washingtontimes--2020-12-01--Republicans paint Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as face of Democratic Party in runoff campaign

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not on the ballot in Georgia , but Republicans and their allies are doing their best to cast her as the face of the Democratic Party as they look to scare their base to the polls in key Senate runoff races next January .
Since winning her seat in 2018 , Ms. Ocasio-Cortez has rapidly ascended the ranks of the most polarizing Democrats in Washington and more and more Republicans have sought to tap into that sentiment in competitive races .
“ She is a new face , but this approach is something that Republicans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , ” said Charles S. Bullock , professor of political science at the University of Georgia .
“ Until he died , about 10 years ago , the face of the party that Republicans liked to attack was Ted Kennedy and he was replaced by Nancy Pelosi , and now you have Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
” “ Clearly Republicans believe that by attaching their Democratic opponent to these national futures that it helps the Republican causes , ” he said .
“ It creates a degree of fear — at least that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office did not respond to a request for comment .
She has been a favorite target in the twin Georgia Senate races , where Sen. David Perdue is running for reelection against Democrat Jon Ossoff and Sen. Kelly Loeffler , who was appointed to the seat last year , is running against Democrat Raphael Warnock .
On Tuesday , Mr. Perdue started airing a television ad featuring a clip of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez saying she is doing everything she can to help Democrats win the two races in Georgia and flip control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have to negotiate.
” “ No negotiation , ” Mr. Perdue says in the ad .
“ Think about that.
” The clip came from a recent CNN interview in which Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said the liberal vision for the future would have a better chance of surviving GOP opposition if Democrats win the races in Georgia .
If Democrats win both races , the Senate will have a 50-50 split with presumed Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris as the tie-breaking vote , giving Democrats more room to ram their agenda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia has been muddled by President Trump ’ s insistence that massive voter fraud allowed presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden to win the state .
Some Trump backers have suggested voters should sit out the Jan. 5 races as a way to protest the way the Nov. 3 election was handled and penalize GOP lawmakers for not fully embracing Mr. Trump ’ s accusations , which have gained traction with some voters but not in the courts .
Seeking to quell that potential uprising , the GOP is sounding the alarm on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , House , and Senate — and on Ms. Ocasio-Cortez .
Ms. Loeffler has taken particular aim at the New York firebrand ’ s stated belief that the federal government should pay people to stay home as a way to get the coronavirus under control .
“ AOC wants to lock down our economy , lock the American people in their homes , and put the government in charge of every single part of our lives , ” Ms. Loeffler tweeted last month .
“ No wonder she supports @ ReverendWarnock .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on my watch.
” During a recent appearance on “ Fox and Friends , ” Mr. Perdue invited Ms. Ocasio-Cortez to the state : “ I want to buy her ticket .
I want her to come.
” Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock are running as pragmatic Democrats .
They have refused to embrace the Green New Deal or Medicare for All and shied away from calls to “ defund the police ” and pack the Supreme Court .
Still , Mr. Perdue , in his latest ad , warns voters if Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way for undocumented immigrants to vote , the gutting of police departments and the military , as well as more taxes , a packed court , and a ban on private health care .
“ Is any of that really what you want ?
” Mr. Perdue says straight into the camera .
“ It is easy to say that will never happen in America , but that ’ s exactly what they ’ ve told us they will do.
” The Senate Leadership Fund also started airing an ad warning if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms. Ocasio-Cortez will “ control Washington ” alongside three Democrats that have logged decades in Washington : Mr. Biden , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer .
Mr. Ossoff , meanwhile , released a new ad Tuesday that focused on his ties to former President Barack Obama and late Rep. John Lewis .
“ Jon Ossoff has dedicated his career to fighting injustice , ” Mr. Obama says in the ad .
“ He learned about public service from one of my lifelong heroes : John Lewis.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives depend on it , because they do , we will elect Jon Ossoff to the United States Senate , ” Mr. Obama says in the ad .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not on the ballot in Georgia, but Republicans and their allies are doing their best to cast her as the face of the Democratic Party as they look to scare their base to the polls in key Senate runoff races next January.
Since winning her seat in 2018, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez has rapidly ascended the ranks of the most polarizing Democrats in Washington and more and more Republicans have sought to tap into that sentiment in competitive races.
“She is a new face, but this approach is something that Republicans have run on for years and years and years,” said Charles S. Bullock, professor of political science at the University of Georgia. “Until he died, about 10 years ago, the face of the party that Republicans liked to attack was Ted Kennedy and he was replaced by Nancy Pelosi, and now you have Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.”
“Clearly Republicans believe that by attaching their Democratic opponent to these national futures that it helps the Republican causes,” he said. “It creates a degree of fear — at least that is what the hope is.”
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
She has been a favorite target in the twin Georgia Senate races, where Sen. David Perdue is running for reelection against Democrat Jon Ossoff and Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who was appointed to the seat last year, is running against Democrat Raphael Warnock.
On Tuesday, Mr. Perdue started airing a television ad featuring a clip of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez saying she is doing everything she can to help Democrats win the two races in Georgia and flip control of the Senate “so that we don’t have to negotiate.”
“No negotiation,” Mr. Perdue says in the ad. “Think about that.”
The clip came from a recent CNN interview in which Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said the liberal vision for the future would have a better chance of surviving GOP opposition if Democrats win the races in Georgia.
If Democrats win both races, the Senate will have a 50-50 split with presumed Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris as the tie-breaking vote, giving Democrats more room to ram their agenda through Capitol Hill.
The GOP message in Georgia has been muddled by President Trump’s insistence that massive voter fraud allowed presumed President-elect Joseph R. Biden to win the state.
Some Trump backers have suggested voters should sit out the Jan. 5 races as a way to protest the way the Nov. 3 election was handled and penalize GOP lawmakers for not fully embracing Mr. Trump’s accusations, which have gained traction with some voters but not in the courts.
Seeking to quell that potential uprising, the GOP is sounding the alarm on the prospect of Democrats controlling the White House, House, and Senate — and on Ms. Ocasio-Cortez.
Ms. Loeffler has taken particular aim at the New York firebrand’s stated belief that the federal government should pay people to stay home as a way to get the coronavirus under control.
“AOC wants to lock down our economy, lock the American people in their homes, and put the government in charge of every single part of our lives,” Ms. Loeffler tweeted last month. “No wonder she supports @ReverendWarnock. It’s not going to happen on my watch.”
During a recent appearance on “Fox and Friends,” Mr. Perdue invited Ms. Ocasio-Cortez to the state: “I want to buy her ticket. I want her to come.”
Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock are running as pragmatic Democrats. They have refused to embrace the Green New Deal or Medicare for All and shied away from calls to “defund the police” and pack the Supreme Court.
Still, Mr. Perdue, in his latest ad, warns voters if Democrats emerge victorious in Georgia it will pave the way for undocumented immigrants to vote, the gutting of police departments and the military, as well as more taxes, a packed court, and a ban on private health care.
“Is any of that really what you want?” Mr. Perdue says straight into the camera. “It is easy to say that will never happen in America, but that’s exactly what they’ve told us they will do.”
The Senate Leadership Fund also started airing an ad warning if Democrats win the race in Georgia, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez will “control Washington” alongside three Democrats that have logged decades in Washington: Mr. Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer.
Mr. Ossoff, meanwhile, released a new ad Tuesday that focused on his ties to former President Barack Obama and late Rep. John Lewis.
“Jon Ossoff has dedicated his career to fighting injustice,” Mr. Obama says in the ad. “He learned about public service from one of my lifelong heroes: John Lewis.”
“If we vote like our lives depend on it, because they do, we will elect Jon Ossoff to the United States Senate,” Mr. Obama says in the ad.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Attendees of Thanksgiving gatherings urged to get tested

MONTPELIER , Vt. ( AP ) - Vermonters who attended multi-household Thanksgiving gatherings against the governor ’ s order are @ @ @ @ @ tested for COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ away and again on day seven or later , ” Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine @ @ @ @ @ ’ s virus briefing .
The state is investigating a situation related to a Thanksgiving @ @ @ @ @ early , he said .
“ I can only hope this single event will not @ @ @ @ @ to come , ” he said .
Levine also reminded Vermonters that Gov .
Phil @ @ @ @ @ on multi-household gatherings is still in effect .
“ If we can keep doing our @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 we can weather the current surge in cases , ” he said .

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermonters who attended multi-household Thanksgiving gatherings against the governor’s order are urged to quarantine and get tested for the coronavirus.
“It’s best to get tested right away and again on Day Seven or later,” Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said Tuesday during the governor’s virus briefing.
The state is investigating a situation related to a Thanksgiving dinner party that was celebrated early, he said. “I can only hope this single event will not be a sign of more to come,” he said.
Levine also reminded Vermonters that Gov. Phil Scott’s order banning on multi-household gatherings is still in effect.
“If we can keep doing our part to prevent further spread of COVID-19 we can weather the current surge in cases,” he said.
Vermont reported 101 new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday for a statewide total since the pandemic began of 4,461. Two more people have died, bringing the total number of deaths to 74.
The state’s total number of cases now includes probable cases. The Health Department says probable cases are people who tested positive on an antigen test and have COVID-19 symptoms or epidemiologic evidence or have symptoms and are linked a confirmed case.
Reporting such cases will better capture COVID-19 activity in Vermont when antigen testing is increasing, particularly in nursing homes, Levine said.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Vermont did not increase over the past two weeks, going from 91.71 new cases on Nov. 17 to 68.14 on Dec. 1. The seven-day rolling average of daily deaths in Vermont has risen over the past two weeks from zero on Nov. 17 to 1.14 on Dec. 1.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Businesses fined, warned over COVID-19 mask violations

MOUNT VERNON , Wash. ( AP ) - The vast majority of Skagit County businesses are complying with emergency rules to curb the spread of COVID-19 , but a few have been cited and fined for violations .
The Skagit Valley Herald reports Skagit Arms is the first county business to be fined by the Department of Labor & Industries for a COVID-19 mask violation , though at least one other local business has been cited by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board and has requested a hearing .
Skagit Speedway , meanwhile , received a written warning for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racetrack in October , though no fine was issued .
Eight other businesses throughout the state also had been cited and fined for mask violations in the past two months .
Fines ranged from $ 900 to $ 7,500 .
Businesses have 15 days to appeal .
“ The firearm and ammunition store ( in Burlington ) was fined $ 3,600 for not requiring employees or customers to wear masks and for violating social distancing rules , ” Labor & Industries said in a news release .
Other businesses were fined for operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in violation of Gov .
Jay Inslee ’ s four-phase Safe Start reopening plan .
No Skagit businesses have been cited for Safe Start violations .
By state mandate , businesses must ensure all customers and workers on their premises wear masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19 .
On Tuesday , Skagit Arms said it had no comment on the Oct. 30 fine or whether it has appealed .

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) - The vast majority of Skagit County businesses are complying with emergency rules to curb the spread of COVID-19, but a few have been cited and fined for violations.
The Skagit Valley Herald reports Skagit Arms is the first county business to be fined by the Department of Labor & Industries for a COVID-19 mask violation, though at least one other local business has been cited by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board and has requested a hearing.
Skagit Speedway, meanwhile, received a written warning for a large outdoor political rally held at the racetrack in October, though no fine was issued.
Eight other businesses throughout the state also had been cited and fined for mask violations in the past two months. Fines ranged from $900 to $7,500. Businesses have 15 days to appeal.
“The firearm and ammunition store (in Burlington) was fined $3,600 for not requiring employees or customers to wear masks and for violating social distancing rules,” Labor & Industries said in a news release.
Other businesses were fined for operating when they weren’t allowed to, in violation of Gov. Jay Inslee’s four-phase Safe Start reopening plan. No Skagit businesses have been cited for Safe Start violations.
By state mandate, businesses must ensure all customers and workers on their premises wear masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
On Tuesday, Skagit Arms said it had no comment on the Oct. 30 fine or whether it has appealed.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Austria to allow Christmas skiing but many restrictions stay

VIENNA ( AP ) - Austria will allow skiing to start on Dec. 24 , but will limit the capacity of ski lifts and keep restaurants , bars and hotels largely closed until early January , officials said Wednesday .
It also will require many people entering the country over the Christmas period to go into quarantine .
Tough lockdown measures took effect Nov. 17 and are due to expire on Sunday .
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said a limited curfew that has applied around the clock will be eased , and from Monday will apply only between 8 p.m. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , except for older students , as will nonessential shops , museums , libraries and some other businesses .
But restaurants will remain closed for all but takeout and deliveries , as will bars , and hotels will remain closed except to business travelers .
Austria has been hard hit by the resurgence of coronavirus infections in Europe , though its infection rate has declined over recent weeks .
It currently is recording 335 new infections per 100,000 residents over seven days , down from around 600 last month - but still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring Germany , which is in a milder partial shutdown .
Kurz said that progress over recent weeks , and the expectation of more before Christmas , allows “ cautious ” reopening steps .
But he said the tourism and catering sectors won ’ t start reopening until Jan. 7 .
That will effectively mean that , over the holiday season , skiing is possible in most cases only on day trips for those Austrian residents who live fairly close to the Alps .
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said there will be mask-wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cable cars will be limited .
Kurz said that allowing skiing for locals but keeping the catering sector closed is “ absolutely justified.
” “ Skiing is a sport that takes place in the open air , an individual sport , so epidemiologically it must be assessed differently from catering , where we know that there can time and again be infections , ” he said .
Kurz added that he , as a resident of eastern Austria , won ’ t benefit but “ for a large part of our population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skiing at least for the day.
” France and Germany , which has closed its ski resorts , are pushing for similar measures to be taken in other European countries , like Italy and Spain , for the Christmas season .
Ski resorts are already open in neighboring Switzerland , which has allowed skiing .
Kurz rejected suggestions that Austria ’ s limited reopening was a response to pressure from abroad .
“ We decide according to our infection situation , and our expectation is that we can push down our infections very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Austria also plans tougher border controls and quarantine rules in an effort to dissuade people from traveling abroad over the Christmas period .
Austrian residents ’ summer trips to see relatives in the western Balkans , in particular , were blamed as a significant source of the resurgence of infections this fall .
The quarantine rules will be imposed by mid-December and will apply “ if you ’ re coming from a country that exceeds a certain limit of infections , ” Kurz said .
He didn ’ t specify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for new arrivals to go into quarantine for 10 days , which they can cut short by taking a test after five days , Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said .

VIENNA (AP) - Austria will allow skiing to start on Dec. 24, but will limit the capacity of ski lifts and keep restaurants, bars and hotels largely closed until early January, officials said Wednesday. It also will require many people entering the country over the Christmas period to go into quarantine.
Tough lockdown measures took effect Nov. 17 and are due to expire on Sunday. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said a limited curfew that has applied around the clock will be eased, and from Monday will apply only between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Schools will be reopened next week, except for older students, as will nonessential shops, museums, libraries and some other businesses. But restaurants will remain closed for all but takeout and deliveries, as will bars, and hotels will remain closed except to business travelers.
Austria has been hard hit by the resurgence of coronavirus infections in Europe, though its infection rate has declined over recent weeks. It currently is recording 335 new infections per 100,000 residents over seven days, down from around 600 last month - but still more than twice as many as in neighboring Germany, which is in a milder partial shutdown.
Kurz said that progress over recent weeks, and the expectation of more before Christmas, allows “cautious” reopening steps. But he said the tourism and catering sectors won’t start reopening until Jan. 7.
That will effectively mean that, over the holiday season, skiing is possible in most cases only on day trips for those Austrian residents who live fairly close to the Alps. Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said there will be mask-wearing and distancing requirements, and the capacity of cable cars will be limited.
Kurz said that allowing skiing for locals but keeping the catering sector closed is “absolutely justified.”
“Skiing is a sport that takes place in the open air, an individual sport, so epidemiologically it must be assessed differently from catering, where we know that there can time and again be infections,” he said.
Kurz added that he, as a resident of eastern Austria, won’t benefit but “for a large part of our population it will then be possible to go skiing at least for the day.”
France and Germany, which has closed its ski resorts, are pushing for similar measures to be taken in other European countries, like Italy and Spain, for the Christmas season. Ski resorts are already open in neighboring Switzerland, which has allowed skiing.
Kurz rejected suggestions that Austria’s limited reopening was a response to pressure from abroad.
“We decide according to our infection situation, and our expectation is that we can push down our infections very, very strongly by Christmas,” he said.
Austria also plans tougher border controls and quarantine rules in an effort to dissuade people from traveling abroad over the Christmas period. Austrian residents’ summer trips to see relatives in the western Balkans, in particular, were blamed as a significant source of the resurgence of infections this fall.
The quarantine rules will be imposed by mid-December and will apply “if you’re coming from a country that exceeds a certain limit of infections,” Kurz said. Authorities set the limit at 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over 14 days, an infection rate which the vast majority of European countries currently surpass.
The requirement will be for new arrivals to go into quarantine for 10 days, which they can cut short by taking a test after five days, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said.
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Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
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Geir Moulson reported from Berlin.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Olympic fans from abroad may have health tracked by app

TOKYO ( AP ) - A mobile app could be among the measures used to track the health of fans from abroad if they are permitted to attend next year ’ s Tokyo Olympics .
An interim report on contingencies for holding the Tokyo Games was released on Wednesday .
It was compiled by the Japanese government , the Tokyo city government and local organizers .
The portion concerning the app was leaked earlier in the day by Japanese newspaper Nikkei .
It was met on social media by unhappy replies from Japanese citizens who fear the Olympics could put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a population of 125 million , has controlled the virus better than most countries with just over 2,100 deaths attributed to COVID-19 .
But Tokyo has seen record numbers of infections in recent weeks .
Toshiro Muto , the CEO of the local organizing committee , explained some findings of the report .
But he was short on specifics in the online briefing .
Some proposals might be discarded as conditions change , and almost everything is subject to revision .
“ In general , I think we would like to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next spring , ” he said , suggesting the groundwork had been prepared for many contingencies with the possibility of vaccines and rapid testing on the horizon .
It was in the spring eight months ago when organizers and the International Olympic Committee finally decided to postpone the Olympics after repeatedly saying they would go ahead this year .
Muto hinted again that the Tokyo Olympics may not be much fun .
Athletes will compete and then be expected to to go home .
“ The basic principle is that the accommodation period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be minimized as much as possible , ” Muto said .
“ We want to be sure that the Athletes Village doesn ’ t get too dense .
And after the games we would like them ( athletes ) to go back ( home ) as early as possible.
” He was asked point-blank if the Olympics would have a “ celebratory atmosphere.
” “ If the games are to be held under the COVID-19 pandemic , I don ’ t think the Olympics will be as festive as they have been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We decided to hold a simplified Olympics .
Therefore , as you can see in the planning for the opening ceremony , the Tokyo Olympics will be simplified rather than celebratory.
” Muto was also asked about the cost of the one-year postponement , but said he didn ’ t know yet .
Some Japanese newspapers reported several days ago , citing unnamed sources close to the organizing committee , that the cost of the delay will be about $ 3 billion .
“ We are in the process of the calculation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Muto said .
“ We would like to reach a decision as soon as possible but when it will come - I can ’ t give you a specific date .
But by the end of the year we ’ d like to make an effort to come up with an answer.
” He was also asked if fans from abroad would be required to be vaccinated .
“ This is a scenario we will start to examine once the vaccine is actually available , ” he said .

TOKYO (AP) - A mobile app could be among the measures used to track the health of fans from abroad if they are permitted to attend next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
An interim report on contingencies for holding the Tokyo Games was released on Wednesday. It was compiled by the Japanese government, the Tokyo city government and local organizers.
The portion concerning the app was leaked earlier in the day by Japanese newspaper Nikkei. It was met on social media by unhappy replies from Japanese citizens who fear the Olympics could put their health in jeopardy.
Japan, with a population of 125 million, has controlled the virus better than most countries with just over 2,100 deaths attributed to COVID-19. But Tokyo has seen record numbers of infections in recent weeks.
Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the local organizing committee, explained some findings of the report. But he was short on specifics in the online briefing. Some proposals might be discarded as conditions change, and almost everything is subject to revision.
“In general, I think we would like to be able to work out the details by next spring,” he said, suggesting the groundwork had been prepared for many contingencies with the possibility of vaccines and rapid testing on the horizon.
It was in the spring eight months ago when organizers and the International Olympic Committee finally decided to postpone the Olympics after repeatedly saying they would go ahead this year.
Muto hinted again that the Tokyo Olympics may not be much fun. Athletes will compete and then be expected to to go home.
“The basic principle is that the accommodation period in the Athletes Village is supposed to be minimized as much as possible,” Muto said. “We want to be sure that the Athletes Village doesn’t get too dense. And after the games we would like them (athletes) to go back (home) as early as possible.”
He was asked point-blank if the Olympics would have a “celebratory atmosphere.”
“If the games are to be held under the COVID-19 pandemic, I don’t think the Olympics will be as festive as they have been in the past,” he said. “We decided to hold a simplified Olympics. Therefore, as you can see in the planning for the opening ceremony, the Tokyo Olympics will be simplified rather than celebratory.”
Muto was also asked about the cost of the one-year postponement, but said he didn’t know yet. Some Japanese newspapers reported several days ago, citing unnamed sources close to the organizing committee, that the cost of the delay will be about $3 billion.
“We are in the process of the calculation of how much the cost is,” Muto said. “We would like to reach a decision as soon as possible but when it will come - I can’t give you a specific date. But by the end of the year we’d like to make an effort to come up with an answer.”
He was also asked if fans from abroad would be required to be vaccinated.
“This is a scenario we will start to examine once the vaccine is actually available,” he said.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Vanishing Congress cedes too much power to regulators

Editor ’ s note : This is the fifth in a series “ To the Republic : Rediscovering the Constitution.
” If the Founders came to Congress tomorrow and saw the diminished role the legislative branch plays in the function of the federal government — the degree to which the legislature really is vanishing — it would be a mystery to them .
Today , it is clear to us that Congress has ceded many of its powers and responsibilities to unelected bureaucrats in regulatory agencies .
The authors of the Constitution , however , feared the reverse .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the executive branch , not that the legislative branch would offer itself up to be eaten .
For instance , James Madison wrote in Federalist No .
48 that , “ The legislative department is everywhere extending the sphere of its activity , and drawing all power into its impetuous vortex.
” But in our time , far from extending the sphere of its activities , drawing power into its vortex , and threatening the independence of the executive , legislators refuse to make most of the hard decisions of governance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ let “ experts ” from executive departments and special interests do the job for them .
It is easier to let others regulate than to do the work of legislating .
While members of Congress routinely appear on television , the real decisions that affect the lives of regular Americans — about what the law really says , about what the law really means , about to whom the law applies — are made behind closed doors in rooms that the public has never been invited to enter .
I say this as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also as a former Senate staffer .
In their persistent deference to agencies and “ expertise , ” our legislators fail on two , opposite counts .
On one hand , members of Congress enact statutes that allow regulators too much latitude , so that they may do what they want without guidance or , more importantly , accountability .
On the other hand , legislators sometimes make laws that are excessively rigid and unable to tolerate adjustment as our scientific knowledge evolves and gives us new information .
Consequently , the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Clean Air Act shows how this works , or perhaps I should say doesn ’ t work , in practice .
Since its amendment in 1990 , our means of measuring pollution and health impacts have greatly improved .
We can with much more precision and accuracy say what is in the air , how much of it is there , and how it interacts with the human body .
But our judgment of how much is too much , and worth the cost of further reduction efforts , has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a standard of compliance , legislators ceded those policy decisions to the bureaucrats and regulators , allowing them to drive the rules beyond reason and with no regard to effects .
That leaves the American public uncertain of where they stand before the law , with Congress nowhere to be seen .
I have worked to give Americans regulatory clarity and certainty .
To improve rule making under the Clean Air Act , the Environmental Protection Agency in June put forward a proposal that would require consistent , high-quality analysis of benefits and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant rules .
This reform goes hand in hand with the EPA ’ s science transparency efforts .
We the people , and not just the unelected regulators , deserve to see the data , studies and research being used to justify regulatory decisions .
Scientists ought to be “ on tap ” for consultation and not “ on top , ” as Winston Churchill put it .
While it is my job and a very great honor to lead the EPA and to guide its work , there is a sense in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been needed .
Congress could have and could still legislate on these questions The self-government that makes our country great has as its ideal the citizen legislator , accountable to his or her fellow citizens .
Congress is the instrument of our union as a nation of states united under law , a deliberative body containing in itself both a chamber that represents each person as one part of the many and a chamber representing people as citizens of a state .
We are a nation of laws , and not of rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of laws , the Founders believed that legislative ambition posed the greatest threat to our liberties .
To quote Madison again , from Federalist No .
48 : “ It is against the enterprising ambition of this department that the people ought to indulge all their jealousy and exhaust all their precautions.
” The danger Madison saw in the legislature is in fact precisely that which the public faces in executive agencies today , without the accountability of electoral politics .
For , Madison goes on to write : “ It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative bodies , whether the operation of a particular measure will , or will not , extend beyond the legislative sphere.
” It is commonly a question now , and not a very subtle one , whether the operation of a particular regulatory measure will extend beyond its own original sphere .
Ambition is not all bad , and today the legislature could use more of it .
After all , the drafting of the Constitution was itself a supreme exercise in legislative ambition — not content to merely amend the Articles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new supreme law .
“ Ambition must be made to counteract ambition , ” Madison said in Federalist No .
51 , as he explained how the branches of our federal government would check each other , so that the balance of power did not fall all into one branch ’ s hands .
The work of our federal bureaucracies is an ambitious one .
It is past time for our legislators to channel their ambition for the public good and assert themselves .
They need to do their jobs , stop deferring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory authority into perpetuity .
• Andrew R. Wheeler is the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency .

OPINION:
Editor’s note: This is the latest in a series “To the Republic: Rediscovering the Constitution.” Click HERE to read the series.
If the Founders came to Congress tomorrow and saw the diminished role the legislative branch plays in the function of the federal government — the degree to which the legislature really is vanishing — it would be a mystery to them.
Today, it is clear to us that Congress has ceded many of its powers and responsibilities to unelected bureaucrats in regulatory agencies. The authors of the Constitution, however, feared the reverse. They were concerned that our representatives would swallow up the executive branch, not that the legislative branch would offer itself up to be eaten. For instance, James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 48 that, “The legislative department is everywhere extending the sphere of its activity, and drawing all power into its impetuous vortex.”
But in our time, far from extending the sphere of its activities, drawing power into its vortex, and threatening the independence of the executive, legislators refuse to make most of the hard decisions of governance. They are happy, instead, to let “experts” from executive departments and special interests do the job for them. It is easier to let others regulate than to do the work of legislating. While members of Congress routinely appear on television, the real decisions that affect the lives of regular Americans — about what the law really says, about what the law really means, about to whom the law applies — are made behind closed doors in rooms that the public has never been invited to enter.
I say this as the head of a regulatory agency and also as a former Senate staffer.
In their persistent deference to agencies and “expertise,” our legislators fail on two, opposite counts. On one hand, members of Congress enact statutes that allow regulators too much latitude, so that they may do what they want without guidance or, more importantly, accountability. On the other hand, legislators sometimes make laws that are excessively rigid and unable to tolerate adjustment as our scientific knowledge evolves and gives us new information. Consequently, the American people get the worst of both worlds.
The Clean Air Act shows how this works, or perhaps I should say doesn’t work, in practice. Since its amendment in 1990, our means of measuring pollution and health impacts have greatly improved. We can with much more precision and accuracy say what is in the air, how much of it is there, and how it interacts with the human body.
But our judgment of how much is too much, and worth the cost of further reduction efforts, has not been similarly refined. Rather than fixing a standard of compliance, legislators ceded those policy decisions to the bureaucrats and regulators, allowing them to drive the rules beyond reason and with no regard to effects. That leaves the American public uncertain of where they stand before the law, with Congress nowhere to be seen.
I have worked to give Americans regulatory clarity and certainty. To improve rule making under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency in June put forward a proposal that would require consistent, high-quality analysis of benefits and costs be provided to the public for significant rules. This reform goes hand in hand with the EPA’s science transparency efforts. We the people, and not just the unelected regulators, deserve to see the data, studies and research being used to justify regulatory decisions. Scientists ought to be “on tap” for consultation and not “on top,” as Winston Churchill put it.
While it is my job and a very great honor to lead the EPA and to guide its work, there is a sense in which these particular efforts should not have been needed. Congress could have and could still legislate on these questions The self-government that makes our country great has as its ideal the citizen legislator, accountable to his or her fellow citizens.
Congress is the instrument of our union as a nation of states united under law, a deliberative body containing in itself both a chamber that represents each person as one part of the many and a chamber representing people as citizens of a state.
We are a nation of laws, and not of rules.
Because they were building a nation of laws, the Founders believed that legislative ambition posed the greatest threat to our liberties. To quote Madison again, from Federalist No. 48: “It is against the enterprising ambition of this department that the people ought to indulge all their jealousy and exhaust all their precautions.”
The danger Madison saw in the legislature is in fact precisely that which the public faces in executive agencies today, without the accountability of electoral politics. For, Madison goes on to write: “It is not unfrequently a question of real nicety in legislative bodies, whether the operation of a particular measure will, or will not, extend beyond the legislative sphere.”
It is commonly a question now, and not a very subtle one, whether the operation of a particular regulatory measure will extend beyond its own original sphere.
Ambition is not all bad, and today the legislature could use more of it. After all, the drafting of the Constitution was itself a supreme exercise in legislative ambition — not content to merely amend the Articles of Confederation, the Founders lay down a new supreme law. “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition,” Madison said in Federalist No. 51, as he explained how the branches of our federal government would check each other, so that the balance of power did not fall all into one branch’s hands.
The work of our federal bureaucracies is an ambitious one. It is past time for our legislators to channel their ambition for the public good and assert themselves. They need to do their jobs, stop deferring to agencies, and stop giving agencies regulatory authority into perpetuity.
• Andrew R. Wheeler is the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Police: Delaware man shot ex-girlfriend, man during argument

NEW CASTLE , Del .
( AP ) - A Delaware man has been accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend and @ @ @ @ @ outside of his home .
Officers responding to a report of a shooting in New @ @ @ @ @ man who was shot , Eddie Johnson , on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
Johnson , 33 , was taken to a hospital , @ @ @ @ @ said Vincent Young , 47 , shot his ex-girlfriend and Johnson after the two drove @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not clear what their subsequent argument was about .
Young ’ @ @ @ @ @ a hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound before officers arrived .
Young was taken into @ @ @ @ @ and charged with murder and other charges .
He is being held on a $ @ @ @

NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) - A Delaware man has been accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend and another man during an argument outside of his home.
Officers responding to a report of a shooting in New Castle on Sunday found the man who was shot, Eddie Johnson, on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, New Castle County police said in a statement. Johnson, 33, was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Authorities said Vincent Young, 47, shot his ex-girlfriend and Johnson after the two drove by Young’s house. It’s not clear what their subsequent argument was about.
Young’s ex-girlfriend was transported to a hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound before officers arrived.
Young was taken into custody at the scene, and charged with murder and other charges. He is being held on a $232,000 bond.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--75-year-old Missouri man charged in neighbor's beating death

FESTUS , Mo .
( AP ) - Prosecutors have charged a 75-year-old eastern Missouri man with murder in the @ @ @ @ @ .
Jefferson County prosecutors announced Tuesday that Dale Edwards , 75 , of Festus , @ @ @ @ @ murder , assault and armed criminal action in the Sept. 17 attack on 68-year-old Michael @ @ @ @ @ Post-Dispatch reported .
Huffman died from his injuries on Oct. 3 .
Police said that @ @ @ @ @ told investigators that he and Edwards had argued after Edwards accused Huffman of taking photos @ @ @ @ @ Prosecutors say Edwards hit Huffman first with a walking stick , then hit him repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ Edwards has denied using anything other than his fists to hit Huffman and has maintained @ @ @ @ @ , according to court documents .

FESTUS, Mo. (AP) - Prosecutors have charged a 75-year-old eastern Missouri man with murder in the fatal beating of his neighbor.
Jefferson County prosecutors announced Tuesday that Dale Edwards, 75, of Festus, has been charged with second-degree murder, assault and armed criminal action in the Sept. 17 attack on 68-year-old Michael Huffman, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Huffman died from his injuries on Oct. 3. Police said that before his death, Huffman told investigators that he and Edwards had argued after Edwards accused Huffman of taking photos of Edwards’ house. Prosecutors say Edwards hit Huffman first with a walking stick, then hit him repeatedly with a metal pipe.
Edwards has denied using anything other than his fists to hit Huffman and has maintained that Huffman was the aggressor, according to court documents.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--EU stops short of advising against holiday travel over virus

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - As millions of European citizens gear up for the festive season , the European Union ’ s executive commission urged member countries to keep strong anti-COVID 19 restrictions in place to avoid a post-holiday surge of coronavirus cases and deaths but stopped short of advising against travel .
The European Commission said in non-binding recommendations published Wednesday that easing pandemic-containment measures this month would jeopardize the efforts that have helped slow infections across the EU in recent weeks .
According to predictions made by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , lifting all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in “ a subsequent increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions…as early as the first week of January 2021.
” New confirmed cases are falling steadily across Europe , where more than 300,000 people with COVID-19 have died .
Until vaccines against the virus are rolled out , the EU commission is recommending prudence .
“ Every 17 seconds a person loses their life due to COVID-19 in Europe , ” EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said .
“ The situation may be stabilizing , but it remains delicate .
Like everything else this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be different .
This year , saving lives must come before celebrations.
” EU health ministers discussed the European Commission ’ s strategy Wednesday as European countries famous for their skiing resorts struggled to find a common approach .
Restrictions to slow the spread of the virus have kept ski lifts closed in Italy , France and Germany but other nations have expressed concerns about the decision , which has a big economic impact .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel , whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , ski resorts in France , Italy and Austria were the sites of several superspreading events that helped seed COVID-19 outbreaks across the continent .
The commission , however , did not discourage tourism and cross-border traveling .
“ Whilst travel itself is a risk factor , the generalized widespread transmission of COVID-19 across member states means that at present , intra-EU cross-border travel does not present a significant added risk , ” it said .
Still , the commission “ strongly discouraged ” people with coronavirus symptoms from traveling and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelers .
“ Where possible , public transport options and capacities should be increased to reduce crowding , particularly on days or at times expected to be relatively busier to ensure social distancing , ” it said .
“ The use of masks should be compulsory in public transport , and all vehicles should be well ventilated.
” To keep outbreaks in check , the EU ’ s executive arm also invited member nations to consider night time curfews , to ban mass gatherings to issue clear guidelines for small private reunions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introducing a period of online teaching to prevent students from bringing the virus back to schools .
For EU members considering a temporary holiday-time loosening of their infection-control rules , the commission promoted the use of “ household bubbles , which means that people are encouraged to spend the days of the festivities with the same people and to reduce further social contacts.
” The commission also recommended avoiding large religious services and for churches , synagogues and mosques to use online , TV or radio broadcasts instead .

BRUSSELS (AP) - As millions of European citizens gear up for the festive season, the European Union’s executive commission urged member countries to keep strong anti-COVID 19 restrictions in place to avoid a post-holiday surge of coronavirus cases and deaths but stopped short of advising against travel.
The European Commission said in non-binding recommendations published Wednesday that easing pandemic-containment measures this month would jeopardize the efforts that have helped slow infections across the EU in recent weeks.
According to predictions made by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, lifting all anti-coronavirus restrictions on Dec. 21 would result in “a subsequent increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions…as early as the first week of January 2021.”
New confirmed cases are falling steadily across Europe, where more than 300,000 people with COVID-19 have died. Until vaccines against the virus are rolled out, the EU commission is recommending prudence.
“Every 17 seconds a person loses their life due to COVID-19 in Europe,” EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said. “The situation may be stabilizing, but it remains delicate. Like everything else this year, end of the year festivities will be different. This year, saving lives must come before celebrations.”
EU health ministers discussed the European Commission’s strategy Wednesday as European countries famous for their skiing resorts struggled to find a common approach.
Restrictions to slow the spread of the virus have kept ski lifts closed in Italy, France and Germany but other nations have expressed concerns about the decision, which has a big economic impact. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, supports a common approach.
Earlier this year, ski resorts in France, Italy and Austria were the sites of several superspreading events that helped seed COVID-19 outbreaks across the continent.
The commission, however, did not discourage tourism and cross-border traveling.
“Whilst travel itself is a risk factor, the generalized widespread transmission of COVID-19 across member states means that at present, intra-EU cross-border travel does not present a significant added risk,” it said.
Still, the commission “strongly discouraged” people with coronavirus symptoms from traveling and recommended vaccination against the season flu for travelers.
“Where possible, public transport options and capacities should be increased to reduce crowding, particularly on days or at times expected to be relatively busier to ensure social distancing,” it said. “The use of masks should be compulsory in public transport, and all vehicles should be well ventilated.”
To keep outbreaks in check, the EU’s executive arm also invited member nations to consider night time curfews, to ban mass gatherings to issue clear guidelines for small private reunions, and to consider extending school breaks or introducing a period of online teaching to prevent students from bringing the virus back to schools.
For EU members considering a temporary holiday-time loosening of their infection-control rules, the commission promoted the use of “household bubbles, which means that people are encouraged to spend the days of the festivities with the same people and to reduce further social contacts.”
The commission also recommended avoiding large religious services and for churches, synagogues and mosques to use online, TV or radio broadcasts instead.
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Follow AP’s coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Wrong-way driver causes deadly, fiery crash in Pacific

PACIFIC , Wash. ( AP ) - Two people were killed in a wrong-way crash that ended up involving seven @ @ @ @ @ early Wednesday morning in Pacific , Washington , east of Tacoma .
Police received initial @ @ @ @ @ heading south in the northbound lanes of SR-167 in Renton , according to Trooper Rick @ @ @ @ @ Patrol .
The truck made it 12 miles until it collided with a motorcycle in @ @ @ @ @ Road .
The pickup then struck a double dump truck and video from nearby traffic @ @ @ @ @ of the vehicles .
Medics and police raced to the scene to find the wrong-way @ @ @ @ @ dead at the scene , but the driver of the dump truck escaped without injury @ @ @ @ @ struck debris and there were no other injuries , Johnson said .

PACIFIC, Wash. (AP) - Two people were killed in a wrong-way crash that ended up involving seven vehicles along State Route 167 early Wednesday morning in Pacific, Washington, east of Tacoma.
Police received initial reports of a pickup truck heading south in the northbound lanes of SR-167 in Renton, according to Trooper Rick Johnson with the Washington State Patrol. The truck made it 12 miles until it collided with a motorcycle in Pacific just south of Ellington Road.
The pickup then struck a double dump truck and video from nearby traffic cameras showed flames shooting out of the vehicles.
Medics and police raced to the scene to find the wrong-way driver and the motorcycle rider dead at the scene, but the driver of the dump truck escaped without injury. The other vehicles involved struck debris and there were no other injuries, Johnson said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Hong Kong publisher charged with fraud amid crackdown

HONG KONG ( AP ) - A pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper publisher who was arrested during a crackdown on dissent was charged Wednesday with fraud but no national security offenses , two newspapers reported .
Jimmy Lai of Next Digital , which publishes the Apple Daily newspaper , was among 10 people arrested Aug. 10 on what police said was suspicion of violating a national security law and collusion with a foreign country .
Lai , 71 , was later released on bail but police raided his company ’ s offices in October and took away documents .
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were charged with fraud , the South China Morning Post and Apple Daily reported .
They were accused of violating lease terms for Next Digital office space , the newspapers said .
Apple Daily said a conviction carries a maximum possible prison term of 14 years .
There was no immediate official explanation of why Lai was charged only with fraud after police said the investigation involved the security law .
Beijing imposed the national security law in response to protests in Hong Kong that began in June 2019 over a proposed extradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater democracy in the former British colony .
The law prompted more public protests and led to complaints that Beijing is violating the autonomy promised to Hong Kong when it returned to China and damaging its status as a business center .
Apple Daily criticized the law on its front page on July 1 , calling it the “ final nail in the coffin ” of the territory ’ s autonomy .
The British government earlier criticized Lai ’ s August arrest and said the security law was being used to crush dissent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a way that undermines freedom of speech , ” the British government said in a report this month on the status of the 1984 agreement for Hong Kong ’ s return to China .
“ It is imperative that this freedom is fully respected , ” the report said .
Lai was earlier arrested in February and April on charges of taking part in unauthorized protests .
He also faces charges for joining an unauthorized vigil marking the anniversary of the June 4 , 1989 , crackdown on pro-democracy protests centered on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of October , 23 men and six women had been arrested under the national security law , according to the South China Morning Post .
Violators face a maximum possible penalty of life in prison .
Also this week , a Hong Kong broadcaster laid off 40 journalists , including an editor who accused managers of meddling in sensitive coverage , fueling fears about threats to press freedom .
The broadcaster , i-Cable , announced it was cutting 100 positions from its workforce of 1,300 .
The company blamed the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong economy .
The layoffs included the station ’ s investigative reporting team .
Other journalists and department heads resigned in protest .
One of i-Cable ’ s senior editors , Wong Lai-ping , complained to public broadcaster RTHK that managers had tried to meddle in or discourage coverage of sensitive issues .
Wong said that included reporting on 12 people who were arrested at sea by Chinese authorities while en route to Taiwan .
Wong said managers wanted more coverage of a Chinese government news conference .
“ You can see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A survey by the Hong Kong Journalists Association found 87 % of those who responded believed press freedom would be “ severely affected ” by the security law .
More than half expressed concern for their personal safety .

HONG KONG (AP) - A pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper publisher who was arrested during a crackdown on dissent was charged Wednesday with fraud but no national security offenses, two newspapers reported.
Jimmy Lai of Next Digital, which publishes the Apple Daily newspaper, was among 10 people arrested Aug. 10 on what police said was suspicion of violating a national security law and collusion with a foreign country.
Lai, 71, was later released on bail but police raided his company’s offices in October and took away documents.
On Wednesday, Lai and two Next Digital executives were charged with fraud, the South China Morning Post and Apple Daily reported. They were accused of violating lease terms for Next Digital office space, the newspapers said. Apple Daily said a conviction carries a maximum possible prison term of 14 years.
There was no immediate official explanation of why Lai was charged only with fraud after police said the investigation involved the security law.
Hong Kong police said in a statement that it charged three men with fraud on Wednesday, and that they would appear in court on Thursday. It did not name the people charged. It said one of them had been suspected of violating the national security law, and that it was still under investigation.
Beijing imposed the national security law in response to protests in Hong Kong that began in June 2019 over a proposed extradition law and expanded to include demands for greater democracy in the former British colony.
The law prompted more public protests and led to complaints that Beijing is violating the autonomy promised to Hong Kong when it returned to China and damaging its status as a business center.
Apple Daily criticized the law on its front page on July 1, calling it the “final nail in the coffin” of the territory’s autonomy.
The British government earlier criticized Lai’s August arrest and said the security law was being used to crush dissent.
The law is “being implemented in a way that undermines freedom of speech,” the British government said in a report this month on the status of the 1984 agreement for Hong Kong’s return to China.
“It is imperative that this freedom is fully respected,” the report said.
Lai was earlier arrested in February and April on charges of taking part in unauthorized protests. He also faces charges for joining an unauthorized vigil marking the anniversary of the June 4, 1989, crackdown on pro-democracy protests centered on Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
As of the end of October, 23 men and six women had been arrested under the national security law, according to the South China Morning Post. Violators face a maximum possible penalty of life in prison.
Also this week, a Hong Kong broadcaster laid off 40 journalists, including an editor who accused managers of meddling in sensitive coverage, fueling fears about threats to press freedom.
The broadcaster, i-Cable, announced it was cutting 100 positions from its workforce of 1,300. The company blamed the coronavirus pandemic, which has battered the Hong Kong economy.
The layoffs included the station’s investigative reporting team. Other journalists and department heads resigned in protest.
One of i-Cable’s senior editors, Wong Lai-ping, complained to public broadcaster RTHK that managers had tried to meddle in or discourage coverage of sensitive issues.
Wong said that included reporting on 12 people who were arrested at sea by Chinese authorities while en route to Taiwan. Wong said managers wanted more coverage of a Chinese government news conference.
“You can see the meddling,” Wong told RTHK.
A survey by the Hong Kong Journalists Association found 87% of those who responded believed press freedom would be “severely affected” by the security law. More than half expressed concern for their personal safety.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Malden man heads to court in shooting death of another man

MALDEN , Mass .
( AP ) - A Malden man is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in connection with @ @ @ @ @ man , authorities said .
Zachary Dimaro , 21 , is charged with assault and @ @ @ @ @ causing serious bodily injury , assault and battery by discharging a firearm , and other @ @ @ @ @ Joshua Mercier , 25 , on Tuesday , according to a statement from the office @ @ @ @ @ Ryan .
Malden police responding to a 911 call around 12:10 a.m. Tuesday found Mercier @ @ @ @ @ to his chest .
He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital , where he died @ @ @ @ @ police searched his apartment later in the day .
The preliminary investigation suggests that Dimaro @ @ @ @ @ his residence … during an encounter with Mr. Mercier , ” according to the statement @ @ @ @ @ if the suspect had an attorney .

MALDEN, Mass. (AP) - A Malden man is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of another man, authorities said.
Zachary Dimaro, 21, is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, and other offenses in the death of Joshua Mercier, 25, on Tuesday, according to a statement from the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
Malden police responding to a 911 call around 12:10 a.m. Tuesday found Mercier suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to his chest. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he died.
Dimaro was arrested after police searched his apartment later in the day.
The preliminary investigation suggests that Dimaro “discharged a firearm from his residence … during an encounter with Mr. Mercier,” according to the statement.
It was not clear if the suspect had an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--North Carolina man found dead in Virginia river identified

HIGH POINT , N.C. ( AP ) - Authorities have identified the North Carolina man whose body was found floating @ @ @ @ @ River .
The Martinsville Bulletin reported Tuesday that the Medical Examiner ’ s Office in @ @ @ @ @ identify the remains as Edward Harrison Ariail .
Ariail , 67 , was from High @ @ @ @ @ .
The Henry County Sheriff ’ s Office said there were no apparent signs of @ @ @ @ @ No cause of death has been released .
The final autopsy report is pending as @ @ @ @ @ The body was discovered in late October in the rain-swollen Smith River .
Ariail last @ @ @ @ @ .
Relatives had contacted the High Point Police Department and reported him missing .
for @ @ @ @ @ of the body .

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) - Authorities have identified the North Carolina man whose body was found floating in Virginia’s Smith River.
The Martinsville Bulletin reported Tuesday that the Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke used DNA analysis to identify the remains as Edward Harrison Ariail.
Ariail, 67, was from High Point and suffered from dementia. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office said there were no apparent signs of foul play or homicide. No cause of death has been released. The final autopsy report is pending as more testing is completed.
The body was discovered in late October in the rain-swollen Smith River. Ariail last was seen on Oct. 23. Relatives had contacted the High Point Police Department and reported him missing.
for their assistance in the recovery of the body.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--20 firefighters exposed to COVID-19 during training

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) - At least 20 Silverton firefighters were exposed to COVID-19 while attending a training session in late November .
Two days after participating in the agency ’ s firefighter academy training Nov. 21 , the person told the agency they were experiencing symptoms , according to officials from the Silverton Fire District .
The training event was for new volunteer firefighters .
On Nov. 30 , the individual was notified they tested positive for the virus .
Silverton Fire District assistant chief Ed Brambusch said the training took place at a tower at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were training for search and rescue inside a burning building .
Twenty members of the fire district who attended the all-day class “ may have had high-risk exposure ” while training .
They were notified Nov. 30 of the possible exposure and instructed to get tested or isolate until Dec. 5 .
Grambusch said firefighters are instructed to remain 6 feet apart while inside the station under its COVID-19 protocols .
He said the department is paying for the costs associated with COVID-19 testing , though not all have chosen to get tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid staff members and about 75 volunteers and has plenty of staff to continue to operate and respond to calls .
So far , none of the individuals exposed during the training are showing virus symptoms , officials said Tuesday .

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - At least 20 Silverton firefighters were exposed to COVID-19 while attending a training session in late November.
Two days after participating in the agency’s firefighter academy training Nov. 21, the person told the agency they were experiencing symptoms, according to officials from the Silverton Fire District. The training event was for new volunteer firefighters.
On Nov. 30, the individual was notified they tested positive for the virus.
Silverton Fire District assistant chief Ed Brambusch said the training took place at a tower at the district headquarters in Silverton where the volunteers were training for search and rescue inside a burning building.
Twenty members of the fire district who attended the all-day class “may have had high-risk exposure” while training. They were notified Nov. 30 of the possible exposure and instructed to get tested or isolate until Dec. 5.
Grambusch said firefighters are instructed to remain 6 feet apart while inside the station under its COVID-19 protocols. He said the department is paying for the costs associated with COVID-19 testing, though not all have chosen to get tested.
Grambusch said the department has six paid staff members and about 75 volunteers and has plenty of staff to continue to operate and respond to calls.
So far, none of the individuals exposed during the training are showing virus symptoms, officials said Tuesday.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--The Latest: Fiorentina coach Prandelli positive for virus

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has @ @ @ @ @ .
The Italian club says Prandelli is self-isolating and that the rest of the squad @ @ @ @ @ “ bubble ” in accordance with protocol .
The 63-year-old Prandelli is in his second @ @ @ @ @ been in charge for less than a month .
He replaced Giuseppe Iachini .
Fiorentina @ @ @ @ @ league matches under the former Italy coach .

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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Boise State’s football game at UNLV scheduled for Friday night has been canceled, the Mountain West Conference announced Wednesday night.
The Mountain West said the game would not be rescheduled and the decision was made after guidance from medical personnel and epidemiologists.
It’s the second straight cancellation for Boise State. It’s game against San Jose State last Saturday was called off just a few hours before kickoff after nine players were ruled out due to positive COVID-19 tests or contact tracing that left the Broncos lacking depth at specific positions.
Boise State is scheduled to play at Wyoming, while UNLV’s next game is scheduled to be at Hawaii, both on Dec. 12
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The Las Vegas Bowl has been canceled because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Executive director John Saccenti says it was a difficult decision but the right one considering the game was founded to help drive tourism to the gambling mecca.
The decision comes as Nevada state officials ordered a statewide pause that includes smaller public and private gatherings.
The game was slated to be the first bowl game played in Allegiant Stadium and was to feature a new matchup between the Pac-12 Conference and Southeastern Conference as part of a rotating cycle that also includes the Big Ten.
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Vanderbilt has canceled its men’s basketball game at SMU on Tuesday, extending its pause on activities.
The Commodores announced the cancellation Wednesday night, two days after pausing activities and withdrawing from a pair of games in Connecticut due to a positive test within its program
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Purdue Fort Wayne men’s basketball team has suspended activities and canceled games for the next two weeks because of positive COVID-19 tests within the program.
The team canceled Thursday’s game with Adrian, Saturday’s game at Dayton and games against Defiance on Dec. 12 and 13.
The program said it will “resume activity in accordance with the university and athletic department’s established protocols.”
The next scheduled game is Dec. 19 against Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.
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The U.S. Tennis Association has canceled its National Winter Championships in Arizona and Florida because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The youth tournaments were supposed to run from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3.
The USTA said Wednesday that it took into account recent CDC recommendations to limit interstate travel and problems created by different quarantine and health regulations across states and regions around the country.
The singles and doubles championships for boys and girls in the 12s and 14s age categories were supposed to be played in Tucson, while the 16s and 18s categories were scheduled for Orlando.
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Conference USA has announced a change to this weekend’s football schedule.
WKU at Charlotte, which had been previously scheduled to be played on Dec. 1, has been re-scheduled for Sunday at noon at Richardson Stadium.
Along with this schedule addition, the FIU at Charlotte game that was scheduled for Saturday has been canceled.
A final determination of the matchups for the last weekend of the regular season, Dec. 10-12, will be made by Sunday.
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The Green Bay Packers have activated rookie linebacker Krys Barnes from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Barnes has missed three straight games since getting placed on that list Nov. 6. The reserve/COVID-19 list is for players who either test positive or have close contact with an infected person.
The undrafted free agent from UCLA has 48 tackles.
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The Daytona 500 will have limited spectators for NASCAR’s season-opening race on Feb. 14.
Daytona International Speedway did not specify Wednesday how many spectators will be admitted into “The Great American Race.”
Daytona said it will work to accommodate guests who have already purchased tickets to the race. To ensure social distancing between groups who will be in attendance, many fans will be reseated in new locations. The reseating process is expected to be complete by early January.
All guests will be screened before entering the facility and will be required to wear face coverings while maintaining six feet social distancing throughout their visit.
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Middle Tennessee has canceled Sunday’s home football game with UAB because of COVID-19, contact tracing and injuries inside the Blue Raiders’ program.
This is the second straight week Middle Tennessee has canceled a game. Athletic director Chris Massaro says they’re down to 49 scholarship players and would’ve been forced to play some players coming off injuries. Massaro says that’s not a situation they wanted to put those players in.
Middle Tennessee canceled its home game with FAU scheduled for last weekend a day before the game due to COVID-19 testing, tracing and injuries.
This is the third game this season postponed or canceled for the Blue Raiders (3-6). Their game Nov. 7 at Charlotte was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the 49ers’ program.
Massaro says it’s disappointing but an unfortunate outcome of the pandemic.
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Michigan’s football game this weekend against Maryland has been canceled, and the Wolverines are pausing practice until Monday.
Michigan says the decision to pause in-person football activities was made in consultation with medical professionals. The team did not meet in person the previous two days after coach Jim Harbaugh said there had been an increased number of presumptive positive COVID-19 tests.
“The decision by our medical professionals to stop practices and cancel this Saturday’s game against Maryland was made with the health, safety and welfare of the student-athletes, coaches and staff as our utmost priority,” athletic director Warde Manuel said. “We have seen an increase in the number of student-athletes unavailable to compete due to positive tests and associated contact tracing due to our most recent antigen and PCR testing results.”
Michigan is 0-3 at home this season, and the Maryland game was the last scheduled home game. The Wolverines are scheduled to play at rival Ohio State on Dec. 12.
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Mississippi has suspended team activities in football during the Rebels’ open date.
Coach Lane Kiffin said the pause came Wednesday morning after COVID-19 test results came back. He says the team would wait on results from Wednesday’s retesting and could return to the practice field after as little as a one-day hiatus.
The Rebels are off this week after the SEC shuffled the schedule. They still have games to make up against Texas A&M and LSU.
“We’d be able to play as of right now, with no more” positive tests, Kiffin said.
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Wisconsin says its Dec. 8 women’s basketball home game with Prairie View A&M has been canceled due to protocols related to COVID-19.
The Badgers’ Big Ten opener Saturday at Iowa remains on as scheduled.
This marks the second Wisconsin women’s basketball game to get postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. Wisconsin postponed its Nov. 25 opener with Miami (Ohio) and instead began the season Sunday with a 73-66 victory over Western Illinois.
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Kent State’s football game at Miami (Ohio) scheduled for Saturday has been canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Golden Flashes’ program.
The Mid-American Conference issued a statement saying the game has been declared a no contest.
It’s the second cancellation for Miami, which had its Nov. 17 game against Ohio wiped out.
Kent State said the cancellation was “made out of an abundance of caution in consultation with university leaders and medical professionals, with the safety and well-being of our student-athletes and staff as our first priority.”
Kent State’s next scheduled game is against Ohio on Dec. 12.
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George Mason has called off its men’s basketball game at Maryland scheduled for Friday because of what the Virginia school says is a positive COVID-19 test within the program.
George Mason announced Wednesday that its team “temporarily paused activities” after the result showed up during routine testing, which happens three times a week.
The Terps announced they’re hosting St. Peter’s on Friday instead. Maryland is 3-0 this season.
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The Cleveland Browns are dealing with another COVID-19 case after an unidentified staff member tested positive.
The team closed its facility Wednesday to conduct contact tracing, which has become routine the past two weeks because of several other positive tests. The Browns are expected to practice indoors after heavy snow in the area.
On Tuesday, the team activated star defensive end Myles Garrett from the reserve/COVID-19 list and expect him to practice as it gets ready to play at Tennessee on Sunday. Garrett missed two games after becoming infected.
Fullback Andy Janovich is also back following a stint on the COVID-19 list.
Linebacker Sione Takitaki and defensive ends Porter Gustin and Joe Jackson remain isolated following positive tests. They all missed last week’s game against Jacksonville as the Browns improved to 8-3.
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The final scheduled World Cup ski races used to test the 2022 Olympic downhill course have been canceled by the Chinese ski federation.
The International Ski Federation says it has been told by the Chinese federation that the women’s downhill and super-G races scheduled for Feb. 27-28 in Yanqing will not take place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
FIS says says it expects to confirm the cancellation within days.
Men’s World Cup races on the Olympic hill were canceled in February. Those were among the first international sports events to be called off as infections spread from China.
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Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Italian club says Prandelli is self-isolating and that the rest of the squad will now go into a “bubble” in accordance with protocol.
The 63-year-old Prandelli is in his second spell at Fiorentina and has been in charge for less than a month. He replaced Giuseppe Iachini.
Fiorentina has lost both of its league matches under the former Italy coach.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Honolulu police chief acknowledges OT abuse by virus units

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said her department takes responsibility for the actions of officers on its now-suspended coronavirus enforcement units who are accused of abusing the department ’ s overtime policy .
Ballard confirmed Monday in a statement on social media that multiple investigations are being conducted about the officers accused of submitting as many as 300 overtime hours in one week .
Ballard also criticized state lawmakers for not amending a state law that makes violations of coronavirus-related health orders a misdemeanor .
The police department “ believes that a fine would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without flooding the courts , ” Ballard wrote .
Fewer than one in 50 citations issued on Oahu for violating public health orders related to the pandemic resulted in convictions , Hawaii News Now reported .
Law enforcement officials suspended the coronavirus enforcement units on Nov. 20 after the officials were told in an internal memo that 59 officers on the task force had been flagged in an audit for overtime violations .
At least 10 officers logged 200 or more hours of overtime during a five-week period .
Records show that two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overtime from Sept. 27 to Oct. 31 , or about 60 hours of overtime each week .
Eight officers said they worked between 200 and 256 hours of overtime during the five-week period .
Another 49 officers logged between 130 and 198 hours of overtime .
“ We accept responsibility for the officers who violated HPD ’ s overtime policy regarding the number of hours worked using the COVID funds , ” Ballard said .
“ Although these officers worked the hours , they still violated the department ’ s policy that limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the public .
The job of ensuring that Honolulu ’ s residents and tourists are following coronavirus guidelines is now conducted by on-duty patrol officers , who take assignments based on their availability .
Honolulu Councilman Ron Menor , who chairs the city ’ s Legal Affairs Committee , previously called on the city to reinstate the virus enforcement unit , saying Ballard should only ban the officers currently under investigation for wrongdoing .

HONOLULU (AP) - Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard said her department takes responsibility for the actions of officers on its now-suspended coronavirus enforcement units who are accused of abusing the department’s overtime policy.
Ballard confirmed Monday in a statement on social media that multiple investigations are being conducted about the officers accused of submitting as many as 300 overtime hours in one week.
Ballard also criticized state lawmakers for not amending a state law that makes violations of coronavirus-related health orders a misdemeanor.
The police department “believes that a fine would have accomplished the desired change in public behavior without flooding the courts,” Ballard wrote.
Fewer than one in 50 citations issued on Oahu for violating public health orders related to the pandemic resulted in convictions, Hawaii News Now reported.
Law enforcement officials suspended the coronavirus enforcement units on Nov. 20 after the officials were told in an internal memo that 59 officers on the task force had been flagged in an audit for overtime violations.
At least 10 officers logged 200 or more hours of overtime during a five-week period. Records show that two officers recorded more than 300 hours of overtime from Sept. 27 to Oct. 31, or about 60 hours of overtime each week.
Eight officers said they worked between 200 and 256 hours of overtime during the five-week period. Another 49 officers logged between 130 and 198 hours of overtime.
“We accept responsibility for the officers who violated HPD’s overtime policy regarding the number of hours worked using the COVID funds,” Ballard said. “Although these officers worked the hours, they still violated the department’s policy that limits overtime in order to protect the officer and the public.
The job of ensuring that Honolulu’s residents and tourists are following coronavirus guidelines is now conducted by on-duty patrol officers, who take assignments based on their availability.
Honolulu Councilman Ron Menor, who chairs the city’s Legal Affairs Committee, previously called on the city to reinstate the virus enforcement unit, saying Ballard should only ban the officers currently under investigation for wrongdoing.
87 million in CARES Act funds altogether.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Israeli lawmakers take a step toward new national elections

JERUSALEM ( AP ) - Israel took a major step toward plunging into its fourth national election in under two years on Wednesday as lawmakers - supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s main coalition partner - passed a preliminary proposal to dissolve parliament .
The 61-54 vote came just seven months after the coalition took office in a declaration of national unity to confront the coronavirus crisis .
But since then , the alliance between Netanyahu ’ s Likud Party and Defense Minister Benny Gantz ’ s Blue and White has been locked in infighting .
The vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alliance and forcing a new election early next year .
The legislation now heads to a committee before parliament as a whole takes up final approval , perhaps as soon as next week .
In the meantime , Gantz and Netanyahu are expected to continue negotiations in a last-ditch attempt to preserve their troubled alliance .
By joining the opposition in Wednesday ’ s vote , Gantz ’ s party voiced its dissatisfaction with Netanyahu , accusing him of putting his own personal interests ahead of those of the country .
Netanyahu is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges , and Gantz accuses the prime minister of hindering key governmental work , including the passage of a national budget , in hopes of stalling or overturning the legal proceedings against him .
Opposition leader Yair Lapid , whose Yesh Atid party voted for new elections , accused the government of gross mishandling of the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout .
He said the one thing all citizens share is “ the feeling that they lost control over their lives.
” The government still has not yet passed a budget for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divisions produced by its power-sharing agreement .
The lack of budget has caused severe hardships and cutbacks for Israelis at a time when unemployment is estimated at over 20 % because of the pandemic .
Israel has gone through two nationwide lockdowns since March , and officials are already warning that rising infections could result in a return to strict restrictions that were only recently lifted .
If a budget for 2020 isn ’ t passed by Dec. 23 , Israeli law stipulates an automatic dissolution of parliament and new elections .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve as prime minister until November 2021 , with the job rotating to Gantz for 18 months after that .
The only way Netanyahu can hold onto his seat and get out of that agreement is if a budget doesn ’ t pass .
Gantz appears to have concluded that elections are inevitable and the sooner they are held , the better .
By advancing the election to early next year , he seems to be banking that Netanyahu will be punished by voters for a still-raging pandemic and struggling economy .
Netanyahu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit by dragging out budget talks and delaying elections to later in the year in hopes that a vaccine will arrive and the economy will begin to recover .

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel took a major step toward plunging into its fourth national election in under two years on Wednesday as lawmakers - supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main coalition partner - passed a preliminary proposal to dissolve parliament.
The 61-54 vote came just seven months after the coalition took office following three inconclusive elections in just over a year. Netanyahu’s Likud party and Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s Blue and White said they were seeking national unity to confront the coronavirus crisis. But since then, the rivals have been locked in infighting.
The vote gave only preliminary approval to ending the alliance and forcing a new election early next year. The legislation now heads to a committee before parliament as a whole takes up final approval, perhaps as soon as next week. In the meantime, Gantz and Netanyahu are expected to continue negotiations in a last-ditch attempt to preserve their troubled alliance.
By joining the opposition in Wednesday’s vote, Gantz’s party voiced its dissatisfaction with Netanyahu, accusing him of putting his own personal interests ahead of those of the country.
Netanyahu is on trial for a series of corruption charges, and Gantz accuses the prime minister of hindering key governmental work, including the passage of a national budget, in hopes of stalling or overturning the legal proceedings against him. Gantz and other critics believe Netanyahu is ultimately hoping to see a friendlier parliament elected next year that will give him immunity from prosecution.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party sponsored the bill to trigger new elections, accused the government of gross mishandling of the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout. He said the one thing all citizens share is “the feeling that they lost control over their lives.”
The government still has not yet passed a budget for 2020, a result of the deep divisions produced by its power-sharing agreement. The lack of budget has caused severe hardships and cutbacks for Israelis at a time when unemployment is estimated at over 20% because of the pandemic.
In a nationally broadcast news conference Wednesday evening, Netanyahu delivered a mixed message, calling on Gantz to remain in the government but also sounding very much like a politician on the campaign trail.
Netanyahu began his address by claiming credit for leading the battle against the coronavirus, forging diplomatic agreements with Gulf Arab countries and protecting Israel against its enemies in the region.
He derisively referred to Gantz’s party as “an opposition within the coalition” and skirted around questions about passing the budget or honoring the rotation agreement with Gantz.
“In dramatic times like these, we don’t need to go to elections. The people of Israel want unity, not ballots. It wants vaccines, and not campaign ads,” he said. “The only way we can defeat corona is defeating it together. We need to put politics aside.”
Gantz, meanwhile, released a video blaming Netanyahu for the political paralysis and economic damage resulting from the pandemic.
“We all know the truth. You know the truth,” Gantz said in the video. “If there was no trial, there would be a budget. If there was no trial, there would be a functioning government. There would be unity.”
Israel has gone through two nationwide lockdowns since March, and officials are already warning that rising infections could result in a return to strict restrictions that were only recently lifted.
If a budget for 2020 isn’t passed by Dec. 23, Israeli law stipulates an automatic dissolution of parliament and new elections three months later in late March.
Under the coalition deal, Netanyahu is to serve as prime minister until November 2021, with the job rotating to Gantz for 18 months after that. The only way Netanyahu can hold onto his seat and get out of that agreement is if a budget doesn’t pass and new elections are held.
There were no indications that either side is interested in preserving their partnership for the long run. Instead, the battle is expected to be over when the election will be held.
Although Gantz’s party has plummeted in opinion polls, he appears to have concluded that elections are inevitable and the sooner they are held, the better.
By pushing for an election early next year, he seems to be banking that Netanyahu will be punished by voters for a still-raging pandemic, a struggling economy and the resumption of his corruption trial.
Starting in February, Netanyahu’s corruption trial is scheduled to kick into high gear, with a string of witnesses testifying against him. The prime minister expected to be a frequent visitor to the courtroom.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, is expected to try to drag out budget talks to delay elections until the summer in hopes that a vaccine will arrive and the economy will begin to recover. If he can put together a hardline coalition at that time, he might finally be positioned to push through an immunity bill or appoint new judicial officials to freeze or overturn his case.
“Over the last two years, the only question you need to ask is not what is best for the country and not what is best for this or that party, but what is in the best interest of Benjamin Netanyahu,” Gayil Tashir, a political scientist at Hebrew University, told reporters. She said it looks like Netanyahu thinks it is his best interest to hold an election next summer.
One wild card in any Israeli election will be the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Netanyahu has had a close relationship with President Donald Trump after clashing with President Barack Obama for the previous eight years. Israeli officials fear that Biden, who was Obama’s vice president, will return to the policies of that era, especially renewing possible diplomatic engagement with archenemy Iran.
Tashir said this would be a “big issue” in the next Israeli campaign.
“Netanyahu is going to put forward an argument which says ‘I’m the only Israeli leader who can actually stand up against a Biden administration,’” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Upstate NY mayor, ex-police chief arrested on drug charges

MASSENA , N.Y. ( AP ) - The mayor and former police chief of a northern New York town was arrested on drug charges after an undercover drug operation , authorities said .
Timmy Currier , the mayor of Massena , threw a gram of crack cocaine out of his car window before his arrest Tuesday , the St. Lawrence County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a news release .
The sheriff ’ s office said Currier kept driving when deputies first tried to pull his car over at about 12:30 p.m. Currier , who is 55 , drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before throwing the drugs out of his car and stopping , the authorities said .
Currier was arrested on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance , tampering with physical evidence and failure to comply with a police officer .
He was arraigned virtually and will appear in court at a later date .
A woman who answered the phone at the Currier home on Wednesday declined to comment .
Currier served as the police chief in Massena , near the Canadian border , for more than two decades .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was reelected in 2018 .

MASSENA, N.Y. (AP) - The mayor and former police chief of a northern New York town was arrested on drug charges after an undercover drug operation, authorities said.
Timmy Currier, the mayor of Massena, threw a gram of crack cocaine out of his car window before his arrest Tuesday, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The sheriff’s office said Currier kept driving when deputies first tried to pull his car over at about 12:30 p.m. Currier, who is 55, drove for about a third of a mile before throwing the drugs out of his car and stopping, the authorities said.
Currier was arrested on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and failure to comply with a police officer. He was arraigned virtually and will appear in court at a later date.
A woman who answered the phone at the Currier home on Wednesday declined to comment.
Currier served as the police chief in Massena, near the Canadian border, for more than two decades. He was elected mayor as a Democrat in 2014 and was reelected in 2018.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Report: Climate change damaging more World Heritage sites

GENEVA ( AP ) - Climate change is increasingly damaging the U.N. ’ s most cherished heritage sites , a leading conservation agency warned Wednesday , reporting that Australia ’ s Great Barrier Reef and dozens of other natural wonders are facing severe threats .
Climate change that has lead to shrinking glaciers , increasing fires , floods and droughts , and the bleaching of coral reefs are among the troubles facing 83 of the 252 World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO , the U.N. ’ s cultural agency .
Sixteen World Heritage sites have deteriorated since the last World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while only eight improved , said the International Union for Conservation of Nature , made up of governments and civil society groups and advises UNESCO on natural threats to those sites .
“ Natural World Heritage sites are amongst the world ’ s most precious places , and we owe it to future generations to protect them , ” IUCN Director-General Bruno Oberle said .
“ Climate change is wreaking ( havoc ) on natural World Heritage , from shrinking glaciers to coral bleaching to increasingly frequent and severe fires and droughts.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reef , where ocean warming , acidification and extreme weather have added to the coral decline and shrinking marine species populations , were one of four sites in Australia under “ very high ” threat .
The islands of protected areas in the Gulf of California in Mexico have also entered the “ critical ” category in the listing .
Spain ’ s Garajonay National Park , Olympic National Park in the United States , and Mexico ’ s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve are among those under “ very high ” threat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while 63 % of the heritage sites are classified as “ good ” or “ good with some concerns , ” 30 % are of “ significant concern ” and 7 % are in “ critical ” shape .
In a difference from the previous two IUCN reports , climate change has eclipsed “ invasive alien species ” - such as when foreign rodents , fish or plants are transplanted , accidentally or not , to new environments - as the most potent threat against such sites .
Human activities like tourism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also had an impact .
Read all of AP ’ s stories about climate change at https : //apnews.com/hub/Climate .

GENEVA (AP) - Climate change is increasingly damaging the U.N.’s most cherished heritage sites, a leading conservation agency warned Wednesday, reporting that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and dozens of other natural wonders are facing severe threats.
Climate change that has lead to shrinking glaciers, increasing fires, floods and droughts, and the bleaching of coral reefs are among the troubles facing 83 of the 252 World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO, the U.N.’s cultural agency.
Sixteen World Heritage sites have deteriorated since the last World Heritage Outlook was released three years ago, while only eight improved, said the International Union for Conservation of Nature, made up of governments and civil society groups and advises UNESCO on natural threats to those sites.
“Natural World Heritage sites are amongst the world’s most precious places, and we owe it to future generations to protect them,” IUCN Director-General Bruno Oberle said. “Climate change is wreaking (havoc) on natural World Heritage, from shrinking glaciers to coral bleaching to increasingly frequent and severe fires and droughts.”
The report says the Great Barrier Reef, where ocean warming, acidification and extreme weather have added to the coral decline and shrinking marine species populations, were one of four sites in Australia under “very high” threat.
The islands of protected areas in the Gulf of California in Mexico have also entered the “critical” category in the listing. Spain’s Garajonay National Park, Olympic National Park in the United States, and Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve are among those under “very high” threat, the new report said.
It said while 63% of the heritage sites are classified as “good” or “good with some concerns,” 30% are of “significant concern” and 7% are in “critical” shape.
In a difference from the previous two IUCN reports, climate change has eclipsed “invasive alien species” - such as when foreign rodents, fish or plants are transplanted, accidentally or not, to new environments - as the most potent threat against such sites.
Human activities like tourism, hunting and fishing, and livestock grazing have also had an impact.
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Read all of AP’s stories about climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/Climate.


washingtontimes--2020-12-02--Police ID Missouri woman killed in gun battle crossfire

OLIVETTE , Mo .
( AP ) - Police have identified a woman who was killed after being caught in @ @ @ @ @ gun battle between people in two other cars on Interstate 170 in suburban St. Louis @ @ @ @ @ Greater St. Louis is investigating the Monday afternoon shooting that killed Kristen Whitted , 46 @ @ @ @ @ were called to the area of I-170 and Olive Boulevard in Olivette for a report @ @ @ @ @ while traveling southbound , police said .
Arriving officers found Whitted inside a third vehicle @ @ @ @ @ her head , police said .
She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead @ @ @ @ @ vehicles involved in the gun battle had already fled the area when police arrived .
@ @ @ @ @ for suspects in the shooting .
Police said Whitted appeared to have no connection to @ @ @ @ @ caught in the crossfire .

OLIVETTE, Mo. (AP) - Police have identified a woman who was killed after being caught in the crossfire of a rolling gun battle between people in two other cars on Interstate 170 in suburban St. Louis
The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis is investigating the Monday afternoon shooting that killed Kristen Whitted, 46, of Bridgeton. Officers were called to the area of I-170 and Olive Boulevard in Olivette for a report of two vehicles trading gunfire while traveling southbound, police said.
Arriving officers found Whitted inside a third vehicle with a gunshot wound to her head, police said. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Police said the two vehicles involved in the gun battle had already fled the area when police arrived. Police continued Tuesday to search for suspects in the shooting.
Police said Whitted appeared to have no connection to the other vehicles and was caught in the crossfire.