washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Navajo Nation has no COVID-19 deaths for 2nd consecutive day

WINDOW ROCK , Ariz. ( AP ) - Navajo Nation health officials reported 20 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ deaths for the second consecutive day .
The latest figures bring the total number of @ @ @ @ @ known death toll remaining at 555 .
Tribal officials said 106,194 people have been tested @ @ @ @ @ covers parts of Arizona , New Mexico and Utah and 7,255 have recovered from COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ implemented a stricter weekend lockdown as it looks into new clusters of coronavirus cases from @ @ @ @ @ .
Residents now are being required to stay home from Friday evening until early Monday @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns were a day shorter .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild @ @ @ @ @ as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
But for @ @ @ @ @ and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including @ @ @ @ @

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - Navajo Nation health officials reported 20 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, but no additional deaths for the second consecutive day.
The latest figures bring the total number of cases to 10,333 with the known death toll remaining at 555.
Tribal officials said 106,194 people have been tested on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah and 7,255 have recovered from COVID-19.
The Navajo Nation has implemented a stricter weekend lockdown as it looks into new clusters of coronavirus cases from family gatherings and off-reservation travel.
Residents now are being required to stay home from Friday evening until early Monday morning. More recent weekend lockdowns were a day shorter.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--AP FACT CHECK: Claims from Trump and Biden's first debate

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden sparred Tuesday in their first of three debates , hoping to sway undecided voters planning to cast ballots by mail and in person in the final weeks leading up to the Nov. 3 election .
A look at how their statements from Cleveland stack up with the facts : TRUMP , addressing Biden on U.S. deaths from COVID-19 : “ If you were here , it wouldn ’ t be 200,000 people , it would be 2 million people .
You didn ’ t want me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If we would have listened to you , the country would have been left wide open.
” THE FACTS : This accusation is off the mark .
Biden never came out against Trump ’ s decision to restrict travel from China .
Biden was slow in staking a position on the matter but when he did , he supported the restrictions .
Biden never counseled leaving the country “ wide open ” in the face of the pandemic .
Trump repeatedly , and falsely , claims to have banned travel from China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions that took effect Feb. 2 continued to allow travel to the U.S. from China ’ s Hong Kong and Macao territories over the past five months .
The Associated Press reported that more than 8,000 Chinese and foreign nationals based in those territories entered the U.S. in the first three months after the travel restrictions were imposed .
Additionally , more than 27,000 Americans returned from mainland China in the first month after the restrictions took effect .
U.S. officials lost track of more than 1,600 of them who were supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of countries took similar steps to control travel from hot spots before or around the same time the U.S. did .
BIDEN , on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett : “ She thinks that the Affordable Care Act is not constitutional.
” THE FACTS : That ’ s not right .
Biden is talking about Trump ’ s pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
Barrett has been critical of the Obama-era law and the court decisions that have upheld it , but she has never said it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will hear arguments in the case on Nov. 10 , and the Trump administration is asking the high court to rule the law unconstitutional .
TRUMP : “ Drug prices will be coming down 80 or 90 % .
” And as a promise , it ’ s an obvious stretch .
Trump has been unable to get legislation to lower drug prices through Congress .
Major regulatory actions from his administration are still in the works , and are likely to be challenged in court .
There ’ s no plan on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as dramatically as Trump claims .
TRUMP : “ You said you went to Delaware State , but you forgot the name of your college .
You didn ’ t go to Delaware State .
… There ’ s nothing smart about you , Joe.
” THE FACTS : Trump is quoting Biden out of context .
The former vice president , a graduate of the University of Delaware , did not say he attended Delaware State University but was making a broader point about his long-standing ties to the Black community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ says on the campaign , typically when speaking to Black audiences , that he “ goes way back with HBCUs , ” or historically Black universities and colleges .
Biden has spoken many times over the years at Delaware State , a public HBCU in his home state , and the school says that ’ s where he first announced his bid for the Senate – his political start .
“ I got started out of an HBCU , Delaware State - now , I don ’ t want to hear anything negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a town hall in Florence , South Carolina , in October 2019 .
“ They ’ re my folks.
” Biden often touts his deep political ties to the Black community , occasionally saying he “ grew up politically ” or “ got started politically ” in the Black church .
In front of some audiences , he ’ s omitted the word “ politically , ” but still with a clear context about his larger point .
The statements are all part of standard section of his stump noting that Delaware has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage.
” A spokesman for the Delaware State University , Carlos Holmes , has said it took Biden ’ s comments to refer to his political start , saying that Biden announced his bid for the U.S. Senate on the DSU campus in 1972 .
Biden ’ s broader point is push back on the idea that he ’ s a Johnny-Come-Lately with the Black community or that his political connections there are owed only to being Barack Obama ’ s vice president .
Associated Press writers Calvin Woodward , Mark Sherman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .
EDITOR ’ S NOTE - A look at the veracity of claims by political figures .

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump unleashed a torrent of fabrications and fear-mongering in a belligerent debate with Joe Biden, at one point claiming that the U.S. death toll would have been 10 times higher under the Democrat because he wanted open borders in the pandemic. Biden preached no such thing.
Trump barreled into the debate Tuesday night as unconstrained by the facts as at his rallies, but this time having his campaign opponent and frequently the Fox News moderator, Chris Wallace, calling him out in real time, or trying. Biden stumbled on the record at times as the angry words flew from both men on the Cleveland stage.
A look at how some of their statements from Cleveland stack up with the facts in the first of three scheduled presidential debates for the Nov. 3 election:
VIRUS DEATH TOLL
TRUMP, addressing Biden on U.S. deaths from COVID-19: “If you were here, it wouldn’t be 200,000 people, it would be 2 million people. You didn’t want me to ban China, which was heavily infected…. If we would have listened to you, the country would have been left wide open.”
THE FACTS: The audacious claim that Biden as president would have seen 2 million deaths rests on a false accusation. Biden never came out against Trump’s decision to restrict travel from China. Biden was slow in staking a position on the matter but when he did, he supported the restrictions. Biden never counseled leaving the country “wide open” in the face of the pandemic.
Trump repeatedly, and falsely, claims to have banned travel from China. He restricted it.
The U.S. restrictions that took effect Feb. 2 continued to allow travel to the U.S. from the Chinese territories of Hong Kong and Macao. The Associated Press reported that more than 8,000 Chinese and foreign nationals based in the two locales entered the U.S. in the first three months after the travel restrictions were imposed.
Additionally, more than 27,000 Americans returned from mainland China in the first month after the restrictions took effect. U.S. officials lost track of more than 1,600 of them who were supposed to be monitored for virus exposure.
Dozens of countries took similar steps to control travel from hot spots before or around the same time the U.S. did.
___
PROTESTS
TRUMP: “The (Portland, Oregon) sheriff just came out today and he said I support President Trump.”
THE FACTS: That is false. The sheriff of Multnomah County, Oregon - where Portland is located - said he does not support Trump.
The sheriff, Mike Resse, tweeted: “As the Multnomah County Sheriff I have never supported Donald Trump and will never support him.”
Portland has been a flashpoint in the debate over racial injustice protests in the U.S. Police and federal agents have repeatedly clashed with demonstrators gathered outside the downtown federal courthouse and police buildings. Some protesters have thrown bricks, rocks and other projectiles at officers. Police and federal agents responded by firing tear gas, rubber bullets and other non-lethal ammunition to disperse the crowds.
___
BIDEN: “There was a peaceful protest in front of the White House. What did he do? He came out of his bunker, had the military do tear gas.”
THE FACTS: It was law enforcement, not the military, that used chemical irritants to forcefully remove peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square outside the White House on June 1.
And there is no evidence President Trump was inside a bunker in the White House as that happened. Secret Service agents had rushed Trump to a White House bunker days earlier as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion, some of them throwing rocks and tugging at police barricades.
___
HEALTH CARE
TRUMP: “Drug prices will be coming down 80 or 90%.”
THE FACTS: That’s a promise, not a reality, and it’s a big stretch.
Trump has been unable to get legislation to lower drug prices through Congress. Major regulatory actions from his administration are still in the works, and are likely to be challenged in court.
There’s no plan on the horizon that would lower drug prices as dramatically as Trump claims.
Prescription drug price inflation has been low and slow during the Trump years, but it hasn’t made a U-turn and sped off in the other direction. Prices have seesawed from year to year.
Looking back at the totality of Trump’s term, from Jan. 2017, when he was inaugurated, to the latest data from Aug. 2020, drug prices went up 3.6%, according to an analysis by economist Paul Hughes-Cromwick of Altarum, a nonprofit research and consulting organization.
Hughes-Cromwick looked at figures from the government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, which measures prices for a set of prescription medicines, including generics and branded drugs.
When comparing prices in 2019 with a year earlier, there indeed was a decline. Prices dropped by 0.2% in 2019, a turnabout not seen since the 1970s. But that’s nowhere near close to 80% or 90%.
From August of last year to this August, prices rose by 1.4%.
___
VIRUS RESPONSE
TRUMP: Dr. Anthony Fauci “said very strongly, ‘masks are not good.’ Then he changed his mind, he said, ‘masks, good.’”
THE FACTS: He is skirting crucial context. Trump is telling the story in a way that leaves out key lessons learned as the coronavirus pandemic unfolded, raising doubts about the credibility of public health advice.
Early on in the outbreak, a number of public health officials urged everyday people not to use masks, fearing a run on already short supplies of personal protective equipment needed by doctors and nurses in hospitals.
But that changed as the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus became clear, as well as the fact that it can be spread by tiny droplets breathed into the air by people who may not display any symptoms.
Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, along with Dr. Robert Redfield of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Steven Hahn of the Food and Drug Administration and Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House coronavirus task force, all agree on the importance of wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Redfield has repeatedly said it could be as effective as a vaccine if people took that advice to heart.
___
TRUMP, on coronavirus and his campaign rallies: “So far we have had no problem whatsoever. It’s outside, that’s a big difference according to the experts. We have tremendous crowds.”
THE FACTS: That’s not correct.
Trump held an indoor rally in Tulsa in late June, drawing both thousands of participants and large protests.
The Tulsa City-County Health Department director said the rally “likely contributed” to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases there. By the first week of July, Tulsa County was confirming more than 200 new daily cases, setting record highs. That’s more than twice the number the week before the rally.
___
TRUMP, addressing Biden: “You didn’t do very well on the swine flu. H1N1. You were a disaster.”
THE FACTS: Trump frequently distorts what happened in the pandemic of 2009, which killed far fewer people in the United States than the coronavirus is killing now. For starters, Biden as vice president wasn’t running the federal response. And that response was faster out of the gate than when COVID-19 came to the U.S.
Then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s flu surveillance network sounded the alarm after two children in California became the first people diagnosed with the new flu strain in this country.
About two weeks later, the Obama administration declared a public health emergency against H1N1, also known as the swine flu, and the CDC began releasing anti-flu drugs from the national stockpile to help hospitals get ready. In contrast, Trump declared a state of emergency in early March, seven weeks after the first U.S. case of COVID-19 was announced, and the country’s health system struggled for months with shortages of critical supplies and testing.
More than 200,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. The CDC puts the U.S. death toll from the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic at about 12,500.
___
ECONOMY
BIDEN: Trump will be the “first (president) in American history” to lose jobs during his presidency.
THE FACTS: No, if Trump loses re-election, he would not be the first president in U.S. history to have lost jobs. That happened under Herbert Hoover, the president who lost the 1932 election to Franklin Roosevelt as the Great Depression caused massive job losses.
Official jobs records only go back to 1939 and, in that period, no president has ended his term with fewer jobs than when he began. Trump appears to be on track to have lost jobs during his first term, which would make him the first to do so since Hoover.
___
VOTING
TRUMP, on the prospect of mass fraud in the vote-by-mail process, “It’s a rigged election.”
THE FACTS: He is exaggerating threats. Trump’s claim is part of a months-long effort to sow doubt about the integrity of the election before it’s even arrived and to preemptively call into question the results.
Experts have repeatedly said there are no signs of widespread fraud in mail balloting, as have the five states that relied exclusively on that system for voting even before the coronavirus pandemic. Trump’s own FBI director, Chris Wray, said at a congressional hearing just last week that the bureau has not historically seen “any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it’s by mail or otherwise.”
Wray did acknowledge voter fraud at the local level “from time to time,” but even there, Trump appeared to paint an overly dire portrait of the reality and he misstated the facts of one particular case that received substantial attention last week following an unusual Justice Department announcement.
Trump said nine military ballots found discarded in a wastebasket in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, were all marked for him. Though that’s consistent with an initial statement the Justice Department made, officials later revised it to say seven of the nine ballots had Trump’s name.
___
FOOTBALL
TRUMP: “I’m the one who brought back football. By the way, I brought back Big Ten football. It was me and I’m very happy to do it.”
THE FACTS: Better check the tape. While Trump had called for the Big Ten conference to hold its 2020 football season, he wasn’t the only one. Fans, students, athletes and college towns had also urged the conference to resume play.
When the Big Ten announced earlier this month that it reversed an earlier decision to cancel the season because of COVID-19, Trump tweeted his thanks: “It is my great honor to have helped!!!”
The conference includes several large universities in states that could prove pivotal in the election, including Pennsylvania, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
___
SUPREME COURT
BIDEN, on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett: “She thinks that the Affordable Care Act is not constitutional.”
THE FACTS: That’s not right.
Biden is talking about Trump’s pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Barrett has been critical of the Obama-era law and the court decisions that have upheld it, but she has never said it’s not constitutional. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on Nov. 10, and the Trump administration is asking the high court to rule the law unconstitutional.
___
DELAWARE STATE
TRUMP: “You said you went to Delaware State, but you forgot the name of your college. You didn’t go to Delaware State. … There’s nothing smart about you, Joe.”
THE FACTS: Trump is quoting Biden out of context. The former vice president, a graduate of the University of Delaware, did not say he attended Delaware State University but was making a broader point about his long-standing ties to the Black community.
Trump is referring to remarks Biden often says on the campaign, typically when speaking to Black audiences, that he “goes way back with HBCUs,” or historically Black universities and colleges. Biden has spoken many times over the years at Delaware State, a public HBCU in his home state, and the school says that’s where he first announced his bid for the Senate – his political start.
“I got started out of an HBCU, Delaware State - now, I don’t want to hear anything negative about Delaware State,” Biden told a town hall in Florence, South Carolina, in October 2019. “They’re my folks.”
Biden often touts his deep political ties to the Black community, occasionally saying he “grew up politically” or “got started politically” in the Black church. In front of some audiences, he’s omitted the word “politically,” but still with a clear context about his larger point. The statements are all part of standard section of his stump noting that Delaware has “the eighth largest Black population by percentage.”
A spokesman for the Delaware State University, Carlos Holmes, has said it took Biden’s comments to refer to his political start, saying that Biden announced his bid for the U.S. Senate on the DSU campus in 1972.
Biden’s broader point is push back on the idea that he’s a Johnny-Come-Lately with the Black community or that his political connections there are owed only to being Barack Obama’s vice president.
___
CRIME
BIDEN: “The fact of the matter is violent crime went down 17%, 15%, in our administration.”
THE FACTS: That’s overstating it.
Overall, the number of violent crimes fell roughly 10% from 2008, the year before Biden took office as vice president, to 2016, his last full year in the office, according to data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program.
But the number of violent crimes was spiking again during Obama and Biden’s final two years in office, increasing by 8% from 2014 to 2016.
More people were slain across the U.S. in 2016, for example, than at any other point under the Obama administration.
___
TRUMP: “If you look at what’s going on in Chicago, where 53 people were shot and eight died. If you look at New York where it’s going up like nobody’s ever seen anything … the numbers are going up 100 150, 200%, crime, it’s crazy what’s going on.”
THE FACTS: Not quite. The statistics in Chicago are true, but those numbers are only a small snapshot of crime in the city and the United States, and his strategy is highlighting how data can be easily molded to suit the moment. As for New York, Trump may have been talking about shootings. They are up in New York by about 93% so far this year, but overall crime is down about 1.5%. Murders are up 38%, but there were 327 killings compared with 236, still low compared with years past. For example, compared with a decade ago, crime is down 10 percent.
An FBI report released Monday for 2019 year of crime data found that violent crime has decreased over the past three years.
___
Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Colleen Long, Ellen Knickmeyer, Mark Sherman, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Bill Barrow, David Klepper, Amanda Seitz, Michael Balsamo and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
___
EDITOR’S NOTE - A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.
___
Find AP Fact Checks at http://apnews.com/APFactCheck
Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Joe Biden: Son Hunter Biden 'did nothing wrong' in Ukraine

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden insisted that his son Hunter “ did nothing wrong ” in his sweetheart deal with a Ukrainian energy company , while President Trump hounded the Democrat repeatedly about his son ’ s alleged payments from Russia .
“ My son did nothing wrong at Burisma , ” Mr. Biden said as the president pressed him during their first debate on Hunter Biden ’ s $ 4 million-plus payment from the company .
“ Why did he deserve $ 3.5 million from Moscow ?
” Mr. Trump demanded , referring to a report by Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the wife of the former mayor of Moscow .
Mr. Biden said his son didn ’ t get the money from Russia .
“ None of that is true , ” Mr. Biden said , shaking his head .
As the president pressed him again about the alleged deal , the Democrat said , “ he doesn ’ t want me to answer because he knows I have the truth .
It ’ s hard to get any word in with this clown.
” Moderator Chris Wallace cut in at one point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate to raise my voice .
But why should I be different than the two of you ?
Mr. Biden said he didn ’ t want to disparage the president ’ s business arrangements with his children .
“ His family we could talk about all night , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ This is not about my family or his family , this is about your family .
He doesn ’ t want to talk about what you need , the American people .
It ’ s about you .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about .
”

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden insisted that his son Hunter “did nothing wrong” in his sweetheart deal with a Ukrainian energy company, while President Trump hounded the Democrat repeatedly about his son’s alleged payments from Russia.
“My son did nothing wrong at Burisma,” Mr. Biden said as the president pressed him during their first debate on Hunter Biden’s $4 million-plus payment from the company.
“Why did he deserve $3.5 million from Moscow?” Mr. Trump demanded, referring to a report by Senate Republicans that Hunter Biden got that amount from the wife of the former mayor of Moscow.
Mr. Biden said his son didn’t get the money from Russia.
“None of that is true,” Mr. Biden said, shaking his head.
As the president pressed him again about the alleged deal, the Democrat said, “he doesn’t want me to answer because he knows I have the truth. It’s hard to get any word in with this clown.”
Moderator Chris Wallace cut in at one point, saying, “Gentlemen, I hate to raise my voice. But why should I be different than the two of you?
Mr. Biden said he didn’t want to disparage the president’s business arrangements with his children.
“His family we could talk about all night,” Mr. Biden said. “This is not about my family or his family, this is about your family. He doesn’t want to talk about what you need, the American people. It’s about you. That’s what we’re talking about.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Utah governor candidates debate virus response, mask mandate

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - Republican Lt. Gov .
Spencer Cox went head to head with Democratic law professor Chris Peterson in Utah ’ s gubernatorial debate Tuesday over the state ’ s pandemic response and the viability of a face covering mandate .
The two candidates are competing to succeed Republican Gov .
Gary Herbert , who isn ’ t running again after more than a decade in office .
Cox , who became Herbert ’ s lieutenant governor in 2013 , defeated three other Republicans during the June primary , including former U.S .
Ambassador Jon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary race .
Cox is heavily favored to win in conservative Utah , where voters haven ’ t elected a Democratic governor in 40 years .
Utah has been in the midst of a record-setting surge in new coronavirus cases over the past few weeks largely driven by college-age students in Utah County , home to Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University .
The state now ranks fourth in the country for newly confirmed COVID-19 infections per capita , according to data from Johns Hopkins .
In the debate Tuesday evening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s response to the coronavirus and whether to implement a statewide face covering mandate .
Peterson has repeatedly called for a mandate since the state began experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases in July .
“ There are things that we need to do as a society to take care of one another , ” Peterson said .
“ This will not last forever but right now we need to wear masks , and that ’ s why I will require it as a matter of law.
” Cox , on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor ’ s decision to allow city and county officials to decide if they need bans .
Herbert and Cox have urged residents to wear masks for months but stopped short of ever implementing a statewide order .
“ If you have to have a law to mandate you to wear a mask , first of all , you ’ re probably not going to do it anyway , ” Cox said .
“ It doesn ’ t make that much of a difference.
” The debate moderator Doug Wright said the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far one of the most asked questions for the candidates on social media .
For Cox , the coronavirus crisis created both a spotlight and a target .
His role in the state response put him in front of voters concerned about the virus and stuck at home during a shelter-in-place directive .
But it ’ s also opened him up for criticism from both conservative mask opponents and those saying a statewide mandate is increasingly essential to keeping the virus under control .
There have been over 72,000 reported virus cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to state data .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
When asked what else should be done to limit the spread of COVID-19 , Peterson stressed the need for increased testing , contact tracing as well as additional access to personal protective equipment to counteract the state ’ s “ skyrocketing ” infection rates .
Cox said the governor and lieutenant governor must make tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlighted the state ’ s successes with maintaining a low mortality rate of 0.6 % and a 4.1 % unemployment rate .
“ It hasn ’ t been perfect , ” Cox said .
“ We have a long way to go , but we are working together to find those solutions.
” Sophia Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Republican Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox went head to head with Democratic law professor Chris Peterson in Utah’s gubernatorial debate Tuesday over the state’s pandemic response and the viability of a face covering mandate.
The two candidates are competing to succeed Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, who isn’t running again after more than a decade in office. Cox, who became Herbert’s lieutenant governor in 2013, defeated three other Republicans during the June primary, including former U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. Peterson did not have a primary race.
Cox is heavily favored to win in conservative Utah, where voters haven’t elected a Democratic governor in 40 years.
Utah has been in the midst of a record-setting surge in new coronavirus cases over the past few weeks largely driven by college-age students in Utah County, home to Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University. The state now ranks fourth in the country for newly confirmed COVID-19 infections per capita, according to data from Johns Hopkins.
In the debate Tuesday evening, Cox and Peterson sharply disagreed on Utah’s response to the coronavirus and whether to implement a statewide face covering mandate.
Peterson has repeatedly called for a mandate since the state began experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases in July.
“There are things that we need to do as a society to take care of one another,” Peterson said. “This will not last forever but right now we need to wear masks, and that’s why I will require it as a matter of law.”
Cox, on the other hand, has stood behind the governor’s decision to allow city and county officials to decide if they need bans. Herbert and Cox have urged residents to wear masks for months but stopped short of ever implementing a statewide order.
“If you have to have a law to mandate you to wear a mask, first of all, you’re probably not going to do it anyway,” Cox said. “It doesn’t make that much of a difference.”
The debate moderator Doug Wright said the issue of a statewide mask mandate was by far one of the most asked questions for the candidates on social media.
For Cox, the coronavirus crisis created both a spotlight and a target. His role in the state response put him in front of voters concerned about the virus and stuck at home during a shelter-in-place directive. But it’s also opened him up for criticism from both conservative mask opponents and those saying a statewide mandate is increasingly essential to keeping the virus under control.
There have been over 72,000 reported virus cases in Utah, and 457 people have died, according to state data. The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
When asked what else should be done to limit the spread of COVID-19, Peterson stressed the need for increased testing, contact tracing as well as additional access to personal protective equipment to counteract the state’s “skyrocketing” infection rates.
Cox said the governor and lieutenant governor must make tough decisions during a historic pandemic. He highlighted the state’s successes with maintaining a low mortality rate of 0.6% and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
“It hasn’t been perfect,” Cox said. “We have a long way to go, but we are working together to find those solutions.”
___
Sophia Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Trump hits Biden on debunked Delaware State tale

President Trump took a swipe during Tuesday ’ s debate at former Vice President Joseph R. Biden ’ s penchant for telling tall tales , blasting Mr. Biden ’ s debunked stories about his law-school record and attending a historically Black college .
After Mr. Biden slammed the president ’ s handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic , saying , “ Guess what , a lot of people died , and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter , ” Mr. Trump jumped in with , “ Did you use the word smart ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Delaware State but you forget the name of your college .
You didn ’ t go to Delaware State , ” said the Republican Trump .
“ You graduated either the lowest or almost the lowest in your class .
Don ’ t ever use the word smart with me .
Don ’ t ever use that word .
Because you know what , there ’ s nothing smart about you , Joe.
” The Democratic presidential nominee dismissed the criticism , saying , “ Oh , give me a break.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience in South Carolina that he “ got started out of ” a historically Black college , Delaware State University .
The school said in an email last week to the Washington Times that Mr. Biden did not attend , although he gave the commencement address twice and was awarded an honorary doctoral degree .
In 1987 , Mr. Biden said he graduated in the top half of his class at Syracuse law school , when he actually graduated 75th in a class of 86 .
He apologized later for exaggerating his academic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree at the University of Delaware .

President Trump took a swipe during Tuesday’s debate at former Vice President Joseph R. Biden’s penchant for telling tall tales, blasting Mr. Biden’s debunked stories about his law-school record and attending a historically Black college.
After Mr. Biden slammed the president’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying, “Guess what, a lot of people died, and a lot more are going to die unless he gets a lot smarter,” Mr. Trump jumped in with, “Did you use the word smart?”
“So you said you went to Delaware State but you forget the name of your college. You didn’t go to Delaware State,” said the Republican Trump. “You graduated either the lowest or almost the lowest in your class. Don’t ever use the word smart with me. Don’t ever use that word. Because you know what, there’s nothing smart about you, Joe.”
The Democratic presidential nominee dismissed the criticism, saying, “Oh, give me a break.”
In October, Mr. Biden told an audience in South Carolina that he “got started out of” a historically Black college, Delaware State University.
The school said in an email last week to The Washington Times that Mr. Biden did not attend Delaware State, although he gave the commencement address twice and was awarded an honorary doctoral degree.
In 1987, Mr. Biden said he graduated in the top half of his class at Syracuse law school, when he actually graduated 75th in a class of 86. He apologized later for exaggerating his academic record.
Mr. Biden earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Delaware.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Trump: I paid 'millions of dollars' in federal income tax

President Trump said Tuesday that he paid “ millions ” of dollars in federal income tax , seeking to rebut a New York Times report this week that said he paid $ 750 in both 2016 and 2017 .
“ I paid millions of dollars in taxes — millions of dollars of income tax , ” Mr. Trump said at the first presidential debate .
“ I paid $ 38 million one year .
I paid $ 27 million one year.
” “ You ’ ll see it as soon as it ’ s finished .
You ’ ll see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moderator Chris Wallace followed up to ask Mr. Trump if he would say how much he paid in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017 .
“ Millions of dollars , yes , ” he said .
“ And you ’ ll get to see it.
” Mr. Trump has said he has taken advantage of the tax code to pay as little as he legally has to pay .
“ Like every other private person , unless they ’ re stupid , they go through the laws and that ’ s what @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Trump said Tuesday night that he paid “millions” of dollars in federal income tax, seeking to rebut a New York Times report this week that said he paid $750 in both 2016 and 2017.
“I paid millions of dollars in taxes — millions of dollars of income tax,” Mr. Trump said at the first presidential debate in Cleveland. “I paid $38 million one year. I paid $27 million one year.”
“Show us your tax returns,” Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden interjected.
“You’ll see it as soon as it’s finished. You’ll see it,” the president said.
Moderator Chris Wallace followed up to ask Mr. Trump if he would say how much he paid in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017.
“Millions of dollars,” Mr. Trump said.
“You paid millions of dollars?” Mr. Wallace said.
“Millions of dollars, yes,” he said. “And you’ll get to see it.”
Mr. Trump has repeatedly declined to release his tax returns, citing an ongoing IRS audit.
Mr. Trump has said he has taken advantage of the tax code to pay as little as he legally has to pay.
“Like every other private person, unless they’re stupid, they go through the laws and that’s what it is,” he said.
Earlier Tuesday, Mr. Biden released his 2019 tax returns that showed he and his wife, Jill, paid about $300,000 in taxes, a roughly 30% tax rate.
Mr. Biden says he wants to reverse the 2017 Republican tax cuts and make wealthier individuals and corporations pay their “fair share.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Joe Biden: Donald Trump 'worst president' in U.S. history

Joseph R. Biden told President Trump he ’ s the worst president in U.S. history at the first presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ “ You ’ re the worst president America has ever had , ” Mr. Biden @ @ @ @ @ ” The two had been debating taxes before things devolved .
“ In 47 months @ @ @ @ @ more than you ’ ve done in 47 years , Joe , ” the president @ @ @

Joseph R. Biden told President Trump he’s the worst president in U.S. history at the first presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday.
“You’re the worst president America has ever had,” Mr. Biden said. “Come on.”
The two had been debating taxes before things devolved.
“In 47 months, I’ve done more than you’ve done in 47 years, Joe,” the president shot back.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Trump, Biden battle on coronavirus shutdown: 'Let me shut you down, Joe'

President Trump and Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden on Tuesday clashed over continued coronavirus shutdowns .
Mr. Biden accused the @ @ @ @ @ down the economy because he moved too slowly to address the pandemic .
Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ Democratic mayors and governors , want to , for political reasons , keep it shut @ @ @ @ @ down again and undermine the economy .
“ He wants to shut down this country @ @ @ @ @ keep it open , ” Mr. Trump said .
Mr. Biden interrupted , saying he @ @ @ @ @ they need to stay open .
“ Let me shut you down Joe , just @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump said .
“ If you look at Pennsylvania if you look at certain @ @ @ @ @ down they have Democratic governors .
One of the reasons they shut down is because @ @ @ @ @ down until after the election .
”

President Trump and Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden on Tuesday clashed over continued coronavirus shutdowns.
Mr. Biden accused the president of having to shut down the economy because he moved too slowly to address the pandemic.
Mr. Trump countered that Mr. Biden and Democratic mayors and governors, want to, for political reasons, keep it shut down or to shut it down again and undermine the economy.
“He wants to shut down this country. And I want to keep it open,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Biden interrupted, saying he wants to give businesses what they need to stay open.
“Let me shut you down Joe, just for one second,” Mr. Trump said. “If you look at Pennsylvania if you look at certain states that have been shut down they have Democratic governors. One of the reasons they shut down is because they want to keep it down until after the election.”
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Trump says Biden would have left U.S. 'wide open' to virus, defends recovery and response

President Trump blamed the “ fake news ” for the poor reviews of his response to the coronavirus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans and said Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden wouldn ’ t “ have it in his blood ” to respond to such a crisis .
“ The country would have been left wide open , ” Mr. Trump said in the first presidential debate in Cleveland Tuesday night .
Mr. Trump was referring to criticism from Mr. Biden and others for restricting travel from China at the end of January .
“ It ’ s China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never happened.
” The coronavirus has been a drag on Mr. Trump ’ s reelection prospects .
The U.S. contains about 4 % of the world ’ s population but accounts for a fifth of world deaths from COVID-19 , or about 200,000 out of 1 million .
Mr. Trump said other countries “ don ’ t exactly give you a straight count , ” and suggested approval of a vaccine may be held back for political reasons .
“ We can have it a lot sooner , it ’ s a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Biden , meanwhile , said the coronavirus pandemic has killed so many people because Mr. Trump is a flawed person .
“ It is what it is because you are who you are , ” he said , before mentioning the president ’ s early warnings to author Bob Woodward .
“ He knew all the way back in February how serious this crisis was.
” The former vice president also said Mr. Trump was too trusting of Chinese President Xi Jinping early on .
“ He told us what a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Biden said .
The former vice president told Mr. Trump to rally Congress behind a relief package , citing the economic woe from the disease .
“ He sits on his golf course , ” Mr. Biden said .
Mr. Trump said the economy is recovering quickly and that states need to open up because people “ know what to do.
” “ This guy will close down the whole country and destroy our country , ” he said of Mr. Biden .
Mr. Biden responded by saying poorer people and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hit the hardest , so opening the country without caution could be deadly .
“ You can ’ t fix the economy until you fix the COVID crisis , ” Mr. Biden said .
Mr. Trump said he ’ s already done a good job on the virus itself .
He pointed to early efforts to make sure patients who needed a ventilator got one , and said his administration has learned how to protect the vulnerable .
“ Far fewer people are dying .
We ’ ve done a great job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump defended his large rallies that are held without social distancing , saying he has moved most of them outside , which is considered safer , and he hasn ’ t seen a “ negative effect ” from the rallies .
He also said they ’ re popular .
“ People want to hear what I have to say , ” Mr. Trump said .
Mr. Trump also has been lukewarm in his support for mask-wearing , even as public health experts deem them a vital tool in the fight .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I need it , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ Tonight , for example , everyone ’ s had a test.
” Mr. Biden threw his weight behind masks , saying they would save lives , though Mr. Trump pointed to shifting advice from his own advisers , saying they said the opposite early on .
“ No serious person said the opposite , ” Mr. Biden said .

President Trump blamed the “fake news” for the poor reviews of his response to the coronavirus that has killed more than 200,000 Americans and said Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden wouldn’t “have it in his blood” to respond to such a crisis.
“The country would have been left wide open,” Mr. Trump said in the first presidential debate in Cleveland Tuesday night.
Mr. Trump was referring to criticism from Mr. Biden and others for restricting travel from China at the end of January. “It’s China’s fault, it should have never happened.”
The coronavirus has been a drag on Mr. Trump’s reelection prospects.
The U.S. contains about 4% of the world’s population but accounts for a fifth of world deaths from COVID-19, or about 200,000 out of 1 million.
Mr. Trump said other countries “don’t exactly give you a straight count,” and suggested approval of a vaccine may be held back for political reasons.
SEE ALSO: Trump defends right to fill Supreme Court seat
“We can have it a lot sooner, it’s a very political thing,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Biden, meanwhile, said the coronavirus pandemic has killed so many people because Mr. Trump is a flawed person.
“It is what it is because you are who you are,” he said, before mentioning the president’s early warnings to author Bob Woodward. “He knew all the way back in February how serious this crisis was.”
The former vice president also said Mr. Trump was too trusting of Chinese President Xi Jinping early on.
“He told us what a great job Xi was doing,” Mr. Biden said.
The former vice president told Mr. Trump to rally Congress behind a relief package, citing the economic woe from the disease.
SEE ALSO: Trump-Biden trade barbs over Obamacare in opening of presidential debate
“He sits on his golf course,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Trump said the economy is recovering quickly and that states need to open up because people “know what to do.”
“This guy will close down the whole country and destroy our country,” he said of Mr. Biden.
Mr. Biden responded by saying poorer people and those on the frontline of the fight have been hit the hardest, so opening the country without caution could be deadly.
“You can’t fix the economy until you fix the COVID crisis,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Trump said he’s already done a good job on the virus itself. He pointed to early efforts to make sure patients who needed a ventilator got one, and said his administration has learned how to protect the vulnerable.
“Far fewer people are dying. We’ve done a great job,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump defended his large rallies that are held without social distancing, saying he has moved most of them outside, which is considered safer, and he hasn’t seen a “negative effect” from the rallies. He also said they’re popular.
“People want to hear what I have to say,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump also has been lukewarm in his support for mask-wearing, even as public health experts deem them a vital tool in the fight.
“I put a mask on when I think I need it,” Mr. Trump said. “Tonight, for example, everyone’s had a test.”
Mr. Biden threw his weight behind masks, saying they would save lives, though Mr. Trump pointed to shifting advice from his own advisers, saying they said the opposite early on.
“No serious person said the opposite,” Mr. Biden said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Trump blitzes Biden in high-stakes showdown

A combative President Trump and an exasperated Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden attacked each other constantly in their first presidential debate on Tuesday night , disagreeing bitterly on everything from street crime to health care from start to finish in their high-stakes confrontation .
In a contentious 90-minute-plus contest in which the candidates talked over each other repeatedly and hurled insults frequently , the president and Mr. Biden sparred heatedly over law and order , the sweetheart deals of Mr. Biden ’ s son Hunter , the president ’ s response to the COVID pandemic and the economic recovery .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and again , the Democrat grew visibly frustrated , even telling Mr. Trump , “ Shut up.
” “ You ’ re the worst president America has ever had , ” Mr. Biden told him .
“ Come on .
Keep yapping , man.
” Mr. Trump accused the Democrat of being a puppet for the extreme left in his party on health care , immigration and criminal justice .
“ You ’ re going to extinguish 180 million people with private health care , ” the president told Mr. Biden .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re going to dominate you , Joe , you know that.
” Mr. Biden replied hotly , “ That ’ s very simply not true .
I am the Democratic Party right now.
” “ Folks , do you have any idea what this clown ’ s doing ?
” Mr. Biden asked the prime-time audience .
“ He is not for any help for people needing health care .
He doesn ’ t have a plan .
This man doesn ’ t know what he ’ s talking about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” CNN ’ s Jake Tapper called the debate “ a hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck.
” His colleague , Dana Bash , called it “ a sh— show.
” The president , 74 , came into the debate determined to show undecided voters that he is better able to lead another economic revival and that Mr. Biden has failed American workers over decades in Washington .
Coronavirus shutdowns this spring demolished economic gains from the first three years of Mr. Trump ’ s presidency by throwing 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 caused the deaths of more than 200,000 people in the U.S .
The showdown was likely to be the president ’ s single best chance to shift momentum .
His first debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 drew a record 84 million TV viewers .
Mr. Biden , 77 , took the stage with the more modest goals of a front-runner .
He aimed to show a steady bearing , as a contrast with what he calls Mr. Trump ’ s unpredictable nature , and to hold the president accountable for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the former vice president squared off in Cleveland as the incumbent sought to gain ground on his Democratic challenger , who has held a roughly 7-point lead in national polls during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and an economic recovery that shows signs of slowing .
The president defended his record on health care , saying he has cut drug prices and eliminated the individual mandate of Obamacare .
The two candidates also disagreed heatedly over Mr. Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus crisis .
“ The governors said I did a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ ve done a great job.
” Mr. Biden replied , “ This is his economy that he shut down .
How many of you folks got up this morning and had an empty chair at the kitchen table because someone died of COVID ?
” On the racial-justice demonstrations that have roiled the country this year , Mr. Biden said of the president , “ He just pours gasoline on the fire.
” He accused Mr. Trump of sending racist “ dog whistles ” to his white supporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Biden of being fearful of offending violent leftists .
“ This is not a right-wing problem .
This is a left-wing problem , ” he said .
Mr. Biden cut in , “ Antifa is an idea , not an organization.
” The president replied , “ When a bat hits you over the head , that ’ s not an idea .
Antifa is bad .
Antifa is a dangerous , radical group .
They ’ ll overthrow you if you ’ re president.
” Even the audience of about 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Biden ’ s family and supporters wore masks while seated ; the president ’ s family and supporters didn ’ t .
The president again raised objections to expanded mail-in balloting in several states .
“ I ’ m urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully , ” he said .
“ If I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated , I can ’ t go along with that .
They cheat.
” In the hours before the highly anticipated battle , both sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their favor .
Mr. Biden released his tax returns for 2019 , which showed that he and wife Jill paid $ 346,204 in taxes on income of $ 944,737 .
The filing showed that they obtained a refund of $ 46,858 .
It was an obvious taunt at the president , who paid only $ 750 in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017 , according to a New York Times report this week .
Trump advisers said they were prepared for the tax question to be one of the first issues raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the report isn ’ t accurate but refuses to release his tax returns .
He said he has been under an IRS audit for a decade over a $ 72.9 million refund he received .
The audit does not preclude Mr. Trump from releasing his tax returns .
Mr. Trump said he has paid “ millions ” in taxes , but didn ’ t answer directly Mr. Wallace ’ s question of how much income tax repaid in 2016 and 2017 .
When pressed by the president , Mr. Biden insisted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in his sweetheart deal with a Ukrainian energy company , while Mr. Trump hounded the Democrat repeatedly about his son ’ s alleged payments from Russia .
“ My son did nothing wrong at Burisma , ” Mr. Biden said of Hunter Biden ’ s $ 4 million payment from the company .
“ Why did he deserve $ 3.5 million from Moscow ?
” Mr. Trump demanded , referring to a report by Senate Republicans that Hunter Biden got the money from a wealthy politically connected woman in Russia .
Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the money from Russia .
“ None of that is true , ” Mr. Biden said , shaking his head .
As the president pressed him again about the alleged deal , the Democrat said , “ He doesn ’ t want me to answer because he knows I have the truth .
It ’ s hard to get any word in with this clown.
” Moderator Chris Wallace cut in at one point , saying , “ Gentlemen , I hate to raise my voice .
But why should I be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Meanwhile , a Trump ally , Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican , released declassified information Tuesday that was sure to put former Obama administration officials , Mr. Biden included , on the defensive about Russian meddling in the 2016 election .
A letter from Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe showed that the CIA asked the FBI in 2016 to investigate whether Mrs. Clinton ’ s campaign had approved a plan to distract voters from her email troubles by “ stirring up a scandal ” in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference .
In their pre-debate gamesmanship , Trump campaign officials hammered on their theme that Mr. Biden had lost some cognitive ability and energy .
They said Mr. Biden refused their request to have a third party inspect his ears for electronic devices before taking the stage , implying that they were concerned about possible coaching by a handler offstage .
“ Joe Biden ’ s handlers several days ago agreed to a pre-debate inspection for electronic earpieces but today abruptly reversed themselves and declined , ” said Trump campaign communications director Tim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s handlers asked for “ multiple breaks ” during the debate , which Mr. Trump doesn ’ t need .
“ We have rejected that request , ” Mr. Murtaugh said .
Trump ally Rudolph W. Giuliani went a step further by asserting Tuesday on Fox News that the Democrat is suffering from dementia .
Biden campaign spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield countered that the Democrat wasn ’ t wearing an earpiece and never asked for breaks .
She said the Trump campaign requested that debate moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News not mention the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murtaugh retorted on Twitter , “ This is a lie and it never happened .
This is the height of playing politics with a public health crisis .
Biden is trying to distract from the facts that he won ’ t submit to an inspection for earpieces , won ’ t take a drug test , and needs multiple breaks during the 90-minute debate.
” The debate site was the health education campus of Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic .
The event was moved from the University of Notre Dame because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were made .
Attendance in the debate hall was restricted ; the candidates were allowed only 20 guests each .
Swag bags included hand sanitizer and guidelines for social distancing .
Among the president ’ s guests were Mr. Giuliani , who helped Mr. Trump prepare by playing Mr. Biden in rehearsals ; UFC fighter Colby Covington ; and Alice Johnson , a grandmother and convicted drug offender who received a commutation and pardon from the president .
Mr. Biden ’ s guests included Kristin Urquiza of San Francisco , who lost her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small-business owner from Cleveland Heights , Ohio ; and James Evanoff Jr. , a steelworkers union member from Cleveland .
Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump did not engage in the traditional handshake during introductions as they walked to the podiums .
Because of adequate social distancing in the arena , neither the candidates nor Mr. Wallace wore masks .
The stakes of the race also were unfolding in Washington .
Hours before the debate began , Mr. Trump ’ s third nominee for the Supreme Court , Judge Amy Coney Barrett , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol ahead of her confirmation hearing .
Mr. Biden has objected to the nomination .
He said the vacancy should be filled after the presidential election .
Judge Barrett , of the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , would replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died on Sept. 18 at age 87 .
If confirmed by the Senate , Judge Barrett would give the high court a firm conservative majority .
The president has said he wants a full complement of nine justices in case the election is too close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court .
His campaign is challenging the expansion of mail-in ballots in several states .
Judge Barrett also could provide a deciding vote on the fate of Obamacare if she is seated in time for arguments on Nov. 10 .
The other two presidential debates will be held on Oct. 15 and 22 .

A combative President Trump and an exasperated Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden attacked each other constantly in Tuesday night’s first presidential debate, disagreeing bitterly on everything from street crime to health care from start to finish in their high-stakes confrontation.
In a contentious 90-minute-plus contest in which the candidates talked over each other repeatedly and hurled insults frequently, the president and Mr. Biden sparred heatedly over law and order, the sweetheart deals of Mr. Biden’s son Hunter, the president’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic recovery.
As the president interrupted Mr. Biden time and again, the Democrat grew visibly frustrated, even telling Mr. Trump, “Shut up.”
“You’re the worst president America has ever had,” Mr. Biden told him. “Come on. Keep yapping, man.”
Mr. Trump accused the Democrat of being a puppet for his party’s extreme left on health care, immigration and criminal justice.
“You’re going to extinguish 180 million people with private health care,” the president told Mr. Biden. “Your party wants to go socialist. They’re going to dominate you, Joe, you know that.”
SEE ALSO: Debate winners and losers
Mr. Biden replied hotly, “That’s very simply not true. I am the Democratic Party right now.”
“Folks, do you have any idea what this clown’s doing?” Mr. Biden asked the prime-time audience. “He is not for any help for people needing health care. He doesn’t have a plan. This man doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Everybody knows he’s a liar.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper called the debate “a hot mess inside a dumpster fire inside a train wreck.” His colleague, Dana Bash, called it “a sh—show.”
The president, 74, came into the debate determined to show undecided voters that he is better able to lead another economic revival and that Mr. Biden has failed American workers over decades in Washington.
Coronavirus shutdowns this spring demolished economic gains from the first three years of Mr. Trump’s presidency by throwing 22 million Americans out of work, and COVID-19 caused the deaths of more than 200,000 people in the U.S.
The showdown likely was the president’s single best chance to shift momentum. His first debate against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016 drew a record 84 million TV viewers.
SEE ALSO: Joe Biden: Son Hunter Biden ‘did nothing wrong’ in Ukraine
Mr. Biden, 77, took the stage with the more modest goals of a front-runner. He aimed to show a steady bearing, as a contrast with what he calls Mr. Trump’s unpredictable nature, and to hold the president accountable for the health care crisis.
Mr. Trump and the former vice president squared off in Cleveland as the incumbent sought to gain ground on his Democratic challenger, who has held a roughly 7-point lead in national polls during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and an economic recovery that shows signs of slowing.
The president defended his record on health care, saying he has cut drug prices and eliminated the individual mandate of Obamacare.
The two candidates also disagreed heatedly over Mr. Trump’s response to the coronavirus crisis.
“The governors said I did a phenomenal job,” the president said. “We’ve done a great job.”
Mr. Biden replied, “This is his economy that he shut down. How many of you folks got up this morning and had an empty chair at the kitchen table because someone died of COVID?”
On the racial-justice demonstrations that have roiled the country this year, Mr. Biden said of the president, “He just pours gasoline on the fire.” He accused Mr. Trump of sending racist “dog whistles” to his White supporters.
The president hit back hard, accusing Mr. Biden of being fearful of offending violent leftists.
“This is not a right-wing problem. This is a left-wing problem,” he said.
Mr. Biden cut in, “Antifa is an idea, not an organization.”
The president replied, “When a bat hits you over the head, that’s not an idea. Antifa is bad. Antifa is a dangerous, radical group. They’ll overthrow you if you’re president.”
Even the audience of about 80 in the debate hall was visibly polarized. Mr. Biden’s family and supporters wore masks while seated; the president’s family and supporters didn’t.
The president again raised objections to expanded mail-in balloting in several states.
“I’m urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch very carefully,” he said. “If I see tens of thousands of ballots being manipulated, I can’t go along with that. They cheat.”
In the hours before the highly anticipated battle, both sides tried to tilt the playing field in their favor.
Mr. Biden released his tax returns for 2019, which showed that he and wife Jill paid $346,204 in taxes on income of $944,737. The filing showed that they obtained a refund of $46,858.
It was an obvious taunt at the president, who paid only $750 in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017, according to a New York Times report this week.
Trump advisers said they were prepared for the tax question to be one of the first issues raised in the debate. Mr. Trump has said the report isn’t accurate but refuses to release his tax returns. He said he has been under an IRS audit for a decade over a $72.9 million refund he received.
The audit does not preclude Mr. Trump from releasing his tax returns.
Mr. Trump said he has paid “millions” in taxes, but didn’t answer directly Mr. Wallace’s question of how much income tax repaid in 2016 and 2017.
When pressed by the president on another matter of private finances, Mr. Biden insisted that his son Hunter “did nothing wrong” in his sweetheart deal with a Ukrainian energy company, while Mr. Trump hounded the Democrat repeatedly about his son’s alleged payments from Russia.
“My son did nothing wrong at Burisma,” Mr. Biden said of Hunter Biden’s $4 million payment from the company.
“Why did he deserve $3.5 million from Moscow?” Mr. Trump demanded, referring to a report by Senate Republicans that Hunter Biden got the money from the wife of an ex-mayor of Moscow.
Mr. Biden said his son didn’t get money from Russia.
“None of that is true,” Mr. Biden said, shaking his head.
As the president pressed him again about the alleged deal, the Democrat said, “He doesn’t want me to answer because he knows I have the truth. It’s hard to get any word in with this clown.”
Moderator Chris Wallace cut in at numerous point, saying at one early point, “Gentlemen, I hate to raise my voice. But why should I be different than the two of you?”
Meanwhile, a Trump ally, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, released declassified information Tuesday that was sure to put former Obama administration officials, Mr. Biden included, on the defensive about Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
A letter from Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe showed that the CIA asked the FBI in 2016 to investigate whether Mrs. Clinton’s campaign had approved a plan to distract voters from her email troubles by “stirring up a scandal” in an effort to link Mr. Trump to Russian interference.
In their pre-debate gamesmanship, Trump campaign officials hammered on their theme that Mr. Biden had lost some cognitive ability and energy. They said Mr. Biden refused their request to have a third party inspect his ears for electronic devices before taking the stage, implying that they were concerned about possible coaching by a handler offstage.
“Joe Biden’s handlers several days ago agreed to a pre-debate inspection for electronic earpieces but today abruptly reversed themselves and declined,” said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh.
He said Mr. Biden’s handlers asked for “multiple breaks” during the debate, which Mr. Trump doesn’t need.
“We have rejected that request,” Mr. Murtaugh said.
Trump ally Rudolph W. Giuliani went a step further by asserting Tuesday on Fox News that the Democrat is suffering from dementia.
Biden campaign spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield countered that the Democrat wasn’t wearing an earpiece and never asked for breaks. She said the Trump campaign requested that debate moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News not mention the number of deaths from COVID-19.
Mr. Murtaugh retorted on Twitter, “This is a lie and it never happened. This is the height of playing politics with a public health crisis. Biden is trying to distract from the facts that he won’t submit to an inspection for earpieces, won’t take a drug test, and needs multiple breaks during the 90-minute debate.”
The debate site was the health education campus of Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic. The event was moved from the University of Notre Dame because of coronavirus concerns.
Several other concessions were made. Attendance in the debate hall was restricted; the candidates were allowed only 20 guests each. Swag bags included hand sanitizer and guidelines for social distancing.
Among the president’s guests were Mr. Giuliani, who helped Mr. Trump prepare by playing Mr. Biden in rehearsals; UFC fighter Colby Covington; and Alice Johnson, a grandmother and convicted drug offender who received a commutation and pardon from the president.
Mr. Biden’s guests included Kristin Urquiza of San Francisco, who lost her father to COVID-19; Gurnee Green, a small-business owner from Cleveland Heights, Ohio; and James Evanoff Jr., a steelworkers union member from Cleveland.
Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump did not engage in the traditional handshake during introductions as they walked to the podiums. Because of adequate social distancing in the arena, neither the candidates nor Mr. Wallace wore masks.
The stakes of the race also were unfolding in Washington. Hours before the debate began, Mr. Trump’s third nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, began meeting with Republican senators at the Capitol ahead of her confirmation hearing.
Mr. Biden has objected to the nomination. He said the vacancy should be filled after the presidential election. Judge Barrett, of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, would replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died of pancreatic cancer on Sept. 18 at age 87.
If confirmed by the Senate, Judge Barrett would give the high court a firm conservative majority.
The president has said he wants a full complement of nine justices in case the election is too close to call and ends up in the Supreme Court. His campaign is challenging the expansion of mail-in ballots in several states.
Judge Barrett also could provide a deciding vote on the fate of Obamacare if she is seated in time for arguments on Nov. 10.
The other two presidential debates will be held on Oct. 15 and 22.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-29--Marine jet crashes after mid-air collision in California

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - A Marine Corps fighter jet collided in mid-air with another plane during a refueling operation in a remote desert area of Southern California Tuesday afternoon .
But the pilot ejected and the other aircraft landed safely , the military said .
The F-35B jet collided with a Lockheed Martin KC-130J tanker around 4 p.m. , according to a statement from the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in nearby Arizona .
The jet pilot “ ejected successfully and is currently being treated , ” the statement said .
It didn ’ t provide other details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew members on board .
None were injured .
The F-35B is a single-seat combat aircraft that can take off and land conventionally and vertically .
That plane crashed near the Salton Sea , an inland lake about 100 miles ( 160 kilometers ) northeast of downtown San Diego .
The four-engine turboprop tanker landed in Thermal , a small desert city in Riverside County about 125 miles ( 200 kilometers ) northeast of downtown San Diego .
Photos from the scene posted online by NBC Palm Springs show a military plane on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thermal Airport .
The cause of the crash is under investigation .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear whether the planes were on a routine mission or a training exercise .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A Marine Corps fighter jet collided in mid-air with another plane during a refueling operation in a remote desert area of Southern California Tuesday afternoon. But the pilot ejected and the other aircraft landed safely, the military said.
The F-35B jet collided with a Lockheed Martin KC-130J tanker around 4 p.m., according to a statement from the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in nearby Arizona.
The jet pilot “ejected successfully and is currently being treated,” the statement said. It didn’t provide other details.
The other plane reportedly had eight crew members on board. None were injured.
The F-35B is a single-seat combat aircraft that can take off and land conventionally and vertically. That plane crashed near the Salton Sea, an inland lake about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of downtown San Diego.
The four-engine turboprop tanker landed in Thermal, a small desert city in Riverside County about 125 miles (200 kilometers) northeast of downtown San Diego.
Photos from the scene posted online by NBC Palm Springs show a military plane on its belly in a farm field near Thermal Airport.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the planes were on a routine mission or a training exercise.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Murder trial for Cedar Rapids man moved to 2021

CEDAR RAPIDS , Iowa ( AP ) - The murder trial for a Cedar Rapids man accused of killing another @ @ @ @ @ cigarettes has been moved to 2021 .
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the first-degree @ @ @ @ @ Walker was originally scheduled for November 2 .
A judge agreed to reset the trial @ @ @ @ @ Parrish , Walker ’ s lawyer , asked for more time to prepare his case @ @ @ @ @ to testify .
Walker is accused of fatally shooting 31-year-old Wayne Jones of Cedar Rapids @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities say Walker was at a party smoking other peoples ’ cigarettes when Jones @ @ @ @ @ “ cheap , ” prompting the shooting .

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - The murder trial for a Cedar Rapids man accused of killing another man over a pack of cigarettes has been moved to 2021.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the first-degree murder trial for 37-year-old Jermaine Walker was originally scheduled for November 2. A judge agreed to reset the trial to Jan. 25 after Alfredo Parrish, Walker’s lawyer, asked for more time to prepare his case and possibly retain an expert to testify.
Walker is accused of fatally shooting 31-year-old Wayne Jones of Cedar Rapids on Nov. 2, 2019.
Authorities say Walker was at a party smoking other peoples’ cigarettes when Jones called him out for being “cheap,” prompting the shooting.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--US economy plunges at record rate of 31.4% in second quarter but third quarter likely to post record

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - US economy plunges at record rate of 31.4 % in second quarter but third quarter @ @ @ @ @ .

WASHINGTON (AP) - US economy plunges at record rate of 31.4% in second quarter but third quarter likely to post record increase.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Police look for suspects after trooper dragged by motorcycle

CANTON , Mass .
( AP ) - State Police say a trooper suffered minor injuries Tuesday when he was @ @ @ @ @ a gas station in Canton .
The trooper was trying to talk with two motorcyclists @ @ @ @ @ Route 138 around 10 p.m. after receiving a report of motorcycles racing in the area @ @ @ @ @ , the motorcyclists sped away .
One of them struck the trooper and dragged him @ @ @ @ @ into Route 138 , police say .
The trooper declined to be taken to a @ @ @ @ @ job .
Police have released photos of the suspects and are asking the public to @ @ @ @

CANTON, Mass. (AP) - State Police say a trooper suffered minor injuries Tuesday when he was dragged by a motorcyclist fleeing a gas station in Canton.
The trooper was trying to talk with two motorcyclists at a gas station on Route 138 around 10 p.m. after receiving a report of motorcycles racing in the area.
As the trooper approached, the motorcyclists sped away. One of them struck the trooper and dragged him from the gas station pumps into Route 138, police say. The trooper declined to be taken to a hospital and stayed on the job.
Police have released photos of the suspects and are asking the public to help identify them.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Timothy Ray Brown, 1st person cured of HIV, dies of cancer

Timothy Ray Brown , who made history as “ the Berlin patient , ” the first person known to be cured of HIV infection , has died .
He was 54 .
Brown died Tuesday at his home in Palm Springs , California , according to a social media post by his partner , Tim Hoeffgen .
The cause was a return of the cancer that originally prompted the unusual bone marrow and stem cell transplants Brown received in 2007 and 2008 , which for years seemed to have eliminated both his leukemia and HIV , the virus that causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is possible , under special circumstances , ” to rid a patient of HIV — something that many scientists had doubted could be done , said Dr. Gero Huetter , the Berlin physician who led Brown ’ s historic treatment .
“ It ’ s a very sad situation ” that cancer returned and took his life , because he still seemed free of HIV , said Huetter , who is now medical director of a stem cell company in Dresden , Germany .
The International AIDS Society , which had Brown speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment , issued a statement mourning his death and said he and Huetter are owed “ a great deal of gratitude ” for promoting research on a cure .
Brown was working in Berlin as a translator when he was diagnosed with HIV and then later , leukemia .
Transplants are known to be an effective treatment for the blood cancer , but Huetter wanted to try to cure the HIV infection as well by using a donor with a rare gene mutation that gives natural resistance to the AIDS virus .
Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only partly successful : His HIV seemed to be gone but his leukemia was not .
He had a second transplant from the same donor in 2008 and that one seemed to work .
But his cancer returned last year , Brown said in a recent interview with The Associated Press .
“ I ’ m still glad that I had it , ” he said of his transplant .
“ It opened up doors that weren ’ t there before ” and inspired scientists to work harder to find a cure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adam Castillejo — called “ the London patient ” until he revealed his identity earlier this year — also is believed to have been cured by a transplant similar to Brown ’ s in 2016 .
Because such donors are rare and transplants are medically risky , researchers have been testing gene therapy and other ways to try to get a similar effect .
At an AIDS conference in July , researchers said they may have achieved a long-term remission in a Brazil man by using a powerful combination of drugs meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark King , a Baltimore man who writes a blog , said Brown “ was just this magnet for people living with HIV , like me , ” and embodied the hope for a cure .
“ He has said from the beginning , ‘ I don ’ t want to be the only one .
They have to keep working on this , ’ ” King said .

Timothy Ray Brown, who made history as “the Berlin patient,” the first person known to be cured of HIV infection, has died. He was 54.
Brown died Tuesday at his home in Palm Springs, California, according to a social media post by his partner, Tim Hoeffgen. The cause was a return of the cancer that originally prompted the unusual bone marrow and stem cell transplants Brown received in 2007 and 2008, which for years seemed to have eliminated both his leukemia and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
“Timothy symbolized that it is possible, under special circumstances,” to rid a patient of HIV — something that many scientists had doubted could be done, said Dr. Gero Huetter, the Berlin physician who led Brown’s historic treatment.
“It’s a very sad situation” that cancer returned and took his life, because he still seemed free of HIV, said Huetter, who is now medical director of a stem cell company in Dresden, Germany.
The International AIDS Society, which had Brown speak at an AIDS conference after his successful treatment, issued a statement mourning his death and said he and Huetter are owed “a great deal of gratitude” for promoting research on a cure.
Brown was working in Berlin as a translator when he was diagnosed with HIV and then later, leukemia. Transplants are known to be an effective treatment for the blood cancer, but Huetter wanted to try to cure the HIV infection as well by using a donor with a rare gene mutation that gives natural resistance to the AIDS virus.
Brown’s first transplant in 2007 was only partly successful: His HIV seemed to be gone but his leukemia was not. He had a second transplant from the same donor in 2008 and that one seemed to work.
But his cancer returned last year, Brown said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
“I’m still glad that I had it,” he said of his transplant.
“It opened up doors that weren’t there before” and inspired scientists to work harder to find a cure, Brown said.
A second man, Adam Castillejo — called “the London patient” until he revealed his identity earlier this year — also is believed to have been cured by a transplant similar to Brown’s in 2016.
Because such donors are rare and transplants are medically risky, researchers have been testing gene therapy and other ways to try to get a similar effect. At an AIDS conference in July, researchers said they may have achieved a long-term remission in a Brazil man by using a powerful combination of drugs meant to flush dormant HIV from his body.
Mark King, a Baltimore man who writes a blog, said Brown “was just this magnet for people living with HIV, like me,” and embodied the hope for a cure.
“He has said from the beginning, ‘I don’t want to be the only one. They have to keep working on this,’” King said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Mercer County sheriff to plead guilty to drunken driving

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - Mercer County ’ s sheriff will plead guilty to driving while intoxicated , according to his attorney .
A jury trial for Sheriff Dean Danzeisen scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled .
Danzeisen was cited for driving under the influence in Bismarck last January .
The charge says the sheriff ’ s blood alcohol content was 0.19 , more than twice the legal limit for driving .
Danzeisen initially pleaded not guilty and requested the case by moved to district court and heard by a jury .
His defense attorney , Christopher Redmann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guilty plea was that Danzeisen wanted to avoid involving other law officers in a trial , the Bismarck Tribune reported .
Redmann says terms of the plea will place Danzeisen on 360 days of unsupervised probation .
He also will complete a chemical dependency evaluation .
County Commission Chairman Marvin Schwehr says he wants more information about the plea and how the outcome of the case might affect the county .
Schwehr says commissioners haven ’ t been told anything about the DUI case .
Danzeisen has been the county ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Mercer County’s sheriff will plead guilty to driving while intoxicated, according to his attorney.
A jury trial for Sheriff Dean Danzeisen scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled. Danzeisen was cited for driving under the influence in Bismarck last January. The charge says the sheriff’s blood alcohol content was 0.19, more than twice the legal limit for driving.
Danzeisen initially pleaded not guilty and requested the case by moved to district court and heard by a jury.
His defense attorney, Christopher Redmann, says the primary reason for entering the guilty plea was that Danzeisen wanted to avoid involving other law officers in a trial, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
Redmann says terms of the plea will place Danzeisen on 360 days of unsupervised probation. He also will complete a chemical dependency evaluation.
County Commission Chairman Marvin Schwehr says he wants more information about the plea and how the outcome of the case might affect the county. Schwehr says commissioners haven’t been told anything about the DUI case.
Danzeisen has been the county’s sheriff for more than 17 years.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Iowa park renamed to honor activist

Iowa park renamed to honor activist

MARION , Iowa ( AP ) - An Iowa park will be renamed to honor a Keskwaki activist , removing @ @ @ @ @ long been part of the park ’ s name .
The Linn County Conservation Board @ @ @ @ @ of Squaw Creek Park will change to Wanatee Park .
The park in Marion was @ @ @ @ @ the local settlers ’ name for the creek .
The conservation board said in a @ @ @ @ @ word “ squaw ” is offensive , it decided to remove its use in public @ @ @ @ @ The Conservation Board supports a spirit of inclusion for everyone , and a name that @ @ @ @ @ as a slur should no longer be validated , ” Linn County Conservation Executive Director @ @ @ @ @ new name honors Jean Adeline Morgan Wanatee , who died in 1996 .
She was @ @ @ @ @ Women ’ s Hall of Fame in 1993 for her work in the Meskwaki Nation @ @ @ @ @ ’ s rights across the U.S .

MARION, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa park will be renamed to honor a Keskwaki activist, removing a derogatory term that has long been part of the park’s name.
The Linn County Conservation Board on Monday said the name of Squaw Creek Park will change to Wanatee Park. The park in Marion was originally named in 1964 after the local settlers’ name for the creek.
The conservation board said in a news release that because the word “squaw” is offensive, it decided to remove its use in public buildings and spaces.
“The Conservation Board supports a spirit of inclusion for everyone, and a name that is derogatory and widely accepted as a slur should no longer be validated,” Linn County Conservation Executive Director Dennis Goemaat said.
The new name honors Jean Adeline Morgan Wanatee, who died in 1996. She was was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 for her work in the Meskwaki Nation and in support of women’s rights across the U.S.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Election 2020 Today: Chaotic first debate, taunts fly

HOW TO VOTE : AP ’ s state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election .
CHAOTIC FIRST DEBATE : The first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden deteriorated into bitter taunts and near chaos as Trump repeatedly interrupted his opponent with angry - and personal - jabs that sometimes overshadowed the sharply different visions each man has for a nation facing historic crises .
The two men frequently talked over each other with Trump interrupting , nearly shouting , so often that Biden eventually snapped at him , “ Will you shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BACK AND STAND BY ’ : Trump didn ’ t condemn white supremacist groups and their role in violence in some American cities this summer , branding it solely a “ left-wing ” problem .
Trump acknowledged one far-right extremist group , Proud Boys , by name .
The group ’ s leaders and supporters later celebrated the president ’ s words on social media .
MAIL VOTING : Trump continued his assault on the integrity of the U.S. elections , spreading falsehoods about the security of voting and misrepresenting issues with mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail voting has proved to be safe and secure in the five states that already use it broadly .
And while some irregularities and errors have occurred in the early vote , Trump mischaracterized those incidents .
CHRIS WALLACE : The Fox News host had the near-impossible task of trying to control the first presidential debate as its moderator , and continually expressed frustration with his role .
He lectured and cajoled Trump , urging him to follow the rules and not interrupt opponent Joe Biden .
For much of the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has spent millions trying to secure the state ’ s six electoral votes , but several recent polls show a surprisingly close race with Biden .
After Trump won Iowa by 9.4 percentage points in 2016 , a competitive presidential race there suggests a tightening in other states he won by similar margins , such as Ohio , and potential peril in those he won by smaller margins .
BY THE NUMBERS : According to an AP Fact Check , Trump administration travel restrictions that took effect Feb. 2 continued to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territories of Hong Kong and Macao .
The AP reported that more than 8,000 Chinese and foreign nationals based in the two locales entered the U.S. in the first three months after the travel restrictions were imposed .
Additionally , more than 27,000 Americans returned from mainland China in the first month after the restrictions took effect .
Trump facing devastating debt load ?
Experts say not so fast Democrats try to stick to health care in Supreme Court fight

Here’s what’s happening Wednesday in Election 2020, 34 days until Election Day:
HOW TO VOTE: AP’s state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election.
ON THE TRAIL: President Donald Trump visits Minnesota.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES:
CHAOTIC FIRST DEBATE: The first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden deteriorated into bitter taunts and near chaos as Trump repeatedly interrupted his opponent with angry - and personal - jabs that sometimes overshadowed the sharply different visions each man has for a nation facing historic crises. The two men frequently talked over each other with Trump interrupting, nearly shouting, so often that Biden eventually snapped at him, “Will you shut up, man?”
‘STAND BACK AND STAND BY’: Trump didn’t condemn white supremacist groups and their role in violence in some American cities this summer, branding it solely a “left-wing” problem. Trump acknowledged one far-right extremist group, Proud Boys, by name. The group’s leaders and supporters later celebrated the president’s words on social media.
MAIL VOTING: Trump continued his assault on the integrity of the U.S. elections, spreading falsehoods about the security of voting and misrepresenting issues with mail-in ballots. The AP has found that mail voting has proved to be safe and secure in the five states that already use it broadly. And while some irregularities and errors have occurred in the early vote, Trump mischaracterized those incidents.
CHRIS WALLACE: The Fox News host had the near-impossible task of trying to control the first presidential debate as its moderator, and continually expressed frustration with his role. He lectured and cajoled Trump, urging him to follow the rules and not interrupt opponent Joe Biden. For much of the time, it was futile.
IOWA BATTLEGROUND: Trump has spent millions trying to secure the state’s six electoral votes, but several recent polls show a surprisingly close race with Biden. After Trump won Iowa by 9.4 percentage points in 2016, a competitive presidential race there suggests a tightening in other states he won by similar margins, such as Ohio, and potential peril in those he won by smaller margins.
BY THE NUMBERS: According to an AP Fact Check, Trump administration travel restrictions that took effect Feb. 2 continued to allow travel to the U.S. from the Chinese territories of Hong Kong and Macao. The AP reported that more than 8,000 Chinese and foreign nationals based in the two locales entered the U.S. in the first three months after the travel restrictions were imposed. Additionally, more than 27,000 Americans returned from mainland China in the first month after the restrictions took effect.
ICYMI:
Trump facing devastating debt load? Experts say not so fast
Democrats try to stick to health care in Supreme Court fight


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Ford recalls over 700K vehicles; backup cameras can go dark

DETROIT ( AP ) - Ford is recalling more than 700,000 vehicles in North America because the backup cameras can @ @ @ @ @ go dark .
The recall covers most 2020 versions of Ford ’ s F-Series trucks @ @ @ @ @ 2020 Explorer , Mustang , Transit , Expedition , Escape , Ranger and Edge .
@ @ @ @ @ Nautilus and Corsair .
F-Series trucks are the top-selling vehicle in the U.S .
The @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday by the U.S. government ’ s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a poor @ @ @ @ @ problem .
Ford says it doesn ’ t know of any crashes or injuries caused @ @ @ @ @ will replace the rearview camera at no cost to owners .
The recall is expected @ @ @ @ @

DETROIT (AP) - Ford is recalling more than 700,000 vehicles in North America because the backup cameras can show distorted images or suddenly go dark.
The recall covers most 2020 versions of Ford’s F-Series trucks, as well as the 2020 Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge. Also included are the Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair. F-Series trucks are the top-selling vehicle in the U.S.
The company says in documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a poor electrical connection is causing the problem.
Ford says it doesn’t know of any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.
Dealers will replace the rearview camera at no cost to owners. The recall is expected to start Nov. 7.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Police: Man wanted for shooting at officers found dead

GLASGOW PINES , Del .
( AP ) - Police in Delaware say that a man who was wanted for @ @ @ @ @ found dead in an apparent suicide .
The News Journal reported Tuesday that police said @ @ @ @ @ dead in a home in Pennsylvania .
Authorities in Delaware had offered a $ 25,000 @ @ @ @ @ Edwards ’ arrest .
New Castle County police that Edwards had shot at officers in @ @ @ @ @ to arrest him during an investigation of shots being fired .
New Castle County police @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday that Edwards was inside a home in Coatesville , Pennsylvania .
Police there went @ @ @ @ @ a perimeter because Edwards was believed to be armed .
Police said there were numerous @ @ @ @ @ of the home .
Police said officers went inside and found Edwards dead .
“ @ @ @ @ @ our officers and the Edwards family in prayer , ” said New Castle County Police @ @ @ @ @ .

GLASGOW PINES, Del. (AP) - Police in Delaware say a man who was wanted for shooting at officers has been found dead in an apparent suicide.
The News Journal reported Tuesday that police said Khairon Edwards was found dead in a home in Pennsylvania.
Authorities in Delaware had offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to Edwards’ arrest. New Castle County police said Edwards had shot at officers in Glasgow Pines when they tried to arrest him during an investigation of shots being fired.
New Castle County police said detectives received information Tuesday that Edwards was inside a home in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Police there went to the home and formed a perimeter because Edwards was believed to be armed.
Police said there were numerous attempts to get him out of the home. Police said officers went inside and found Edwards dead.
“We ask that you keep our officers and the Edwards family in prayer,” New Castle County Police Chief Col. Vaughn Bond Jr. said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Cardinal George Pell returns to Rome after acquittal on sex abuse charges to find  Vatican mired in

ROME ( AP ) - Cardinal George Pell returns to Rome after acquittal on sex abuse charges to find Vatican @ @ @ @ @

ROME (AP) - Cardinal George Pell returns to Rome after acquittal on sex abuse charges to find Vatican mired in financial scandal.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Former day care director sentenced for embezzling, stealing

DES MOINES , Iowa ( AP ) - The former director of an Iowa day care center has been sentenced @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 110,000 from the center and using the money on video games , @ @ @ @ @ The Des Moines Register reports that 49-year-old Kristine Daniel of Kellogg pleaded guilty to theft @ @ @ @ @ year , and was sentenced Monday in federal court to four months in prison and @ @ @ @ @ detention .
A three-year supervised release was also ordered once her sentence concludes .
Daniel @ @ @ @ @ Tama County Day Care Inc. while serving as executive director .

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The former director of an Iowa day care center has been sentenced to prison for illegally taking more than $110,000 from the center and using the money on video games, clothing and other items.
The Des Moines Register reports that 49-year-old Kristine Daniel of Kellogg pleaded guilty to theft of a federal program last year, and was sentenced Monday in federal court to four months in prison and another four months in home detention. A three-year supervised release was also ordered once her sentence concludes.
Daniel admitted to stealing money from Tama County Day Care Inc. while serving as executive director.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--5 men wounded when shooter opens fire at Philadelphia home

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - A man armed with a gun walked up to a Philadelphia home and shot five @ @ @ @ @ front porch , critically injuring one victim .
It wasn ’ t clear what sparked @ @ @ @ @ around 11:50 p.m. Tuesday .
Authorities said there were no reports of any confrontation at @ @ @ @ @ erupted , adding that the shooter fled the scene on foot and remained at large @ @ @ @ @ who authorities said range in age from 28 to 56 , were hanging out on @ @ @ @ @ shots rang out .
All five ran into the home after they were wounded .
@ @ @ @ @ in the stomach was hospitalized in critical condition , while the other four were being @ @ @ @ @ Those victims were all in stable condition .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A man armed with a gun walked up to a Philadelphia home and shot five men who were on the front porch, critically injuring one victim.
It wasn’t clear what sparked the shooting, which occurred around 11:50 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities said there were no reports of any confrontation at the home before the gunfire erupted, adding that the shooter fled the scene on foot and remained at large Wednesday.
The victims, who authorities said range in age from 28 to 56, were hanging out on the front porch when the shots rang out. All five ran into the home after they were wounded.
One man who was shot in the stomach was hospitalized in critical condition, while the other four were being treated for undisclosed wounds. Those victims were all in stable condition.


washingtontimes--2020-09-30--Omaha police plan review after man shot himself in jail

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - Omaha police plan an an internal investigation after a man shot himself @ @ @ @ @ .
The Omaha World-Herald reports that 22-year-old Brandon Jennings is hospitalized in critical condition .
@ @ @ @ @ unclear how Jennings concealed the small gun used in the shooting .
Jennings was arrested @ @ @ @ @ assault and carjacking .
Police say Jennings allegedly approached a woman , who a witness @ @ @ @ @ girlfriend , as she dropped off her child at a babysitter ’ s home .
@ @ @ @ @ woman and took her vehicle .
He was later arrested and taken to the jail @ @ @ @ @ jail personnel before shooting himself .

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Omaha police plan an an internal investigation after a man shot himself inside the Douglas County Jail.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that 22-year-old Brandon Jennings is hospitalized in critical condition. Police say it’s unclear how Jennings concealed the small gun used in the shooting.
Jennings was arrested Sunday on suspicion of domestic assault and carjacking. Police say Jennings allegedly approached a woman, who a witness told officers was Jennings’ girlfriend, as she dropped off her child at a babysitter’s home.
Police say Jennings assaulted the woman and took her vehicle. He was later arrested and taken to the jail, where he allegedly threatened jail personnel before shooting himself.