RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — An Oglala man has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter for a 2019 crash that killed a 74-year-old woman. 

Forty-four-year-old Clifford Running Hawk entered his plea earlier this month at the federal courthouse in Rapid City. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says he faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. 

Running Hawk is accused of driving under the influence and speeding near Oglala on Nov. 21, 2019 when he crashed into an oncoming vehicle, resulting in the death of Virginia Kills Crow Indian. 

The mother of eight children died several days later at the hospital in Rapid City.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — An Oglala man has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter for a 2019 crash that killed a 74-year-old woman. Forty-four-year-old Clifford Running Hawk entered his plea earlier this month at the federal courthouse in Rapid City. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says he faces up to eight years in prison if convicted. Running Hawk is accused of driving under the influence and speeding near Oglala on Nov. 21, 2019 when he crashed into an oncoming vehicle, resulting in the death of Virginia Kills Crow Indian. The mother of eight children died several days later at the hospital in Rapid City.

Oglala man pleads not guilty in 2019 fatal crash

NEW YORK (AP) — The top U.S. public health agency stirred confusion by posting — and then taking down — an apparent change in its position on how easily the coronavirus can spread from person to person through the air.

But officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say their position has not really changed and that the post last week on the agency’s website was an error that has been taken down.

It was “an honest mistake” that happened when a draft update was posted before going through a full editing and approval process, said Dr. Jay Butler, the CDC’s deputy director for infectious diseases.

The post suggested that the agency believes the virus can hang in the air and spread over an extended distance. But the agency continues to believe larger and heavier droplets that come from coughing or sneezing are the primary means of transmission, Butler said.

Most CDC guidance about social distancing is built around that idea, saying that about 6 feet is a safe buffer between people who are not wearing masks.

In interviews, CDC officials have acknowledged growing evidence that the virus can sometimes be transmitted on even smaller, aerosolized particles or droplets that spread over a wider area. Certain case clusters have been tied to events in which the virus appeared to have spread through the air in, for example, a choir practice. But such incidents did not appear to be common.

Public health experts urge people to wear masks, which can stop or reduce contact with both larger droplets and aerosolized particles.

But for months, agency officials said little about aerosolized particles. So when the CDC quietly posted an update Friday that discussed the particles in more detail, the agency’s position appeared to have changed. The post said the virus can remain suspended in the air and drift more than 6 feet. It also emphasized the importance of indoor ventilation and seemed to describe the coronavirus as the kind of germ that can spread widely through the air.

The post caused widespread discussion in public health circles because of its implications. It could mean, for example, that hospitals might have to place infected people in rooms that are specially designed to prevent air from flowing to other parts of the hospital.

But the CDC is not advising any changes in how far people stay away from each other, how they are housed at hospitals or other measures, Butler said.

The CDC has come under attack for past revisions of guidance during the pandemic, some of which were driven by political pressure by the Trump administration.

Butler said there was no external political pressure behind the change in this instance. “This was an internal issue,. And we’re working hard to address it and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

In a statement released Monday, the CDC said the revisions to the “How COVID-19 Spreads” page happened “without appropriate in-house technical review.”

“We are reviewing our process and tightening criteria for review of all guidance and updates before they are posted to the CDC website,” the statement said.

At least one expert said the episode could further chip away at public confidence in the CDC.

“The consistent inconsistency in this administration’s guidance on COVID-19 has severely compromised the nation’s trust in our public health agencies,” said Dr. Howard Koh, a Harvard University public health professor who was a high-ranking official in the Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama administration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600453488360.png" alt="CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield during testimony before a congressional committee last week in Washington -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield during testimony before a congressional committee last week in Washington -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The top U.S. public health agency stirred confusion by posting — and then taking down — an apparent change in its position on how easily the coronavirus can spread from person to person through the air.But officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say their position has not really changed and that the post last week on the agency’s website was an error that has been taken down.It was “an honest mistake” that happened when a draft update was posted before going through a full editing and approval process, said Dr. Jay Butler, the CDC’s deputy director for infectious diseases.The post suggested that the agency believes the virus can hang in the air and spread over an extended distance. But the agency continues to believe larger and heavier droplets that come from coughing or sneezing are the primary means of transmission, Butler said.Most CDC guidance about social distancing is built around that idea, saying that about 6 feet is a safe buffer between people who are not wearing masks.In interviews, CDC officials have acknowledged growing evidence that the virus can sometimes be transmitted on even smaller, aerosolized particles or droplets that spread over a wider area. Certain case clusters have been tied to events in which the virus appeared to have spread through the air in, for example, a choir practice. But such incidents did not appear to be common.Public health experts urge people to wear masks, which can stop or reduce contact with both larger droplets and aerosolized particles.But for months, agency officials said little about aerosolized particles. So when the CDC quietly posted an update Friday that discussed the particles in more detail, the agency’s position appeared to have changed. The post said the virus can remain suspended in the air and drift more than 6 feet. It also emphasized the importance of indoor ventilation and seemed to describe the coronavirus as the kind of germ that can spread widely through the air.The post caused widespread discussion in public health circles because of its implications. It could mean, for example, that hospitals might have to place infected people in rooms that are specially designed to prevent air from flowing to other parts of the hospital.But the CDC is not advising any changes in how far people stay away from each other, how they are housed at hospitals or other measures, Butler said.The CDC has come under attack for past revisions of guidance during the pandemic, some of which were driven by political pressure by the Trump administration.Butler said there was no external political pressure behind the change in this instance. “This was an internal issue,. And we’re working hard to address it and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.In a statement released Monday, the CDC said the revisions to the “How COVID-19 Spreads” page happened “without appropriate in-house technical review.”“We are reviewing our process and tightening criteria for review of all guidance and updates before they are posted to the CDC website,” the statement said.At least one expert said the episode could further chip away at public confidence in the CDC.“The consistent inconsistency in this administration’s guidance on COVID-19 has severely compromised the nation’s trust in our public health agencies,” said Dr. Howard Koh, a Harvard University public health professor who was a high-ranking official in the Department of Health and Human Services during the Obama administration.

CDC changes, then retracts, web posting on how virus spreads

WASHINGTON (AP) — A woman suspected of sending an envelope containing the poison ricin, which was addressed to the White House, has been arrested at the New York-Canada border and is also suspected of sending similar poisoned envelopes to law enforcement agencies in Texas, officials said Monday.

The letter had been intercepted earlier this week before it reached the White House. The woman was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge border crossing near Buffalo and is expected to face federal charges, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.

Her name was not immediately released, but the woman was expected to appear in federal court in Buffalo on Tuesday.

The letter addressed to the White House appeared to have originated in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said. It was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump and a preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, according to the officials.

Envelopes containing ricin were also mailed to law enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, according to another law enforcement official. The official did not say which agencies were sent the envelopes but said they are believed to have been mailed by the same person who sent one to the White House.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

One of the envelopes was sent to the police in Mission, Texas, said Investigator Art Flores, a spokesman for the border community’s police department. He said no one was hurt and that the envelope was in law enforcement’s custody. He declined to comment further.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Quebec confirmed Monday there is a police investigation taking place on a street in St-Hubert, Quebec, related to the contaminated letter sent to the White House.

The home is connected to the woman who was arrested at the border and although authorities have yet to determine whether she actually lived in the house, “there is a clear link between her and this residence,” Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Charles Poirier said.

There have been several prior instances in which U.S. officials have been targeted with ricin sent through the mail.

A Navy veteran was arrested in 2018 and confessed to sending envelopes to Trump and members of his administration that contained the substance from which ricin is derived. The letters were intercepted, and no one was hurt.

In 2014, a Mississippi man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after sending letters dusted with ricin to President Barack Obama and other officials.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A woman suspected of sending an envelope containing the poison ricin, which was addressed to White House, has been arrested at the New York-Canada border, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The letter had been intercepted earlier this week before it reached the White House. The woman was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge border crossing near Buffalo and is expected to face federal charges, the officials said. Her name was not immediately released.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials intercepted an envelope addressed to the White House that contained the poison ricin, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday.

The letter was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump, the official said. A preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans, the official said.

The official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Federal investigators were working to determine where the enveloped originated and who mailed it. The FBI, the Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were leading the investigation.

In a statement, the FBI said agents were working to investigate “a suspicious letter received at a U.S. government mail facility” and that there is “no known threat to public safety.”

A Navy veteran was arrested in 2018 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/07af3b2712054edfbf0290d6db3e6313/Utah-vet-confessed-to-sending-ricin-envelopes,-officials-say">confessed to sending envelopes</a>&nbsp;to Trump and members of his administration that contained the substance from which ricin is derived.

Authorities said the man, William Clyde Allen III, sent the envelopes with ground castor beans to the president, FBI Director Christopher Wray, along with then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, then-CIA Director Gina Haspel, Adm. John Richardson, who at the time was the Navy’s top officer, and then-Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson. The letters were intercepted, and no one was hurt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600717467163.png" alt="RCMP officers in St. Hubert, Canada, prepare to enter an apartment complex in connection with the mailing of ricin to President Trump -photo courtesy Royal Canadian Mounted Police" />
 <figcaption>RCMP officers in St. Hubert, Canada, prepare to enter an apartment complex in connection with the mailing of ricin to President Trump -photo courtesy Royal Canadian Mounted Police</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A woman suspected of sending an envelope containing the poison ricin, which was addressed to the White House, has been arrested at the New York-Canada border and is also suspected of sending similar poisoned envelopes to law enforcement agencies in Texas, officials said Monday.The letter had been intercepted earlier this week before it reached the White House. The woman was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge border crossing near Buffalo and is expected to face federal charges, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600717415635.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Royal Canadian Mounted Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Royal Canadian Mounted Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Her name was not immediately released, but the woman was expected to appear in federal court in Buffalo on Tuesday.The letter addressed to the White House appeared to have originated in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said. It was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump and a preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, according to the officials.Envelopes containing ricin were also mailed to law enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, according to another law enforcement official. The official did not say which agencies were sent the envelopes but said they are believed to have been mailed by the same person who sent one to the White House.The officials were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.One of the envelopes was sent to the police in Mission, Texas, said Investigator Art Flores, a spokesman for the border community’s police department. He said no one was hurt and that the envelope was in law enforcement’s custody. He declined to comment further.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Quebec confirmed Monday there is a police investigation taking place on a street in St-Hubert, Quebec, related to the contaminated letter sent to the White House.The home is connected to the woman who was arrested at the border and although authorities have yet to determine whether she actually lived in the house, “there is a clear link between her and this residence,” Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Charles Poirier said.There have been several prior instances in which U.S. officials have been targeted with ricin sent through the mail.A Navy veteran was arrested in 2018 and confessed to sending envelopes to Trump and members of his administration that contained the substance from which ricin is derived. The letters were intercepted, and no one was hurt.In 2014, a Mississippi man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after sending letters dusted with ricin to President Barack Obama and other officials.--------------WASHINGTON (AP) — A woman suspected of sending an envelope containing the poison ricin, which was addressed to White House, has been arrested at the New York-Canada border, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Sunday.The letter had been intercepted earlier this week before it reached the White House. The woman was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge border crossing near Buffalo and is expected to face federal charges, the officials said. Her name was not immediately released.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600542646061.png" alt="President Trump speaking to reporters late Friday about the passing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?ruthginsburg">Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a>. -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump speaking to reporters late Friday about the passing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/person/?ruthginsburg">Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a>. -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The letter addressed to the White House appeared to have originated in Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said. It was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump and a preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, according to the officials.The officials were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.There have been several prior instances in which U.S. officials have been targeted with ricin sent through the mail.A Navy veteran was arrested in 2018 and confessed to sending envelopes to Trump and members of his administration that contained the substance from which ricin is derived. The letters were intercepted, and no one was hurt.In 2014, a Mississippi man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after sending letters dusted with ricin to President Barack Obama and other officials.-------WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal officials intercepted an envelope addressed to the White House that contained the poison ricin, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday.The letter was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump, the official said. A preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans, the official said.The official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.Federal investigators were working to determine where the enveloped originated and who mailed it. The FBI, the Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were leading the investigation.In a statement, the FBI said agents were working to investigate “a suspicious letter received at a U.S. government mail facility” and that there is “no known threat to public safety.”A Navy veteran was arrested in 2018 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/07af3b2712054edfbf0290d6db3e6313/Utah-vet-confessed-to-sending-ricin-envelopes,-officials-say">confessed to sending envelopes</a>&nbsp;to Trump and members of his administration that contained the substance from which ricin is derived.Authorities said the man, William Clyde Allen III, sent the envelopes with ground castor beans to the president, FBI Director Christopher Wray, along with then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, then-CIA Director Gina Haspel, Adm. John Richardson, who at the time was the Navy’s top officer, and then-Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson. The letters were intercepted, and no one was hurt.In 2014, a Mississippi man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after sending letters dusted with ricin to President Barack Obama and other officials.

Update: Woman suspected of sending poisoned letter to Trump arrested

HERINGTON, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of alleged vehicle thefts, have one suspect in custody and are asking the public for help with the investigation.

On Friday, Herington Police Department personnel executed a search warrant in the 200 block of Grant Street in Alta Vista in Wabaunsee County, according to a social media report from police.

The warrant was executed as a result of a cooperative investigative effort between the Herington Police Department, Junction City Police Department, and the Kansas Highway Patrol, according to information posted on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Herington-Police-Department-110509910475460/">Herington Police Department</a>&nbsp;Facebook page. The Junction City Police Department and Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the execution of the search warrant.

During the investigation, law enforcement discovered that deceptive methods were used to steal multiple vehicles from the Junction City and Herington areas, as well as areas located in Nebraska and Iowa.

Thus far, the total loss amount is believed to be in excess of $100,000, the department reported.

During the execution of the search warrant, officers took Matthew Teague, 36, of Alta Vista, into custody on an Arrest and Detain Order issued by the Kansas Department of Corrections and on multiple requested felony charges related to the theft of motor vehicles and other property.

Law enforcement personnel are seeking the public’s assistance with identifying other businesses that may be victims of the same type of crimes and are also searching for any person who may have assisted Teague.

Additionally, they also are attempting to identify and locate a black male who identified himself as "Andre Murphy."

"If you or someone you know has sold or purchased a motor vehicle or other property or equipment from Matthew Teague or a person presenting himself as Andre Murphy, please contact Detective Jonathan Thompson with the Herington Police Department at 785-258-2227 or Detective Al Babcock with the Junction City Police Department at 785-762-5912 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600708737402.jpeg" alt="The Herington Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the man on the right who has identified himself as "Andre Murphy."Photo&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Herington-Police-Department-110509910475460/">Herington Police&nbsp;</a>" />
 <figcaption>The Herington Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the man on the right who has identified himself as "Andre Murphy."Photo&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Herington-Police-Department-110509910475460/">Herington Police&nbsp;</a></figcaption>
 </figure>HERINGTON, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of alleged vehicle thefts, have one suspect in custody and are asking the public for help with the investigation.On Friday, Herington Police Department personnel executed a search warrant in the 200 block of Grant Street in Alta Vista in Wabaunsee County, according to a social media report from police.The warrant was executed as a result of a cooperative investigative effort between the Herington Police Department, Junction City Police Department, and the Kansas Highway Patrol, according to information posted on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Herington-Police-Department-110509910475460/">Herington Police Department</a>&nbsp;Facebook page. The Junction City Police Department and Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the execution of the search warrant.During the investigation, law enforcement discovered that deceptive methods were used to steal multiple vehicles from the Junction City and Herington areas, as well as areas located in Nebraska and Iowa.Thus far, the total loss amount is believed to be in excess of $100,000, the department reported.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600709209455.jpeg" alt="Teague photo Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Teague photo Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the execution of the search warrant, officers took Matthew Teague, 36, of Alta Vista, into custody on an Arrest and Detain Order issued by the Kansas Department of Corrections and on multiple requested felony charges related to the theft of motor vehicles and other property.Law enforcement personnel are seeking the public’s assistance with identifying other businesses that may be victims of the same type of crimes and are also searching for any person who may have assisted Teague.Additionally, they also are attempting to identify and locate a black male who identified himself as "Andre Murphy.""If you or someone you know has sold or purchased a motor vehicle or other property or equipment from Matthew Teague or a person presenting himself as Andre Murphy, please contact Detective Jonathan Thompson with the Herington Police Department at 785-258-2227 or Detective Al Babcock with the Junction City Police Department at 785-762-5912 immediately.

Police investigate series of vehicle thefts in Neb., 2 other states

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday he expects to announce his pick for the Supreme Court on Friday or Saturday. That would be before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is buried next week at Arlington National Cemetery but ahead of the first presidential debate. 

Trump told “Fox &amp; Friends” that he had a list of five finalists, “probably four,” and that he is pushing for a confirmation vote before Election Day. Democrats have howled in protest, pointing to the hypocrisy of Republicans for rushing through a pick so close to the election after refusing to do so for President Barack Obama in 2016.

The impending clash over the vacant seat — when to fill it and with whom — has scrambled the stretch run of a presidential race for a nation already reeling from the pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 people, left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger. Democratic nominee Joe Biden has urged a delay in a nomination, declaring that the next president should fill the seat.

Ginsburg, 87, died Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

The Supreme Court says her body will lie in repose at the Supreme Court this week, with arrangements to allow for public viewing despite the coronavirus pandemic. Ginsburg’s casket will be on public view Wednesday and Thursday under the portico at the top of the court's iconic steps in front of the building. A private ceremony will take place at the court on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

Trump disparaged reports that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter it was her wish that a replacement justice not be confirmed until the inauguration of a new president. Trump said he thought his Democratic political foes were behind the report, including Rep. Adam Schiff, who led the House impeachment probe, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

“I don’t know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff and Schumer and Pelosi,” Trump said. “I would be more inclined to the second ... But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or Shifty Schiff," a derisive nickname he has long used for Schiff. Trump frequently disparages Schiff, claiming without evidence that the California Democrat is behind a conspiracy against him. Schiff's office said Monday it had no immediate comment.

The president and his fellow Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who will control the timing of the confirmation hearings and vote, have pushed back against the 2016 comparison, noting that Trump could win again and saying that, unlike four years ago, the same party controlled both the White House and the Senate.

“We have the presidency and the Senate and we have plenty of time,” Trump said. “I think that would be good for the Republican Party and I think it would be good for everybody to get it over with.”

Trump allowed that he would accept a vote in the lame duck period after Election Day but made clear his preference would be that it occur by Nov. 3.

Announcing a nominee on Friday or Saturday would leave less than 40 days for the Senate to hold a confirmation vote before the election. No nominee has won confirmation that quickly since Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981. O’Connor was confirmed 99-0 just over a month after she was nominated by President Ronald Reagan.

The president confirmed Monday that among the top contenders are Indiana’s Amy Coney Barrett and Florida’s Barbara Lagoa, both appellate court judges he appointed. Barrett has long been a favorite among conservative while Lagoa has been pushed by some aides who tout her electorate advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the key battleground state of Florida.

Trump also indicated that Allison Jones Rushing, a 38-year-old appellate judge from North Carolina, is also on the short-list. He has promised to nominate a woman for the high court, adding that his preference is for someone younger who could hold sway on the nation’s jurisprudence for potentially four or five decades.

As the Senate returned to Washington on Monday, all eyes were on Republicans Mitt Romney of Utah and Chuck Grassley of Iowa for clues to whether Trump and McConnell will be able to confirm Ginsburg’s replacement anytime soon.

A day earlier, Biden had urged unnamed Republicans to join Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine in opposing a confirmation vote before the Nov. 3 election. It takes four GOP senators breaking ranks to keep Trump’s nominee off the court.

“Uphold your constitutional duty, your conscience,” said Biden, speaking in Philadelphia on Sunday. “Let the people speak. Cool the flames that have engulfed our country.”

Jamming the nomination through, Biden said, would amount to an “abuse of power.”

The sudden vacancy was poised to reshape the race, which to this point has been largely a referendum how Trump had managed the COVID-19 pandemic.

It seemed certain to electrify both sides: Democrats were breaking fundraising records while a packed Trump crowd in North Carolina Saturday loudly chanted “Fill that seat.” But it remained unclear if the high bench vacancy — which could impact everything from abortion rights to legal challenges to the 2020 election — would persuade disenchanted Republicans to return to Trump or fire up women or suburban voters to break for Biden.

Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate. If there were a 50-50 tie, it could be broken by Vice President Mike Pence.

There is another potential wrinkle: Because Arizona’s Senate race is a special election, that seat could be filled as early as Nov. 30. If Democrat Mark Kelly wins and is seated, that would narrow the window for McConnell.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600706526088.png" alt="The Supreme released photos of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s bench chair draped with black wool crepe. Photos taken by Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States." />
 <figcaption>The Supreme released photos of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s bench chair draped with black wool crepe. Photos taken by Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday he expects to announce his pick for the Supreme Court on Friday or Saturday. That would be before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is buried next week at Arlington National Cemetery but ahead of the first presidential debate. Trump told “Fox &amp; Friends” that he had a list of five finalists, “probably four,” and that he is pushing for a confirmation vote before Election Day. Democrats have howled in protest, pointing to the hypocrisy of Republicans for rushing through a pick so close to the election after refusing to do so for President Barack Obama in 2016.The impending clash over the vacant seat — when to fill it and with whom — has scrambled the stretch run of a presidential race for a nation already reeling from the pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 people, left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger. Democratic nominee Joe Biden has urged a delay in a nomination, declaring that the next president should fill the seat.Ginsburg, 87, died Friday of metastatic pancreatic cancer.The Supreme Court says her body will lie in repose at the Supreme Court this week, with arrangements to allow for public viewing despite the coronavirus pandemic. Ginsburg’s casket will be on public view Wednesday and Thursday under the portico at the top of the court's iconic steps in front of the building. A private ceremony will take place at the court on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;Trump disparaged reports that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter it was her wish that a replacement justice not be confirmed until the inauguration of a new president. Trump said he thought his Democratic political foes were behind the report, including Rep. Adam Schiff, who led the House impeachment probe, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.“I don’t know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff and Schumer and Pelosi,” Trump said. “I would be more inclined to the second ... But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or Shifty Schiff," a derisive nickname he has long used for Schiff. Trump frequently disparages Schiff, claiming without evidence that the California Democrat is behind a conspiracy against him. Schiff's office said Monday it had no immediate comment.The president and his fellow Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who will control the timing of the confirmation hearings and vote, have pushed back against the 2016 comparison, noting that Trump could win again and saying that, unlike four years ago, the same party controlled both the White House and the Senate.“We have the presidency and the Senate and we have plenty of time,” Trump said. “I think that would be good for the Republican Party and I think it would be good for everybody to get it over with.”Trump allowed that he would accept a vote in the lame duck period after Election Day but made clear his preference would be that it occur by Nov. 3.Announcing a nominee on Friday or Saturday would leave less than 40 days for the Senate to hold a confirmation vote before the election. No nominee has won confirmation that quickly since Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1981. O’Connor was confirmed 99-0 just over a month after she was nominated by President Ronald Reagan.The president confirmed Monday that among the top contenders are Indiana’s Amy Coney Barrett and Florida’s Barbara Lagoa, both appellate court judges he appointed. Barrett has long been a favorite among conservative while Lagoa has been pushed by some aides who tout her electorate advantages of being Hispanic and hailing from the key battleground state of Florida.Trump also indicated that Allison Jones Rushing, a 38-year-old appellate judge from North Carolina, is also on the short-list. He has promised to nominate a woman for the high court, adding that his preference is for someone younger who could hold sway on the nation’s jurisprudence for potentially four or five decades.As the Senate returned to Washington on Monday, all eyes were on Republicans Mitt Romney of Utah and Chuck Grassley of Iowa for clues to whether Trump and McConnell will be able to confirm Ginsburg’s replacement anytime soon.A day earlier, Biden had urged unnamed Republicans to join Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine in opposing a confirmation vote before the Nov. 3 election. It takes four GOP senators breaking ranks to keep Trump’s nominee off the court.“Uphold your constitutional duty, your conscience,” said Biden, speaking in Philadelphia on Sunday. “Let the people speak. Cool the flames that have engulfed our country.”Jamming the nomination through, Biden said, would amount to an “abuse of power.”The sudden vacancy was poised to reshape the race, which to this point has been largely a referendum how Trump had managed the COVID-19 pandemic.It seemed certain to electrify both sides: Democrats were breaking fundraising records while a packed Trump crowd in North Carolina Saturday loudly chanted “Fill that seat.” But it remained unclear if the high bench vacancy — which could impact everything from abortion rights to legal challenges to the 2020 election — would persuade disenchanted Republicans to return to Trump or fire up women or suburban voters to break for Biden.Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate. If there were a 50-50 tie, it could be broken by Vice President Mike Pence.There is another potential wrinkle: Because Arizona’s Senate race is a special election, that seat could be filled as early as Nov. 30. If Democrat Mark Kelly wins and is seated, that would narrow the window for McConnell.

Trump to make court pick; Ginsburg services set

SEELEY LAKE, Mont. (AP) — A research effort to see how long it takes people to recover from living with hazardous levels of wildfire smoke for seven weeks still hasn't determined the answer.

 Some residents of the western Montana town of Seeley Lake who stayed in the area during the 2017 wildfire season are participating in a University of Montana study of their lung capacity. 

Researchers found that people's lung capacity declined in the first two years. 

Kaiser Health News reports researchers don't know how the residents are faring this year because they could not return to Seeley Lake due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SEELEY LAKE, Mont. (AP) — A research effort to see how long it takes people to recover from living with hazardous levels of wildfire smoke for seven weeks still hasn't determined the answer. Some residents of the western Montana town of Seeley Lake who stayed in the area during the 2017 wildfire season are participating in a University of Montana study of their lung capacity. Researchers found that people's lung capacity declined in the first two years. Kaiser Health News reports researchers don't know how the residents are faring this year because they could not return to Seeley Lake due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wildfire smoke leaves lung damage long after air clears

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A south-central Nebraska man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. 

Federal prosecutors say that 65-year-old Robert Rose, of Guide Rock, was sentenced last week in Lincoln's federal courthouse. 

He also was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution, and he must register as a sex offender. 

Nebraska State Patrol investigators searched Rose’s home in July 2018 and found more than 600 sexually explicit images and videos of children — including infants and toddlers — on Rose’s laptop.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A south-central Nebraska man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. Federal prosecutors say that 65-year-old Robert Rose, of Guide Rock, was sentenced last week in Lincoln's federal courthouse. He also was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution, and he must register as a sex offender. Nebraska State Patrol investigators searched Rose’s home in July 2018 and found more than 600 sexually explicit images and videos of children — including infants and toddlers — on Rose’s laptop.

Nebraska man sentenced to 4 years in prison for child porn

OMAHA, Neb.-United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Robert Rose, 65, of Guide Rock, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 18, 2020, in Lincoln, Nebraska by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to four years’ imprisonment for Possession of Child Pornography. There is no parole in the federal system. Rose was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution. After his release from prison, Rose will have to serve a 12-year term of supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender.<a></a>

On July 19, 2018, investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol executed a search warrant at Rose’s residence in Guide Rock. Rose’s laptop was seized during the search warrant and it was forensically examined by the Nebraska State Patrol. On Rose’s laptop, investigators found more than 600 images and videos of children under the age of 18 years old, including infants and toddlers, nude and/or engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Rose admitted to obtaining these images from the internet.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/" target="_blank">www.projectsafechildhood.gov</a>&nbsp;.

This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Nebraska State Patrol.

News Release US Attorney's OfficeOMAHA, Neb.-United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Robert Rose, 65, of Guide Rock, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 18, 2020, in Lincoln, Nebraska by Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard to four years’ imprisonment for Possession of Child Pornography. There is no parole in the federal system. Rose was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution. After his release from prison, Rose will have to serve a 12-year term of supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender.<a></a>On July 19, 2018, investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol executed a search warrant at Rose’s residence in Guide Rock. Rose’s laptop was seized during the search warrant and it was forensically examined by the Nebraska State Patrol. On Rose’s laptop, investigators found more than 600 images and videos of children under the age of 18 years old, including infants and toddlers, nude and/or engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Rose admitted to obtaining these images from the internet.This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/" target="_blank">www.projectsafechildhood.gov</a>&nbsp;.This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Nebraska State Patrol.

Guide Rock man gets 4 years for child pornography

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday he’s given his “blessing” to a proposed deal that would see the popular video-sharing app TikTok partner with Oracle and Walmart and form a U.S. company.

Trump has targeted Chinese-owned TikTok for national security and data privacy concerns in the latest flashpoint in the rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. The president’s support for a deal comes just a day after the Commerce Department announced restrictions that if put in place could eventually make it nearly impossible for TikTok’s legions of younger fans to use the app.

Trump said if completed the deal would create a new company likely to be based in Texas.

“I have given the deal my blessing,” he said. “If they get it done, that’s great. If they don’t, that’s OK too.”

Trump said the new company will be hiring at least 25,000 people and making a $5 billion contribution to a fund dedicated to education for Americans. “That’s their contribution that I’ve been asking for,” he said.

TikTok said Oracle and Walmart could acquire up to a cumulative 20% stake in the new company in a financing round to be held before an initial public offering of stock, which Walmart said could happen within the next year. Oracle’s stake would be 12.5%, and Walmart’s would be 7.5%, the companies said in separate statements.

The deal will make Oracle responsible for hosting all TikTok’s U.S. user data and securing computer systems to ensure U.S. national security requirements are satisfied. Walmart said it will provide its ecommerce, fulfillment, payments and other services to the new company.

“We are pleased that the proposal by TikTok, Oracle, and Walmart will resolve the security concerns of the U.S. administration and settle questions around TikTok’s future in the U.S.,” TikTok said in a statement.

Trump has been demanding that the U.S. operations of TikTok be sold to a U.S. company or else be shut down. He’s also been targeting WeChat, another Chinese-owned app.

The administration contends that the user data collected by the two apps could be shared with the Chinese government. On Saturday, Trump said the U.S.-based TikTok “will have nothing to do with China.” TikTok says it has 100 million U.S. users.

On Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department said it would bar TikTok from U.S. app stores as of late Sunday. Further restrictions that would prevent TikTok from accessing essential internet services in the country would go into effect on Nov. 12. Commerce said Saturday that it will delay the barring of TikTok from U.S. app stores until Sept. 27 at 11:59 p.m.

Commerce was imposing similar restrictions on WeChat. However, a federal judge has approved a request from a group of WeChat users to delay looming U.S. government restrictions that could effectively make the popular app nearly impossible to use. In a ruling dated Saturday, Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in California said the government’s actions would affect users’ First Amendment rights as an effective ban on the app removes their platform for communication. WeChat is a messaging-focused app popular with many Chinese-speaking Americans that serves as a lifeline to friends, family, customers and business contacts in China. It’s owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent.

WeChat has millions of U.S. users who rely on the app to stay in touch and conduct business with people and companies in China and around the world. In court filings, the founder of the Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities, who is a U.S. citizen in California, said that the group’s primary tool to reach out and provide services to Chinese Americans is WeChat.

“Since many of the Chinese community members we serve are not fluent in English, WeChat is the only online tool that they rely on,” Elaine Peng said.

The Trump administration’s aggressive tactics are part of its latest attempt to counter the influence of China, a rising economic superpower. Since taking office in 2017, Trump has waged a trade war with China, blocked mergers involving Chinese companies and stifled the business of Chinese firms like Huawei, a maker of phones and telecom equipment.

China-backed hackers, meanwhile, have been blamed for data breaches of U.S. federal databases and the credit agency Equifax, and the Chinese government strictly limits what U.S. tech companies can do in China.

China’s ministry of commerce condemned the U.S. moves and urged it to stop what it called bullying behavior. It also said China may take “necessary measures” to protect Chinese companies.

The U.S. Treasury Department said Saturday that TikTok’s deal still needs to close with Oracle and Walmart, and it also needs documentation and conditions to be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

That, of course, also leaves the potential for more roller coasters of emotion for TikTok users, such as Haley Hoffman Smith, a 24-year-old who moved to Manhattan this year to pursue her dream of becoming a talk-show host. She said she had just hit 100,000 followers on TikTok and was crushed on Friday to hear it may be headed for a shutdown.

“TikTok is an inextricable part of my dream chasing story,” she said, “and to lose it forever would not only be an inconvenient setback, but an absolute heartbreak.”

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday he’s given his “blessing” to a proposed deal that would see the popular video-sharing app TikTok partner with Oracle and Walmart and form a U.S. company.Trump has targeted Chinese-owned TikTok for national security and data privacy concerns in the latest flashpoint in the rising tensions between Washington and Beijing. The president’s support for a deal comes just a day after the Commerce Department announced restrictions that if put in place could eventually make it nearly impossible for TikTok’s legions of younger fans to use the app.Trump said if completed the deal would create a new company likely to be based in Texas.“I have given the deal my blessing,” he said. “If they get it done, that’s great. If they don’t, that’s OK too.”Trump said the new company will be hiring at least 25,000 people and making a $5 billion contribution to a fund dedicated to education for Americans. “That’s their contribution that I’ve been asking for,” he said.TikTok said Oracle and Walmart could acquire up to a cumulative 20% stake in the new company in a financing round to be held before an initial public offering of stock, which Walmart said could happen within the next year. Oracle’s stake would be 12.5%, and Walmart’s would be 7.5%, the companies said in separate statements.The deal will make Oracle responsible for hosting all TikTok’s U.S. user data and securing computer systems to ensure U.S. national security requirements are satisfied. Walmart said it will provide its ecommerce, fulfillment, payments and other services to the new company.“We are pleased that the proposal by TikTok, Oracle, and Walmart will resolve the security concerns of the U.S. administration and settle questions around TikTok’s future in the U.S.,” TikTok said in a statement.Trump has been demanding that the U.S. operations of TikTok be sold to a U.S. company or else be shut down. He’s also been targeting WeChat, another Chinese-owned app.The administration contends that the user data collected by the two apps could be shared with the Chinese government. On Saturday, Trump said the U.S.-based TikTok “will have nothing to do with China.” TikTok says it has 100 million U.S. users.On Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department said it would bar TikTok from U.S. app stores as of late Sunday. Further restrictions that would prevent TikTok from accessing essential internet services in the country would go into effect on Nov. 12. Commerce said Saturday that it will delay the barring of TikTok from U.S. app stores until Sept. 27 at 11:59 p.m.Commerce was imposing similar restrictions on WeChat. However, a federal judge has approved a request from a group of WeChat users to delay looming U.S. government restrictions that could effectively make the popular app nearly impossible to use. In a ruling dated Saturday, Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in California said the government’s actions would affect users’ First Amendment rights as an effective ban on the app removes their platform for communication. WeChat is a messaging-focused app popular with many Chinese-speaking Americans that serves as a lifeline to friends, family, customers and business contacts in China. It’s owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent.WeChat has millions of U.S. users who rely on the app to stay in touch and conduct business with people and companies in China and around the world. In court filings, the founder of the Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities, who is a U.S. citizen in California, said that the group’s primary tool to reach out and provide services to Chinese Americans is WeChat.“Since many of the Chinese community members we serve are not fluent in English, WeChat is the only online tool that they rely on,” Elaine Peng said.The Trump administration’s aggressive tactics are part of its latest attempt to counter the influence of China, a rising economic superpower. Since taking office in 2017, Trump has waged a trade war with China, blocked mergers involving Chinese companies and stifled the business of Chinese firms like Huawei, a maker of phones and telecom equipment.China-backed hackers, meanwhile, have been blamed for data breaches of U.S. federal databases and the credit agency Equifax, and the Chinese government strictly limits what U.S. tech companies can do in China.China’s ministry of commerce condemned the U.S. moves and urged it to stop what it called bullying behavior. It also said China may take “necessary measures” to protect Chinese companies.The U.S. Treasury Department said Saturday that TikTok’s deal still needs to close with Oracle and Walmart, and it also needs documentation and conditions to be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.That, of course, also leaves the potential for more roller coasters of emotion for TikTok users, such as Haley Hoffman Smith, a 24-year-old who moved to Manhattan this year to pursue her dream of becoming a talk-show host. She said she had just hit 100,000 followers on TikTok and was crushed on Friday to hear it may be headed for a shutdown.“TikTok is an inextricable part of my dream chasing story,” she said, “and to lose it forever would not only be an inconvenient setback, but an absolute heartbreak.”___

Deal may keep TikTok operating in US; Judge delays restrictions on WeChat

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean calls herself a “big hugger,” but there’s none of that in-person campaigning in the Philadelphia suburbs as the House freshman runs for reelection largely online to protect against the health risks of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">COVID-19.</a>

Traveling the heartland, Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is taking the opposite approach. She just completed an annual 99-county tour of her state, mostly masked, but sometimes not, talking to modest-size groups — and, at one point, gathering close for a photo.

The two lawmakers show the different tactics underway in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2020">pandemic election year&nbsp;</a>unlike any other as candidates try to win over voters beyond the White House in down-ballot races that will determine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c9b1ac944e8e759de99ced3a5ff90022">control of Congress</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump&nbsp;</a>is setting the tone for his party, with big rallies and few masks. Democrats, led by presidential nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, are keeping events small and mostly virtual, confident that voters will reward them for adhering to public health protocols.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calls the campaign decisions “a matter of life and death.” The GOP leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy of California, a Trump ally, says the president’s party is showing up.

By November, voters will decide who had the right approach — a high-stakes gamble as the coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c9b1ac944e8e759de99ced3a5ff90022">pandemic rewrites the rules&nbsp;</a>of political campaigning.

“It’s a different world,” Dean said during a recent Zoom call with reporters.

“I can’t wait for the day when I can go back to knocking on doors and being at train stations to speak to people directly,” she said. “But we’re making the most of it.”

The House and Senate campaigns are courting voters as attitudes shift about COVID-19. In July, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9126a38ef22c244f9ca18f9584061f8d">AP-NORC poll&nbsp;</a>showed 85% of Americans said they were staying away from large groups, including 95% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans. By August, about three-quarters of Americans said they were at least somewhat concerned about themselves or a family member being infected, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/" target="_blank">the AP-NORC poll</a>.

Public health experts warn that even as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/59d1132929f313a9c8e689ab3dbe26ac">number of cases&nbsp;</a>levels nationwide, Americans’ behavior will determine whether there’s another spike this fall with colder weather and the flu season.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told lawmakers it’s up to them to set an example.

Campaigns are looked to “as leaders in the community,” said a DCCC memo obtained by The Associated Press, “and their health and safety precautions should reflect that.”

Virtual town halls, phone banks, texting and Zoom-style meet-ups are replacing the traditional campaign events and door-knocking operations, which in years past have been seen as crucial to coax voters to the polls.

One party strategist said Democrats believe voters will appreciate candidates who take COVID-19 risks seriously, attempting to draw a contrast to Trump and Republicans. The strategist and others were granted anonymity to discuss tactics the parties are employing.

In Georgia, Senate candidate Jon Ossoff’s campaign is drawing thousands of people to online forums, more than strategists said could be reached by traditional canvassing. He is running against first-term GOP Sen. David Perdue.

Republicans appear more willing to venture out.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held public events in some 20 Kentucky communities during August, showing up mostly masked. He faces Democratic former fighter pilot Amy McGrath this fall.

Republicans are defending a narrow three-seat Senate majority as Democratic candidates gain traction in more than a half-dozen states, including Iowa, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina. That’s twice as many that Democrats would need to flip to tip party control.

“Even in these challenging times, it’s my job to show up and hear directly from all Iowans,” Ernst said in a video message after finishing her all-county tour.

Typically outside groups provide much of the legwork knocking doors to reach voters. This year, they, too, are taking divergent approaches.

The Congressional Leadership Fund announced it’s unleashing $3.5 million to start put boots on the ground — with personal protective gear — in 12 House districts as Republicans stage a longshot fight to wrest control from Pelosi and Democrats. Republicans would need to win some 19 seats.

A Republican strategist said the GOP reckons that with so many Americans home because of the coronavirus crisis there’s a “captive audience” of voters to reach.

Tim Phillips of the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Action said his group started testing door knocking on June 1 to see what worked, what didn’t.

Standing 8 to 10 feet away seemed better than 6, he said, and visitors followed local rules about mask wearing — sometimes on, sometimes just in hand.

By July, the group expanded door-knocking nationwide and found people are very willing to open up, he said.

“I can’t tell you how many times now I’ve had people say, ’You’re the first human interaction I’ve had for months now,’” said Phillips, who has knocked doors himself in several states, including North Carolina, where AFP Action is investing $11 million in the Senate race. He said the rate at which people answer the door is up at least 18% compared with pre-pandemic numbers.

Elsewhere, the powerful American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees is launching its “big green machine” -- thousands of union workers and retirees — to virtual field offices to help elect Biden and “candidates up and down the ballot,” the union said.

Volunteers can call voters, send texts and take other actions. A union official, granted anonymity to discuss the organizing effort, said they find that people want to “do something.”

Pelosi noted that in some places it may be safe to go door to door.

In Maine, where the number of virus cases has been low,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cde5bc59b59df67a89600d8e02c13ecf">both campaigns are stepping out</a>.

Democratic Senate candidate Sarah Gideon has resumed town-hall “Suppers with Sara” but with a socially distant, outdoor version of the state’s traditional dinners.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins recently launched a bus tour to meet with voters.

Dean, in Philadelphia, acknowledged there’s nothing to replace personal interaction. But she said she’s confident the virtual campaigns will meet the moment of these rocky times.

“The energy is high,” said Dean. “Sadly, it is so laced with anxiety.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600093164925.png" alt="Laura Lombard is running for the 4th District Kansas Congressional seat against Ron Estes-photo Lombard for Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Laura Lombard is running for the 4th District Kansas Congressional seat against Ron Estes-photo Lombard for Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean calls herself a “big hugger,” but there’s none of that in-person campaigning in the Philadelphia suburbs as the House freshman runs for reelection largely online to protect against the health risks of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">COVID-19.</a>Traveling the heartland, Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is taking the opposite approach. She just completed an annual 99-county tour of her state, mostly masked, but sometimes not, talking to modest-size groups — and, at one point, gathering close for a photo.The two lawmakers show the different tactics underway in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2020">pandemic election year&nbsp;</a>unlike any other as candidates try to win over voters beyond the White House in down-ballot races that will determine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c9b1ac944e8e759de99ced3a5ff90022">control of Congress</a>.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump&nbsp;</a>is setting the tone for his party, with big rallies and few masks. Democrats, led by presidential nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, are keeping events small and mostly virtual, confident that voters will reward them for adhering to public health protocols.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calls the campaign decisions “a matter of life and death.” The GOP leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy of California, a Trump ally, says the president’s party is showing up.By November, voters will decide who had the right approach — a high-stakes gamble as the coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c9b1ac944e8e759de99ced3a5ff90022">pandemic rewrites the rules&nbsp;</a>of political campaigning.“It’s a different world,” Dean said during a recent Zoom call with reporters.“I can’t wait for the day when I can go back to knocking on doors and being at train stations to speak to people directly,” she said. “But we’re making the most of it.”The House and Senate campaigns are courting voters as attitudes shift about COVID-19. In July, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9126a38ef22c244f9ca18f9584061f8d">AP-NORC poll&nbsp;</a>showed 85% of Americans said they were staying away from large groups, including 95% of Democrats and 75% of Republicans. By August, about three-quarters of Americans said they were at least somewhat concerned about themselves or a family member being infected, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/" target="_blank">the AP-NORC poll</a>.Public health experts warn that even as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/59d1132929f313a9c8e689ab3dbe26ac">number of cases&nbsp;</a>levels nationwide, Americans’ behavior will determine whether there’s another spike this fall with colder weather and the flu season.The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee told lawmakers it’s up to them to set an example.Campaigns are looked to “as leaders in the community,” said a DCCC memo obtained by The Associated Press, “and their health and safety precautions should reflect that.”Virtual town halls, phone banks, texting and Zoom-style meet-ups are replacing the traditional campaign events and door-knocking operations, which in years past have been seen as crucial to coax voters to the polls.One party strategist said Democrats believe voters will appreciate candidates who take COVID-19 risks seriously, attempting to draw a contrast to Trump and Republicans. The strategist and others were granted anonymity to discuss tactics the parties are employing.In Georgia, Senate candidate Jon Ossoff’s campaign is drawing thousands of people to online forums, more than strategists said could be reached by traditional canvassing. He is running against first-term GOP Sen. David Perdue.Republicans appear more willing to venture out.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held public events in some 20 Kentucky communities during August, showing up mostly masked. He faces Democratic former fighter pilot Amy McGrath this fall.Republicans are defending a narrow three-seat Senate majority as Democratic candidates gain traction in more than a half-dozen states, including Iowa, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina. That’s twice as many that Democrats would need to flip to tip party control.“Even in these challenging times, it’s my job to show up and hear directly from all Iowans,” Ernst said in a video message after finishing her all-county tour.Typically outside groups provide much of the legwork knocking doors to reach voters. This year, they, too, are taking divergent approaches.The Congressional Leadership Fund announced it’s unleashing $3.5 million to start put boots on the ground — with personal protective gear — in 12 House districts as Republicans stage a longshot fight to wrest control from Pelosi and Democrats. Republicans would need to win some 19 seats.A Republican strategist said the GOP reckons that with so many Americans home because of the coronavirus crisis there’s a “captive audience” of voters to reach.Tim Phillips of the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Action said his group started testing door knocking on June 1 to see what worked, what didn’t.Standing 8 to 10 feet away seemed better than 6, he said, and visitors followed local rules about mask wearing — sometimes on, sometimes just in hand.By July, the group expanded door-knocking nationwide and found people are very willing to open up, he said.“I can’t tell you how many times now I’ve had people say, ’You’re the first human interaction I’ve had for months now,’” said Phillips, who has knocked doors himself in several states, including North Carolina, where AFP Action is investing $11 million in the Senate race. He said the rate at which people answer the door is up at least 18% compared with pre-pandemic numbers.Elsewhere, the powerful American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees is launching its “big green machine” -- thousands of union workers and retirees — to virtual field offices to help elect Biden and “candidates up and down the ballot,” the union said.Volunteers can call voters, send texts and take other actions. A union official, granted anonymity to discuss the organizing effort, said they find that people want to “do something.”Pelosi noted that in some places it may be safe to go door to door.In Maine, where the number of virus cases has been low,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cde5bc59b59df67a89600d8e02c13ecf">both campaigns are stepping out</a>.Democratic Senate candidate Sarah Gideon has resumed town-hall “Suppers with Sara” but with a socially distant, outdoor version of the state’s traditional dinners.Incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins recently launched a bus tour to meet with voters.Dean, in Philadelphia, acknowledged there’s nothing to replace personal interaction. But she said she’s confident the virtual campaigns will meet the moment of these rocky times.“The energy is high,” said Dean. “Sadly, it is so laced with anxiety.”___

To door knock or not? Campaigning for Congress in COVID era

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed back against a Catholic archbishop’s criticism of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">COVID-related&nbsp;</a>restrictions, saying he should “follow science” rather than advocate for fuller in-person gatherings for Mass and worship.

Asked about Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone’s recent op-ed protesting limits on larger public gatherings, Pelosi, a practicing Catholic, said he should not be putting people’s lives at risk.

“With all due respect to my archbishop, I think we should follow science on this,” Pelosi said.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/402c62c194e1c0ef7e58dc77d7ac6f7a">right to worship</a>&nbsp;has become a fierce touchstone in the debate over state and local rules to stem the spread of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0bed79d024a56d2ac0b93bc51df80e9b">coronavirus</a>. The bishop said worshipers’ rights are being “unjustly repressed” by the government. Nationwide, several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7d2933ca919f33aa8c4c845e1d3febdc">churches are suing&nbsp;</a>to halt restrictions.

“We recognize that the government has a right to impose reasonable public health rules,” he wrote in The Washington Post. “But when government asserts authority over the church’s very right to worship, it crosses a line.”

Pelosi said she attended in-person service recently in her San Francisco hometown, and received communion — picking up the wafer from the priest, as is allowed, rather than having it placed directly on the tongue. She regularly joins online services.

“I miss going to church regularly,” she said.

The California Democrat said she had to sign up in advance to attend, and found about a dozen people spread out once she arrived. “Very, very, very spaced,” she said.

She questioned whether the archbishop’s message was misunderstood. “I’m sure he must have meant if it is scientifically safe, rather than jeopardizing people’s health if they want to go to church,” she said.

Pelosi noted that faith and science are sometimes seen at odds.

“Around here, people say to me, You’re a person of faith, why do you believe in science?” she said.

“I say, I believe science is an answer to our prayers. It is a creation of God, and one that is an answer to our prayers.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed back against a Catholic archbishop’s criticism of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">COVID-related&nbsp;</a>restrictions, saying he should “follow science” rather than advocate for fuller in-person gatherings for Mass and worship.Asked about Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone’s recent op-ed protesting limits on larger public gatherings, Pelosi, a practicing Catholic, said he should not be putting people’s lives at risk.“With all due respect to my archbishop, I think we should follow science on this,” Pelosi said.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/402c62c194e1c0ef7e58dc77d7ac6f7a">right to worship</a>&nbsp;has become a fierce touchstone in the debate over state and local rules to stem the spread of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0bed79d024a56d2ac0b93bc51df80e9b">coronavirus</a>. The bishop said worshipers’ rights are being “unjustly repressed” by the government. Nationwide, several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7d2933ca919f33aa8c4c845e1d3febdc">churches are suing&nbsp;</a>to halt restrictions.“We recognize that the government has a right to impose reasonable public health rules,” he wrote in The Washington Post. “But when government asserts authority over the church’s very right to worship, it crosses a line.”Pelosi said she attended in-person service recently in her San Francisco hometown, and received communion — picking up the wafer from the priest, as is allowed, rather than having it placed directly on the tongue. She regularly joins online services.“I miss going to church regularly,” she said.The California Democrat said she had to sign up in advance to attend, and found about a dozen people spread out once she arrived. “Very, very, very spaced,” she said.She questioned whether the archbishop’s message was misunderstood. “I’m sure he must have meant if it is scientifically safe, rather than jeopardizing people’s health if they want to go to church,” she said.Pelosi noted that faith and science are sometimes seen at odds.“Around here, people say to me, You’re a person of faith, why do you believe in science?” she said.“I say, I believe science is an answer to our prayers. It is a creation of God, and one that is an answer to our prayers.”

Pelosi to church: 'Follow science' on COVID-19 restrictions

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday promised to put forth a female nominee in the coming week to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pushing the Republican-controlled Senate to consider the pick without delay.

Taking the stage at a North Carolina rally to chants of “Fill that seat,” the president said he would nominate his selection despite Democrats’ objections. And, after conducting what he joked was a “very scientific poll” of the Fayetteville crowd as to whether supporters wanted a man or a woman, he declared the choice would be “a very talented, very brilliant woman.”

He added that he did not yet know whom he would choose.

“We win an election and those are the consequences,” said the president, who then seemed to signal that he’d be willing to accept a vote on his nominee during the lame duck period after the election. “We have a lot of time. We have plenty of time. We’re talking about January 20th.”

But one Republican senator already broke ranks. Maine’s Susan Collins, who is in a tough reelection battle, said Saturday that she believed replacing Ginsburg should be the decision of the president who is elected Nov. 3. Three more defections from the GOP ranks would be needed to stop Trump’s nominee from joining the court.

At stake is a seat held by a justice who was a champion of women’s rights and spent her final years on the bench as the unquestioned leader of the court’s liberal wing. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. vowed to call a vote for Trump’s nominee, but Democrats countered that Republicans should follow the precedent that GOP legislators set in 2016 by refusing to consider a Supreme Court choice in the run-up to an election.

The impending clash over the vacant seat — when to fill it and with whom — scrambles the stretch run of a presidential race for a nation already reeling from the pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 people, left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.

McConnell pledged to Trump in a phone call Friday night to bring the choice to a vote though he has not said if it would be before the election. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said any selection should come after Nov. 3. “Voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice to consider,” he said.

The president this month added 20 more names to his roster of potential court nominees, and aides in recent days have focused on a short list heavy on female candidates, according to four White House aides and officials close to the process. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations.

Those under close consideration for the high court include three women who are federal appeals court judges: Amy Coney Barrett, beloved among conservatives and an early favorite; Barbara Lagoa, who is Hispanic and comes from the battleground state of Florida; and Allison Jones Rushing, who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas and for Neil Gorsuch, when the current Trump-appointed justice was an appeals court judge.

At least one man, appeals court Judge Amul Thapar, has also been under consideration. A McConnell ally from Kentucky, he has been screened by Trump’s team for past openings and he would be the first Asian-American on the high court.

McConnell, who sets the calendar in the Senate and has made judicial appointments his priority, declared unequivocally in a statement that Trump’s nominee would receive a confirmation vote. In 2016, McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obama’s nominee months before the election, eventually preventing a vote on Judge Merrick Garland.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York convened a conference call with Democratic senators at midday Saturday, according to a person on the private call who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. He told senators the “number one goal” must be to communicate the stakes of the confirmation vote.

Schumer also warned that if Republicans push through the nominee, “nothing is off the table” for Senate rules changes to come, the person said.

Ginsburg’s death seemed certain to stoke enthusiasm in both political parties as the election could now be viewed as referendum on the high court’s decisions, including the future of abortion rights. Democrats raised more than $71 million in the hours after Ginsburg’s death, indicating her passing has already galvanized the party’s base.

Hundreds of mourners gathered for a second night outside the Supreme Court building, holding candles in honor of Ginsburg and listening to a succession of testimonies and rallying speeches. Among the speakers was Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who eulogized Ginsberg as “an icon, a trailblazer and a friend” and accused McConnell of seeking to cynically hijack the confirmation process.

“Today Mitch McConnell and his henchmen think they can ram through a Supreme Court justice only 45 days before the election,” Warren said. “What Mitch McConnell doesn’t understand is that the fight has just begun.”

A confirmation vote in the Senate is not guaranteed, even with a Republican majority.

McConnell has launched a risky, unprecedented strategy. It could motivate conservative voters to rally behind Trump and GOP senators or it could push away moderates who prefer to see the Senate stick to norms or are fearful of a right-leaning court stripping away women’s right to choose an abortion.

Typically, it takes several months to vet and hold hearings on a Supreme Court nominee, and time is short before November. Key senators may be reluctant to cast votes so close to the election. With a slim GOP majority, 53 seats in the 100-member chamber, Trump’s choice could afford to lose only a few.

McConnell did not specify the timing. But trying for confirmation in a lame-duck session after the Nov. 3 election, if Trump had lost to Biden or Republicans had lost the Senate, would carry further political complications.

Democrats immediately denounced McConnell’s move as hypocritical, pointing out that he refused to call hearings for Garland 237 days before the 2016 election. The 2020 election is 46 days away.

The average number of days to confirm a justice, according to the Congressional Research Service, is 69, which would be after the election. But some Republicans quickly noted that Ginsburg was confirmed in just 42 days. Obama waited more than a month to nominate Garland after Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016.

John Fischetti, who waited in line more than two hours to enter Trump’s Fayetteville rally, said replacing Ginsburg would inflame tensions but was within the president’s rights.

“I would assume it would make everyone more energized,” Fischetti said of the political repercussions. “Trump’s people want him to always press forward.”

Four GOP defections could defeat a nomination, while a tie vote could be broken by Vice President Mike Pence. After Collins’ decision, focus grew on Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah, who have been critical of Trump and protective of the institution of the Senate.

And because the Arizona Senate race is a special election, that seat could be filled as early as Nov. 30 — which would narrow the window for McConnell if the Democratic candidate, Mark Kelly, wins.

The next pick could shape important decisions beyond abortion rights, including any legal challenges that may stem from the 2020 election. In the interim, if the court were to take cases with eight justices, 4-4 ties would revert the decision to a lower court; for instance, the Affordable Care Act could then be struck down by a lower Texas court.

Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman to the high court if given the chance. His campaign reiterated Saturday that it would not release names before the election.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday promised to put forth a female nominee in the coming week to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, pushing the Republican-controlled Senate to consider the pick without delay.Taking the stage at a North Carolina rally to chants of “Fill that seat,” the president said he would nominate his selection despite Democrats’ objections. And, after conducting what he joked was a “very scientific poll” of the Fayetteville crowd as to whether supporters wanted a man or a woman, he declared the choice would be “a very talented, very brilliant woman.”He added that he did not yet know whom he would choose.“We win an election and those are the consequences,” said the president, who then seemed to signal that he’d be willing to accept a vote on his nominee during the lame duck period after the election. “We have a lot of time. We have plenty of time. We’re talking about January 20th.”But one Republican senator already broke ranks. Maine’s Susan Collins, who is in a tough reelection battle, said Saturday that she believed replacing Ginsburg should be the decision of the president who is elected Nov. 3. Three more defections from the GOP ranks would be needed to stop Trump’s nominee from joining the court.At stake is a seat held by a justice who was a champion of women’s rights and spent her final years on the bench as the unquestioned leader of the court’s liberal wing. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. vowed to call a vote for Trump’s nominee, but Democrats countered that Republicans should follow the precedent that GOP legislators set in 2016 by refusing to consider a Supreme Court choice in the run-up to an election.The impending clash over the vacant seat — when to fill it and with whom — scrambles the stretch run of a presidential race for a nation already reeling from the pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 people, left millions unemployed and heightened partisan tensions and anger.McConnell pledged to Trump in a phone call Friday night to bring the choice to a vote though he has not said if it would be before the election. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said any selection should come after Nov. 3. “Voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice to consider,” he said.The president this month added 20 more names to his roster of potential court nominees, and aides in recent days have focused on a short list heavy on female candidates, according to four White House aides and officials close to the process. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations.Those under close consideration for the high court include three women who are federal appeals court judges: Amy Coney Barrett, beloved among conservatives and an early favorite; Barbara Lagoa, who is Hispanic and comes from the battleground state of Florida; and Allison Jones Rushing, who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas and for Neil Gorsuch, when the current Trump-appointed justice was an appeals court judge.At least one man, appeals court Judge Amul Thapar, has also been under consideration. A McConnell ally from Kentucky, he has been screened by Trump’s team for past openings and he would be the first Asian-American on the high court.McConnell, who sets the calendar in the Senate and has made judicial appointments his priority, declared unequivocally in a statement that Trump’s nominee would receive a confirmation vote. In 2016, McConnell refused to consider President Barack Obama’s nominee months before the election, eventually preventing a vote on Judge Merrick Garland.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York convened a conference call with Democratic senators at midday Saturday, according to a person on the private call who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. He told senators the “number one goal” must be to communicate the stakes of the confirmation vote.Schumer also warned that if Republicans push through the nominee, “nothing is off the table” for Senate rules changes to come, the person said.Ginsburg’s death seemed certain to stoke enthusiasm in both political parties as the election could now be viewed as referendum on the high court’s decisions, including the future of abortion rights. Democrats raised more than $71 million in the hours after Ginsburg’s death, indicating her passing has already galvanized the party’s base.Hundreds of mourners gathered for a second night outside the Supreme Court building, holding candles in honor of Ginsburg and listening to a succession of testimonies and rallying speeches. Among the speakers was Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who eulogized Ginsberg as “an icon, a trailblazer and a friend” and accused McConnell of seeking to cynically hijack the confirmation process.“Today Mitch McConnell and his henchmen think they can ram through a Supreme Court justice only 45 days before the election,” Warren said. “What Mitch McConnell doesn’t understand is that the fight has just begun.”A confirmation vote in the Senate is not guaranteed, even with a Republican majority.McConnell has launched a risky, unprecedented strategy. It could motivate conservative voters to rally behind Trump and GOP senators or it could push away moderates who prefer to see the Senate stick to norms or are fearful of a right-leaning court stripping away women’s right to choose an abortion.Typically, it takes several months to vet and hold hearings on a Supreme Court nominee, and time is short before November. Key senators may be reluctant to cast votes so close to the election. With a slim GOP majority, 53 seats in the 100-member chamber, Trump’s choice could afford to lose only a few.McConnell did not specify the timing. But trying for confirmation in a lame-duck session after the Nov. 3 election, if Trump had lost to Biden or Republicans had lost the Senate, would carry further political complications.Democrats immediately denounced McConnell’s move as hypocritical, pointing out that he refused to call hearings for Garland 237 days before the 2016 election. The 2020 election is 46 days away.The average number of days to confirm a justice, according to the Congressional Research Service, is 69, which would be after the election. But some Republicans quickly noted that Ginsburg was confirmed in just 42 days. Obama waited more than a month to nominate Garland after Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016.John Fischetti, who waited in line more than two hours to enter Trump’s Fayetteville rally, said replacing Ginsburg would inflame tensions but was within the president’s rights.“I would assume it would make everyone more energized,” Fischetti said of the political repercussions. “Trump’s people want him to always press forward.”Four GOP defections could defeat a nomination, while a tie vote could be broken by Vice President Mike Pence. After Collins’ decision, focus grew on Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah, who have been critical of Trump and protective of the institution of the Senate.And because the Arizona Senate race is a special election, that seat could be filled as early as Nov. 30 — which would narrow the window for McConnell if the Democratic candidate, Mark Kelly, wins.The next pick could shape important decisions beyond abortion rights, including any legal challenges that may stem from the 2020 election. In the interim, if the court were to take cases with eight justices, 4-4 ties would revert the decision to a lower court; for instance, the Affordable Care Act could then be struck down by a lower Texas court.Biden has promised to nominate a Black woman to the high court if given the chance. His campaign reiterated Saturday that it would not release names before the election.___