courthousenews--2020-07-02--Californians Urged to Duck July 4 Gatherings as Covid Hospitalizations Spike

( CN ) — Returning to daily coronavirus press briefings as the virus surges in much of the Golden State , California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday again urged people to avoid gathering with people outside their households and to maintain physical distance from others as the state grapples with a 56 % increase in hospital admissions over the last two weeks .
Of the 46,035 patients currently admitted to hospitals in California , 5,355 have Covid-19 .
Hospitals are operating at 62 % capacity statewide with patients who have coronavirus occupying only 7 % of total beds .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care units has increased by 49 % in the last two weeks , with a total 1,676 patients taking some of the 11,480 ICU beds available statewide .
Four months into the pandemic , California remains well positioned to absorb another surge , Newsom said .
But in Southern California ’ s Riverside County , Covid-19 patients filled at least 89.6 % of intensive care beds and 68.6 % of hospital beds , according to data released Tuesday by county health officials .
At least 18,041 people in Riverside County have Covid-19 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind Los Angeles County — and 463 people have died after contracting the virus .
State health officials have determined the surge is due in large part to outbreaks at state prisons and skilled nursing facilities , 57 of which have reported coronavirus outbreaks .
Coronavirus transmission at nursing homes have also contributed to the more than 4,720 confirmed Covid-19 cases reported in the last two weeks in neighboring San Bernardino County , which has the state ’ s fifth highest case tally at 13,152 .
At least 46 facilities have reported outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s largest by area .
The Cedar Mountain Post-Acute Care Facility in Yucaipa has reported 21 deaths from Covid-19 .
“ We are still in the first wave and have a lot of work to do to mitigate spread , ” Newsom said .
California health officials reported 4,056 people tested positive for the virus statewide over the last 24 hours and 73 died after contracting Covid-19 .
The state ’ s positivity rate — the number of positive cases among residents receiving Covid-19 tests , a key indicator of community spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the last week , up from 4.4 % two weeks ago , Newsom said Thursday .
He said it ’ s critical for Californians to wear face coverings in public if they have to leave their homes .
“ This is not a partisan issue or a political issue , this is a public health issue , ” Newsom said regarding pushback from some residents who oppose the face mask mandate .
“ This is a nonpharmaceutical intervention that is the most impactful outside of staying at home.
” Orange County residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state guidelines in recent months , with some participating in protests against closures of beaches and certain businesses .
Health officials confirmed this week they ’ ve inaccurately reported total Covid-19 test numbers for the past month in Orange County and mischaracterized the county ’ s death rate from coronavirus as being low when it was actually higher than neighboring counties .
Health officials included 30,000 serology tests with their cumulative testing data , giving the impression that more people were being tested without noting those who were tested multiple times .
Citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in the state — now at more than 241,000 — and the spike in positive cases among the widening pool of people being tested for the virus , Newsom announced this week mandatory closures for bars in 19 virus hotspots .
California also shut down indoor services at restaurants and wineries and ordered movie theaters , zoos and museums to cease indoor operations in those 19 counties that have seen a surge in novel coronavirus infections .
State health officials launched a public awareness campaign Thursday featuring videos and billboards reminding people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preview of a campaign video presented during the press conference , a patient is seen on a hospital bed , struggling to breathe even with the assistance of what appears to be a ventilator .
Health officials have previously called on celebrities such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Snoop Dogg to help drive messaging about the importance of social distancing and using face coverings .
In a statement , California health director Sonia Angell recommended the 19 counties with surging Covid-19 infection rates cancel their firework shows and for people to refrain from gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private events this weekend that include people who do not live together in the same household should not happen , ” Angell said in a statement .
“ This Independence Day , let ’ s show our patriotism by protecting one another .
Let ’ s stay apart from those who don ’ t live with us , and when we ’ re out , protect one another by wearing a face covering , physically distancing , and washing our hands frequently.
” The surge in Covid-19 cases has also forced higher education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed set to coast campuses back into a realm of normalcy .
University of Southern California administrators announced Thursday that , due to rising Covid-19 infection rates in LA County , undergraduates will no longer be returning to campus for the fall semester .
The university will hold most fall classes online , reversing its original plan to allow students to return in a hybrid learning model with some in-person instruction .
“ The once-in-a-century Covid-19 pandemic has altered every aspect of our lives — the way we interact , work , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic , we must find ways to thrive , ” USC administrators said in a July 1 letter .
“ While not what we hoped , we are now recommending all undergraduates take their courses online , and reconsider living on or close to campus this semester.
” Under the new plan , campus housing will be limited to one student per unit and USC will keep at least half of its dorms empty in case of future use as quarantine space in the event of another surge in Covid-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fall but only in pre-packed containers and students will be able to use the library , gym and other campus amenities by appointment only .
“ Whether students are here on campus or pursuing their studies and activities online , we want everyone to feel safe and supported , ” the letter said .
“ We are in this together and together we will make this fall a rich and rewarding experience .
”

Returning to daily coronavirus press briefings as the virus surges in much of the Golden State, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday again urged people to avoid gathering with people outside their households and to maintain physical distance from others as the state grapples with a 56% increase in hospital admissions over the last two weeks.
(CN) — Returning to daily coronavirus press briefings as the virus surges in much of the Golden State, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday again urged people to avoid gathering with people outside their households and to maintain physical distance from others as the state grapples with a 56% increase in hospital admissions over the last two weeks.
Of the 46,035 patients currently admitted to hospitals in California, 5,355 have Covid-19. Hospitals are operating at 62% capacity statewide with patients who have coronavirus occupying only 7% of total beds.
The number of Covid-19 patients admitted to intensive care units has increased by 49% in the last two weeks, with a total 1,676 patients taking some of the 11,480 ICU beds available statewide. Four months into the pandemic, California remains well positioned to absorb another surge, Newsom said.
But in Southern California’s Riverside County, Covid-19 patients filled at least 89.6% of intensive care beds and 68.6% of hospital beds, according to data released Tuesday by county health officials.
At least 18,041 people in Riverside County have Covid-19 — the second highest tally in California, behind Los Angeles County — and 463 people have died after contracting the virus.
State health officials have determined the surge is due in large part to outbreaks at state prisons and skilled nursing facilities, 57 of which have reported coronavirus outbreaks.
Coronavirus transmission at nursing homes have also contributed to the more than 4,720 confirmed Covid-19 cases reported in the last two weeks in neighboring San Bernardino County, which has the state’s fifth highest case tally at 13,152.
At least 46 facilities have reported outbreaks in the county, the nation’s largest by area. The Cedar Mountain Post-Acute Care Facility in Yucaipa has reported 21 deaths from Covid-19.
“We are still in the first wave and have a lot of work to do to mitigate spread,” Newsom said.
California health officials reported 4,056 people tested positive for the virus statewide over the last 24 hours and 73 died after contracting Covid-19.
The state’s positivity rate — the number of positive cases among residents receiving Covid-19 tests, a key indicator of community spread of the virus — stands at 6.9% over the last week, up from 4.4% two weeks ago, Newsom said Thursday.
He said it’s critical for Californians to wear face coverings in public if they have to leave their homes.
“This is not a partisan issue or a political issue, this is a public health issue,” Newsom said regarding pushback from some residents who oppose the face mask mandate. “This is a nonpharmaceutical intervention that is the most impactful outside of staying at home.”
Orange County residents and elected officials have pushed back against state guidelines in recent months, with some participating in protests against closures of beaches and certain businesses.
Health officials confirmed this week they’ve inaccurately reported total Covid-19 test numbers for the past month in Orange County and mischaracterized the county’s death rate from coronavirus as being low when it was actually higher than neighboring counties.
Health officials included 30,000 serology tests with their cumulative testing data, giving the impression that more people were being tested without noting those who were tested multiple times.
Citing both the continued increase in total Covid-19 cases in the state — now at more than 241,000 — and the spike in positive cases among the widening pool of people being tested for the virus, Newsom announced this week mandatory closures for bars in 19 virus hotspots.
California also shut down indoor services at restaurants and wineries and ordered movie theaters, zoos and museums to cease indoor operations in those 19 counties that have seen a surge in novel coronavirus infections.
State health officials launched a public awareness campaign Thursday featuring videos and billboards reminding people to wear face masks.
In a preview of a campaign video presented during the press conference, a patient is seen on a hospital bed, struggling to breathe even with the assistance of what appears to be a ventilator.
Health officials have previously called on celebrities such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Snoop Dogg to help drive messaging about the importance of social distancing and using face coverings.
In a statement, California health director Sonia Angell recommended the 19 counties with surging Covid-19 infection rates cancel their firework shows and for people to refrain from gathering in groups.
“Any public or private events this weekend that include people who do not live together in the same household should not happen,” Angell said in a statement. “This Independence Day, let’s show our patriotism by protecting one another. Let’s stay apart from those who don’t live with us, and when we’re out, protect one another by wearing a face covering, physically distancing, and washing our hands frequently.”
The surge in Covid-19 cases has also forced higher education institutions to alter plans that weeks ago seemed set to coast campuses back into a realm of normalcy.
University of Southern California administrators announced Thursday that, due to rising Covid-19 infection rates in LA County, undergraduates will no longer be returning to campus for the fall semester.
The university will hold most fall classes online, reversing its original plan to allow students to return in a hybrid learning model with some in-person instruction.
“The once-in-a-century Covid-19 pandemic has altered every aspect of our lives — the way we interact, work, and socialize — and with each new permutation of the pandemic, we must find ways to thrive,” USC administrators said in a July 1 letter. “While not what we hoped, we are now recommending all undergraduates take their courses online, and reconsider living on or close to campus this semester.”
Under the new plan, campus housing will be limited to one student per unit and USC will keep at least half of its dorms empty in case of future use as quarantine space in the event of another surge in Covid-19 cases.
Campus cafeterias will still serve food this fall but only in pre-packed containers and students will be able to use the library, gym and other campus amenities by appointment only.
“Whether students are here on campus or pursuing their studies and activities online, we want everyone to feel safe and supported,” the letter said. “We are in this together and together we will make this fall a rich and rewarding experience.”


courthousenews--2020-07-02--Conservation Group Sues Over Changes to Coastal Dredge Rules

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — Amid an Atlantic hurricane season expected to be more active than normal , an environmental group claims the Trump administration illegally loosened longstanding rules protecting coastal barriers to allow beachfront developments to take sand from vulnerable areas .
In a 32-page complaint filed Thursday in Manhattan federal court , the National Audubon Society says the Interior Department declared last October that it would begin allowing federal funding of projects that dredge sand from coastal barriers within protected coastal habitats to be transported to developed beaches outside of conservation areas .
The nonprofit environmental group claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not only shortsighted and environmentally destructive , but also contrary to the letter and the spirit of ” the Coastal Barrier Resources Act .
Enacted in 1982 , the law encourages the conservation of hurricane-prone , biologically rich coastal barriers by restricting federal expenditures that encourage development in those regions , such as federal flood insurance .
The Audubon Society claims in its lawsuit that the change to allow sand mining from the protected habitats is “ arbitrary , capricious , an abuse of discretion , not in accordance with law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority.
” “ Coastal barriers are undeveloped sandy landforms near the coast , such as barrier islands , sand bars , sand dunes , and coastal aquatic habitats such as wetlands and estuarine waters , ” the complaint states .
“ These areas serve as a crucial protective buffer for the mainland from severe coastal storms and erosion , while also providing irreplaceable habitats and spawning areas for aquatic creatures and migratory birds.
” According to the lawsuit , the Interior Department resisted efforts to allow dredging from protected barriers for over 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In October , under pressure from members of Congress representing some coastal communities , the Department of the Interior unlawfully eviscerated Congress ’ s protections without notice or justification , ” it states .
In addition to the Interior Department and U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service , the suit also names as defendants the heads of those agencies – David Bernhardt and Aurelia Skipwith , respectively .
Travis Annatoyn is senior counsel at the Democracy Forward Foundation , which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Audubon Society .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobbyist , has put special interests above environmental safety .
“ Secretary Bernhardt continues to put vulnerable communities and irreplaceable wildlife and natural resources in danger in order to keep powerful interests happy , ” Annatoyn said in a statement Thursday .
“ Turning undeveloped islands and beaches into sand mines is horrendously shortsighted , and illegal , and we will continue to fight against the Trump administration ’ s lawlessness.
” The FWS refers to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act as “ a free-market approach to conservation ” that keeps people out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction in risky areas where hurricanes strike first .
According to an agency fact sheet , the law conserves coastal habitats that support a variety of fish and wildlife including migratory birds , shorebirds , finfish , shellfish , and sea turtles , while also saving taxpayers money by “ restricting federal subsidies to develop –and rebuild again and again – places subject to storm surge and chronic erosion.
” A former researcher and executive at Monsanto , Skipwith previously served as the Trump administration ’ s deputy assistant secretary for fish , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 statement on her Senate confirmation to lead the FWS , the Center for Biological Diversity called Skipwith an “ unqualified industry shill ” and “ the most unqualified director in Fish and Wildlife Service history.
” “ Skipwith ’ s abysmal record shows she ’ s ideologically opposed to the mission of the very agency she now leads , ” said Stephanie Kurose , the group ’ s endangered species policy specialist .
“ She ’ ll always put the interests of her industry friends ahead of protecting America ’ s wildlife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representatives for the Interior Department and FWS did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday .

Amid an Atlantic hurricane season expected to be more active than normal, an environmental group claims the Trump administration illegally loosened longstanding rules protecting coastal barriers to allow beachfront developments to take sand from vulnerable areas.
MANHATTAN (CN) — Amid an Atlantic hurricane season expected to be more active than normal, an environmental group claims the Trump administration illegally loosened longstanding rules protecting coastal barriers to allow beachfront developments to take sand from vulnerable areas.
In a 32-page complaint filed Thursday in Manhattan federal court, the National Audubon Society says the Interior Department declared last October that it would begin allowing federal funding of projects that dredge sand from coastal barriers within protected coastal habitats to be transported to developed beaches outside of conservation areas.
The nonprofit environmental group claims the administration’s rule change is “not only shortsighted and environmentally destructive, but also contrary to the letter and the spirit of” the Coastal Barrier Resources Act.
Enacted in 1982, the law encourages the conservation of hurricane-prone, biologically rich coastal barriers by restricting federal expenditures that encourage development in those regions, such as federal flood insurance.
The Audubon Society claims in its lawsuit that the change to allow sand mining from the protected habitats is "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, not in accordance with law, and in excess of defendants’ statutory authority.”
“Coastal barriers are undeveloped sandy landforms near the coast, such as barrier islands, sand bars, sand dunes, and coastal aquatic habitats such as wetlands and estuarine waters,” the complaint states. “These areas serve as a crucial protective buffer for the mainland from severe coastal storms and erosion, while also providing irreplaceable habitats and spawning areas for aquatic creatures and migratory birds.”
According to the lawsuit, the Interior Department resisted efforts to allow dredging from protected barriers for over 25 years prior to the Trump administration.
“In October, under pressure from members of Congress representing some coastal communities, the Department of the Interior unlawfully eviscerated Congress’s protections without notice or justification,” it states.
In addition to the Interior Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the suit also names as defendants the heads of those agencies — David Bernhardt and Aurelia Skipwith, respectively.
Travis Annatoyn is senior counsel at the Democracy Forward Foundation, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Audubon Society. He said Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist, has put special interests above environmental safety.
“Secretary Bernhardt continues to put vulnerable communities and irreplaceable wildlife and natural resources in danger in order to keep powerful interests happy,” Annatoyn said in a statement Thursday. “Turning undeveloped islands and beaches into sand mines is horrendously shortsighted, and illegal, and we will continue to fight against the Trump administration's lawlessness.”
The FWS refers to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act as “a free-market approach to conservation” that keeps people out of harm’s way by discouraging construction in risky areas where hurricanes strike first.
According to an agency fact sheet, the law conserves coastal habitats that support a variety of fish and wildlife including migratory birds, shorebirds, finfish, shellfish, and sea turtles, while also saving taxpayers money by “restricting federal subsidies to develop — and rebuild again and again — places subject to storm surge and chronic erosion.”
A former researcher and executive at Monsanto, Skipwith previously served as the Trump administration’s deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks.
In a December 2019 statement on her Senate confirmation to lead the FWS, the Center for Biological Diversity called Skipwith an “unqualified industry shill” and “the most unqualified director in Fish and Wildlife Service history.”
“Skipwith’s abysmal record shows she’s ideologically opposed to the mission of the very agency she now leads,” said Stephanie Kurose, the group’s endangered species policy specialist. “She’ll always put the interests of her industry friends ahead of protecting America’s wildlife. Her confirmation is a travesty.”
Representatives for the Interior Department and FWS did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.


courthousenews--2020-07-02--Trump Appointees Held to House’s Fire on Worsening US Pandemic

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — House lawmakers confronted White House officials Thursday with a report that the country did not , and more critically will not , command enough protective medical equipment to meet the surge in cases of Covid-19 .
There are more than 2 million cases of the novel coronavirus recorded in the United States , where more than 30 states have seen an uptick in cases over the last few weeks after registering some 130,000 deaths .
Tasked with overseeing the federal government ’ s response to the pandemic , the House ’ s Select Subcommittee on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America grapples with pressure to reinstate lockdown measures that ground most of the country to a halt for months this spring .
“ How is it possible , ” exclaimed Committee Chairman Jim Clyburn , “ that more than five months into this crisis , our country is still facing a possible shortage of 30 million N95 masks ?
” The South Carolina Democrat quoted President Donald Trump as having said the U.S. would procure 160 million masks by July .
So far , however , the stock contains 130 million masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversees the supply-chain stabilization task force operated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency , defended the shortfall .
Trump ’ s projection did not account for states that acquired their own masks , he said , nor did it account for all workers wanting — or needing — masks .
As noted by Representative Carolyn Maloney , however , a recurring complaint from the private sector has been that the administration offered no guidance , even as the crisis got worse , for production and distribution of personal protective equipment and other supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York had been a global epicenter of the outbreak early on but is now leading the country in containment , a feat largely credited to the state ’ s Governor Andrew Cuomo , a fellow Democrat .
Maloney released a 13-page report ahead of Thursday ’ s hearing that details committee ’ s discussions to date with in-house legal counsel , senior officials procurement experts and other representatives from six leading distributors of medical equipment : Cardinal Health , Concordance Healthcare Solutions , Henry Schein , McKesson , Medline , and Owens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coordination not just inadequate but in many cases nonexistent in the pandemic ’ s early months .
According to one Owens & Minor official , the government treated phone calls with its company as largely “ educational.
” With masks in particular , the company said the government did not address , as far back as March 16 , questions about how it could expedite exports from China to the U.S. or acquire raw materials faster .
Private companies needed the federal government to communicate and designate regions most in need and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in the position to make those calls , the Health Industry Distributors Association , or HIDA , told lawmakers .
The association acts as a liaison between members of the health care distribution industry and the Trump administration .
Polowcyzk hedged under questioning , noting his appointment was relatively late at the pandemic ’ s outset .
He was appointed by Trump on March 19 .
To that point , however , Maloney noted that Polowcyzk was in place for nearly two weeks when HIDA made a follow-up request for guidance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration has turned to Project Airbridge , an initiative championed by Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner , which offers free transportation for certain companies importing PPE to America .
The program does not require suppliers to disclose pricing information even though it comes at taxpayer expense .
For companies that consulted with the committee , the project has been a boondoggle , often leading to unnecessary competition and pressure to purchase from foreign suppliers .
One company , for example , told lawmakers the Trump administration directed them to procure over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Chinese electric car and battery manufacturer through Project Airbridge .
The prices were exorbitant , however , and negotiation dragged for weeks before collapsing .
Rebutting widespread reports that Kushner ’ s influence on medical supplier negotiations was widespread , Polowcyzk said Thursday that Kushner was not involved directly in any contract acquisition matters at FEMA .
Congressman Bill Foster , a former physicist who now represents the 11th District of Illinois , called the path forward on the testing supply chain no less murky .
“ The biggest challenge the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , ” the Democrat said at the hearing , addressing Admiral Brett Giroir , who has overseen testing as part of the White House coronavirus task force .
“ How many more doublings can we tolerate before the supply chain breaks ?
” Foster asked .
“ Do you see any way to keep up with the demand that doubles and doubles and doubles again ?
” Giroir was cautious but confident Thursday , predicting testing capacity will be at 40 to 50 million people per month by the fall .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we ’ re going to get a little more exponential as supply chains kick in for some of the point of care tests , ” said the admiral , who serves as assistant secretary for health at the Health and Human Services Department .
Kevin Fahey , assistant secretary of defense for acquisition at the Department of Defense , told lawmakers he expects test kit production capacity could expand by December , nearly a year since the virus first erupted in China .

House lawmakers confronted White House officials Thursday with a report that the country did not, and more critically will not, command enough protective medical equipment to meet the surge in cases of Covid-19.
WASHINGTON (CN) — House lawmakers confronted White House officials Thursday with a report that the country did not, and more critically will not, command enough protective medical equipment to meet the surge in cases of Covid-19.
There are more than 2 million cases of the novel coronavirus recorded in the United States, where more than 30 states have seen an uptick in cases over the last few weeks after registering some 130,000 deaths.
Tasked with overseeing the federal government’s response to the pandemic, the House’s Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis met Thursday as much of America grapples with pressure to reinstate lockdown measures that ground most of the country to a halt for months this spring.
“How is it possible,” exclaimed Committee Chairman Jim Clyburn, “that more than five months into this crisis, our country is still facing a possible shortage of 30 million N95 masks?”
The South Carolina Democrat quoted President Donald Trump as having said the U.S. would procure 160 million masks by July. So far, however, the stock contains 130 million masks.
Rear Admiral John Polowcyzk, who oversees the supply-chain stabilization task force operated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, defended the shortfall.
Trump’s projection did not account for states that acquired their own masks, he said, nor did it account for all workers wanting — or needing — masks.
As noted by Representative Carolyn Maloney, however, a recurring complaint from the private sector has been that the administration offered no guidance, even as the crisis got worse, for production and distribution of personal protective equipment and other supplies. Maloney’s home state of New York had been a global epicenter of the outbreak early on but is now leading the country in containment, a feat largely credited to the state’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, a fellow Democrat.
Maloney released a 13-page report ahead of Thursday’s hearing that details committee’s discussions to date with in-house legal counsel, senior officials procurement experts and other representatives from six leading distributors of medical equipment: Cardinal Health, Concordance Healthcare Solutions, Henry Schein, McKesson, Medline, and Owens & Minor. They labeled Trump’s coordination not just inadequate but in many cases nonexistent in the pandemic’s early months.
According to one Owens & Minor official, the government treated phone calls with its company as largely “educational.” With masks in particular, the company said the government did not address, as far back as March 16, questions about how it could expedite exports from China to the U.S. or acquire raw materials faster.
Private companies needed the federal government to communicate and designate regions most in need and share that data. No private company was in the position to make those calls, the Health Industry Distributors Association, or HIDA, told lawmakers. The association acts as a liaison between members of the health care distribution industry and the Trump administration.
Polowcyzk hedged under questioning, noting his appointment was relatively late at the pandemic’s outset. He was appointed by Trump on March 19. To that point, however, Maloney noted that Polowcyzk was in place for nearly two weeks when HIDA made a follow-up request for guidance.
Instead of procuring equipment directly, the administration has turned to Project Airbridge, an initiative championed by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, which offers free transportation for certain companies importing PPE to America.
The program does not require suppliers to disclose pricing information even though it comes at taxpayer expense. For companies that consulted with the committee, the project has been a boondoggle, often leading to unnecessary competition and pressure to purchase from foreign suppliers.
One company, for example, told lawmakers the Trump administration directed them to procure over a billion masks and gowns from BYD, a Chinese electric car and battery manufacturer through Project Airbridge. The prices were exorbitant, however, and negotiation dragged for weeks before collapsing.
Rebutting widespread reports that Kushner’s influence on medical supplier negotiations was widespread, Polowcyzk said Thursday that Kushner was not involved directly in any contract acquisition matters at FEMA.
Admiral Brett Giroir, who has overseen testing as part of the White House coronavirus task force, testifies Thursday, July 2, before the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis.
Congressman Bill Foster, a former physicist who now represents the 11th District of Illinois, called the path forward on the testing supply chain no less murky.
“The biggest challenge the federal government is facing is the doubling of cases,” the Democrat said at the hearing, addressing Admiral Brett Giroir, who has overseen testing as part of the White House coronavirus task force.
“How many more doublings can we tolerate before the supply chain breaks?” Foster asked. “Do you see any way to keep up with the demand that doubles and doubles and doubles again?”
Giroir was cautious but confident Thursday, predicting testing capacity will be at 40 to 50 million people per month by the fall.
“We’re a little bit linear but we’re going to get a little more exponential as supply chains kick in for some of the point of care tests,” said the admiral, who serves as assistant secretary for health at the Health and Human Services Department.
Kevin Fahey, assistant secretary of defense for acquisition at the Department of Defense, told lawmakers he expects test kit production capacity could expand by December, nearly a year since the virus first erupted in China.


courthousenews--2020-07-02--Trump Ally Herman Cain Hospitalized With Covid After Attending Rally

Cain has consistently downplayed the threat of the coronavirus over the course of the pandemic .
ATLANTA ( CN ) — Herman Cain , a former 2012 Republican presidential candidate who attended President Trump ’ s comeback rally in Oklahoma last month , has been hospitalized in Atlanta after testing positive for Covid-19 .
“ We are sorry to announce that Herman Cain has tested positive for Covid-19 , and is currently receiving treatment in an Atlanta-area hospital , ” his Twitter account posted Thursday .
“ Please keep him , and all who are battling this virus , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Voices for Trump , attended the president ’ s June 20 rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , and did not wear a mask .
But Dan Calabrese , an editor at HermanCain.com , said it is unclear how he contracted the virus .
According to a statement on Cain ’ s website , the Republican “ did a lot of traveling the past week.
” “ I don ’ t think there ’ s any way to trace this to the one specific contact that caused him to be infected , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never know.
” Cain has consistently downplayed the threat of the coronavirus over the course of the pandemic , tweeting on June 12 : “ Don ’ t believe the scare stories .
A serious look at the numbers tells you there ’ s no second wave starting.
” Commentary posted to his website the same day said , “ Don ’ t be scared to go out and live your lives .
And if you ’ re finding that difficult , let me suggest turning off the news and spending more time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 74 , served as CEO of Godfather ’ s Pizza and went on to become president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association .
He entered the world of politics in 1996 , serving as a senior adviser to Republican Bob Dole in his unsuccessful presidential campaign .
After a short-lived presidential campaign in 2000 , Cain ran for Zell Miller ’ s vacant U.S. Senate seat in Georgia in 2004 but did not make it out of the primaries .
Cain launched another presidential campaign in 2011 , seeking the Republican Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama the following year .
He was known for a proposal he called the 9-9-9 tax plan – which called for a 9 % personal income tax , 9 % federal sales tax , and a 9 % corporate tax – but he dropped out of the race in December 2011 after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment .
Cain withdrew from consideration for the Federal Reserve Board last year after the harassment allegations resurfaced , but he has remained in the public eye as a contributor for the conservative outlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence on Twitter , where he has more than 500,000 followers .
According to the statement on Cain ’ s website , he has not needed a respirator and has been using his cellphone .
He has continued to post tweets since being hospitalized .
On Wednesday night , Cain posted a story about a Planned Parenthood lawsuit in Iowa in a tweet that said , “ Anything that angers Planned Parenthood is probably a good idea.
” Cain was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in 2006 , but announced he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all know the Herman you see on TV , or hear giving speeches , or whose columns you read , ” Calabrese said .
“ You know of his love for our country and his passion for ideas and solutions .
You ’ ve heard much of what he ’ s shared of his own life experiences .
We know the guy who ’ s led this team with focus and determination through plenty of highs and lows and has been extremely good to all of us throughout the whole thing .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him.
” Representatives for Cain did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday .

Herman Cain, a former 2012 Republican presidential candidate who attended President Trump’s comeback rally in Oklahoma last month, has been hospitalized in Atlanta after testing positive for Covid-19.
ATLANTA (CN) — Herman Cain, a former 2012 Republican presidential candidate who attended President Trump’s comeback rally in Oklahoma last month, has been hospitalized in Atlanta after testing positive for Covid-19.
“We are sorry to announce that Herman Cain has tested positive for Covid-19, and is currently receiving treatment in an Atlanta-area hospital,” his Twitter account posted Thursday. “Please keep him, and all who are battling this virus, in your prayers.”
Cain, co-chair of Black Voices for Trump, attended the president’s June 20 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and did not wear a mask. But Dan Calabrese, an editor at HermanCain.com, said it is unclear how he contracted the virus. According to a statement on Cain’s website, the Republican “did a lot of traveling the past week.”
“I don’t think there’s any way to trace this to the one specific contact that caused him to be infected,” Calabrese said. “We’ll never know.”
Cain has consistently downplayed the threat of the coronavirus over the course of the pandemic, tweeting on June 12: “Don’t believe the scare stories. A serious look at the numbers tells you there’s no second wave starting.”
Commentary posted to his website the same day said: “Don’t be scared to go out and live your lives. And if you’re finding that difficult, let me suggest turning off the news and spending more time loving your neighbor instead.”
Cain, 74, served as CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and went on to become president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. He entered the world of politics in 1996, serving as a senior adviser to Republican Bob Dole in his unsuccessful presidential campaign.
After a short-lived presidential campaign in 2000, Cain ran for Zell Miller’s vacant U.S. Senate seat in Georgia in 2004 but did not make it out of the primaries.
Cain launched another presidential campaign in 2011, seeking the Republican Party’s nomination to challenge incumbent President Barack Obama the following year.
He was known for a proposal he called the 9-9-9 tax plan – which called for a 9% personal income tax, 9% federal sales tax, and a 9% corporate tax – but he dropped out of the race in December 2011 after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment.
Cain withdrew from consideration for the Federal Reserve Board last year after the harassment allegations resurfaced, but he has remained in the public eye as a contributor for the conservative outlet Newsmax. He also has an active presence on Twitter, where he has more than 500,000 followers.
According to the statement on Cain’s website, he has not needed a respirator and has been using his cellphone. He has continued to post tweets since being hospitalized.
On Wednesday night, Cain posted a story about a Planned Parenthood lawsuit in Iowa in a tweet that said, “Anything that angers Planned Parenthood is probably a good idea.”
Cain was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in 2006, but announced he was cancer-free the following year.
“You all know the Herman you see on TV, or hear giving speeches, or whose columns you read,” Calabrese said. “You know of his love for our country and his passion for ideas and solutions. You’ve heard much of what he’s shared of his own life experiences. We know the guy who’s led this team with focus and determination through plenty of highs and lows and has been extremely good to all of us throughout the whole thing. He’s our boss. We love him.”
Representatives for Cain did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.


courthousenews--2020-07-02--In West Texas, Rural Hospitals Feel Strain as Virus Cases Grow

Hospitals in the oilfield cities of Odessa and Midland are seeing staffing shortages because of employees catching the virus themselves .
( CN ) — As coronavirus cases spike in major Texas cities like Houston and San Antonio , prompting the governor to order people to wear masks in public Thursday , small hospitals in the West Texas oil patch are reporting struggles and planning for an even tougher road ahead .
Across the Lone Star State , coronavirus case numbers have surged since Memorial Day weekend , with Republican Governor Greg Abbott warning in recent days of a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the pandemic .
The situation prompted Abbott to issue a statewide executive order on Thursday requiring most Texans to wear a face covering in public .
The order , effective Friday , requires most people to wear a mask in buildings or outdoor spaces “ wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household.
” In Odessa , a blue-collar oilfield city of about 120,000 people , an influx of Covid-19 patients this week has forced one of the region ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire floor into a new coronavirus unit .
Medical Center Hospital also announced Wednesday it would stop accepting transfers of patients from outside its home county for at least a week , a potentially troubling development for people in smaller towns across the sprawling region who will have one less option for critical care as the virus continues to spread .
“ We went 20 days without a single Covid patient , probably less than 30 days ago , and then we go from zero patients to having to open another floor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Odessa hospital , said in an interview Thursday morning .
“ For our hospital , that is dramatic .
It ’ s worrisome to me just because of the level of stress that it puts on our resources , ” he said .
As the virus soars statewide , a similar though perhaps less dramatic growth in cases has played out in recent weeks across the Permian Basin oilfield of West Texas , a region where those lucky enough to have held onto their industry jobs after a devastating fall in oil prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continued to work throughout the pandemic , even despite earlier stay-at-home orders .
Active coronavirus cases in Midland and Ector counties – home to the sister cities of Midland and Odessa , respectively – grew from just over 50 at the beginning of June to about 700 by the end of the month , according to estimates from the Texas Department of State Health Services .
“ Hospital capacity has been really stretched because of Covid-19 patients , ” said Rohith Saravanan , chief medical officer at Odessa Regional Medical Center , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said an initial 15-bed coronavirus unit at the hospital is “ almost full at this point , ” but that the hospital does have the ability to expand into another 24-bed unit if needed .
In both cities , hospitals are reporting staffing shortages because of employees catching the virus themselves .
“ The limiting factor is not the beds , it is nursing staff , ” Saravanan said .
“ We are short nurses with current volume , so it is going to be really difficult for us to open these units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing help.
” Forty-one employees at neighboring Midland Memorial Hospital had tested positive and were therefore at home and unable to work as of Thursday , the hospital ’ s CEO Russell Meyers said during a Zoom conference call .
“ We ’ re very concerned about it , not only because these people are sick and we want to be sure they get good care , but because we rely on them to care for others , ” he said .
Meyers sounded less concerned about capacity issues , though he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra room for Covid-19 patients .
The Midland hospital currently has 17 of its 24 beds dedicated to coronavirus patients occupied , Meyers said , while another 12 beds are still available for patients with the disease who fall critically ill .
The hospital ’ s next step would be to open up an entire floor of its building just for coronavirus patients , like the Odessa facility has already done .
“ We do have a plan for a surge and are prepared to manage some additional patients without question , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting close to needing to move into the next phase of our surge plan.
” South of the oilfields in the state ’ s more mountainous and tourism-dependent Big Bend region , a local outbreak has grown in sparsely populated Brewster County , with more than 100 of the county ’ s 9,000 or so residents currently sick with Covid-19 .
At least three people with the disease in the Big Bend had to be transferred hours away to the hospital in Odessa in June , according to Marfa Public Radio , prompting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital continues to block such transfers for longer than a week .
“ I think that is a definite possibility that these patients will have to go to El Paso , Lubbock , ” Tippin said .
“ But we got to a point in Odessa where we had to decide , look , if we don ’ t get a handle on this now , we ’ re going to get in a situation that we ’ re not going to be able – there won ’ t be any exit strategy.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pause it now , to get things in our own house straightened and ready , ” he added .
“ If we didn ’ t control it now , man , it ’ s going to blow up , it ’ s going to get out of control.
” The Odessa hospital has stressed , however , that “ anyone who comes through our doors will be treated and cared for appropriately.
” Meyers , the hospital CEO in Midland , said the facility there is prepared for now to accept patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to help is not unlimited , but we do have a couple more stages of surge capacity we can put online , ” he said .

As coronavirus cases spike in major Texas cities like Houston and San Antonio, prompting the governor to order people to wear masks in public Thursday, small hospitals in the West Texas oil patch are reporting struggles and planning for an even tougher road ahead.
(CN) — As coronavirus cases spike in major Texas cities like Houston and San Antonio, prompting the governor to order people to wear masks in public Thursday, small hospitals in the West Texas oil patch are reporting struggles and planning for an even tougher road ahead.
Across the Lone Star State, coronavirus case numbers have surged since Memorial Day weekend, with Republican Governor Greg Abbott warning in recent days of a “very swift and very dangerous turn” for the pandemic.
The situation prompted Abbott to issue a statewide executive order on Thursday requiring most Texans to wear a face covering in public. The order, effective Friday, requires most people to wear a mask in buildings or outdoor spaces “wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household.”
In Odessa, a blue-collar oilfield city of about 120,000 people, an influx of Covid-19 patients this week has forced one of the region’s three major hospitals to convert an entire floor into a new coronavirus unit.
Medical Center Hospital also announced Wednesday it would stop accepting transfers of patients from outside its home county for at least a week, a potentially troubling development for people in smaller towns across the sprawling region who will have one less option for critical care as the virus continues to spread.
“We went 20 days without a single Covid patient, probably less than 30 days ago, and then we go from zero patients to having to open another floor,” Russell Tippin, CEO of the Odessa hospital, said in an interview Thursday morning.
“For our hospital, that is dramatic. It’s worrisome to me just because of the level of stress that it puts on our resources,” he said.
As the virus soars statewide, a similar though perhaps less dramatic growth in cases has played out in recent weeks across the Permian Basin oilfield of West Texas, a region where those lucky enough to have held onto their industry jobs after a devastating fall in oil prices were deemed “essential” and have continued to work throughout the pandemic, even despite earlier stay-at-home orders.
Downtown Midland, Texas. (Photo via Hellorawr/Wikipedia Commons)
Active coronavirus cases in Midland and Ector counties — home to the sister cities of Midland and Odessa, respectively — grew from just over 50 at the beginning of June to about 700 by the end of the month, according to estimates from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“Hospital capacity has been really stretched because of Covid-19 patients,” said Rohith Saravanan, chief medical officer at Odessa Regional Medical Center, a small hospital in the city.
Saravanan said an initial 15-bed coronavirus unit at the hospital is “almost full at this point,” but that the hospital does have the ability to expand into another 24-bed unit if needed.
In both cities, hospitals are reporting staffing shortages because of employees catching the virus themselves.
“The limiting factor is not the beds, it is nursing staff,” Saravanan said. “We are short nurses with current volume, so it is going to be really difficult for us to open these units if we can’t get more nursing help.”
Forty-one employees at neighboring Midland Memorial Hospital had tested positive and were therefore at home and unable to work as of Thursday, the hospital’s CEO Russell Meyers said during a Zoom conference call.
“We’re very concerned about it, not only because these people are sick and we want to be sure they get good care, but because we rely on them to care for others,” he said.
Meyers sounded less concerned about capacity issues, though he said the hospital could soon have to find extra room for Covid-19 patients.
The Midland hospital currently has 17 of its 24 beds dedicated to coronavirus patients occupied, Meyers said, while another 12 beds are still available for patients with the disease who fall critically ill. The hospital’s next step would be to open up an entire floor of its building just for coronavirus patients, like the Odessa facility has already done.
“We do have a plan for a surge and are prepared to manage some additional patients without question,” Meyers said. “We’re getting close to needing to move into the next phase of our surge plan.”
South of the oilfields in the state’s more mountainous and tourism-dependent Big Bend region, a local outbreak has grown in sparsely populated Brewster County, with more than 100 of the county’s 9,000 or so residents currently sick with Covid-19.
At least three people with the disease in the Big Bend had to be transferred hours away to the hospital in Odessa in June, according to Marfa Public Radio, prompting concerns about what will happen if the hospital continues to block such transfers for longer than a week.
“I think that is a definite possibility that these patients will have to go to El Paso, Lubbock,” Tippin said. “But we got to a point in Odessa where we had to decide, look, if we don’t get a handle on this now, we’re going to get in a situation that we’re not going to be able — there won’t be any exit strategy.”
“We felt like we had to pause it now, to get things in our own house straightened and ready,” he added. “If we didn’t control it now, man, it’s going to blow up, it’s going to get out of control.”
The Odessa hospital has stressed, however, that “anyone who comes through our doors will be treated and cared for appropriately.”
Meyers, the hospital CEO in Midland, said the facility there is prepared for now to accept patients from across the region.
“That ability to help is not unlimited, but we do have a couple more stages of surge capacity we can put online,” he said.


Health Insurance

ALBANY , N.Y. — An appeals court in New York upheld a ruling against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany @ @ @ @ @ state regulation requiring health insurers cover medically necessary abortions .

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.


Drug Prices

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Wild Horses

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth Circuit upheld a ruling in favor of the Bureau of Land Management in an action @ @ @ @ @ B complexes plan .
The bureau did not violate the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros @ @ @ @ @ group Friends of Animals had claimed .


courthousenews--2020-07-03--Federal Judge Urges California to Release Vulnerable Inmates

( CN ) — As Covid-19 continues its inexorable spread throughout California ’ s state prisons , a federal judge implored corrections officials to release elderly inmates and those with serious health conditions to free up bed space .
“ I don ’ t have the power to order the release of medically vulnerable inmates , but the state does have that power and it is imperative that the state exercise that power immediately , ” U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar said at a hearing Thursday .
Tigar said he was dismayed by what he saw when he toured California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Vacaville on Monday .
“ What I saw at CMF was gravely concerning .
People at CMF are living on top of each other .
Many of the men there use wheelchairs or walkers .
Some of them need help breathing.
” Tigar said , adding it ’ s difficult to imagine the elderly inmates living in such crowded dormitories in the best of circumstances , “ but with the threat of Covid , living conditions have become unimaginable.
” He said many of the inmates he saw no longer pose any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own underlying health conditions make them especially susceptible to Covid-19 — and threaten the health of other inmates , prison staff and nearby communities .
Among these inmates are a 72-year-old man with rectal cancer whose been in prison for 42 years ; an 81-year-old man with hypertension and lung disease incarcerated for 31 years ; a 35-year-old with a ventricular assist device ; and a 65-year-old who has been locked up for 41 years and suffers from coronary artery disease , congestive heart failure , lung disease , stage three kidney failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most of these men , Tigar said , have received no write-ups for bad behavior and have family members willing to take them in if they ’ re released .
“ I ’ ve sentenced people to life sentences in order to protect my community .
Punishment has a legitimate role in sentencing criminal defendants .
But I simply can not believe all the restrictions on the release of medically vulnerable inmates are required to protect public safety , ” he said .
“ To those that oppose the large-scale release of medically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t think it ’ s necessary , go into the prisons and see for yourself .
That ’ s what I did .
If you visit CMF , you will come to the same conclusion I have.
” He said the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation must clear as much space as possible in its 33 state prisons to quarantine infected inmates .
“ When an inmate gets sick the staff must be able to isolate and quarantine that inmate , ” he said .
At this point , prisons are so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tigar has been overseeing a two-decade class action over inadequate health care and prison overcrowding led by inmate Marciano Plata .
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2011 that the CDCR must reduce its inmate population to 137.5 % of capacity , upholding a 2009 order by a panel of three federal judges in California .
So far Tigar has allowed the CDCR to manage the Covid-19 threat with little direct intervention from the court , but he ’ s scheduled regular case management conferences to track the state ’ s progress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tigar said he ’ s hoping to prevent what ’ s happened in San Quentin State Prison , which saw its first cases after 121 prisoners were transferred there in late May from the California Institution for Men in Chino , a coronavirus hotspot .
The San Francisco Chronicle reported in June that 15 of the prisoners transferred to San Quentin later tested positive for Covid-19 .
As of Thursday , 1,399 San Quentin inmates had been infected with Covid-19 , and 1,079 of those cases are from the last 14 days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late May — including one who tested positive — and while it previously had no cases , its number of confirmed cases stands at 157 .
Tigar noted that 20 prisoners were just diagnosed with Covid-19 at the California Institution for Men but remain housed in a dormitory with uninfected prisoners because there is no other housing available .
“ How can that be happening ?
” he said .
CDCR officials say they ’ ve installed Lexan glass barriers in the dorms have marked six-foot boundaries on the floor with tape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its mismanagement of the health crisis at a hearing Wednesday .
State Sen. Nancy Skinner , D-Berkeley , who chairs the Public Safety Committee , said she could not understand how prison officials could allow transfers between prisons without first testing the inmates .
“ By the end of May we fully understood and had adequate testing , so how could there have been the transfer of people who had not been tested for two to three weeks ?
” Skinner asked .
“ It ’ s abhorrent and I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case management statement filed Wednesday , CDCR said it just canceled a planned transfer of a group of vulnerable inmates to another prison after two tested positive .
“ But , in coordination with California Correctional Health Care Services , CDCR is considering transferring up to 300 inmates who have recovered from Covid-19 from San Quentin to other prisons to reduce the population at San Quentin , ” the agency said .
Officials also plan to release 14 medically high-risk inmates from San Quentin if they can verify that those prisoners have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released .
Tigar said that ’ s not nearly enough .
According to counsel for the inmate class every prison has at least one incarcerated person or staff member who has tested positive .
“ If CDCR does not release and physically distance in its facilities it will face more outbreaks like at San Quentin , and there will be needless deaths .
There needs to be empty cells to move inmates into , ” Tigar said .
“ Inmate releases should be driven by population targets set by public health doctors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much room they need .
The staff in your prisons know who these inmates are .
Ask them and they will tell you.
” Some institutions will need to release more than others , Tigar said , but “ the releases need to happen immediately .
There simply is no time to wait .
By the time an institution like CMF has its first case , it ’ s too late .
You need to create the space now so the space is there when Covid arrives at the prison .
”

As Covid-19 continues its inexorable spread throughout California’s state prisons, a federal judge implored corrections officials to release elderly inmates and those with serious health conditions to free up bed space.
(CN) — As Covid-19 continues its inexorable spread throughout California’s state prisons, a federal judge implored corrections officials to release elderly inmates and those with serious health conditions to free up bed space.
“I don't have the power to order the release of medically vulnerable inmates, but the state does have that power and it is imperative that the state exercise that power immediately,” U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar said at a hearing Thursday.
Tigar said he was dismayed by what he saw when he toured California State Prison Solano and California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Monday.
“What I saw at CMF was gravely concerning. People at CMF are living on top of each other. Many of the men there use wheelchairs or walkers. Some of them need help breathing.” Tigar said, adding it’s difficult to imagine the elderly inmates living in such crowded dormitories in the best of circumstances, “but with the threat of Covid, living conditions have become unimaginable.”
He said many of the inmates he saw no longer pose any danger to public safety, but their own underlying health conditions make them especially susceptible to Covid-19 — and threaten the health of other inmates, prison staff and nearby communities.
Among these inmates are a 72-year-old man with rectal cancer whose been in prison for 42 years; an 81-year-old man with hypertension and lung disease incarcerated for 31 years; a 35-year-old with a ventricular assist device; and a 65-year-old who has been locked up for 41 years and suffers from coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, lung disease, stage three kidney failure, sleep apnea, and sarcoidosis.
Most of these men, Tigar said, have received no write-ups for bad behavior and have family members willing to take them in if they’re released.
“I've sentenced people to life sentences in order to protect my community. Punishment has a legitimate role in sentencing criminal defendants. But I simply cannot believe all the restrictions on the release of medically vulnerable inmates are required to protect public safety,” he said. “To those that oppose the large-scale release of medically vulnerable inmates — if you don't think it's necessary, go into the prisons and see for yourself. That’s what I did. If you visit CMF, you will come to the same conclusion I have.”
He said the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation must clear as much space as possible in its 33 state prisons to quarantine infected inmates. “When an inmate gets sick the staff must be able to isolate and quarantine that inmate,” he said. At this point, prisons are so overcrowded that physical distancing is impossible.
Tigar has been overseeing a two-decade class action over inadequate health care and prison overcrowding led by inmate Marciano Plata. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2011 that the CDCR must reduce its inmate population to 137.5% of capacity, upholding a 2009 order by a panel of three federal judges in California.
So far Tigar has allowed the CDCR to manage the Covid-19 threat with little direct intervention from the court, but he’s scheduled regular case management conferences to track the state’s progress.
At the latest conference on Thursday, Tigar said he’s hoping to prevent what’s happened in San Quentin State Prison, which saw its first cases after 121 prisoners were transferred there in late May from the California Institution for Men in Chino, a coronavirus hotspot.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported in June that 15 of the prisoners transferred to San Quentin later tested positive for Covid-19.
As of Thursday, 1,399 San Quentin inmates had been infected with Covid-19, and 1,079 of those cases are from the last 14 days.
Corcoran State Prison also received 66 transfers in late May — including one who tested positive — and while it previously had no cases, its number of confirmed cases stands at 157.
Tigar noted that 20 prisoners were just diagnosed with Covid-19 at the California Institution for Men but remain housed in a dormitory with uninfected prisoners because there is no other housing available. “How can that be happening?” he said.
CDCR officials say they’ve installed Lexan glass barriers in the dorms have marked six-foot boundaries on the floor with tape.
State legislators blasted the corrections department for its mismanagement of the health crisis at a hearing Wednesday. State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said she could not understand how prison officials could allow transfers between prisons without first testing the inmates.
“By the end of May we fully understood and had adequate testing, so how could there have been the transfer of people who had not been tested for two to three weeks?” Skinner asked. “It’s abhorrent and I don’t understand it.”
In a joint case management statement filed Wednesday, CDCR said it just canceled a planned transfer of a group of vulnerable inmates to another prison after two tested positive. “But, in coordination with California Correctional Health Care Services, CDCR is considering transferring up to 300 inmates who have recovered from Covid-19 from San Quentin to other prisons to reduce the population at San Quentin,” the agency said.
Officials also plan to release 14 medically high-risk inmates from San Quentin if they can verify that those prisoners have a residence where they can stay after being released. Tigar said that’s not nearly enough.
According to counsel for the inmate class every prison has at least one incarcerated person or staff member who has tested positive.
“If CDCR does not release and physically distance in its facilities it will face more outbreaks like at San Quentin, and there will be needless deaths. There needs to be empty cells to move inmates into,” Tigar said. “Inmate releases should be driven by population targets set by public health doctors and staff within the facilities who know how much room they need. The staff in your prisons know who these inmates are. Ask them and they will tell you.”
Some institutions will need to release more than others, Tigar said, but “the releases need to happen immediately. There simply is no time to wait. By the time an institution like CMF has its first case, it's too late. You need to create the space now so the space is there when Covid arrives at the prison.”


courthousenews--2020-07-03--The Force of July

The Force of July

It was the best of times , it was the worst of times , it was the age of wisdom , it was the age of foolishness , it was the epoch of belief , it was the epoch of incredulity … it was the spring of hope , it was the winter of despair , we had everything before us , we had nothing before us , we were all going direct to Heaven , we were all going direct the other way … Pretty good , huh ?
Just something I knocked off .
Don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fifty-five years ago , when I was a wee shaver , my parents took our family to see and listen to the Rev .
Martin Luther King speak on the Winnetka Village Green .
Winnetka then , and for many years after , was the most affluent town in the United States .
I had just graduated from eighth grade .
What I remember from that peaceful celebration was the contingent of about six Nazis parading around in their brown shirts holding Nazi placards , protected by a cordon of city and state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This was years before Facebook , and those poisons .
I asked my Mom : “ Why are the police protecting the Nazis ?
” She explained the First Amendment to me , and I thought I understood .
All of a sudden the Nazis booted it out of there .
Slamming of car doors , peeling away .
Turns out that the cops had told the Nazis that the police had other ( better ? )
things to do .
And the Nazis ran away , like the cowards they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d mention it .
It was July 25 , 1965 .
Now we are engaged in a great civil war , testing whether … oh , sorry !
Plagiarizing again .
A friend of mine — never mind what color she is — asked me this week what I thought of the “ civil unrest ” roiling our nation .
She nodded and we walked on , in opposite directions in the dog park .
I ’ ve said it before and I say it again : Dogs are better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my two Big Dogs around Denver ’ s 100-acre off-leash dog park for two years now , and in those two years we ’ ve seen two dog fights .
And that was because of bad humans , not bad dogs .
And humans ?
Humans today will fight about anything : The simple act of wearing a face mask to protect other people from death , in case you ’ ve got our modern plague and are asymptomatic , and possibly a spreader .
Whether strip clubs , bars , gun shops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an astounding bit of news , the Pew Research Center reported this week that 25 % of the U.S. population believe the novel coronavirus “ was probably created by powerful people as a way to make money.
” And 5 % of us — I use the word loosely — 5 % of us believe that this is “ definitely true.
” The mind reels .
It reels back more than 600 years .
Listen , folks : I understand that this column will appear on July 3 , and stay up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I understand that my boss may receive “ howls of execration ” ( spot the plagiarism ) for running it as a Fourth of July column .
But come on , Dudes and Dudettes : Our country was founded on protest — as a protest .
Put your guns down , my presumed enemies .
Learn to live with black people being equal to you — and superior , if they are .
At long last , my fellow white people : Learn to live with it .
And one more thing : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trust me on this .

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity … it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way …
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity … it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way …
Pretty good, huh? Just something I knocked off. Don’t know where the Dickens it came from.
Fifty-five years ago, when I was a wee shaver, my parents took our family to see and listen to the Rev. Martin Luther King speak on the Winnetka Village Green. Winnetka then, and for many years after, was the most affluent town in the United States. I had just graduated from eighth grade.
What I remember from that peaceful celebration was the contingent of about six Nazis parading around in their brown shirts holding Nazi placards, protected by a cordon of city and state police.
Most people ignored the Nazis.
This was years before Facebook, and those poisons.
I asked my Mom: “Why are the police protecting the Nazis?”
She explained the First Amendment to me, and I thought I understood.
All of a sudden the Nazis booted it out of there. Slamming of car doors, peeling away.
Turns out that the cops had told the Nazis that the police had other (better?) things to do. And the Nazis ran away, like the cowards they are — without police protection.
Just thought I’d mention it. It was July 25, 1965.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether … oh, sorry! Plagiarizing again.
A friend of mine — never mind what color she is — asked me this week what I thought of the “civil unrest” roiling our nation.
I said, “It’s about damn time.”
She nodded and we walked on, in opposite directions in the dog park.
I’ve said it before and I say it again: Dogs are better than people.
Dogs just wanna have fun.
I’ve been walking my two Big Dogs around Denver’s 100-acre off-leash dog park for two years now, and in those two years we’ve seen two dog fights. And that was because of bad humans, not bad dogs.
And humans? Humans today will fight about anything:
The simple act of wearing a face mask to protect other people from death, in case you’ve got our modern plague and are asymptomatic, and possibly a spreader.
Whether strip clubs, bars, gun shops and gyms are essential businesses.
And in an astounding bit of news, the Pew Research Center reported this week that 25% of the U.S. population believe the novel coronavirus “was probably created by powerful people as a way to make money.” And 5% of us — I use the word loosely — 5% of us believe that this is “definitely true.”
(Unspoken and unasked in the Pew survey is whether our benighted neighbors think “the Jews” — in the form of George Soros — are to blame.)
The mind reels. It reels back more than 600 years.
Listen, folks: I understand that this column will appear on July 3, and stay up over the Fourth of July weekend. I understand that my boss may receive “howls of execration” (spot the plagiarism) for running it as a Fourth of July column.
But come on, Dudes and Dudettes: Our country was founded on protest — as a protest.
Put your guns down, my presumed enemies. Learn to live with black people being equal to you — and superior, if they are.
At long last, my fellow white people: Learn to live with it.
And one more thing: You’ll come to like it.
Trust me on this.


courthousenews--2020-07-03--Dutch Court Limits Probe Into Air Disaster That Killed 298

A court in the Netherlands , where the doomed flight originated , said it would not consider alternative scenarios .
AMSTERDAM ( CN ) — Further investigation into the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 can be made , but not into alternative scenarios about what caused the plane to be shot down over eastern Ukraine in July 2014 , killing all 298 aboard , a Dutch court ruled Friday .
A five-country team led by the Netherlands concluded Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down by separatists over eastern Ukraine in 2014 , but attorneys for the defense claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dutch court to investigate further .
The defense team for Oleg Pulatov , a former lieutenant colonel in the Russian armed forces , can investigate whether the plane was shot down by accident and interview possible alibi witnesses , presiding judge Hendrick Steenhuis told the court , but not whether the plane was shot down by a Ukrainian fighter jet or used by the Ukrainian military as a human shield .
Pulatov and three other men have been charged with 298 counts of murder before The Hague District Court , accused of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot down the plane en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lampur .
The Buk-TELAR is a self-propelled , ground-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union and its successor state , Russia .
Two other Russian men — Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky — and one Ukrainian man , Leonid Kharchenko , also have been charged and are being tried in absentia .
In late June , the defense was given several days to propose its demands for further investigation , including alternative scenarios , reinterviewing witnesses and questioning the findings of the forensic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these requests were necessary and have called the alternative scenarios “ Russian conspiracy theories.
” The Dutch legal system is an inquisitorial system in which the court is involved in the investigation of the crime .
The three-judge-panel did approve a request that the prosecution ask the United States again for classified satellite data .
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Facebook that it had seen a missile hit the airliner , but declined to provide any images , citing national security concerns .
The defense will be allowed to interview a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s wreckage , which is stored at the Gilze-Rijen Air Base in the southern Netherlands country .
At a news conference after the hearing , prosecutors said they were happy with the outcome .
“ We now have clarity about the next step , ” a representative said .
The trial began in March with what the Dutch call an inventariseren , where judges check to see which suspects are present in court and which are represented by counsel , and review evidence .
The prosecution laid out the evidence against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June .
Roughly four months before the tragedy , Russia annexed Crimea , a peninsula extending from Ukraine ’ s southern coast , after the pro-Russian government of Ukraine was overthrown .
The annexation provided Russia with a long-desired warm seaport — and vacation spot .
The 10 countries with citizens onboard the doomed MH17 flight tried to create an international tribunal but Russia blocked it at the United Nations .
The court will resume at the end of August for more pretrial hearings .
The trial on the merits is expected @ @ @ @ @

Dutch Court Limits Probe Into Air Disaster That Killed 298
AMSTERDAM (CN) — Further investigation into the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 can be made, but not into alternative scenarios about what caused the plane to be shot down over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 aboard, a Dutch court ruled Friday.
A five-country team led by the Netherlands concluded Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down by separatists over eastern Ukraine in 2014, but attorneys for the defense claim the Ukrainian military was responsible and wanted the Dutch court to investigate further.
The defense team for Oleg Pulatov, a former lieutenant colonel in the Russian armed forces, can investigate whether the plane was shot down by accident and interview possible alibi witnesses, presiding judge Hendrick Steenhuis told the court, but not whether the plane was shot down by a Ukrainian fighter jet or used by the Ukrainian military as a human shield.
Pulatov and three other men have been charged with 298 counts of murder before The Hague District Court, accused of supplying the Buk-TELAR missile alleged to have shot down the plane en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lampur. The Buk-TELAR is a self-propelled, ground-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union and its successor state, Russia.
Two other Russian men — Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky — and one Ukrainian man, Leonid Kharchenko, also have been charged and are being tried in absentia.
In late June, the defense was given several days to propose its demands for further investigation, including alternative scenarios, reinterviewing witnesses and questioning the findings of the forensic experts.
Yet prosecutors felt many of these requests were necessary and have called the alternative scenarios “Russian conspiracy theories.”
The Dutch legal system is an inquisitorial system in which the court is involved in the investigation of the crime.
The three-judge-panel did approve a request that the prosecution ask the United States again for classified satellite data. The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Facebook that it had seen a missile hit the airliner, but declined to provide any images, citing national security concerns.
The defense will be allowed to interview a number of witnesses and examine the plane’s wreckage, which is stored at the Gilze-Rijen Air Base in the southern Netherlands country.
At a news conference after the hearing, prosecutors said they were happy with the outcome. “We now have clarity about the next step,” a representative said.
The trial began in March with what the Dutch call an inventariseren, where judges check to see which suspects are present in court and which are represented by counsel, and review evidence. The prosecution laid out the evidence against the four men in a series of hearings in June.
Roughly four months before the tragedy, Russia annexed Crimea, a peninsula extending from Ukraine’s southern coast, after the pro-Russian government of Ukraine was overthrown. The annexation provided Russia with a long-desired warm seaport — and vacation spot.
The 10 countries with citizens onboard the doomed MH17 flight tried to create an international tribunal but Russia blocked it at the United Nations.
“The MH17 case is a special criminal case,” Judge Steenhuis told the court.
The court will resume at the end of August for more pretrial hearings. The trial on the merits is expected to begin next year.


courthousenews--2020-07-06--Frederick Douglass Statue Vandalized in Rochester, NY

The monument was destroyed on the anniversary of one of the abolitionist ’ s most famous speeches , in Rochester in 1852 .
Police said the statue of Douglass was taken on Sunday from Maplewood Park , a site along the Underground Railroad where Douglass and Harriet Tubman helped shuttle slaves to freedom .
The statue was found at the brink of the Genesee River gorge about 50 feet from its pedestal , police said .
There was damage to the base and a finger .
In Rochester on July 5 , 1852 , Douglass gave the speech “ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July , ” in which he called the celebration of liberty a sham in a nation that enslaves and oppresses its clack citizens .
To a slave , Douglass said , Independence Day is “ a day that reveals to him , more than all other days in the year , the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.
” Carvin Eison , a leader of the project that brought the Douglass statue to the park , told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle another statue will take its place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Is this some type of retaliation because of the national fever over confederate monuments right now ?
Very disappointing , it ’ s beyond disappointing , ” Eison told WROC .

A statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass was ripped from its base in Rochester on the anniversary of one of his most famous speeches, delivered in that city in 1852.
Police said the statue of Douglass was taken on Sunday from Maplewood Park, a site along the Underground Railroad where Douglass and Harriet Tubman helped shuttle slaves to freedom.
The statue was found at the brink of the Genesee River gorge about 50 feet from its pedestal, police said. There was damage to the base and a finger.
In Rochester on July 5, 1852, Douglass gave the speech "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July," in which he called the celebration of liberty a sham in a nation that enslaves and oppresses its clack citizens.
To a slave, Douglass said, Independence Day is "a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim."
Carvin Eison, a leader of the project that brought the Douglass statue to the park, told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle another statue will take its place because the damage is too significant.
"Is this some type of retaliation because of the national fever over confederate monuments right now? Very disappointing, it's beyond disappointing," Eison told WROC.


courthousenews--2020-07-06--Czechs Invent Lung Ventilator in Matter of Days

An all-volunteer force invented , tested and are manufacturing ventilators for Covid-19 sufferers in record time .
PRAGUE ( AP ) — Tomas Kapler knew nothing about ventilators — he ’ s an online business consultant , not an engineer or a medical technician .
But when he saw that shortages of the vital machines had imperiled critically ill Covid-19 patients in Northern Italy , he was moved to action .
“ It was a disturbing feeling for me that because of a lack of equipment the doctors had to decide whether a person gets a chance to live , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so horrific to me that it was an impulse to do something.
” So he did .
“ I just said to myself : ‘ Can we simply make the ventilators ? '
” Working around the clock , he brought together a team of 30 Czechs to develop a functional ventilator — Corovent .
And they did it in a matter of days .
Kapler is a member of an informal group of volunteers formed by IT companies and experts who offered to help the state fight the pandemic .
The virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe but the number of infected was rising and time was running out .
“ It seemed that on the turn of March and April , we might be in the same situation as Italy , ” Kapler said .
Ventilators had become a precious commodity .
Their price was skyrocketing and so was demand that the traditional makers were unable to meet .
Components for the ventilators were also in critically short supply .
So Kapler said he set out to “ make a ventilator from the parts that are used in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the necessary finances in just hours .
Kapler approached Karel Roubik , professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Czech Technical University for help .
He , in turn , assembled colleagues through Skype , while his post-graduate student tested the new design in their lab in Kladno , west of Prague .
They had a working prototype in five days , something that would normally take a year .
Roubik said their simple design makes the machine reliable , inexpensive , and easy to operate and mass produce .
A group of volunteer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed .
And then MICO , an energy and chemical company based in Trebic , 125 miles from Kladno , offered to do the manufacturing .
Flights between the two places helped fine-tune the production line in a few weeks .
“ I didn ’ t do anything more than those people who were making the face masks , ” said MICO ’ s chief executive , Jiri Denner .
“ They did the maximum they could .
And I did the maximum I could.
” With the certification for emergency use in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was ready in April — but it was not needed in the Czech Republic , which had managed to contain the outbreak .
MICO has submitted a request for approval for emergency use in the United States , Brazil , Russia and other countries .
They ’ ve applied for EU certification for common hospital use .
“ Originally , we thought it would be just an emergency ventilator for the Czech Republic , ” Kapler said .
“ But it later turned out that the ventilators will be needed in the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort with satisfaction .
“ I had to quit my job and I have been without pay for several months , ” he said .
“ But otherwise , it was mostly positive for me .
I ’ ve met many fantastic people who are willing to help.
” Or to quote the slogan printed on the ventilator ’ s box : “ Powered by Czech heart .
”

Tomas Kapler knew nothing about ventilators — he's an online business consultant, not an engineer or a medical technician. But when he saw that shortages of the vital machines had imperiled critically ill Covid-19 patients in Northern Italy, he was moved to action.
PRAGUE (AP) — Tomas Kapler knew nothing about ventilators — he's an online business consultant, not an engineer or a medical technician. But when he saw that shortages of the vital machines had imperiled critically ill Covid-19 patients in Northern Italy, he was moved to action.
"It was a disturbing feeling for me that because of a lack of equipment the doctors had to decide whether a person gets a chance to live," Kapler said. "That seemed so horrific to me that it was an impulse to do something."
So he did. "I just said to myself: 'Can we simply make the ventilators?'"
Working around the clock, he brought together a team of 30 Czechs to develop a functional ventilator — Corovent. And they did it in a matter of days.
Kapler is a member of an informal group of volunteers formed by IT companies and experts who offered to help the state fight the pandemic. The virus struck here slightly later than in Western Europe but the number of infected was rising and time was running out.
"It seemed that on the turn of March and April, we might be in the same situation as Italy," Kapler said.
Ventilators had become a precious commodity. Their price was skyrocketing and so was demand that the traditional makers were unable to meet.
Components for the ventilators were also in critically short supply. So Kapler said he set out to "make a ventilator from the parts that are used in common machines."
A crowd-funding campaign ensured the necessary finances in just hours.
Kapler approached Karel Roubik, professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Czech Technical University for help. He, in turn, assembled colleagues through Skype, while his post-graduate student tested the new design in their lab in Kladno, west of Prague.
They had a working prototype in five days, something that would normally take a year.
Roubik said their simple design makes the machine reliable, inexpensive, and easy to operate and mass produce.
A group of volunteer pilots flew their planes to deliver anything needed. And then MICO, an energy and chemical company based in Trebic, 125 miles from Kladno, offered to do the manufacturing.
Flights between the two places helped fine-tune the production line in a few weeks.
"I didn't do anything more than those people who were making the face masks," said MICO's chief executive, Jiri Denner. "They did the maximum they could. And I did the maximum I could."
With the certification for emergency use in the European Union approved, the ventilator was ready in April — but it was not needed in the Czech Republic, which had managed to contain the outbreak.
MICO has submitted a request for approval for emergency use in the United States, Brazil, Russia and other countries. They've applied for EU certification for common hospital use.
"Originally, we thought it would be just an emergency ventilator for the Czech Republic," Kapler said. "But it later turned out that the ventilators will be needed in the entire world."
Kapler looks back at the effort with satisfaction.
"I had to quit my job and I have been without pay for several months," he said. "But otherwise, it was mostly positive for me. I've met many fantastic people who are willing to help."
Or to quote the slogan printed on the ventilator's box: "Powered by Czech heart."
By KAREL JANICEK