Tuesday, October 13, 2020

BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AGAIN!

President Trump held his first campaign rally in Sanford, FL, last night. Watch the video of the event from CSPAN.

 

President Trump Hosts Rally in Sanford, Florida

President Trump delivered remarks at a campaign rally in Sanford, Florida, his first public event outside of the White House since being diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier in October 2020. His remarks hit on a number of his signature campaign issues, including the economy, trade, immigration, and border security. --CSPAN


In case the video fails see the speech from Fox



Related stories: ‘Here we are!’: Trump swaggers back onto center stage--Washington Times


Trump Is Back: 'I Feel So Powerful ... I'll Kiss Everybody--NEWS MAX


Trump claims Biden’s ‘dementia’ is ‘getting worse’ after Romney flub--NY POST


Trump’s False Claims as He Resumes His Rallies After Hospitalization

In Florida, the president made a series of inaccurate claims about his election opponent, the coronavirus pandemic, the Nobel Peace Prize and Cuba, among other topics.--NYT


Trump says he feels ‘powerful’ and will ‘kiss’ supporters as infections surge in 17 states

At least 214,000 people have died of the coronavirus in the United States since February. More than 7,771,000 cases have been reported.--WP


Trump: 'Biden Had a Bad Day,' 'We Have Somebody Running Who’s Not 100%--CNSNEWS



TODAY'S TOP STORY...


Senator Murray Announces Major Federal Investments in Puget Sound Ports.

Press release issued 10/ 12/20


(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate subcommittee overseeing transportation and infrastructure appropriations, today announced two major federal awards to help rehabilitate and modernize the Port of Seattle and the Port of Bellingham. The grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s competitive Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), with more than $10 million awarded to the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) for the Port of Seattle and nearly $7 million to the Port of Bellingham. The announcement follows Senator Murray’s conversations with Transportation Secretary Chao and advocacy to senior Department leaders about the importance of improving the Washington state ports, which are instrumental to the region’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors, global trading relations, and continued economic growth.


“We’re all doing the best we can to stay safe during this uncertain time, but we can’t ignore the priorities that we know are critical to keeping our vital ports updated and healthy, and our state economically-competitive,” Senator Murray said about the grants. “These awards are good news for future job-seekers, as well as growers and manufacturers from our state and across the nation who will benefit from upgraded port facilities and increased market access.”


“While I’m going to keep doing everything I can get families and communities in our state the support and relief they need to make it through this pandemic, I’m not going to stop pushing for the federal investments in infrastructure—and more—I know will be vital to our state’s recovery in the weeks, months and years ahead,” Senator Murray added.


The Port of Seattle will receive $10,687,333 to complete four major transportation infrastructure upgrades at the port’s Terminal 5, located at the southern end of the Seattle Harbor, as part of a larger modernization effort. Terminal 5, one of the largest marine terminals on the West Coast, has largely laid dormant since 2014, when larger ocean carriers that the terminal cannot currently accommodate became the global shipping industry standard. Once renovated, Terminal 5 will be capable of simultaneously serving two 18,000-TEU ships, some of the world’s largest container vessels. Additionally, the improvements will effectively double the terminal’s capacity for refrigerated agricultural exports to over 170,000 containers per year, most of which originate from rural America—allowing shipping costs to be reduced and shortening the time it takes for U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers to get their goods to market. The renovated terminal will offer tremendous advantages to U.S. agricultural producers and manufacturers seeking access to global markets by making the movement of goods through the Pacific Northwest safer, more efficient, more reliable, more economically competitive, and more environmentally sustainable. In fact, the Puget Sound Gateway—facilitated by the Port of Seattle—handles exports from all 50 states, and 60% of its import cargo is distributed beyond the Pacific Northwest.


“The Northwest Seaport Alliance thanks Senator Murray for her work to secure funding for this project. This project will modernize Terminal 5 and ensure the NWSA the infrastructure we need to compete with ports in Canada,” said Port of Seattle Commission President and NWSA Co-Chair Peter Steinbrueck. “I am grateful to Senator Murray for her consistent focus on ensuring that the Northwest Seaport Alliance remains a premier gateway for Washington exports and international trade.” 



Added Port of Tacoma Commission President and NWSA Co-Chair John McCarthy: “Senator Murray’s support has been critical to the NWSA’s efforts to remain a top-tier trade gateway. We are grateful for her support for the Terminal 5 project and also for leading the charge in Congress to reform the Harbor Maintenance Tax. She is truly a champion of Washington state ports—critical infrastructure that will be necessary to lead economic recovery during the COVID health crisis.”


Additionally, another award of $6,854,770 will go to the Port of Bellingham to enhance the Port’s electrical and broadband infrastructure, as well as other repairs and upgrades that would allow the Port to accommodate larger ocean vessels with a wider variety of cargo and bolster its unloading capacity on dock. When completed, the upgrades to the Port’s shipping terminal are expected to help improve safety at the Port, create family-wage jobs and boost the regional economy through increased trade and commerce—directly benefitting local fabricating and logging facilities, and a number of other Port-dependent businesses. In addition to advocating for additional federal relief to support Washington state during on-going COVID-19 pandemic, including priorities critical to the state’s post-pandemic recovery, Senator Murray has long championed efforts to strengthen federal funding for vital transportation and infrastructure projects in Washington state—including most recently her successful efforts to push the Department of Transportation to award more than $17.5 billion in federal funding to construct a new cargo terminal at the Port of Everett.


TODAY'S HEADLINE NEWS...


WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:


IMF: ‘Less severe’ but ‘still deep’ recession predicted--UN News center

In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic and its continuing impact, the global economy could see a “somewhat less severe, though still deep” recession through 2020, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected in its latest global economic outlook. 


Shift needed from what weather will be, to ‘what the weather will do’

Extreme weather and climate events have increased in frequency, intensity and severity as a result of climate change, hitting vulnerable communities disproportionately hard, a new UN report has revealed, calling for greater investment in effective early warning systems. --UN NEWS CENTER


Herd immunity, an ‘unethical’ COVID-19 strategy, Tedros warns policymakers.

Using the principle of so-called “herd immunity” to stem the COVID-19 pandemic is “unethical” and “not an option” countries should pursue to defeat the virus, the UN health agency chief warned on Monday.--UN NEWS CENTER



NATIONAL HEADLINE NEWS:


Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation Hearing, Day 2 Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the second day of confirmation hearings.---CSPAN VIDEO



Department of Justice Forecasts an Increase in Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Protection Activities and Criminal Enforcement Actions

The Department of Justice (DOJ) today announced the protection activities undertaken by the FBI to counter the threat posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) at certain National Special Security Events (NSSEs), Special Events Assessment Rating (SEAR) events, and select mass gatherings throughout the country over the past fiscal year.  DOJ and the FBI are publicizing protection activities in an effort to deter careless and criminal UAS operators in light of an anticipated increase in enforcement activity in response to the misuse of UAS. --DOJ


Sports Heroes Who Served: Basketball Great, U.S. Senator Was Also in the Air Force--DOD


HUD IS MAKING MORE THAN $1.3 BILLION AVAILABLE TO FLORIDA FOR DISASTER RECOVERY

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson today is making more than $1.3 billion in funding available to the state of Florida, which will immediately help Floridians recover from Hurricane Michael and assist the investment in large scale disaster mitigation projects.--HUD



BUSINESS & FINANCE HEADLINES:


Owner of Food Service Firm Operating in Government Buildings Throughout the D.C. Area Sentenced to Prison for Payroll Tax Fraud--DOJ


U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR SCALIA DELIVERS COLUMBUS DAY AND OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE SPEECH AT FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE--US LABOR DEPT.


Online seminars from 2020 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums now available--IRS



STATE HEADLINE NEWS:


AG FERGUSON: TWITTER TO PAY $100,000 TO WASHINGTON STATE FOR MULTIPLE CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

 SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Twitter will pay $100,000 to Washington’s Public Disclosure Transparency Account for violating the state’s campaign finance disclosure law, which Washingtonians adopted through initiative in 1972. Twitter unlawfully failed to maintain for public inspection records about Washington political ads that ran on its platform from 2012 until Nov. 22, 2019. On that date, Twitter implemented a ban on all political advertising.



Decades of Improving Pathways for Women: Justice Barbara Madsen Receives National Award---Washington State Courts


Little Spokane River cleanup plan ready for public review

The draft plan will address multiple pollution issues in the watershed--DOE



IN OTHER NEWS HEADLINES...


Judge denies Councilmember Kshama Sawant's appeal in recall effort

A King County Judge on Monday denied Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant's attempt to prevent a recall effort from moving forward.--MY NORTHWEST


Washington state is unable to provide COVID-19 case and death numbers Monday--The Olympian


Washington state again fails to live-track murder hornet---Seattle PI


Latest call for ‘direct action’ escalated Portland protest destruction, pushed for anonymity--The Oregonian


Protests vault Portland’s tight mayoral race into national spotlight---LA TIMES


World Health Organization Wrecks the Democrats' Narrative on COVID-19 Lockdowns---PJ MEDIA


Joe Biden Forgets What Office He’s Running For, Declares Senate Candidacy--The Federalist