a third person were also wounded.
Prosecutors said Davis, his younger brother Quinshawn Betts, and a third co-defendent, Jesus Turner, fired in the direction of the children as a fourth shooter fired at them.
The wounded child testified at the trial, saying he was playing tag when he heard what he thought was fireworks. Before the verdict was reached, Davis told the jury that he felt sorry for Markiya and “her family for what they had to go through,” but said he never fired a gun that day.
Davis’ convictions include second degree murder and two counts of malicious wounding. He is expected to be sentenced in February, but defense attorney Leonard McCall said they are planning an appeal.
Betts, 19, was convicted of murder and other charges earlier this year, and sentenced to 68 years in prison, with all but 22 years suspended. Turner is set to face trial in January.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Wife, son charged in 2013 death of Twin Cities man

SHAKOPEE , Minn. ( AP ) - The wife and adult son of a Twin Cities area man who disappeared in 2013 have now been charged in his death .
Sixty-two-year-old Connie Herbst and 26-year-old Austin Herbst were arrested Thursday near their New Prague home in the death of Gary Herbst .
A dog found his skull south of Barron , Wisconsin in December 2017 and brought it home to its owner .
Barron County sheriff ’ s deputies found Herbst ’ s skeletal remains soon after .
Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar tells the Star Tribune the son admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was abusive to him and his mother .
Prosecutors allege Gary Herbst was killed in the family ’ s home in Elko New Market in July 2013 .
Hocevar said the body remained in the home until mid-August when the mother and son hauled it out after dark and dumped it in the woods in western Wisconsin .
Hocevar said that he suspects the son threw the gun into a lake east of Butternut , Wisconsin , where his parents were married .
Authorities finally identified the skeletal remains last June and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the wife and son .
It was not immediately clear if they have hired an attorney .

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (AP) - The wife and adult son of a Twin Cities area man who disappeared in 2013 have now been charged in his death.
Sixty-two-year-old Connie Herbst and 26-year-old Austin Herbst were arrested Thursday near their New Prague home in the death of Gary Herbst. A dog found his skull south of Barron, Wisconsin in December 2017 and brought it home to its owner. Barron County sheriff’s deputies found Herbst’s skeletal remains soon after.
Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar tells the Star Tribune the son admitted Thursday to fatally shooting his father because he was abusive to him and his mother.
Prosecutors allege Gary Herbst was killed in the family’s home in Elko New Market in July 2013. Hocevar said the body remained in the home until mid-August when the mother and son hauled it out after dark and dumped it in the woods in western Wisconsin.
Hocevar said that he suspects the son threw the gun into a lake east of Butternut, Wisconsin, where his parents were married.
Authorities finally identified the skeletal remains last June and began gathering evidence that led to charges against the wife and son.
It was not immediately clear if they have hired an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--UK police release man arrested over 1974 pub bombings

LONDON ( AP ) - Police have released a man arrested earlier this week in Northern Ireland in connection with @ @ @ @ @ in a pair of pub bombings in the central England city of Birmingham in 1974 @ @ @ @ @ Friday that they released the 65-year-old after a search of his Belfast home .
The @ @ @ @ @ me assure families of the victims and the people of Birmingham that we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ bombers and bring them to justice , ” Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell said in @ @ @ @ @ followed an inquiry into the bombings last year during which an unidentified Irish Republican Army @ @ @ @ @ said were responsible for the bombings .
A botched police investigation immediately after the bombings @ @ @ @ @ of six people who became known as the Birmingham Six .
They were released in @ @ @ @ @ quashed .

LONDON (AP) - Police have released a man arrested earlier this week in Northern Ireland in connection with the deaths of 21 people in a pair of pub bombings in the central England city of Birmingham in 1974.
West Midlands Police said Friday that they released the 65-year-old after a search of his Belfast home. The investigation continues.
“Let me assure families of the victims and the people of Birmingham that we’re working relentlessly to find the bombers and bring them to justice,” Detective Chief Superintendent Kenny Bell said in a statement.
The arrest followed an inquiry into the bombings last year during which an unidentified Irish Republican Army volunteer named four men he said were responsible for the bombings.
A botched police investigation immediately after the bombings led to the wrongful convictions of six people who became known as the Birmingham Six. They were released in 1991 after their convictions were quashed.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Explosion at gas pipeline in Egypt's Sinai causes fire

CAIRO ( AP ) - An explosion at a natural gas pipeline in Egypt ‘ s restive northern Sinai Peninsula caused a fire but little other damage and there were no casualties , a senior military official said .
Gen. Mohamed Abdel Fadil Shousha , in charge of the northern part of the peninsula , said all the pipeline valves were promptly sealed off to control the fire that erupted after Thursday ’ s blast .
Authorities were still investigating the cause of the explosion , Shousha said .
The Islamic State group posted a statement on its website claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IS militants detonated several explosive devices to damage a pipeline that carries natural gas from Egypt to Israel .
The group offered no proof for its claim .
Egypt has for years been battling an insurgency in northern Sinai that ’ s now led by the IS affiliate .
Fighting intensified in 2013 , after the military overthrew the country ’ s elected but divisive Islamist president , Mohammed Morsi .
Authorities heavily restrict access to northern Sinai , making it difficult to verify claims related to the fighting .
IS has carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent years , mainly targeting members of the security forces and Egypt ’ s Christian minority .

CAIRO (AP) - An explosion at a natural gas pipeline in Egypt’s restive northern Sinai Peninsula caused a fire but little other damage and there were no casualties, a senior military official said.
Gen. Mohamed Abdel Fadil Shousha, in charge of the northern part of the peninsula, said all the pipeline valves were promptly sealed off to control the fire that erupted after Thursday’s blast.
Authorities were still investigating the cause of the explosion, Shousha said.
The Islamic State group posted a statement on its website claiming responsibility for the explosion. It said IS militants detonated several explosive devices to damage a pipeline that carries natural gas from Egypt to Israel. The group offered no proof for its claim.
Egypt has for years been battling an insurgency in northern Sinai that’s now led by the IS affiliate. Fighting intensified in 2013, after the military overthrew the country’s elected but divisive Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi.
Authorities heavily restrict access to northern Sinai, making it difficult to verify claims related to the fighting.
IS has carried out a number of large-scale attacks in recent years, mainly targeting members of the security forces and Egypt’s Christian minority.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Fundraising campaign seeks to reopen Muhammad Ali museum

LOUISVILLE , Ky. ( AP ) - A fundraising campaign has been launched in an effort to raise enough money @ @ @ @ @ museum at Muhammad Ali ’ s childhood home in Louisville , Kentucky .
The nonprofit @ @ @ @ @ is trying to raise $ 5.8 million that would be used to build a welcome @ @ @ @ @ the grounds , creating community programs as well as an endowment , ” WDRB-TV reported @ @ @ @ @ .
Museum officials hope to raise $ 1 million by the end of February and @ @ @ @ @ life of the former heavyweight boxing champion next fall , the release said .
The @ @ @ @ @ , but closed the following year due to financial troubles .
Ali moved into the @ @ @ @ @ he was 5 and lived there for 15 years .

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A fundraising campaign has been launched in an effort to raise enough money to renovate and reopen a museum at Muhammad Ali’s childhood home in Louisville, Kentucky.
The nonprofit Muhammad Ali Childhood Home Museum is trying to raise $5.8 million that would be used to build a welcome center and for “improving the grounds, creating community programs as well as an endowment,” WDRB-TV reported, citing a news release. Museum officials hope to raise $1 million by the end of February and reopen the tribute to the life of the former heavyweight boxing champion next fall, the release said.
The museum opened in May 2016, but closed the following year due to financial troubles.
Ali moved into the home with his family when he was 5 and lived there for 15 years.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Zimbabwe judge ends detention for investigative journalist

HARARE , Zimbabwe ( AP ) - A Zimbabwean judge on Friday ended the 17-day detention of an investigative journalist charged for tweeting about alleged corruption .
Hopewell Chin ’ ono is being charged with obstruction of justice arising from a tweet he made alleging corrupt practices within Zimbabwe ’ s National Prosecuting Authority .
He faces up to a year in jail or a fine if convicted .
He is being held in the harsh Chikurubi prison in the capital , Harare , where he was previously detained for six weeks before being granted bail on a separate charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court judge Tawanda Chitapi said Chin ’ ono should not use his Twitter account “ to defeat or obstruct the course of justice ” as part of the bail conditions on the latest charge .
Chin ’ ono is one of Zimbabwe ’ s most prominent critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa ’ s administration , accusing it of corruption and human rights abuses .
The government denies the charges .
Western embassies , journalists ’ associations and other sympathizers say Chin ’ ono is being targeted for using Twitter to expose government graft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday said it would “ continue to closely monitor the Zimbabwean government ’ s use of the legal system to harass and punish ” the journalist for reporting on corruption .

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - A Zimbabwean judge on Friday ended the 17-day detention of an investigative journalist charged for tweeting about alleged corruption.
Hopewell Chin’ono is being charged with obstruction of justice arising from a tweet he made alleging corrupt practices within Zimbabwe’s National Prosecuting Authority. He faces up to a year in jail or a fine if convicted.
He is being held in the harsh Chikurubi prison in the capital, Harare, where he was previously detained for six weeks before being granted bail on a separate charge of inciting violence in September.
High Court judge Tawanda Chitapi said Chin’ono should not use his Twitter account “to defeat or obstruct the course of justice” as part of the bail conditions on the latest charge.
Chin’ono is one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, accusing it of corruption and human rights abuses. The government denies the charges.
Western embassies, journalists’ associations and other sympathizers say Chin’ono is being targeted for using Twitter to expose government graft.
The U.S embassy in Harare on Friday said it would “continue to closely monitor the Zimbabwean government’s use of the legal system to harass and punish” the journalist for reporting on corruption.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--EU gives upbeat assessment of state of Brexit trade talks

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - The European Union on Friday issued one of its most upbeat assessments of the state of post-Brexit trade negotiations , as the talks face an ever tighter deadline for a deal to enter into force for the start of the new year .
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “ we ’ ve seen in the last days better progress , more movement on important files.
” “ This is good , ” von der Leyen told reporters , in comments that contrast sharply with previous statements over the talks that have dragged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her comment came a day after a member of the EU negotiating team tested positive for the coronavirus , which led to the high-level talks being suspended .
She said that because work on legal texts had made such progress , further discussions by video over the next days could progress too “ since there is now substance where you can go through line by line.
” Over the past few months , the talks have failed to make much headway on some key issues , notably over fishing rights , business regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been made on the question of state aid , ” von der Leyen said , in reference to a key EU demand that the U.K. does not excessively subsidize products that could undercut local EU products .
Despite the upbeat assessment , von der Leyen sought to temper any excessive optimism that may be generated .
“ There are quite some meters to the finish line , ” she said .
“ Indeed , time pressure is high without any question at the moment.
” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations will continue next week , well past the mid-November date previously seen by the two sides as a deadline .
He said talks would continue remotely and resume in person “ as soon as it ’ s safe to do so.
” Davies wouldn ’ t say whether the U.K. side shared von der Leyen ’ s upbeat assessment .
“ We will continue to work hard to reach an agreement and we will continue that work today and next week , ” he said .
Though the U.K. left the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bloc ’ s tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of this year .
A trade deal would ensure there are no tariffs and quotas on trade in goods between the two sides , but there would still be technical costs , partly associated with customs checks and non-tariff barriers on services .
However , a trade deal needs to be sorted out soon given that the EU will need about 4 weeks to vet , translate any agreement into all languages and get the necessary approvals from member states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides would suffer economically from a failure to secure a trade deal , most economists think the British economy would take a greater hit , at least in the near-term , as it is relatively more reliant on trade with the EU than vice versa .
To guard against any failure to get a deal , France and Belgium , two close neighbors of Britain , asked an EU summit Thursday to speed up preparations for a no-deal scenario on Jan. 1 when the sudden change of the end of a transition period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disruptions in commerce and chaos at borders .
The bloc has accused Britain of wanting to retain access to the EU ’ s lucrative markets , much like any EU country , without agreeing to follow its rules .
The EU fears Britain will slash social and environmental standards and pump state money into U.K. industries , becoming a low-regulation economic rival on the bloc ’ s doorstep .
Britain says the EU is making unreasonable demands and is failing to treat it as an independent , sovereign state .

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union on Friday issued one of its most upbeat assessments of the state of post-Brexit trade negotiations, as the talks face an ever tighter deadline for a deal to enter into force for the start of the new year.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “we’ve seen in the last days better progress, more movement on important files.”
“This is good,” von der Leyen told reporters, in comments that contrast sharply with previous statements over the talks that have dragged on with little progress for months.
Her comment came a day after a member of the EU negotiating team tested positive for the coronavirus, which led to the high-level talks being suspended. She said that because work on legal texts had made such progress, further discussions by video over the next days could progress too “since there is now substance where you can go through line by line.”
Over the past few months, the talks have failed to make much headway on some key issues, notably over fishing rights, business regulations and state aid.
“Progress … has been made on the question of state aid,” von der Leyen said, in reference to a key EU demand that the U.K. does not excessively subsidize products that could undercut local EU products.
Despite the upbeat assessment, von der Leyen sought to temper any excessive optimism that may be generated.
“There are quite some meters to the finish line,” she said. “Indeed, time pressure is high without any question at the moment.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman, Jamie Davies, confirmed that negotiations will continue next week, well past the mid-November date previously seen by the two sides as a deadline. He said talks would continue remotely and resume in person “as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
Davies wouldn’t say whether the U.K. side shared von der Leyen’s upbeat assessment. “We will continue to work hard to reach an agreement and we will continue that work today and next week,” he said.
Though the U.K. left the EU on Jan. 31, it remains within the bloc’s tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of this year. A trade deal would ensure there are no tariffs and quotas on trade in goods between the two sides, but there would still be technical costs, partly associated with customs checks and non-tariff barriers on services.
However, a trade deal needs to be sorted out soon given that the EU will need about 4 weeks to vet, translate any agreement into all languages and get the necessary approvals from member states and the European parliament.
Though both sides would suffer economically from a failure to secure a trade deal, most economists think the British economy would take a greater hit, at least in the near-term, as it is relatively more reliant on trade with the EU than vice versa.
To guard against any failure to get a deal, France and Belgium, two close neighbors of Britain, asked an EU summit Thursday to speed up preparations for a no-deal scenario on Jan. 1 when the sudden change of the end of a transition period without a trade deal could cause immediate disruptions in commerce and chaos at borders.
The bloc has accused Britain of wanting to retain access to the EU’s lucrative markets, much like any EU country, without agreeing to follow its rules. The EU fears Britain will slash social and environmental standards and pump state money into U.K. industries, becoming a low-regulation economic rival on the bloc’s doorstep.
Britain says the EU is making unreasonable demands and is failing to treat it as an independent, sovereign state.
____
Lawless reported from London


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Man accused in trooper assault arrested following manhunt

COLLEGEVILLE , Minn. ( AP ) - A man accused of assaulting a state trooper in Stearns County and leading law enforcement officers from 16 agencies on a manhunt has been arrested , according to the Minnesota State Patrol .
The 29-year-old suspect was arrested without resistance about 6:30 p.m. Thursday near Sagatagan Lake on the campus of St. John ’ s University in Collegeville , the St .
Cloud Times reported .
The search for the man began about 7:30 a.m. Thursday after the trooper pulled him over on Interstate 94 on suspicion of drunken driving .
The patrol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man punched the trooper in the face , causing multiple fractures which will require surgery .
As the suspect fled , an officer involved in the pursuit saw the suspect reach his arm out of his vehicle while holding something black in his hand , possibly a firearm , the patrol said .
After fleeing , the suspect robbed an individual and took their clothes , cell phone and car keys , officials said .
Spike strips were used to stop the vehicle and the suspect fled on foot in the area of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents in the area to lock their doors and windows .
The university was also locked down .
According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections , the man has been a fugitive since Oct. 24 , wanted on a weapons charge .

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (AP) - A man accused of assaulting a state trooper in Stearns County and leading law enforcement officers from 16 agencies on a manhunt has been arrested, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The 29-year-old suspect was arrested without resistance about 6:30 p.m. Thursday near Sagatagan Lake on the campus of St. John’s University in Collegeville, the St. Cloud Times reported.
The search for the man began about 7:30 a.m. Thursday after the trooper pulled him over on Interstate 94 on suspicion of drunken driving. The patrol says that after a breath test the man punched the trooper in the face, causing multiple fractures which will require surgery.
As the suspect fled, an officer involved in the pursuit saw the suspect reach his arm out of his vehicle while holding something black in his hand, possibly a firearm, the patrol said.
After fleeing, the suspect robbed an individual and took their clothes, cell phone and car keys, officials said.
Spike strips were used to stop the vehicle and the suspect fled on foot in the area of the university. Law enforcement officials asked residents in the area to lock their doors and windows. The university was also locked down.
According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, the man has been a fugitive since Oct. 24, wanted on a weapons charge.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Pfizer seeking emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine in US

Pfizer said Friday it is asking U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine , starting the clock on a process that could bring limited first shots as early as next month and eventually an end to the pandemic — but not until after a long , hard winter .
The action comes days after Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech announced that its vaccine appears 95 % effective at preventing mild to severe COVID-19 disease in a large , ongoing study .
The companies said that protection plus a good safety record means the vaccine should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Food and Drug Administration can grant before the final testing is fully complete .
In addition to Friday ’ s FDA submission , they have already started “ rolling ” applications in Europe and the U.K. and intend to submit similar information soon .
“ Our work to deliver a safe and effective vaccine has never been more urgent , ” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement .
With the coronavirus surging around the U.S. and the world , the pressure is on for regulators to make a speedy decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top U.S. infectious disease expert said on the eve of Pfizer ’ s announcement , adding that it ’ s too early to abandon masks and other protective measures .
“ We need to actually double down on the public health measures as we ’ re waiting for that help to come.
” Friday ’ s filing would set off a chain of events as the FDA and its independent advisers debate if the shots are ready .
If so , still another government group will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies are rationed out to anxiously awaiting Americans .
How much vaccine is available and when is a moving target , but initial supplies will be scarce and rationed .
Globally , Pfizer has estimated it could have 50 million doses available by year ’ s end .
About 25 million may become available for U.S. use in December , 30 million in January and 35 million more in February and March , according to information presented to the National Academy of Medicine this week .
Recipients will need two doses , three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitor Moderna Inc. ’ s COVID-19 vaccine .
Its early data suggests the shots are as strong as Pfizer ’ s , and that company expects to also seek emergency authorization within weeks .
Here ’ s what happens next : The public ’ s first chance to see how strong the evidence really is will come in early December at a public meeting of the FDA ’ s scientific advisers .
So far , what ’ s known is based only on statements from Pfizer and BioNTech .
Of 170 infections detected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who ’ d received the actual vaccine and the rest had gotten a dummy shot .
On the safety side , the companies cites results from 38,000 study participants who ’ ve been tracked for two months after their second dose .
That ’ s a milestone FDA set because historically , vaccine side effects don ’ t crop up later than that .
“ We ’ ll drill down on these data , ” said FDA adviser Dr. Paul Offit of the Children ’ s Hospital of Philadelphia .
Think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days before the meeting , the FDA will release its own internal analysis .
That sets the stage for the advisers ’ daylong debate about any signs of safety concerns and how the new vaccine technology works before rendering a verdict .
They ’ ll recommend not just whether FDA should allow broader use of the vaccine generally but if so , for whom .
For example , is there enough proof the vaccine works as well for older , sicker adults as for younger , healthier people ?
There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know what that vote ’ s going to be , ” said former FDA vaccine chief Norman Baylor .
EMERGENCY USE ISN ’ T THE SAME AS FULL APPROVAL If there ’ s an emergency green light , “ that vaccine is still deemed investigational .
It ’ s not approved yet , ” Dr. Marion Gruber , chief of FDA ’ s vaccine office , told the National Academy of Medicine this week .
That means anyone offered an emergency vaccination must get a “ fact sheet ” describing potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shot , she said .
There will be a lot of unknowns .
For example , the 95 % protection rate is based on people who developed symptoms and then were tested for the virus .
Can the vaccinated get infected but have no symptoms , able to spread the virus ?
How long does protection last ?
That ’ s why the 44,000-person study needs to keep running — something difficult considering ethically , participants given dummy shots at some point must be offered real vaccine , complicating the search for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pregnant women won ’ t qualify because they weren ’ t studied .
Pfizer only recently began testing the vaccine in children as young as 12 .
A decision on Pfizer ’ s vaccine won ’ t affect other COVID-19 vaccine candidates in the pipeline , which will be judged separately .
Brewing vaccine is more complex than typical drug manufacturing , yet the millionth dose to roll out of Pfizer ’ s Kalamazoo , Michigan , factory must be the same purity and potency as every dose before and after .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t just based on study data , but on its determination that the vaccine is being made correctly .
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — and Moderna ’ s shots — are made with brand-new technology .
They don ’ t contain the actual coronavirus .
Instead , they ’ re made with a piece of genetic code for the “ spike ” protein that studs the virus .
That messenger RNA , or mRNA , instructs the body to make some harmless spike protein , training immune cells to recognize it if the real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group — advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — decides who is first in line for scarce doses .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he hopes that decision can be made at the same time as FDA ’ s .
The Trump administration ’ s Operation Warp Speed has worked with states to line up how many doses they ’ d need to cover the populations offered vaccine first .
Pfizer will ship those supplies as ordered by the states — only after FDA gives the OK. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship each month are just predictions , Baylor warned .
“ It ’ s not like a pizza , ” he said .
Manufacturing is so complex that “ you don ’ t necessarily end up with what you thought.
” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Pfizer said Friday it is asking U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine, starting the clock on a process that could bring limited first shots as early as next month and eventually an end to the pandemic — but not until after a long, hard winter.
The action comes days after Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech announced that its vaccine appears 95% effective at preventing mild to severe COVID-19 disease in a large, ongoing study.
The companies said that protection plus a good safety record means the vaccine should qualify for emergency use authorization, something the Food and Drug Administration can grant before the final testing is fully complete. In addition to Friday’s FDA submission, they have already started “rolling” applications in Europe and the U.K. and intend to submit similar information soon.
“Our work to deliver a safe and effective vaccine has never been more urgent,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.
With the coronavirus surging around the U.S. and the world, the pressure is on for regulators to make a speedy decision.
“Help is on the way,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert said on the eve of Pfizer’s announcement, adding that it’s too early to abandon masks and other protective measures. “We need to actually double down on the public health measures as we’re waiting for that help to come.”
Friday’s filing would set off a chain of events as the FDA and its independent advisers debate if the shots are ready. If so, still another government group will have to decide how the initial limited supplies are rationed out to anxiously awaiting Americans.
How much vaccine is available and when is a moving target, but initial supplies will be scarce and rationed. Globally, Pfizer has estimated it could have 50 million doses available by year’s end.
About 25 million may become available for U.S. use in December, 30 million in January and 35 million more in February and March, according to information presented to the National Academy of Medicine this week. Recipients will need two doses, three weeks apart.
Not far behind is competitor Moderna Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine. Its early data suggests the shots are as strong as Pfizer’s, and that company expects to also seek emergency authorization within weeks.
Here’s what happens next:
MAKING THE DATA PUBLIC
The public’s first chance to see how strong the evidence really is will come in early December at a public meeting of the FDA’s scientific advisers.
So far, what’s known is based only on statements from Pfizer and BioNTech. Of 170 infections detected to date, only eight were among people who’d received the actual vaccine and the rest had gotten a dummy shot. On the safety side, the companies cites results from 38,000 study participants who’ve been tracked for two months after their second dose. That’s a milestone FDA set because historically, vaccine side effects don’t crop up later than that.
“We’ll drill down on these data,” said FDA adviser Dr. Paul Offit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Think of it like science on trial. A few days before the meeting, the FDA will release its own internal analysis. That sets the stage for the advisers’ daylong debate about any signs of safety concerns and how the new vaccine technology works before rendering a verdict.
They’ll recommend not just whether FDA should allow broader use of the vaccine generally but if so, for whom. For example, is there enough proof the vaccine works as well for older, sicker adults as for younger, healthier people?
There’s still no guarantee. “We don’t know what that vote’s going to be,” said former FDA vaccine chief Norman Baylor.
EMERGENCY USE ISN’T THE SAME AS FULL APPROVAL
If there’s an emergency green light, “that vaccine is still deemed investigational. It’s not approved yet,” Dr. Marion Gruber, chief of FDA’s vaccine office, told the National Academy of Medicine this week.
That means anyone offered an emergency vaccination must get a “fact sheet” describing potential benefits and risks before going through with the shot, she said.
There will be a lot of unknowns. For example, the 95% protection rate is based on people who developed symptoms and then were tested for the virus. Can the vaccinated get infected but have no symptoms, able to spread the virus? How long does protection last?
That’s why the 44,000-person study needs to keep running — something difficult considering ethically, participants given dummy shots at some point must be offered real vaccine, complicating the search for answers.
And at least for now, pregnant women won’t qualify because they weren’t studied. Pfizer only recently began testing the vaccine in children as young as 12.
A decision on Pfizer’s vaccine won’t affect other COVID-19 vaccine candidates in the pipeline, which will be judged separately.
MANUFACTURING
Brewing vaccine is more complex than typical drug manufacturing, yet the millionth dose to roll out of Pfizer’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, factory must be the same purity and potency as every dose before and after.
That means the FDA decision isn’t just based on study data, but on its determination that the vaccine is being made correctly.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine — and Moderna’s shots — are made with brand-new technology. They don’t contain the actual coronavirus. Instead, they’re made with a piece of genetic code for the “spike” protein that studs the virus.
That messenger RNA, or mRNA, instructs the body to make some harmless spike protein, training immune cells to recognize it if the real virus eventually comes along.
GETTING INTO PEOPLE’S ARMS
Another government group — advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — decides who is first in line for scarce doses. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he hopes that decision can be made at the same time as FDA’s.
The Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed has worked with states to line up how many doses they’d need to cover the populations offered vaccine first.
Pfizer will ship those supplies as ordered by the states — only after FDA gives the OK.
Company projections of how much it will ship each month are just predictions, Baylor warned.
“It’s not like a pizza,” he said. Manufacturing is so complex that “you don’t necessarily end up with what you thought.”
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Pfizer seeking U.S. emergency use of COVID-19 shot, starting process that could bring some doses as

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Pfizer seeking U.S. emergency use of COVID-19 shot , starting process that could bring @ @ @ @ @ next month .

NEW YORK (AP) - Pfizer seeking U.S. emergency use of COVID-19 shot, starting process that could bring some doses as early as next month.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--UN prepares for up to 200,000 Ethiopian refugees in Sudan

NAIROBI , Kenya ( AP ) - The United Nations refugee agency says about 32,000 people have fled Ethiopia ’ s embattled Tigray region into neighboring Sudan , and it is preparing to take in up to 200,000 in the next six months if necessary .
Axel Bisschop , the agency ’ s representative in Sudan , told reporters that “ nobody at this stage can say exactly how many will come , ” but U.N. officials said fighting continues between Ethiopian government and Tigray regional government forces .
Some of the refugees are arriving with accounts of shelling or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for now authorities are asking mainly “ humanitarian questions ” as they urgently seek to provide services .
The refugees are arriving in a very remote area , and humanitarians must create a crisis response virtually from zero even as up to 5,000 refugees continue to arrive every day .
No one knows when the flow might ease .
“ We have not heard specifics from the fighting , but what definitely is clear is that fighting is ongoing and it is sporadic , you never know where it ’ s going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sudan country representative for the World Food Program .
“ So it is this anticipation and not-knowing which is causing a lot more fear and causing people now to cross.
” He also noted reports that some fighters may have put down their arms and joined the flow of people crossing , which could add to tensions among those who fled .
The UNICEF country representative in Sudan , Abdullah Fadil , said about 45 % of the refugees are children under age 18 .
“ This could unravel Ethiopia and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
“ Soon we will be overwhelmed … if this rate continues.
” While they said they saw no sign of cross-border fighting , they are trying to move the refugees away from the border just in case .
People left in a great hurry , the U.N. officials said , and most arrived in Sudan with nothing .
“ It ’ s a mix of medical doctors , professionals , bankers , to farmers , ” Fadil said .
“ You could tell some people were actually well-off.
” Ethiopia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional forces since a Nov. 4 attack on a military base there .
Each side regards the other as illegal , the result of a falling-out between Nobel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray leaders who once dominated the country ’ s ruling coalition .
With communications to the region severed , no one knows how many people have been killed , and verifying either side ’ s claims is challenging .
“ At this point , neither party , from what we hear , is interested in mediation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Tibor Nagy , told reporters Thursday evening .
Food , fuel and medical supplies are running desperately short in the Tigray region .
Roads are blocked and airports closed .
Alarmed by the potential for disaster in Ethiopia and beyond , 17 U.S. senators urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a letter Thursday to engage Abiy directly to push for an immediate cease-fire .

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The United Nations refugee agency says about 32,000 people have fled Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region into neighboring Sudan, and it is preparing for up to 200,000 in the next six months if necessary.
Axel Bisschop, the agency’s representative in Sudan, told reporters Friday that “nobody at this stage can say exactly how many will come,” as deadly fighting continues between Ethiopian government and Tigray regional government forces.
Another crisis is growing inside the sealed-off Tigray region as food and other supplies run desperately low. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the opening of humanitarian corridors “and the truces that might be necessary for humanitarian aid to be delivered.”
Guterres added: “This is a matter of enormous concern to us.”
The Ethiopian refugees are arriving in a very remote area of Sudan, and humanitarians must create a crisis response virtually from zero even as up to 5,000 refugees continue to arrive every day.
“What definitely is clear is that fighting is ongoing and it is sporadic, you never know where it’s going to happen,” said Hameed Nuru, the Sudan country representative for the World Food Program. “So it is this anticipation and not-knowing which is causing a lot more fear and causing people now to cross.”
He noted reports that some fighters may have put down their arms and joined the flow of people crossing, which could add to tensions.
“This could unravel Ethiopia and also Sudan,” the UNICEF country representative in Sudan, Abdullah Fadil, said of the crisis. “Soon we will be overwhelmed … if this rate continues.”
Children under 18 make up about 45% of the refugees, he said.
In the swelling Um Rakouba refugee camp, Taharsta Mahya and her family members found shelter with a local family.
“We took the baby and ran under the bombs,” Taharsta said. “People were hit by the bombs. We were covered in dust. We made it out, we had no food, we were hungry. People welcomed us here. We had no clothes, people who saw us threw clothes at us.”
Their host, Um Al-Hassan Khamis, confirmed it. “Every day I go to the camp and follow up, if there is someone who needs items, and try to provide them,” she said.
People left Ethiopia in a great hurry, the U.N. officials said, and most arrived in Sudan with nothing. “It’s a mix of medical doctors, professionals, bankers, to farmers,” Fadil said. “You could tell some people were actually well-off.”
Ethiopia’s government has been fighting the Tigray regional forces since a Nov. 4 attack on a military base there. Each side regards the other as illegal, the result of a falling-out between Nobel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray leaders who once dominated the country’s ruling coalition.
The federal government on Friday asserted that its forces had taken control of the towns of Axum and Adwa in the Tigray region and were advancing east on Adigrat. Along the way, the government said, the soldiers “conquered” Shire - a community that humanitarians use as a base for working with nearly 100,000 refugees from neighboring Eritrea.
Now, some of those Eritrean refugees have fled again into Sudan, aid workers said.
With communications to the region severed, no one knows how many people have been killed, and verifying the warring sides’ claims is challenging.
“At this point, neither party, from what we hear, is interested in mediation,” the top U.S. diplomat to Africa, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Tibor Nagy, told reporters Thursday evening.
Alarmed by the potential for disaster in Ethiopia and beyond, 17 U.S. senators urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a letter Thursday to engage Abiy directly to push for an immediate cease-fire.
___
Keaten reported from Geneva. Video journalist Mohaned Awad in Um Rakouba contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Man accused of cutting gas line found dead in jail cell

FREEHOLD , N.J. ( AP ) - A New Jersey man accused of cutting the gas line to a home in Pennsylvania where five family members were sleeping was found dead in his jail cell .
Ryan Elliott , 30 , of Middletown , died early Tuesday , the Monmouth County Sheriff ’ s Office said.. A sheriff ’ s spokeswoman told the Asbury Park Press in an email a guard had checked Elliott and 16 minutes later disocvered him hanging from a bed sheet .
Medical personnel were unable to revive him .
Jail staff followed all “ proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Elliott was awaiting extradition to Chester County , Pennsylvania , where he faced five counts of criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide .
According to the district attorney ’ s office , a West Whiteland Township , Pennsylvania , homeowner told police he awoke to a strong natural gas smell on Nov. 12 .
“ The homeowner checked the basement and found the gas line had been cut , ” the district attorney ’ s office said .
Police said an incendiary device was nearby .
The sheriff ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of procedure even though his death was not considered suspicious .

FREEHOLD, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey man accused of cutting the gas line to a home in Pennsylvania where five family members were sleeping was found dead in his jail cell.
Ryan Elliott, 30, of Middletown, died early Tuesday, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office said..
A sheriff’s spokeswoman told the Asbury Park Press in an email a guard had checked Elliott and 16 minutes later disocvered him hanging from a bed sheet.
Medical personnel were unable to revive him.
Jail staff followed all “proper protocol and procedures,” Cynthia Scott said.
Elliott was awaiting extradition to Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he faced five counts of criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide.
According to the district attorney’s office, a West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania, homeowner told police he awoke to a strong natural gas smell on Nov. 12.
“The homeowner checked the basement and found the gas line had been cut,” the district attorney’s office said.
Police said an incendiary device was nearby.
The sheriff’s office is investigating the incident as a matter of procedure even though his death was not considered suspicious.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Spain in diplomatic push over migrant flow to Canary Islands

MADRID ( AP ) - The Spanish government is ratcheting up its response to the steady build-up of migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands from Africa , including a fresh diplomatic offensive .
The ministers in charge of migration and transportation , José Luis Escrivá and José Luis Ábalos respectively , were on Friday visiting the archipelago , whose nearest island is around 70 miles ( 110 kms ) west of Morocco .
They are set to detail a long-awaited plan of action on how to ensure the islands don ’ t become Europe ’ s next migrant hot spot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence or other circumstances at home have arrived in the archipelago this year , half of them in the past 30 days .
The surge has strained rescue services , police resources , and emergency workers .
Meanwhile , migrants and potential asylum seekers remain stranded in a dock for days and under unfit conditions .
Some 6,000 migrants are being temporarily housed in hotels and tourist apartments that are lying empty because of a lack of visitors as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
Normally at this time of year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular holiday destinations in Europe .
While ministers were in the Canary Islands , Spain ’ s foreign minister , Arancha González-Laya , was due to hold talks with officials from the United Nations migration and refugee bodies in Geneva , ahead of a weekend trip to Senegal .
The west African country has become one of the main points of migrant departures even though it is around 2,500 miles ( 4,000 kms ) away .
Also on Friday , Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska traveled to Morocco to negotiate speedier deportation of Moroccan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked not to be named because he wasn ’ t allowed to discuss Grande-Marlaska ’ s agenda .

MADRID (AP) - The Spanish government is ratcheting up its response to the steady build-up of migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands from Africa, including a fresh diplomatic offensive.
Though the government has come under pressure from local officials to transfer a significant number of migrants and asylum seekers to the Spanish mainland, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Friday that the main focus will be on deporting those who don’t qualify for refugee status or work in Europe.
“We have to fight against irregular migration and prevent the establishment of irregular entry routes into Europe,” the minister said in the Moroccan capital of Rabat following a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, to discuss how to speed up deportations and stem the departure of boats heading to the Canary Islands.
Moroccans have been the most numerous among recent migrant arrivals to the Spanish archipelago, whose nearest islands lie around 70 miles (110 kms) west of the north African nation.
More than 18,000 people fleeing poverty, violence or other circumstances at home have arrived in the islands this year, a 1,000% increase from the same period in 2019, and over 500 have died in the attempt. Around half of those arrivals -and most of the deaths- have been in the past 30 days, a spike that has strained resources on the Canary Islands.
Most of those who survive the perilous Atlantic route to Europe are rescued at sea and transferred to a port in the Gran Canaria island. Around 2,000 have been sleeping in docks for days and even weeks, under Red Cross marquees and often on the hard concrete.
A few hundred have been transferred to a makeshift camp put up by the military in the past couple of days, where the migrants are supposed to spend the 72 first hours under police custody. That is the maximum time the law allows for identification, but testing for coronavirus has often kept them detained for longer, according to human rights groups.
On a visit to the archipelago on Friday, Spain’s migration minister, José Luis Escrivá, said authorities will be building by December a network of emergency camps to host up to 7,000 people in three of the islands.
Some of them will be the 5,500 people currently housed in hotels and tourist apartments that are lying empty because of a lack of visitors as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Normally at this time of year, the islands are one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe.
Spanish Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, also on the island, pledged more resources to the stretched maritime rescue services.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Foreign Minister Arancha González-Laya was due to hold talks with officials from the United Nations migration and refugee bodies in Geneva, ahead of a weekend trip to Senegal. The west African country has become a major point of migrant departures even though it is around 950 miles (1,500 kms) away.
Spain restricts asylum to a number of circumstances and countries of origin. It has bilateral agreements with half a dozen neighboring African countries who under normal circumstances take back those who don’t qualify to stay in Europe. But the number returning has slowed sharply this year during the pandemic, which has led to a series of border closures.
Spain is resisting calls for the migrants to be transferred to the mainland, arguing that it would send a message that the archipelago is a stepping stone into Europe. Its strategy is akin to that being undertaken in Greece, which has opted to keep thousands of migrants in refugee camps on its islands.
The government has also faced criticism for not being better prepared for a surge in migrant numbers given that more than 30,000 arrived in the archipelago in 2006.
The European border agency, Frontex, and the International Organization for Migration have been warning since July of the incremental number of arrivals and a subsequent humanitarian crisis.
The IOM’s Spain envoy, María Jesús Herrera, who was on a field visit in the islands this week, described the situation as “critical.”
“This has been a big warning to all authorities that we need to work with more speed and greater coordination,” Herrera told The Associated Press on Thursday.
She said there was a shortage of police to help identify arrivals, health personnel to perform coronavirus tests, social workers to assist vulnerable people, and lawyers to process asylum applications.
The IOM’s Missing Migrants Project has recorded more than 500 deaths on the route to the Canary Islands, most during October and November, compared to 210 last year, but the organization fears the death toll is a low estimate.
Some 60 people are believed to have died in the latest shipwreck reported Sunday after 66 migrants, including children, arrived in Cape Verde on a damaged boat.
______
Tarik El Barakah in Rabat, Morocco, and Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Hawaii releases plan to strengthen broadband infrastructure

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Hawaii has released a plan on how it will try to strengthen broadband infrastructure across the state .
The 45-page Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan 2020 aims to make broadband services available to as much of the state as possible .
The state Department of Business , Economic Development and Tourism , in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Office of Planning , published the plan , which updates the original Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan that was released in 2012 .
The plan calls on the state to build carrier-neutral cable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lower the cost barrier for fiberoptic cables , the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported .
The document also suggests seeking both federal and private funding to underwrite cable landing stations .
It also calls on support for initiatives that will enable the deployment of small cell and wireless technologies throughout the state .
The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated demands for the state to improve its broadband infrastructure , as widespread stay-at-home orders have forced many people to rely on the internet at home in order to work .
“ Due to the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s competitiveness in the global digital economy , educational exchange and digital competency is reliant on broadband infrastructure , ” state Department of Business , Economic Development and Tourism Director Mike McCartney said in a statement .
“ Hawaii ’ s link to the rest of the world relies on transpacific fiber optic cables .
Broadband is how the internet traffic flows throughout the entire state from interisland fiber , terrestrial fiber , wireless services and rural connectivity .
This will be fundamental for Hawaii ’ s economic diversification and expansion .
@

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii has released a plan on how it will try to strengthen broadband infrastructure across the state.
The 45-page Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan 2020 aims to make broadband services available to as much of the state as possible.
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Office of Planning, published the plan, which updates the original Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan that was released in 2012.
The plan calls on the state to build carrier-neutral cable landing infrastructure on Oahu and neighboring islands to lower the cost barrier for fiberoptic cables, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
The document also suggests seeking both federal and private funding to underwrite cable landing stations. It also calls on support for initiatives that will enable the deployment of small cell and wireless technologies throughout the state.
The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated demands for the state to improve its broadband infrastructure, as widespread stay-at-home orders have forced many people to rely on the internet at home in order to work.
“Due to the pandemic, there is even greater recognition that Hawaii’s competitiveness in the global digital economy, educational exchange and digital competency is reliant on broadband infrastructure,” state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director Mike McCartney said in a statement. “Hawaii’s link to the rest of the world relies on transpacific fiber optic cables. Broadband is how the internet traffic flows throughout the entire state from interisland fiber, terrestrial fiber, wireless services and rural connectivity. This will be fundamental for Hawaii’s economic diversification and expansion.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Anchorage mayor says no new COVID-19 mandates this week

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - The acting mayor of Anchorage said there will be no new mandates related to the coronavirus this week , but left the door open for new orders if virus cases continue to rise .
“ I am not planning to take any action this week , but we are monitoring the situation closely , ” Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson said in a statement Wednesday .
“ We will not allow our hospitals to become overrun.
” The announcement comes as the city and state have experienced a substantial increase in coronavirus cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s chief medical officer , told reporters on Thursday that it is has become difficult for hospitals to provide adequate care to everyone that needs it due to an increasing amount of coronavirus patients .
The state reported its highest number of current hospitalizations with 129 patients on Wednesday , according to the state Department of Health and Social Services .
The acting mayor ’ s statement also followed rumors among the restaurant and hospitality industries that there may be a new set of mandates in Alaska ’ s biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s really unfortunate that something that was a proposed idea was blasted everywhere , ” said Sarah Oates , the president of the Alaska Cabaret , Hotel , Restaurant and Retailers Association .
“ It just created a lot of tension and frustration and terror , really , in the industry.
” The acting mayor urged residents to stay home , wear a mask and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday responsibly .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the virus without feeling sick .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - The acting mayor of Anchorage said there will be no new mandates related to the coronavirus this week, but left the door open for new orders if virus cases continue to rise.
“I am not planning to take any action this week, but we are monitoring the situation closely,” Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson said in a statement Wednesday. “We will not allow our hospitals to become overrun.”
The announcement comes as the city and state have experienced a substantial increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. Dr. Anne Zink, the state’s chief medical officer, told reporters on Thursday that it is has become difficult for hospitals to provide adequate care to everyone that needs it due to an increasing amount of coronavirus patients.
The state reported its highest number of current hospitalizations with 129 patients on Wednesday, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services.
The acting mayor’s statement also followed rumors among the restaurant and hospitality industries that there may be a new set of mandates in Alaska’s biggest city, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
“It’s really unfortunate that something that was a proposed idea was blasted everywhere,” said Sarah Oates, the president of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association. “It just created a lot of tension and frustration and terror, really, in the industry.”
The acting mayor urged residents to stay home, wear a mask and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday responsibly.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--Delaware college to offer inmates pell grants, courses

DOVER , Del .
( AP ) - Delaware inmates will soon get the chance to take college classes through a program that allows prisoners to access to Pell Grants .
Delaware Technical Community College in Dover was recently approved to participate in the Second Chance Pell Experiment program and will begin offering the grants to jailed students in two correctional facilities , the Delaware Department of Corrections said Thursday in a news release .
“ This program will provide greater educational opportunities that create pathways to gainful employment and reduce recidivism , ” said Dr. Mark Brainard , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s clearly aligned with our mission to change our students ’ lives through an inclusive environment that fosters equity and student success.
” Second Chance Pell Experiment launched under the Obama administration as an experiment to see whether education could reduce recidivism .
The grants can help cover the costs of tuition , fees and course materials .
The school is now working with state officials to offer a human services degree program in jails .
They plan to launch the pilot program in the spring with classes at a women ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then expand those classes to inmates at a jail in Wilmington .
The classes will primarily be delivered virtually .

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware inmates will soon get the chance to take college classes through a program that allows prisoners access to Pell Grants.
Delaware Technical Community College in Dover was recently approved to participate in the Second Chance Pell Experiment program and will begin offering the grants to jailed students in two correctional facilities, the Delaware Department of Corrections said Thursday in a news release.
“This program will provide greater educational opportunities that create pathways to gainful employment and reduce recidivism,” said Dr. Mark Brainard, the school’s president. “It’s clearly aligned with our mission to change our students’ lives through an inclusive environment that fosters equity and student success.”
Second Chance Pell Experiment launched under the Obama administration as an experiment to see whether education could reduce recidivism. The grants can help cover the costs of tuition, fees and course materials.
The school is now working with state officials to offer a human services degree program in jails. They plan to launch the pilot program in the spring with classes at a women’s correctional institution in New Castle, and then expand those classes to inmates at a jail in Wilmington.
The classes will primarily be delivered virtually.


washingtontimes--2020-11-20--James Taylor on how he takes a song and makes it his own

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Something happens when James Taylor covers a song .
It gets all James Taylor-y .
“ People often tell me , ‘ It sounds like you wrote that song ’ or ‘ That sounds like a James Taylor song.
’ And that ’ s because basically it ’ s been translated into my language , ” the singer-songwriter told The Associated Press in an interview this week .
“ Not all songs work in my language , but the ones that do - if they ’ re interesting or worthy of being recut - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nice to hear them in James Taylor.
” Fans are getting more classics translated into James Taylor on Friday with the digital release of three songs - “ Over The Rainbow ” from “ The Wizard of Oz , ” “ I ’ ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face ” from “ My Fair Lady ” and “ Never Never Land ” from “ Peter Pan.
” The trio of tunes never made it to Taylor ‘ s “ American Standard ” album earlier this year , which contained such covers as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ the Boat ” and “ God Bless the Child.
” Instead of leaning on a piano , they are guitar-led reinterpretations , often wistful and airy .
Taylor , 72 , says he was intimately familiar with the songs picked for the album and new EP , having first heard many of them from his parents ’ record collection growing up in North Carolina .
“ I ’ d just try them on for size , ” he says .
“ It was so easy and natural to pick up an instrument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and developing a sort of a simple guitar technique.
” The new batch of songs lean heavily on Broadway musicals , like the songwriting teams Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II , as well as Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner .
“ I think they had a profound effect on my songwriting .
They basically are my teachers , ” says Taylor .
During the interview , Taylor was effortlessly thoughtful , moving easily from topics like the gentrification of Boston ’ s suburbs to what a revelation Chartres Cathedral must have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
He ’ s well versed in Thomas Mann and Tolstoy .
Several times he noted that his guitar skills were somewhat limited and that his natural tendency to James Taylor a song is to lean on his own influences : Latin music , bossa nova and Afro Cuban .
“ It ’ s interesting to put songs into that vocabulary , ” he says .
He is modest about his own songwriting , saying he usually sits down with a guitar and plays until he finds a melody - or “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts it - and maybe a scrap of lyric .
That is how masterpieces like “ Carolina in My Mind ” and “ Fire and Rain ” came about .
“ There have been a few tunes that I just thought of while I was driving the car and I would reach for my phone and put down the line of lyric or melody - that has happened , too .
But my feeling is that when that ’ s happening , I ’ m still inhabiting that place that I discovered and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The “ American Standards ” batch of recordings reunited Taylor with master guitarist and producer John Pizzarelli .
The two had worked on Taylor ‘ s 2002 ’ s album “ October Road ” and his 2006 Christmas album .
Pizzarelli , who also has worked with Paul McCartney , Michael McDonald and Rosemary Clooney , calls Taylor an amazing guitar player and a talented harmonizer .
“ When you listen to the collection , he really James Taylor-ized them and not at the expense of the songs .
He makes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the covers , many at his barn studio in Washington , Massachusetts , not only to honor them but also to educate - reminding some younger listeners who might be looking for the next good thing of sonic past triumphs .
“ I ’ ve got four kids and they ’ re all musical to a greater or lesser extent .
So I ’ m constantly saying , ’ Go listen to Lee Dorsey , listen to Ry Cooder , listen to Neil Sedaka , ’ ” he says .
“ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s sitting down to rework someone else ’ s song or creating one of his own , Taylor somehow evokes feeling with his voice , a process that baffles even him .
“ You sing it and it summons the emotion .
That ’ s the magical thing , ” he says .
He marvels that songs like “ Over There ” or “ It ’ s a Long Way to Tipperary ” can instantly create patriotic zeal .
“ You can have a couple of pints and sing it and feel it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressed .
“ How about that ?
”

NEW YORK (AP) - Something happens when James Taylor covers a song. It gets all James Taylor-y.
“People often tell me, ‘It sounds like you wrote that song’ or ‘That sounds like a James Taylor song.’ And that’s because basically it’s been translated into my language,” the singer-songwriter told The Associated Press in an interview this week.
“Not all songs work in my language, but the ones that do - if they’re interesting or worthy of being recut - it’s because it’s nice to hear them in James Taylor.”
Fans are getting more classics translated into James Taylor on Friday with the digital release of three songs - “Over The Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz,” “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” from “My Fair Lady” and “Never Never Land” from “Peter Pan.”
The trio of tunes never made it to Taylor’s “American Standard” album earlier this year, which contained such covers as “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” and “God Bless the Child.” Instead of leaning on a piano, they are guitar-led reinterpretations, often wistful and airy.
Taylor, 72, says he was intimately familiar with the songs picked for the album and new EP, having first heard many of them from his parents’ record collection growing up in North Carolina.
“I’d just try them on for size,” he says. “It was so easy and natural to pick up an instrument and start learning songs and reinterpreting songs and developing a sort of a simple guitar technique.”
The new batch of songs lean heavily on Broadway musicals, like the songwriting teams Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, as well as Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner. “I think they had a profound effect on my songwriting. They basically are my teachers,” says Taylor.
During the interview, Taylor was effortlessly thoughtful, moving easily from topics like the gentrification of Boston’s suburbs to what a revelation Chartres Cathedral must have been to a peasant hundreds of years ago. He’s well versed in Thomas Mann and Tolstoy.
Several times he noted that his guitar skills were somewhat limited and that his natural tendency to James Taylor a song is to lean on his own influences: Latin music, bossa nova and Afro Cuban. “It’s interesting to put songs into that vocabulary,” he says.
He is modest about his own songwriting, saying he usually sits down with a guitar and plays until he finds a melody - or “catching an idea,” as he puts it - and maybe a scrap of lyric. That is how masterpieces like “Carolina in My Mind” and “Fire and Rain” came about.
“There have been a few tunes that I just thought of while I was driving the car and I would reach for my phone and put down the line of lyric or melody - that has happened, too. But my feeling is that when that’s happening, I’m still inhabiting that place that I discovered and built by sitting down playing the guitar.”
The “American Standards” batch of recordings reunited Taylor with master guitarist and producer John Pizzarelli. The two had worked on Taylor’s 2002’s album “October Road” and his 2006 Christmas album.
Pizzarelli, who also has worked with Paul McCartney, Michael McDonald and Rosemary Clooney, calls Taylor an amazing guitar player and a talented harmonizer. “When you listen to the collection, he really James Taylor-ized them and not at the expense of the songs. He makes the songs better.”
Taylor says he recorded the covers, many at his barn studio in Washington, Massachusetts, not only to honor them but also to educate - reminding some younger listeners who might be looking for the next good thing of sonic past triumphs.
“I’ve got four kids and they’re all musical to a greater or lesser extent. So I’m constantly saying, ’Go listen to Lee Dorsey, listen to Ry Cooder, listen to Neil Sedaka,’” he says. “I am always recommending them.”
Whether he’s sitting down to rework someone else’s song or creating one of his own, Taylor somehow evokes feeling with his voice, a process that baffles even him. “You sing it and it summons the emotion. That’s the magical thing,” he says.
He marvels that songs like “Over There” or “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” can instantly create patriotic zeal. “You can have a couple of pints and sing it and feel it again,” he says, genuinely impressed. “How about that?”
___
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits