Category Archives: Progress

The winning cookies in the 2021 Holiday Cookie Contest sponsored by The Progress are an eclectic group of confections. The popular event was held on Monday, Dec. 13.

First place is a pastry roll filled with fruits and nuts, second is a drop cookie chock full of fruit, nuts and candy, and third place is a semi-homemade recipe that starts with a cake mix all completely different but each is very delicious.

Judy Kephart of Clearfield said she researched various recipes before coming up with her first place Rugelach Cookie.

I researched various recipes on line. I get a lot of recipes there. I liked this type of a dough and fillings with fruits and nuts.

Kephart said the recipe takes a bit of time to put together but said the steps are not difficult.

You shouldnt overwork the dough but it is a nice dough to work with. I would also recommend the egg wash and sprinkling the cookies with powdered sugar. It makes the cookies look even nicer.

Kephart said she also added some dried cranberries to the cookies filling because she likes cranberries and thought they would enhance the filling.

1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup finely chopped nuts

1 egg beaten with a splash of water

Use a standard mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese, butter and sugar. Add the vanilla and mix to incorporate. Add the flour and salt mix until everything is combined. Dough will be sticky. Divide the dough into four equal pieces. Wrap each piece in plastic and put in the refrigerator for eight hours or overnight. When ready to bake, take the dough out of the refrigerator about an hour before your are ready to use it. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Make the filling by mixing together the sugars, walnuts and cinnamon. The apricot preserves can be put into the microwave for a few seconds to loosen it up. Take each piece of dough and roll each into a 9-inch circle on a well-floured surface. Brush or spread a thin layer of preserves overtop of the dough circle. Sprinkle some of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over it. Lightly press the sugar mixture into the dough. Cut each circle into 12 little triangles (like cutting a pizza). Starting at the wide end of each triangle, roll the dough like a crescent. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. Place the cookies seam-side down on the baking sheet and brush the tops with egg wash. Place the cookies in the refrigerator for approximately 15 minutes to allow the dough to firm up. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cookies are baked through. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Debbie Bowser of Curwensville said her second place Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies are a family recipe.

My Mom made these for years. I make them at holiday time when fresh cranberries are available, Bowser said.

Bowser suggested chopping the cranberries very finely before adding them to the dough to allow the fruit to be more evenly distributed.

She said the recipe, which makes four dozen cookies, can easily be doubled.

Debbie Bowsers Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1/2 cup fresh cranberries, finely chopped

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugars, beat until creamy. Mix in eggs and vanilla. Beat until well-blended. In a separate bowl whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add the flour mixture to the large mixing bowl and mix well. Stir in the oatmeal. Gently stir in the cranberries, pecans and white chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until browned around the edges. Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Susan Kline of Frenchville earned third place for her Ooey Gooey Cookies.

Kline said she got the recipe from Facebook a number of years ago.

I like this recipe. Its easy to prepare, the ingredients are readily available and make a delicious cookie.

Although the recipe calls for colorful sprinkles in its list of ingredients, Kline said she often doesnt add them.

This cookie freezes well and it stays soft a long time. We really like them, she added.

1 8-ounce package of cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sprinkles, divided

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

Cream together the butter and cream cheese. Add the egg and the vanilla, beat until just combined. Beat in the cake mix until well blended. Stir in 1/4 cup of sprinkles. Refrigerate dough one hour or overnight. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the cookie sheet or line with parchment paper. Scoop out rounded tablespoonfuls of dough and roll into one-inch balls. Sprinkle the ball with sprinkles, then roll in confectioners sugar until completely covered. Place balls about two-inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to sit on the sheets for two minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Originally posted here:

Winning recipes in The Progress' 2021 Holiday Cookie Contest - Clearfield Progress

No one should expect miracles or quick solutions the path forward will be necessarily incremental. But I hope that this coming year we can work on concrete steps towards the implementation of Security Council resolution 2254, he said.

The resolution, adopted in December 2015, outlines a roadmap for a peace process in Syria, where a decade of war has killed more than 350,000 people.

Strategic stalement

Six years on, it remains regrettably a long way from being implemented, said Mr. Pedersen. But I do believe there are possibilities for progress that need to be explored in 2022.

A strategic stalemate has continued on the ground for 21 months, he said, making it increasingly clear that no existing actor or group of actors can determine the outcome of the conflict, and that a military solution remains an illusion.

Furthermore, all sides face grave risks and costs by simply trying to muddle through with the unacceptable status quo, he added, especially given factors that include ongoing suffering and displacement, economic collapse, the de facto division of the country, and the dangers of renewed escalation.

The status quo has many dangers, and it would be folly only to manage an unacceptable and deteriorating stalemate, said Mr. Pedersen. Equally, the realities facing all parties should promote an interest in compromise, and open opportunities for concrete steps forward on the political track.

Wide-ranging engagement

The UN envoy reported that he has been highlighting these dynamics in all his engagements with those who can help end the fighting.

With each passing month, I have sensed a wider realization than before that political and economic steps are needed - and that these can really only happen together step-by-step, step-for-step, he said.

Mr. Pedersen has met recently with the Syrian Government in Damascus, and with Foreign Ministers from the region. He also briefed American, European, Arab and Turkish envoys when they met in Brussels.

Overcoming mistrust

My sense from all these engagements is that there is still great mistrust on all sides, he said. Nevertheless, there is enough interest from all sides to test what could be possible via a wider political process.

To further explore this, Mr. Pedersen has been consulting senior officials from key Syrian and international stakeholders. Talks have been held in Geneva so far with Russia, the European Union, Turkey and Qatar. Consultations with additional participants are also anticipated.

Let me recall here that while the political solution in Syria must be Syrian-owned and Syrian-led, many issues are not solely in the hands of the Syrians. Moreover, we have seen that when key stakeholders work together with mutual steps on issues of common concern, at least some progress has been possible, he said.

Constitutional Committee update

At the same time, Mr. Pederson remains actively engaged in getting the Syrian Constitutional Committee to reconvene, while also meeting with civil society representatives, including members of the Womens Advisory Board.

The Constitutional Committee comprises equal numbers of representatives from the Syrian Government, opposition and civil society, the so-called Middle Third.

A drafting process began during its last meeting, held in October in Geneva, but ended without consensus on moving forward.

Mr. Pedersen said it was important that delegations not only table texts but be ready to commit to revising them, in light of discussions held over recent weeks in Damascus and Istanbul.

To be clear: I am ready to convene a Seventh session of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva as soon as understandings are in place. And once they are, we will of course brief the Civil Society Middle Third in preparation for a Seventh Session.

Cross-line humanitarian aid

Meanwhile, the UN continues to deliver aid to millions of Syrians, amid a complex operating environment.

UN humanitarian affairs chief Martin Griffiths reported that two cross-line convoys have been deployed in the northwest of the country. The latest was just days ago, and together they carried food and other supplies for around 80,000 people. Another is planned for January.

Through our access negotiations, we were able to identify solutions acceptable for all parties, but agreement needs to be reached on who would be involved in conducting cross-line convoys, and who would be authorized to distribute the aid, he said.

Sustained operations needed

A local team from the World Food Programme (WFP) also began food distributions last Thursday through a newly established mechanism, and the UN will continue to push for these to proceed.

Mr. Griffiths said this initial progress must be translated into more predictable and sustained humanitarian operations.

We will continue to do all in our power to facilitate these cross-line convoys convoy once a month, delivery every week. And I call upon all parties to facilitate, to help, and not to block the implementation of our plan.

With winter setting in, millions of Syrians are bracing for intense cold, including displaced people forced to live, for now, in tents.

And I regret to say that the humanitarian operation simply does not have sufficient funds to provide the basic shelter, heating, and warm clothes to all of those in need, Mr. Griffiths told the Council.

As I say, we are failing in our responsibilities to the people of Syria.

Originally posted here:

UN envoy outlines 'possibilities for progress' in Syria next year - UN News

A friend who covered baseball once shared with me an all-fun anecdote from a manger they covered. This manager told my friend there are two types of guys in a clubhouse: Ballplayers and mothercluckers. Only he didnt say clucker.

That story came to mind on Monday Night Football, as I watched Teven Jenkins play in his debut as a starting left tackle because I came away with the impression that the rookie is a motherclucker. And I mean that as a compliment. For instance, this rocked my socks:

That rep was everything the Bears were dreaming of when they made a trade up to draft Jenkins in Round 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft. Athleticism to get to the edge. An ability to maul dudes in space. Plus the tenacity to be an enforcer through (and past) the echo of the whistle. That is what offensive line play is supposed to look like. And its certainly something the Bears should be desiring from each of their linemen (as well as others they bring in down the line).

Even with the positive vibes emanating from above, its this play that will be the most memorable:

Silly penalty? Sure was. Its never a good thing when youre putting your offensebehind the sticks. Chicagos offense already has enough issues operating in neutral or even favorable situations. But this Bears team has beentaking crap for far too long, and someone had to push back. Jenkins did what so many others have failed to do in recent years. Thats because he is a motherclucker. And because of it, I think hell be OK.

To be clear, Im not clearing space in Canton just yet. Jenkins is a work in progress. There are things in his game that need to be smoothed out, but that is to be expected from a player in his third professional game. Among the issues that need cleaning up is the penalty problem. False starts at home are unacceptable. Blocking without holding is something to work on moving forward, as well. And sure, there will be a chorus hoping Jenkins can tidy up the most egregious unnecessary penalties. But allow that to be done naturally.

Let me make it perfectly clear. I do not condone actions that will put your team behind the 8-ball or even get you tossed from games of consequence. HOWEVER, the sticking up for your teammates is a penalty Ill gladly accept. Germain Ifedi shouldnt have chastised Jenkins for doing the right thing. Jenkins should not have felt the wrath of a teammate after doing something that was a long-time coming. Moving forward, the Bears need a little nasty in their game. Jenkins provides that. And should he continue to show off that relentless mauling style as he did for most of last night, hell be fine.

Read more:

Teven Jenkins is a Work in Progress, But You Gotta Love the Physicality - bleachernation.com

Victoria Knight

Eleven months ago, President Joe Biden assumed office during one of the most critical moments of the covid-19 pandemic. Case counts and death rates were shockingly high. The vaccine rollout, which had started under former President Donald Trump, was disjointed. People were generally sequestered in their homes, and kids were relegated to remote learning.

Biden promised to change all that. He said he would differ from Trump in that he would listen to the scientists, encourage the use of masks and give the federal government a stronger role in addressing the pandemic. He also pledged to deliver the most efficient mass vaccination plan in U.S. history and to get 100 million covid shots administered in his first 100 days.

How well did Biden do? We asked four public health experts who said the presidents vaccine rollout, overall, was excellent, but his messaging was off at certain points, and other setbacks both within and beyond his control stymied progress against covid-19.

After all, cases in the U.S. are again surging, largely due to the delta and omicron variants. In some places, these numbers, as well as hospitalization tallies, are approaching the highest levels in months. This month, the U.S. surpassed 800,000 covid-related deaths since the pandemic started, and the 1 million mark is in view. The reopening of Broadway shows something viewed by many as a sign that normalcy was returning is facing interruptions as breakthrough cases among cast members cause intermittent performance cancellations. The sports world is facing its own covid-related disturbances. Colleges have announced they will hold final exams remotely and are canceling winter graduations.

All of this calls into question how much progress has been made against covid. Lets take a look at what happened in 2021 and whether Bidens efforts have made a difference.

Even before taking office, Biden set an initial target of getting 100 million doses of vaccine administered in his first 100 days. While there was initial uncertainty about this target, it turned out to be an easily achievable goal that took only 58 days.

Still, vaccine distribution unfolded by fits and starts. At first, only certain populations were eligible for shots. And when Biden announced he was ordering states to open up eligibility to all adults May 1, demand outstripped vaccine supply in many locations. By summer, though, most who wanted a vaccine could get one free of charge.

That push was extraordinary, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. The Biden administration increased the number of people to get shots, they increased the number of places to get shots, they reduced the number of disparities for those getting shots, he said.

Indeed, getting almost half of the U.S. population fully vaccinated in the first six months of 2021 resulted in a huge drop in covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths by early summer. Recent data from the Commonwealth Fund indicates that the covid vaccination program in the U.S. prevented 1 million deaths and 10 million hospitalizations.

Yet, those two optimistic signs high vaccine availability and low covid cases led the Biden administration to prematurely assert triumph over the virus, said Dr. Leana Wen, a professor of health policy and management at George Washington University. This was just one of several messaging missteps made by Biden and his administration in 2021, said the experts.

They had declared victory right when delta was starting to surge, Wen said.

Wen pointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions confused messaging, starting with an announcement in May that those who were fully vaccinated no longer needed to wear masks indoors or outdoors, or practice physical distancing, even though those strategies had proved useful in combating the virus.

The change in mask guidance came at a pivotal time. The dangerous delta variant was beginning to take hold throughout the U.S., and public health officials were only starting to understand that those who had been vaccinated could still spread the virus. As delta boosted case counts in midsummer, the CDC had to walk back its guidance to recommend that vaccinated people resume wearing masks indoors if they lived in an area with substantial or high transmission. This remains the recommendation. Yet, that initial announcement opened a door for many states and localities to repeal their mask requirements and never reinstate them, despite continued high levels of transmission nationwide.

The unmasking order back in May was too hastily done, Benjamin said. That was a misstep.

Also, Bidens announcement in mid-August that booster shots would be available by Sept. 20 to all Americans preceded both the Food and Drug Administrations recommendation and the CDCs guidance on boosters for everyone another stumble. The FDA didnt authorize boosters for all adults until November.

I think people saw that as him making a political statement, Benjamin said. He knew that was where we were going, where the science was taking us. He got ahead of it.

Overall, though, Biden followed the science, said the experts. Plus, implementing regular covid media briefings with scientists and public health leaders, and allowing Dr. Anthony Fauci, his chief medical adviser, to be front and center and not contradicting his advice, represented a meaningful change from the previous administration, when daily briefings were held but speakers often dismissed scientific evidence in favor of untested treatments and the president, himself, would dismiss the pandemics severity.

Biden also used the power of his office to advance certain public health measures. He issued vaccine mandates for federal employees and contractors, health care workers and certain companies. This has increased the number of people vaccinated, though the mandates, except for the one aimed at government workers, are on hold while objections work their way through the court system.

And, despite state rollbacks of mask mandates, the president has continued to require masking in areas under his control, including within the interstate transportation and air travel industries and in federal buildings. He also signed a $1.9 trillion covid relief law in March that provided financial assistance to people in the form of stimulus checks, child tax credits and additional unemployment benefits, as well as aid to states and local governments.

However, one area in which government efforts have been severely lacking is covid testing, said every public health expert we consulted.

We need more availability of at-home rapid tests. There shouldnt be shortages, said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, which represents state and local public health agencies.

The Biden administration has invoked the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of rapid tests, and is providing tests free of charge to community health clinics and requiring private insurance companies to reimburse consumers for tests they buy.

It could do more, said Jen Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at KFF.

They still havent gone to the next step and bought tests and sent them to every household, to really blanket the country with tests, Kates said. That would prove especially vital if the U.S. does indeed experience a winter surge due to delta and omicron as anticipated.

Variants, especially delta, have caused more serious disease symptoms than other forms of the covid virus, exacerbating the challenge of battling the pandemic this year. Still, data shows that covid-related death rates were far higher among the unvaccinated than the vaccinated. The volume of people unwilling to get the shot because of vaccine hesitancy or misinformation may have contributed to the high number of covid deaths in 2021, which have surpassed 2020, said Kates.

In addition, covid vaccines werent widely available to everyone in the U.S. until May. Plus, during 2020, much of the U.S. was locked down at home, while many activities have resumed in 2021, with increased opportunities for viral spread.

Still, under Biden, according to the latest metrics, more than 61% of the U.S. population and 72% of adults have been fully vaccinated against covid.

I think we should really be celebrating the 70% more, Plescia said. For adult vaccinations, we never get anywhere close to that number with other vaccines, like influenza.

Yet, as the nation stares down omicron, the country braces for increasing cases amid continued uncertainty over when the pandemic will finally end.

Experts agreed the U.S. has made positive gains in its efforts against covid this year, but there is more work to do. Testing, continuing to encourage vaccinations and boosters in the U.S., and providing shots to the world to help prevent future variants are the only ways to reach a point where covid becomes endemic, they said.

We are in a different place. Last year we needed vaccines. Now we need to get to the point where testing is the norm, Wen said. This is how were going to live with covid in our lives in the future and is how we as America will be able to move on.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

This story can be republished for free (details).

See original here:

The Vaccine Rollout Was a Success. But Events Within and Beyond Bidens Control Stymied Progress. - Kaiser Health News

Second of two parts

The organizational infrastructure is in place. So is the talent. As the next wave of prospects prepares to hit Broadway, director of player development Jed Ortmeyer provided The Post with a progress report on the cream of the Rangers crop.

The Blueshirts are expected to be in the market for a physical, right defenseman as the scheduled March 21 trade deadline approaches, but before attempting to deal for someone like say, Anaheims Josh Manson, would the team give an opportunity to Braden Schneider, who is in his first season of pro hockey and will not turn 21 until September?

Thats a question way above my pay grade in terms of what the timeline is and what moves are made and who is making those calls, Ortmeyer said of the 19th-overall selection of the 2020 draft for whom the Rangers traded up to select. But as an organization we believe that the best players are going to play, and if somebody is ready to go and we believe he can help us win games, then I am assuming he would be the next man up.

I couldnt put a timeline on it because I dont have that information and Im not taking over [general manager] Chris Drurys job, but in terms of putting the best team on the ice, if the time comes for someone in Hartford to get a look and that helps us win games, I think management would do the best for the organization.

Exclusive for Post Sports+ members: Larry Brooks goes even deeper into breaking down the Rangers prospects ranks. Not a Sports+ member yet?Try it now.

Matthew Robertson, the 49th-overall selection out of the 2018 second round, is also 20. The 6-foot-4, 201-pounder, also in his first season of pro hockey, has been paired much of the time with the 6-2, 210-pound Schneider.

Consistency is the biggest thing you want to see from young prospects, being able to come to the rink every day and take care of your on-ice and off-ice responsibilities while seeing the big picture, Ortmeyer said. [Robertson] is big, he skates well, he handles the puck pretty well.

Hes worked hard at his offensive game of moving across the blue line, getting pucks through and being effective that way. For his size and the way he can skate, hes not one-dimensional. He could fill whatever role would be needed in your lineup, could be a Swiss Army knife to move up and down.

Zac Jones, 21, of course, played 10 games for the Rangers at the end of last season after leaving UMass. He had an outstanding NHL camp, but the slick, 5-10, 172-pound lefty will likely have to force his way onto the varsity that already includes smaller types in Adam Fox and Nils Lundkvist.

I think theres a little disappointment [that he is not in New York] but if there isnt disappointment, then weve got the wrong guy, right? Ortmeyer asked rhetorically. To Zacs credit, his attitude never changed. He comes to the rink, hes got a smile on his face, he wants to work hard, hes good in practice and he has been playing very well in Hartford.

He wants to play 25 minutes and in all situations, and I know he would want to be in New York. But Zac also sees the value of getting those minutes and working on his game so hes ready when the time comes. He has understood that. It shows in his attitude and in his play.

There are certain things you cant get away with in pro hockey that you could in college hockey when it comes to things like boxing out, Ortmeyer said. As a smaller guy, you have to learn how to do that away from the net as opposed to at the net. There are tricks you learn playing against bigger bodies, more mature, hungry pro hockey players. Thats the value of Zac spending this time in Hartford.

Hes gifted offensively and makes plays you cant really teach. He scored a power-play goal the other night going coast-to-coast to tie the game. That was just a special play that shows how talented Zac is. If we can enhance all those other aspects, his offensive game becomes even more valuable.

When this years No. 1, Brennan Othmann, was returned to Flint after a strong first Rangers training camp, the winger vowed to dominate his league. And that is what he has done, tied for third in the OHL with 20 goals and tied for 10th with 37 points in 24 games as an 18-year-old even as he was snubbed for a spot on Canadas World Junior team.

His mindset is in the right place. Hes using this as motivation to get better, said Ortmeyer, who visited with Othmann last week. Hes putting up points, has a great shot and has a knack for finding the back of the net. But the thing I really like that translates and you cant teach, is his compete.

Hes willing to block shots, he finishes his checks, he wants the puck on his stick all the time, to almost a fault. Hes very passionate about winning and achieving success. You cant teach that. Whether you call that swagger or determination, if you add that to his natural scoring ability, theres something really special there.

Its going to take time for him to physically mature and add some strength to his [6-0, 180] frame but once that catches up to his hockey ability, the sky is the limit.

Will Cuylle, selected 60th overall in 2020 with the pick obtained from LA for Lias Andersson, will represent Canada in the World Juniors after recording 18 goals in 22 games for Windsor. The 6-4, 210-pound winger picked right up where he left off following an outstanding Rangers camp after having the benefit of playing for the Wolf Pack last year under unique COVID protocols.

We wanted him to go back, be a man amongst boys and dominate physically and have success offensively, Ortmeyer said of the 19-year-old. Hes got a big, heavy shot and we wanted him to use it and get that confidence that comes with scoring goals while building off those habits he was able to establish last year in Hartford, like backchecking responsibly, finishing checks, stick position and details like those. Were excited.

It was Ortmeyer who raised the name, unsolicited, when asked if thered been a prospect hed not yet been asked about. Kravtsov? he said. Im pretty excited about him.

That of course would be winger Vitali Kravtsov, 21, the ninth-overall selection from 2018, who has been here, gone home, returned here, went back home again and is now on assignment to KHL Traktor Chelyabinsk with perhaps one last chance of playing for the Rangers.

I think hes got a lot of talent, Ortmeyer said. We want to see him do well. Hes still one of our guys and we want to be a resource for him and be there for whatever he needs. We hope he has a great season, and what happens after that is obviously above my pay grade.

Originally posted here:

Where Rangers' top prospects stand and how much progress they're making - New York Post

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The White House said Tuesday that people wont have to wear masks "all the time" as soon as "we make progress" fighting COVID-19.

A senior administration official told Fox News that the future "will look better" after more people are vaccinated andtherapeutics are made more available, adding that the goal is for people to learn how to "live with the virus" without it taking such a toll on their lives.

BIDEN TO ANNOUNCE SUPPORT FOR HOSPITALS, ACCESS TO FREE COVID TESTS, VACCINE AVAILABILITY AMID OMICRON SURGE

President Biden walks to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House Dec. 17, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

"We realized in the press when people say we have to live with this virus, you think, Oh my God, it's gonna be as bad as it is right now. Absolutely not," the official said. "We live with other respiratory viruses with a cold for example, and we don't shut down society because of the common cold, right? We can knock down the severity and frequency of COVID-19 [and] we can get on with our lives."

The officials comments came ahead of President Bidens speech Tuesday afternoon, in which he was expected to announce a multipronged approach to tackling the pandemic amid the spread of the omicron variant, including providing more support to hospitals, access to free testing and adding more vaccination sites and vaccinators.

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City residents wait in a line extending around the block to receive free at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits in Philadelphia, Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The official said the administration is expecting a significant rise in cases this winter, including among the vaccinated, because omicron spreads easily, but that vaccinated people will likely have mild symptoms or none at all.

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White House: People won't have to 'wear a mask all the time' if 'we make progress' fighting COVID - Fox News

Assessments of the UN climate conference COP26s success have been mixed, but none have been entirely positive. Achieving the Paris agreements target of limiting global warming to 1.5 above pre-industrial levels is a goal described by UN secretary general Antnio Guterres as on life support, whilst reports in the wake of the conference suggested that the world is on track for disastrous levels of global warming.

The response in some quarters has been to call for tough new targets, yet as the chief executive of the UKs Climate Change Committee noted, this is likely to simply widen the gap between ambition and delivery.

This problem cuts to the core of rich nations efforts to tackle climate change. The announcement of its sixth carbon budget in April 2021, for example, saw the UK commit to reducing carbon emissions by 78% compared to 1990 levels. As the government claimed, this sets in law the worlds most ambitious climate change target.

But these targets will never be able to properly challenge the climate crisis without first tackling the implicit carbon colonialism that underpins the UKs approach to climate change. Here, carbon is measured according to a two-tier system: rigorously within UK borders and far less carefully outside them.

This approach to the countrys carbon footprint makes little sense in the face of the worldwide problem of climate change. Around 22% of global carbon emissions are caused by producing goods, like clothes and electronics, that are actually consumed in a different country. The UK is a notable consumer in fact, the third highest globally of imported emissions like these. Nevertheless, climate targets set by the UK government focus on reducing emissions from within the country.

Currently, UK laws regulating emissions only apply to domestically produced products, whilst imported products are subject to voluntary standards meaning the companies that make them dont have to accurately report their emissions. This encourages outsourcing of emissions overseas. The dirtiest and most carbon intensive industries, such as fast fashion and construction, are transplanted to developing countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

UK companies that wish to appear green can then more easily make claims of zero deforestation or zero waste to landfill in their supply chains even if theyre untrue since lack of enforcement in these countries means many claims go unchecked. The human and environmental exploitation associated with cobalt mining for phone parts in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a chilling example.

From the perspective of national targets, these industries emissions have disappeared, contributing to the so-called success of the UKs decarbonisation strategy. But from the perspective of the planet, they havent gone anywhere.

Theres another complication. Its hard to assess the true extent of international supply chains because theyre inherently murky. They cross borders, usually involve multiple companies, and are measured differently between countries. That makes calculating the emissions in these chains politically and technically challenging.

However, UK laws dont offer any incentives for those involved in supply chains to detail the complex processes, and people, involved. This means that many supply chains are reported to both government and consumers in a highly simplified way, allowing companies to appear more compliant with emissions targets than they are.

This practice hides the true distances travelled by raw materials in the chains, as well as the real environmental impact of what theyre used to make. The clothing industry offers an example of this problem even industry leaders such as Stella McCartney admit that tracing the provenance of material used to make their clothes is extremely difficult.

This system needs a serious overhaul, particularly in light of the governments announcement that emissions from shipping will form part of the UKs net zero commitments. In the case of the clothing industry, current assessments of the length of shipping supply chains and therefore the emissions they produce are enormous underestimates.

If the UK is to achieve its carbon commitments, there needs to be better regulation of its supply chains and less reliance on voluntary reporting of what goes on within them. And to truly tackle the climate crisis, we need to address the carbon colonialism that continues to influence environmental policy. Our environmental footprint does not begin or end at our borders: neither should the way we measure it.

Originally posted here:

Carbon colonialism must be challenged if we want to make climate progress - The Conversation UK

Focusing on what it termed a backlogged case load, the Moore-Hoke District Attorneys Office closed almost 1,600 felony cases pending in Superior Court this past year, according to a newly released status report.

District Attorney Mike Hardin, who took office Jan. 1, issued the report to demonstrate the work his prosecutors accomplished this year.

It has been a busy year, Hardin said.

According to data supplied by the Administrative Office of the Courts, Hardins office had closed 1,584 felony cases as of Dec. 1. That compares to 601 cases closed in 2018; 719 cases closed in 2019 and 657 cases closed in 2020, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Operating under coronavirus protocols imposed by state judicial officials, prosecutors conducted 16 jury trials in the two-county district. Hardin said his staff focused on serious cases involving defendants who had been held in jail for longer periods of time.

Jesse Martin and Debra Dorsett were charged on Aug. 22, 2014 with murder in connection with the death of 71-year-old Elden Kitson Vanderwal on Aug. 23. Vanderwal's body was found after a fire in a home at 216 Brewer Road near Seagrove. An autopsy later showed he was murdered before the fire was set.

Both Martin and Dorsett had been held in custody for nearly seven years.

Martin received a sentence of between 13 years, eight months to 17 years, five months. Dorsett received a sentence between 13 years, one month to 16 years, nine months.

Co-defendant Dannie Smith was not in custody but his case had been pending the same length of time. The file contained information showing that he was innocent of the charges, and prosecutors dismissed charges.

Montice McManus was charged on Oct. 28, 2016 with murder in connection with the death of 12-year-old Jalinda Campbell, who was shot in the chest standing outside a duplex apartment in the 700 block of West Michigan Avenue. Jalinda had been a popular student at Southern Middle School at the time of the shooting. Police say another standing nearby was the intended target of the drive-by shooting.

McManus had been held in custody for nearly five years awaiting trial. He received a sentence of 16-20 years in prison.

Jose Angel Castillo was charged April 1, 2017 with statutory sex offense, statutory rape, indecent liberties and been in custody nearly four years awaiting trial. He was sentenced to serve between eight years, eight months to 15 years, five months.

Willie Williams was charged with murder on June 17, 2018 in connection with the death of a popular Southern Pines, DJ, 65-year-old, Robert Davis. Davis was shot to death in his Southern Pines home and found on Fathers Day.

Williams had been waiting in jail for three years for his case. Hardin said Superior Court Judge James Webb had issued a speedy trial order in this case in 2019. When set for trial, he pleaded guilty and received a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Freeman Scott Ireland was charged on Sept. 28, 2018 with second-degree rape and had been in custody nearly three years. He received a maximum sentence of three years, eight months.

Mathew West was charged on Aug. 2, 2019 with statutory sex offense, indecent liberties, statutory rape and dissemination of obscene material and had been in custody for nearly three years awaiting trial. He received a maximum sentence of 17 years.

Dallas Walters Jr. was charged with murder on June 10, 2019 in connection with the death of Rex Hayes Watson, a 57-year-old who was found dead at a home the men shared off Rollins Road in Vass. Walters had been in custody nearly two years awaiting trial. Walters received a maximum sentence of 17.66 years in prison.

Jose Silva Jr was charged on Feb. 14, 2019 with first-degree sexual exploitation, indecent liberties, second-degree sexual exploitation, and statutory rape of a child by an adult. He had been in custody for nearly two years awaiting trial. Silva received a maximum sentence of almost 40 years in prison.

Jerry Rickett was charged with first-degree statutory sex offense on March 1, 2019 and had been in custody for more than two years. He received a maximum sentence of more than 24 years in prison.

Jacob Lee, an ex-Army paratrooper charged with drunkenly assaulted the elderly owners of a Southern Pines bed and breakfast in February, 2020, pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary andfelonious assault. He received a maximum prison sentence of slightly more than 18 years in prison.

Additionally, Hardins office attempted to work on the backlog of old cases that had been sitting in District Court.

In March, shortly after taking office, Hardins office identified 74 Driving While Impaired cases pending in Moore County District Court, with dates of offense from 2019 or earlier.

In an effort to dispose of these, Hardin requested a special four-day session of district court.

As a result, 46 DWI cases were scheduled for trial. Of those, 35 were dispatched, with 31 resulting in guilty verdicts. Overall, the special session ended in an 88.5 percent conviction rate with closure of nearly half of the backlogged cases.

Hardin said in his report he was proud of several other accomplishments this year, including greater outreach by his staff. He said that although a staff member may have spoken with crime victims by phone previously, they had never actually met with the attorney in their case.

Hardin said the office also dedicated a new childrens room in the Moore County office to accommodate child victims.

And he said prosecutors began mandatory stamping of serious felony files, allowing law enforcement to sit down and discuss these cases shortly after cases were charged.

Moore County had been in its own judicial district until lawmakers combined it with Hoke County, effective at the beginning of 2021. Maureen Krueger had been district attorney since 2007 and had announced plans to seek re-election in 2020 but later withdrew those plans and instead supported her assistant prosecutor, Arthur Donadio, for the post. Hardin beat Donadio in a March 2020 Republican primary. No Democrat ran for the post.

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DA's Office Issues Progress Report for '21 | News | thepilot.com - Southern Pines Pilot

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

If youre still holding out hope for a swift end to the MLB lockout, that hope is fading fast. According to ESPNs Jesse Rogers, the league and the MLBPA have made very little progress toward a new deal, having only discussed non-core issues this month while saving the heavy lifting the major economic issues for January negotiations. Rogers adds, its anyone guess right now if that will happen on Jan. 2 or Jan. 22.

Youre telling me the players and owners might not even start talking about the most contentious issues until late January? Given how long those negotiations will surely take, it would be a miracle for the two sides to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement before pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report in mid-February. And the longer thats pushed back, the more danger there is of the 2022 season failing to start on time.

For now, though, nobody involved seems to feel any particular sense of urgency, especially with the holiday season upon us. And so we wait. As always.

And while were waiting, how about taking a crack at todays Camden Chat Sporcle quiz? Lets see how well you know Orioles playoff teams specifically, every starting pitcher for Orioles playoff teams. Youll surely know a bunch of great Os pitchers who started many postseason games, but once you get down to the one- and two-gamers, this ones a puzzler. I definitely wouldnt have guessed a few of those names without looking them up.

A conversation with Orioles player development director Matt Blood, Part 2 The AthleticI had never heard the term practice design before, but its something the Orioles really value in their new hitting coaches. Its almost like these guys are smarter than me.

Bemboom braced for competition and Rutschmans arrival - School of RochWeve been seeing very few interviews with actual baseball players since the lockout began. So this chat with new catcher Anthony Bemboom, however unexciting, is a refreshing change of pace.

Wondering how many of the Orioles gang will join Showalter in New York - BaltimoreBaseball.comRich Dubroff speculates new Mets manager Buck Showalter could reunite with some of his former Orioles coaches, or players, for his coaching staff in New York. Any staff that includes Adam Jones would have my heartfelt approval.

The pitcher that went from Rule 5 longshot to bullpen stalwart - Steve MelewskiSpoiler: it was Tyler Wells.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Two Orioles from the past decade have birthdays today right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (33) and catcher Taylor Teagarden (38) as do four guys who each played 10+ years in the majors but only one season apiece with the Birds: righties Roger McDowell (61) and LaTroy Hawkins (49) and outfielders Elliott Maddox (74) and Andy Van Slyke (61).

On this day in 1976, the Orioles officially parted ways with veteran lefty and 22nd best Oriole of all time, Mike Cuellar, granting him his release. Cuellars eight-year career with the Birds had featured a Cy Young award, four 20-win seasons, three All-Star selections, four years of down-ballot MVP votes, and a World Series championship. He was coming off a rough 1976 season, though, in which he went 4-13 with a 4.96 ERA. Cuellar signed with the Angels but worked just two games before calling it a career.

And on this date in 1995, the Orioles signed Hall of Famer and 45th best Oriole Roberto Alomar to a three-year deal in free agency. On the field he was superb, posting a 12.5 bWAR and collecting two Gold Glove awards in three All-Star seasons. But his Os tenure was marred by an ugly incident in which he spit on umpire John Hirschbeck, and last year he was placed on MLBs ineligible list over a sexual misconduct allegation.

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The lockout slogs on with very little progress so far - Camden Chat

Oakland police on Monday said they were "making progress" in the investigation into the shooting death of security guard and former police officer Kevin Nishita.

Nishita, 56, was shot in an attempted armed robbery of a news crew in downtown Oakland on Nov. 24 and died days later.

Oakland police Chief LeRonne Armstrong said police have recovered a vehicle that is similar to the description of the vehicle they were looking for a white Acura four-door sedan with no license plate.

"We are analyzing everything within that vehicle," Armstrong said. "We feel confident that we'll continue to follow up on all leads."

Armstrong applauded community members who called their tipline and offered surveillance video.

"Weve received videos from community members and business owners," he said. "All of that helps us solve these crimes. I think thats the level of accountability that we need."

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Oakland Police Making Progress' in Investigation Into Shooting Death of Kevin Nishita - NBC Bay Area