courthousenews--2020-12-11--Los Angeles County Reaches Grim Milestone of 500,000 Covid Cases

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — Over half a million Covid-19 cases are now confirmed in Los Angeles County , marking another grim milestone as hospitals wrestle with a new surge of cases that health officials say are linked to the Thanksgiving holiday .
The rate of new cases continues to eclipse previous records set since the start of the pandemic , with the first several days of December showing no signs of slowing down .
On Friday , LA County Public Health reported over 13,800 new cases , just one day after a daily case total of 12,800 new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed 501,635 Covid-19 cases and 8,199 dead .
LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer called the current onslaught of new cases a post-Thanksgiving surge based on the actions people took during the week-long holiday .
“ We can not undo what ’ s already been done and collectively we ’ re going to all pay a very high price for the actions we were taking in the past , ” Ferrer said .
County health officials instituted a stay-at-home order in the last week of November but the effects of the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks because the incubation period for the virus is about 14 days .
“ If we can ’ t start seeing a stop to the surge two weeks from now , I ’ ll be back here really pleading again with people to do everything possible to protect our health care systems , our essential workers and all of us from what really is an avoidable tragedy , ” Ferrer said during a media briefing on Friday .
County health officials estimate 1 in 140 people are infectious , but model projections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicine shows that rate is likely closer to 1 in 50 people or 2 % of the county ’ s population .
The current surge began in early November but ramped up after the holiday break .
Ferrer said it would be catastrophic if another surge spiked after the winter holidays .
But the cold reality is that projections show hospitals could be overrun in the next two weeks based on the average number of confirmed Covid-19 infections reported in the county this past week .
Just two weeks ago , the average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , it jumped to 6,200 .
But in the last week the daily average was 10,283 , the highest it has ever been since the start of the pandemic .
This could represent a new breaking point for hospitals that report about 3,000 people are now admitted , with nearly 700 in the intensive care unit .
Based on the current daily case average , hospitals could see more than 7,300 people admitted and over 1,600 in ICU in the next two weeks .
Health officials are bracing for the deluge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects of the virus but will need to be hospitalized in the coming days .
Ferrer said Surge tents with staffed beds could be set up , but if the surge persists for weeks or months , then the health care system could collapse and will force doctors and nurses to make difficult decisions about which patients they prioritize for care .
“ We ’ ve seen pictures of what a completely overwhelmed hospital system looks like , ” Ferrer said .
“ It can unfortunately end up with compromises of care that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We don ’ t have to .
We are not there yet .
The question is whether we can stop the surge .
”

Over half a million Covid-19 cases are now confirmed in Los Angeles County, marking another grim milestone as hospitals wrestle with a new surge of cases that health officials say are linked to the Thanksgiving holiday.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — Over half a million Covid-19 cases are now confirmed in Los Angeles County, marking another grim milestone as hospitals wrestle with a new surge of cases that health officials say are linked to the Thanksgiving holiday.
The rate of new cases continues to eclipse previous records set since the start of the pandemic, with the first several days of December showing no signs of slowing down. On Friday, LA County Public Health reported over 13,800 new cases, just one day after a daily case total of 12,800 new cases.
In total, the county confirmed 501,635 Covid-19 cases and 8,199 dead.
LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer called the current onslaught of new cases a post-Thanksgiving surge based on the actions people took during the week-long holiday.
“We cannot undo what's already been done and collectively we're going to all pay a very high price for the actions we were taking in the past,” Ferrer said.
County health officials instituted a stay-at-home order in the last week of November but the effects of the health order will not be felt for another two weeks because the incubation period for the virus is about 14 days.
“If we can’t start seeing a stop to the surge two weeks from now, I’ll be back here really pleading again with people to do everything possible to protect our health care systems, our essential workers and all of us from what really is an avoidable tragedy,” Ferrer said during a media briefing on Friday.
County health officials estimate 1 in 140 people are infectious, but model projections from USC’s Keck School of Medicine shows that rate is likely closer to 1 in 50 people or 2% of the county’s population.
The current surge began in early November but ramped up after the holiday break.
Ferrer said it would be catastrophic if another surge spiked after the winter holidays.
But the cold reality is that projections show hospitals could be overrun in the next two weeks based on the average number of confirmed Covid-19 infections reported in the county this past week.
Just two weeks ago, the average number of cases was 4,200. Last week, it jumped to 6,200.
But in the last week the daily average was 10,283, the highest it has ever been since the start of the pandemic.
This could represent a new breaking point for hospitals that report about 3,000 people are now admitted, with nearly 700 in the intensive care unit.
Based on the current daily case average, hospitals could see more than 7,300 people admitted and over 1,600 in ICU in the next two weeks.
Health officials are bracing for the deluge of people who have yet to feel the effects of the virus but will need to be hospitalized in the coming days.
Ferrer said Surge tents with staffed beds could be set up, but if the surge persists for weeks or months, then the health care system could collapse and will force doctors and nurses to make difficult decisions about which patients they prioritize for care.
“We’ve seen pictures of what a completely overwhelmed hospital system looks like,” Ferrer said. “It can unfortunately end up with compromises of care that none of us ever want to experience. We don’t have to. We are not there yet. The question is whether we can stop the surge.”


Top Eight

Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight stories for today including Republicans and conservative activist groups have pledged their support in recent days for a Texas-led effort to overturn the November election results ; European leaders pledged to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and threatened to take a harder stance against Turkey ; The World Health Organization urged people not to let guards down for wintry festivities , and more .
Sign up for the CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your inbox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans , conservative activist groups and even two non-existent “ states ” have pledged their support in recent days for a Texas-led effort to overturn the November election results in four key states , a long-shot cry to the nation ’ s highest court that has been lambasted by experts .
2 . )
Until such time that she can subject President Donald Trump to a DNA test , rape accuser E. Jean Carroll urged a federal judge Friday not to reward his ploys by sidelining document discovery .
3 . )
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board , the three major U.S. indices flattened on Friday .
4 . )
Setting the stage for a final veto showdown to close out President Donald Trump ’ s single term , the Republican-led Senate voted 84-13 Friday in favor of a $ 740 billion defense-spending bill .
5 . )
With deaths from the coronavirus pandemic rising , the World Health Organization urged the world Friday not to let guards down for wintry festivities .
6 . )
On the final day of a two-day summit , European leaders pledged Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2030 and threatened to take a harder stance against Turkey , which is unnerving the EU with its actions in the Mediterranean region .
7 . )
A Hezbollah member convicted of killing the former prime minister of Lebanon was sentenced to five life sentences on Friday by a United Nations tribunal .
8 . )
A swanky Parisian mansion was not a diplomatic residence for Equatorial Guinea and France had a right to seize it , the United Nations ’ high court ruled Friday .

Top eight stories for today including Republicans and conservative activist groups have pledged their support in recent days for a Texas-led effort to overturn the November election results; European leaders pledged to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and threatened to take a harder stance against Turkey; The World Health Organization urged people not to let guards down for wintry festivities, and more.
Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight stories for today including Republicans and conservative activist groups have pledged their support in recent days for a Texas-led effort to overturn the November election results; European leaders pledged to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and threatened to take a harder stance against Turkey; The World Health Organization urged people not to let guards down for wintry festivities, and more.
Sign up for the CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
National
1.) Republicans, conservative activist groups and even two non-existent “states” have pledged their support in recent days for a Texas-led effort to overturn the November election results in four key states, a long-shot cry to the nation’s highest court that has been lambasted by experts.
FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, voters wait in line outside a polling center on Election Day, in Kenosha, Wis. Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are falsely claiming that an impossible number of people cast ballots in Wisconsin. Meagan Wolfe, the state’s top elections official, addressed the social media rumors Thursday, Nov. 5, saying: “Wisconsin does not have more votes than registered voters.” (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)
2.) Until such time that she can subject President Donald Trump to a DNA test, rape accuser E. Jean Carroll urged a federal judge Friday not to reward his ploys by sidelining document discovery.
E. Jean Carroll leaves the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, in New York. Carroll, who says President Donald Trump raped her in the 1990s, was expected to be in court Wednesday to hear lawyers argue whether Trump can substitute the United States for himself as the defendant in her defamation lawsuit. Carroll’s lawyers will argue that Trump cannot claim he was acting in an official capacity when he made statements denying the encounter with Carroll in a luxury department store dressing room in midtown Manhattan. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
3.) A week after posting record highs across the board, the three major U.S. indices flattened on Friday.
In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, traders Edward McCarthy, left, and Robert Charmak work on the floor during the Delwinds Insurance Acquisition Corp. IPO, Friday Dec. 11, 2020. U.S. stocks fell in morning trading Friday as prospects for another aid package from Washington faded while a surge in virus cases threatens to inflict more damage on an already battered economy. (Colin Ziemer/New York Stock Exchange via AP)
4.) Setting the stage for a final veto showdown to close out President Donald Trump’s single term, the Republican-led Senate voted 84-13 Friday in favor of a $740 billion defense-spending bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, speaks during a news conference following a weekly meeting with the Senate Republican caucus, Tuesday, Dec. 8. 2020 at the Capitol in Washington. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP)
International
5.) With deaths from the coronavirus pandemic rising, the World Health Organization urged the world Friday not to let guards down for wintry festivities.
A man on a bicycle pauses on the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan near what has been described as "the world's largest Hanukkah menorah," Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in New York, on the first night of Hanukkah, the annual eight-day Jewish festival of lights. Due to coronavirus restrictions, a limited and socially-distanced crowd was allowed to attend. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
6.) On the final day of a two-day summit, European leaders pledged Friday to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and threatened to take a harder stance against Turkey, which is unnerving the EU with its actions in the Mediterranean region.
The bust of French statesman Robert Schuman, one of the founders of the European Union, is seen while environmental activists launch a hot air balloon during a demonstration outside of an EU summit in Brussels, on Dec. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
7.) A Hezbollah member convicted of killing the former prime minister of Lebanon was sentenced to five life sentences on Friday by a United Nations tribunal.
Presiding judge David Re, second left, and judge Janet Nosworthy, left, and the prosecution and defense counsel seen on screens via video link due to COVID-19 measures, open the session of the United Nations-backed Lebanon Tribunal where it is scheduled to hand down it's sentencing on Salim Jamil Ayyash, a member of the Hezbollah militant group who was convicted of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others 15 years ago, in Leidschendam, Netherlands, Friday Dec. 11, 2020. Ayyash is not in custody and is unlikely to serve any sentence. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, Pool)
8.) A swanky Parisian mansion was not a diplomatic residence for Equatorial Guinea and France had a right to seize it, the United Nations’ high court ruled Friday.


courthousenews--2020-12-11--Biden Looks to Revamp Immigration After Trump Shakeup

President-elect Joe Biden says he will promptly do away with some of President Donald Trump ’ s executive orders on immigration and return to the enforcement priorities of the Obama administration .
( CN ) — A beacon for refugees and asylum seekers no more , the U.S. under the Trump administration has all but barred those groups from the country and created myriad hurdles for employers to hire foreign workers .
Yet the bedrock routes to permanent residency and naturalization remain unscathed .
From the so-called Muslim travel ban he rolled out in his first week in office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grounds to immediately kick out 200,000 people who crossed the southwest border without hearing their asylum claims , Trump has carried out his no-holds barred approach to limiting immigration with more than 400 executive actions .
President-elect Joe Biden says he will promptly do away with some of those executive orders and return the country to its traditional focus on family values by supporting legislation to allow family members of lawful permanent residents , known as green card holders , to more quickly unite with their loved ones in the U.S.
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are essential to the economy by pushing for removing caps on the number of employment visas given to recent graduates of science , technology , engineering and math doctoral programs .
The pandemic has highlighted the value of immigrant entrepreneurs to America , advocates say .
The leaders of the U.S.-based Covid-19 vaccine developers Pfizer and Moderna are immigrants .
So is the CEO and founder of Zoom Video Communications and the founder of the grocery delivery company Instacart .
Despite Biden ’ s pledge to revamp U.S. immigration policy , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If you look at Biden ’ s transition website … the top priorities are Covid-19 , economic recovery , racial justice and climate change , ” said Dorsey & Whitney business immigration partner Ieva Aubin during a webinar this week on immigration law outlook for 2021 .
The most controversial of Trump ’ s immigration moves was his zero-tolerance policy of prosecuting all illegal border crossers , which resulted in thousands of children , some younger than 5 , being removed from their parents , and caused international outrage before it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House senior adviser and immigration hawk Stephen Miller , the Trump administration admitted just 11,814 refugees in fiscal year 2020 , the lowest number since the U.S. refugee resettlement started in 1980 , according to the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute .
Trump also completely transformed the landscape of employment-based immigration through his 2017 “ Buy American , Hire American ” executive order , said L.J .
D ’ Arrigo , a partner with the New York firm Harris Beach , who has one of the largest seasonal visa practices in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stems from the widely held but misguided belief that businesses hire foreign workers because they are cheaper than U.S. workers .
“ In reality it ’ s so much more expensive to hire a foreign worker than it is to hire a qualified U.S. worker , ” D ’ Arrigo said .
“ Because when you factor not only the legal fees for preparing the visa process , but also the significant government filing fees , it just does not make financial sense from a business perspective.
” He added , “ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond that rhetoric and say , ‘ Why is it that a business would want to hire a foreign worker and pay that money to bring them over if it really weren ’ t a true business need ? '
” Though many of Trump ’ s rapid-fire employment-immigration rule changes have ultimately been blocked by courts , immigration attorneys have to keep up with them .
“ When I start work in the mornings , the very first thing I do is see what ’ s changed overnight , ” D ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Because something ’ s changed , whether it ’ s a policy interpretation or even where to file a certain application , something ’ s usually changed.
” One of the latest Trump moves blocked by courts was a huge increase in the prevailing wages U.S. companies had to pay foreign workers .
One aspect of the rule change : It increased the salary companies had to pay an entry-level computer programmer with only a bachelor ’ s degree from around $ 70,000 to $ 206,000 , according to D ’ Arrigo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be able to pay that … And that ’ s just one example of the obstacles that the government has thrown at businesses over the past four years , trying to dissuade them , or trying to make it impossible for them to hire a foreign worker , ” he said .
The pandemic has led the Trump administration to ease one bureaucratic burden : U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services now allows scanned signatures , which attorneys say eliminates the hassle of them getting their clients to sign every document before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as most immigration forms can not be filed electronically .
“ I think that may be one policy that is retained by the Biden administration , ” said Robert Webber , a Dorsey & Whitney partner .
Even with all of Trump ’ s executive orders , the number of immigrants becoming naturalized citizens in fiscal year 2019 rose to its highest level in the past 10 fiscal years , with Trump ’ s policies spurring permanent residents to take the next step of citizenship .
And the number of people obtaining green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past 10 years , according to a Nov. 20 report by the Migration Policy Institute .
“ With the exception of refugee admissions , there has not been a dramatic , across-the-board ‘ Trump effect ’ attributable either to the administration ’ s policies or rhetoric on immigration levels , ” the report states .
But the pandemic has stemmed the flow of immigration to the country , as it closed U.S. consulates across the globe for months and stopped them from processing visa applications , resulting in a record low of permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiscal year 2020 , according to the report ’ s authors Muzaffar Chishti and Jessica Bolter .
Biden says that unlike the Trump administration ’ s deportation practices in which anyone found to be in in the country illegally could be removed , he will return to the enforcement priorities of the Obama administration , deporting people convicted of violent crimes and national security threats .
Trump has also cracked down on employers , stepping up audits of employment eligibility forms and raids , including seven Mississippi chicken-processing plants on a single day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Customs Enforcements agents arrested 680 workers .
Biden , who served as Obama ’ s vice president for eight years , said he will end workplace raids .
“ The farmworker that has no criminal background , they are basically going to leave them alone , ” said D ’ Arrigo , the New York employment-immigration attorney .
Biden , like Trump , will be limited in the immigration rule changes he can make through executive order with a divided Congress .
But if Democrats win control of the Senate in Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ providing a roadmap to citizenship ” for the country ’ s estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants will be within reach .

President-elect Joe Biden says he will promptly do away with some of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration and return to the enforcement priorities of the Obama administration.
(CN) — A beacon for refugees and asylum seekers no more, the U.S. under the Trump administration has all but barred those groups from the country and created myriad hurdles for employers to hire foreign workers. Yet the bedrock routes to permanent residency and naturalization remain unscathed.
From the so-called Muslim travel ban he rolled out in his first week in office, to his use of the pandemic as grounds to immediately kick out 200,000 people who crossed the southwest border without hearing their asylum claims, Trump has carried out his no-holds barred approach to limiting immigration with more than 400 executive actions.
President-elect Joe Biden says he will promptly do away with some of those executive orders and return the country to its traditional focus on family values by supporting legislation to allow family members of lawful permanent residents, known as green card holders, to more quickly unite with their loved ones in the U.S.
He'll also encourage immigrant contributions he says are essential to the economy by pushing for removing caps on the number of employment visas given to recent graduates of science, technology, engineering and math doctoral programs.
The pandemic has highlighted the value of immigrant entrepreneurs to America, advocates say.
The leaders of the U.S.-based Covid-19 vaccine developers Pfizer and Moderna are immigrants. So is the CEO and founder of Zoom Video Communications and the founder of the grocery delivery company Instacart.
Despite Biden's pledge to revamp U.S. immigration policy, it's not one of his top priorities.
"If you look at Biden's transition website ... the top priorities are Covid-19, economic recovery, racial justice and climate change," said Dorsey & Whitney business immigration partner Ieva Aubin during a webinar this week on immigration law outlook for 2021.
The most controversial of Trump's immigration moves was his zero-tolerance policy of prosecuting all illegal border crossers, which resulted in thousands of children, some younger than 5, being removed from their parents, and caused international outrage before it was blocked by courts.
Led by White House senior adviser and immigration hawk Stephen Miller, the Trump administration admitted just 11,814 refugees in fiscal year 2020, the lowest number since the U.S. refugee resettlement started in 1980, according to the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.
Trump also completely transformed the landscape of employment-based immigration through his 2017 “Buy American, Hire American” executive order, said L.J. D'Arrigo, a partner with the New York firm Harris Beach, who has one of the largest seasonal visa practices in the country.
D'Arrigo said the order stems from the widely held but misguided belief that businesses hire foreign workers because they are cheaper than U.S. workers.
"In reality it's so much more expensive to hire a foreign worker than it is to hire a qualified U.S. worker," D'Arrigo said. "Because when you factor not only the legal fees for preparing the visa process, but also the significant government filing fees, it just does not make financial sense from a business perspective."
He added, "So you've got to really inquire beyond that rhetoric and say, 'Why is it that a business would want to hire a foreign worker and pay that money to bring them over if it really weren't a true business need?'"
Though many of Trump's rapid-fire employment-immigration rule changes have ultimately been blocked by courts, immigration attorneys have to keep up with them.
"When I start work in the mornings, the very first thing I do is see what's changed overnight," D'Arrigo said in a phone interview. "Because something's changed, whether it's a policy interpretation or even where to file a certain application, something's usually changed."
FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2019 file photo, immigrants seeking asylum walk at the ICE South Texas Family Residential Center, in Dilley, Texas. A federal judge on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, ordered the Trump administration to stop expelling immigrant children who cross the southern border alone, halting a policy that has resulted in thousands of rapid deportations of minors during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
One of the latest Trump moves blocked by courts was a huge increase in the prevailing wages U.S. companies had to pay foreign workers.
One aspect of the rule change: It increased the salary companies had to pay an entry-level computer programmer with only a bachelor's degree from around $70,000 to $206,000, according to D'Arrigo.
"Obviously no employer is going to be able to pay that ... And that's just one example of the obstacles that the government has thrown at businesses over the past four years, trying to dissuade them, or trying to make it impossible for them to hire a foreign worker," he said.
The pandemic has led the Trump administration to ease one bureaucratic burden: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services now allows scanned signatures, which attorneys say eliminates the hassle of them getting their clients to sign every document before they mail them to the agency, as most immigration forms cannot be filed electronically.
"I think that may be one policy that is retained by the Biden administration," said Robert Webber, a Dorsey & Whitney partner.
Even with all of Trump's executive orders, the number of immigrants becoming naturalized citizens in fiscal year 2019 rose to its highest level in the past 10 fiscal years, with Trump's policies spurring permanent residents to take the next step of citizenship.
And the number of people obtaining green cards has not significantly changed over the past 10 years, according to a Nov. 20 report by the Migration Policy Institute.
"With the exception of refugee admissions, there has not been a dramatic, across-the-board ‘Trump effect' attributable either to the administration’s policies or rhetoric on immigration levels," the report states.
But the pandemic has stemmed the flow of immigration to the country, as it closed U.S. consulates across the globe for months and stopped them from processing visa applications, resulting in a record low of permanent and temporary immigration to the U.S. in fiscal year 2020, according to the report's authors Muzaffar Chishti and Jessica Bolter.
Biden says that unlike the Trump administration's deportation practices in which anyone found to be in in the country illegally could be removed, he will return to the enforcement priorities of the Obama administration, deporting people convicted of violent crimes and national security threats.
Trump has also cracked down on employers, stepping up audits of employment eligibility forms and raids, including seven Mississippi chicken-processing plants on a single day in August 2019 in which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements agents arrested 680 workers.
Biden, who served as Obama's vice president for eight years, said he will end workplace raids.
"The farmworker that has no criminal background, they are basically going to leave them alone," said D'Arrigo, the New York employment-immigration attorney.
Biden, like Trump, will be limited in the immigration rule changes he can make through executive order with a divided Congress. But if Democrats win control of the Senate in Georgia runoff elections next month, his goal of "providing a roadmap to citizenship" for the country's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants will be within reach.


courthousenews--2020-12-11--Jail Sentences Increased for Two of UK’s Worst Rapists

LONDON ( AFP ) — Two of Britain ’ s most dangerous sex offenders will have to spend at least 40 years in prison , judges ruled on Friday , after a government appeal that their sentences were too soft .
Britain ’ s attorney general had sought to ensure that Reynhard Sinaga and Joseph McCann spent their rest of the lives behind bars because of the extent and nature of their crimes .
But five appeal court judges , including the head of the judiciary of England and Wales , Lord Chief Justice judge Ian Burnett , refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the cases of McCann and Sinaga , very serious though it is , does not , in our judgment , call for either to receive a whole life tariff , ” Burnett said in the ruling .
The judges said both men ’ s crimes were among the most serious offenses of rape to have been tried in the courts of England and Wales .
Neither had shown any remorse , they added , as they increased the minimum time they must spend in prison from 30 to 40 years .
Sinaga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 159 offenses , including 136 rapes and eight attempted rapes , at four separate trials which began in June 2018 and ended last December .
The 36-year-old lured unsuspecting men to his flat in Manchester , northwest England , drugged then assaulted them , and captured the attacks on camera .
Police believe he may have attacked as many as 195 men .
The sentencing judge called him “ an evil serial sexual predator ” and a “ monster.
” McCann , 34 , was jailed in January after a cocaine- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 and 71 in and around London , and northwest England .
The judge who sentenced him for 37 charges of rape , sexual assault , kidnap and false imprisonment branded him a “ coward , a violent bully and a pedophile.
” The attorney general — the government ’ s most senior law officer — has powers to appeal certain sentences by judges in England and Wales if they appear to be “ unduly lenient.
” Whole life orders are usually restricted to the most serious cases of murder .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ellis said both men ’ s crimes were “ some of the worst and most violent that this country has ever witnessed.
” On Friday , he said he hoped the judges ’ ruling “ brings some solace to the victims of these despicable crimes .
”

Two of Britain's most dangerous sex offenders will have to spend at least 40 years in prison, judges ruled on Friday, after a government appeal that their sentences were too soft.
LONDON (AFP) — Two of Britain's most dangerous sex offenders will have to spend at least 40 years in prison, judges ruled on Friday, after a government appeal that their sentences were too soft.
Britain's attorney general had sought to ensure that Reynhard Sinaga and Joseph McCann spent their rest of the lives behind bars because of the extent and nature of their crimes.
But five appeal court judges, including the head of the judiciary of England and Wales, Lord Chief Justice judge Ian Burnett, refused to impose whole-life terms.
"The offending in the cases of McCann and Sinaga, very serious though it is, does not, in our judgment, call for either to receive a whole life tariff," Burnett said in the ruling.
The judges said both men's crimes were among the most serious offenses of rape to have been tried in the courts of England and Wales.
Neither had shown any remorse, they added, as they increased the minimum time they must spend in prison from 30 to 40 years.
Sinaga, an Indonesian national, was convicted of 159 offenses, including 136 rapes and eight attempted rapes, at four separate trials which began in June 2018 and ended last December.
The 36-year-old lured unsuspecting men to his flat in Manchester, northwest England, drugged then assaulted them, and captured the attacks on camera.
Police believe he may have attacked as many as 195 men. The sentencing judge called him "an evil serial sexual predator" and a "monster."
McCann, 34, was jailed in January after a cocaine- and vodka-fueled rampage against 11 people aged between 11 and 71 in and around London, and northwest England.
The judge who sentenced him for 37 charges of rape, sexual assault, kidnap and false imprisonment branded him a "coward, a violent bully and a pedophile."
The attorney general — the government's most senior law officer — has powers to appeal certain sentences by judges in England and Wales if they appear to be "unduly lenient."
Whole life orders are usually restricted to the most serious cases of murder.
At the appeal in October, Solicitor General Michael Ellis said both men's crimes were "some of the worst and most violent that this country has ever witnessed.”
On Friday, he said he hoped the judges' ruling "brings some solace to the victims of these despicable crimes."
© Agence France-Presse


Sexual Harassment

CINCINNATI — The Sixth Circuit upheld a ruling in favor of the University of Michigan in a suit brought by @ @ @ @ @ school was deliberately indifferent to the peer-on-peer harassment she experienced while enrolled in an executive @ @ @ @ @ took several actions to protect the woman , including issuing a no-contact order and ordering @ @ @ @ @ graduation .

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.


Murder Trial

CARSON CITY , Nev. — The Supreme Court of Nevada ordered a new trial for a man convicted of conspiring @ @ @ @ @ his sixth wife murdered during a staged burglary and then murdering the hitman .
The @ @ @ @ @ previous trial of murder charges for the death of his second wife and the trial @ @ @ @ @ prior-bad-acts testimony from the prosecutor and others with knowledge of that previous trial .


Immigration Detention

WASHINGTON — Immigrant families detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in Texas and Pennsylvania , who sought an order @ @ @ @ @ release because of concerns about their heightened risk of contracting Covid-19 , are not entitled @ @ @ @ @ federal court in Washington ruled .


Online Censorship

WASHINGTON — A federal court in Washington ruled against a tech policy group in their case against President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ preventing online censorship .
The group claimed the order constituted “ retaliatory action ” against @ @ @ @ @ flagged the president ’ s tweets for inaccuracies , but the court found “ online @ @ @ @ @ the group to “ carry their water for them .
”


Drug Patents

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal court in California refused to dismiss a False Claims Act suit that claims pharmaceutical companies @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Patent Office into issuing “ invalid ” patents protecting Alzheimer ’ s drugs Namenda @ @ @ @ @ allegedly allowed the companies to have a monopoly .


courthousenews--2020-12-12--FDA Approves Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine

FDA Approves Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccine

( CN ) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday evening approved a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and German partner company BioNTech , setting a plan in motion to begin distributing the shot as early as next week .
The news comes one day after an independent panel of experts held an eight-hour hearing on the vaccine ’ s safety and voted to endorse its use to help end a pandemic that has now killed nearly 300,000 Americans .
The decision could not have come at a more dire time .
The United States recorded an all-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus-related deaths Thursday , breaking the previous single-day record set on Wednesday .
With the FDA ’ s approval secured , states may begin the vaccine roll-out as soon as Monday or Tuesday .
Healthcare workers and nursing home residents and staff will be at the front of the line to get the first of the two-dose vaccine .
Individual states will make their own determinations on who else gets the first shots and where they will be administered .
Federal officials have said 2.9 million doses could be distributed nationwide within days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer ’ s clinical trials shows that the vaccine is 95 % effective at preventing Covid-19 across age groups , genders , and racial lines at least seven days after the second dose .
The trial data showed that the two-dose vaccine “ met the prescribed success criteria ” in a study with 38,000 participants aged 16 years and older .
Although the vaccine requires two doses for full protection , the first dose alone has been shown to prevent severe bouts of the respiratory illness about 89 % of the time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to begin distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot , after the United Kingdom , Canada , Bahrain and Saudi Arabia .
Experts noted during Thursday ’ s committee meeting that more research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for pregnant women , people who are immunocompromised and children under the age of 16 .
Pfizer plans to continue clinical trials even after distribution of the vaccine begins .
The most common side-effects observed during the trials were skin reactions at the injection site , fatigue , headaches , muscle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Although few serious side effects were observed in the participants , twelve experienced appendicitis and four developed cases of Bell ’ s palsy , a temporary form of facial paralysis .
According to documents released by the FDA , those numbers are in line with the frequency seen in the general population .
Two people who received the vaccine in the U.K. this week suffered allergic reactions , prompting British health officials to warn that individuals with a history of anaphylaxis should not get the shot .
The White House announced Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more doses of another Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna which will be delivered between April and June .
The government previously signed deals with both Moderna and Pfizer to deliver 200 million doses of their vaccines by March .
The purchase means 150 million Americans can receive the two-step vaccination , leaving almost 180 million Americans still to be inoculated .
An FDA advisory committee is scheduled to review the Moderna vaccine Thursday .

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday evening approved a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and German partner company BioNTech, setting a plan in motion to begin distributing the shot as early as next week.
(CN) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday evening approved a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and German partner company BioNTech, setting a plan in motion to begin distributing the shot as early as next week.
The news comes one day after an independent panel of experts held an eight-hour hearing on the vaccine’s safety and voted to endorse its use to help end a pandemic that has now killed nearly 300,000 Americans.
The decision could not have come at a more dire time. The United States recorded an all-time, one-day record of more than 3,100 virus-related deaths Thursday, breaking the previous single-day record set on Wednesday.
With the FDA’s approval secured, states may begin the vaccine roll-out as soon as Monday or Tuesday. Healthcare workers and nursing home residents and staff will be at the front of the line to get the first of the two-dose vaccine.
Individual states will make their own determinations on who else gets the first shots and where they will be administered.
Federal officials have said 2.9 million doses could be distributed nationwide within days.
Data released by the FDA on Pfizer’s clinical trials shows that the vaccine is 95% effective at preventing Covid-19 across age groups, genders, and racial lines at least seven days after the second dose.
The trial data showed that the two-dose vaccine “met the prescribed success criteria” in a study with 38,000 participants aged 16 years and older.
Although the vaccine requires two doses for full protection, the first dose alone has been shown to prevent severe bouts of the respiratory illness about 89% of the time.
The United States is the fifth country to begin distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, after the United Kingdom, Canada, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Experts noted during Thursday’s committee meeting that more research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for pregnant women, people who are immunocompromised and children under the age of 16. Pfizer plans to continue clinical trials even after distribution of the vaccine begins.
The most common side-effects observed during the trials were skin reactions at the injection site, fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain, chills and fever.
Although few serious side effects were observed in the participants, twelve experienced appendicitis and four developed cases of Bell’s palsy, a temporary form of facial paralysis. According to documents released by the FDA, those numbers are in line with the frequency seen in the general population.
Two people who received the vaccine in the U.K. this week suffered allergic reactions, prompting British health officials to warn that individuals with a history of anaphylaxis should not get the shot.
The White House announced Friday that the government will purchase 100 million more doses of another Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna which will be delivered between April and June. The government previously signed deals with both Moderna and Pfizer to deliver 200 million doses of their vaccines by March.
The purchase means 150 million Americans can receive the two-step vaccination, leaving almost 180 million Americans still to be inoculated.
An FDA advisory committee is scheduled to review the Moderna vaccine Thursday.


courthousenews--2020-12-12--Canadian Border Chief Denies Ordering Records Blackout in Huawei CFO Detention

VANCOUVER , British Columbia ( CN ) — A retired Canada Border Services Agency regional director denied ordering staff not to create records that could be subject to public information requests in connection with the detention and arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver Airport in December 2018 .
Meng is fighting extradition to the United States to face an indictment in New York on fraud charges related to a 2013 meeting in Hong Kong in which U.S. authorities say she misled an HSBC executive about Huawei ’ s dealings in Iran through a subsidiary which the U.S. says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran .
Roslyn MacVicar , the former regional director general for the border agency who retired this past march , testified Friday in the ongoing extradition hearings and Meng ’ s subsequent claims of abuse of process by Canadian border guards and law enforcement .
Under questioning from Meng ’ s lawyer Mona Duckett , MacVicar said she never told staff to avoid taking notes and creating additional records in connection with the case out of fear of being subject to Canada ’ s Access to Information and Privacy Act .
A border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction given to gather information about the events , but not create more records , with Duckett suggesting that MacVicar handed down the order out of “ fear of them being disclosable.
” Duckett also suggested the direction was to avoid documenting that the border agency had mistakenly handed over passcodes to electronic devices taken from Meng during her immigration and customs exam .
“ I would never say that .
I did not say that and it ’ s inconsistent with anything I ’ ve ever said in my capacity as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment on how somebody heard something that I said , but I would not have said that , ” MacVicar testified .
Duckett noted the passcodes had nothing to do with the extradition warrant , and the issue was a sticking point since it was an “ illegality ” and breach of Meng ’ s privacy .
Moreover , she highlighted how no records of the breach exist within the agency , probing MacVicar about when she found out about the breach , which she characterized as a “ significant issue.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of paper within the CBSA that documents that those passcodes were given over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police , are you aware of that ?
” Duckett asked .
“ Do you know of a single piece of paper that exists ?
” “ Did you create one ?
You knew about this problem ?
” Duckett pressed .
“ I did not , ” MacVicar answered .
“ I don ’ t know when I was aware of that.
” “ You were aware before you retired , right ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know when .
I can ’ t comment on when , ” MacVicar replied .
Earlier Friday , the court heard from the border agency ’ s passenger operations chief Nicole Goodman , who faced a grilling from Duckett over her lack of notes surrounding the events of Meng ’ s eventual arrest .
Goodman told the court that , in hindsight , she wishes she had taken notes to parse out the timelines , though at the time she believed Meng ’ s exam was “ routine.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was taking place , to me it ’ s just another exam and to me it ’ s routine .
This aftermath , to me , is extraordinary that I ’ m testifying on a national security exam because I deal with them all the time , ” Goodman testified .
“ This is like a regular practice for me , or for my team or my operation because we have thousands of people that come in daily and we screen all those people , so would I wish I had notes now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I never would ’ ve envisioned that I would be here.
” Duckett asked : “ But in the aftermath of this high-profile case when everyone ’ s asking questions , that ’ s when you ’ re told not to create notes , right ?
” Goodman said no one said anything about notes specifically .
“ It was more creating additional records because I had never taken any notes up until that time anyway , ” she testified .
“ I was relying on my emails , but I will concede @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for myself to have that time , absolutely.
” Duckett asked Goodman whether not creating records was an attempt to “ recast the true facts of what happened.
” “ Any questions that were ever asked of me I provided truthful and accurate information , ” Goodman answered .
“ So I can ’ t speak to this and I don ’ t know if anything was recast because everything that I provided to my senior officials and to the Department of Justice is truthful and accurate , everything that I can recall.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ done in good faith “ and executed as we knew best.
” But she did acknowledge the sharing of Meng ’ s passwords outside the border agency was “ inappropriate , ” and said it was “ daunting ” to face questions from superiors in Ottawa in the aftermath of Meng ’ s arrest

A retired Canada Border Services Agency regional director denied ordering staff not to create records that could be subject to public information requests in connection with the detention and arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver Airport in December 2018.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (CN) — A retired Canada Border Services Agency regional director denied ordering staff not to create records that could be subject to public information requests in connection with the detention and arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver Airport in December 2018.
Meng is fighting extradition to the United States to face an indictment in New York on fraud charges related to a 2013 meeting in Hong Kong in which U.S. authorities say she misled an HSBC executive about Huawei’s dealings in Iran through a subsidiary which the U.S. says was a violation of its sanctions on Iran.
Roslyn MacVicar, the former regional director general for the border agency who retired this past march, testified Friday in the ongoing extradition hearings and Meng’s subsequent claims of abuse of process by Canadian border guards and law enforcement.
Under questioning from Meng’s lawyer Mona Duckett, MacVicar said she never told staff to avoid taking notes and creating additional records in connection with the case out of fear of being subject to Canada’s Access to Information and Privacy Act.
A border agency chief had testified earlier about a direction given to gather information about the events, but not create more records, with Duckett suggesting that MacVicar handed down the order out of “fear of them being disclosable.” Duckett also suggested the direction was to avoid documenting that the border agency had mistakenly handed over passcodes to electronic devices taken from Meng during her immigration and customs exam.
“I would never say that. I did not say that and it’s inconsistent with anything I’ve ever said in my capacity as a public servant. I can’t comment on how somebody heard something that I said, but I would not have said that,” MacVicar testified.
Duckett noted the passcodes had nothing to do with the extradition warrant, and the issue was a sticking point since it was an “illegality” and breach of Meng’s privacy. Moreover, she highlighted how no records of the breach exist within the agency, probing MacVicar about when she found out about the breach, which she characterized as a “significant issue.”
“There’s not a single piece of paper within the CBSA that documents that those passcodes were given over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, are you aware of that?” Duckett asked. “Do you know of a single piece of paper that exists?”
“I am not,” MacVicar replied. “I don’t.”
“Did you create one? You knew about this problem?” Duckett pressed.
“I did not,” MacVicar answered. “I don’t know when I was aware of that.”
“You were aware before you retired, right?” Duckett said.
“Correct, but I don’t know when. I can’t comment on when,” MacVicar replied.
Earlier Friday, the court heard from the border agency’s passenger operations chief Nicole Goodman, who faced a grilling from Duckett over her lack of notes surrounding the events of Meng’s eventual arrest. Goodman told the court that, in hindsight, she wishes she had taken notes to parse out the timelines, though at the time she believed Meng’s exam was “routine.”
“At the time when this exam was taking place, to me it’s just another exam and to me it’s routine. This aftermath, to me, is extraordinary that I’m testifying on a national security exam because I deal with them all the time,” Goodman testified. “This is like a regular practice for me, or for my team or my operation because we have thousands of people that come in daily and we screen all those people, so would I wish I had notes now? Absolutely, but at the time I never would’ve envisioned that I would be here.”
Duckett asked: “But in the aftermath of this high-profile case when everyone’s asking questions, that’s when you’re told not to create notes, right?”
Goodman said no one said anything about notes specifically.
“It was more creating additional records because I had never taken any notes up until that time anyway,” she testified. “I was relying on my emails, but I will concede that it would’ve been beneficial for myself to have that time, absolutely.”
Duckett asked Goodman whether not creating records was an attempt to “recast the true facts of what happened.”
“Any questions that were ever asked of me I provided truthful and accurate information,” Goodman answered. “So I can’t speak to this and I don’t know if anything was recast because everything that I provided to my senior officials and to the Department of Justice is truthful and accurate, everything that I can recall.”
She added she believed everything was done in good faith “and executed as we knew best.”
But she did acknowledge the sharing of Meng’s passwords outside the border agency was “inappropriate,” and said it was “daunting” to face questions from superiors in Ottawa in the aftermath of Meng’s arrest
The hearing resumes Monday.


courthousenews--2020-12-12--California Voters Cast All-Time Record Amount of Votes

( CN ) — Like most places in the United States , California voters turned out for the 2020 presidential election .
The Golden State set a record for all-time votes cast with 17,785,151 , exceeding the previous record by about 3.1 million votes .
The turnout of registered voters was 80.67 % , the highest since the 1976 presidential election , which featured Democrat Jimmy Carter beating Republican Gerald Ford ( Ford won California that year ) .
The turnout of the eligible voting-age population was also at a high for modern times , with 70.88 % of such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote or turn in ballots .
It was the highest percentage since the 1952 presidential election when Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower prevailed over Democrat Adlai Stevenson .
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla praised election officials in all 58 counties around the state , saying they worked in difficult conditions given the coronavirus pandemic , but managed to process a record number of mail-in ballots .
“ Voting may have looked different this year , but it was important to provide Californians safe and convenient opportunities to exercise their right to vote while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I would also like to thank the nearly 17.8 million Californians who voted in this election.
” Padilla ’ s name has been bandied about as a potential replacement for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris , who will vacate her seat in the U.S. Senate to serve in the Biden administration .
Padilla made pointed remarks in Friday ’ s press release about the safety and security of mail-in balloting at a time when President Donald Trump and his Republican allies insist the practice led to widespread voter fraud .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wisdom of California ’ s policies to increase access to the ballot and will certainly inform future initiatives to build an even more inclusive democracy , ” Padilla said .
Trump himself decried mail-in ballots for months leading up to the election , a move that some pundits say could have cost him votes in states with narrow margins like Georgia .
Following his defeat to Joe Biden , Trump continued to claim the loss was based on widespread voter fraud , though no fraudulent schemes have been presented in a court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ken Paxton , Texas Attorney General , filed a lawsuit this week against Pennsylvania , Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin — all states that Trump won in 2016 but lost in 2020 — claiming that their increased use of mail-in ballots without the approval of their respective legislatures violated the U.S. Constitution .
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case , rebuffing Paxton ’ s arguments while effectively ending Trump ’ s legal attempts to overturn the election .
In California , 15,423,301 votes were cast by vote-by-mail ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the protocol was used as a means to prevent the spread of Covid-19 , but California officials have entertained allowing voting by mail as a means of increasing participation .
The highest turnout rate in any county was Marin County , with 90 % of registered voters .
In San Francisco County , it was 86 % and San Diego turned out 83 % of its registered voters .
Los Angeles County had one of the lowest turnout rates in the state at 74 % , which is still a high mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical record .
Biden received 11,109,764 votes in California , beating Trump by a sound 5.1 million vote margin as Trump garnered 6,005,961 votes in the state .

Like most places in the United States, California voters turned out for the 2020 presidential election. The Golden State set a record for all-time votes cast with 17,785,151, exceeding the previous record by about 3.1 million votes.
(CN) — Like most places in the United States, California voters turned out for the 2020 presidential election. The Golden State set a record for all-time votes cast with 17,785,151, exceeding the previous record by about 3.1 million votes.
The turnout of registered voters was 80.67%, the highest since the 1976 presidential election, which featured Democrat Jimmy Carter beating Republican Gerald Ford (Ford won California that year).
The turnout of the eligible voting-age population was also at a high for modern times, with 70.88% of such adults coming out to the polls to vote or turn in ballots. It was the highest percentage since the 1952 presidential election when Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower prevailed over Democrat Adlai Stevenson.
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla praised election officials in all 58 counties around the state, saying they worked in difficult conditions given the coronavirus pandemic, but managed to process a record number of mail-in ballots.
“Voting may have looked different this year, but it was important to provide Californians safe and convenient opportunities to exercise their right to vote while protecting their health,” Padilla said. “I would also like to thank the nearly 17.8 million Californians who voted in this election.”
Padilla’s name has been bandied about as a potential replacement for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who will vacate her seat in the U.S. Senate to serve in the Biden administration.
Padilla made pointed remarks in Friday’s press release about the safety and security of mail-in balloting at a time when President Donald Trump and his Republican allies insist the practice led to widespread voter fraud.
“The overwhelming success of the General Election proves the wisdom of California’s policies to increase access to the ballot and will certainly inform future initiatives to build an even more inclusive democracy,” Padilla said.
Trump himself decried mail-in ballots for months leading up to the election, a move that some pundits say could have cost him votes in states with narrow margins like Georgia. Following his defeat to Joe Biden, Trump continued to claim the loss was based on widespread voter fraud, though no fraudulent schemes have been presented in a court of law by Trump or his allies.
Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, filed a lawsuit this week against Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin — all states that Trump won in 2016 but lost in 2020 — claiming that their increased use of mail-in ballots without the approval of their respective legislatures violated the U.S. Constitution.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up the case, rebuffing Paxton’s arguments while effectively ending Trump’s legal attempts to overturn the election.
In California, 15,423,301 votes were cast by vote-by-mail ballots, an all-time record. At first, the protocol was used as a means to prevent the spread of Covid-19, but California officials have entertained allowing voting by mail as a means of increasing participation.
The highest turnout rate in any county was Marin County, with 90% of registered voters. In San Francisco County, it was 86% and San Diego turned out 83% of its registered voters. Los Angeles County had one of the lowest turnout rates in the state at 74%, which is still a high mark for the county when measured against the historical record.
Biden received 11,109,764 votes in California, beating Trump by a sound 5.1 million vote margin as Trump garnered 6,005,961 votes in the state.


courthousenews--2020-12-13--States Will Start Getting COVID-19 Vaccine Monday, US Says

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The nation ’ s first COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning , U.S. officials said Saturday , after the government gave the final go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans .
Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer ’ s vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states , said Army Gen. Gustave Perna of Operation Warp Speed , the Trump administration ’ s vaccine development program .
An additional 425 sites will get shipments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
Initially , about 3 million doses were expected to be shipped nationwide .
It was unclear exactly who would receive the first shots , though health care workers and nursing home residents were the priority .
Perna said health authorities would decide .
A similar number of shots will be held back for those recipients ’ second dose , which is needed for full protection from COVID-19 .
The announcement Saturday kicks off a massive logistical operation involving the federal and state governments , private companies and health care workers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
It offers hope in a country grappling with surging COVID-19 infections and deaths , which are overwhelming hospitals and raising fears that things will only get worse as people gather over the holidays .
Perna compared the vaccine distribution effort to D-Day , the U.S.-led military offensive that turned the tide in World War II .
“ D-Day was the beginning of the end and that ’ s where we are today , ” Perna said a news conference .
But he added that it would take months of work and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually achieve victory.
” MaineHealth , a network of 12 hospitals based in Portland , plans to provide an expected first delivery of nearly 2,000 vaccines to doctors , nurses and others facing risk as they treat COVID-19 patients , said Dr. Dora Mills , chief health improvement officer .
“ It ’ s almost hard for me to talk about without tearing up , ” Mills said Saturday .
“ This vaccine gives us some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
” The first shipments will leave Pfizer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by truck and then be flown to regional hubs around the country .
Medical distributor McKesson and pharmacy chains , including CVS and Rite-Aid , also are involved in the initial rollout and vaccinations at nursing homes and assisted living centers .
In a key distribution challenge , the vaccine , co-developed with BioNTech , must be stored and shipped at ultra-low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero .
Pfizer has developed shipping containers that use dry ice , and GPS-enabled sensors will allow the company to track each shipment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are mainly large hospitals and other facilities able to meet those ultra-cold storage requirements .
Within three weeks , vaccines should be delivered to all vaccination sites identified by states , such as local pharmacies , Perna said .
The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday so health workers could receive the shots and begin giving them , Perna said .
Workers at Mount Sinai Hospital System in New York did a dry run this week to prepare for their shipment .
In a clean room , pharmacists practiced making separate doses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was kept at temperatures colder than in Antarctica .
“ Not a lot of people have vaccinated for a large pandemic like this , ” said Susan Mashni , vice president of pharmacy at Mount Sinai .
“ So we want to make certain that we get it right .
There ’ s a lot of different moving pieces and parts.
” At a meeting where an expert panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines unanimously endorsed the Pfizer shot , some said local health officials were struggling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to those most in need and to ease people ’ s concerns about getting the shot .
But “ the funding necessary for state and local health departments to carry out this program has been put in the deep freeze , ” said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin , a Seattle physician representing the National Association of County and City Health Officials .
The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine late Friday .
It capped an unprecedented global race to speed vaccines through testing and review , chopping years off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine highly protective with no major safety issues .
U.S. regulators worked for months to emphasize the rigor and independence of their review , but President Donald Trump ’ s administration pressured the agency until the final announcement .
A top White House official even threatened to remove FDA chief Stephen Hahn if a ruling didn ’ t come before Saturday .
Concerns that a shot was rushed out could undermine vaccination efforts in a country with deeply ingrained skepticism about vaccines .
“ Science and data guided the FDA ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We worked quickly because of the urgency of this pandemic , not because of any other external pressure.
” While the vaccine was determined to be safe , regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions .
The FDA ’ s instructions tell providers not give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients .
The FDA ’ s vaccine director , Dr. Peter Marks , said the agency will carefully track any reports of allergic reactions in the U.S. Next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health that appears about as protective as Pfizer ’ s shot .
On Friday , the Trump administration said it had purchased 100 million more doses of that vaccine on top of 100 million it previously ordered .
The announcement came after revelations that the White House opted not to lock in an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer ’ s vaccine for delivery in the second quarter of 2021 .
The Trump administration contends the current orders plus those in the pipeline will be enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be vaccinated by the end of the second quarter of 2021 .
By MATTHEW PERRONE , MIKE STOBBE and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press

The nation's first COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning, U.S. officials said Saturday, after the government gave the final go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's first Covid-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning, U.S. officials said Saturday, after the government gave the final go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.
Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer's vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states, said Army Gen. Gustave Perna of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration's vaccine development program. An additional 425 sites will get shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday.
Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be shipped nationwide. It was unclear exactly who would receive the first shots, though health care workers and nursing home residents were the priority. Perna said health authorities would decide.
A similar number of shots will be held back for those recipients' second dose, which is needed for full protection from Covid-19.
The announcement Saturday kicks off a massive logistical operation involving the federal and state governments, private companies and health care workers to quickly distribute limited vaccine supplies throughout the U.S. It offers hope in a country grappling with surging Covid-19 infections and deaths, which are overwhelming hospitals and raising fears that things will only get worse as people gather over the holidays.
Perna compared the vaccine distribution effort to D-Day, the U.S.-led military offensive that turned the tide in World War II.
"D-Day was the beginning of the end and that's where we are today," Perna said a news conference. But he added that it would take months of work and "diligence, courage and strength to eventually achieve victory."
MaineHealth, a network of 12 hospitals based in Portland, plans to provide an expected first delivery of nearly 2,000 vaccines to doctors, nurses and others facing risk as they treat Covid-19 patients, said Dr. Dora Mills, chief health improvement officer.
"It's almost hard for me to talk about without tearing up," Mills said Saturday. "This vaccine gives us some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel."
The first shipments will leave Pfizer's manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by truck and then be flown to regional hubs around the country. Medical distributor McKesson and pharmacy chains, including CVS and Rite-Aid, also are involved in the initial rollout and vaccinations at nursing homes and assisted living centers.
In a key distribution challenge, the vaccine, co-developed with BioNTech, must be stored and shipped at ultra-low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer has developed shipping containers that use dry ice, and GPS-enabled sensors will allow the company to track each shipment and ensure it stays cold.
Distribution sites are mainly large hospitals and other facilities able to meet those ultra-cold storage requirements. Within three weeks, vaccines should be delivered to all vaccination sites identified by states, such as local pharmacies, Perna said.
The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday so health workers could receive the shots and begin giving them, Perna said.
Workers at Mount Sinai Hospital System in New York did a dry run this week to prepare for their shipment. In a clean room, pharmacists practiced making separate doses of a training vaccine and ensuring the freezer was kept at temperatures colder than in Antarctica.
"Not a lot of people have vaccinated for a large pandemic like this," said Susan Mashni, vice president of pharmacy at Mount Sinai. "So we want to make certain that we get it right. There's a lot of different moving pieces and parts."
At a meeting where an expert panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines unanimously endorsed the Pfizer shot, some said local health officials were struggling to ensure the vaccine is distributed fairly and to those most in need and to ease people's concerns about getting the shot.
But "the funding necessary for state and local health departments to carry out this program has been put in the deep freeze," said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a Seattle physician representing the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine late Friday. It capped an unprecedented global race to speed vaccines through testing and review, chopping years off the normal development process.
The FDA found the vaccine highly protective with no major safety issues. U.S. regulators worked for months to emphasize the rigor and independence of their review, but President Donald Trump's administration pressured the agency until the final announcement. A top White House official even threatened to remove FDA chief Stephen Hahn if a ruling didn't come before Saturday.
Concerns that a shot was rushed out could undermine vaccination efforts in a country with deeply ingrained skepticism about vaccines.
"Science and data guided the FDA's decision," Hahn said Saturday. "We worked quickly because of the urgency of this pandemic, not because of any other external pressure."
While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA's instructions tell providers not give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.
The FDA's vaccine director, Dr. Peter Marks, said the agency will carefully track any reports of allergic reactions in the U.S.
Next week, the FDA will review a vaccine from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health that appears about as protective as Pfizer's shot. On Friday, the Trump administration said it had purchased 100 million more doses of that vaccine on top of 100 million it previously ordered.
The announcement came after revelations that the White House opted not to lock in an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine for delivery in the second quarter of 2021. The Trump administration contends the current orders plus those in the pipeline will be enough to accommodate any American who wants to be vaccinated by the end of the second quarter of 2021.
By MATTHEW PERRONE, MIKE STOBBE and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-12-13--Newsom Stumbles as Pandemic Worsens, but Support Holds — For Now

California Governor Gavin Newsom faces a political test as new stay-at-home orders are issued , a test that could cost him his position in 2022 .
( CN ) — In a grocery store parking lot in Capitola , California , Steve Krill — a new resident of the Santa Cruz County town — loaded his purchases into his vehicle .
He also had some choice words for Governor Gavin Newsom .
“ I don ’ t think he has the people ’ s interest at heart , ” Krill , who declined to give his real last name so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said .
“ He ’ s out for himself only while he manages a controlled collapse of the economy.
” He expressed particular frustration about the latest round of stay-at-home orders — which have not yet been implemented in Santa Cruz County — and the closure of outdoor spaces from al fresco dining to children ’ s playgrounds ( the state quietly changed its provision playgrounds Wednesday ) .
People up and down the state have complained the new orders punish businesses and families , while those who are and are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the owner of the Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill in the Los Angeles County city of Sherman Oaks posted a viral video showing her closed-up outdoor dining area next to an expansive outdoor dining area for an active film shoot .
“ How can you tell me that this is dangerous , but right next to me … that ’ s safe ?
” Marsden said in the Facebook video .
“ Mayor Garcetti and Gavin Newsom is responsible for every single person that doesn ’ t have unemployment , that doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the businesses that are going under.
” Small businesses aren ’ t the only ones feeling the pain and lashing out .
Tesla CEO Elon Musk , who tussled with Alameda County public health officials this past May regarding the reopening of his auto manufacturing plant , threatened to leave California .
He made good on the threat this week , officially announcing he had moved to Texas .
He had a parting shot for California and its officials .
“ If a team is winning for too long , they tend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ California has been winning for a long time , and I think they ’ re taking it for granted.
” Political experts believe the coronavirus crisis has left Newsom vulnerable , halfway through his first term as governor .
“ Many people aren ’ t happy about the extent of the shutdown orders and that is an ongoing vulnerability for Newsom , ” said Jack Pitney , a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College .
Pitney said Newsom was fortunate he did not face a well-financed and widely known gubernatorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefitted from California voters ’ deep dislike of President Donald Trump and a Republican Party that facilitated his rise .
But those factors could change in 2022 , Pitney said , as outgoing San Diego Mayor Kevin Falconer , a moderate Republican , has indicated he is ready and willing to run against Newsom .
Pitney said many in the GOP think Falconer ’ s candidacy could be viable .
Thad Kousser , a political scientist at the University of California , San Diego , agreed .
“ When you are running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to break through the national noise , ” Kousser said .
“ In California , a Republican governor could always be viable.
” The last time California gave its electoral votes to a Republican president was 1988 , when George H.W .
Bush earned the votes of its then-47 electors ( the state now has 54 ) .
But California has elected a Republican governor four times since then , including Pete Wilson twice in the 1990 and Arnold Schwarzenegger twice in the 2000s .
Critics of Newsom point to the French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eating dinner at the famed Napa Valley eatery with a collection of members from other households , including prominent lobbyists from California ’ s medical industry .
“ A Republican governor could happen in California if Newsom keeps throwing interceptions like he did at French Laundry , ” Pitney said .
Several California officials , most notably some its sheriffs , have lashed out at Newsom and the implementation of the new orders since they were announced last week .
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said his department will not enforce the stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hypocrisy and being “ dictatorial ” in threatening to reallocate state funding away from counties that defy the order .
“ Ironically , it wasn ’ t that long ago that our same governor loudly and publicly argued how wrong it was for the president of the United States to withhold federal funding from states not complying with federal laws , ” Bianco said in a Youtube video posted Dec. 4 .
“ The dictatorial attitude toward California residents while dining in luxury , traveling , keeping his business open and sending his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling about his attitude toward California residents , his feelings about the virus , and it is extremely hypocritical.
” But others contend talk of Newsom ’ s political demise is overblown .
While he faces a recall effort , it ’ s the sixth one since he was elected in 2018 and the previous five fizzled .
Those leading the current effort have until March 17 to collect approximately 1.4 million signatures , or 12 % of the vote for governor in 2018 .
Most pundits do not give the effort much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steve Tietz said he believes Newsom will come through the difficult circumstances posed by the pandemic just fine .
“ It ’ s too liberal a state , ” he said .
“ There ’ s no way he ’ s in trouble.
” Tietz doesn ’ t like the outdoor closures , saying the policy doesn ’ t match the latest science , but he is giving Newsom a pass because of everything he said the governor did well at the beginning of the pandemic .
“ Newsom has done a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away his groceries .
“ He ’ s made mistakes but let he who hasn ’ t made any mistakes cast the first stone.
” Smart said the stay-at-home orders wouldn ’ t be necessary if more citizens did their part by wearing face coverings and following physical distancing recommendations .
“ I think we need to work together , ” Smart said .
The few polls that have been done so far also bolster the theory Newsom ’ s support is holding despite some loud critical voices .
In September , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the summer , the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies released a poll on Newsom ’ s performance that put his approval rating at a record 64 % .
“ Newsom receives his highest marks from voters for the very high visibility role he has been taking in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic , ” said Mark DiCamillo , the director of the Berkeley IGS Poll , at the time .
A poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California found 58 % of adults polled believe Newsom is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The poll didn ’ t ask about the pandemic or overall job performance , but the number indicates Newsom ’ s fundamental support in the state remains strong .
“ Majorities of Californians across income groups approve of Governor Newsom ’ s handling of jobs and the economy , ” said Mark Baldassare , PPIC president and CEO , in a Wednesday statement .
Democrats are particularly bullish , with 85 % of those polled approving of Newsom .
Republicans are less impressed , with only 14 % expressing support .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) expressed approval — indicating Newsom continues to successfully navigate treacherous political terrain .
But if the independents flee or support from the Democrats dwindles , the political troubles Newsom has faced over the past few weeks could be a preview rather than an aberration .

California Governor Gavin Newsom faces a political test as new stay-at-home orders are issued, a test that could cost him his position in 2022.
(CN) — In a grocery store parking lot in Capitola, California, Steve Krill — a new resident of the Santa Cruz County town — loaded his purchases into his vehicle. He also had some choice words for Governor Gavin Newsom.
“I don’t think he has the people’s interest at heart,” Krill, who declined to give his real last name so as not to offend his new neighbors, said. “He’s out for himself only while he manages a controlled collapse of the economy.”
He expressed particular frustration about the latest round of stay-at-home orders — which have not yet been implemented in Santa Cruz County — and the closure of outdoor spaces from al fresco dining to children’s playgrounds (the state quietly changed its provision playgrounds Wednesday).
He’s not alone.
People up and down the state have complained the new orders punish businesses and families, while those who are and are not exempt appears largely arbitrary.
Angela Marsden, the owner of the Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill in the Los Angeles County city of Sherman Oaks posted a viral video showing her closed-up outdoor dining area next to an expansive outdoor dining area for an active film shoot.
"How can you tell me that this is dangerous, but right next to me ... that's safe?" Marsden said in the Facebook video. "Mayor Garcetti and Gavin Newsom is responsible for every single person that doesn't have unemployment, that doesn't have a job, and all the businesses that are going under.”
Small businesses aren’t the only ones feeling the pain and lashing out.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who tussled with Alameda County public health officials this past May regarding the reopening of his auto manufacturing plant, threatened to leave California. He made good on the threat this week, officially announcing he had moved to Texas.
He had a parting shot for California and its officials.
“If a team is winning for too long, they tend to get complacent,” Musk said. “California has been winning for a long time, and I think they’re taking it for granted.”
Political experts believe the coronavirus crisis has left Newsom vulnerable, halfway through his first term as governor.
“Many people aren’t happy about the extent of the shutdown orders and that is an ongoing vulnerability for Newsom,” said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College.
Pitney said Newsom was fortunate he did not face a well-financed and widely known gubernatorial candidate in 2018, even as he benefitted from California voters’ deep dislike of President Donald Trump and a Republican Party that facilitated his rise.
But those factors could change in 2022, Pitney said, as outgoing San Diego Mayor Kevin Falconer, a moderate Republican, has indicated he is ready and willing to run against Newsom. Pitney said many in the GOP think Falconer’s candidacy could be viable.
Thad Kousser, a political scientist at the University of California, San Diego, agreed.
“When you are running for governor or Senate there is always an opportunity to break through the national noise,” Kousser said. “In California, a Republican governor could always be viable.”
It’s happened before.
The last time California gave its electoral votes to a Republican president was 1988, when George H.W. Bush earned the votes of its then-47 electors (the state now has 54).
But California has elected a Republican governor four times since then, including Pete Wilson twice in the 1990 and Arnold Schwarzenegger twice in the 2000s. Critics of Newsom point to the French Laundry scandal, where Newsom was photographed eating dinner at the famed Napa Valley eatery with a collection of members from other households, including prominent lobbyists from California’s medical industry.


courthousenews--2020-12-12--Driver Arrested After Car Plows Into Manhattan Protesters

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A woman who plowed her car into protesters Friday in New York City , injuring six of them , has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment , police said .
Kathleen Casillo , 52 , was released from custody after being given a notice to appear in court at a later date , police said .
A message seeking comment was left at a number listed for Casillo .
Online records did not list a lawyer who could speak on her behalf .
Bystander video showed a black BMW sedan suddenly accelerating as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. Friday near 39th Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan .
One person appeared to be leaning over the front of the car .
Tom Ella , who shot the video , said he heard the engine roar and saw the car accelerating .
“ Just watching them actually hit people , it ’ s traumatizing , it ’ s horrifying , ” Ella said .
Protester Sofia Vickerman , of Denver , Colorado , said people and a bicycle were tossed in the air .
Six people were taken by ambulance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not appear to be life-threatening .
Casillo , of Rockaway Park , Queens , remained at the scene .
She was taken into custody and questioned , police said .
Another woman , whom police described as a protester , was arrested for interfering with ambulance workers at the scene , police said .
Nicolle Besuden , 32 , of Manhattan , was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration .
Besuden was also released with a notice to appear in court at a later date .
She called the allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referred to an account of the incident from the injured protester she was helping , who said Besuden was providing care and comfort before EMTs arrived and that her arrest was uncalled for .
The protest march started in Times Square and was aimed at drawing attention to an ongoing hunger strike by immigration detainees at a jail in New Jersey .

A woman who plowed her car into protesters Friday in New York City, injuring six of them, has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, police said.
NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who plowed her car into protesters Friday in New York City, injuring six of them, has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, police said.
Kathleen Casillo, 52, was released from custody after being given a notice to appear in court at a later date, police said. A message seeking comment was left at a number listed for Casillo. Online records did not list a lawyer who could speak on her behalf.
Bystander video showed a black BMW sedan suddenly accelerating as protesters gathered around the vehicle around 4 p.m. Friday near 39th Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. One person appeared to be leaning over the front of the car.
Tom Ella, who shot the video, said he heard the engine roar and saw the car accelerating.
"Just watching them actually hit people, it's traumatizing, it's horrifying," Ella said.
Protester Sofia Vickerman, of Denver, Colorado, said people and a bicycle were tossed in the air.
Six people were taken by ambulance to hospitals with injuries that officials said did not appear to be life-threatening.
Casillo, of Rockaway Park, Queens, remained at the scene. She was taken into custody and questioned, police said.
Another woman, whom police described as a protester, was arrested for interfering with ambulance workers at the scene, police said.
Nicolle Besuden, 32, of Manhattan, was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration.
Besuden was also released with a notice to appear in court at a later date.
She called the allegations "false and incredibly damaging" and referred to an account of the incident from the injured protester she was helping, who said Besuden was providing care and comfort before EMTs arrived and that her arrest was uncalled for.
The protest march started in Times Square and was aimed at drawing attention to an ongoing hunger strike by immigration detainees at a jail in New Jersey.


courthousenews--2020-12-12--Trump Helicopter Buzzes Supporters Rallying in Washington

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump returned to Washington on Saturday for rallies to back his desperate efforts to subvert the election that he lost to Joe Biden .
They cheered as Trump flew overhead on the Marine One helicopter on his way out of town for the Army-Navy football game in West Point , New York .
The gatherings of mostly unmasked Trump loyalists were intended as a show of force just two days before the Electoral College meets to formally elect Biden as the 46th president .
Trump , whose term will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while clinging to baseless claims of fraud that have been rejected by state and federal courts , and Friday by the Supreme Court .
Trump tweeted his apparent surprise Saturday morning at the rallies , publicly known for weeks : “ Wow !
Thousands of people forming in Washington ( D.C. ) for Stop the Steal .
Didn ’ t know about this , but I ’ ll be seeing them !
# MAGA ” Trump left the White House around midday for the trip to the U.S. Military Academy , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the National Mall , cheers went up .
Michael Flynn , the former national security adviser recently pardoned by Trump , was speaking from the stage at the time .
“ That ’ s pretty cool .
Imagine just being able to jump in a helicopter and just go for a joy ride around Washington , ” said Flynn , whose pardon wiped away his conviction for lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation .
At a pro-Trump demonstration in Washington a month ago , Trump thrilled supporters when he passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Virginia golf club .
That demonstration , which drew 10,000 to 15,000 people to the capital , ended with scattered clashes between Trump ’ s loyalists and local activists near Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House .
While Saturday ’ s rallies , including one on Freedom Plaza downtown , were smaller , they drew a larger contingent of the Proud Boys , a neo-fascist group known to incite street violence .
When asked about the Proud Boys ’ support for him during a debate with Biden , Trump famously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand by.
” On Saturday , police took more steps to keep the two sides apart , closing a wide swath of downtown to traffic and completely restricting Black Lives Matter Plaza .
One block away , about 150 anti-Trump protesters rallied , determined to protect the space .
Small groups of Trump supporters who entered the area were verbally abused .
A group of about 50 men wearing the black and yellow of the Proud Boys circled the perimeter .
Police kept them two blocks away from the anti-Trump rally .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one point started singing “ Jingle Bells.
” They were apparently under orders not to engage with hecklers .
One man who was talking back to people was yelled at and told “ Don ’ t interact !
” Hundreds of Proud Boys , some wearing bulletproof vests , later marched near Freedom Plaza and gathered on the National Mall , within sight of the pro-Trump rally stage but keeping their distance .
The assembly on the mall , called the “ Jericho March , ” was described on its website as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praying for the walls of corruption and election fraud to fall down.
” The rally on Freedom Plaza also featured a series of speakers pushing debunked claims of election fraud to a receptive audience .
Sylvia Huff , a demonstrator who came from Gloucester , Virginia , to show her support for Trump , said the legal defeats hadn ’ t shaken her belief that he won the election .
“ I believe the courts were on the take , too , ” she said .
The Supreme Court , where three of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ was just afraid of a political backlash , ” she said .
Among the speakers was Sebastian Gorka , a former Trump adviser , who urged demonstrators not to give up even after Friday ’ s Supreme Court decision .
He said he wanted to send Trump a video and held up his phone , cueing the flag-waving crowd to chant “ Stop the Steal.
” The organizers of this rally seemed intent on avoiding confrontations , telling demonstrators ahead of time to avoid certain hotels and marking off large chunks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zone .
”

Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump returned to Washington on Saturday for rallies to back his desperate efforts to subvert the election that he lost to Joe Biden. They cheered as Trump flew overhead on the Marine One helicopter on his way out of town for the Army-Navy football game in West Point, New York.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump returned to Washington on Saturday for rallies to back his desperate efforts to subvert the election that he lost to Joe Biden. They cheered as Trump flew overhead on the Marine One helicopter on his way out of town for the Army-Navy football game in West Point, New York.
The gatherings of mostly unmasked Trump loyalists were intended as a show of force just two days before the Electoral College meets to formally elect Biden as the 46th president. Trump, whose term will end Jan. 20, refuses to concede, while clinging to baseless claims of fraud that have been rejected by state and federal courts, and Friday by the Supreme Court.
Trump tweeted his apparent surprise Saturday morning at the rallies, publicly known for weeks: "Wow! Thousands of people forming in Washington (D.C.) for Stop the Steal. Didn't know about this, but I'll be seeing them! #MAGA"
Trump left the White House around midday for the trip to the U.S. Military Academy, and as Marine One passed over a rally on the National Mall, cheers went up.
Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser recently pardoned by Trump, was speaking from the stage at the time.
"That's pretty cool. Imagine just being able to jump in a helicopter and just go for a joy ride around Washington," said Flynn, whose pardon wiped away his conviction for lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation.
At a pro-Trump demonstration in Washington a month ago, Trump thrilled supporters when he passed by in his motorcade en route to his Virginia golf club.
That demonstration, which drew 10,000 to 15,000 people to the capital, ended with scattered clashes between Trump's loyalists and local activists near Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House.
While Saturday's rallies, including one on Freedom Plaza downtown, were smaller, they drew a larger contingent of the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group known to incite street violence.
When asked about the Proud Boys' support for him during a debate with Biden, Trump famously told them to "stand back and stand by."
On Saturday, police took more steps to keep the two sides apart, closing a wide swath of downtown to traffic and completely restricting Black Lives Matter Plaza. One block away, about 150 anti-Trump protesters rallied, determined to protect the space. Small groups of Trump supporters who entered the area were verbally abused.
A group of about 50 men wearing the black and yellow of the Proud Boys circled the perimeter. Police kept them two blocks away from the anti-Trump rally.
The Proud Boys chanted vulgar slogans and at one point started singing "Jingle Bells." They were apparently under orders not to engage with hecklers. One man who was talking back to people was yelled at and told "Don't interact!"
Hundreds of Proud Boys, some wearing bulletproof vests, later marched near Freedom Plaza and gathered on the National Mall, within sight of the pro-Trump rally stage but keeping their distance.
The assembly on the mall, called the "Jericho March," was described on its website as a "prayer rally" with speakers "praying for the walls of corruption and election fraud to fall down."
The rally on Freedom Plaza also featured a series of speakers pushing debunked claims of election fraud to a receptive audience.
Sylvia Huff, a demonstrator who came from Gloucester, Virginia, to show her support for Trump, said the legal defeats hadn't shaken her belief that he won the election.
"I believe the courts were on the take, too," she said. The Supreme Court, where three of the nine justices were appointed by Trump, "was just afraid of a political backlash," she said.
Among the speakers was Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump adviser, who urged demonstrators not to give up even after Friday's Supreme Court decision. He said he wanted to send Trump a video and held up his phone, cueing the flag-waving crowd to chant "Stop the Steal."
The organizers of this rally seemed intent on avoiding confrontations, telling demonstrators ahead of time to avoid certain hotels and marking off large chunks of downtown Washington as a "no-go zone."
By ASHRAF KHALIL Associated Press