Desert Star Weekly Oct 16, 2020 issue!

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Friday, October 16, 2020 Vol. 24 No. 82

‘First Family Tested’ Melania Trump reveals son Barron tested positive for Covid-19 but had ‘no symptoms’

By Desert Star Staff US President Donald Trump’s 14-year-old son Barron also tested positive for Covid-19 at one point.

Still, he experienced no symptoms, First Lady

Melania Trump has revealed, in a statement chronicling her experience with the coronavirus.

The president and his wife both tested positive late on October 1, but Barron was

By Desert Star Staff SACRAMENTO, Calif. -California has lost more jobs to offshoring than any other state during the first three years of the Trump administration, according to a new report.

Unemployment data shows from 2017 to 2019, more than 26,000 Californians lost their jobs to offshoring or displacement from imports, a 123% increase over the three years before that.

Steve Smith, the spokesperson for the California Labor Federation, said people are really suffering.

“Each one of these California jobs actually represents a real person, a real family, struggling to make ends meet,” Smith observed.

“And that struggle has only

become all the more difficult given the pandemic.”

Smith said that means workers spend less money in the community, tax revenues go down, and inequality gets worse because people of color are hit hardest.

The Trump administration said its policies are designed to lower the trade deficit.

Will Wiltschko, director of the California Trade Justice Coalition, said the administration’s policies actually incentivized companies to move production overseas because the 2017 Republican tax bill taxes products made offshore at a much lower rate.

“The federal government needs to really get serious

said to have tested negative at the time. He returned a positive test at some point after that, Melania Trump revealed on Wednesday.

“Luckily, he is a strong teenager and exhibited

no symptoms,” and has since tested negative, the first lady said.

While Barron Trump’s initial negative test was reported, there had been no further information on

his health until his mother’s revelation on Wednesday.

Describing her own experience with Covid-19, Melania Trump said her Continues on Page 6

Offshoring cost CA more jobs than any other state in past 3 year

Continues on Page 3

Trade-related job losses are spread across a wide variety of industries, from software to manufacturing and beyond. (Charles Csavossy/Wikimedia)

Navigating Grizzly Safety This Hunting Season

it’s been partially buried, or covered, or maybe the bear is actually in the area still, that’s the best opportunity to just walk away, and leave that for the bear,” Combs urged.

While hunting practices are not in sync with standard safety protocol in bear country - they don’t make loud sounds to announce their presence, for example, or travel in large groups - Combs said there are still ways to stay safe.

Be hyper-aware of your surroundings, stay clear of heavy timber cover, and areas with dense willows to avoid stumbling onto a bear’s day bed.

Combs noted while bear encounters are rare, and most do not involve conflict, those are the encounters Experts say bear spray offers better protection against injury or death than a gun, in part because most that get the most attention.

She added most people hunters in a crisis situation will not land a shot that stops a bear on its first charge. (USFWS Pixnio) who encounter a grizzly say they walked away with

By Desert Star Staff Advocates, offered advice for when returning. Like all other a deeper appreciation of Don’t be afraid, but be hunters who may encounter animals, she said bears will wildlife and nature. prepared, and always keep a grizzly bear while tracking protect their food source, and “This year, we had a at least two cans of bear mule deer, elk or other game. no carcass is worth your life. higher incidence of grizzly bear spray within easy reach.

Combs advised hunters “If you come upon a encounters, just because there Kristin Combs, executive who do not take their kills back carcass, and a bear has already were more people that we’re director for Wyoming Wildlife home the same day, to be alert claimed it, and it looks like turning to nature because of the

The Netherlands legalizes child euthanasia

By Desert Star Staff The Dutch government

will allow doctors to euthanize terminally ill children as

young as one year old, making the Netherlands the

second country in the world to permit the practice.

Health Minister Hugo de Jonge announced the change in a letter to Parliament on Tuesday, calling the decision necessary to help “a small group of terminally ill children who are suffering hopelessly and unbearably.”

The decision does not amend any laws but exempts doctors from prosecution for ending a child’s life in certain conditions and with parental consent. Children between the ages of one and 12 will now be eligible for assisted suicide, whereas previously only newborn infants and teenagers could be euthanized.

Regardless of their age,

pandemic,” Combs observed.

“Most encounters with bears are people see the bear, they walk away, and everybody goes about their business.”

Combs said if there is conflict, bear spray is a better tool for the job than your gun.

In a crisis situation, most hunters will not land a shot that stops a bear on its first charge.

Combs maintained research shows for anyone visiting bear country, your best bet for walking away without injury to you or the bear is having bear spray close at hand. She added it’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure bears are around for future generations.

“If somebody feels that their life is threatened, we want them to be able to rely on whatever method they feel is most effective,” Combs stressed. “But if you look at the statistics, hands down, bear spray is the way to go.”

Disclosure: Wyoming Wildlife Advocates contributes to our fund for reporting on Endangered Species and Wildlife, Environment, and Public Lands/Wilderness.

candidates for euthanasia in the Netherlands must have “unbearable and endless suffering” and must request death “earnestly and with full conviction.” Two doctors must approve the procedure.

The Netherlands legalized euthanasia in 2001 and was the first country in the world to do so. In 2014, Belgium became the first to legalize child euthanasia.

The Dutch government’s decision was opposed by the country’s two main Christian parties, the Christian Democrat Appeal (CDA) and ChristenUnie. De Jong himself is a member of the CDA but supported the move based on a recently published study that showed strong support for doctors’ practice.

COVID-19 Brings New Urgency to Health Outreach in NC Latino Community

By Desert Star Staff CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As the coronavirus continues to affect North Carolina’s Latino communities, outreach workers provide public health information in Spanish and culturally relevant to this growing population.

Hector Salgado, community impact director for the American Heart Association in Charlotte, spearheaded an effort to raise awareness about heart health and blood pressure monitoring among Latinos when the pandemic hit. With help from the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department and Blue

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Cross/Blue Shield, he said, the program pivoted to COVID-19 prevention. Salgado said that as the crisis worsened, he began to notice what he described as rampant misinformation in the Latino community.

“And those resources are not reflected,” he said. “I went to the farmer’s market, and I saw signs, I saw social distancing. And then, I go to the flea market, where there’s a lot more Latinos, and I don’t see any signs, I didn’t see any social distancing.”

This month, he said, ads in print, radio, and social media will emphasize the importance

of wearing masks and include Mecklenburg County’s COVID hotline number. Anyone with questions or concerns about the coronavirus can call 980-314-9400.

Salgado said the six-week heart-health pilot program has transitioned to virtual classes and now is training more than 100 community members on how to monitor blood pressure.

He noted that around 47% of Hispanic men and 40% of women have hypertension.

Research shows that puts a person at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness.

“Particularly with a lot October 16, 2020

of the churches, they said, ‘People would come out here and give us a lecture on blood pressure, but nobody gave us the machines to actually do it.’

So, we created this curriculum with this mentality that the community has most of the resources that they need,” he said. “We’re going to give them the things that are missing.”

In the past decade, Salgado said, North Carolina’s Latino population has nearly tripled -- and yet, these neighborhoods often are neglected in terms of public health outreach.

“You know, as a Latino,

I think that we need to start demanding more,” he said.

“We need to start asking why, if we’re accounting for 50% of the cases, where is the accountability? Where are the resources going to make sure these numbers are coming down?”

He said he hopes the “Promotores de Salud” initiative results in more testing, increased mask-wearing and greater social distancing among Latino residents.

Disclosure: American Heart Association of North Carolina contributes to our fund for reporting on Health Issues. www.desertstarweekly.com

O is good to go? Blood type plays key role in vulnerability to Covid-19

By Desert Star Staff A person’s blood type could play a key role in their vulnerability to Covid-19, with type O people less likely to catch the bug while types A and AB are most at risk, freshly released research has found.

Two independent studies published on Wednesday found that blood type O is something of a security blanket when it comes to coronavirus. Those with this blood type were less likely to catch the disease and had a reduced risk of suffering severe complications if they do get sick.

However, people with types A and AB were not so lucky, as scientists found

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that they were more likely to suffer more severely than people from the other two blood groups (O and B).

Blood groups are defined by their numbers of antigen and antibody proteins. Type O is the most common across the world.

One of the studies was carried out by a team of researchers from Odense University Hospital and the University of Southern Denmark. They compared Danish health registry data from over 473,000 people who were tested for Covid-19 to a control group of more than 2.2 million from the general population.

By parsing through the trove of data, they found fewer positive results among those with blood type O than their peers in the other three blood groups, where rates of infection were found to be similar.

“We have the advantage of a strong control group,” Lead author Dr. Torben Barington of Odense University Hospital said.

“Denmark is a small, ethnically homogenous country with a public health system and a central registry for lab data.

So our control is populationbased, giving our findings a strong foundation.”

The second study involved 95 people who were critically ill with Covid-19 in Vancouver, Canada. It discovered that patients from the A and AB blood groups were more likely to require mechanical

ventilation, suggesting that they had more excellent lung injury rates from the virus. They were also more likely to require dialysis because of kidney failure.

The scientists also found that people with blood types A and AB remained in the intensive care unit (ICU) for longer on average than people from the other two blood groups. The Canadian team said this might also signal a

greater Covid-19 severity level.

Lead author Dr. Mypinder Sekhon, of the University of British Columbia, said: “Of particular importance, as we continue to traverse the pandemic, we now have a wide range of survivors who are exiting the acute part of Covid-19, but we need to explore mechanisms by which to risk stratify those with longer-term effects.”

YouTube removes videos containing Covid vaccine ‘misinformation’

By Desert Star Staff Video sharing platform YouTube has said it is banning videos containing misinformation about coronavirus vaccines, in an expansion of the service’s current rules regarding falsehoods and conspiracy theories about the pandemic.

“A Covid-19 vaccine may be imminent; therefore, we’re ensuring we have the right policies in place to be able to remove [related]

misinformation,” YouTube said in a statement on Wednesday.

Any content featuring Covid-19 vaccines claims that contradict the consensus from local health authorities or the World Health Organization will now be banned on the Google-owned video platform.

This includes any suggestions that the vaccine “would kill people, cause infertility or involve microchips being implanted in people,” YouTube said.

A spokesman told Reuters that general discussions in YouTube videos about “broad concerns” over the vaccine would remain on the platform. n February this year, YouTube removed ads on channels that promoted antivaccine content, warning that it would prevent future advertising on any videos that endorse those views.

Then in April, YouTube banned conspiracy theories falsely linking Covid-19 to

5G networks. That move was, in turn, followed by the ban on any coronavirusrelated content that “directly contradicts” World Health Organization (WHO) advice and is “medically unsubstantiated.”

Wednesday’s decision to prevent “misinformation” about Covid-19 vaccines came after another social media giant, Facebook, banned anti-vaccine ads and said it would encourage users of the platform to get the flu jab.

Offshoring cost CA more jobs than any other state

Continued from Page 1

about putting the interests of working families at the center of trade negotiations,” Wiltschko asserted. “These trade policies were supposed to put America first, but they actually continued putting corporations first.”

Wiltschko complained the U.S.-China trade deal signed in January failed to address abysmal labor rights, forced labor and weak environmental standards in China.

“The things that the U.S. trade representative cared most about was about protecting intellectual property and stopping technology transfer, which are items that large corporations demanded to feel more secure moving their production to China,” Wiltschko contended.

Advocates want to

see wages lifted here and abroad, with vigorous enforcement of internationally

recognized labor standards.

Disclosure: Trade Justice Education Fund contributes

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Letting coronavirus spread freely for ‘herd immunity’ is unethical

By Desert Star Staff The World Health Organization has warned against the idea of allowing Covid-19 to simply spread through society, calling this “herd immunity” approach to fighting the pandemic “unethical.”

“Never in the history of public health has herd immunity been used as a strategy for responding to an outbreak, let alone a pandemic,” WHO chief Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus said during a virtual briefing on Monday, calling the idea “unethical.”

Tedros added that herd immunity to a virus is usually achieved when the vast majority of the population – 80 percent, in the case of polio – is vaccinated, rather than deliberately infected.

The vast majority of people in most countries remain susceptible to this virus,” he said, adding that “allowing a dangerous virus that we don’t fully understand to run free is simply unethical.

It’s not an option.”

Tedros’ words came days after the WHO’s Dr. David Nabarro warned world leaders against using lockdowns as their “primary control method” against the virus.

Nabarro explained that lockdowns only buy healthcare systems time to “reorganize, regroup, [and] rebalance your resources,” and have disastrous economic consequences that worsen poverty and inequality in society.

The WHO did not always oppose lockdowns, but it cautioned at the outset of the pandemic that, unless accompanied by proper systems of isolation and contact tracing, they would only pause the virus’s spread. Additionally, the organization advised against travel restrictions back in January and February.

However, localized lockdowns are one tool currently being used to get a grip on the rapidly resurging virus. In the UK on Monday,

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a three-tiered system of local restrictions, dependent on the rate of infection in different areas. At the same time, the French government last week declared that some local limits would remain in place until at least the end of 2020. In Ireland, disease specialists have warned the public that Dublin

could be under lockdown for years, though official advisers haven’t made any such bold statements yet.

Not all have followed the same approach, though. In Sweden, the government never implemented a lockdown, and while cases there have begun to rise in recent weeks, deaths remain extremely low, with none reported since Friday. However,

casualties were high in Sweden at the outset of the pandemic, with most nursing homes.

Worldwide, nearly 38 million cases of Covid-19 have been recorded, along with more than a million deaths. The United States has seen the highest number of cases and deaths globally, with 7.7 million and nearly 215,000, respectively.

Second Largest Border Meth Bust in History For CBP

By Desert Star Staff SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa commercial facility Friday seized more than 3,100 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl powder, fentanyl pills and heroin as part of the second-largest methamphetamine bust along the southwest border in the history of the agency based, on information developed by DEA, working jointly with HSI. “Smugglers will try every way possible to try and get their product across the border, and because of the partnership between CBP, Homeland Security investigations and DEA, this significant seizure occurred, and we stopped them,” said Anne Maricich, acting CBP director of field operations in San Diego. “I’m proud of the CBP officers’ dedication to

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our mission; they continue to stop dangerous drugs from entering our communities.”

On Oct. 9, at about 9:45 a.m., a driver arrived at the cargo border crossing with a tractor-trailer shipment manifested as medical supplies. The officer decided to refer the driver, truck, and shipment for a more intensive inspection.

CBP officers screened the truck using the port’s imaging system, similar to an x-ray and found anomalies with the trailer’s rear. The conveyance was sent to the dock, and a canine alerted to the boxes inside the trailer. Officers offloaded the shipment and discovered 1,816 packages comingled with the medical supplies that primarily contained straightforward plastic pipette tips, spray bottles of surface decontaminate

and calibrated pipette tools (used for sampling and dispensing liquid).

CBP officers later extracted approximately 3,014 pounds of methamphetamine, 64 pounds of heroin, 29 pounds of fentanyl powder, and almost 37 pounds of fentanyl pills, worth an estimated $7.2 million.

CBP officers seized the narcotics and conveyance.

“This massive seizure is a testament of what law enforcement agencies can do when we combine forces – prevent over $7 million worth of deadly drugs from entering our country; thus saving countless lives from addiction and overdose deaths,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John W. Callery.

“DEA cherishes our great law enforcement partners in San Diego, especially those who work tirelessly to protect October 16, 2020

our nation’s borders. We will continue to work together to disrupt drug trafficking organizations at every opportunity we are given.”

The driver, a 47–year-old male Mexican citizen, was arrested and turned over the joint investigative team’s custody from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration; he will face criminal charges.

“This significant seizure is a prime example of how a successful partnership between HSI, CBP, and DEA results in the disruption of transnational criminal organizations while protecting our country from dangerous illicit drugs,” said Juan Munoz, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in San Diego. “We will continue to work tirelessly to bring those

responsible to justice.”

Criminal charges are merely allegations.

Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

CBP officers at the border crossing in Southern California stop illegal activity while processing millions of legitimate travelers into the United States. Those statistics can be found here: CBP-enforcement-statistics -CBPU.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with managing, controlling, and protecting our nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws. www.desertstarweekly.com

Iowa Quietly Emerges as Battleground State

Over the summer, many political observers said Iowa was still a “lean Republican” state in the presidential race. But now, many polls indicate it’s more of a toss-up. (Adobe Stock)

By Desert Star Staff DES MOINES, Iowa -President Donald Trump is to hold a campaign rally in Iowa today. His visit signals how important the state has become in the presidential

race and coincides with many struggles many residents are facing.

In 2016, candidate Trump won Iowa by nine points, leaving many pundits thinking it wouldn’t be

competitive in 2020. But the polls have tightened, and the Hawkeye State now is viewed as a toss-up, a few weeks before the election.

University of Northern Iowa political scientist Donna

Hoffman said Iowa actually has a history of being a swing state -- just not as consistently as others.

“Every election cycle brings a unique set of characteristics to it,” she said, “and we’re seeing that manifest in 2020.”

This time around, she said, farmers -- who still express strong support for Trump -- have seen a mixed bag from trade policies. This summer’s derecho storm left Iowa fields flattened, reigniting concerns about the impacts of climate change.

She also noted that protests over systemic racism were apparent in Iowa this year, likely leading to more activity from marginalized voters.

Hoffman said the pandemic factor also could be playing a role in the tight polling results. Iowa still is among the states with higher coronavirus infection rates.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, a staunch supporter of the president, has come under fire for her response to the crisis.

“Gov. Reynolds has not put in a mask mandate in the state, as many other governors -- even Republican governors -have done in some other states that have seen high numbers,” Hoffman said.

Opponents and health officials have criticized Trump himself for not fully embracing mask use or carrying out a consistent message on the virus.

Meanwhile, Hoffman said, it will be interesting to see the impact of an executive order signed by Reynolds this year, restoring the voting rights of convicted felons. Before the move, Iowa was the last state to have such a ban still.

An Iowa election analysis is online at cookpolitical.com.

••••••••••••••

Workers’ “Human Skills” Will Still be Critical, Post-Pandemic

By Desert Star Staff Uniquely human traits and capabilities will be more critical in the post-coronavirus work landscape, according to Jamie Merisotis, author of a new book on the future of the workforce.

At least one study estimates 40% of jobs that saw COVID-related layoffs aren’t coming back, and Merisotis said the crisis offers the opportunity for a large-scale rethinking of higher education and workforce-training programs.

Even before the pandemic, he said, Tennessee state government -- the most extensive public employer in the state, with 42,000 workers -- had been leading the way.

“For the state of Tennessee, I think what we’ve seen is that there really has been a cultural change; that training isn’t just something that you do once, but it’s a continuous process,” said Merisotis, an expert on education policy and president and chief executive of Lumina Foundation. “The state has recognized that learning as part

of work is really important.”

He said that rather than a one-time job fair, the state has 28 management and training programs employees can take advantage of.

But employers are only part of the picture. Merisotis believes the more than 40 million Americans still out of work need massive federal investment in community colleges that award associate degrees and short-term credentials to help them move into new sectors.

The government should be focusing on the value of human work skills and attributes, said Merisotis, pointing out that people who’ve honed the ability to communicate, motivate themselves and work in teams tend to have higher levels of education and can work from home -- and they’ve been mainly spared from pandemic job loss.

“Understanding how we serve other people as part of our work, how we use our compassion and our creativity, and all the things that make us human, to be more effective

In a new book, Lumina Foundation president and chief executive Jamie Merisotis says it’s time to rethink higher education and workforce training to sustain the future U.S. workforce in an age of robotics, artificial intelligence and other technologies. (Lumina Foundation) in our jobs,” he said. “So, the education and training system, I think, will need to change.”

Merisotis added that because Black, Latino and Indigenous workers disproportionately have been affected by COVID-19, workforce training programs

must adapt to serve these communities better.

“And we need to make sure that building our human work ecosystem takes those individuals into account,” he said, “and does a better job, frankly, than what we’ve done in the past.”

In the latest national poll, 60% of Black respondents said their households face grave financial problems and income loss in the pandemic. Seventytwo percent of Latino and 55% of Native American respondents report struggling financially, compared with 36% of Whites.

Religious Leaders Deliver “A Sermon to Heal America”

more mainstream denomina-tions.

“We cross a variety of different theological spectrums,” Royster observed. “But we’re at as a nation,” Eller stressed. holding on deeply to this message

By Desert Star Staff native of Philadelphia, said their Royster emphasized it asks “And recognize that this is really a from the gospel that each of us is Faith leaders from goal is to deliver a message that voters to see going to the Pennsylvania and around the of-fers a different vision of what polls as a sa-cred act. battle for the soul of our na-tion, cre-ated in the image and likeness country are raising their voices to America and the world could be.

Rev. Ryan Eller, the founder and for our very democracy.” of God; and that as a result of support candidates in this year’s “Really leaning in on the of the New Moral Majority, He noted religious leaders that, we ought to treat each other election who believe in the values side of compassion, the side of believes the fact that some who have traditionally been with dignity and respect, and of love, justice and inclusion. partnership with those that have church leaders still support reluctant to express po-litical see each other as fully valued They call themselves the been marginalized and hurting President Donald Trump - despite opinions are now speaking members of our community.”

This week, another New Moral Majority and come the deepest, and wanting to see policies like family separation, out in record numbers, saying bipartisan group of Christian from many denomina-tions every person in this nation be able and his lies and alleged financial they will vote for change.

And Bishop Royster pointed leaders launched a new political and from across the country. to thrive,” Royster explained. fraud - make this a referenout those joining the New Moral action committee with a similar Bishop Dwayne Royster, The New Moral Majority dum on true Christian values.

Majority include evangelicals and message in a digital ad called national political director of the is releasing a video. It’s calling “Many faith leaders recognize Pentecostals and members of “Not Our Vote, Not Our Faith.” group Faith in Ac-tion and a “A Sermon to Heal America.” the moral crossroads that we are www.desertstarweekly.com

October 16, 2020

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Faith Group Wants Anxious Voters to Understand Their Options

Early voting in Texas kicked off Tuesday, which means many people can expect long lines around their polling places. (chayka1270/Pixabay)

By Desert Star Staff There’s a lot at stake in next month’s election, and Texas faith groups are making a push to get voters to the polls by urging them to make a “plan” to vote.

Bee Moorhead, executive

director of Texa Interfaith Center for Public Policy / Texas Impact said she believes the group’s social media campaign will reach people of faith because congregations have become adept at attending worship

services and other events virtually. She said she wants Texas voters to understand their options, whether that’s in-person or mail-in voting.

“When we say make a plan to vote,” she said, “we mean to consider

your options and make a plan, not just, ‘I’m totally planning to vote this year.’”

Moorhead said some Texas voters who requested absentee ballots have since decided to vote in person on Nov. 3. She warned them not to destroy their ballots because they won’t be allowed to vote in person at their polling place without them.

The group’s social-media campaign points viewers to the Texas Impact website to find a flowchart for voting.

The group interviewed prospective voters, including Brownsville’s Daniel Castillo, to ask how they plan to cast their ballot.

“So, I’m an essential worker, and I’m vigilant about mask-wearing and social distancing,” he said. “I’m going to vote in person. It’s totally safe as long as you follow the guidelines.”

But that plan might not be comfortable for older voters or anyone with a compromised immune system. Austin residents Colleen Mikeska

and David Vasallo, said that they have a unique game plan for voting as parents.

“With two kids and no one to babysit,” Mikeska said, “we’ve got to get a little creative to vote these days.”

“One of us will drive around the block,” Vasallo added, “and the other one will go in to vote.”

“And then,” Mikeska said, “we’ll swap.”

Earlier this week, a U.S. federal appeals court panel upheld Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to eliminate dozens of ballot drop-off sites just weeks before the election.

The ruling reverses a federal judge’s decision last week that halted the order - which means only one absentee ballot drop-off location is allowed for every Texas county, regardless of its size.

Disclosure: Texas Impact contributes to our fund for reporting on Civic Engagement, Climate Change/Air Quality, Immigrant Issues, Social Justice.

Former Prosecutor, Doctor Make Case for Drug Decriminalization Measure

By Desert Star Staff BEND, Ore. -- Oregonians in law enforcement and medicine support a measure to decriminalize drug possession and fund addiction treatment.

On Nov. 3, Oregon voters will decide the fate of Measure 110, which would reclassify drug possession as a misdemeanor and direct marijuana tax revenue of more than $11.25 million to the Drug Treatment and Recovery Services Fund.

Inge Fryklund, a former prosecutor in Chicago who now lives in Bend, said she had changed her mind on the “War on Drugs,” noting racial disparities in arrests.

She said drug use should be treated as a health issue.

“What we were doing wasn’t helping people who were on drugs, wasn’t making the world any safer, and we were damaging the individual people who were getting arrested,” she said, “and I started

thinking about the knock-on effects for their families.”

The measure supports groups, including the Law Enforcement Action Partnership and Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. Opponents have said it will lead to increased drug use and crime rates. The advocacy group Oregon Recovers has said Measure 110 is poorly written and “dismantles one system of intervention before building a new system.”

Willy Foster, an emergency physician in Florence, also volunteers at free clinics to experience homelessness in the Eugene area. He said he supports the measure, noting the treatment options that potentially will come from it are most important. Foster said he has few options for people who come to the hospital for drug use issues.

“The best clinics are going to be ones that don’t just say, ‘Oh, here. Take this medicine for your addiction,’ but really

Projections estimate. Measure 110 would bring in between $103 million and $159 million per year for Oregon’s addiction treatment services. (terovesalainen/Adobe Stock) treat the whole person, in terms of getting them job training, housing - all that kind of stuff,” he said, “because that’s just as vital in addressing these addiction issues.”

According to federal data,

Covid-19: ‘First Family Tested’ Continued from Page 1

Donald Trump spent the weekend after his diagnosis diagnosis“ came with minimal at the Walter Reed National symptoms, though they hit Medical Center in Bethesda, me all at once, and it seemed where he was treated with to be a roller coaster of experimental antibodies and symptoms in the days after.” a medication cocktail. The I experienced body first lady stayed at the White aches, a cough and House and “chose to go a headaches, and felt extremely more natural route in terms tired most of the time. of medicine, opting more for

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vitamins and healthy food.“ Trump was discharged from hospital on October 5, and returned to the campaign trail this week, with clearance from his doctors.

The first lady said she was looking forward to resuming her duties soon as well.

•••••••••••••• October 16, 2020

Oregon ranks 48th for the percentage of people who can access drug treatment, with more than 280,000 not receiving the care they need. Projections estimate the measure would bring in

from $103 million to $159 million a year for substanceuse disorder services.

The text of Measure 110 is online at oregonvotes.org, and Oregon’s drug-treatment ranking is at samhsa.gov.

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Desert Star Weekly Legals PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF HEARING CITATION PETITION FOR FREEDOM FROM PARENTAL CUSTODY AND CONTROL GUERRON CASE # ADRI 1905090 Upon reading and filing evidence consisting of a Declaration as provided in Section 415.50 CCP by JOSEPH FIORDILINO on behalf of ANGELA SOPHIE GUERRON, a MINOR, for FREEDOM FROM PARENTAL CUSTODY and CONTROL. PETITIONER JOSEPH FIORDILINO, is the husband of PAMELA FIORDILINO, mother of the minor and who has custody of the minor. The whereabouts of GUILLEROMO FLORES, the natural father of the minor, are unknown. And it satisfactorily appearing there from that the Respondent/Citee, GUILLEROMO FLORES, cannot be served with reasonable due diligence in any other manner specified in Article 3, Chapter 4, Title 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and it also appearing from the verified complaint or petition that a good cause of action in favor of the plaintiff, petitioner, or citee therein and against the defendant, respondent, or citee and that the said defendant, respondent, or citee is a necessary and proper party to the action or that the party to be served has or claims an interest in, real or personal property in this state that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Court or the relief demanded in the action consists wholly or in part in excluding such party from any interest in such property. In the matter of the Petition of: JOSEPH FIORDILINO on behalf of ANGELA SOPHIE GUERRON, a MINOR, for FREEDOM FROM PARENTAL CUSTODY and CONTROL.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

TO: GUILLERMO FLORES, the natural father, and to all persons claiming to be the Father of: ANGELA SOPHIE GUERRON. CITATION TO APPEAR: By Order of this Court you are hereby Cited and (required to) (may) appear before the Judge Presiding in: the SUPERIOR COURT of CALIFORNIA in the COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE FAMILY LAW, DEPARTMENT F502, located at: 4175 MAIN STREET, RIVERSIDE, CA 92501 on December 4, 2020, at: 10:30 A.M. of the day, then and there to show cause, if any you have, why said person should not be declared Free from the Control of his/her/their Father according to the Petition on file herein. For failure to attend, you may deemed guilty of a contempt of court. You are required to have said minor child present at this hearing (FC Section 7880(b)). The Petition filed herein is for the purpose of freeing the subject child for placement for adoption. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons is served on you to file a typewritten response at this court. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of said summons or citation and of said complaint or petition in this action be forthwith deposited in the United States Post Office, post-paid, directed to said defendant, respondent, or citee if his address is ascertained before expiration of the time prescribed for the publication of this summons or citation and a declaration of this mailing or of the fact that the address was not ascertained be filed at the expiration of the time prescribed for the publication. Date: F: 2 / 04 / 2020 /S/ 9 / 25 / 2020; By: Michelle, E. Valadez, Deputy, Petition In Pro Per: JOSEPH FIORDILINO; 25149 CORAL CANYON ROAD, CORONA, CA 92883; PH: (201) 658-4695 DESERT STAR WEEKLY, An adjudicated newspaper in the City of Desert Hot Springs, Riverside County, CA” . Published: October 16, 23, 30, November 6, 2020. DSW20-5173 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS PALM DESERT CHIROPRACTIC, 73345 CA 111 #202, PALM DESERT, CA 92260. Riverside County. Full name of registrant SAMUEL MICHAEL VELLA, 73165 HAYSTACK RD, PALM DESERT, CA 92260. Business is conducted by INDIVIDUAL. Registrant has yet to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant, who declares as true, information which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of a crime) Signed SAMUEL MICHAEL VELLA. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Riverside County on 09/22/2020. Peter Aldana, Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder File No. R-202009739. NOTICE — THIS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT EXPIRES FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK. A NEW FICTITIOUS

PUBLIC NOTICE

October 16, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE

the age above 18 for juvenile court. In Illinois, emerging adults are overrepresented in the justice system, accounting for 15% of the adult population.

They also account for 33% of all adult arrests, despite a 47% decrease in the number of arrests for this age group in the past decade.

Lael Chester, director of the Emerging Adult Justice Project at Columbia University Justice Lab, noted Illinois incarcerates emerging adults who are Black at one of the highest rates in the country.

“So, at a time when we’re at sort of a national reckoning on racial disparities, emergingadult justice reforms - and in particular, ‘raise the age’ - should be at the very top of the to-do list for legislators,” Chester contended.

The Juvenile Law Center report highlights local reform initiatives in Illinois, including a young -adult court restorative justice program in North Lawndale and Cook County’s young adult pilot project for 18-to-26-year-olds charged with nonviolent offenses.

Goodjoint added community

PUBLIC NOTICE

BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THAT TIME. THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411, ET. SEQ., BUSINES SAND PROFESSIONS CODE). Publish October 16, 23, 30, November 6, 2020 DSW20-5172

DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: ROBIN D CHOW ESQ SBN 138502 LAW OFFICES OF ROBIN D CHOW 4520 WILSHIRE BLVD SUITE 202 LOS ANGELES CA 90010 CN972568 MITCHELL Oct 9,14,16, 2020. DSW20-5171

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JOHN ANDREW MITCHELL Case No. PRIN2000924 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of JOHN ANDREW MITCH-ELL. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Earl Mitchell in the Superior Court of California, County of RIVERSIDE. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Earl Mitchell be ap-pointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on Nov. 2, 2020 at 8:45 AM in Dept. No. PS3 located at 3255 E. Tahquitz Cyn Way, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92262. The hearing is only by tele-phonic appearance. Call 1-213-306-3065 and enter Meeting No. 289100160 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form

APN: 664-171-020-9 OTHER: 5941960 TS-200613 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE UNDER DEED OF TRUST YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 1/28/2014 UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NOTICE is hereby given that C.N.A. FORECLOSURE SERVICES, INC. A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, as trustee, or successor trustee, or substituted trustee pursuant to the Deed of Trust executed by Richard H. Nosser, an unmarried man Recorded on 1/31/2014 as Instrument No. 2014-0043986, of Official records in the office of the County Recorder of Riverside County, California, and pursuant to the Notice of Default and Election to Sell thereunder recorded 6/30/2020 as Instrument No. 2020-0281579 of said Official Records, WILL SELL on 10/22/2020 At the front entrance of the former Corona Police Department at 849 W. Sixth Street, Corona, CA 92882 at 9:00 a.m. AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH (payable at the time of sale in lawful money of the United States), all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State hereinafter described. The property address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purposed to be: 65952 7th Street, Desert Hot Springs, CA The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the property address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. The total amount of unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $38,222.90 (estimated). In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept a cashier’s check drawn by a state or federal credit union or a check drawn by state or federal savings and loan association, savings association or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state. In the event tender other than cash is accepted the Trustee may withhold the issuance of the Trustee’s Deed until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right. Said sale will be made, but

Criminal Justice Report: 18-YearOlds Don’t Belong in Adult Court

By Desert Star Staff A new report puts some weight behind arguments that young adults should not be prosecuted in Illinois’s adult court.

The Juvenile Law Center findings confirmed that youth incarceration rates have fallen in recent years, as officials recognize the developmental differences between adolescents and adults.

But incarceration rates haven’t declined among young adults, ages 18 to 24.

Katrina Goodjoint, staff attorney for the Juvenile Law Center and the report’s coauthor, explained members of this age group are treated legally as adults, despite sharing some adolescent behaviors.

“They have poor decision-making, they’re impulsive, they’re susceptible to peer pressure, and they’re engaging in risky behavior,” Goodjoint reported. “So, when we talk about raising the age, we talk about better ways to be more forgiving and supportive of ‘emerging adults’ rather than punitive.”

The report calls for raising

PUBLIC NOTICE

supports are also crucial.

“Housing, employment, education, mental health and behavioral health services; having better supports for those can lead to a decrease in recidivism,” Goodjoint stressed. “So actually making communities safer and better supportive of emerging adults.”

Vermont recently became the first state to raise the age for the juvenile court to over 18.

Chester noted it would gradually increase to include 20-year-olds by 2024, as emerging adults are directed to diversion programs.

“The fear that so many states have ‘Oh we can’t do this, the sky will fall’ doesn’t happen,” Chester asserted.

“Incorporating 18-year-olds has been a very smooth process.”

In Illinois, Senate Bill 239 calls for a tiered approach to raising the age, starting with sending misdemeanor cases involving older teens to juvenile court rather than adult court.

Disclosure: Juvenile Justice Initiative contributes to our fund for reporting on Children’s Issues, Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice, and Youth Issues.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

without covenant or warranty, express or implied regarding title, possession or encumbrances, to satisfy the indebtedness secured by said Deed, advances thereunder, with interest as provided therein, and the unpaid principal balance of the Note secured by said Deed with interest thereon as provided in said Note, fees, charges and expenses of the trustee and the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property.

You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call telephone number for information regarding the trustee’s sale 916-939-0772 or visit this Internet Web site www.nationwideposting.com for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case 200613 Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. FOR SALES INFORMATION CALL : 916-939-0772 C/O C.N.A. FORECLOSURE SERVICES, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION as said Trustee. 2020 CAMINO DEL RIO N. #230 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92108 (619) 297-6740 DATE: 9/29/2020 KIMBERLY CURRAN TRUSTEE SALE OFFICER NPP0371627 To: DESERT STAR WEEKLY 10/02/2020, 10/09/2020, 10/16/2020. DSW20-5166

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Get Tested for COPD: Your Lungs Will Thank You

By Desert Star Staff If you’re often short of breath during everyday activities, your chest feels tight, or you cough a lot, you may be chalking it up to getting older, having allergies, or being a smoker (now or in the past).

Fortunately, there’s a way to know whether something more may be at play. Consider getting a lung function test to find out if you have a serious condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. Knowing the cause of your cough and breathing problems will not only help you manage your symptoms – it’ll help you feel better, too.

COPD includes two main conditions – emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It’s usually caused by cigarette smoking or breathing in other irritants, such as dusts or chemical fumes.

In a small fraction of people, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency plays a role in causing COPD. More than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, and millions more have it but don’t know it, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

COPD doesn’t have a cure at the moment, but if you

seek advice from a health care provider and get diagnosed early, you can slow down this progressive disease. During your appointment, your provider will talk to you about your symptoms and your medical history then listen to your breathing. He or she also may recommend one or more tests to help diagnose COPD. Spirometry: A Lung Function Test The main test for COPD is called spirometry. During this test, a technician at your health care provider’s office will ask you to sit down and put a clip on your nose, so you can breathe only through your mouth. The technician will then ask you to put your mouth around a mouthpiece, which looks like the mouthpiece on a snorkel. It’s connected to a machine that measures how well you breathe. The technician will ask you to take in a deep breath then blow all of your air out as fast as you can. You’ll repeat that a few times. It’s painless, but it does take some effort.

Your provider will use the test results to determine how healthy your lungs are, if you have COPD and how serious it is, or if asthma or

Photo courtesy of Getty Images other conditions are causing your symptoms. Spirometry can also help your provider know if you have COPD before you even have symptoms, so if you’re concerned about your lung health, consider getting a spirometry test.

Ask for a lung function test if you: • Are over age 40 • Are or were a smoker • Feel out of breath often • Bring up a lot of mucus when you cough • Have already been diagnosed

with a lung disease • Have AAT deficiency • Are concerned about your lung health Another factor to consider when assessing your lung health is COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that has spread throughout the world. Unlike COPD, COVID-19 causes abrupt coughing and trouble breathing, so your health care provider may want to test you for it.

If you have a chronic lung disease, such as COPD, and

get infected with COVID-19, you are at higher risk of getting very sick. COVID-19 can affect your respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs), and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease.

For more information on COVID-19, visit CDC.gov.

NHLBI’s Learn More Breathe BetterSM program provides free educational resources about COPD, videos on spirometry, and more. Find them at copd.nhlbi. nih.gov. Family Features

Improve Your Mental Health with Better Sleep

F

FAMILY FEATURES

or some, the holidays may be the happiest season of all, but for others the hectic pace and endless to-do lists can take a real toll on their mental health. This year, the impact is heightened by a global health pandemic.

According to a survey from Mattress Firm, more than 60 million Americans say COVID-19 has worsened their quality of their sleep, and those losing sleep are often seeing their mental well-being and healthy habits worsen. Nearly half of respondents said COVID-19 has increased their worries and prevented them from falling or staying asleep at night, with 41% reported their poor sleep has a negative impact on their daily lives.

“It’s no surprise that when our minds are full or our hearts are heavy, our mental health tends to suffer,” said Dr. Sujay Kansagra, a sleep health expert for Mattress Firm. “What many people don’t realize is that mental health struggles also affect sleep, and adequate rest is a key component of maintaining and improving your mental health.”

If stress and worry are preventing you from getting a good night of sleep, try these ideas from Kansagra to help improve your mental state and ease your body into rest.

Think positively. Every night before going to bed, list three good things from your day. They don’t have to be amazing things, just three positive aspects of your day. For example, acknowledge you had a good virtual catch-up with a colleague or enjoyed a new recipe or workout class.

Listing your positive experiences at night can help you maintain a positive frame of mind as you unwind for the day.

Create a to-do list. This technique is for those who mentally work through their list of pending responsibilities before bed. In a fast-paced world, sometimes lying in bed is the first time you have to actually think about what’s on your list. By creating a list of tasks (or even writing down your worries), you can prevent yourself from thinking about them excessively before bed and throughout the night.

Try progressive relaxation. This involves taking slow, deep breaths and slowly tensing the muscles in your body for a few seconds then relaxing them. Start at your feet and work your way up the body. This technique can help you relax and decompress after a long day.

Give yourself a break. Especially if you’re working from home or tackling a lot of seasonal tasks, it’s easy to keep yourself busy up until the minute you fall into bed. However, your mind may still be whirling from all that activity. Build in a few minutes before bed each night to let your mind rest, whether it’s spending a few minutes with a good book, practicing meditation or sipping on a cup of sleepy-time tea.

Appeal to your senses. Being mindful of how your senses react to various stimuli can play a role in your ability to drift off to sleep. Some people need silence; others benefit from ambient sound. Certain scents can be soothing and make good choices for essential oil diffusers, such as lavender oil. Also be conscious of the touches that affect your sleep, like the support from your mattress, the softness of your sheets or the temperature of the room.

Whether it’s your family, your health or general stress that’s keeping you up, find time in your day to give yourself some grace. Your mental health is extremely important and should not be overlooked, so if you’re feeling a little worn down, ensure you’re getting the quality sleep you need to tackle the day and week ahead.

Find more tips for better sleep at MattressFirm.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

What’s Keeping You Awake?

If you’re like many Americans, outside influences and worries may affect your sleep. Pinpointing what’s keeping you awake, such as these common sleep disruptors reported in a Mattress Firm survey, can help you address your concerns so you can rest more easily.

1. Money or Paying Bills (49%) 2. My or My Family’s Health (48%) 3. State of Country and the Economy (39%) 4. My Kids and Their Health or Education (32%) 5. Missing Social Interaction (31%)