washingtontimes--2020-10-03--Albuquerque airport has gradual increase in plane travelers

ALBUQUERQUE ( AP ) - Demand for flights in New Mexico ’ s Albuquerque International Sunport are low compared to normal , but there has been a gradual increase in travelers since April .
“ A few months ago , it looked kind of like a ghost town , ” Sunport Spokesperson Jonathan Small said .
“ There were very few people in the terminal in general , and nowadays , it ’ s looking a little more like an airport.
” A flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City returned to the Albuquerque airport recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the route to and from Queens as midday flights on Sundays and Thursdays , KRQE-TV reported .
The route was canceled in May when traffic at the New Mexico airport was down 90 % from the same time last year , Small said .
In August , passenger numbers were down 77 % from the same time in 2019 .
Now , traffic is down 71 % from the same time last year , with about 4,800 travelers every day .
There have been 30,000 confirmed cases and 887 confirmed deaths from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began , according to New Mexico ’ s Department of Health .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia @ @ @ @

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Demand for flights in New Mexico’s Albuquerque International Sunport are low compared to normal, but there has been a gradual increase in travelers since April.
“A few months ago, it looked kind of like a ghost town,” Sunport Spokesperson Jonathan Small said. “There were very few people in the terminal in general, and nowadays, it’s looking a little more like an airport.”
A flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City returned to the Albuquerque airport recently. JetBlue said it is bringing back the route to and from Queens as midday flights on Sundays and Thursdays, KRQE-TV reported. The route was canceled in May when traffic at the New Mexico airport was down 90% from the same time last year, Small said.
In August, passenger numbers were down 77% from the same time in 2019. Now, traffic is down 71% from the same time last year, with about 4,800 travelers every day.
There have been 30,000 confirmed cases and 887 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus in the state since the pandemic began, according to New Mexico’s Department of Health.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-10-03--3 more LA officers accused of false gang identifications

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Three more Los Angeles police officers have been charged with falsifying information on field interview cards .
The charges mean a total of six officers have been accused in the growing gang-labeling scandal .
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced the charges Friday , alleging that the officers falsified information used to enter the names of people they had stopped on the street into a statewide gang database , the Los Angeles Times reported .
“ In all three cases , the defendants are accused of writing on the card that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even though body-worn camera video showed the defendants either never asked the individuals about their gang membership , or the individuals denied gang membership if they were asked , ” Lacey ’ s office said .
Officer Rene Braga is charged with filing a false police report and preparing false evidence .
Officers Raul Uribe and Julio Garcia have each been charged with preparing false documentary evidence .
The officers could not immediately be reached for comment by the Times on Friday , and it was not immediately clear if they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
The three are set to be arraigned in February 2021 .
Braga faces up to three years and eight months in prison .
Uribe and Garcia both face up to three years in prison .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Three more Los Angeles police officers have been charged with falsifying information on field interview cards.
The charges mean a total of six officers have been accused in the growing gang-labeling scandal.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced the charges Friday, alleging that the officers falsified information used to enter the names of people they had stopped on the street into a statewide gang database, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“In all three cases, the defendants are accused of writing on the card that a person admitted to being a gang member, even though body-worn camera video showed the defendants either never asked the individuals about their gang membership, or the individuals denied gang membership if they were asked,” Lacey’s office said.
Officer Rene Braga is charged with filing a false police report and preparing false evidence. Officers Raul Uribe and Julio Garcia have each been charged with preparing false documentary evidence.
The officers could not immediately be reached for comment by the Times on Friday, and it was not immediately clear if they had attorneys. The alleged incidents occurred in 2018.
The three are set to be arraigned in February 2021. Braga faces up to three years and eight months in prison. Uribe and Garcia both face up to three years in prison.


washingtontimes--2020-10-03--Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie checks into hospital as 'precautionary measure'; has 'mild sym

MORRISTOWN , N.J. ( AP ) - Former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie checks into hospital as ‘ precautionary @ @ @ @ @ mild symptoms ’ of COVID-19 .

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) - Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie checks into hospital as ‘precautionary measure’; has ‘mild symptoms’ of COVID-19.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-10-03--Ex-Bridgeport officials expected to plead guilty to fraud

BRIDGEPORT , Conn. ( AP ) - The former police chief of Connecticut ’ s largest city and another former official are expected to plead guilty Monday in their federal fraud case .
A change of plea hearing is scheduled for former Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez and former acting Personnel Director David Dunn .
Perez and Dunn resigned last month after being arrested on federal fraud charges .
They are accused of rigging the process that led to the city hiring Perez as chief in 2018 .
Both were charged with wire fraud , conspiracy to commit wire fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dunn will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making a false statement , his attorney , Fred Paoletti , said in an email .
According to the criminal complaint , Dunn gave answers to the oral portion of the police chief exam and other materials to Perez and tailored the scoring criteria for that exam in Perez ’ s favor .
Perez , investigators said , also had two police officers secretly take the written portion of the exam for him .
Email and telephone messages seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s attorney .
Public access to the change of plea hearing will be available via video , according to the U.S. District Court docket .

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) - The former police chief of Connecticut’s largest city and another former official are expected to plead guilty Monday in their federal fraud case.
A change of plea hearing is scheduled for former Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez and former acting Personnel Director David Dunn.
Perez and Dunn resigned last month after being arrested on federal fraud charges. They are accused of rigging the process that led to the city hiring Perez as chief in 2018.
Both were charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and with making false statements to investigators.
Dunn will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making a false statement, his attorney, Fred Paoletti, said in an email.
According to the criminal complaint, Dunn gave answers to the oral portion of the police chief exam and other materials to Perez and tailored the scoring criteria for that exam in Perez’s favor.
Perez, investigators said, also had two police officers secretly take the written portion of the exam for him.
Email and telephone messages seeking comment were left Saturday for Perez’s attorney.
Public access to the change of plea hearing will be available via video, according to the U.S. District Court docket.


washingtontimes--2020-10-03--Missouri man hits his head, drowns in Mississippi River

ST. CHARLES , Mo .
( AP ) - A Missouri man has drowned after tumbling down an embankment , @ @ @ @ @ into the Mississippi River , authorities say .
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said 66-year-old @ @ @ @ @ ’ Fallon , Missouri , was pronounced dead at the scene Friday afternoon at Two @ @ @ @ @ ’ t clear what led Sanbothe to fall down the embankment in St. Charles County @

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri man has drowned after tumbling down an embankment, hitting his head and falling into the Mississippi River, authorities say.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said 66-year-old Robert Sandbothe, of O’Fallon, Missouri, was pronounced dead at the scene Friday afternoon at Two Branch Marina.
It wasn’t clear what led Sanbothe to fall down the embankment in St. Charles County.


washingtontimes--2020-10-03--Winning filly: Swiss Skydiver beats Authentic in Preakness

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - Those hanging around the heavily restricted stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course this week joked around that Authentic would stare down filly Swiss Skydiver whenever she walked past .
“ He got a good look at her today , ” jockey Robby Albarado said .
Swiss Skydiver added one final memorable moment to cap off a topsy-turvy Triple Crown season , beating favored Authentic by a neck after a stretch duel in the Preakness Stakes run without fans Saturday .
She became the sixth filly and first since Rachel Alexandra in 2009 to win the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third leg of the Triple Crown for the first time .
“ She ’ s just such a special filly , ” said trainer Kenny McPeek , who won the Preakness for the first time for his second Triple Crown race victory .
“ Just a real honor to be around a horse like this.
” Jesus ’ Team was a distant third at 40-1 and Art Collector fourth at 2-1 .
The 145th running of the Preakness at a mostly empty Pimlico came four weeks after the Kentucky Derby and 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were held out of order for the first time since the 1930s .
At 11-1 odds , Swiss Skydiver pulled off an upset of 3-2 favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic .
Albarado made a powerful move around the final turn that would usually come right by revelers in the infield unable to catch a glimpse of the home stretch .
“ I had an opportunity , ” said Albarado , who won his second Preakness after 2007 aboard Curlin .
“ I took advantage of the rail .
Johnny stayed off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move at that time .
Give or take now .
If I make that move now or I wait and get smothered.
” McPeek won a Triple Crown race for the first time since the 2002 Belmont with Sarava , which was the biggest upset in the history of that race .
Swiss Skydiver was the first filly to run in the Preakness since 2014 , when Ria Antonia finished last .
“ I didn ’ t feel that much tension really , ” McPeek said .
“ I felt like we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , things have to go your way .
But every day she was happy , she was bright-eyed.
” It went Swiss Skydiver ’ s way in part because Authentic ’ s Hall of Fame jockey , John Velazquez , abandoned the rail , giving Albarado the lane for a near-perfect trip .
“ That ’ s a good filly , ” said Authentic and Thousand Words trainer Bob Baffert , who was denied a record-breaking eighth Preakness victory .
“ He had every chance to get by her .
He got beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by her .
She dug in .
She ’ s tough.
” Swiss Skydiver avenged her loss in her only other competition against colts , when she finished second to Art Collector in the Blue Grass Stakes on July 11 .
She since won the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 15 and finished second in the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 .
“ She continues to get stronger , and it ’ s amazing , ” McPeek said .
“ I ’ ve been doing this for 35 years and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run them and they come back tired .
She never gets tired .
If anything , she makes me tried dragging me around the barn every day.
” Swiss Skydiver ran 1 3/16 miles in 1:53.28 and paid $ 25.40 to win , $ 8.40 to place and $ 5.80 to show .
The Preakness was run with only owners , trainers and essential personnel in attendance , a far cry from the usual mid-May party with patrons in fancy hats and suits in some areas of the track and revelers in shorts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after canceling the annual infield concert and festivities , the Maryland Jockey Club and Stronach Group that owns Pimlico hoped back in the spring that moving the race to the fall would allow for the possibility of having fans .
Instead , all three Triple Crown races went on without them .
Swiss Skydiver made it so each Triple Crown race in 2020 had a different winner .
McPeek said he likely wouldn ’ t have entered her in the Preakness had Belmont winner Tiz the Law run , but trainer Barclay Tagg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Breeders ’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 .
Swiss Skydiver is a candidate to challenge them in the Breeders ’ Cup Classic or could face older fillies and mares in the Distaff .
McPeek is leaning toward the Distaff but will give it some time to make that decision and enjoy the big victory his horse gave him in the Preakness .
“ It looked like Authentic got his head in front a little bit and then she fought right back , ” McPeek said .
“ There ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve had some tough beats : second in the Derby , been second in a bunch of Breeders ’ Cup races , third here in the Preakness years back .
But I ’ m just thrilled she fought on .
”

BALTIMORE — Those hanging around the heavily restricted stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course this week joked around that Authentic would stare down filly Swiss Skydiver whenever she walked past.
“He got a good look at her today,” jockey Robby Albarado said.
Swiss Skydiver added one final memorable moment to cap off a topsy-turvy Triple Crown season, beating favored Authentic by a neck after a stretch duel in the Preakness Stakes run without fans Saturday. She became the sixth filly and first since Rachel Alexandra in 2009 to win the Preakness, which this year served as the third leg of the Triple Crown for the first time.
“She’s just such a special filly,” said trainer Kenny McPeek, who won the Preakness for the first time for his second Triple Crown race victory. “Just a real honor to be around a horse like this.”
Jesus’ Team was a distant third at 40-1 and Art Collector fourth at 2-1. The 145th running of the Preakness at a mostly empty Pimlico came four weeks after the Kentucky Derby and 3 1/2 months since the Belmont as they were held out of order for the first time since the 1930s.
At 11-1 odds, Swiss Skydiver pulled off an upset of 3-2 favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. Albarado made a powerful move around the final turn that would usually come right by revelers in the infield unable to catch a glimpse of the home stretch.
“I had an opportunity,” said Albarado, who won his second Preakness after 2007 aboard Curlin. “I took advantage of the rail. Johnny stayed off the fence there, made a conscious decision to move at that time. Give or take now. If I make that move now or I wait and get smothered.”
McPeek won a Triple Crown race for the first time since the 2002 Belmont with Sarava, which was the biggest upset in the history of that race. Swiss Skydiver was the first filly to run in the Preakness since 2014, when Ria Antonia finished last.
“I didn’t feel that much tension really,” McPeek said. “I felt like we had her well-prepared. Any horse race, things have to go your way. But every day she was happy, she was bright-eyed.”
It went Swiss Skydiver’s way in part because Authentic’s Hall of Fame jockey, John Velazquez, abandoned the rail, giving Albarado the lane for a near-perfect trip.
“That’s a good filly,” said Authentic and Thousand Words trainer Bob Baffert, who was denied a record-breaking eighth Preakness victory. “He had every chance to get by her. He got beat. He just couldn’t get by her. She dug in. She’s tough.”
Swiss Skydiver avenged her loss in her only other competition against colts, when she finished second to Art Collector in the Blue Grass Stakes on July 11. She since won the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 15 and finished second in the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4.
“She continues to get stronger, and it’s amazing,” McPeek said. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years and you’re around horses and sometimes you run them and they come back tired. She never gets tired. If anything, she makes me tried dragging me around the barn every day.”
Swiss Skydiver ran 1 3/16 miles in 1:53.28 and paid $25.40 to win, $8.40 to place and $5.80 to show.
The Preakness was run with only owners, trainers and essential personnel in attendance, a far cry from the usual mid-May party with patrons in fancy hats and suits in some areas of the track and revelers in shorts and T-shirts in the infield.
Even after canceling the annual infield concert and festivities, the Maryland Jockey Club and Stronach Group that owns Pimlico hoped back in the spring that moving the race to the fall would allow for the possibility of having fans. Instead, all three Triple Crown races went on without them.
Swiss Skydiver made it so each Triple Crown race in 2020 had a different winner. McPeek said he likely wouldn’t have entered her in the Preakness had Belmont winner Tiz the Law run, but trainer Barclay Tagg gave him a rest to point him to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7.
Swiss Skydiver is a candidate to challenge them in the Breeders’ Cup Classic or could face older fillies and mares in the Distaff. McPeek is leaning toward the Distaff but will give it some time to make that decision and enjoy the big victory his horse gave him in the Preakness.
“It looked like Authentic got his head in front a little bit and then she fought right back,” McPeek said. “There’s no guarantees in this game, and I’ve had some tough beats: second in the Derby, been second in a bunch of Breeders’ Cup races, third here in the Preakness years back. But I’m just thrilled she fought on.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-03--New Mexico reports 298 additional COVID cases, 3 more deaths

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - New Mexico officials on Saturday reported 298 additional known COVID-19 cases and @ @ @ @ @ the statewide totals to 30,296 cases with 890 deaths .
The additional cases included 75 @ @ @ @ @ in Dona Ana County , 32 in Chaves County , 22 in Lea County and @ @ @ @ @ The three deaths occurred one each in Bernalillo , Curry and Dona Ana counties and @ @ @ @ @ or 80s with underlying conditions .
The number of infections is thought to be far @ @ @ @ @ not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without @ @ @ @ @ people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and @ @ @ @ @ two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing @ @ @ @ @ cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico officials on Saturday reported 298 additional known COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, increasing the statewide totals to 30,296 cases with 890 deaths.
The additional cases included 75 in Bernalillo County, 67 in Dona Ana County, 32 in Chaves County, 22 in Lea County and 20 in Curry County.
The three deaths occurred one each in Bernalillo, Curry and Dona Ana counties and involving people in their 70s or 80s with underlying conditions.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
In other developments:
- The Navajo Nation, which sprawls across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, reported 17 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths Saturday. The total number of deaths related to the virus on the huge reservation remains at 558, and the total number of cases is now 10,421.


washingtontimes--2020-10-03--SUV strikes school bus carrying 13, flees; 7 report pain

NEWARK , N.J. ( AP ) - Authorities say a driver struck a school bus carrying 13 people in New @ @ @ @ @ half with complaints of pain , and then fled the scene .
A black sport @ @ @ @ @ from behind at about 3:45 p.m. Saturday in Newark , NJ.com reported .
Five students @ @ @ @ @ pain , but no other injuries were reported , a police spokeswoman said .
There @ @ @ @ @ whether anyone was taken to a hospital .
The accident is under investigation and no @ @ @ @ @

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Authorities say a driver struck a school bus carrying 13 people in New Jersey, leaving more than half with complaints of pain, and then fled the scene.
A black sport utility vehicle struck the bus from behind at about 3:45 p.m. Saturday in Newark, NJ.com reported.
Five students and two adults complained of pain, but no other injuries were reported, a police spokeswoman said. There was no immediate word on whether anyone was taken to a hospital.
The accident is under investigation and no arrests were immediately reported.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Pentagon scrambles to improve information and intelligence warfare amid China's rise

The Pentagon needs better weapons for waging warfare below the level of conventional military conflict — such as information and intelligence warfare capabilities — to win against strategic competitors , according to a report by the Defense Science Board .
“ Gray Zone ” warfare capabilities include better cyberweapons , information warfare capabilities , economic and commercial warfare tools and new multidomain military systems , the Pentagon advisory panel stated in an executive summary .
“ The study findings emphasized creative ways and means beyond traditional weapons systems to achieve National Defense Strategy objectives , ” Craig Fields and Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a preface .
The 2017 defense strategy for the first time in decades recognized China as the United States ’ most significant strategic competitor , along with Russia .
Neither state was mentioned in the summary of the board ’ s report , “ The Future of U.S. Military Superiority.
” The Pentagon and other U.S. national security forces need “ to be more aggressive in the Gray Zone and treat every action as a campaign to deter competitors from behavior counter to U.S. objectives.
” The report said U.S. competitors are seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic , military and sociopolitical domains , with the objective to diminish the U.S. and its critical allies ’ standing in the world order.
” “ Meanwhile , they also use their militaries to coerce neighbors , attempt to counter U.S. military superiority , and undermine international freedom of action , ” the report states .
“ In addition , such competitors also challenge the United States and its allies in the Gray Zone through undermining elections , malicious use of social media , and employing unfair business practices globally.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons is part of a long-term objective to undermine democratic systems and the current world order .
The report criticized current U.S. Gray Zone efforts as “ disjointed ” and not successful , adding that the U.S. needs coherent and sustained strategic engagement campaigns utilizing all elements of the government .
The Pentagon has authorities , resources and experience in Gray Zone conflict but needs to partner with other agencies to better target the campaigns using all elements of national power .
The report calls for developing targeted intelligence within the social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting up a “ National Strategic Engagement Intelligence Center ” under the director of national intelligence .
On the cyberspace front , the Pentagon must expand capabilities and use them selectively together with other government activities .
For Cyber Command , the report recommends creating a “ Cyber S & T Intelligence Activity ” for Gray Zone warfare .
For the military as a whole , the board recommends building a set of “ unique multi-domain military capabilities to counter adversary regional military advantages and force them to consider the costs of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were provided in the summary .
For information warfare , the Pentagon must launch proactive campaigns that will identify and deter an adversary ’ s malign activities .
As part of that effort , a Joint Information Warfare Engineering Laboratory should be set up .
The board also wants greater use of current economic , financial and trade authorities .
Better U.S. government strategic engagement campaigns are needed as well , and the report called for setting up a not-for-profit Strategic Competition Support Capability .
“ The United States will not sit idle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report said .
“ Failure to act means that strategic competitors will continue to act with impunity to achieve their broad objectives , ” the report concludes .
“ The United States must be persistent in taking the necessary actions that ensure the future of U.S. global engagement and military superiority.
” Michael D. Griffin , who authorized the study and was until July the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering , said the report shows the military needs more than advanced equipment .
“ The department must also consider more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential adversaries , ” he stated , noting the need for “ asymmetric and non-kinetic mechanisms ” to influence enemy decision-making .

The Pentagon needs better weapons for waging warfare below the level of conventional military conflict — such as information and intelligence warfare capabilities — to win against strategic competitors, according to a report by the Defense Science Board.
“Gray Zone” warfare capabilities include better cyberweapons, information warfare capabilities, economic and commercial warfare tools and new multidomain military systems, the Pentagon advisory panel stated in an executive summary.
“The study findings emphasized creative ways and means beyond traditional weapons systems to achieve National Defense Strategy objectives,” Craig Fields and Eric Evans, board co-chairs, said in a preface.
The 2017 defense strategy for the first time in decades recognized China as the United States’ most significant strategic competitor, along with Russia. Neither state was mentioned in the summary of the board’s report, “The Future of U.S. Military Superiority.”
The Pentagon and other U.S. national security forces need “to be more aggressive in the Gray Zone and treat every action as a campaign to deter competitors from behavior counter to U.S. objectives.”
The report said U.S. competitors are seeking to become “dominant global powers in the economic, military and sociopolitical domains, with the objective to diminish the U.S. and its critical allies’ standing in the world order.”
“Meanwhile, they also use their militaries to coerce neighbors, attempt to counter U.S. military superiority, and undermine international freedom of action,” the report states. “In addition, such competitors also challenge the United States and its allies in the Gray Zone through undermining elections, malicious use of social media, and employing unfair business practices globally.”
The report warns that systematic use of these weapons is part of a long-term objective to undermine democratic systems and the current world order.
The report criticized current U.S. Gray Zone efforts as “disjointed” and not successful, adding that the U.S. needs coherent and sustained strategic engagement campaigns utilizing all elements of the government. The Pentagon has authorities, resources and experience in Gray Zone conflict but needs to partner with other agencies to better target the campaigns using all elements of national power.
The report calls for developing targeted intelligence within the social media and economic domains, as well as setting up a “National Strategic Engagement Intelligence Center” under the director of national intelligence.
On the cyberspace front, the Pentagon must expand capabilities and use them selectively together with other government activities.
For Cyber Command, the report recommends creating a “Cyber S&T Intelligence Activity” for Gray Zone warfare.
For the military as a whole, the board recommends building a set of “unique multi-domain military capabilities to counter adversary regional military advantages and force them to consider the costs of their actions.”
No details of these capabilities were provided in the summary.
For information warfare, the Pentagon must launch proactive campaigns that will identify and deter an adversary’s malign activities. As part of that effort, a Joint Information Warfare Engineering Laboratory should be set up.
The board also wants greater use of current economic, financial and trade authorities. Better U.S. government strategic engagement campaigns are needed as well, and the report called for setting up a not-for-profit Strategic Competition Support Capability.
“The United States will not sit idle in this Great Power Competition,” the report said. “Failure to act means that strategic competitors will continue to act with impunity to achieve their broad objectives,” the report concludes. “The United States must be persistent in taking the necessary actions that ensure the future of U.S. global engagement and military superiority.”
Michael D. Griffin, who authorized the study and was until July the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, said the report shows the military needs more than advanced equipment.
“The department must also consider more broadly new ways and means to coerce potential adversaries,” he stated, noting the need for “asymmetric and non-kinetic mechanisms” to influence enemy decision-making.
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Barr blasted by federal judge for lacking diversity on panel studying law enforcement

A federal judge last week blocked a Justice Department commission studying issues plaguing the law enforcement community from releasing its report because the panel excluded civil-rights leaders .
U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled that the much-ballyhooed Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act , which requires government committees to receive input from “ fairly balanced ” viewpoints .
Judge Bates , a George W. Bush appointee , wrote in his 45-page opinion that the commission was full of law enforcement officials , but none of the members have “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community organization background.
” The judge also scolded the Justice Department for holding closed-door meetings and failing to notify the public when meetings would take place .
So far , the commission has held more than 20 meetings , according to Judge Bates ’ opinion .
“ Especially in 2020 , when racial justice and civil rights issues involving law enforcement have erupted across the nation , one may legitimately question whether it is sound policy to have a group with little diversity of experience , examine , behind closed doors , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal justice system in America today , ” he wrote .
The commission was expected to release its report later this month , ahead of the 2020 presidential election .
President Trump has made law enforcement and public safety one of the central themes of his reelection campaign .
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund ( LDF ) filed the lawsuit earlier this year seeking more diversity on the commission .
Attorney General William P. Barr and the Justice Department were both named as defendants .
Justice Department lawyers had argued that the commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee Act .
Department , but did not challenge claims it would run afoul of the law , if applicable .
Judge Bates ruled that the LDF had suffered an injury because its voice was denied access to the commission .
He ordered both parties to submit additional briefs on how to ensure the commission has a “ fairly balanced ” membership .
“ Because Attorney General Barr appointed the Commissioners at the same time as establishing the Commission , and only selected from those with law enforcement backgrounds , it does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opportunity to formally apply for Commission membership , ” Judge Bates wrote .
Mr. Barr unveiled the commission in January , following an executive order in October 2019 .
It is tasked with studying mental illness , homelessness , substance abuse and other issues that impact law enforcement efforts to reduce crime .
At the time , the Justice Department said the panel would explore “ modern issues affecting law enforcement that most impact the ability of the American people to reduce crime.
” All of the commission ’ s 18 members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense attorneys , civil rights organizations or academics were included .
The commission has 15 working groups , but they are largely made up of police officials or prosecutors .
Sherrilyn Ifill , LDF ’ s president and director-counsel , hailed the decision as “ an important step in the right direction.
” “ The country has been demanding accountability for police misconduct and violence , and clamoring for a reimagined notion of public safety for many months following the police killings of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , and countless other Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ Any federal committee designed to make recommendations about law enforcement must include representation from people and communities impacted by police violence , civil rights organizations , the criminal defense bar , and other stakeholders.
” A Justice Department spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment .

A federal judge last week blocked a Justice Department commission studying issues plaguing the law enforcement community from releasing its report because the panel excluded civil-rights leaders.
U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled that the much-ballyhooed Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which requires government committees to receive input from “fairly balanced” viewpoints.
Judge Bates, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in his 45-page opinion that the commission was full of law enforcement officials, but none of the members have “a criminal defense, civil rights, or community organization background.”
The judge also scolded the Justice Department for holding closed-door meetings and failing to notify the public when meetings would take place. So far, the commission has held more than 20 meetings, according to Judge Bates’ opinion.
“Especially in 2020, when racial justice and civil rights issues involving law enforcement have erupted across the nation, one may legitimately question whether it is sound policy to have a group with little diversity of experience, examine, behind closed doors, the sensitive issues facing law enforcement and the criminal justice system in America today,” he wrote.
The commission was expected to release its report later this month, ahead of the 2020 presidential election. President Trump has made law enforcement and public safety one of the central themes of his reelection campaign.
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) filed the lawsuit earlier this year seeking more diversity on the commission. Attorney General William P. Barr and the Justice Department were both named as defendants.
Justice Department lawyers had argued that the commission was not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Department, but did not challenge claims it would run afoul of the law, if applicable.
Judge Bates ruled that the LDF had suffered an injury because its voice was denied access to the commission. He ordered both parties to submit additional briefs on how to ensure the commission has a “fairly balanced” membership.
“Because Attorney General Barr appointed the Commissioners at the same time as establishing the Commission, and only selected from those with law enforcement backgrounds, it does not appear that LDF and its representatives had an opportunity to formally apply for Commission membership,” Judge Bates wrote.
Mr. Barr unveiled the commission in January, following an executive order in October 2019. It is tasked with studying mental illness, homelessness, substance abuse and other issues that impact law enforcement efforts to reduce crime.
At the time, the Justice Department said the panel would explore “modern issues affecting law enforcement that most impact the ability of the American people to reduce crime.”
All of the commission’s 18 members work in law enforcement, and no defense attorneys, civil rights organizations or academics were included. The commission has 15 working groups, but they are largely made up of police officials or prosecutors.
Sherrilyn Ifill, LDF’s president and director-counsel, hailed the decision as “an important step in the right direction.”
“The country has been demanding accountability for police misconduct and violence, and clamoring for a reimagined notion of public safety for many months following the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black people,” she said in a statement. “Any federal committee designed to make recommendations about law enforcement must include representation from people and communities impacted by police violence, civil rights organizations, the criminal defense bar, and other stakeholders.”
A Justice Department spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--How Treasury Dept. tracked overseas cash pocketed by Hunter Biden

Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden flatly denied at Tuesday night ’ s debate that his lawyer son took huge sums of money from corrupt oligarchs and Chinese communists during his vice presidency , but Treasury Department reports show that Hunter Biden did receive the money .
President Trump chose to make an issue of Hunter Biden ’ s cash haul from Russia , Ukraine and China with the implication that unsavory figures were trying to buy Vice President Biden and the Obama administration .
“ When somebody gets 3½ million dollars from the mayor of Moscow , ” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not true .
That report is totally false , ” Mr. Biden said .
A Senate Republican report by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee says Mr. Trump is right , though it was not Moscow ’ s mayor , but his wife , whom the U.S. suspects of corruption in attaining billionaire status .
Hunter Biden received a single wire transfer of $ 3.5 million from Elena Baturina .
The Senate report said she became a billionaire through illegal construction contracts awarded by her husband , since deceased .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by committee Chairman Ron Johnson , Wisconsin Republican , and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley , Iowa Republican .
The Senate narrative is not specific , but the types of transaction records match the description of confidential suspicious activity reports that the Treasury issues when it suspects illegal activity .
The Senate report says , “ On Feb. 14 , 2014 , Baturina wired $ 3.5 million to a Rosemont Seneca Thornton LLC ( Rosemont Seneca Thornton ) bank account for a ‘ Consultancy Agreement.
’ Rosemont Seneca Thornton is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was incorporated on May 28 , 2013 in Wilmington , Del.
” Russia invaded Crimea in Ukraine the month Ms. Baturina sent the money .
“ Why did he get it ?
” Mr. Trump asked .
“ That report was written for political reasons , ” Mr. Biden said .
Mr. Trump asserted , “ Once you became vice president , he made a fortune in Ukraine , in China , in Moscow and various other places.
” According to the senators ’ Treasury records , it is true .
In April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point man in Ukraine , after the Russian invasion , to persuade leaders to rid the country of rampant corruption .
The next month , Hunter Biden showed up on the board of directors of the energy company Burisma Holdings , which the State Department considers corrupt , as it does its oligarch owner , Mykola Zlochevsky .
Hunter Biden ’ s business partner , Devon Archer , already had secured a spot .
Over the years , Burisma paid the two more than $ 4 million .
Treasury records show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 2016 totaled $ 3.4 million .
The money went to Rosemont Seneca Bohai , a shell company run by Mr. Archer in partnership with a Chinese investment fund .
In 2014 and 2015 , Burisma sent $ 700,000 directly to Hunter Biden .
After Mr. Archer was arrested on fraud charges , Burisma sent Hunter Biden another $ 752,000 .
On China , Vice President Biden promoted closer ties to the communist regime on many fronts .
He traveled to China in 2013 on Air Force Two and took along Hunter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China ate your lunch , Joe , ” Mr. Trump said Tuesday night .
“ And no wonder your son goes in and he takes out billions of dollars .
He takes out billions of dollars to manage .
He makes millions of dollars.
” Mr. Biden said , “ None of that is true.
” The Bidens have adamantly denied reports that Hunter Biden ’ s investment firm received a $ 1 billion infusion .
But the Senate report documents extensive ties between Hunter Biden and various Chinese entities that produced millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one example , China ’ s CEFC Infrastructure Investment wired $ 5 million to HudsonWest LLC , a New York company jointly owned by Hunter Biden and Chinese interests .
HudsonWest then sent $ 4.7 million to Hunter Biden ’ s law firm .
The next year , another $ 1 million was delivered .
Hunter Biden sent 20 wire transfers totaling $ 1.3 million to Vice President Biden ’ s brother James for consulting services .
Treasury flagged the transfers as potentially criminal , the Senate report said .
When the bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sara , to learn details , she refused to cooperate , the Senate report said .
“ Hunter Biden has extensive connections to Chinese businesses and Chinese foreign nationals that are linked to the Communist government , ” the Senate report said .
“ Those contacts bore financial fruit when his father was vice president and after he left office.
” The Senate report also said Hunter Biden sent money to Ukrainian and Russian women .
The Treasury reports said the transactions are linked to “ what appears to be an Eastern European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson , the Senate homeland security panel chairman , wrote in a FoxNews.com column Tuesday that liberal news media have ignored his report showing disturbing ties between the Biden family and corrupt people .
The Republican Senate report summarized its Hunter Biden findings based on Treasury reports : “ The Treasury records acquired by the Chairmen show potential criminal activity relating to transactions among and between Hunter Biden , his family , and his associates with Ukrainian , Russian , Kazakh and Chinese nationals .
In particular , these documents show that Hunter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources as a result of business relationships that he built during the period when his father was vice president of the United States and after.
” “ In addition to providing new and descriptive details about the nature , origin and extent of payments from Burisma Holdings to Hunter Biden , the documents acquired by the Committees also shed light on a much broader array of questionable financial transactions involving Hunter Biden , other members of the Biden family , and their associations with foreign nationals .
These foreign nationals have questionable backgrounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a range of criminal activities , including but not limited to organized prostitution and/or human trafficking , money laundering , fraud , and embezzlement .
”

Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden flatly denied at Tuesday night’s debate that his lawyer son took huge sums of money from corrupt oligarchs and Chinese communists during his vice presidency, but Treasury Department reports show that Hunter Biden did receive the money.
President Trump chose to make an issue of Hunter Biden’s cash haul from Russia, Ukraine and China with the implication that unsavory figures were trying to buy Vice President Biden and the Obama administration.
“When somebody gets 3½ million dollars from the mayor of Moscow,” Mr. Trump said.
“That’s is not true. That report is totally false,” Mr. Biden said.
A Senate Republican report by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee says Mr. Trump is right, though it was not Moscow’s mayor, but his wife, whom the U.S. suspects of corruption in attaining billionaire status.
Hunter Biden received a single wire transfer of $3.5 million from Elena Baturina. The Senate report said she became a billionaire through illegal construction contracts awarded by her husband, since deceased.
This is based on Treasury Department reports received by committee Chairman Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican.
The Senate narrative is not specific, but the types of transaction records match the description of confidential suspicious activity reports that the Treasury issues when it suspects illegal activity.
The Senate report says, “On Feb. 14, 2014, Baturina wired $3.5 million to a Rosemont Seneca Thornton LLC (Rosemont Seneca Thornton) bank account for a ‘Consultancy Agreement.’ Rosemont Seneca Thornton is an investment firm co-founded by Hunter Biden that was incorporated on May 28, 2013 in Wilmington, Del.”
Russia invaded Crimea in Ukraine the month Ms. Baturina sent the money.
“Why did he get it?” Mr. Trump asked.
“That report was written for political reasons,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Trump asserted, “Once you became vice president, he made a fortune in Ukraine, in China, in Moscow and various other places.”
Mr. Biden responded, “That is not true.”
According to the senators’ Treasury records, it is true.
In April 2014, President Obama made Mr. Biden the point man in Ukraine, after the Russian invasion, to persuade leaders to rid the country of rampant corruption.
The next month, Hunter Biden showed up on the board of directors of the energy company Burisma Holdings, which the State Department considers corrupt, as it does its oligarch owner, Mykola Zlochevsky. Hunter Biden’s business partner, Devon Archer, already had secured a spot.
Over the years, Burisma paid the two more than $4 million. Treasury records show that 48 wire transfers from May 2014 to February 2016 totaled $3.4 million. The money went to Rosemont Seneca Bohai, a shell company run by Mr. Archer in partnership with a Chinese investment fund.
In 2014 and 2015, Burisma sent $700,000 directly to Hunter Biden. After Mr. Archer was arrested on fraud charges, Burisma sent Hunter Biden another $752,000.
On China, Vice President Biden promoted closer ties to the communist regime on many fronts. He traveled to China in 2013 on Air Force Two and took along Hunter, who met with Chinese businessmen.
“China ate your lunch, Joe,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday night. “And no wonder your son goes in and he takes out billions of dollars. He takes out billions of dollars to manage. He makes millions of dollars.”
Mr. Biden said, “None of that is true.”
The Bidens have adamantly denied reports that Hunter Biden’s investment firm received a $1 billion infusion.
But the Senate report documents extensive ties between Hunter Biden and various Chinese entities that produced millions of dollars in wire transfers.
In one example, China’s CEFC Infrastructure Investment wired $5 million to HudsonWest LLC, a New York company jointly owned by Hunter Biden and Chinese interests. HudsonWest then sent $4.7 million to Hunter Biden’s law firm. The next year, another $1 million was delivered.
Hunter Biden sent 20 wire transfers totaling $1.3 million to Vice President Biden’s brother James for consulting services. Treasury flagged the transfers as potentially criminal, the Senate report said.
When the bank contacted James Biden’s wife, Sara, to learn details, she refused to cooperate, the Senate report said.
“Hunter Biden has extensive connections to Chinese businesses and Chinese foreign nationals that are linked to the Communist government,” the Senate report said. “Those contacts bore financial fruit when his father was vice president and after he left office.”
The Senate report also said Hunter Biden sent money to Ukrainian and Russian women. The Treasury reports said the transactions are linked to “what appears to be an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring.”
Mr. Johnson, the Senate homeland security panel chairman, wrote in a FoxNews.com column Tuesday that liberal news media have ignored his report showing disturbing ties between the Biden family and corrupt people.
The Republican Senate report summarized its Hunter Biden findings based on Treasury reports:
“The Treasury records acquired by the Chairmen show potential criminal activity relating to transactions among and between Hunter Biden, his family, and his associates with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals. In particular, these documents show that Hunter Biden received millions of dollars from foreign sources as a result of business relationships that he built during the period when his father was vice president of the United States and after.”
The report added:
“In addition to providing new and descriptive details about the nature, origin and extent of payments from Burisma Holdings to Hunter Biden, the documents acquired by the Committees also shed light on a much broader array of questionable financial transactions involving Hunter Biden, other members of the Biden family, and their associations with foreign nationals. These foreign nationals have questionable backgrounds that have been identified as being consistent with a range of criminal activities, including but not limited to organized prostitution and/or human trafficking, money laundering, fraud, and embezzlement.”
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Police officer killed in the line of duty in South Carolina

MYRTLE BEACH , S.C. ( AP ) - A South Carolina police chief announced early Sunday the death of an @ @ @ @ @ Myrtle Beach .
Officer Jacob Hancher was killed while responding to a call for service @ @ @ @ @ Chief Amy Prock said at a news conference .
It ’ s unclear what led @ @ @ @ @ but witnesses told The Sun News they heard several shots around 10 p.m. Police had @ @ @ @ @ an officer involved shooting had occurred around that time .
The South Carolina Law Enforcement @ @ @ @ @ to investigate , news outlets reported .
Hancher was a community service officer for four @ @ @ @ @ police officer for less than a year , Prock said .
“ He was a @ @ @ @ @ his oath to protect this community and made the ultimate sacrifice , ” Prock said @ @ @ @ @ Bethune asked on social media for prayers for the police department .
“ They need @ @ @ @ @ love , support and strength , ” Bethune stated .

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) - A police officer was killed in South Carolina during an exchange of gunfire after responding to a domestic call, authorities said Sunday.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said in a statement that a second officer was injured during the shootout in Myrtle Beach. A suspect was later found dead. The second officer was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Witnesses told The Sun News they heard several shots around 10 p.m. Saturday. Police had said on social media that an officer-involved shooting had occurred around that time.
Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock identified the fallen officer as Jacob Hancher.
Hancher was a community service officer for four years and had been a patrol officer for less than a year, Prock said. He was the first Myrtle Beach officer killed while on duty since 2002.
“He was a dedicated public servant who upheld his oath to protect this community and made the ultimate sacrifice,” Prock said.
Dozens of emergency vehicles responded as crowds gathered on streets and nearby hotel balconies to watch.
Daisey Stockbauer and Jody Bowles also live near the shooting and went outside when they heard the gunfire.
The two said when they went outside, they saw some police helping another officer limp away. The injured man sat near a fire hydrant and seconds later an ambulance picked him up.
“I wanted to go over and help him,” Stockbauer said.
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune asked on social media for prayers for the police department.
“They need our community to show them love, support and strength,” Bethune said.
Some community members gathered for a prayer vigil outside police headquarters Sunday afternoon, local news outlets reported, while others left tokens at the site of the shooting.
Among the many who expressed condolences were Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and his November challenger, Democrat Jaime Harrison.
A nonprofit group raising money for Hancher’s family said he was survived by his mother, father, stepmother, sister and step-siblings. Hancher was a also a volunteer firefighter.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--The Latest: Napoli not traveling to Turin for Juventus game

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : Napoli is not to traveling @ @ @ @ @ match against Juventus later Sunday after local health authorities ordered the squad into quarantine .
@ @ @ @ @ Juventus have indicated the game should go ahead , raising the prospect of Napoli being @ @ @ @ @ the league judge for failing to show .
Two Napoli players have tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ team has been tested constantly after Napoli played Genoa last weekend .
More than 20 @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive .
Genoa ’ s match at Torino on Saturday was postponed .

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
___
The Spanish national team says that Napoli midfielder Fabián Ruiz cannot join its squad due to the quarantine placed on the Italian club after a coronavirus outbreak.
Two Napoli players have tested positive for the coronavirus and the entire team has been tested constantly after Napoli played Genoa last weekend. More than 20 Genoa players and staff members have tested positive.
Spain was also unable to call up new Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara after he tested positive.
Spain coach Luis Enrique called up 25 players to his squad instead of 23 due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, he said.
Spain plays Portugal in Lisbon on Wednesday in a friendly match. Then, in the Nations League, it will face Switzerland in Madrid on Saturday and visit Ukraine on Oct. 13. Spain leads Group A4 of the Nations League with four points.
___
Napoli is not to traveling to Turin for its scheduled match against Juventus later Sunday after local health authorities ordered the squad into quarantine.
However, league authorities and Juventus have indicated the game should go ahead, raising the prospect of Napoli being handed a 3-0 loss by the league judge for failing to show.
Two Napoli players have tested positive for the coronavirus and the entire team has been tested constantly after Napoli played Genoa last weekend. More than 20 Genoa players and staff members have tested positive.
Genoa’s match at Torino on Saturday was postponed.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Partisans are bracing for a new health care war as Supreme Court makeup shifts

Conservatives yearn for a Supreme Court ruling against Obamacare next year that President Trump says will clear the way for a “ far better ” replacement .
But the reality is messy .
A Washington stalemate or a push for narrow fixes is far more likely .
Democrats , who are poised to control the House and maybe more , want to expand on , not abandon , their signature 2010 program .
They would be predisposed to patching up the law if Mr. Trump is still president and the justices agree with Republican-run states that say the Affordable Care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandate ” isn ’ t collecting money anymore .
The upshot is another thorny Washington debate , with federally funded insurance for millions of Americans hanging in the balance .
“ If the court were to throw out the whole law , and coverage for preexisting conditions coverage with it , there would be enormous pressure for both sides to find a way to fix it .
But for that to happen , both sides will have to come off positions they are dug in on right now , ” said Robert Laszewski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexandria , Virginia .
“ Democrats want to fix Obamacare and Republicans want to backpedal on it , making any compromise highly problematic.
” No one knows whether the high court will strike down all or part of Obamacare , but it ’ s a major issue in the presidential campaign .
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden is proposing an expansion of the law , and Republicans are moving to solidify the court ’ s conservative majority ahead of oral arguments in November and a likely ruling by July .
Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predecessor ’ s signature law when Republicans controlled all the levers of power in Washington in 2017 .
Months later , however , Republicans used an overhaul of the tax code to zero out Obamacare ’ s penalty for shirking insurance , known as the individual mandate .
Republican state attorneys general saw an opening .
They filed a lawsuit saying that since Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. upheld Obamacare under Congress ’ taxing powers , the framework fails and the health care law is invalid if the mandate no longer collects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a long shot , but it made it to the Supreme Court .
Now , Republicans are rushing to fill a vacancy with Judge Amy Coney Barrett , a federal appeals court judge who criticized the 2012 decision to save Obamacare in her academic writing .
Her confirmation would give conservatives a 6-3 edge on the court .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Kentucky Republican , mocked Democrats on Tuesday for suggesting that Judge Barrett would block families from accessing health care .
He called their criticism “ a joke.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminate his predecessor ’ s law , even though he has not put forward a comprehensive alternative beyond a pledge to protect sicker Americans .
“ Obamacare will be replaced with a MUCH better , and FAR cheaper , alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court .
Would be a big WIN for the USA !
” Mr. Trump tweeted over the weekend .
Yet even if Mr. Trump wins reelection , handicappers say , Republicans are unlikely to regain the House majority and might even lose Senate control .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Obamacare wars .
“ If the Supreme Court invalidates the ACA with a divided government , I think we would see political chaos and potentially millions of people losing coverage as a result , ” said Larry Levitt , a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation , a health care policy organization .
“ If Democrats sweep the election , there are some easy legislative fixes to protect the ACA from a ruling against it.
” He said Democrats could add a modest penalty for shirking insurance so the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they might write bills that eliminate the mandate or add language saying the rest of Obamacare is severable from the mandate .
Lanhee J. Chen , a fellow at Stanford University ’ s Hoover Institution , said both sides will feel pressure to reach a deal to protect sicker Americans ’ access to coverage if control of Washington remains split .
“ I do see them coming together to do something limited on that , ” said Mr. Chen , who advised Mitt Romney ’ s 2012 campaign on health care .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harder it gets to get to an agreement.
” The hard part would be figuring out whether to backfill the rest of the law ’ s provisions if the court decides the entire law can not be separated from the zeroed-out mandate .
“ They might take a phased approach , where they do little by little .
But it ’ s going to be messy , ” Mr. Chen said .
Mr. Trump set the table for the potential debate by signing an executive order saying it is the policy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to get health care coverage , a popular protection built into Obamacare .
Democrats , meanwhile , are using the same playbook that worked for them in the 2018 midterm elections .
They say Republicans would be responsible if the court invalidates a law that extended insurance to more than 20 million people through federal subsidies and the vast expansion of Medicaid coverage in most of the states .
“ If you have a preexisting medical condition , that benefit will be gone .
If you are a woman , we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman is a preexisting medical condition .
If your children are on your policy — say , your adult children are on your policy — no longer will they be , and that in a time of a pandemic , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , California Democrat , told CNN on Sunday .
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll in July found that 53 % of Americans think the Supreme Court should uphold the health care law and 57 % disapprove of the Trump administration ’ s request to the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lawsuit .
The Kaiser poll had a partisan split , however .
At least 7 in 10 Republicans said they would like the court to overturn the law , and 77 % backed Mr. Trump ’ s position .
The Supreme Court likely would issue a stay to give Congress time to assemble a plan if it decides the individual mandate isn ’ t severable from the rest of the law , said Grace-Marie Turner , president of the Galen Institute , which promotes free market health care policies .
“ Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing consensus that the ACA is not working .
The centerpiece of Joe Biden ’ s health platform is to try to fix the troubled law , ” said Ms. Turner , whose institute is crafting conservative changes that can gain support .
Mr. Biden is pushing for an expansion of federally funded subsidies and a government-negotiated “ public option ” that would compete with private plans in the market .
Some middle-income Americans had too much income to qualify for the subsidies but couldn ’ t afford higher premiums .
Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats spending time on temporary fixes if Mr. Biden wins the presidency in November and Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress .
“ They already have the Biden plan on the shelf , and I would see them quickly moving to implement that well before an expected June Supreme Court ruling , ” he said .
Colin Seeberger , a spokesman for the liberal Center for American Progress , said if Democrats retake the White House and both chambers of Congress , they should be able to pass expanded subsidies through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows legislation to get through the Senate on a majority vote .
But retaining all of Obamacare ’ s consumer protections for preexisting conditions would require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster , reopening the thorny debate .
“ The American people ’ s health care isn ’ t a bargaining chip , and particularly in the middle of a pandemic , it ’ s deadly serious , ” he said .
The White House , meanwhile , says Obamacare has “ been a failure ” for the healthy and sick alike because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that force people into unaffordable plans .
White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said Mr. Trump eliminated the most onerous part of Obamacare — the individual mandate — and in a second term would protect sicker Americans while expanding affordable choices .
“ I won ’ t predict what the Supreme Court will do , ” he said , “ but should Obamacare fall , Democrats will finally be forced to come to the table and work with this president on a common-sense , bipartisan solution .
”

Conservatives yearn for a Supreme Court ruling against Obamacare next year that President Trump says will clear the way for a “far better” replacement.
But the reality is messy. A Washington stalemate or a push for narrow fixes is far more likely.
Democrats, who are poised to control the House and maybe more, want to expand on, not abandon, their signature 2010 program.
They would be predisposed to patching up the law if Mr. Trump is still president and the justices agree with Republican-run states that say the Affordable Care Act must go because its “individual mandate” isn’t collecting money anymore.
The upshot is another thorny Washington debate, with federally funded insurance for millions of Americans hanging in the balance.
“If the court were to throw out the whole law, and coverage for preexisting conditions coverage with it, there would be enormous pressure for both sides to find a way to fix it. But for that to happen, both sides will have to come off positions they are dug in on right now,” said Robert Laszewski, a health care policy consultant in Alexandria, Virginia. “Democrats want to fix Obamacare and Republicans want to backpedal on it, making any compromise highly problematic.”
No one knows whether the high court will strike down all or part of Obamacare, but it’s a major issue in the presidential campaign. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden is proposing an expansion of the law, and Republicans are moving to solidify the court’s conservative majority ahead of oral arguments in November and a likely ruling by July.
Mr. Trump was unable to repeal and replace his predecessor’s signature law when Republicans controlled all the levers of power in Washington in 2017. Months later, however, Republicans used an overhaul of the tax code to zero out Obamacare’s penalty for shirking insurance, known as the individual mandate.
Republican state attorneys general saw an opening. They filed a lawsuit saying that since Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. upheld Obamacare under Congress’ taxing powers, the framework fails and the health care law is invalid if the mandate no longer collects tax revenue.
The lawsuit was viewed as a long shot, but it made it to the Supreme Court.
Now, Republicans are rushing to fill a vacancy with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a federal appeals court judge who criticized the 2012 decision to save Obamacare in her academic writing. Her confirmation would give conservatives a 6-3 edge on the court.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, mocked Democrats on Tuesday for suggesting that Judge Barrett would block families from accessing health care. He called their criticism “a joke.”
Mr. Trump is relishing the chance to eliminate his predecessor’s law, even though he has not put forward a comprehensive alternative beyond a pledge to protect sicker Americans.
“Obamacare will be replaced with a MUCH better, and FAR cheaper, alternative if it is terminated in the Supreme Court. Would be a big WIN for the USA!” Mr. Trump tweeted over the weekend.
Yet even if Mr. Trump wins reelection, handicappers say, Republicans are unlikely to regain the House majority and might even lose Senate control. That would set the stage for another chapter in the Obamacare wars.
“If the Supreme Court invalidates the ACA with a divided government, I think we would see political chaos and potentially millions of people losing coverage as a result,” said Larry Levitt, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health care policy organization. “If Democrats sweep the election, there are some easy legislative fixes to protect the ACA from a ruling against it.”
He said Democrats could add a modest penalty for shirking insurance so the mandate is collecting revenue again, or they might write bills that eliminate the mandate or add language saying the rest of Obamacare is severable from the mandate.
Lanhee J. Chen, a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, said both sides will feel pressure to reach a deal to protect sicker Americans’ access to coverage if control of Washington remains split.
“I do see them coming together to do something limited on that,” said Mr. Chen, who advised Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign on health care. “The more protracted it gets, the harder it gets to get to an agreement.”
The hard part would be figuring out whether to backfill the rest of the law’s provisions if the court decides the entire law cannot be separated from the zeroed-out mandate.
“They might take a phased approach, where they do little by little. But it’s going to be messy,” Mr. Chen said.
Mr. Trump set the table for the potential debate by signing an executive order saying it is the policy of the U.S. that people with preexisting conditions be able to get health care coverage, a popular protection built into Obamacare.
Democrats, meanwhile, are using the same playbook that worked for them in the 2018 midterm elections. They say Republicans would be responsible if the court invalidates a law that extended insurance to more than 20 million people through federal subsidies and the vast expansion of Medicaid coverage in most of the states.
“If you have a preexisting medical condition, that benefit will be gone. If you are a woman, we will be back to a time where being a woman is a preexisting medical condition. If your children are on your policy — say, your adult children are on your policy — no longer will they be, and that in a time of a pandemic,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, told CNN on Sunday.
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll in July found that 53% of Americans think the Supreme Court should uphold the health care law and 57% disapprove of the Trump administration’s request to the Supreme Court to side with Republican state officials pushing the lawsuit.
The Kaiser poll had a partisan split, however. At least 7 in 10 Republicans said they would like the court to overturn the law, and 77% backed Mr. Trump’s position.
The Supreme Court likely would issue a stay to give Congress time to assemble a plan if it decides the individual mandate isn’t severable from the rest of the law, said Grace-Marie Turner, president of the Galen Institute, which promotes free market health care policies.
“Congress will have to act. There is a growing consensus that the ACA is not working. The centerpiece of Joe Biden’s health platform is to try to fix the troubled law,” said Ms. Turner, whose institute is crafting conservative changes that can gain support.
Mr. Biden is pushing for an expansion of federally funded subsidies and a government-negotiated “public option” that would compete with private plans in the market. Some middle-income Americans had too much income to qualify for the subsidies but couldn’t afford higher premiums.
Mr. Laszewski said he doesn’t see Democrats spending time on temporary fixes if Mr. Biden wins the presidency in November and Democrats take control of both chambers of Congress.
“They already have the Biden plan on the shelf, and I would see them quickly moving to implement that well before an expected June Supreme Court ruling,” he said.
Colin Seeberger, a spokesman for the liberal Center for American Progress, said if Democrats retake the White House and both chambers of Congress, they should be able to pass expanded subsidies through budget reconciliation — a fast-track measure that allows legislation to get through the Senate on a majority vote.
But retaining all of Obamacare’s consumer protections for preexisting conditions would require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, reopening the thorny debate.
“The American people’s health care isn’t a bargaining chip, and particularly in the middle of a pandemic, it’s deadly serious,” he said.
The White House, meanwhile, says Obamacare has “been a failure” for the healthy and sick alike because of limited health care choices and provisions that force people into unaffordable plans.
White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said Mr. Trump eliminated the most onerous part of Obamacare — the individual mandate — and in a second term would protect sicker Americans while expanding affordable choices.
“I won’t predict what the Supreme Court will do,” he said, “but should Obamacare fall, Democrats will finally be forced to come to the table and work with this president on a common-sense, bipartisan solution.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Multi-vehicle crash on northeast Chinese highway kills 18

BEIJING ( AP ) - A crash on a highway in China ’ s northeast early Sunday killed 18 people @ @ @ @ @ minivan rear-ended a tractor and then collided with a car traveling in the opposite direction @ @ @ @ @ in Jilin province , local police announced on their social media account .
Eight people @ @ @ @ @ 10 more at hospitals , while one more person was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries @ @ @ @ @ It said the cause of the accident was under investigation .

BEIJING (AP) - A crash on a highway in China’s northeast early Sunday killed 18 people, police said.
A minivan rear-ended a tractor and then collided with a car traveling in the opposite direction in Fuyu, a city in Jilin province, local police announced on their social media account.
Eight people died at the scene and 10 more at hospitals, while one more person was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the statement said.
It said the cause of the accident was under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-10-04--Healthy corals in Biscayne Bay surprised scientists

MIAMI ( AP ) - During a scouting mission to check on coral colonies in inshore Biscayne Bay last year , Caroline Dennison and a few other marine biology graduate students found something astounding : healthy populations of brain corals .
There were no signs of white spots or bleaching and the vivid yellowish brown colors indicated that the corals were untouched by yet another mysterious disease that ’ s ravaging reefs along the Florida coast .
Even more extraordinary was that these corals were thriving in shallow and warm water right off the seawall at Bill Baggs Cape Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metropolis .
“ That was pretty amazing because you wouldn ’ t imagine that type of coral living successfully in a foot of water , at that location , considering all the issues affecting reefs in the area , ” said Dennison , a coral researcher at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science .
“ It was just astonishing , I couldn ’ t believe it.
” What ’ s protecting these corals ?
The discovery has opened up a world of research possibilities on what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems making it harder for corals to survive in troubled Biscayne Bay .
Dennison is hoping the thriving colonies will shed some light on a myriad of threats to corals : from the impact of rising temperatures and nutrient pollution on reefs to the relationship between corals and the algae that live within them .
Findings could also help scientists develop new coral restoration strategies to replenish this key natural protection infrastructure for coastlines against erosion and storms .
The surprisingly good shape of the nearshore corals also highlighted Biscayne Bay ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy habitats .
Not far from these corals , or an artificial reef right next to Port Miami , is the Coral City Camera , which livestreams a constant parade of colorful fish , manatees and sharks near a channel used by huge cruise ships .
Those areas with abundant marine life aren ’ t far from where a massive fish kill happened just last month .
The sight of thousands of fish carcasses floating in the northern part of the bay and the algae blooms that followed alarmed residents and triggered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s treasured turquoise waters : contamination from crumbling sewage pipes and failing septic tanks , stormwater runoff and a seagrass dieoff that ’ s drastically reducing the bay ’ s ability to handle pollution and regenerate .
The Bay is very sensitive to nutrient pollution because historically it didn ’ t have that much phosphorus and nitrogen going into its waters .
The Everglades ecosystem filtered these nutrients before the water flowed to the coast .
That means that plants and other bay organisms like corals grew slowly because of the nutrient limitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flow of the Everglades and population growth led to a jump in nutrient pollution flowing to Florida ’ s coasts , life began to change in Biscayne Bay : slow-growing turtle grass , for example , with its long and broad blades , was replaced by microalgae which grows faster .
The bay has lost over 20 square miles of seagrass over the past decade .
“ If things grow faster they are competitively dominant ; what we ’ ve seen over the past decades is a change in species composition from slow-growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northern part of the bay we ’ ve gone over the edge , ” said Jim Fourqurean , a professor of biology and director of the Center for Coastal Oceans Research at Florida International University .
Slower-growing corals like the brain species , which used to be common over the Florida reef tract , have also suffered because of the apparent shift in the bay to a nutrient-rich system , he said during a virtual town hall organized by Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava earlier this week .
“ We just got ta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop putting nutrients into the bay so we can return to the system that we used to have , ” Fourqurean added .
To be sure , nutrient pollution is just one stress factor affecting Florida ’ s coral reefs .
A disease that was first observed in 2014 off Virginia Key has been destroying the soft tissue of many stony coral species , killing them within months of becoming infected .
Colonies in the U.S. Virgin Islands , the Bahamas , Puerto Rico and as far as Mexico have been affected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida Keys .
The causal agent is still unknown .
Brain corals are particularly vulnerable , and that ’ s why Dennison was so ecstatic to find vigorous colonies just steps away from the hiking trail and fishing docks on the seawall at Bill Baggs park .
Water circulation patterns and big tidal variations are some of the environmental factors at play in the area , which led her to wonder if the colonies were ever exposed to what ’ s causing the disease long enough or at high enough concentrations to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas are also two to three degrees Celsius higher than in offshore reefs , which may have boosted the corals ’ resilience , she said .
“ It also could do with turbidity , or sedimentation .
Water quality factors change a lot when you come in from offshore Miami-Dade reefs into these indoor locations , so it could be any number of these environmental factors , either working alone or working together.
” And then there ’ s the complex relationship between the corals and their symbiotic algae .
This could well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how that symbiosis affects the hosts ’ immune systems , said UM Rosenstiel School Professor Andrew Baker .
“ They seem to be less susceptible to the disease but it ’ s still early days in our research ; there are several hypotheses , ” he said .
One could be that the algae inside the coral are actually the targets of the disease , and when they become infected , “ it causes the coral to freak out , ” Baker said .
The symbiosis with corals is so tight that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their hosts .
But it could also be that certain types of algae under certain conditions trigger vulnerabilities in the corals , he said .
Answers to these questions will be hugely valuable for coral restoration efforts , which have taken on a heightened sense of urgency because of the fast-spreading disease .
“ At the rate things are going , we humans need to help out corals .
We need to interfere .
And genetic manipulation is one way to strengthen these crucial species so they have a chance of surviving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s already here , ” said Liv Williamson , a coral researcher at the Rosenstiel School .
This year , for the first time , UM researchers including Williamson watched the spawning of staghorn corals that had been raised in a lab and transplanted to a restoration reef off Key Biscayne .
The corals released their eggs and sperm - gametes as those are collectively called - into the water where they fertilized and made little baby coral larvae early last month .
The babies then settled on the reef and formed little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And that ’ s how they build brand new colonies .
Dennison also checked on her naturally resilient nearshore Biscayne Bay corals during the latest spawning event .
Every evening during a whole week earlier this month , she went diving with other researchers in the shallow waters of the bay looking for gametes .
With the help of dive lights and equipped with nets and large syringes to collect specimens , small groups of researchers combed the area just off the seawall for hours each night , but no sign of coral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have missed the window this time but we ’ ll be watching these guys very closely , ” she said .
“ Finding them really gave us hope that they can teach us something about restoration and continue to help us answer questions about the disease outbreak and water quality issues .
”

MIAMI (AP) - During a scouting mission to check on coral colonies in inshore Biscayne Bay last year, Caroline Dennison and a few other marine biology graduate students found something astounding: healthy populations of brain corals.
There were no signs of white spots or bleaching and the vivid yellowish brown colors indicated that the corals were untouched by yet another mysterious disease that’s ravaging reefs along the Florida coast. Even more extraordinary was that these corals were thriving in shallow and warm water right off the seawall at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, near a bustling seaside metropolis.
“That was pretty amazing because you wouldn’t imagine that type of coral living successfully in a foot of water, at that location, considering all the issues affecting reefs in the area,” said Dennison, a coral researcher at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. “It was just astonishing, I couldn’t believe it.”
What’s protecting these corals? The discovery has opened up a world of research possibilities on what’s killing Florida reefs and the water quality problems making it harder for corals to survive in troubled Biscayne Bay.
Dennison is hoping the thriving colonies will shed some light on a myriad of threats to corals: from the impact of rising temperatures and nutrient pollution on reefs to the relationship between corals and the algae that live within them. Findings could also help scientists develop new coral restoration strategies to replenish this key natural protection infrastructure for coastlines against erosion and storms.
The surprisingly good shape of the nearshore corals also highlighted Biscayne Bay’s diverse ecosystem, which has pockets of healthy habitats. Not far from these corals, or an artificial reef right next to Port Miami, is the Coral City Camera, which livestreams a constant parade of colorful fish, manatees and sharks near a channel used by huge cruise ships.
Those areas with abundant marine life aren’t far from where a massive fish kill happened just last month.
The sight of thousands of fish carcasses floating in the northern part of the bay and the algae blooms that followed alarmed residents and triggered a reckoning over critical issues plaguing Miami-Dade’s treasured turquoise waters: contamination from crumbling sewage pipes and failing septic tanks, stormwater runoff and a seagrass dieoff that’s drastically reducing the bay’s ability to handle pollution and regenerate.
The Bay is very sensitive to nutrient pollution because historically it didn’t have that much phosphorus and nitrogen going into its waters. The Everglades ecosystem filtered these nutrients before the water flowed to the coast. That means that plants and other bay organisms like corals grew slowly because of the nutrient limitation.
Once development and draining altered the flow of the Everglades and population growth led to a jump in nutrient pollution flowing to Florida’s coasts, life began to change in Biscayne Bay: slow-growing turtle grass, for example, with its long and broad blades, was replaced by microalgae which grows faster. The bay has lost over 20 square miles of seagrass over the past decade.
“If things grow faster they are competitively dominant; what we’ve seen over the past decades is a change in species composition from slow-growing things to fast-growing things and now in the northern part of the bay we’ve gone over the edge,” said Jim Fourqurean, a professor of biology and director of the Center for Coastal Oceans Research at Florida International University.
Slower-growing corals like the brain species, which used to be common over the Florida reef tract, have also suffered because of the apparent shift in the bay to a nutrient-rich system, he said during a virtual town hall organized by Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava earlier this week.
“We just gotta stop doing that, we have to stop putting nutrients into the bay so we can return to the system that we used to have,” Fourqurean added.
To be sure, nutrient pollution is just one stress factor affecting Florida’s coral reefs. A disease that was first observed in 2014 off Virginia Key has been destroying the soft tissue of many stony coral species, killing them within months of becoming infected. Colonies in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and as far as Mexico have been affected, and the disease has advanced along the Florida Keys. The causal agent is still unknown.
Brain corals are particularly vulnerable, and that’s why Dennison was so ecstatic to find vigorous colonies just steps away from the hiking trail and fishing docks on the seawall at Bill Baggs park.
Water circulation patterns and big tidal variations are some of the environmental factors at play in the area, which led her to wonder if the colonies were ever exposed to what’s causing the disease long enough or at high enough concentrations to become infected. Water temperatures in those shallow areas are also two to three degrees Celsius higher than in offshore reefs, which may have boosted the corals’ resilience, she said.
“It also could do with turbidity, or sedimentation. Water quality factors change a lot when you come in from offshore Miami-Dade reefs into these indoor locations, so it could be any number of these environmental factors, either working alone or working together.”
And then there’s the complex relationship between the corals and their symbiotic algae. This could well be a disease of the algae, and how that symbiosis affects the hosts’ immune systems, said UM Rosenstiel School Professor Andrew Baker.
“They seem to be less susceptible to the disease but it’s still early days in our research; there are several hypotheses,” he said.
One could be that the algae inside the coral are actually the targets of the disease, and when they become infected, “it causes the coral to freak out,” Baker said. The symbiosis with corals is so tight that the algae actually live inside the cells of their hosts.
But it could also be that certain types of algae under certain conditions trigger vulnerabilities in the corals, he said. Answers to these questions will be hugely valuable for coral restoration efforts, which have taken on a heightened sense of urgency because of the fast-spreading disease.
“At the rate things are going, we humans need to help out corals. We need to interfere. And genetic manipulation is one way to strengthen these crucial species so they have a chance of surviving what’s coming and what’s already here,” said Liv Williamson, a coral researcher at the Rosenstiel School.
This year, for the first time, UM researchers including Williamson watched the spawning of staghorn corals that had been raised in a lab and transplanted to a restoration reef off Key Biscayne. The corals released their eggs and sperm - gametes as those are collectively called - into the water where they fertilized and made little baby coral larvae early last month. The babies then settled on the reef and formed little new polyps with mouths and tentacles. And that’s how they build brand new colonies.
Dennison also checked on her naturally resilient nearshore Biscayne Bay corals during the latest spawning event. Every evening during a whole week earlier this month, she went diving with other researchers in the shallow waters of the bay looking for gametes. With the help of dive lights and equipped with nets and large syringes to collect specimens, small groups of researchers combed the area just off the seawall for hours each night, but no sign of coral sex, she said.
“We may have missed the window this time but we’ll be watching these guys very closely,” she said. “Finding them really gave us hope that they can teach us something about restoration and continue to help us answer questions about the disease outbreak and water quality issues.”