Effects of COVID-19 Still Linger “We’Ve Had to Really Almost Reinvent New Ways of Doing Things,” Hardy Dorsey Said

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SUNDAY, March 28, 2021 $2.00 Vaccination schedule changing The next available first dose vac- will open on the same date. Appoint- Washington, Morgan and Perry coun- parental consent for any vaccine and Second doses cine will be Johnson & Johnson, ments for these clinics will open on ties. must be accompanied by a parent or which only requires one dose. Those a rolling basis. The first round of To book an appointment at the legal guardian to receive it. at Wolstein appointments can not yet be sched- appointments opened Saturday. Only Wolstein Center, go to gettheshot. No one younger than 16 years old uled, but will become available in the locations with available appoint- coronavirus.ohio.gov and enter ZIP should receive any COVID-19 vaccine. to begin April 6 coming weeks. ments will appear on the website. If code 44115 in the search field. There is no cost to receive the vac- Those appointments will be avail- a site is fully booked or appointments People can also call (833) 427-5634. The Chronicle-Telegram cine, and insurance is not required. able between April 27 and May 10. are not available, it will not appear in Many forms of ID are accepted at Parking at the Wolstein Center is free. Appointments for the first dose of Unbooked and canceled appoint- the search results. the vaccine site to verify name, iden- Call United Way 211 for transporta- the Pfizer vaccine at Cleveland State’s ments will continue to open on a Regional mass vaccination sites are tity and age. Proof of citizenship or Wolstein Center will end April 5. rolling basis for the first Pfizer dose in Lima, Maumee, Dayton, Colum- residency status is not needed. tion assistance, with options includ- From April 6 to April 26, appoint- at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. bus, Akron, Youngstown, Cincinnati, On Monday, vaccines will open ing a free Greater Cleveland Regional ments will be offered only for second Ohioans are encouraged to check Wilmington, Chillicothe, Marietta to ages 16 to 39. For those 16 to 17, Transit Authority bus pass, ride-share doses of the Pfizer vaccine for those back regularly for appointments. and Zanesville. Pfizer is the only approved COVID-19 services and rides through Senior who receive the first dose at the Wol- Ohio’s regional mass vaccination There will also be a mobile clinic vaccine. Transportation Connect and local stein Center. sites will open March 31. Not all sites moving in Lawrence, Meigs, Vinton, Youths aged 16 and 17 must have churches. REFLECTIONS ON THE PANDEMIC Churches hopeful for nearly normal Easter Jason Hawk and Laina Yost The Chronicle-Telegram ELYRIA — For almost every Sunday during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church has been virtual. Congregants are hoping Easter will be the day they reunite. The Rev. June Hardy Dorsey said her church has followed the Lorain County COVID threat level to determine whether the congregation can gather in person. And for most of the pandemic, Lorain County’s level has been red or purple. But if it goes down to orange or yellow, St. Andrew’s finally will be able to open its doors. “That would be such a good sign of hope at Easter to be able to come together,” Hardy Dorsey said. “During Holy Week we look at some of the sacrifices that Christ made. Not to compare our sacrifices and difficulties with that, but it’s been a way to read those scriptures in a new way and understand them through a different kind of KRISTIN BAUER / CHRONICLE lens.” Connie Weingartz, of Avon, stands behind her husband, Ed, for a portrait Thursday. Ed Weingartz woke up ill in September and Hardy Dorsey said her church is continuing to was hospitalized until Christmas Eve from the effects of COVID-19. He still suffers severe symptoms. plan to be in person on Easter Sunday, as projections are looking like Lorain County will go into the orange. But Holy Week services through the week will be virtual, and St. Andrew’s is to meet on Palm Sunday — today — virtually. Effects of COVID-19 still linger “We’ve had to really almost reinvent new ways of doing things,” Hardy Dorsey said. “With out- Ed Weingartz never missed a day of work until Sept. He hasn’t been back since reach, with Christian education, with fellowship and worship. Nothing has stopped, we’ve just had Rini Jeffers “I never got sick. I don’t even life. I couldn’t put my shoes on. that she asked him if he was sure. to create new ways to do what we’re called to do.” The Chronicle-Telegram hardly ever get a cold,” he said. Couldn’t stand up. I had a hard “I knew something was wrong St. Andrew’s has used Zoom, and even if it can meet in person, Hardy Dorsey said that will con- AVON — From kindergarten Until the morning of Sept. 11 time breathing. I just knew some- when he asked me to call 911. He tinue to happen. The services are streamed live, through high school graduation, last year, Weingartz was a man thing was wrong,” he said. doesn’t even go to the doctor,” she so congregants don’t miss out on the conversa- Ed Weingartz never missed a day rooted in dependability and a He sat there in the predawn said. tional part of church. of school. In 43 years of working steely work ethic. That morning darkness waiting for his wife, By the time Ed, 70, got to the Today, the church is also installing outdoor he woke up at his usual time, but Connie, to wake up. hospital he was sent immediately as a repairman on massive indus- Stations of the Cross. People can come and pray to the intensive care unit. trial engines, he had a perfect nothing else was usual. “Call 911,” he said. It was so through each station on the St. Andrew’s property. attendance record. “I never felt that before in my unlike her husband of 47 years See LINGER, A2 See EASTER, A2 Pandemic watchers turn attention to younger adults Emma Court at-risk groups and younger people tory and a watershed moment for the we move forward,” said Ali Mokdad, something industry officials have Bloomberg News remains to be seen. And the moment U.S., where the virus has sickened at a professor at the Institute for Health linked to immunizations. The U.S. has spent months trying of truth is arriving just as infections least 30 million and killed more than Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, What that means is that new are rising again in many states. 547,000. which produces influential COVID-19 to vaccinate those most at-risk of COVID-19 cases will likely emerge in “It’ll be a test of the effectiveness Yet most people in the U.S. still projections. “Otherwise, we are flying severe illness from COVID-19, from younger age groups. That occurred in of our vaccination campaigns to aren’t protected. And there are major blind.” health care providers and the elderly, Israel, where infections were recently reach at-risk populations,” said Josh roadblocks in the U.S. race to stay At least for some groups, COVID- to essential workers and those with plateauing despite the country’s Michaud, an associate director for ahead of the virus, including vac- 19 vaccines are reaching their tar- other underlying medical conditions. world-leading immunization pro- global health policy at the Kaiser Fam- cine hesitancy and barriers to access, get audience and doing what they’re gram. It turned out that cases among In the weeks ahead, data on COVID- ily Foundation, an independent non- declines in testing and the emergence supposed to. Among those age 65 19 hospitalizations and deaths will young people were surging, even as profit. All states have at least made of more-contagious variants. and older, an early demographic to infections dropped in the 50-and- show whether that strategy is work- those age 65 and older eligible, which While the number of new cases, qualify for inoculation, about 71 per- ing. older crowd. means “you’re cutting out something hospitalizations and deaths will cent have received at least one dose, Younger people, though they’re Spikes in case numbers have typi- like 80 percent of the population most remain important indicators of the according to Centers for Disease Con- cally translated weeks later to increas- thought to be less likely to have symp- at risk of dying.” state of the pandemic, there’s a glar- trol and Prevention data. toms, can still spread the virus and ing hospitalizations and fatalities, The expanding share of Americans ing need for more precise ways of In nursing homes, where inhab- contract severe cases themselves. In a a dynamic that should abate after who have received COVID-19 vac- measuring COVID-19, public-health itants were also prioritized early handful of states, for instance, those the most vulnerable are immunized. cines — about 26 percent, or more experts say. for shots, cases among residents with underlying medical conditions While there are early signs that’s hap- than 87 million people, have gotten at “Knowing where we have a problem have dropped by nearly 98 percent don’t yet qualify for shots. pening in places like nursing homes, least one dose — represents an inflec- by community and by source is very since mid-December, and deaths by whether it will hold true with other tion point in the pandemic’s trajec- important to handle the pandemic as 88 percent, according CDC data, See YOUNGER, A2

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cyan A1 magenta A1 yellow A1 black A1 A2 Sunday, March 28, 2021 FROM PAGE ONE The Chronicle-Telegram

By then Connie insisted her hus- I know, I guess maybe two months ical and speech therapy. before, telling her husband’s story, LINGERS band be moved. Less than three went by? I woke up and got to see my Ed has been back in the hospi- and the doubters have dismissed it, From A1 hours later, he was in a Fairview hos- wife. I gave her the biggest hug and tal since then, with complications telling her that doctors “just turned pital. His heart rate was 200 beats a kiss you can ever imagine. And then and flare-ups of his “new normal.” It it into COVID. It was probably just Connie left to go back to their minute; both lungs were full of fluid. she started telling me I died. And my wasn’t until his most recent stay two Avon home to pick up his phone and pneumonia.” And he had suffered two strokes. wife doesn’t lie,” he said. “‘Holy moly’ weeks ago that he finally tested nega- “I just say ‘Well, he had COVID and some personal items and was on her “They came to me and said we can were the words that came out of my tive for the virus. he wasn’t like this before,” she said. way back when she got the call that leave him like he is, but chances are mouth.’’ “They say he’s a miracle just to “We have been to hell and back.” he had already tested positive for he will not survive. Or we can drain The hardworking man who would be alive. His family doctor told him, COVID-19. Don’t come, they told her; the fluid from his lungs, and there’s a sometimes work 22-hour-days on ‘Your wife saved your life when she Ed struggles with his new limita- you won’t be able to see him. chance he won’t survive that either,” a big job had only had one incident pulled you out of there,’” Connie tions. Connie reminds herself of a Ed also had atrial fibrillation, Connie recalled. of ill health before COVID-19, when said. “And they say I’m a miracle too, story she heard from one of their congestive heart failure and double She consulted their adult son and a bout of Afib a few months before that I was living with him and I didn’t rehabilitation nurses about losing pneumonia. Connie didn’t see her daughter and made the decision to flared, now faces a radically different get it.” her father during the pandemic, and husband again for two months as he try. life than the one he left on 9/11. Connie, who has been an archer not being able to see him or have a was battling for his life. They would “He stopped breathing on the He can never work again, or drive. for more than 40 years and was once funeral. It keeps their situation in call each other several times a day, table. The machines breathed for him He uses a wheelchair now, unable to state champion, works part time perspective, she says; and keeping although Ed has no memory of it. for two days.” walk more than a few feet at a time, at Cabela’s in Avon as an archery Ed focused on a goal helps him keep He was discharged to a rehabilita- Another two months went by using a walker and followed behind instructor but is planning to quit his spirits up. tion facility in Middleburg Heights. between the hospital and another by Connie, pushing a wheelchair. soon because Ed can no longer be She shows him a photo of his Connie, who had retired from her rehab, this time in Avon. Even that can leave him gasping for alone. grandsons; one day they can hunt first career after 32 years as a medical He didn’t come home until Christ- air. Ed will retire this month from ICP and fish again, even from a wheel- assistant, was allowed to visit there — mas Eve. He hasn’t seen his children Now, he has short-term memory Monarch Electric, where he worked chair, she tells him. “Here’s your pur- an allowance that saved his life, his or his five grandsons, ages 17 to 8, in loss. He can speak clearly but some- for 43 years. doctors later said. months, seeing them once from out- times grasps for words just beyond They’ve lost income as they’ve tried pose.” He was there less than two weeks side a window. his ability, causing him to get frus- to claim his short-term disability and “He’s alive. It’s for a purpose. Every- but after seeing him for the first time He was surprised by how much the trated and stutter. The shortness of Connie has missed work to take care thing happens for a reason. That’s in months, Connie immediately little ones had grown. They were sur- breath is still there and his lungs are of him. Her employer and her friends our motto. The Lord had something could tell something was very wrong. prised to see how ill he was. scarred. collected money for them, and Cabe- in it to touch someone or help some- After a few days, he didn’t know who “He didn’t know who I was. He Ed can no longer go to the bath- la’s paid their expenses for a month one. We go day to day here,” she said. she was. The next day, he couldn’t kept saying ‘3-18-51, 3-18-51’ over room without assistance, or take a to keep them going. “I’ve never been hit that hard by move the right side of his body. and over. That’s his birthday, and he shower alone. They’ve had to install ramps for his anything in my life. It knocked me “I kept telling them something was just kept repeating it. That’s when He came out of the hospital with wheelchair, shower carts and walk- right flat down. That’s how strong wrong. They wouldn’t listen,” she the kids and grandkids saw Papa was severe diabetes, taking two types of ers and install railings on his bed. So COVID was,” he said. “My goal is to said. sick, that Papa …” insulin four times a day. He takes many items are not covered by insur- walk someday again. I really want He got a scan, but a scheduled MRI Ed finished for her: “… who Papa high doses of diuretics to keep fluid ance, so many medical bills, she said. to do that. I push for that. I want to was rescheduled several times. One was. That’s not the kind of Papa they from building up around his heart. Connie has heard many people be able to stand up like a man. Walk day he told her he didn’t get to eat knew.” His rings were cut off in the hospital. — at her job, texts from people she like a man. Put my shoes on and do that day; another day, his catheter Ed remembers very little of his time He now requires weekly visits from knows — dismissing COVID-19 as was disconnected, lying on the floor, in the hospital. He remembers the home health aides and a registered “no worse than the flu,” or “not real.” things. Mostly just go outside.” she said. ambulance coming, and “Next thing nurse, receiving occupational, phys- She doesn’t respond. She’s tried Contact Rini Jeffers at [email protected].

set foot inside the physical building, Hill The traditional Easter egg hunt Second BLOTTER EASTER said. Baptist hosts won’t happen, but thre will Elyria police The Sierra’s driver, 21-year-old From A1 A normal Sunday pre-pandemic would be a drive-thru Easter basket giveaway Christopher Verda of Elyria, said see 140 to 150 people in the pews. Social for kids and parents. Thursday, March 11 the Avenger was driving the wrong Also, Hardy Dorsey said they put a QR distancing would leave space inside for 11:47 p.m. — East Avenue and Small said the past year has been dif- way when it hit his car. Vasquez code on the stations, so people can listen George Street, operating a vehicle only about 50 to sit safely apart, he said, ficult, navigating ministry in a new vir- impaired. Jason Utsey, 37, of East admitted he should not have been to music as they go through. while streaming reaches new friends as tual way. Deacon members call church Avenue, was arrested on a felony driving the Avenger and told an Missing a normal communion is the far away as Oregon and Texas. officer he had “consumed too members once a month; a robo pastor DUI charge and misdemeanor DUI one part that has been extremely diffi- “For us, the cool thing is that we’re calls each week and gives a prayer; twice refusal, driving under suspension much alcohol” including “multiple cult, Hardy Dorsey said. They’ve had to glasses of whiskey and several going to be able to have an Easter expe- a month there are health and wellness and marked lanes charges. move to a spiritual communion prayer Officers responding to a report of beers,” had urinated on himself rience with people this year from a much calls from Keandra Booker. over Zoom, and she said that’s just not a car blocking both lanes on East while driving and fallen asleep at wider circle than we traditionally had,” “I’ve grown some gray hairs,” Small Avenue stopped a 1993 Buick the same. the wheel. Hill said. said. “I’ve lost some sleep. A lot of travel driven by Utsey. He was taken 3:31 p.m. — Dunham’s St. Andrew’s isn’t the only place of wor- When the pandemic is over, First time, going to different celebrations of to Lorain County Jail. Utsey has Sports, Midway Mall, theft. ship remaining cautious as it prepares for three prior DUI convictions in 2016 Church will continue to livestream wor- life for families that have lost loved ones.” Norma Wilkerson, 27, of Case the largest Christian holiday of the year. and 2017, which made the new Avenue, and Diana Sarver, 37, ship, adult education classes and com- To quicken the move back to normal, Churches started to return to regu- charge a felony. of David Drive, were arrested on mittee meetings — anything the church Second Baptist held a vaccination clinic 9:46 p.m. — Chestnut Ridge lar worship services in a big way early misdemeanor theft charges, and does in person can also reach those with Lorain County Public Health at its Road, operating a vehicle Sarver also on a warrant through in the fall, said Lorain County Health impaired. Jesus Vasquez, 38, of spread out all over the country, Hill said. location. Congregants and nearby res- the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner David Covell. When case Oxford Avenue, was cited with Other churches are getting creative — idents were able to get first and second Wilkerson and Sarver stole counts exploded in October and Novem- misdemeanor DUI, occupant and praying for good weather on Easter. vaccines. restraining devices and divided approximately $100 worth of ber, the faithful found themselves once clothing from the sporting goods First United Methodist Church in Wel- Small said more than 200 people got roadways violations. Officers more pushed out of sanctuaries and into investigating a traffic crash at store at 4377 Midway Mall then lington and Second Baptist Church in vaccinated through the clinic. And there remote services. Chestnut Ridge Road and South went inside the Marc’s at 435 Elyria are planning parking lot services will be another one there sometime in Midway Blvd. where they were His advice: Churches shouldn’t return Abbe Road found a blue 2014 the next few months. Dodge Avenger had hit a black stopped by police. Wilkerson was to in-person services in full force for Eas- First United Methodist 2013 GMC Sierra head-on. released on a summons. ter. The Rev. Paul Wilson said First United Harvest Ridge “It’s still a bit soon to be safe,” Covell will broadcast to vehicles by FM radio. Services have been moving toward said. “That’s especially true for Easter, Like many others, the church has been normal at Harvest Ridge Church in North since it’s a holiday where we usually see livestreaming its services throughout the Ridgeville, said Associate Pastor Michael CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS a lot of visitors come into our churches, past year. Hadinger — but they’re not quite there The Chronicle-Telegram is committed to providing accurate news and services can get really big.” “A lot of our friends, our members have coverage. Call us at 329-7155 to let us know about factual errors. yet. St. Joseph in Amherst been vaccinated, as I have,” Wilson said. There are still a lot fewer chairs in the “They’re very anxious to get back inside, auditorium than pre-pandemic, he said. Easter at St. Joseph Parish in Amherst saying they can’t believe we’re not in LOTTERY is expected to be much different this year. In-person services started small and have yet. For the most part, I ask them to be expanded, but full-scale “recreational” The Rev. Timothy O’Connor said it was patient.” Ohio (Saturday) events have yet to make a comeback. extremely difficult to be isolated from his His patience also is stretched. Wil- Midday Pick 3: 6-5-1, Pick 3: 8-3-3, This Easter, Harvest Ridge has planned congregation for the 2020 holiday: “Peo- son said he wants to be back inside the Midday Pick 4: 2-1-7-4, Pick 4: 5-2-8-0, four services spread across Saturday and Midday Pick 5: 1-5-9-2-7, Pick 5: 1-8-9-3-2, ple were observing Easter at home, or church building for worship by May 1. Sunday to spread out holiday crowds. Rolling Cash 5: 4-9-11-17-18, watching Masses on the screen,” he said. But the change could come on Easter. Classic Lotto: 20-30-31-33-36-39, Kicker: 3-0-3-0-2-4, “There’s something about being in Parishioners started slowly returning If weather is bad, Wilson said he might Rolling Cash 5 jackpot is $100,000. person together that is mentally healthy, Classic Lotto jackpot is $6.3 million. to in-person Masses at their own pace open the doors and move inside, where physically healthy, spiritually healthy,” since last May, O’Connor said. Easter there is room for more than 300 people Hadinger said. “To see people’s eyes light Lucky for Life services will look traditional this year, under normal conditions. up, even if they’re wearing masks, does THURSDAY: 3-24-25-37-44, Lucky Ball: 5. except the 700-occupancy sanctuary will As weather warms, windows can be something for your soul.” be almost empty, with only about 175 opened to provide circulation and lower Mega Millions If St. Andrew’s isn’t ultimately able to allowed inside due to social distancing the risk of viral spread, he said. Pews can FRIDAY: 4-25-37-46-67, Mega Ball: 15, Megaplier: 3. restrictions. meet in person, Hardy Dorsey said that’s Estimated jackpot is $152 million be staggered, and everyone will have to “It won’t be as it was before, with every wear masks. OK. She praised her congregation for Powerball pew filled and people lined against the Wilson said it’s been lonely and quiet adapting to virtual services quickly and “showing up” for services consistently. SATURDAY: 6-14-38-39-65, Powerball: 6, Power Play: 3. wall,” said O’Connor. “It sure changes the inside the empty church in recent Next Powerball jackpot is an estimated $238 million. dynamic of Easter but not the meaning.” months. She knows the church ultimately will He expressed concern that attendance “When I’m inside, I picture people in be able to open as more congregants get will never fully recover — so clergy need their seats — you know how church peo- vaccinated and COVID case numbers go to provide the warmest possible welcome ple are, they have the pew they like and down. But that still won’t make it easy. to those who do return. sit in every week,” he said. “So I picture “There’s a different kind of loss coming them there, and hope to see them in per- around the second time,” Hardy Dorsey First Church in Oberlin son soon enough.” said. “The first time there had been no Founded July 24, 1829 break in our relationships, no break in A.C. Hudnutt, Publisher, 1927-1950 The First Church in Oberlin is also our worship. ... I think the loss this time Arthur D. Hudnutt, Publisher, 1970-1991 among those taking a more conservative Second Baptist A. Cooper Hudnutt, Publisher, 1991-2010 approach, said the Rev. David Hill. The Rev. Carl Small at Second Baptist is that we’ve been a whole year not being William D. Hudnutt, Publisher He is eager to welcome the congrega- said the parking lot service represents a able to be together in the church. It’s not Sunday, March 28, 2021, No. 87 tion into a newly renovated sanctuary, glimmer of hope to fully regather in the that we’re weaker, but it’s just the longing Elyria (non-toll area)...... 329-7000 but he said now is not the right time. Like building soon. is greater. And I think the sense of loss All other Ohio areas...... (800) 848-6397 those for the past year, Easter service will But right now, the church is still hesi- is just more profound because it’s been Copyright © 2021, The Chronicle-Telegram be livestreamed. tant to move forward too much. IT prob- longer.” Material published in this newspaper is the property of The Lorain County Printing & Publishing Company and is not to be reproduced without permission. Persons Streaming has allowed First Church ably will remain with parking lot services Contact Jason Hawk at [email protected]. seeking such permission should contact The Chronicle’s office. to reach many people who have never for a while longer. Contact Laina Yost at [email protected]. EXECUTIVES Phone hours President...... William D. Hudnutt 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Vice President...... Andrew R. Young 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and dean for health sciences at their 30s and 800% among Center for Health Security, Controller...... Ann E. Klunzinger Sundays YOUNGER West Virginia University. those in their 40s. The data adding that “we are poten- CIRCULATION From A1 “We’d love to hold the variants show COVID-19 vaccines are tially losing some insight into EDITORIAL STAFF If you didn’t get your paper, please call: at bay and try to get a lot of working but also “that adults where the virus is and where EDITOR EMERITUS Home Delivery Service While it’s “extraordinarily Andrew R. 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Carla Hama Printing and Publishing Company, 225 mission of the virus among & Hospital Association raised our focus to vaccines at the who still remain unvacci- East Ave., Elyria, OH 44035. young people. alarms this week about hos- expense of testing,” with nated, particularly among vul- ADVERTISING Periodicals postage paid at Elyria, OH “We think that will buy us pitalizations spiking among states even converting testing nerable groups,” said David Classified Hotline 329-7100 44035. Toll-free (800) 848-6397 POSTMASTER: Send address changes more time,” said Clay Marsh, younger age groups: Since facilities to administer shots, Rubin, a physician and direc- Office hours to: The Chronicle-Telegram, P.O. Box West Virginia’s COVID-19 early March, they rose said Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior tor of PolicyLab at Children’s 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays 4010, Elyria, OH 44036. coordinator and executive 633 percent among those in scholar at the Johns Hopkins Hospital of Philadelphia.

cyan A2 magenta A2 yellow A2 black A2 The Chronicle-Telegram WORLD & NATION Sunday, March 28, 2021 A3 Myanmar forces kill more than 100 The Associated Press security, have generally tallied with fessional military or police force,” he This year’s event was seen as a in protesting as if it was a game, and YANGON, Myanmar — As Myan- the counts issued at the end of each wrote. “Myanmar’s people have spo- flashpoint for violence, with demon- urged their parents and friends to talk day by the Assistance Association of ken clearly: they do not want to live strators threatening to double down mar’s military celebrated the annual them out of participating. Political Prisoners, which documents under military rule.” on their public opposition to the coup Armed Forces Day holiday with a In recent days the junta has por- deaths and arrests and is widely seen The death toll in Myanmar has been with more and bigger demonstra- parade Saturday in the country’s cap- trayed the demonstrators as the ones as a definitive source. The Associated steadily rising as authorities grow tions. The protesters refer to the hol- ital, soldiers and police elsewhere perpetrating violence for their spo- Press is unable to independently con- more forceful with their suppression iday by its original name, Resistance reportedly killed dozens of people as radic use of Molotov cocktails. On firm the death tolls. of opposition to the Feb. 1 coup that Day, which marks the beginning of a they suppressed protests in the dead- Saturday, some protesters in Yangon The killings quickly drew interna- ousted the elected government of revolt against Japanese occupation in liest bloodletting since last month’s were seen carrying bows and arrows. tional condemnation, with multiple Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup reversed World War 2. In contrast, security forces have used coup. diplomatic missions to Myanmar years of progress toward democracy State television MRTV on Friday live ammunition for weeks against The online news site Myanmar Now releasing statements that mentioned after five decades of military rule. night showed an announcement urg- what have still been overwhelmingly reported late Saturday that the death the killing of civilians Saturday, Up through Friday, the Association ing young people — who have been unarmed and peaceful crowds. toll had reached 114. A count issued including children. of Political Prisoners had verified 328 at the forefront of the protests and The U.S. Embassy said shots were by an independent researcher in Yan- “This 76th Myanmar armed forces people killed in the post-coup crack- prominent among the casualties — to gon who has been compiling near- day will stay engraved as a day of down. learn a lesson from those killed during fired Saturday at its cultural center in real time death tolls put the total at terror and dishonour,” the European Junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung demonstrations about the danger of Yangon, though no one was injured. 107, spread over more than two dozen Union’s delegation to Myanmar said Hlaing did not directly refer to the being shot in the head or back. The military government does not cities and towns. on Twitter. “The killing of unarmed protest movement when he gave his The warning was widely taken as a issue regular casualty counts, and Both numbers are higher than all civilians, including children, are inde- nationally televised Armed Forces threat because a great number of the when it has released figures, the totals estimates for the previous high on fensible acts.” Day speech before thousands of sol- fatalities among protesters have come have been a fraction of what inde- March 14, which ranged in counts U.S. Ambassador Thomas Vajda in diers in Naypyitaw. He referred only from being shot in the head, suggest- pendent parties such as the U.N. have from 74 to 90. a statement said “security forces are to “terrorism which can be harmful to ing they have been targeted for death. reported. It has said its use of force Figures collected by the researcher, murdering unarmed civilians.” state tranquility and social security,” The announcement suggested that has been justified to stop what it has who asked not to be named for his “These are not the actions of a pro- and called it unacceptable. some young people were taking part called rioting. 2 face charges of hate crimes on West Coast Daisy Nguyen word “Asian” at her and then The Associated Press threw a water bottle at her car SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — after charging at her when she Prosecutors in Seattle and pulled into a parking spot. San Francisco have charged Hamner was being held men with hate crimes in sep- on $75,000 bail on Saturday. arate incidents that author- It wasn’t immediately clear ities say targeted people of if Hamner, who has not yet Asian descent amid a wave of made a court appearance, had high-profile and sometimes retained an attorney or would deadly violence against Asian be assigned a public defender. Americans since the pandemic In the first instance, the began. woman told her 10-year-old Hundreds of protesters took daughter to try to take a cell- to the streets of Los Angeles phone photo of the man. The and throughout the San Fran- woman, identified by KIRO-TV cisco Bay Area on Saturday, the as Pamela Cole, posted about latest in a series of rallies in the incident on social media response what many said has and a friend’s husband identi- become a troubling surge of fied Hamner as a possible sus- anti-Asian sentiments. pect. “We can no longer accept the The second woman who AP normalization of being treated was accosted had a dashboard An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man dips cooking utensils in boiling water to remove remains of leaven Thursday in as perpetual foreigners in this camera in her vehicle that preparation for Passover in Ashdod, Israel. country,” speaker Tammy Kim captured the license plate of told a rally in LA’s Koreatown. the other car, which is regis- At rally attended by more tered to Hamner, according to than 1,000 people in San Fran- court documents. The police Celebrating Passover returns cisco’s Civic Center, the city’s detective investigating the case police chief, Bill Scott, drew reviewed the video and deter- Ilan Ben Zion atmosphere with family, friends, feasting from Pfizer and Moderna. Israel has now loud applause when he said, The Associated Press and four cups of wine. vaccinated more than 80 percent of its mined the women’s assailant “Hate is the virus, and love is “was clearly Hamner,” accord- Throughout the week, observant Jews adult population. JERUSALEM — A year ago, Giordana the vaccination.” ing to the charges. abstain from the consumption of bread It’s too early to say that Israel’s corona- Grego’s parents spent Passover at home On Friday, prosecutors in Cole, who said she identifies in Israel, alone but grateful that they had and other leavened foods to commemo- virus crisis is over, as new variants could King County, Washington, rate the hardships of the flight from Egypt. as part Chinese and part Malay- escaped the worst of the pandemic in emerge that are resistant to the vaccines. charged Christopher Hamner, sian, told KIRO-TV she felt like Italy. This year, the whole family will get Instead, they eat unleavened matzah. The vaccination campaign in the Israe- 51, with three counts of mali- Holiday preparations involve spring “a sitting duck” when Hamner together to mark the Jewish feast of liber- li-occupied West Bank and Gaza has been cious harassment after police approached her car, hitting his ation and deliverance from the pandemic. cleaning to the extreme to remove even slow to get off the ground, with Israel say he screamed profanities fists together and screaming at Israel has vaccinated nie than half its the tiniest crumbs of leavened bread from and threw things at cars in two facing criticism for not sharing more of her to “Get out! Get out!” while population of 9.3 million, and as corona- homes and offices. incidents last week targeting its supplies. Israel has vaccinated over spewing profanities about her virus infections have plummeted, author- Cauldrons of boiling water are set up women and children of Asian 100,000 Palestinian laborers who work in Asian heritage. ities have allowed restaurants, hotels, on street corners to boil kitchenware, heritage, The Seattle Times Israel and West Bank settlements, and has “I was in complete shock. museums and theaters to re-open. Up to and many burn their discarded bread, reported Saturday. sent a couple thousand doses to the Pal- Are you talking to me?” Cole 20 people can now gather indoors. known as chametz. Supermarkets cordon In San Francisco, Victor estinian Authority. told the station. It’s a stark turnaround from last year, off aisles with leavened goods, wrapping Humberto Brown, 53, made “He jumps out the car, and when Israel was in the first of three shelves in black plastic. The Palestinians have imported more a first court appearance after nationwide lockdowns, with businesses Most Israeli Jews — religious and secu- than 130,000 doses on their own, but it authorities say he repeatedly he’s charging at us,” she said. shuttered, checkpoints set up on empty lar alike — spend the Seder with extended could be several months before shots punched an Asian American “That was the scariest part for roads and people confined to their family. Last year’s Passover was a major are available for the vast majority of the man at a bus stop while shout- me.” homes. Many could only see their elderly break in tradition. nearly 5 million Palestinians in the terri- ing an anti-Asian slur. In San Francisco, Ron Tuason, relatives on video calls. Government-imposed restrictions tories. Experts say that could pose a risk Brown was initially booked an Army veteran of Filipino, “For us in Israel, really celebrating the forced the closure of synagogues and lim- to Israel’s own public health efforts. on misdemeanor counts, but Chinese and Spanish descent, festivity of freedom definitely has a whole ited movement and assembly to slow the For now, however, Israelis are enjoying prosecutors recently elevated told the Chronicle he was at a bus stop in the city’s Ingleside different meaning this year after what virus’ spread. Some conducted the ritual what feels like a post-pandemic reality, the case to a felony, the San neighborhood on March 13 we experienced,” said Grego, who immi- meal with their nuclear family, others lending special significance to Passover. Francisco Chronicle reported. over videoconference, while an unfortu- when Brown approached him, grated to Israel from Italy. “It’s not only symbolic that it’s the hol- He said in court that he has a nate few held the Seder in solitude. yelling “Get out of my country” “It’s amazing that this year we’re able iday of freedom, but it’s also the holiday post-traumatic stress disorder. to celebrate together, also considering Another lockdown was imposed over In Seattle, according to court before using a racial slur meant of the family,” said Rabbi David Stav, chief that in Italy, everybody is still under lock- the Jewish High Holidays in September, documents, Hamner yelled to denigrate Asian people. Tua- rabbi of the city of Shoham and head of down.” again preventing family gatherings, and a profanities and threw things son said Brown also said, “It’s Passover is the Jewish holiday celebrat- third came earlier this year with the emer- the liberal Orthodox organization Tzohar. at a woman stopped at a red because of you there’s a prob- ing the biblical Israelites’ liberation from gence of more contagious variants of the “This year, families are uniting. Peo- light with her two children, lem here.” slavery in Egypt after a series of divine virus. ple that were so lonely, especially older ages 5 and 10, on March 16. Tuason, 56, said he believes plagues. The week-long springtime festi- By the third lockdown, Israel had people, who were disengaged from their Three days later, authorities Brown was referring to the val starts Saturday night with the highly launched one of the most successful families, all of a sudden they discover the say Hamner cut off another coronavirus. Brown punched ritualized Seder meal, when the Exodus inoculation campaigns in the world after freedom and the joy of being together car driven by an Asian woman, him multiple times, he said, story is retold. It’s a Thanksgiving-like the government secured millions of doses with them.” yelled a profanity and the knocking him to the ground. Floyd’s killing spurs global push for change

Aaron Morrison for change much broader than crimi- lied to the Black Lives Matter cause, a civil rights attorney and activist in the abuse and the dehumanization of The Associated Press nal justice reform. then-President Donald Trump’s move Minneapolis. Black folks. Richard Wallace had seen it all “George Floyd has taken systemic to transform the unrest into a winning For Levy Armstrong, the stakes of “But for some people, they’re now before, and he wasn’t hopeful. racism from personal problem to political issue left the U.S. seemingly the trial are high. beginning to see we have a problem, America’s issue,” Wallace said. “It’s more divided on issues than ever. The former Minneapolis NAACP It was, he thought, the same old and we need to begin to take steps to clear we’re seeing a growing and Still, Floyd’s global impact is unde- branch president has watched her story: Police kill a Black person, pro- address these problems.” tests erupt, politicians pledge reforms maturing of a movement.” niable. Federal, state and local gov- community rise up in response to Her assessment of the international and corporations offer platitudes As Minneapolis braces for Mon- ernments have taken concrete steps unchecked police violence, only impact of the case is not hyperbole. about supporting needed change. day’s opening statements in the trial — like supporting reparations and to have their spirits crushed by an But Wallace, the 38-year-old founder of Derek Chauvin, the ex-officer who reinvesting in community resources acquittal and lack of grand jury Some of the protests abroad rivaled and executive director of Equity and is charged with murder and man- — to address decades of harm visited indictments in the cases of Philando American demonstrations last year. Transformation, a social and eco- slaughter in Floyd’s death, so does the on Black Americans and other minori- Castile, a Black man killed by police “Having the Black Lives movement nomic justice advocacy group in Chi- world. Floyd was the spark that set the ties. Corporations, nonprofits, media in a nearby suburb in 2016, and Jamar embraced the way it was in this coun- cago, came to realize that this time U.S. ablaze. and the entertainment industry have Clark, a Black man killed by city police try was painfully healing, because it’s In the days and months after his launched promising diversity, equity in 2015. was different. not nice to have an occasion like the This time the victim was George death on Memorial Day, millions of and inclusion initiatives. “We have for too long lived inside tragic death of George Floyd be the Floyd, a 46-year-old Black father of Americans, along with thousands in People will remember 2020 not just of a culture of ignorance, not just in five captured in a sickening citizen cities abroad, took to the streets in as a year of upheaval over Floyd, but the U.S. but worldwide,” she said. “I reason for people to acknowledge video taking his final breaths under a protests that were often peaceful but as a year in which people demanded don’t think that this country in par- what you’ve been trying to share,” said white officer’s knee. And this time, the sometimes violent and destructive. and took bold action toward systemic ticular, but the world itself, has ever Sylvana Simons, who was recently victim would become a global symbol Even as many new supporters ral- change, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, had to reconcile the mistreatment, elected to the Dutch Parliament.

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ANOTHER OPINION Georgia Republicans go all in on voter suppression LETTERS TO THE EDITOR dealerships. What? You have to have a made to Commissioner Matt Lundy was Let’s say you sat down with a group to brainstorm Republicans set a ridiculous standard for D.C. statehood certain amount of car dealerships in thorough and well-written. on how best to strengthen our democracy. Let’s say order to become a state — and a landfill? Hung owes Lundy an apology for her I am not yet sure where I actually someone said, “I know! Let’s make sure that people How does someone who would make that innuendo and attempts to discredit him. stand on the proposal to make Washing- argument get elected? It was disrespectful in my opinion. waiting to vote in long lines on hot days can’t be given ton, D.C., a state. I haven’t researched it JUDY REIDEL Silencing Lundy at meetings is a tactic enough yet. I am quite amused, though, North Ridgeville water to drink!” You might reply: “Uh ... what?” that is counterproductive and alien to our by the article in The Chronicle-Telegram American democracy. Yet that is indeed one of the “reforms” Republicans the other day in which two Republican Commissioners need to be respectful to each other Lundy is a well-respected, long-term in Georgia implemented this last week. members of Congress said that D.C. leader in our community. Perhaps, this is should not qualify to become a state The Chronicle-Telegram’s recent arti- what seems to be gnawing at Hung. Georgia has been a primary battleground in the because of the city’s lack of an airport cle regarding the comments new Lorain ANN SELTZER voting wars, pitting Republicans who seek to restrict or a landfill, and its lack of enough car County Commissioner Michelle Hung Avon Lake voting against Democrats, good-government groups and others who want casting a ballot to be easier, not Even if the home team doesn’t win harder. While state Republicans backed off their worst ideas, such as abolishing no-excuse absentee voting, the restrictionists still scored a victory on Thursday, it’s impossible not to root for them I didn’t watch enough baseball last year. ess behind it. when Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill con- Not only because I couldn’t, but also He hit only a single home run last year taining plenty of noxious provisions. Among them: a because I didn’t want to. and had just five RBIs. In 2019, admittedly ban on distributing food or water to voters waiting in Sacrilege, I know, for someone who has a full season, he hit 24 homers and drove devoted so many hours of his life to the in 63 runs. Both years, though, he won a long polling place lines. Cleveland Indians. Gold Glove as the league’s best defender Andy Young This provision will do little to improve confidence Like most Major League Baseball at his position. teams, they played only 60 games last A bigger problem is my growing suspi- • Bradley Zimmer ever realizes the in the vote, but it promises to make voting in per- year, far less than half of the 162 they usu- cion that my attention for the last 62 sea- potential the team saw in him when it son in Georgia — particularly in those areas that see ally play. sons — I started rooting for the team in made him its No. 1 draft pick in 2014. The pandemic cut the season short, How can I not root for a guy so fast and epic voting lines — even less pleasant. Meanwhile, 1959, when I was 8 years old — has some- then the Indians cut their postseason how contributed to its record for futility. so exuberant that he crashed into Yankee state lawmakers added new rules on absentee voting, short by losing two straight games to the No other team has failed to win the World Stadium’s center field wall May 5, 2018, Yankees. Series for as long as the Indians. trying to catch a long fly ball? Shortly after which may require more people to sit out in the sun Depressing, to be sure, but I paid them that, he was sent to the minors and has They last won the Series in 1948, three to cast a ballot. less mind than usual not just because the been trying to work his way back to the years before I was born. In 1954, three season and postseason were truncated. I starting lineup in the majors ever since. It is clear who would be hurt most by this shift. years after I was born, they lost the Series also spent too many afternoons and early • A rookie with a body mass index in four straight games. It gets harder and Lines tend to be long in predominantly non-white evenings watching state and national punier than mine, Triston McKenzie, can harder for me not to believe, as the years precincts — areas that tend to vote for Democrats. news conferences on the pandemic and hold down a job in the starting rotation. later evenings following the presidential without a title mount — it’s now 72 — I weigh what he does, 165 pounds, and State and local officials have failed to keep pace with campaign, simultaneously fascinated and that my birth somehow jinxed them. I’m two inches shorter at 6 feet 3 inches Rather than face the possibility that the fast growth of ethnically diverse neighborhoods fearful. tall. How nice to think that “athletic Now I’m not sure what I think of the only my death will unjinx them — too build” might not be an oxymoron when in the Atlanta area, leading to lengthy voting backups. team, whose season opens Thursday in grim a thought even for a fan as bizarrely applied to us. Data on Georgia’s primary elections last June, collect- Detroit. superstitious as I am — I’ve considered OK, I admit it. Baseball isn’t just a sport Part of the problem is that so many whether I might solve the problem by for me. It’s personal, which is why I’ll ed by Georgia Public Broadcasting and ProPublica, important players are gone, including unfollowing them. never be able to quit rooting for the team. revealed that the average wait after 7 p.m. in predom- Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco and I got some practice at that last year, and And hoping that my attention is not a Carlos Santana. I’m still learning about I could go cold turkey this year ... cross it must bear. inantly non-white neighborhoods was 51 minutes, newcomers such as left fielder Eddie Except that I wouldn’t find out whether: Andy Young is editor emeritus of The Chronicle- while in predominantly white neighborhoods it was Rosario, shortstop Andres Giménez and • Catcher Roberto Pérez regains his Telegram. Contact him at (440) 329-7111 or 100-mph reliever Emmanuel Clase. prowess at the plate and retains his prow- [email protected]. six minutes. Georgia state law previously barred people and groups from handing out gifts, such as refreshments, to those waiting in line. But the law appeared to allow The victims of mass shootings the distribution of food and water if it were available to everyone — voters, poll workers, passersby — so don’t get their names on a wall it did not amount to a reward for voting. Moreover, “This is a violent civilization — if civili- “There will be a time for the debate on those passing out the refreshments could not do any zation’s where I am.” gun laws...” — Gil Scott-Heron, “Gun” “Drunk drivers kill people too...” campaigning. Now the law restricts anyone from giv- Alexis Knutson doesn’t want to see her “Our thoughts and prayers...” ing out water to any voter within a certain distance of friend reduced. And on... That friend, she told The New York And on. a polling place, authorizing only election officials to Leonard Pitts Times, “had the biggest, brightest smile. And in the meantime: Tanya Jackson, provide self-service water from an unattended recep- She always just had these dimples that, Paso, Annapolis, Orlando, Dallas, Blacks- 50, Mohammed Haitham, 19, Christian especially when she got excited about tacle — and only if election officials choose to do so. burg, Sutherland Springs, Honolulu, Hia- Garcia, 15, Enrique Rios, 25, Rob Hiaasen, something — her smile was just huge.” leah, Washington — is to draw a blood- 59, Jessica Rekos, 6, Olivia Engel, 6, Noah Georgia lawmakers also banned mobile voting “I always had a rule,” said Knutson. stained map of America. Pozner, 6... “She couldn’t call me before 9 a.m. And to name victims through the years, Too many names. Names most of us buses such as those that Atlanta’s Fulton County used because I like my sleep. She would always to try and give each proper WEIGHT and forget even as we learn them. Names call me at 6 a.m.” to ease lines. They added voter ID requirements for reverence, would be to drown in sorrows: we’d never have even known if lawmakers Of course, she did. Because that’s absentee voting and narrowed the amount of time Annabelle Pomeroy, 14, Sonny Melton, served the will of the people over that of how friends do one another. And Knut- 29, Isaiah Shoels, 18, Joyce Fienberg, 75, the powerful. And yet, names each repre- people have to request mail-in ballots. They placed so son hates the idea of seeing that friend Sharonda Singleton, 45, Jaime Gutten- reduced to a CNN chyron or a column of senting irreparable holes blasted through many limits on ballot drop boxes as to render them berg, 14, John Roll, 63, Yaakov Aminov, 46, newsprint. “I don’t want her name to be countless neighborhoods, families and practically useless. So it is now a criminal offense for another name next to an age on a list,” Martin Bodrog, 54, Melvin Lee, 58, Patrick lives. Zamarripa, 32, Jordan Anchondo, 25, Which lends a painful, albeit implicit, someone to hand a bottle of water to an elderly Black she said. And yet, here we are. When death Xiaojie Tan, 49, Dennis Steinhoff, 73. indictment to what Alexis Knutson said. “I voter in Fulton County — who had to wait in line comes in acts of mass carnage as it did And on.... don’t want her name to be another name And on. next to an age on a list.” because she could not navigate the new absentee bal- for Knutson’s friend and nine others last week at a supermarket in Boulder when Singer Francesca Beghe once sang But how can it not? We’re dealing in lot requirements. a deranged gunman opened fire, what about the black granite memorial in volume here. In the grand scheme of voter-suppression mea- option is there? When death comes in Washington to the 58,000 Americans who So, for the record, 10 people were bulk as constantly as it does in America, died in the Vietnam War. Her words insin- killed last week in Boulder. Among them sures that Republicans have proposed, limiting there is little time to individuate victims, uate themselves here. “Once living, they was a woman whose friend will miss her water distribution is not the most pernicious. But it to mourn them as singular persons, the were once breathing. Now they’re all just dimpled smile and early-morning phone way those who loved and knew them will. names on a wall.” calls. is emblematic of a party committed to devising new Even to make a partial list of cities Except that the victims of this war don’t Teri Leiker, 51. hardships to impose on voters, and all based on lies where it has happened — Las Vegas, Los get a wall. No, they get only chyrons and Leonard Pitts Jr. is a columnist for the Miami Herald, Angeles, Newtown, Littleton, Charleston, newsprint, to go with smarmy platitudes about voter fraud, to keep hold of political power. 3511 NW 91st Ave., Miami, Fla., 33172. Readers Eugene, Atlanta, Pensacola, Thousand of inaction, specious pieties worn smooth may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald. — The Washington Post Oaks, Tucson, Pittsburgh, Parkland, El by repetition. com. The Chronicle-Telegram OPINION Sunday, March 28, 2021 A5 ALMANAC Letters to the editor guidelines Sunday, March 28, 2021 The Chronicle-Telegram welcomes letters to the editor. Today is the 87th day of 2021 and the ninth day of TODAY’S FACT Letters are subject to editing for brevity, accuracy, clarity spring. The cleanup of the damaged nuclear reactor at and taste. TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS Three Mile Island after the 1979 meltdown took Maxim Gorky (1868-1936), author; Freddie nearly 14 years and cost approximately $973 million. Letters should be 250 words or fewer. Letters with more Bartholomew (1924-1992), actor; Mario Vargas TODAY’S QUOTE than 250 words may be edited. Llosa (1936- ), author; Jerry Sloan (1942- ), “Memory is a snare, pure and simple; it alters, it Include your signature, full home address and telephone basketball player/coach; Rick Barry (1944- ), subtly rearranges the past to fit the present.” basketball player; Dianne Wiest (1948- ), actress; — Mario Vargas Llosa number for verification purposes. Reba McEntire (1955- ), singer-songwriter/actress; TODAY’S NUMBER BY MAIL: Editorial Page Editor, The Chronicle-Telegram, Chris Myers (1959- ), sportscaster; Cheryl James 28 — percentage of native-born U.S. children AP FILE Box 4010, Elyria, OH 44036 aka Salt (1966- ), rapper; Vince Vaughn (1970- ), ages 0 to 17 with at least one foreign-born parent Singer-songwriter/actress actor; Nick Frost (1972- ), actor/screenwriter; Julia in 2019. BY FAX: 329-7282. Attention, Editorial Page Editor. Stiles (1981- ), actress; Lady Gaga (1986- ), singer- TODAY’S MOON Lady Gaga turns 35 songwriter/actress. Full moon (March 28). today. 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ON THE LIGHTER SIDE A sampling of editorial cartoons from around the country.

Catherine Rampell Marc Thiessen Spend more Hypocrisy and on the IRS the filibuster How do you raise tax revenue without raising WASHINGTON — At his first news conference taxes? By increasing enforcement of existing tax law since taking office, President Joe Biden issued a and making sure every penny already owed gets scathing, if unintentional, indictment of his own paid. party’s hypocrisy when it comes to getting rid of the President Joe Biden is crafting a $3 trillion spend- Senate filibuster. Biden noted Thursday that between ing plan focused on infrastructure and other pri- 1917 and 1971 “there were a total of 58 motions to orities. To their credit, Democrats have also been break the filibuster” but “last year alone, there were floating options to pay for it. These include raising five times that many.” This was proof, he said, that tax rates on corporations, capital gains, estates and the filibuster was being “abused in a gigantic way.” high-income individuals’ earnings. I’m sorry, who exactly launched all those unprece- All worthwhile ideas. But there’s some lower-hang- dented filibusters last year? Democrats. ing, revenue-raising fruit that has not featured So, let’s get this straight: By Biden’s own admis- prominently in leaks from the White House or Cap- sion, Democrats abused the filibuster to obstruct itol Hill: giving the Internal Revenue Service more President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda. And money. now, Biden wants to use his own party’s “gigan- Increasing spending to help pay for spending may tic” filibuster abuse as justification to eliminate or seem counterintuitive. It makes more sense when restrict it when Republicans are in the minority — you consider that every additional dollar invested in even though there has not yet been a single Republi- the IRS generates a $6 return, according to Treasury can-led filibuster since he was elected? estimates, by enabling the agency to detect and col- This is sheer hypocrisy. Where was this urgency to lect tax bills already owed. “reform” the filibuster when Democrats were using By inadequately funding the IRS, we’re leaving it to block funding for Trump’s border wall, block money on the table. COVID-19 relief, block police reform, block legisla- Thanks to years of budget cuts, the overall IRS tion forcing “sanctuary cities” to cooperate with fed- budget is about 20 percent below its level a decade eral officials and block legislation to protect unborn ago in inflation-adjusted terms. Meanwhile, the human life? agency has been given more and more responsi- Just the threat of a Democratic filibuster stopped bilities. These include implementing the Foreign the GOP majority from even taking immigration Account Tax Compliance Act, combating identity reform, lawsuit reforms, health-care reform, budget theft and tax-refund fraud, dispensing multiple cuts, expanded gun rights, permanent tax cuts, right- rounds of pandemic stimulus payments, and, pos- to-work laws and defunding Planned Parenthood to sibly very soon, issuing monthly cash payments to the Senate floor. families with children. But now the simple prospect of Republicans doing With fewer resources available to handle all these the same thing to Biden is such an outrage that duties, something had to give. That something Democrats are willing to blow up the Senate guard- turned out to be enforcement. Tax cheats can now rails protecting minority-party rights to ram through get away with murder — or at least the ability to their radical legislative agenda? substantially shortchange Uncle Sam. Even in the face of the Democrats’ unprece- The number of IRS revenue agents — the auditors dented obstruction, then-Senate Majority Leader qualified to examine complex returns — has plum- Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., refused Trump’s repeated meted 43 percent over the past decade, according entreaties to get rid of the legislative filibuster. Why? Because, McConnell said, “we recognize what every- to a report from Syracuse University’s Transactional one should recognize — there are no permanent Records Access Clearinghouse. Audit rates of those victories in politics.” filing these complex returns have also sharply McConnell understood that the GOP would be in declined. the minority again someday — and protecting the For example, the number of millionaires who right of the minority to block or delay legislation was were audited in fiscal 2020 was about a quarter of more important than any legislative victories that the number from fiscal 2012. Accordingly, these IRS filibuster elimination would enable. “No Republican audits turned up unreported tax bills of $1.2 billion has any trouble imagining the laundry list of socialist last year, about a quarter of the $4.8 billion found in policies that 51 Senate Democrats would happily fiscal 2012. inflict on Middle America in a filibuster-free Senate,” Likewise, the share of corporate giants — those McConnell said. with at least $20 billion in assets — being audited Trump argued that Republicans might as well declined to 38 percent last year from 93 percent in eliminate the filibuster, since Democrats would fiscal 2012. Those IRS audits had turned up $4.1 get rid of it as soon as they won back control of the billion in unreported taxes owed in 2020, compared Senate. Now Democrats are pushing to prove Trump with about $10 billion in 2012. right. Doing so will only fuel anti-establishment These numbers are presumably not declining anger inside the GOP and strengthen Trump going because wealthy people and corporations have sud- into 2024. And, as The Washington Post’s Ruth Mar- denly become more scrupulous about paying exactly cus so ably explained, if Republicans regain power what they owe. They know the IRS is outgunned; if in 2024, a filibuster-free Senate will allow them to anything, cutbacks in IRS audits and declining refer- unleash an “apocalypse” — enacting all the legisla- rals for criminal prosecution have emboldened tax tion Democrats filibustered under Trump and more, cheats — or at least encouraged well-heeled filers with a simple majority vote. and the armies of tax experts they employ to attempt Why can’t Democrats seem to understand this? increasingly aggressive interpretations of the law. Why are they being so shortsighted? The answer, I The more conspicuous this lack of enforcement believe, is twofold. gets, the more additional people are likely to duck First, they don’t plan to let Republicans regain their tax duties. This has happened in other coun- power. Democrats will use a filibuster-free Senate to tries, such as Greece and Italy, where perceptions build a firewall against the inevitable conservative that everyone else is shirking have led to cascading backlash to their radical agenda. They will pack the tax evasion. No one wants to be the only chump left Senate by making the District of Columbia a state, following the law. adding two more safe Democratic Senate seats. Estimates for the size of the U.S. “tax gap” — the They will pack the House by expanding the size of difference between what’s owed and what’s col- the lower chamber. Because House seats are appor- lected — vary. By one estimate, from economists tioned by population, populous blue states would Natasha Sarin (who was recently appointed to a post gain the most — allowing Democrats to bolster their at Biden’s Treasury Department) and Lawrence H. narrow House majority. Summers (the former treasury secretary who is also And Democrats will pass a sweeping federal elec- a Washington Post contributing columnist), the IRS tion law — H.R. 1 — with provisions that include will fail to collect nearly $7.5 trillion of legally owed mandating automatic and same-day voter registra- taxes over the next decade. Even that may under- tion, banning voter ID laws, compelling states to state the amount of evasion. A new paper co-au- count votes cast in the wrong precincts, and prohib- thored by IRS employees suggests the ultrawealthy iting election officials from reviewing and removing may be hiding more money abroad than had been ineligible voters from the rolls. previously estimated. Unhindered by the filibuster, Democrats will also Investing in the tax enforcement workforce, IT pack the Supreme Court and install an activist liberal improvements and increases in third-party reporting majority that will protect their constitutional over- could help shrink the tax gap. These actions would reach. help detect existing fraud and discourage future bad Democrats are confident that these steps will put behavior. Remember that $6-to-$1 return on invest- the White House and congressional majorities out of ment for additional IRS funding? That ratio doesn’t GOP reach. But if by some chance Republicans did even include the deterrence value of increased regain power, Democrats know that many of their enforcement. Treasury estimates those effects to be legislative victories will be irreversible. “at least three times” greater than the direct impact There is no precedent for revoking statehood or on revenue. reducing the size of the House. New Supreme Court IRS budget cuts over the past decade were driven justices will serve for life. And Democrats also under- by Republicanpoliticians, but Republicans, too, stand that government is a one-way ratchet. If they should support increasing IRS resources, regardless pass single-payer health care, expand the welfare of whether Biden’s spending plans ever become law. state or enact some version of the Green New Deal, After all, funding the IRS could help shrink deficits these programs will never be dismantled. Just look without raising taxes on any law-abiding taxpayer. at Obamacare. More than a decade later, despite It could also restore greater faith in the fairness and unified GOP control of government under Trump, efficiency of our federal government. Republicans were unable to repeal it. Republicans have shown great interest in rooting This is why Democrats are so shamelessly pushing out “waste, fraud and abuse” when it comes to food to eliminate the filibuster — because it will allow stamps and other programs used by the poor; one them to irreversibly transform our country and make hopes they would demonstrate symmetric interest it nearly impossible for Republicans to win back when those ills are practiced by the wealthy. power. Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell’s email address Follow Washington Post columnist Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, is [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter, @crampell. @marcthiessen. A6 Sunday, March 28, 2021 WEATHER The Chronicle-Telegram NATIONAL WEATHER OUR WEATHER | Go to AccuWeather.com TODAY’S FORECAST FOUR-DAY FORECAST RESORT CITIES Today Tom. MORNING AFTERNOON EVENING TONIGHT MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY City Hi Lo W Hi Lo W Aspen 52 31 s 53 20 pc Cancun 86 76 s 85 77 pc Daytona Beach 87 65 pc 73 65 c Honolulu 81 71 pc 80 69 pc Jacksonville 88 60 pc 69 59 pc Key West 85 76 s 84 77 s Las Vegas 79 55 s 82 51 s 55° 49° 44° 38° 55° 42° 71° 42° 49° 27° 38° 22° Miami 86 72 pc 85 75 pc Montego Bay 85 75 pc 86 75 pc Increasingly windy today; a couple of morning showers. Windy Mostly sunny, Cooler; rain and Myrtle Beach 77 50 t 63 51 pc this evening. A rain and snow Sunny breezy and drizzle in the shower possible Nassau 84 72 pc 85 72 pc High 56° / Low 33° warmer a.m. Oranjestad, Aruba 85 78 pc 85 78 sh Orlando 90 68 pc 80 68 c ALMANAC SUN AND MOON Palm Springs 89 63 s 93 64 s Forecasts and graphics Puerto Vallarta 79 56 pc 84 59 pc provided by Lorain County Airport through 6 p.m. yesterday. Sunrise today 7:18 a.m. Punta Cana, DR 84 75 pc 85 75 pc AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021 Temperature Precipitation Sunset tonight 7:49 p.m. Rio de Janeiro 89 78 pc 90 77 t Moonrise today 7:55 p.m. High 67° 24 hours ending 6 p.m. 0.00" San Juan, PR 84 75 pc 85 75 pc Shown are today’s noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. Low 44° Month to date 0.90" Moonset today 7:35 a.m. Tahiti 87 80 sh 87 79 sh Normal high 54° Normal month to date 2.34" Full Last New First Tampa 84 71 pc 83 71 c Normal low 33° Year to date 3.81" WORLD CITIES Showers T-storms Rain Flurries Snow Ice Cold Front Warm Front Stationary Last year's high 51° Last year to date 8.34" -10s -0s 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s Last year's low 39° Normal year to date 7.19" Today Tom. Mar 28 Apr 4 Apr 11 Apr 20 City Hi Lo W Hi Lo W Today Tom. Today Tom. REGIONAL WEATHER Athens 65 50 pc 68 52 s City Hi Lo W Hi Lo W City Hi Lo W Hi Lo W Euclid Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. Amsterdam 52 47 c 61 42 s Atlanta 72 42 t 67 49 c Memphis 61 39 pc 67 48 s Avon Lake Cleveland 55/35 Baghdad 71 49 pc 74 49 s Atlantic City 66 43 t 58 36 s Milwaukee 47 32 pc 61 48 s 53/36 LAKE ERIE 55/33 Beijing 63 46 pc 64 39 pc Baltimore 72 42 t 59 37 s Minneapolis 48 38 pc 70 33 s Wind west 12-25 knots today. Seas 2-4 Beirut 63 52 s 64 55 s Birmingham 69 39 t 67 47 pc Nashville 59 35 t 64 45 s Sandusky feet. Visibility under 2 miles in showers. Lakewood Berlin 53 46 c 63 44 pc Boise 73 31 s 49 27 sf New Orleans 77 56 t 70 62 t 52/33 55/36 Buenos Aires 70 63 sh 72 60 pc Boston 53 43 r 51 34 s New York City 62 42 r 56 39 s Lorain Amherst Cairo 68 50 s 70 51 s Charleston, SC 84 52 c 69 50 c Norfolk 83 48 t 61 46 s 53/35 Calgary 55 16 pc 29 15 pc Charleston, WV 64 34 t 58 38 s Oklahoma City 68 45 s 74 50 s Huron 55/34 Maple Heights Dublin 58 53 r 62 47 pc Chicago 49 34 s 64 49 s Omaha 60 46 s 74 38 s 53/33 Parma 58/34 Elyria 57/34 Hong Kong 80 73 pc 82 74 sh Cincinnati 56 33 pc 59 43 s Philadelphia 69 42 t 56 38 s 56/33 Jerusalem 56 46 s 59 48 s Columbus 58 31 pc 56 40 s Phoenix 85 58 s 88 57 s Brunswick Lisbon 73 58 pc 73 58 pc Dallas 71 46 s 75 56 s Pittsburgh 61 32 r 53 36 s Bellevue Oberlin Hudson 56 47 c 64 43 s 65 40 s 69 25 s Portland, OR Grafton 57/32 London Denver 55 39 r 54 37 sh 56/29 56/31 57/32 Madrid 72 42 pc 71 44 pc Des Moines 54 42 s 71 39 s 56 43 r 53 32 s Norwalk 57/31 Providence 56/30 Mexico City 84 55 s 76 54 pc Detroit 50 28 c 54 42 s Raleigh 80 44 t 64 42 s Wellington Montreal 50 29 r 40 29 s El Paso 71 44 s 80 57 s St. Louis 56 40 s 69 49 s 56/30 Medina Cuyahoga Falls Moscow 42 26 s 41 28 s Erie 56 35 r 44 39 s Salt Lake City 66 45 s 47 28 pc 57/30 58/32 New Delhi 96 71 pc 98 70 pc Fairbanks 19 18 pc 34 22 sn San Diego 80 54 s 72 54 s New London Paris 61 41 pc 70 43 s Houston 72 49 sh 75 58 s San Francisco 67 49 s 65 51 s 56/30 Rome 63 42 s 64 44 s Huntington, WV 62 35 t 59 40 s 63 33 s 68 35 s Lodi Wadsworth Santa Fe Willard Seoul 56 42 sh 61 38 pc Indianapolis 49 30 pc 60 43 s Seattle 48 36 r 51 35 pc 56/29 57/30 57/30 Akron Singapore 89 78 t 89 77 t Kansas City 60 47 s 72 46 s Toledo 52 28 c 57 42 s 58/31 Sydney 74 63 s 72 62 pc Little Rock 65 38 s 68 43 s Topeka 63 48 s 75 45 s Bailey Lakes Barberton Tokyo 66 60 r 70 58 r Los Angeles 87 61 s 84 57 s Tucson 83 54 s 88 55 s Shiloh 57/29 Creston Doylestown 59/32 Toronto 51 30 r 46 34 pc Louisville 57 36 pc 63 45 s Washington, DC 73 44 t 60 42 s 57/30 56/29 57/30 Warsaw 49 37 pc 51 46 sh Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. CDC: Cruises will remain banned Taylor Dolven companies a long list of requirements ensky last week, saying she would wel- order be lifted, Shockey said the order it lifted its no-sail order on October 30, Miami Herald they must meet before being allowed come guidance from the CDC allow- remains in effect. replacing it with the conditional sail to restart. ing cruises by July for only vaccinated “On October 30, 2020, CDC issued order. In November, the CDC added MIAMI — Despite increasing pres- The government officials say the passengers and crew. Around 60,000 Framework for Conditional Sailing instructions for lab testing, and in sure from the cruise industry and its conditional sail order, first issued South Floridians work directly or indi- Order (CSO) that remains in effect December it expanded the list of tests allies in government, the U.S. Centers by the CDC in October and in place rectly for the cruise industry. until November 1, 2021,” she said in cruise companies can use. for Disease Control and Prevention until November 2021, is outdated and Earlier this month, CDC spokesper- an email. “Returning to passenger Since then, crew members have plans to prevent cruises from U.S. unnecessary now that several COVID- son Caitlin Shockey said a majority, cruising is a phased approach to mit- continued to test positive for the virus ports for the foreseeable future. 19 vaccines are available. but not all, of the six cruise companies igate the risk of spreading COVID- at sea. Thirty-three cruise ships in U.S. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Miami- “I urge the CDC to immediately with ships in U.S. waters had complied 19. Details for the next phase of the waters have reported crew members Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, rescind this baseless no-sail order to with the first phase of the order: Test all CSO are currently under interagency testing positive for COVID-19 or hav- and the cruise industry lobbying allow Floridians in this industry to get crew members for COVID-19 weekly review.” ing COVID-like illness (clinically com- group CLIA are pressuring the CDC to back to work,” said DeSantis at a press and report results to the agency. The CDC first banned cruises in U.S. patible without laboratory confirma- allow U.S. cruises as soon as July 1. But conference at Port Canaveral Friday. In response to Cruise Lines Interna- waters in March 2020 amid COVID- tion) since the start of the year, accord- the agency is not budging on its “con- He joins Levine Cava, who sent a tional Association’s public demands 19 outbreaks on multiple ships. After ing to CDC documents obtained by ditional sail order,” which gives cruise letter to CDC Director Rochelle Wal- Thursday that the conditional sail extensive lobbying from the industry, the Herald.

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