courthousenews--2020-10-23--Friend of San Bernardino Terrorists Gets 20 Years for Role in Attack

( CN ) — Nearly five years after the deadly San Bernardino terror attack , a California man who supplied the rifles used to kill 14 people and wound 22 others was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison .
Years after purchasing two high-powered rifles , gun accessories and explosive powder used by Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik in an Islamic State-inspired attack at a holiday party on Dec. 2 , 2015 , Enrique Marquez Jr. , 28 , looked down as he listened to the family members of victims of the attack .
Robert Velasco said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the door after a long trip , nearly five years after she was murdered in the terrorist attack .
“ We can still feel her with us .
Even though we can ’ t see her or kiss her , ” said Velasco , his voice breaking as he spoke from behind a cloth face mask about his 27-year-old daughter .
Rene Wetzel said she didn ’ t know how she would survive after her husband Michael was killed .
“ He ’ s just as responsible for the 14 deaths that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wetzel said , adding her children say they don ’ t ever want to work in an office setting like the one where the attack took place .
Farook and Malik carried out their attack at an employee holiday party at a San Bernardino County building .
The couple also left homemade bombs at the building as they continued their rampage .
Both were killed in a shootout with police that day .
Marquez — the couple ’ s neighbor and friend from nearby Riverside — pleaded guilty to supplying material support to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms in 2016 .
He withdrew his guilty plea in 2019 , This year , Marquez ’ s attorney argued he only agreed to the plea deal with federal prosecutors out of a moral responsibility to the families and victims of the shooting and wanted to “ sacrifice himself on the altar ” to avoid a lengthy trial .
U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal oversaw the two-day evidentiary hearing earlier this year where defense attorney John Aquilina brought expert witnesses who testified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superior intellect who met Farook at age 13 .
Marquez did not speak during the January 2020 hearing and Bernal later denied the motion .
During Friday ’ s sentencing hearing , Marquez listened as prosecutors painted him as an intelligent man who knew what he was doing when he purchased the weapons and understood what Farook conspired to do — and did nothing .
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Ann Hanson Sartoris argued Marquez has an IQ higher than most people who are tried in the court .
She also said he became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew better .
He portrays himself as easily manipulated , ” said Sartoris of Marquez .
“ He knew better .
We knew he knew better .
He told friends about it online.
” Marquez wrote on social media forums that he stockpiled weapons and purchased guns to hurt people , said Sartoris .
But Aquilina called his client ’ s online posts hearsay and said Marquez misplaced his trust during his formative years and did not have any criminal history before he met Farook .
He said Marquez ’ s introduction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end.
” Sartoris said Marquez read radical jihadist literature to appease Farook and wrote online after he read the literature he “ ascended.
” In another forum post , Marquez mentioned some “ items ” he purchased were in his name and he wanted to retrieve them , referring to the rifles .
Marquez appeared in a white prison jumpsuit and blue face mask .
He drummed his fingers on his knuckles as he listened to his attorney describe his childhood and stared forward as family members described in court the wounds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gregory Clayborn ’ s daughter , Sierra , was just 27 years old and a county health inspector when she was killed .
He said prosecutors should have charged Marquez with murder because Marquez did not try and get the rifles back from Farook .
“ Do you see the destruction of your decisions ?
Do you see how many people you have damaged because of your actions ?
” Clayborn asked Marquez , who sat just a few feet away .
“ You ’ re no victim , you established this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people.
” Bernal sentenced Marquez to 20 years in prison and 15 years of supervised probation after release .
“ As atrocious , as horrible as those murders were , Mr. Marquez was legally not responsible for those , ” Bernal said , adding that while Marquez is “ perhaps morally responsible ” it wasn ’ t the court ’ s responsibility to judge his morality .
Outside the courthouse , Clayborn said : “ He should have gotten all the time that they were supposed to give him.
” Marquez and Farook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college students at Riverside City College and on a major highway .
The pair researched how they could carry out attacks at both locations .
Marquez did not speak during the hearing other than to waive his right to do so .

Nearly five years after the deadly San Bernardino terror attack, a California man who supplied the rifles used to kill 14 people and wound 22 others was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison.
(CN) — Nearly five years after the deadly San Bernardino terror attack, a California man who supplied the rifles used to kill 14 people and wound 22 others was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison.
Years after purchasing two high-powered rifles, gun accessories and explosive powder used by Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik in an Islamic State-inspired attack at a holiday party on Dec. 2, 2015, Enrique Marquez Jr., 28, looked down as he listened to the family members of victims of the attack.
Robert Velasco said he still expects his daughter Yvette to walk through the door after a long trip, nearly five years after she was murdered in the terrorist attack.
“We can still feel her with us. Even though we can’t see her or kiss her,” said Velasco, his voice breaking as he spoke from behind a cloth face mask about his 27-year-old daughter.
Rene Wetzel said she didn’t know how she would survive after her husband Michael was killed.
“He’s just as responsible for the 14 deaths that day as the shooters are,” Wetzel said, adding her children say they don’t ever want to work in an office setting like the one where the attack took place.
Farook and Malik carried out their attack at an employee holiday party at a San Bernardino County building. The couple also left homemade bombs at the building as they continued their rampage. Both were killed in a shootout with police that day.
Marquez — the couple’s neighbor and friend from nearby Riverside — pleaded guilty to supplying material support to terrorists, including guns and explosives, and making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms in 2016. He withdrew his guilty plea in 2019,
This year, Marquez’s attorney argued he only agreed to the plea deal with federal prosecutors out of a moral responsibility to the families and victims of the shooting and wanted to “sacrifice himself on the altar” to avoid a lengthy trial.
U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal oversaw the two-day evidentiary hearing earlier this year where defense attorney John Aquilina brought expert witnesses who testified Marquez was a high-functioning autistic man with superior intellect who met Farook at age 13.
Marquez did not speak during the January 2020 hearing and Bernal later denied the motion.
During Friday’s sentencing hearing, Marquez listened as prosecutors painted him as an intelligent man who knew what he was doing when he purchased the weapons and understood what Farook conspired to do — and did nothing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Ann Hanson Sartoris argued Marquez has an IQ higher than most people who are tried in the court. She also said he became radicalized along with Farook.
“He knew better. He portrays himself as easily manipulated,” said Sartoris of Marquez. “He knew better. We knew he knew better. He told friends about it online.”
Marquez wrote on social media forums that he stockpiled weapons and purchased guns to hurt people, said Sartoris.
But Aquilina called his client’s online posts hearsay and said Marquez misplaced his trust during his formative years and did not have any criminal history before he met Farook. He said Marquez’s introduction to Farook “was the beginning of the end.”
Sartoris said Marquez read radical jihadist literature to appease Farook and wrote online after he read the literature he “ascended.” In another forum post, Marquez mentioned some “items” he purchased were in his name and he wanted to retrieve them, referring to the rifles.
Marquez appeared in a white prison jumpsuit and blue face mask. He drummed his fingers on his knuckles as he listened to his attorney describe his childhood and stared forward as family members described in court the wounds of those who were killed during the shooting.
Gregory Clayborn’s daughter, Sierra, was just 27 years old and a county health inspector when she was killed. He said prosecutors should have charged Marquez with murder because Marquez did not try and get the rifles back from Farook.
“Do you see the destruction of your decisions? Do you see how many people you have damaged because of your actions?” Clayborn asked Marquez, who sat just a few feet away . “You’re no victim, you established this. Your plan to was to kill people.”
Bernal sentenced Marquez to 20 years in prison and 15 years of supervised probation after release.
“As atrocious, as horrible as those murders were, Mr. Marquez was legally not responsible for those,” Bernal said, adding that while Marquez is “perhaps morally responsible” it wasn’t the court’s responsibility to judge his morality.
Outside the courthouse, Clayborn said: “He should have gotten all the time that they were supposed to give him.”
Marquez and Farook also discussed a separate terrorist attack on college students at Riverside City College and on a major highway. The pair researched how they could carry out attacks at both locations.
Marquez did not speak during the hearing other than to waive his right to do so.


Top Eight

Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including Joe Biden indicated he will continue to hammer President Donald Trump on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge across the nation ; Senate Republicans moved closer to confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court ; Europe is once again the coronavirus pandemic ’ s epicenter , 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 .
1 . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enters the final stretch , Joe Biden indicated during a Friday stump speech that he will continue to hammer President Donald Trump on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge across the nation .
2 . )
President Donald Trump rallied thousands of Florida seniors on Friday in an effort to boost voter turnout from this vital constituency in the crucial battleground state .
3 . )
Senate Republicans are set to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Monday , a victory for President Donald Trump that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 election .
4 . )
Roundup manufacturer Monsanto urged three Ninth Circuit judges on Friday to overturn a jury ’ s verdict finding the weed killer caused a California man ’ s cancer , arguing that the federal judge overseeing the trial allowed the jury to hear from an unreliable expert witness .
5 . )
A lawyer for Johnny Depp was sent packing Friday after he was found to have breached a protective order in the actor ’ s Virginia court battle against his ex-wife Amber Heard .
6 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conservative free speech group Friday and ruled a Detroit-area public transit authority ’ s ban on political speech in ads violates the First Amendment because such speech is not clearly defined .
7 . )
Europe is once again the pandemic ’ s epicenter and from Lisbon to Moscow the story is largely the same : Infections are rising and nations are responding with new restrictions .
8 . )
New research released Friday shows that a sudden climate shift roughly 5,000 years ago resulted in a new seabird settlement that fundamentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and points to a potentially uncertain future for the avian explorers .

Top eight CNS stories for today including Joe Biden indicated he will continue to hammer President Donald Trump on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge across the nation; Senate Republicans moved closer to confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court; Europe is once again the coronavirus pandemic’s epicenter, and more.
Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including Joe Biden indicated he will continue to hammer President Donald Trump on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge across the nation; Senate Republicans moved closer to confirming Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court; Europe is once again the coronavirus pandemic’s epicenter, 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.) As his campaign for the White House enters the final stretch, Joe Biden indicated during a Friday stump speech that he will continue to hammer President Donald Trump on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge across the nation.
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden exits his motorcade to board his campaign plane at New Castle Airport, in New Castle, Del., Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, en route to Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
2.) President Donald Trump rallied thousands of Florida seniors on Friday in an effort to boost voter turnout from this vital constituency in the crucial battleground state.
President Donald Trump gives a campaign speech in The Villages, Fla., on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Alex Pickett)
3.) Senate Republicans are set to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Monday, a victory for President Donald Trump that will make history just days out from the 2020 election.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, arrives for closed meetings with senators, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
4.) Roundup manufacturer Monsanto urged three Ninth Circuit judges on Friday to overturn a jury’s verdict finding the weed killer caused a California man’s cancer, arguing that the federal judge overseeing the trial allowed the jury to hear from an unreliable expert witness.
Image author: Bayer AG
Regional
5.) A lawyer for Johnny Depp was sent packing Friday after he was found to have breached a protective order in the actor’s Virginia court battle against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court in London, Monday, July 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
6.) An appeals court panel sided with a conservative free speech group Friday and ruled a Detroit-area public transit authority’s ban on political speech in ads violates the First Amendment because such speech is not clearly defined.
A city bus is seen in Dallas, Texas. (Photo via skeeze/Pixabay)
International
7.) Europe is once again the pandemic’s epicenter and from Lisbon to Moscow the story is largely the same: Infections are rising and nations are responding with new restrictions.
A cyclist passes a closed bar in the Temple bar area of Dublin, Ireland, in October 2020. (Peter Morrison/AP)
8.) New research released Friday shows that a sudden climate shift roughly 5,000 years ago resulted in a new seabird settlement that fundamentally changed the ecosystem of the Falkland Islands and points to a potentially uncertain future for the avian explorers.


courthousenews--2020-10-23--Trump Campaign Sues Nevada County Over Vote Counting Process

( CN ) — The Trump campaign and Nevada Republican Party sued election officials in Nevada ’ s most populous county Friday , demanding ballot counting stop there immediately until Trump campaign observers are allowed to witness the vote tallying process .
“ Transparency is paramount to ensure Nevadans the right to a free and fair election , ” Nevada Republican Party Chair Michael J. McDonald said in a statement Friday .
“ Clark County ’ s refusal to allow people to observe the handling of ballots and their low standards for matching signatures should disturb all voters.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Judicial District Court in Carson City , is one of dozens of lawsuits filed across the country by President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign and Republicans seeking to limit mail-in voting and ensure Trump campaign observers can object to mail-in ballots during the counting process .
The lawsuit was filed against Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske , a Republican , and Joseph Gloria , registrar of voters for Clark County , the most populous and diverse county in Nevada , which includes Las Vegas .
Fred Kraus , a registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is lead plaintiff in the lawsuit .
Kraus reportedly worked as a vice president and general counsel at the Venetian casino and resort owned by GOP mega donor and Trump supporter Sheldon Adelson , according to the Nevada Independent .
The lawsuit complains that Gloria failed to submit a written plan for members of the public to view the delivery , counting , handling and processing of ballots at polling places by April 15 , as required by state election laws .
According to the complaint , observers in Clark County are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the vote tallying process , which prevents them from seeing calls that are made when authenticating ballots .
Observers must also be accompanied by “ ambassadors ” at all times , but “ there are not enough ambassadors to allow consistent and meaningful observation of the entire process , ” the Trump campaign gripes .
“ Without meaningful observation , there can not be any assurances of transparency , ” Nevada Republicans say in their 13-page complaint .
Ballot counting has already started in Nevada , where vote tallying of mail-in ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump campaign and Nevada GOP are asking a judge to stop ballot counting in Clark County “ until proper procedures are in place to ensure transparency and integrity in all parts of the process.
” The lawsuit further complains that county election officials refused the Trump campaign and Nevada GOP ’ s request to place cameras in vote tallying locations that would allow observers to view the process from a distance so as to comply with guidelines for preventing the spread of Covid-19 .
The Nevada Republican Party and Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but their proposal was “ wholly rejected ” by the county .
The lawsuit also raises concerns about ballot secrecy , claiming the practice of election workers reinserting ballots in sealed envelopes after checking them exposes the identity of voters and how they voted .
It could provide an incentive for some election workers to “ invalidate the ballot ” based on how someone voted , “ risking voter disenfranchisement , ” the lawsuit claims .
Additionally , the lawsuit argues that Nevada provides a process for challenging the right to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast a ballot , but no similar process exists for those who cast their ballots by mail .
The Trump campaign claims that violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment .
The Nevada GOP further contends that Gloria decided to “ lower the tolerance ” for a computerized system that checks if mail-in ballot voter signatures match those on file with the county .
This has resulted in fewer ballots being physically checked to authenticate signatures in Clark County compared to other counties , according to the lawsuit .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials to catch improper or fraudulent mail in ballots as opposed to the rest of Nevada , ” the complaint states .
In a statement Friday , the Nevada Democratic Party called the lawsuit an “ obvious attempt to impede record-breaking momentum in Clark County ” and a “ baseless attack ” aimed at undermining confidence in Nevada ’ s election integrity .
“ The demands articulated in the GOP ’ s lawsuit amount to voter suppression , plain and simple , ” the Nevada Democratic Party said .
“ Nevadans are tired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cowardice , and that is why they will remain laser-focused on rejecting Trump for the next eleven days .
”

The Trump campaign and Nevada Republican Party sued election officials in Nevada’s most populous county Friday, demanding ballot counting stop there immediately until Trump campaign observers are allowed to witness the vote tallying process.
(CN) — The Trump campaign and Nevada Republican Party sued election officials in Nevada’s most populous county Friday, demanding ballot counting stop there immediately until Trump campaign observers are allowed to witness the vote tallying process.
“Transparency is paramount to ensure Nevadans the right to a free and fair election,” Nevada Republican Party Chair Michael J. McDonald said in a statement Friday. “Clark County’s refusal to allow people to observe the handling of ballots and their low standards for matching signatures should disturb all voters.”
The lawsuit, filed in Nevada’s First Judicial District Court in Carson City, is one of dozens of lawsuits filed across the country by President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign and Republicans seeking to limit mail-in voting and ensure Trump campaign observers can object to mail-in ballots during the counting process.
The lawsuit was filed against Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican, and Joseph Gloria, registrar of voters for Clark County, the most populous and diverse county in Nevada, which includes Las Vegas.
Fred Kraus, a registered Clark County voter and volunteer poll watcher, is lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Kraus reportedly worked as a vice president and general counsel at the Venetian casino and resort owned by GOP mega donor and Trump supporter Sheldon Adelson, according to the Nevada Independent.
The lawsuit complains that Gloria failed to submit a written plan for members of the public to view the delivery, counting, handling and processing of ballots at polling places by April 15, as required by state election laws.
According to the complaint, observers in Clark County are often positioned more than 25 feet away from the vote tallying process, which prevents them from seeing calls that are made when authenticating ballots. Observers must also be accompanied by “ambassadors” at all times, but “there are not enough ambassadors to allow consistent and meaningful observation of the entire process,” the Trump campaign gripes.
“Without meaningful observation, there cannot be any assurances of transparency,” Nevada Republicans say in their 13-page complaint.
Ballot counting has already started in Nevada, where vote tallying of mail-in ballots can start 15 days before Election Day.
The Trump campaign and Nevada GOP are asking a judge to stop ballot counting in Clark County “until proper procedures are in place to ensure transparency and integrity in all parts of the process.”
The lawsuit further complains that county election officials refused the Trump campaign and Nevada GOP’s request to place cameras in vote tallying locations that would allow observers to view the process from a distance so as to comply with guidelines for preventing the spread of Covid-19.
The Nevada Republican Party and Trump campaign offered to pay for the camera equipment, but their proposal was “wholly rejected” by the county.
The lawsuit also raises concerns about ballot secrecy, claiming the practice of election workers reinserting ballots in sealed envelopes after checking them exposes the identity of voters and how they voted. It could provide an incentive for some election workers to “invalidate the ballot” based on how someone voted, “risking voter disenfranchisement,” the lawsuit claims.
Additionally, the lawsuit argues that Nevada provides a process for challenging the right to vote for those who physically show up to cast a ballot, but no similar process exists for those who cast their ballots by mail. The Trump campaign claims that violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Nevada GOP further contends that Gloria decided to “lower the tolerance” for a computerized system that checks if mail-in ballot voter signatures match those on file with the county. This has resulted in fewer ballots being physically checked to authenticate signatures in Clark County compared to other counties, according to the lawsuit.
“He is making it harder for Clark County officials to catch improper or fraudulent mail in ballots as opposed to the rest of Nevada,” the complaint states.
In a statement Friday, the Nevada Democratic Party called the lawsuit an “obvious attempt to impede record-breaking momentum in Clark County” and a “baseless attack” aimed at undermining confidence in Nevada’s election integrity.
“The demands articulated in the GOP’s lawsuit amount to voter suppression, plain and simple,” the Nevada Democratic Party said. “Nevadans are tired of the GOP’s bad faith cowardice, and that is why they will remain laser-focused on rejecting Trump for the next eleven days.”


courthousenews--2020-10-23--Trump Woos Senior Voters in Trip to Florida Retirement Community

Recent polls show a close race between the president and Democratic challenger Joe Biden in Florida , a must-win state for Trump .
THE VILLAGES , Fla. ( CN ) — President Donald Trump rallied thousands of Florida seniors on Friday in an effort to boost voter turnout from this vital constituency in the crucial battleground state .
Speaking to an outdoor crowd at The Villages Polo Club , Trump attacked his Democratic rival Joe Biden and largely stuck to red meat messages popular with his base : tackling illegal immigration , lower taxes and cheaper prescription drugs .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ s not capable of being the president of the United States , ” the Republican nominee said , referencing the final presidential debate .
“ It ’ s a Trump super economy or a Biden depression .
He has a gloomy vision .
We ’ re about the American dream.
” This is the third time Trump has visited Florida in the last 11 days , illustrating how important the Sunshine State is the campaign .
After his appearance at The Villages , Trump headed to Pensacola in the normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump will travel to Palm Beach County to vote .
The president changed his residency from New York to Florida late last year .
Florida is a must-win battleground state for Trump , and The Villages , a sprawling age-restricted community of 120,000 just north of Orlando , is one of the state ’ s largest Republican voting blocs .
The community went for Trump by 70 % in 2016 .
“ I love it here , ” Trump told the mostly older crowd , many sporting red shirts and hats .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will move to The Villages.
” “ This is just a stop to see the people that have been behind me from the beginning , ” Trump said .
“ I love my people here .
You ’ re willing to get in fights in your golf carts !
” In recent months , Trump supporters in the community have hosted a handful of “ parades ” with hundreds of residents driving around in decorated golf carts .
One parade made headlines in June when Trump retweeted , and later deleted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golf cart shouting “ white power ” to counter-protesters .
“ I love your golf carts , ” Trump said .
“ They ’ re beautiful golf carts .
I ’ m going to get me a golf cart.
” Before Trump arrived , touching down in a military helicopter near the stage , Sherry Canger hurried to a seat in the risers .
This was the first time The Villages resident attended a Trump rally .
“ I love everything he has done , ” Canger said through a flag-decorated face mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thought Trump “ did a good job.
” “ I ’ m glad he confronted Biden about his dealings with world leaders , ” she said , referring to allegations that Biden ’ s son , Hunter , used his influence to secure meetings between a Chinese businessman and the vice president .
Trump raised those allegations during the rally as well as Biden ’ s comments during the debate about transitioning away from the oil industry .
“ Biden ’ s plan would mean Florida seniors would have no air conditioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winter and rolling blackouts , ” Trump said .
He also defended his response to the coronavirus pandemic and spoke about his own Covid-19 diagnosis .
“ I wasn ’ t feeling great , but I had to work , ” he said .
After a few days of treatment from doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Trump said he “ jumped up and I felt like Superman .
Super Trump !
” Earlier in the day , the Biden campaign blasted Trump ’ s visit to the Sunshine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who understands this challenging time we ’ re living through , and has a plan to get us out of this pandemic and build back our economy , ” the campaign said in a statement .
“ Ask yourself : what exactly does Donald Trump bring to Florida today to help your family get through this pandemic ?
” It continued , “ This moment requires a president who is up for the monumental task at hand – one who does not refer to service members as ‘ suckers ’ or ‘ losers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most vulnerable to this virus are ‘ virtually nobody.
’ ” A poll released Friday by the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports shows Trump leading Biden in Florida by 3 percentage points .
Nearly 90 % of those surveyed said they have chosen which candidate to support .
Of those , Trump maintains a slight lead of 50 % to 48 % .
However , respondents who said they already voted overwhelming chose Biden , 56 % to 39 % .
Another survey of likely voters conducted by St. Pete Polls found Biden with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % to 48 % .
The poll also found those who have voted already chose Biden and those yet to vote will pick Trump .
Both polls were conducted before the last debate .
As of Friday morning , more than 4.7 million Floridians have already voted – 1.6 million registered Republicans and 2.1 million Democrats .
Trump narrowly won Florida in 2016 by less than 1 % of the vote .
Clutching a cane and waiting for his wife near the polo club ’ s exit , Bill Oaks said he already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , so the president did not need to earn his vote .
“ I just wanted to be here , ” the 67-year-old said .
“ I watch all the rallies on the TV and I wanted to experience it in person.
” The Villages resident pointed to border security and the economy as his biggest issues .
“ I ’ m better than I was these last four years , ” he said .

President Donald Trump rallied thousands of Florida seniors on Friday in an effort to boost voter turnout from this vital constituency in the crucial battleground state.
THE VILLAGES, Fla. (CN) — President Donald Trump rallied thousands of Florida seniors on Friday in an effort to boost voter turnout from this vital constituency in the crucial battleground state.
Speaking to an outdoor crowd at The Villages Polo Club, Trump attacked his Democratic rival Joe Biden and largely stuck to red meat messages popular with his base: tackling illegal immigration, lower taxes and cheaper prescription drugs.
“I think Joe Biden proved last night that he’s not capable of being the president of the United States,” the Republican nominee said, referencing the final presidential debate. “It’s a Trump super economy or a Biden depression. He has a gloomy vision. We’re about the American dream.”
This is the third time Trump has visited Florida in the last 11 days, illustrating how important the Sunshine State is the campaign. After his appearance at The Villages, Trump headed to Pensacola in the normally reliably red Panhandle.
On Saturday, Trump will travel to Palm Beach County to vote. The president changed his residency from New York to Florida late last year.
Florida is a must-win battleground state for Trump, and The Villages, a sprawling age-restricted community of 120,000 just north of Orlando, is one of the state’s largest Republican voting blocs.
The community went for Trump by 70% in 2016.
“I love it here,” Trump told the mostly older crowd, many sporting red shirts and hats. “I think I will sell Mar-A-Lago and I will move to The Villages.”
The president’s supporters chanted, “We love you.”
“This is just a stop to see the people that have been behind me from the beginning,” Trump said. “I love my people here. You’re willing to get in fights in your golf carts!”
In recent months, Trump supporters in the community have hosted a handful of “parades” with hundreds of residents driving around in decorated golf carts.
One parade made headlines in June when Trump retweeted, and later deleted, a video of a supporter in a golf cart shouting “white power” to counter-protesters.
“I love your golf carts,” Trump said. “They’re beautiful golf carts. I’m going to get me a golf cart.”
President Donald Trump touches down in a military helicopter before speaking in The Villages, Fla., on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Alex Pickett)
Before Trump arrived, touching down in a military helicopter near the stage, Sherry Canger hurried to a seat in the risers. This was the first time The Villages resident attended a Trump rally.
“I love everything he has done,” Canger said through a flag-decorated face mask.
The 72-year-old watched the final debate and thought Trump “did a good job.”
“I’m glad he confronted Biden about his dealings with world leaders,” she said, referring to allegations that Biden’s son, Hunter, used his influence to secure meetings between a Chinese businessman and the vice president.
Trump raised those allegations during the rally as well as Biden’s comments during the debate about transitioning away from the oil industry.
“Biden’s plan would mean Florida seniors would have no air conditioning in the summer, no heat in the winter and rolling blackouts,” Trump said.
He also defended his response to the coronavirus pandemic and spoke about his own Covid-19 diagnosis.
“I wasn’t feeling great, but I had to work,” he said.
After a few days of treatment from doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Trump said he “jumped up and I felt like Superman. Super Trump!”
Earlier in the day, the Biden campaign blasted Trump’s visit to the Sunshine State.
“Floridians deserve a president who understands this challenging time we’re living through, and has a plan to get us out of this pandemic and build back our economy,” the campaign said in a statement. “Ask yourself: what exactly does Donald Trump bring to Florida today to help your family get through this pandemic?”
It continued, “This moment requires a president who is up for the monumental task at hand – one who does not refer to service members as ‘suckers’ or ‘losers,’ or say seniors and others most vulnerable to this virus are ‘virtually nobody.’”
A poll released Friday by the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports shows Trump leading Biden in Florida by 3 percentage points. Nearly 90% of those surveyed said they have chosen which candidate to support. Of those, Trump maintains a slight lead of 50% to 48%. However, respondents who said they already voted overwhelming chose Biden, 56% to 39%.
Another survey of likely voters conducted by St. Pete Polls found Biden with a narrow lead in the state – 47% to 48%. The poll also found those who have voted already chose Biden and those yet to vote will pick Trump. Both polls were conducted before the last debate.
As of Friday morning, more than 4.7 million Floridians have already voted – 1.6 million registered Republicans and 2.1 million Democrats.
Trump narrowly won Florida in 2016 by less than 1% of the vote.
Clutching a cane and waiting for his wife near the polo club’s exit, Bill Oaks said he already cast his ballot for Trump earlier this week, so the president did not need to earn his vote.
“I just wanted to be here,” the 67-year-old said. “I watch all the rallies on the TV and I wanted to experience it in person.”
The Villages resident pointed to border security and the economy as his biggest issues.
“I’m better than I was these last four years,” he said.


courthousenews--2020-10-23--Monsanto Asks Ninth Circuit to Dismiss $20M Roundup Verdict

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — Roundup manufacturer Monsanto urged three Ninth Circuit judges on Friday to overturn a jury ’ s verdict finding the weed killer caused a California man ’ s cancer , arguing that the federal judge overseeing the trial allowed the jury to hear from an unreliable expert witness .
Former U.S .
Solicitor General Seth Waxman , now a civil litigator with WilmerHale , argued on behalf of the Bayer-owned agrochemical company .
“ The trial in this case never should have been held , ” he said .
U.S. District Judge Vincent Chhabria held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 on whether the science supporting claims that Roundup causes cancer in humans was strong enough to present to a jury .
In July 2018 , Chhabria ruled that expert opinions offered by three of plaintiff ’ s experts on a causal connection between exposure to Roundup ’ s main ingredient glyphosate and cancer were “ shaky but admissible , ” advancing the first federal bellwether jury trial centered around Ed Hardeman , a Sonoma County man who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015 .
Chhabria split the trial into two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the second on determining Monsanto ’ s liability and Hardeman ’ s damages .
In 2019 , a six-person jury awarded Hardeman $ 75 million in punitive damages and $ 5 million in compensatory damages for past and future pain and suffering .
Chhabria later reduced the punitive damages award by $ 50 million , finding it excessive .
Waxman said Friday that the jury should have never heard from pathologist Dr. Dennis Weisenberger , whose testimony did not pass the gatekeeping standard for admitting expert testimony that the U.S. Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said Chhabria applied a more lenient standard than other circuits , finding district courts in the Ninth Circuit “ must be more tolerant of borderline expert opinions than in other circuits.
” Judge Ryan Nelson , a Trump appointee , said although he was worried about a circuit split on Daubert , Chhabria probably didn ’ t abuse his discretion when he concluded that the jury should have the chance to weigh plaintiff ’ s expert testimony .
“ It ’ s a pretty tight minefield here for you , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimum , this court needs to state quite clearly that it hasn ’ t diverged from all the other circuits in the Daubert standard that is applied , ” Waxman said .
“ The gatekeeping function is a real one and that courts can not allow irrelevant or unreliable testimony to go to the jury on a theory that , well , cross examination can handle this.
” Waxman said an expert could not properly opine that Hardeman ’ s cancer was more likely than not caused by years of glyphosate exposure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of non-Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma cases are idiopathic , meaning they have no known cause , though Weisenberger said he was able to rule out idiopathy because of the level of exposure Hardeman had while using Roundup for over 25 years .
Nelson pointed to the Ninth Circuit ’ s reversals in Wendell v. GlaxoSmithKline and Messick v Novartis , where the courts were found to have improperly excluded expert testimony on causation .
“ It strikes me that we ’ ve got a lot of cases where district courts exclude and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the district court here who said ‘ I ’ ve learned my lesson.
’ We like district courts who learn the lesson .
He seems to have done the right thing here , ” Nelson said .
Judge Michael Daly Hawkins , a Clinton appointee , said the jury could have disregarded Weisenberger ’ s testimony .
“ That is always the case , ” Waxman said , but “ his testimony was so unreliable that it should not have gone to the jury under the gatekeeping function.
” Nonetheless , Chhabria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s overwhelming idiopathy does defeat the ability to demonstrate specific causation .
Arguing for the plaintiff , David Wool with Andrus Wagstaff said Weisenberger was uniquely qualified to testify about causation .
“ In addition to being a pathologist , he is also an individual who had been studying the cause and effect of non-Hodgkin lymphoma vis-à-vis pesticides for more than 30 years , ” he said .
Wool also said Daubert does not require a scientific expert to establish proof beyond a reasonable doubt linking Hardeman ’ s cancer to Roundup .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there ’ s no biomarker , we want to exclude the experts , that ’ s a clear abuse of discretion right there , ” he said .
Nelson asked if Wool believed the Ninth Circuit applies Daubert inconsistently with other circuits .
“ I think that the way Daubert is interpreted across circuits differs by case .
You might say there is more strict interoperation in certain circumstances and a more liberal interpretation in others .
But the point of that is that it simply underscores that Daubert is a context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why district courts are afforded such latitude , ” Wool said .
“ I agree with your statement that it does give latitude , but I am a bit concerned about whether the Ninth Circuit has departed from other circuits and whether that needs to be corrected in some way , ” Nelson said .
Wool said the plaintiff ’ s case would pass muster under any interpretation of the expert standard in Daubert .
“ We had statistically significant , fully adjusted epidemiology showing an odds ratio of over 2.0 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Monsanto is also challenging Hardeman ’ s failure to warn claim brought under California ’ s Proposition 65 , a regulation requiring manufacturers to put warning labels on products that contain chemicals at certain levels the state believes to be carcinogenic .
California placed glyphosate on its Proposition 65 list based on the International Agency for Research on Cancer ’ s classification of the pesticide as “ probably carcinogenic to humans.
” The Environmental Protection Agency sent a letter to all glyphosate registrants in August 2019 saying products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federal Insecticide , Fungicide , and Rodenticide Act because such a statement is “ false and misleading.
” Though this letter was sent after the Hardeman verdict , Monsanto believes it carries enough weight to preempt any state-imposed cancer warning , and that Monsanto should not be held liable for violating state law by complying with the federal one .
The judges seemed far less interested in the EPA ’ s conclusions on glyphosate than in whether the agency ’ s August letter has the force of law .
Nelson asked what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should give to it .
Wool said regardless of the level of deference , the letter is just an “ agency musing ” that doesn ’ t have preemptive force .
He also said the EPA ’ s letter applies to glyphosate exclusively , whereas Hardeman ’ s claims were about the entire formulated Roundup product , which includes surfactants that can cause it to adhere and be absorbed into the skin .
“ What the jury was asked to decide in this case whether Roundup caused Mr. Hardeman ’ s non-Hodgkin lymphoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself would do so.
” Judge N. Randy Smith , a Bush appointee , asked Wool to distinguish Hardeman ’ s case from the Supreme Court ’ s ruling in Bates v. Dow Agrosciences , establishing a two-part test to determine whether state law claims on pesticide labeling are preempted by FIFRA , where a state must impose a “ requirement for labeling and packaging ” that must be “ in addition to or different from ” FIFRA ’ s requirement .
Wool said Bates has no bearing here because Monsanto never requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even after Proposition 65 passed .
The hearing comes just as California ’ s Supreme Court rejected Monsanto ’ s bid to overturn a state appellate court ’ s ruling in favor of Dewayne Johnson .
A jury awarded the Bay Area groundskeeper $ 289 million in punitive damages after trial in 2018 , an amount later reduced by a trial judge to $ 78.5 million .
Bayer is now in the midst of contentious settlement negotiations with some 4,000 additional plaintiffs who are part of a federal multidistrict litigation in Chhabria ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under submission .

Roundup manufacturer Monsanto urged three Ninth Circuit judges on Friday to overturn a jury’s verdict finding the weed killer caused a California man’s cancer, arguing that the federal judge overseeing the trial allowed the jury to hear from an unreliable expert witness.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Roundup manufacturer Monsanto urged three Ninth Circuit judges on Friday to overturn a jury’s verdict finding the weed killer caused a California man’s cancer, arguing that the federal judge overseeing the trial allowed the jury to hear from an unreliable expert witness.
Former U.S. Solicitor General Seth Waxman, now a civil litigator with WilmerHale, argued on behalf of the Bayer-owned agrochemical company.
"The trial in this case never should have been held,” he said.
U.S. District Judge Vincent Chhabria held a week’s worth of hearings in 2018 on whether the science supporting claims that Roundup causes cancer in humans was strong enough to present to a jury.
In July 2018, Chhabria ruled that expert opinions offered by three of plaintiff’s experts on a causal connection between exposure to Roundup’s main ingredient glyphosate and cancer were “shaky but admissible,” advancing the first federal bellwether jury trial centered around Ed Hardeman, a Sonoma County man who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015.
Chhabria split the trial into two parts, the first focusing on causation and the second on determining Monsanto’s liability and Hardeman’s damages.
In 2019, a six-person jury awarded Hardeman $75 million in punitive damages and $5 million in compensatory damages for past and future pain and suffering. Chhabria later reduced the punitive damages award by $50 million, finding it excessive.
Waxman said Friday that the jury should have never heard from pathologist Dr. Dennis Weisenberger, whose testimony did not pass the gatekeeping standard for admitting expert testimony that the U.S. Supreme Court enshrined in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals.
He said Chhabria applied a more lenient standard than other circuits, finding district courts in the Ninth Circuit "must be more tolerant of borderline expert opinions than in other circuits.”
Judge Ryan Nelson, a Trump appointee, said although he was worried about a circuit split on Daubert, Chhabria probably didn't abuse his discretion when he concluded that the jury should have the chance to weigh plaintiff’s expert testimony.
“It’s a pretty tight minefield here for you,” he told Waxman.
“At a minimum, this court needs to state quite clearly that it hasn't diverged from all the other circuits in the Daubert standard that is applied,” Waxman said. “The gatekeeping function is a real one and that courts cannot allow irrelevant or unreliable testimony to go to the jury on a theory that, well, cross examination can handle this.”
Waxman said an expert could not properly opine that Hardeman’s cancer was more likely than not caused by years of glyphosate exposure. He noted that 70% or more of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases are idiopathic, meaning they have no known cause, though Weisenberger said he was able to rule out idiopathy because of the level of exposure Hardeman had while using Roundup for over 25 years.
Nelson pointed to the Ninth Circuit’s reversals in Wendell v. GlaxoSmithKline and Messick v Novartis, where the courts were found to have improperly excluded expert testimony on causation.
“It strikes me that we’ve got a lot of cases where district courts exclude and then get reversed. I’m sympathetic to the district court here who said ‘I’ve learned my lesson.’ We like district courts who learn the lesson. He seems to have done the right thing here,” Nelson said.
Judge Michael Daly Hawkins, a Clinton appointee, said the jury could have disregarded Weisenberger’s testimony.
“That is always the case,” Waxman said, but “his testimony was so unreliable that it should not have gone to the jury under the gatekeeping function.”
Nonetheless, Chhabria found the fact that a disease’s overwhelming idiopathy does defeat the ability to demonstrate specific causation.


courthousenews--2020-10-23--Giuliani Associate Charged in New York With Cyberstalking

BROOKLYN , N.Y. ( CN ) — Kenneth Kurson , a friend of Jared Kushner who helped run the 2008 presidential campaign of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani , was arraigned Friday on federal cyberstalking charges .
The complaint in New York ’ s Eastern District brings more bad press to the White House on the same day that Amazon Prime is launching the new “ Borat ” sequel , which includes a compromising appearance for Giuliani .
Kurson , 52 , is accused of sending threatening messages to three individuals in November and December 2015 .
Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two of the individuals with their employer , and showed up at their workplace , taking photographs and asking about one of their schedules .
“ As alleged , Kurson bullied his victims by attacking their character online and attempted to intimidate them by showing up at their place of employment without a valid reason , ” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said in a statement .
“ The shadows of cyberspace may have provided him with some cover , but once his identity was revealed , he no longer had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the center of the newly unsealed harassment allegations is Kurson ’ s divorce , which was underway in late 2015 when the alleged cyberstalking occurred .
Prosecutors say Kurson blamed one of the individuals for sabotaging his marriage .
That person , referred to as Individual No .
1 in a 19-page arrest affidavit , denied Kurson ’ s accusation , according to emails obtained by the FBI .
“ Unfortunately , you have no one to blame but yourself , ” one email states .
“ It is a bitter pill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say Kurson used aliases including “ Jayden Wagner ” and “ Eddie Train ” to harass the individuals , who are not named in the complaint , by leaving negative reviews about them on Yelp .
He allegedly then used a separate account to recommend his own reviews .
As Jayden Wagner , Kurson also allegedly emailed senior employees who worked with Individuals No .
1 and 2 , posing as an employee and alleging that the two individuals were sleeping together and that it was “ creating havoc ” at work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a background check turned of evidence of harassment while Kurson was under consideration in 2018 for an unpaid federal appointment in Trump ’ s administration .
Investigators say Kurson lied about his 2015 use of the aliases while answering an FBI questionnaire related to the appointment .
Kurson was editor-in-chief of The New York Observer , the newspaper that President Donald Trump ’ s son-in-law Jarred Kushner founded in 2007 , from 2013 to 2017 .
In 2018 started a company called Sea of Reeds Media .
During Giuliani ’ s failed bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign ’ s chief operating officer .
He also co-authored Giuliani ’ s 2002 book “ Leadership.
” Giuliani , who acts as one of Trump ’ s personal attorneys , spoke out Wednesday about a scene in the new “ Borat ” sequel where he appears to have his hands down his pants in the hotel room of a woman he thinks is a reporter .
On Twitter , the ex-mayor said that the footage merely shows him tucking in his shirt .
Marc Mukasey , who is representing Kurson with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the allegations against Kurson should be tossed out .
“ Ken Kurson is an honorable man , a loving dad and a gifted writer , ” said Mukasey , who works for the firm Mukasey Frenchman & Sklaroff LLP .
“ The conduct alleged is hardly worthy of a federal criminal prosecution .
Ken will get past it.
” Kurson appeared Friday in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes .
He was released on bail .
Assistant U.S .
Attorneys Nathan D. Reilly and Ryan C. Harris reported for the @ @

On the same day that the new “Borat” sequel airs with a compromising appearance for the president's personal attorney, authorities brought stalking charges against an ex-campaign official for Rudy Giuliani.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CN) — Kenneth Kurson, a friend of Jared Kushner who helped run the 2008 presidential campaign of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was arraigned Friday on federal cyberstalking charges.
The complaint in New York’s Eastern District brings more bad press to the White House on the same day that Amazon Prime is launching the new “Borat” sequel, which includes a compromising appearance for Giuliani.
Kurson, 52, is accused of sending threatening messages to three individuals in November and December 2015. Federal prosecutors say he filed false complaints about two of the individuals with their employer, and showed up at their workplace, taking photographs and asking about one of their schedules.
Those individuals’ employer hired a security guard in response.
“As alleged, Kurson bullied his victims by attacking their character online and attempted to intimidate them by showing up at their place of employment without a valid reason,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said in a statement. “The shadows of cyberspace may have provided him with some cover, but once his identity was revealed, he no longer had the benefit of a virtual retreat.”
At the center of the newly unsealed harassment allegations is Kurson’s divorce, which was underway in late 2015 when the alleged cyberstalking occurred. Prosecutors say Kurson blamed one of the individuals for sabotaging his marriage.
That person, referred to as Individual No. 1 in a 19-page arrest affidavit, denied Kurson’s accusation, according to emails obtained by the FBI. “Unfortunately, you have no one to blame but yourself,” one email states. “It is a bitter pill to swallow, but true.”
Prosecutors say Kurson used aliases including “Jayden Wagner” and “Eddie Train” to harass the individuals, who are not named in the complaint, by leaving negative reviews about them on Yelp. He allegedly then used a separate account to recommend his own reviews.
As Jayden Wagner, Kurson also allegedly emailed senior employees who worked with Individuals No. 1 and 2, posing as an employee and alleging that the two individuals were sleeping together and that it was “creating havoc” at work.
The criminal investigation of Kurson began after a background check turned of evidence of harassment while Kurson was under consideration in 2018 for an unpaid federal appointment in Trump’s administration. Investigators say Kurson lied about his 2015 use of the aliases while answering an FBI questionnaire related to the appointment.
Kurson was editor-in-chief of The New York Observer, the newspaper that President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jarred Kushner founded in 2007, from 2013 to 2017. In 2018 started a company called Sea of Reeds Media.
During Giuliani's failed bid for president in 2008, Kurson was the campaign’s chief operating officer. He also co-authored Giuliani’s 2002 book “Leadership.” Giuliani, who acts as one of Trump’s personal attorneys, spoke out Wednesday about a scene in the new “Borat” sequel where he appears to have his hands down his pants in the hotel room of a woman he thinks is a reporter. On Twitter, the ex-mayor said that the footage merely shows him tucking in his shirt.
Marc Mukasey, who is representing Kurson with Daniel Fishbein, said in a statement that the allegations against Kurson should be tossed out.
“Ken Kurson is an honorable man, a loving dad and a gifted writer,” said Mukasey, who works for the firm Mukasey Frenchman & Sklaroff LLP. “The conduct alleged is hardly worthy of a federal criminal prosecution. Ken will get past it.”
Kurson appeared Friday in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Ramon E. Reyes. He was released on bail. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan D. Reilly and Ryan C. Harris reported for the prosecution.


courthousenews--2020-10-23--Biden Slams Trump on Covid Crisis in Post-Debate Speech

( CN ) — As his campaign for the White House enters the final stretch , Joe Biden indicated during a Friday stump speech that he will continue to hammer President Donald Trump on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge across the nation .
“ Trump has refused to take responsibility for a crisis that should have been met with real presidential leadership , ” Biden said in prepared remarks from a live music venue in Wilmington , Delaware .
Biden ’ s choice to focus almost exclusively on Trump ’ s management of the Covid-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move on from the wide-ranging topics brought up in Thursday ’ s final debate between the two candidates and focus the conversation on an issue Biden clearly thinks is a winning one .
The former vice president said the pandemic “ dwarfed ” any public health crisis in the nation ’ s history .
He went on to say Trump ’ s inability to establish a national testing program , promote the views of scientists and public health officials and promote common-sense measures like wearing masks in public has resulted in a general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the disease .
“ The United States has 4 % of the world ’ s population yet we account for 20 % of the deaths worldwide , ” Biden said .
“ If that ’ s success , then what does failure look like ?
” The Trump campaign meanwhile is as dedicated as ever to glossing over difficulties with the pandemic and has instead attempted to turn the conversation to issues it considers favorable .
Specifically , Trump seized upon Biden ’ s admission that he would try to turn the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuels and toward renewable energy .
“ While President Trump proposes pro-growth policies to deliver the Great American Comeback and maintain energy independence , Joe Biden would happily sacrifice millions of good , blue-collar jobs in the oil and gas industry to appease his radical base , ” the Trump campaign said in a statement Friday .
The strategy is likely tailored to appeal specifically to voters in Pennsylvania , where a shale fracking boom has created many jobs and an economic windfall for the state in recent years .
Pennsylvania is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan and Wisconsin , that Biden would need to retake from Trump to win the White House if all of the other states stay the same as 2016 .
Polls have shown Trump trailing in all three states , but GOP operatives have expressed optimism in recent days that Trump ’ s campaign is gaining ground in Pennsylvania .
Both candidates appear to be coalescing around a closing message as the race enters the final leg .
Biden will continue to play up the pandemic ’ s wild spread , while Trump will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for policies favored by the more radical and leftward wing of the Democratic Party .
So far , casting Biden — who ran as a moderate Democrat — as a radical candidate has not made a dent in the polls .
But Hillary Clinton had a commanding lead in the polls that narrowed and ultimately vanished in the week leading up to the 2016 presidential election .
Biden said he would install a national coronavirus testing plan and use the Defense Production Act to ramp up the production of masks , eyewear and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised to lean on governors and mayors around the nation to implement mask mandates until a reliable vaccine could be produced .
He vowed to make a safe vaccine free and freely available for all Americans .
“ Life-saving material should not be available only to the wealthy and well-connected , ” Biden said .
He also used the cost of vaccines and treatment for Covid-19 to segue into the importance of health care , reiterating his belief that health care is a right , not a privilege .
“ I will add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care plans , ” Biden said , warning the Trump administration and a conservative-dominated Supreme Court are eyeing the destruction of Obamacare .
But Biden promised he would not only save it — he will expand it .
From Friday ’ s speech , it appears Biden will continue to concentrate on coronavirus management , health care and the character defects of the president as we enter the final week of a long campaign .

As his campaign for the White House enters the final stretch, Joe Biden indicated during a Friday stump speech that he will continue to hammer President Donald Trump on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge across the nation.
(CN) — As his campaign for the White House enters the final stretch, Joe Biden indicated during a Friday stump speech that he will continue to hammer President Donald Trump on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic as cases surge across the nation.
“Trump has refused to take responsibility for a crisis that should have been met with real presidential leadership,” Biden said in prepared remarks from a live music venue in Wilmington, Delaware.
Biden’s choice to focus almost exclusively on Trump’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrates his campaign’s desire to move on from the wide-ranging topics brought up in Thursday’s final debate between the two candidates and focus the conversation on an issue Biden clearly thinks is a winning one.
The former vice president said the pandemic “dwarfed” any public health crisis in the nation’s history. He went on to say Trump’s inability to establish a national testing program, promote the views of scientists and public health officials and promote common-sense measures like wearing masks in public has resulted in a general failure of the country to successfully grapple with the disease.
“The United States has 4% of the world’s population yet we account for 20% of the deaths worldwide,” Biden said. “If that’s success, then what does failure look like?”
The Trump campaign meanwhile is as dedicated as ever to glossing over difficulties with the pandemic and has instead attempted to turn the conversation to issues it considers favorable.
Specifically, Trump seized upon Biden’s admission that he would try to turn the nation’s energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy.
“While President Trump proposes pro-growth policies to deliver the Great American Comeback and maintain energy independence, Joe Biden would happily sacrifice millions of good, blue-collar jobs in the oil and gas industry to appease his radical base,” the Trump campaign said in a statement Friday.
The strategy is likely tailored to appeal specifically to voters in Pennsylvania, where a shale fracking boom has created many jobs and an economic windfall for the state in recent years.
Pennsylvania is one of three states, along with Michigan and Wisconsin, that Biden would need to retake from Trump to win the White House if all of the other states stay the same as 2016.
Polls have shown Trump trailing in all three states, but GOP operatives have expressed optimism in recent days that Trump’s campaign is gaining ground in Pennsylvania.
Both candidates appear to be coalescing around a closing message as the race enters the final leg.
Biden will continue to play up the pandemic’s wild spread, while Trump will attempt to cast Biden as the handmaiden for policies favored by the more radical and leftward wing of the Democratic Party.
So far, casting Biden — who ran as a moderate Democrat — as a radical candidate has not made a dent in the polls. But Hillary Clinton had a commanding lead in the polls that narrowed and ultimately vanished in the week leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
Biden said he would install a national coronavirus testing plan and use the Defense Production Act to ramp up the production of masks, eyewear and gowns for health care employees.
He promised to lean on governors and mayors around the nation to implement mask mandates until a reliable vaccine could be produced. He vowed to make a safe vaccine free and freely available for all Americans.
“Life-saving material should not be available only to the wealthy and well-connected,” Biden said.
He also used the cost of vaccines and treatment for Covid-19 to segue into the importance of health care, reiterating his belief that health care is a right, not a privilege.
“I will add a public option to compete with private health care plans,” Biden said, warning the Trump administration and a conservative-dominated Supreme Court are eyeing the destruction of Obamacare. But Biden promised he would not only save it — he will expand it.
From Friday’s speech, it appears Biden will continue to concentrate on coronavirus management, health care and the character defects of the president as we enter the final week of a long campaign.


courthousenews--2020-10-24--PG&E to Cut Power to Nearly Half a Million Customers

( CN ) — Utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric announced late Friday that it will shut off power to nearly half a million homes and businesses on Sunday in an effort to prevent new wildfires from starting .
In a statement released on its website , PG & E plans to cut power to portions of 38 counties , including parts of the San Francisco Bay Area , Central Coast , the Sacramento Valley , and the Sierra Nevada .
Weather forecasters are predicting dry and windy conditions that pose a risk to power equipment that could spark new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
The utility plans to cut power to approximately 466,000 customers starting Sunday morning , likely restoring service on Tuesday .
“ PG & E will then patrol the de-energized lines to ensure they were not damaged during the wind event .
PG & E will safely restore power as quickly as possible , with the goal of restoring most customers within 12 daylight hours , based on current weather conditions , ” the statement read .
Michael Lewis , interim president of PG & E , said in a statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blackout this year .
“ Our highest priority is to keep customers and communities safe and execute this event according to our plan and to then quickly restore power to all affected customers when it ’ s safe to do so , ” he said .
The public safety power shutoff will be the fifth one so far this year .
Scott Strenfel , PG & E meteorologist , said the weather conditions will be extremely dangerous .
“ We ’ re seeing four extremes in the weather for this potential PSPS event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humidity , extreme dry fuels due to the hottest average temperatures over the last six months according to records that go back 126 years , and extreme drought across the territory given lack of rainfall , ” he said in a statement .
“ While temperatures are expected to drop heading into this event with cold weather expected in some areas , the high winds , low humidity , dry fuels and lack of rainfall continues to result in high fire hazard conditions , ” he added .
Firefighters are still battling 19 @ @ @ @ @ @

Utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric announced late Friday that it will shut off power to nearly half a million homes and businesses on Sunday in an effort to prevent new wildfires from starting.
(CN) — Utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric announced late Friday that it will shut off power to nearly half a million homes and businesses on Sunday in an effort to prevent new wildfires from starting.
In a statement released on its website, PG&E plans to cut power to portions of 38 counties, including parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Coast, the Sacramento Valley, and the Sierra Nevada.
Weather forecasters are predicting dry and windy conditions that pose a risk to power equipment that could spark new fires in already dry parts of the state. The utility plans to cut power to approximately 466,000 customers starting Sunday morning, likely restoring service on Tuesday.
"PG&E will then patrol the de-energized lines to ensure they were not damaged during the wind event. PG&E will safely restore power as quickly as possible, with the goal of restoring most customers within 12 daylight hours, based on current weather conditions," the statement read.
Michael Lewis, interim president of PG&E, said in a statement that Sunday "could be our largest" blackout this year.
“Our highest priority is to keep customers and communities safe and execute this event according to our plan and to then quickly restore power to all affected customers when it’s safe to do so,” he said.
The public safety power shutoff will be the fifth one so far this year. Scott Strenfel, PG&E meteorologist, said the weather conditions will be extremely dangerous.
“We’re seeing four extremes in the weather for this potential PSPS event: extremely high winds, extremely low humidity, extreme dry fuels due to the hottest average temperatures over the last six months according to records that go back 126 years, and extreme drought across the territory given lack of rainfall,” he said in a statement.
“While temperatures are expected to drop heading into this event with cold weather expected in some areas, the high winds, low humidity, dry fuels and lack of rainfall continues to result in high fire hazard conditions," he added.
Firefighters are still battling 19 wildfires in the Golden State.


courthousenews--2020-10-24--Candidates’ Response to Covid Could Define Virginia’s Congressional Races

RICHMOND , Va. ( CN ) — It ’ s not hard to find photos or videos of Virginia ’ s 2020 Republican congressional candidates not wearing masks .
Speaking to gatherings full of supporters — often packed with elderly citizens with poor social distancing , one even at a buffet-style dinner — they hope to overcome the state ’ s history as the “ home of the blue wave ” in spite of health advice as the state battles with the coronavirus .
Delegate Nick Freitas , R-Culpepper , is among the most high profile GOP candidates in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running to unseat incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger for Virginia ’ s 7th District .
In a phone interview , he told Courthouse News his campaign had been following CDC guidelines , but footage of him attending a late September rally for President Donald Trump in Newport News showed the candidate giving maskless fist pumps to supporters waiting outside .
“ I ’ m not sure where you ’ re referencing , ” said Freitas when asked about the video , before clarifying the “ vast majority of the time I was wearing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show him wearing a mask , and he denied any concerns among his campaign staff about catching the virus .
Trump , who has long downplayed the outbreak and shared a stage with Freitas that evening , said he was diagnosed with coronavirus a little over a week later .
“ Republican politicians compete to be the most pro-Trump candidate and one of the ways to show loyalty is to minimize the use of masks in public , ” said Stephen Farnsworth , a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s rallies and at Republican events around the commonwealth.
” State health officials told Courthouse News they have not linked any infections to Trump ’ s Virginia rally .
Questions about mask wearing among Republican candidates come as the state reports over 167,000 cases and about 3,500 deaths .
In a recent Roanoke College poll , about 17 % of Virginians are most worried about the virus , with the economy — invariably linked to the nation ’ s virus response — at first at 23 % .
And while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks to be on an upswing nationwide going into the colder winter months , a recent New York Times report put Virginia among a handful of states where the outbreak was better under control .
“ There are ebbs and flows in those case trends and I think some of that has to do with human behavior , ” said Laurie Forlano , Deputy Commissioner for Population Health at the Virginia Department of Health .
“ It ’ s hard to maintain some behaviors that are foreign for us : wearing a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love.
” Forlano said Virginia , like other states around the country , have seen peaks and plateaus as the virus spread .
She pointed to particularly bad outbreaks along the coast in July , but said local leadership , along with Democratic Governor Ralph Northam ’ s mask mandate , helped stem the tide .
Northam , the country ’ s only governor with a past as a medical doctor , continues to get praise for his response with a recent Washington Post poll showing two out of three Virginians approve of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trail Spanberger , now in her first campaign for reelection , said adjusting to campaigning in a pandemic has been as challenging as one can imagine .
“ Good old fashioned parades and events , festivals — showing up places and talking to people , ” she said in a phone interview , listing the usual outreach methods she misses most .
“ While we ’ ve been successful at Zoom events and online forums , there ’ s less interest to come to those things , ” she added .
Freitas has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ podcast .
Over in Virginia ’ s 2nd Congressional District , Former Congressman Scott Taylor is hoping to retake his seat from incumbent Elaine Luria .
Taylor ’ s campaign has been bogged down by an investigation linked to his 2017 race that , so far , has seen 3 former staff members indicted for or plead guilty to election fraud .
John Beamer , the Roanoke-based special prosecutor brought in to oversee the case , stressed in early September that while Taylor hadn ’ t been charged with anything yet , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collected by Taylor ’ s campaign members to benefit a third-party candidate.. “ He ’ s part of the campaign and the whole campaign is under investigation , ” Beamer told the Virginian-Pilot .
And new polling numbers from the Wason Center , released this week , show Taylor lagging by 7 points in the district .
“ The enthusiasm that seems to be animating Democrats nationally is evident in this 2nd District race , ” said Wason Center Research Director Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo who conducted the survey .
“ But the election fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor down even beyond that.
” But you won ’ t see such polling — or investigations — slow the Republican candidate down .
Instead his Twitter feed has several photos of him speaking to supporters and knocking on doors without a mask .
Taylor and Luria ’ s campaigns did not return requests for comment for this story .
In Virginia ’ s 1st District , long-time incumbent Rob Whittman took time to meet , maskless , with constituents at a Hanover Republican Party event featuring a sneeze guard-free buffet dinner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wittman ’ s campaign said he “ wore a mask except for when he was eating or speaking.
” “ I understand it is hard to tell from the photo , but he was standing more than six feet away from constituents while he was speaking , ” they added .
In an interview conducted before the maskless images were shared with Courthouse News , Wittman said he and his campaign were adhering to CDC guidelines and being forced to “ rethink conventional methods ” on the trail .
His Democratic opponent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the first Democratic campaigns in the state to start hosting in-person events , but photos and conversations with the candidate show a more strict adherence to covid rules .
“ We made sure the protocols we followed were designed to keep us safe and secure , ” he said in a phone interview .
Wittman has since used photos of Rashid wearing a mask , but photoshopped with the logo of former Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders — another target of the Republican ’ s ire on the campaign trail over top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Disrespect for basic public health measures is a page out of Trump ’ s playbook , ” Rashid said in an email following questions about the mailer .
Finally , in the state ’ s 5th District , businessman Bob Good can be seen maskless at a Fauquier County GOP event alongside Trump ’ s HUD Secretary Ben Carson at an event held in mid-October .
Good , a former Associate Athletics Director at Liberty University , refused to respond to press requests .
Good ’ s campaign started off on tense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incumbent , Republican Denver Riggleman , in a June convention .
The nomination method gave power to the party ’ s most passionate members who , angry with Riggleman for officiating a same-sex wedding , tipped the scales in Good ’ s favor .
That upset , fueled by backroom convention politics , struck a nerve among Republican voters in the otherwise red district , the incumbent top among them .
“ You have to vote for what ’ s right , and I ’ m going to look for integrity first , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview before suggesting he ’ d vote for the Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen instead of President Trump .
But Good ’ s far right politics will be welcome in a district dominated by his former employer ; even if its former leader Jerry Falwell has fallen from grace .
Dr. Cameron Webb is running on the left side of the ticket .
He hopes the traditionally red district can turn blue thanks to party infighting and the hard edge of Good ’ s politics .
But Webb relies on hope a lot these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ward at the University of Virginia Medical Center .
“ My work is important in this pandemic and different from most campaigns , ” said the candidate in an interview .
“ It ’ s given me insight and perspective into the virus.
” You ’ ll also struggle to find Webb not wearing a mask .
But beyond treating covid patients , he has another unique line when he stumps : he used to work in the Trump administration .
He started during Barack Obama ’ s final year in office as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on through 2017 where he eventually worked with cabinet members on a drug pricing program .
“ I use Trump ’ s name every day , ” he said of how that work history gets featured in his pitch to voters in the district which was drawn a decade ago to favor Republicans .
“ I worked in the White House for Trump and Obama and it speaks to who I am… Building consensus , not simply focusing on bitter partisanship.
” And while we ’ ll have to wait till election day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , campaign financial data offers some insight into who ’ s leading the horse race .
Spanberger , Luria and Webb are all leading their Republican opponents by more than $ 3 million in these coveted final weeks according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project .
Wittman is up over Rashid by about $ 500,000 , over a million less than his 2018 opponent .
But undoubtedly the coronavirus and Trump ’ s response will have an impact on the races .
“ You can be running in any congressional district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about President Trump , ” said Farnsworth , who theorized that will limit the individual messages of candidates on either side of the debate .
Even the old practice of voting a split ticket seems to be fading in the time of Trump .
The president lost Virginia by about 6 points in 2016 and every election since has been getting worse and worse for those on the right .
Notably Corey Stewart , a hardline Trump supporter who went up against the state ’ s long-time Democratic Senator Time Kaine in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That Roanoke College poll released earlier this month put Trump 15 points below Biden .
“ Voters are either voting for or against Republicans , ” he added .
“ And this is a nationwide trend.
” With over 1.8 million ballots already cast thanks to changes in election laws by the newly elected Democratic majority at the state ’ s General Assembly , turnout for this year ’ s election is expected to be at an all-time high .
How that will shake out in the state ’ s congressional races will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .

It’s not hard to find photos or videos of Virginia’s 2020 Republican congressional candidates not wearing masks. Speaking to gatherings full of supporters — often packed with elderly citizens with poor social distancing, one even at a buffet-style dinner — they hope to overcome the state’s history as the “home of the blue wave” in spite of health advice as the state battles with the coronavirus.
RICHMOND, Va. (CN) — It’s more difficult to find photos or videos of a majority of Virginia’s 2020 Republican congressional candidates out on the campaign trail wearing masks than not. Speaking to gatherings full of supporters — often packed with elderly citizens and with poor social distancing, one even at a buffet-style dinner — they hope to overcome the state’s history as the “home of the blue wave” despite guidelines from health officials as Virginia battles the coronavirus.
Delegate Nick Freitas, R-Culpepper, is among the most high profile GOP candidates in the once-bright red state. He’s running to unseat incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger for Virginia’s 7th District. In a phone interview, he told Courthouse News his campaign had been following CDC guidelines, but footage of him attending a late September rally for President Donald Trump in Newport News showed the candidate giving maskless fist pumps to supporters waiting outside.
“I’m not sure where you’re referencing,” said Freitas when asked about the video, before clarifying the “vast majority of the time I was wearing the mask.”
Other photos do show him wearing a mask, and he denied any concerns among his campaign staff about catching the virus. The president – who has long downplayed the outbreak, has publicly disparaged facial coverings and had shared a stage with Freitas during that Newport News rally – was diagnosed with coronavirus a little over a week later.
“Republican politicians compete to be the most pro-Trump candidate and one of the ways to show loyalty is to minimize the use of masks in public,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “You see that at the president’s rallies and at Republican events around the commonwealth.”
State health officials told Courthouse News they have not linked any infections to Trump’s Virginia rally.
Questions about mask wearing among Republican candidates come as the state reports over 167,000 cases and about 3,500 deaths. In a recent Roanoke College poll, about 17% of Virginians are most worried about the virus, with the economy — invariably linked to the nation’s virus response — at first at 23%.
And while the number of cases, deaths and hospitalizations looks to be on an upswing nationwide going into the colder winter months, a recent New York Times report put Virginia among a handful of states where the outbreak was better under control.
“There are ebbs and flows in those case trends and I think some of that has to do with human behavior,” said Laurie Forlano, Deputy Commissioner for Population Health at the Virginia Department of Health. “ It’s hard to maintain some behaviors that are foreign for us: wearing a mask, keeping away from the people we love.”
Forlano said Virginia, like other states around the country, have seen peaks and plateaus as the virus spread. She pointed to particularly bad outbreaks along the coast in July, but said local leadership, along with Democratic Governor Ralph Northam’s mask mandate, helped stem the tide.
Northam, the country’s only governor with a past as a medical doctor, continues to get praise for his response with a recent Washington Post poll showing two out of three Virginians approve of his response.
Back on the campaign trail Spanberger, now in her first campaign for reelection, said adjusting to campaigning in a pandemic has been as challenging as one can imagine.
“Good old fashioned parades and events, festivals — showing up places and talking to people,” she said in a phone interview, listing the usual outreach methods she misses most.
“While we’ve been successful at Zoom events and online forums, there’s less interest to come to those things,” she added.


courthousenews--2020-10-24--Colorado Voters to Decide on Fate of Gray Wolf Recovery

( CN ) — This November , Coloradans are being asked to vote in wolves .
That is not a new political attack ad , but a literal ecological question : would the southern Rocky Mountains be better off if the state brought back the canine apex predator that was hunted to local extinction 60 years ago ?
If passed , Proposition 114 will legally mandate the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop a gray wolf restoration plan by the end of 2023 , along with a program to compensate livestock owners for wolf kills .
“ People often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do we really need wolves ?
Everything is fine.
’ Well , everything is not really fine , ” said Delia Malone , an ecologist with Sierra Club from rural Redstone , Colorado , west of Aspen .
“ There are dozens and dozens of species of plants and animals that are at risk of extinction in Colorado because their habitat has been degraded.
” “ With the action of wolves simply moving elk around , by not letting them over-graze vegetation , the habitat can recover , ” Malone said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery of species , the birds , and the fish , and the frogs , and the insects , all of which are important.
” Since 1995 , Yellowstone National Park has documented numerous ecological benefits from its wolf repopulation program .
With wolves scaring elk away from open spaces , the park witnessed the restoration of riverbanks , the rebound of cottonwood willows and the return of songbirds .
The wolves of Yellowstone have become the textbook example of the trophic cascade that occurs when one keystone species is removed or returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a fitting end to a mistaken period in our land management , ” said Michael Robinson , a senior conservative advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity .
With 3.5 million acres of wilderness and an unchecked elk population , some ecologists say Colorado is ripe habitat for wolves .
A January poll found about 84 % of voters supported the measure .
But Colorado ’ s western slope is 500 miles from Yellowstone and the state rejected a proposal to reintroduce Mexican wolves in 2016 .
The ranchers and hunters that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest proposal .
“ If you bring in an apex predator pack hunter like the wolf , you are going to significantly impact not only our wildlife herds , you ’ re also going to have a huge impact on the ag industry , you ’ re going to have the huge impact on the hunting industry , ” said Ted Harvey , campaign director for Stop the Wolf .
“ That ’ s why there ’ s 38 counties around the state that have passed resolutions in opposition to the introduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Harvey said .
“ They realize the impact that it ’ s going to have on the revenue for these small communities and for the private property owners.
” Montana ’ s wolf population recovered throughout the 1990s and many say a strong compensation program has been key to the animal ’ s success .
According to Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks , wolves killed 94 livestock last year , for which the state paid out $ 82,450 to owners .
Seventy-two of the wolves responsible were killed by citizens and rangers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ livestock compensation with $ 414,738 generated from wolf hunting permits , which resulted in the taking of 298 animals .
“ Wolf recovery in Montana depended on quick and sincere responses to livestock depredations , ” said Bob Inman , carnivore and furbearer coordinator at Montana Fish , Wildlife & Parks .
“ Had the ag community started to feel as though the urban public simply did not care about the real impacts to their lives and livelihoods , things would not have gone well.
” Hamburger isn ’ t the wolves ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than 1 % of livestock annually .
But to the individual rancher who ’ s affected , that risk threatens 100 % of their livelihood .
“ Studies show that wolf predation on livestock is a small economic cost to the livestock industry as a whole , but we also know those costs are unevenly distributed , ” explained Kevin Crooks , director of the Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence at Colorado State University .
“ Wolves can have a substantial economic and emotional impact for those individual ranchers , when wolves move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress out their livestock , ” Crooks said .
“ Those are real impacts that are important to consider , because it ’ s going to be those individual ranchers that bear the brunt of the costs imposed by wolves.
” Rather than sway voters either way , Crooks and his team have been presenting the public with the data to help them sort through fact and fiction .
The biggest issue facing wolf survival in Colorado , Crooks said , “ is whether or not humans tolerate them.
” Some critics are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the best decision for the collective .
“ The danger is this is not a scientific process .
This has become a political process , ” said Mark Holyoak , director of communication for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation .
The nonprofit has enhanced 8 million acres of elk habitat nationwide and counts 17,000 members in Colorado .
“ We , as the everyday voter , don ’ t understand intricacies of a lot of different things and that ’ s why it ’ s important to be able to rely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Holyoak explained .
“ It ’ s reckless the way this has been handled .
Wildlife management is highly scientific , it ’ s based on population numbers , research , surveys , quotas , times of year , hunting seasons , and highly regulated rules that accompany that.
” Others say this issue is rightly put to the people of Colorado .
“ All you ’ re doing is expanding the pool of people who are making these decisions from a few appointed political people to the entire population of Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generation Coloradan , big game hunter , and campaign manager for Proposition 114 .
“ At the end of the day , this is really a human value judgment , ” Washburn said .
“ It comes down to do you value a more natural , balanced ecosystem ?
How do you value nature ?
How do you value the outdoor experience in Colorado ’ s mountains ?
” Both those in support of reintroducing wolves and those against claim science is on their side .
While scientific research generates a plethora of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their role in the ecosystem , science alone can not point to one objectively correct answer .
“ There are a lot of ethical and normative questions that need to be addressed on their own terms and I don ’ t think that science can answer these questions about what ’ s the right thing to do , ” said Benjamin Hale , an associate professor of environmental studies and philosophy at the University of Colorado Boulder .
“ How will it affect the livelihood of some people who live in wolf territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it change the way we hike ?
What will it do to our tourism industry ?
A lot of those questions can be answered , but they ’ re not questions that can be answered so easily by science , ” Hale said .
Perhaps the biggest question of all hinges not on whether wolves can survive in Colorado , but whether humans will let them .

Would the southern Rocky Mountains be better off if the state brought back the canine apex predator that was hunted to local extinction 60 years ago?
(CN) — This November, Coloradans are being asked to vote in wolves.
That is not a new political attack ad, but a literal ecological question: would the southern Rocky Mountains be better off if the state brought back the canine apex predator that was hunted to local extinction 60 years ago? If passed, Proposition 114 will legally mandate the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop a gray wolf restoration plan by the end of 2023, along with a program to compensate livestock owners for wolf kills.
“People often say, 'Well, gee, do we really need wolves? Everything is fine.' Well, everything is not really fine,” said Delia Malone, an ecologist with Sierra Club from rural Redstone, Colorado, west of Aspen. “There are dozens and dozens of species of plants and animals that are at risk of extinction in Colorado because their habitat has been degraded.”
“With the action of wolves simply moving elk around, by not letting them over-graze vegetation, the habitat can recover,” Malone said. “With habitat recovery, we see the recovery of species, the birds, and the fish, and the frogs, and the insects, all of which are important.” Since 1995, Yellowstone National Park has documented numerous ecological benefits from its wolf repopulation program.
With wolves scaring elk away from open spaces, the park witnessed the restoration of riverbanks, the rebound of cottonwood willows and the return of songbirds. The wolves of Yellowstone have become the textbook example of the trophic cascade that occurs when one keystone species is removed or returned.
“Reintroducing wolves is going to be a fitting end to a mistaken period in our land management,” said Michael Robinson, a senior conservative advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity.
With 3.5 million acres of wilderness and an unchecked elk population, some ecologists say Colorado is ripe habitat for wolves. A January poll found about 84% of voters supported the measure. But Colorado’s western slope is 500 miles from Yellowstone and the state rejected a proposal to reintroduce Mexican wolves in 2016. The ranchers and hunters that lobbied the state then continue to criticize the latest proposal.
“If you bring in an apex predator pack hunter like the wolf, you are going to significantly impact not only our wildlife herds, you're also going to have a huge impact on the ag industry, you're going to have the huge impact on the hunting industry,” said Ted Harvey, campaign director for Stop the Wolf.
“That's why there's 38 counties around the state that have passed resolutions in opposition to the introduction of the wolf through this initiative,” Harvey said. “They realize the impact that it's going to have on the revenue for these small communities and for the private property owners.”
Montana’s wolf population recovered throughout the 1990s and many say a strong compensation program has been key to the animal’s success. According to Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, wolves killed 94 livestock last year, for which the state paid out $82,450 to owners. Seventy-two of the wolves responsible were killed by citizens and rangers.
Montana covered both wolf management and livestock compensation with $414,738 generated from wolf hunting permits, which resulted in the taking of 298 animals.
“Wolf recovery in Montana depended on quick and sincere responses to livestock depredations,” said Bob Inman, carnivore and furbearer coordinator at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. “Had the ag community started to feel as though the urban public simply did not care about the real impacts to their lives and livelihoods, things would not have gone well.”
Hamburger isn’t the wolves’ main dietary staple, and they kill less than 1% of livestock annually. But to the individual rancher who’s affected, that risk threatens 100% of their livelihood.
The Sangre de Cristo mountains, as seen from Sand Dunes National Park, are part of the southern Rocky Mountains, and may become wolf habitat if Coloradans approve a ballot measure. (Courthouse News photo / Amanda Pampuro)
“Studies show that wolf predation on livestock is a small economic cost to the livestock industry as a whole, but we also know those costs are unevenly distributed,” explained Kevin Crooks, director of the Center for Human-Carnivore Coexistence at Colorado State University.
“Wolves can have a substantial economic and emotional impact for those individual ranchers, when wolves move in, and kill or chase or stress out their livestock,” Crooks said. “Those are real impacts that are important to consider, because it's going to be those individual ranchers that bear the brunt of the costs imposed by wolves.”
Rather than sway voters either way, Crooks and his team have been presenting the public with the data to help them sort through fact and fiction. The biggest issue facing wolf survival in Colorado, Crooks said, “is whether or not humans tolerate them.”
Some critics are skeptical of ballot box ecology entrusting voters to make the best decision for the collective.
“The danger is this is not a scientific process. This has become a political process,” said Mark Holyoak, director of communication for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The nonprofit has enhanced 8 million acres of elk habitat nationwide and counts 17,000 members in Colorado.
“We, as the everyday voter, don't understand intricacies of a lot of different things and that's why it's important to be able to rely on the folks in the know,” Holyoak explained. “It's reckless the way this has been handled. Wildlife management is highly scientific, it's based on population numbers, research, surveys, quotas, times of year, hunting seasons, and highly regulated rules that accompany that.”
Others say this issue is rightly put to the people of Colorado. “All you're doing is expanding the pool of people who are making these decisions from a few appointed political people to the entire population of Colorado,” said Eric Washburn, fifth generation Coloradan, big game hunter, and campaign manager for Proposition 114.
“At the end of the day, this is really a human value judgment,” Washburn said. “It comes down to do you value a more natural, balanced ecosystem? How do you value nature? How do you value the outdoor experience in Colorado's mountains?”
Both those in support of reintroducing wolves and those against claim science is on their side. While scientific research generates a plethora of information on the biology of wolves and their role in the ecosystem, science alone cannot point to one objectively correct answer.
“There are a lot of ethical and normative questions that need to be addressed on their own terms and I don't think that science can answer these questions about what's the right thing to do,” said Benjamin Hale, an associate professor of environmental studies and philosophy at the University of Colorado Boulder.
“How will it affect the livelihood of some people who live in wolf territory? Or elk habitat? Or will it change the way we hike? What will it do to our tourism industry? A lot of those questions can be answered, but they're not questions that can be answered so easily by science,” Hale said.
Perhaps the biggest question of all hinges not on whether wolves can survive in Colorado, but whether humans will let them.