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Dick Cheney defends daughter Liz, slams Trump, in new primary ad

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — With her competitive primary contest less than two weeks away, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., is out with a striking new ad on Thursday featuring a direct-to-camera testimonial from her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, defending his daughter and warning against former President Donald Trump, who has backed Cheney’s top challenger.

“In our nation’s 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our Republic than Donald Trump,” the former vice president says. “He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him.”

With the three-term Republican congresswoman betting on a fierce anti-Trump message, her father, a powerhouse in Wyoming, calls Trump a “coward” in the scathing 30-second spot, saying, “A real man wouldn’t lie to his supporters.”

“He lost his election, and he lost big. I know he knows it, and deep down, I think most Republicans know it,” he said, wearing a cowboy hat and sporting an “I Voted” sticker.

Cheney said he and his wife were “proud” of his “fearless” daughter for “honoring her oath to the Constitution, when so many in our party are scared to do so.”

“There is nothing more important she will ever do than lead the effort to make sure Donald Trump is never again or the Oval Office. And she will succeed,” he said.

Liz Cheney faces a competitive primary battle for Wyoming’s only congressional district on Aug. 16 against challenger Harriet Hageman, a lawyer who ran for Wyoming governor in 2018 and espouses the widely disproven conspiracy that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. Asked at a candidate forum on Wednesday to clarify her stance, Hageman said, “The election was rigged.”

“Like many Wyomingites, I supported Liz Cheney when she ran for Congress,” Hageman said when announcing her bid last September, the same day Trump endorsed her. “But then she betrayed Wyoming, she betrayed this country, and she betrayed me.”

Responding to the news of Trump’s endorsement in a tweet, Cheney said, “Here’s a sound bite for you: Bring it.”

A vocal critic of Trump resisting a peaceful transfer of power, Cheney first drew Trump’s ire when she became one of 10 Republicans to vote to impeach him for “incitement of insurrection” after the Jan. 6 attack. In the following months, she was removed by the House GOP as GOP conference chair, and her subsequent rank as the No. 3 Republican in the House was stripped, as well as the Wyoming GOP censuring her and no longer recognizing her as a member — backlash encouraged by Trump.

The attacks escalated when Cheney accepted a position on the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. As vice chair of the committee, in a series of public hearings, she has appeared like a federal prosecutor as she lays out a case implicating Trump in what the committee has called a “sophisticated seven-point plan” to overturn the election.

Although Cheney’s voting record paints her as a credentialed Republican, siding with Trump on policy matters 93% of the time — up from the 78% of her successor in House leadership, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. — and she carries an “A” rating from the NRA and a 96% ranking from the conservative Heritage Foundation, her criticism on fellow Republicans for downplaying the events of Jan. 6 has made her a party outlier. Cheney’s support in 2020 was strong with 68.6% of the vote in the general election and an even stronger turnout in the Republican primary with 73.5% of the vote there — but the upcoming primary presents her first test to voters since taking on Trump.

In what could be a preview of Cheney’s fate, Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan this week became the second Republican who supported Trump’s impeachment to lose his primary. Only Rep. David Valadao of California narrowly survived his race. (Four representatives are not running for reelection, and two others are in Washington state races too close to call.)

She told ABC News This Week co-anchor Jonathan Karl that she knew her vote to impeach Trump was not popular with many of her constituents but said she’s committed to making sure voters in her state understand her reasoning — and why it shouldn’t mean the end of her political career.

“The people of Wyoming fundamentally believe in the Constitution and faithfulness to it and our oath,” Cheney said. “If the choice is between somebody that Donald Trump decides he’s going to anoint and that person’s basis for being in this race is their loyalty to some person, to Donald Trump, every day of the week I will stack my record and my commitment to the Constitution and my commitment to people of Wyoming up against that.”

She told Karl in another interview in July that she has not ruled out a presidential run as a Republican or an independent “down the road,” but said, “The single most important thing is protecting the nation from Donald Trump.”

Updated hurricane outlook still points to above-normal Atlantic season, NOAA says

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Scientists are emphasizing the need for proper disaster planning now that they have confirmed another busy hurricane season ahead in the Atlantic.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a revised hurricane outlook for the rest of the 2022 Atlantic season on Thursday, stating that between 14 and 20 named storms are expected, with up to 10 hurricanes and up to five major hurricanes.

The average number of named storms per year is 14, with the average number of hurricanes clocking in at seven, and an average of three major hurricanes per year, according to NOAA, which continues to point to another above-average hurricane season.

NOAA had predicted up to 21 named storms in its original forecast in May. There have been three so far this season.

Although hurricane season officially starts on June 1, most tropical cyclones occur from August to October.

The U.S. is currently on the 27th year of a “high activity era,” meaning that the chance of a hurricane making landfall on the East Coast is double that of a “low activity era,” Matthew Rosencrans, climate test bed director of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, told ABC News.

The intensity of hurricanes is expected to increase as climate change continues to warm ocean waters, leaving ample breeding ground for strong systems to develop.

The agency is urging Americans to be prepared for not only strong winds and storm surge, but inland flooding well away from the storm’s center.

The speed at which hurricanes are intensifying just before they make landfall is making it difficult for coastal communities to prepare, Rosencrans said.

Of the last several Category 5 hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S., the majority of them were tropical storms just 48 hours prior to strengthening to the most severe category, he said.

“So the way I look at that is, it’s not that you have 48 hours to prepare,” Rosencrans said, adding that both disaster management officials and residents need to start preparing now in the event of a hurricane later this season.

ABC News’ Melissa Griffin, Dan Manzo and Samantha Wnek contributed to this report.

Gabby Petito’s family announces $100K donation to domestic violence hotline

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Gabby Petito’s family announces 0K donation to domestic violence hotline

(NEW YORK) — Nearly one year after the death of Gabby Petito, her family announced a major donation to help victims of domestic violence.

The Gabby Petito Foundation, formed by Petito’s family after her death, has donated $100,000 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, which offers free resources and support for people suffering from domestic violence.

“No family should feel the pain that we’ve felt every day since we lost Gabby,” Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, said in a statement. “Survivors who are able to reach out should connect with an advocate quickly.”

The hotline said it will use the donated money to hire and train more full-time advocates and will use it to “advance its technology infrastructure” to be able to answer more calls and online messages.

Katie Ray-Jones, the hotline’s CEO, said the donation comes at a much-needed time due to the increase in rates of domestic violence throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The donation was made to the hotline’s “Hope Can’t Wait” emergency fundraising campaign, which is trying to raise $2 million.

“The Hotline’s contact volume has almost doubled over last year; on average we’re receiving nearly 80,000 incoming calls, chats and texts each month,” Ray-Jones said in a statement. “More than ever, survivors need validation, support and safety planning, and connection to resources such as shelter, legal aid, economic assistance and healthcare.”

She continued, “The Gabby Petito Foundation’s generous donation, and all gifts to our campaign, will help to ensure our critical 24/7 work continues and we can connect with more people impacted by domestic violence.”

Petito, 22, went missing in late August while on a trip through Colorado and Utah with her then-boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, who later went missing after returning to Florida without Petito.

On Sept. 19, 2021, search crews discovered a body in Bridger-Teton National Park in Wyoming that was later determined to be Petito’s. An autopsy found she died from strangulation, officials said.

Search crews combed the Florida wetlands where Laundrie was last seen and found his remains in Carlton Reserve, near North Port, on Oct. 20, 2021.

In January, the FBI released new details in the investigation of Petito’s death, saying that Laundrie wrote that he killed her in his notebook.

Petito’s parents have worked since her death to raise awareness around domestic violence and provide support for people in need.

In his eulogy at his daughter’s funeral, Joseph Petito told mourners, “If there is a relationship that you’re in that might not be the best thing for you, leave it now. Take care of yourself first.”

The Gabby Petito Foundation’s mission is to “address the needs of organizations that support locating missing persons and to provide aid to organizations that assist victims of domestic violence situations, through education, awareness, and prevention strategies,” according to its website.

Experts note that when cases like Petito’s are in the news, though extremely tragic, they can raise awareness about domestic violence and the many forms it may take.

On average, more than one in three women and one in four men will experience rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Young people between the ages of 18 and 24 experience the highest rates of domestic violence, according to Kiersten Stewart, director of public policy and advocacy of Futures Without Violence, a nonprofit organization focused on ending violence against women and children.

“Domestic violence is still a very serious issue,” Stewart told ABC News last year. “As a country, we have made great progress in the last 25 years, but we haven’t actually reduced homicides nearly as dramatically, and that still needs to be a real focus.”

If you need help or need help supporting someone else, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788 or chat online at TheHotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7.

Florida governor suspends local prosecutor who said he won’t criminalize abortion

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has suspended Tampa’s top prosecutor over public statements he made indicating he would not criminalize abortion.

DeSantis announced Thursday that he has suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, effective immediately, due to neglect of duty, saying during a press briefing that Warren has “put himself publicly above the law.”

The Republican governor cited a statement Warren signed along with other elected prosecutors nationwide after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which stated in part that “we stand together in our firm belief that prosecutors have a responsibility to refrain from using limited criminal legal system resources to criminalize personal medical decisions.”

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortions after 15 weeks are barred in Florida, with exceptions if the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s life and if the fetus has a fatal anomaly. Doctors who violate the law could face up to five years in prison.

“That is what the legislature has enacted, and it’s not for him to put himself above that and say that he is not going to enforce the laws,” DeSantis said about Warren.

“When you flagrantly violate your oath of office, when you make yourself above the law, you have violated your duty, you have neglected your duty and you are displaying a lack of competence to be able to perform those duties,” DeSantis continued.

The governor named Susan Lopez, a judge he appointed to the Hillsborough County Court, to replace Warren and serve as temporary state attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit.

Warren, a Democrat, was twice elected to the county seat, most recently in 2020.

DeSantis said the suspension follows a statewide review of state attorneys that narrowed in on Warren’s office. The governor said he did not speak with Warren throughout that process.

Warren called the governor’s actions an “illegal overreach that continues a dangerous pattern by Ron DeSantis of using his office to further his own political ambition.”

“It spits in the face of the voters of Hillsborough County who have twice elected me to serve them, not Ron DeSantis,” he said in a statement.

Warren also defended his work as a state attorney in the face of what he said was a violation of his constituents’ rights.

“In our community, crime is low, our Constitutional rights — including the right to privacy — are being upheld, and the people have the right to elect their own leaders — not have them dictated by an aspiring presidential candidate who has shown time and again he feels accountable to no one,” he said. “Just because the governor violates your rights, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”

While outlining Warren’s “troubling record” as state prosecutor during Thursday’s press briefing, DeSantis also referenced a letter Warren signed last year condemning the criminalization of gender-affirming health care.

“In June of 2021, he signed a letter saying that he would not enforce any prohibitions on sex change operations for minors,” DeSantis said.

Florida currently does not have any laws that criminalize gender-affirming health care, which the order suspending Warren for “neglect of duty” acknowledges.

“[Although] the Florida Legislature has not enacted such criminal laws, these statements prove that Warren thinks he has authority to defy the Florida Legislature and nullify in his jurisdiction criminal laws with which he disagrees,” the order states.

The suspension is in effect pending further action from the governor.

Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., who is running for governor, criticized the suspension of the elected official.

“DeSantis’ decision to suspend him is that of a wannabe dictator who puts partisan politics first. Make no mistake, it’s an attack on Florida’s women,” he said on Twitter.

Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., whose jurisdiction includes Hillsborough County, called the governor’s actions an “extreme abuse of power” and a “new low.”

“Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren is an honest public servant who respects the Florida Constitution [including] our right to privacy which allows girls and women to determine their pathways in life,” she said on Twitter. “He is right to exercise discretion and not prosecute women and doctors.”

Several law enforcement officials spoke during the briefing in support of the suspension, expressing frustration with the prosecutor, who has been vocal on criminal justice reform issues.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Warren “seems intently focused on empathy for criminals and less interested in pursuing justice for crime victims.”

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said during the briefing that the state constitution requires that DeSantis ensure the state’s laws are being enforced.

Why are conservatives welcoming Hungary’s divisive Viktor Orban at CPAC?

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(DALLAS) — Fresh off a meeting with Donald Trump and facing criticism for his comments on “mixed-race” nations, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban was welcomed by conservatives at their annual convention this week.

Orban kicked off the Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday afternoon, with a speech titled, “How We Fight.”

“My country, Hungary, is the Lone Star State of Europe,” Orban said, introducing himself as an “old-fashioned freedom fighter.”

In the 30-minute speech, which was met with a standing ovation, Orban railed against the “leftist media” and progressive liberals as he called for conservatives to be “brave enough to address even the most sensitive questions: migration, gender and the clash of civilizations.”

Orban’s appearance alongside high-profile Republican figures, including Sen. Ted Cruz and Fox News host Sean Hannity, has raised eyebrows amid international backlash to his authoritarian leadership and far-right rhetoric on migration and LGBTQ issues.

Most recently, he was under fire for a July 23 speech in which he said he wanted to prevent his country from becoming a “mixed-race” society.

“We are willing to mix with one another, but we do not want to become peoples of mixed-race,” he said.

Orban continued, “Migration has split Europe in two — or I could say that it has split the West in two. One half is a world where European and non-European peoples live together. These countries are no longer nations: they are nothing more than a conglomeration of peoples.”

A longtime associate of Orban resigned over the remarks, calling it a “pure Nazi” speech. The International Auschwitz Committee said survivors of the Holocaust viewed his statements as “hollow, ignorant and dangerous.”

Despite this, he’s received a friendly reception so far from big-name conservatives.

On his way to CPAC, Orban met with Trump at his New Jersey golf club. Trump is slated to headline the convention on Saturday.

“Great spending time with my friend,” Trump said in a statement. “We discussed many interesting topics — few people know as much about what is going on in the world today. We were also celebrating his great electoral victory in April.”

Conservative media have also given Orban a platform, with Fox’s Tucker Carlson traveling to Hungary for a week last year to profile the leader.

But what is Orban’s appeal to American conservatives?

Kim Lane Scheppele, a professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton University, says Orban is providing a blueprint on how to be electorally successful.

“Just like Sweden was the model of the social democratic state, Orban has provided this model for leading the culture wars and ending by denying the liberals any possibility of being elected,” Scheppele told ABC News.

“It’s this little country that shows your policies work in some actual location,” she added.

Scheppele said not only are conservatives looking at his policies on migration or LGBTQ issues, but also his use of the power of his office to rewrite the Constitution and remake the nation’s courts to his liking.

“Orban could be a model to American conservatives on a lot of different dimensions, and none of that would be good for the future of constitutional democracy,” Scheppele said.

In his CPAC address, Orban said his nation and American conservatives face the same challenges.

“I’m here to tell you that we should unite our forces because we Hungarians know how to defeat the enemies of freedom on the political battlefield,” he said.

Thursday’s speech wasn’t the first time Orban has addressed CPAC members. He spoke at a special CPAC session in Hungary in May, in which he called Hungary “the bastion of conservative Christian values in Europe.”

“Let’s listen to the man speak,” CPAC chair Matt Schlapp said in an interview at the America First Policy Institute summit after Orban’s controversial speech, according to Bloomberg. “We’ll see what he says. And if people have a disagreement with something he says, they should raise it.”

DHS to pause wiping political appointees’ phones after Jan. 6 committee complains

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The Department of Homeland Security will review electronic retention policies, according to a memo obtained by ABC News Thursday, and will halt wiping political appointees’ phones until the review is complete.

The policy comes in the wake of a retention policy that caused the U.S. Secret Service to wipe text messages from Jan. 6 and surrounding days, losing all text messages from the days and drawing ire from the House Jan. 6 committee.

“Earlier this month, Secretary Mayorkas directed the Office of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of the General Counsel to create and lead a Department-wide working group to conduct a 30-day review of the policies and practices for electronic message retention currently in effect throughout DHS and to recommend any necessary improvements,” the memo written by General Counsel Jonathan Meyer said.

“Such messages include, but are not limited to, email, social media messages, instant messages, and text messages. As technology continues to rapidly evolve, the working group will ensure DHS continues to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidance so as to fully meet the expectations of Congress and our other oversight entities, other key stakeholders, and the American public,” the memo said.

The directive, sent to department heads, also said the agency will not wipe political appointees phones until the review is complete.

“Effective immediately and until such time as any additional technical controls recommended by the working group are implemented, DHS agencies and offices are directed to preserve either the actual mobile devices (and accompanying access information) or complete fully accessible backups of all device content for all members of the Senior Executive Service or equivalent and political appointees, whenever such an employee departs or would have their device replaced or wiped for any reason. Mobile devices include smart phones, tablets, and other devices with equivalent capabilities,” the memo read.

Component heads will have until Aug. 5 to identify who will be in charge for each review.

Top Democrats in Congress investigating the events of Jan. 6 continued to allege that the government’s federal watchdog for Homeland Security abandoned efforts to collect texts and phone records from that day.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Rep. Bennie Thompson, who chair the House Oversight and Homeland Security committees, on Monday renewed calls for Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to step away from the watchdog’s investigation.

“We recently called for you to step aside from this matter and for a new IG to be appointed in light of revelations that you had failed to keep Congress informed of your inability to obtain key information from the Secret Service,” the chairs said in a letter to Cuffari. “Removing yourself from this investigation is even more urgent today.”

“These documents also indicate that your office may have taken steps to cover up the extent of missing records,” the chairs added.

Last month, Cuffari told Congress that the U.S. Secret Service had deleted text messages from Jan. 5 and 6 and that record reviews by DHS attorneys were causing months-long delays.

A spokesperson for the Secret Service acknowledged in a recent statement that some phone data from January 2021 was lost as the result of a pre-planned data transfer, noting that the transfer was underway when the IG office made the request in February 2021.

The committees also said that former DHS Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli was using his personal phone, potentially for official government businesses, and Congress was not notified by the inspector general.

A report from the government accountability group Project on Government Oversight found that messages from Cuccinelli and then-DHS Secretary Chad Wolf have also gone missing.

ABC News’ Quinn Owen contributed to this report.

Biden administration declares monkeypox a public health emergency

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Amid growing calls from health officials across the country, the Biden administration declared the current monkeypox outbreak to be a public health emergency in the U.S. on Thursday afternoon.

The declaration, which was made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, comes a little less than two weeks after the World Health Organization designated the outbreak an emergency of international concern.

By issuing a declaration, HHS will be able to take a series of actions including accessing funds set aside for such an emergency as well as appointing personnel to positions directly responding to the emergency. It also gives Health Secretary Xavier Becerra significant flexibility to bend federal rules or waive requirements on government health programs like Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“We’re prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus,” Becerra said on a media call Thursday. “And we urge every American to take the process seriously and to take responsibility to help us tackle this.”

A public health emergency declaration lasts for 90 days, but it may be extended by Becerra. There have been four national public health emergencies declared in the last 15 years.

“The public health emergency will allow us to explore additional strategies to get vaccines and treatments more quickly out to the affected communities. And it will allow us to get more data from jurisdictions so we can effectively track, and attack, this outbreak,” Bob Fenton, the new White House monkeypox coordinator, said on the media call.

The CDC will now also now receive data from all jurisdictions reporting who is vaccinated as well as data on testing and hospitalizations.

Last week, New York became the first state to declare monkeypox a “disaster emergency,” with officials calling New York City the “epicenter of the outbreak.” Illinois and California soon followed, with both states reporting hundreds of confirmed cases.

There had been mounting pressure for the federal government to declare monkeypox a public health emergency, as confirmed cases have rapidly emerged in recent weeks.

“As the monkeypox virus continues to spread across the United States, I urge you to immediately declare a public health emergency so that the federal government can use every resource and tool available in its response and rapidly increase availability and access to vaccines, tests, and treatments nationwide,” Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, said in a letter to HHS last week.

“The federal government must take every step possible to mitigate the threat monkeypox poses to the health of people in the United States before it is too late,” she added.

Of the more than 26,000 cases reported globally, over 6,600 cases have been reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cases have been detected in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Montana and Wyoming are the only states that have yet to confirm cases.

The most common symptoms associated with monkeypox, a cousin of the smallpox virus, are swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. The rash may be painful and have lesions that look like pimples or blisters that can occur on the face and other parts of the body.

There have been no deaths due to monkeypox reported in the U.S. However, in recent days, several countries that have not historically reported monkeypox cases, including Brazil and Spain, have confirmed deaths due to the virus, according to The Associated Press.

People are typically infected by close person-to-person contact, including intimate contact. It is possible for the disease to also spread through droplets from face-to-face contact with an infected person, or through droplets on linens, sheets, clothes, and surfaces, when people are close for prolonged periods.

However, in the current outbreak, most of the spread has come from coming into prolonged skin-to-skin contact with infected people’s lesions or bodily fluids.

Before the outbreak, most cases occurred in countries where the virus is usually found or endemic — typically central and western Africa.

At this time, the majority of cases in the current outbreak have been detected in gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men. However, health officials have repeatedly stressed that anyone can contract the virus and there is currently no evidence it is a sexually transmitted disease.

Officials have confirmed that at least five children in the U.S. have now tested positive for monkeypox, as well as a pregnant woman.

Over the weekend, the CDC warned in a health alert that some evidence suggests people with uncontrolled HIV and children younger than 8 years old could develop more severe illness if infected. In addition, while it is unclear if pregnancy puts someone at greater risk for more severe illness, there is a risk of transmitting the virus to the fetus during pregnancy, or to a newborn after birth.

The Biden administration, alongside global health officials, has vowed to ramp up the United States’ response to monkeypox, as more cases have emerged.

Earlier this week, the White House announced they had appointed Fenton, who was acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency when President Joe Biden took office, as the White House coordinator for the monkeypox outbreak.

As monkeypox cases have emerged across the country, demand for vaccines has surged across the country, particularly in large metropolises like New York City.

In the coming weeks, HHS officials have reported that a total of 1.1 million doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine will be available to states and jurisdictions across the country.

Federal health officials said Thursday that more than 600,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine — which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for smallpox and monkeypox — have been delivered across the country.

To increase the number of doses available, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said the agency has “identified a potential solution.”

“We’re considering an approach … that would allow health care providers to use an existing one-dose vial of the vaccine to administer a total of up to five separate doses,” he said.

The vaccine would be given in a smaller, shallower injection under the skin, a method Califf said would still be safe and effective but would allow up to five doses to be pulled from one vial.. Stretching the supplies could help “close the gap,” Califf said. He added that a decision will be made in the coming days.

One dead, 11 sickened in Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in California county

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NAPA, Calif.) — Health officials are investigating a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in a northern California county.

Twelve residents of Napa County have been diagnosed and hospitalized with the rare lung infection since July 11, according to Napa County Public Health. Among those, one person has died and three people remain hospitalized, health officials said Wednesday.

As part of its investigation, the county has been testing human-made water sources, including cooling towers and decorative fountains, for the presence of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.

Preliminary results found “high levels” of the Legionella bacteria in a sample taken from a cooling tower at the hotel Embassy Suites Napa Valley, in the city of Napa.

The cooling tower has been taken offline, “which mitigates any ongoing risk to public health,” and the county health department said it is continuing to identify any other sources that have unsafe amounts of the bacteria.

“Our joint investigation team continues to work with Embassy Suites staff to remediate the source of exposure,” Napa County health officer Dr. Karen Relucio said in a statement. “Finding Legionella in one water sample is an important piece of the puzzle, but we must continue to investigate other cooling towers and water sources in the outbreak area, as it is common to find more than one source.”

None of the 12 patients diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease have been identified as having stayed or visited the Embassy Suites hotel, health officials said.

An Embassy Suites by Hilton Napa Valley spokesperson told ABC News that the hotel is continuing to “cooperate fully” with the county’s ongoing investigation.

“We are waiting for a full report with test results from the health department, however, remain diligent in our commitment to providing a safe, hospitable environment for all,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “In keeping with that commitment and upon learning of their concerns, we immediately contacted our consultant and water treatment provider to ensure we were following the guidance set forth by the health department and began remediation.”

Legionella bacteria grows in warm water and can become a health concern when it spreads in man-made water systems like cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains and plumbing systems. People can get Legionnaires’ disease by breathing in small droplets of water containing the bacteria.

Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include cough, fever and difficulty breathing. It is not spread from person to person and can be treated with antibiotics when caught early.

People at higher risk of getting sick from Legionnaires’ disease, a serious type of pneumonia, include those ages 50 and older, smokers and those with chronic lung disease or compromised immune systems.

The person who died in the Napa County outbreak was over 50 and had risk factors for “severe disease,” health officials said.

“Although Legionnaires’ disease is a rare infection, this is a reminder that the bacteria that cause it are common in nature and can be found in man-made water systems,” Relucio said. “This means it’s very important for owners and managers of water systems that can create aerosols to take steps to prevent Legionella from growing and spreading in water systems.”

Health departments reported nearly 10,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the U.S. in 2018, though the true number may be 1.8 to 2.7 times higher than what is reported, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in 10 cases are fatal, the CDC said.

Little-known species are at even more risk of extinction, scientists say

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The species scientists know least about are at an even higher risk of extinction because researchers are unable to tailor conservation efforts to their needs, according to researchers.

More than 4,300 species whose extinction risk cannot be assessed due to a lack of ecological data are likely at risk of extinction, according to study published in Communications Biology on Thursday.

Among the more than 26,000 species that have been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), nearly 7,700 have been declared data deficient, meaning there is not enough data to make any sort of declaration on their extinction risk, Jan Borgelt, an ecologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and author of the study, told ABC News.

Calculations based on previously published data on the geographical areas the species live in, as well as factors known to affect biodiversity — such as climate change, land use by humans and threats posed by invasive species — were used to predict extinction risk for data deficient species, according to the study.

The researchers found that about 56% of data deficient species are likely threatened with extinction compared with 28% of species that have been assessed for the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.

This becomes a problem for those making conservation plans, Borgelt said.

“So in most cases, actually, these data deficiencies are just ignored in a lot of analysis simply because we don’t know how threatened they are, if they’re threatened at all,” he said.

Extinction risks for data deficient species varied between groups and geographic areas. About 85% of amphibians, 40% of ray-finned fish, 61% of mammals, 59% of reptiles and 62% of insects are likely at risk of extinction, the study said.

For land-dwelling species that are data deficient, risk of extinction is prevalent among those that occupy smaller geographical areas within regions such as central Africa, southern Asia and Madagascar, the researchers found.

Maintaining the earth’s biodiversity is critical because all life depends on the proper functioning of ecosystems — such as clean water and carbon sequestration to help mitigate climate change, Borgelt said.

“Ultimately, functioning ecosystems depend on the species that live in those ecosystems,” he said. “And once we lose species, we sort of distract these ecological networks.”

The findings highlight potential biases in current conservation priorities as well as the importance of conservation for many data deficient species that are likely threatened by extinction, the paper concluded.

These assessments are “the very foundation of all conservation-related actions,” Borgelt said.

Drone strike on al-Qaeda leader renews hostility between US, Taliban

August 4, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The drone strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is a double-edged sword for President Joe Biden, both bolstering his claim that counterterrorism operations need not rely on U.S. boots on the ground while casting doubt on his claim that Afghanistan would never again become a safe haven for America’s enemies.

But for the Taliban, the revelation that Osama bin Laden’s successor was hiding in plain sight in the heart of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul is a much sharper blow — hardening its pariah status at a time when the country’s de facto government is desperate for international legitimacy.

Taliban leaders, who initially tried to obscure evidence of the strike, waited days after to issue an official response.

On Thursday, the Taliban formally denied having any knowledge of al-Zawahiri’s “arrival and stay in Kabul,” even though he was living in the guest house of Afghanistan’s influential Interior Minister and the U.S. intelligence community has assessed that other top-level members of the government were also aware of Zawahiri’s location, according to a senior administration official within the Biden administration.

The Taliban also claimed Afghanistan poses no danger to any country, but condemned the strike that killed Zawahiri and issued a warning to the U.S., saying “if such action is repeated, the responsibility of any consequences will be on the United States of America.”

Though sources say American diplomats were not surprised to see that the Taliban has continued its close ties with al-Qaeda, a longtime ally, Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed outrage that Afghanistan’s government harbored Zawahiri.

“By hosting and sheltering the leader of al Qa’ida in Kabul, the Taliban grossly violated the Doha Agreement and repeated assurances to the world that they would not allow Afghan territory to be used by terrorists to threaten the security of other countries,” Blinken said in a statement, referring the 2020 deal that paved the way for the withdrawal of NATO forces from the country in return for anti-terrorism commitments.

Despite the continuing conversation, concerns that releasing the funds would be politically untenable have ballooned in the wake of al-Zawahiri’s killing, as some officials fear any sign of support of Afghanistan’s de facto government could be construed by the American public as condoning the Taliban’s affiliation with extremists.

Though the Biden administration has previously faced backlash for failing to transfer the assets, the Taliban have the most to lose as they struggle to manage Afghanistan’s floundering economy.

Isolated and under sanctions, the Taliban have recently undertaken a concentrated effort to gain status on the world stage, which the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency has characterized as a bid “to prove to the international community that it is a reliable partner.” Although no country has officially recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, at least four have accredited its appointed officials — a step in that direction.

But the Taliban’s response to the strike has done little to control damage with the international community. And domestically, the Taliban have been the target of blowback from nationalist who want to seek revenge.

Meanwhile, the suffering throughout Afghanistan is only worsening. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction’s quarterly report to Congress released this week predicts that before November “humanitarian food assistance is expected to decrease from reaching 38% of the population to only 8% due to lack of funding.” The United Nations’ World Food Programme estimates that 92% of the country’s population currently faces some level of food insecurity and three million children are at risk of acute malnutrition.

ABC News’ Cindy Smith contributed to this report.

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