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$1.00 Today’s high: 73° Details on D4 FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 124th YEAR, 257th ISSUE Challenge Trump !nally faces reality to Ariz.’s electoral – amid talk of early ouster votes is ASSOCIATED PRESS and seamless transition of power. This moment calls WASHINGTON – With 13 for healing and reconcilia- rejected days left in his term, Presi- tion.” dent finally The address, which ap- BY HOWARD FISCHER bent to reality Thursday peared designed to stave CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES amid growing talk of try- off talk of a forced early ing to force him out early, PHOENIX – fi- eviction, came at the end nally got its 11 electoral acknowledging he’ll peace- of a day when the cornered fully leave after Congress votes for Joe Biden count- president stayed out of ed late Wednesday after affirmed his defeat. sight in the White House. Trump led off a video Congress reconvened – and Silenced on some of his fa- after a majority of federal from the White House by vorite internet lines of com- condemning the violence lawmakers rejected claims munication, he watched the on how the tally here was carried out in his name a resignations of several top day earlier at the Capitol. unreliable. aides, including two Cabi- The ratification of the Then, for the first time on net secretaries. camera, he admitted his 10,457-vote victory for the And as officials sifted president elect came after presidency would soon through the aftermath of end – though he declined to just six senators refused to the pro-Trump mob’s siege accept the results. mention President-elect Joe of the U.S. Capitol, there Biden by name or explicitly In the House, the number was growing discussion of state he had lost. of foes was larger at 121. But impeaching him a second “A new administration that that compares with 303 time or invoking the 25th will be inaugurated on Jan. who found the objection Amendment to oust him 20,” Trump said in the vid- ASSOCIATED PRESS led by Arizona Republican from the Oval Office. eo. “My focus now turns to PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SPEAKS DURING A RALLY protesting the electoral college Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy ensuring a smooth, orderly SEE TRUMP/A4 certi!cation of Joe Biden as President in Washington on Wednesday. Biggs to be not credible. Foes raised a series of ar- guments about what went wrong. But the story behind each of them is more com- plex. Biggs in particular cited what he said were 32,000 il- legal votes. What actually happened is a federal judge agreed with two groups who said the pandemic interfered with their ability to register to vote by the Oct. 5 dead- line. He gave them – and everyone else – until Oct. 23. That decisions was over- turned by the 9th Circuit of Appeals. But a majority of the three-judge panel said anyone who had registered in the interim could vote in the general election. Biggs said that was “with- out justification’’ and that the inclusion of those voters makes the results of the en- tire election suspect. The actual tally of people registered in that period ac- cording to the secretary of state’s office was 35,134. But what Biggs did not say is that more member of his own Republican Party signed up during that peri- od than Democrats: 10,922 versus 8,292. There also were 15,422 independents and 498 Libertarians. Federal lawmakers seek- ing to disallow the results ASSOCIATED PRESS and demand and audit DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD stand outside the Capitol on Wednesday night after a day of rioting protesters. SEE CHALLENGE/A4

State announces TRACKING COVID-19 YRMC City council TOTAL CASES TOTAL CASES UPDATE LOCATION JAN. 7 JAN. 6 DIFFERENCE DEATHS For Jan. 7 +321 reallocates $500K in funding Yuma County 29,712 29,391 565 • Total hospitalized: Arizona 584,593 574,680 +9,913 9,741 106 COVID patients United States 21,574,073 21,299,340 +274,733 365,174 • Total in ICU: $680,000 for area COVID-19 Worldwide 88,024,120 87,186,540 +837,580 1,898,259 22 COVID patients (of - Sources: Yuma County, Arizona Department of Health Services, Johns Hopkins University 42-bed ICU) • Vents/and available to rental YUMA COUNTY CASES BY THE NUMBERS vents: 23 vents in use / 60 wastewater testing available + 10 portable Yuma County’s total number of positive 15,214 Female: • Total COVID-19 pa- COVID-19 cases here is 29,712 , accord- Male: 14,496 assistance Ducey praises ‘innovative’ partnership tients admitted improved ing to the county’s Jan. 7 update, and there Deaths in Yuma County: 565 BY MARA KNAUB AGE GROUP and discharged from SUN STAFF WRITER between Yuma County, ADHS have been 565 deaths. There were 321 hospital: (1,980 total) new cases reported. Ages 0-19:...... 4,352 Ages 20-44:...... 13,127 • Arizona Surge Line The Yuma City Council BY MARA KNAUB spread during the pandem- Here’s a look at Yuma County Cases by Ages 45-54:...... 4,610 Transfers: 0 (300 total) on Wednesday reallocated SUN STAFF WRITER ic.” the numbers: Ages 55-64:...... 3,830 $680,146 in federal grant The project is a partner- A Yuma pilot project that Ages 65+:...... 3,793 *County numbers include funds to a cost-shared rent- ship with Yuma County Numbers Tested: 117,615 only those persons who live in al assistance program. provides early detection of – Reported by YRMC as of 8 a.m. Jan. 7 Public Health Services Dis- Total Con!rmed Positive: 29,712 Yuma County COVID-19 has gotten the Following notification trict, University of Arizona, by the Housing America stamp of approval from including the university’s Corporation that it would showed a lot of interest technology may be applied ty of Arizona and the Yuma Gov. Doug Ducey. Yuma Center of Excellence be declining HOME grant County Public Health Ser- The governor announced for Desert Agriculture, and during a one-hour conver- to best identify potential awards from the U.S. De- on Wednesday that the state Arizona Department of sation. “She really liked the hotspots for COVID-19 vices District. Yuma joins partment of Housing and will fund a wastewater test- Health Services. concept, she liked the data spread. Tempe, which has used Urban Development, the wastewater testing to detect ing pilot project in Yuma “I’m thrilled. We’ve been they would get back.” “This approach has Yuma County HOME Con- COVID-19 in partnership County with $500,000 in working on it for a little YCEDA will collect shown promise at identi- sortium saw an opportuni- with Arizona State Univer- federal coronavirus relief while,” said Paul Brierley, wastewater samples twice fying COVID-19 transmis- ty for the creation of a new sity’s Biodesign Institute. dollars. YCEDA executive director. a week in locations across sion quickly and enabling program. “The wastewater testing He noted that state of- Yuma County and test for a targeted public health SUCCESS IN YUMA The consortium agreed pilot project in Yuma is a ficials liked the project’s COVID-19. The Yuma lab response to mitigate the The pilot project start- that the rental assistance crucial step to expand an two-prong approach: moni- will analyze the samples spread,” Christ said. “We’re ed last summer with a re- program was a high pri- innovative technology that toring COVID-19 in the en- and share data with public eager to see the results quest from Jesus Tovar of ority given the housing may help with early detec- tire county and informing health officials. when it’s applied in great- the Somerton-based T&P uncertainty created by the tion of COVID-19,” Ducey public health authorities so The pilot project will help er Arizona and applaud the Farms, who made a dona- COVID-19 pandemic. said. “This initiative will they can respond appropri- determine whether commu- collaboration that’s making tion to YCEDA and asked The consortium had help local public health offi- ately to keep it from spread- nity wastewater testing is a it possible.” that it be used to help the awarded Housing Ameri- cials make fact-based, com- ing further. helpful early warning indi- The program will begin Yuma agricultural labor ca Corporation $162,489 in munity-driven decisions Brierley said ADHS cator for COVID-19 in rural after completion of a joint force return to work. and best mitigate COVID-19 Director Dr. Cara Christ areas, and how the testing plan between the Universi- SEE TESTING/A4 SEE RENTAL/A4 A4 YUMA SUN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 showing symptoms. afternoon, RCFBH set up WHAT’S NEXT? Castle Dome Middle School, can have a targeted, local- TESTING Yuma County stepped up a mobile testing site in the The project has evolved Gila Ridge High School ized response to the area,” FROM PAGE A1 with the funding needed to Datepac parking lot. The over time. It started with a and AWC with cooperation Brierley explained. “His basic question was, set up a local lab in August. health center tested all request to keep the agricul- from the Yuma Jackrabbit If testing shows a rise in what can we do to get Yuma YCEDA initially struggled employees and found four tural workforce safe. Now Mesa Lift Station. positive results in an area, County back to work safely? with securing lab supplies asymptomatic but positive the testing is expanding to The state funding will then Yuma Regional Medi- Especially with vegetable due to the demand created employees as well as a pos- schools and the community. push the project into the cal Center can prepare for season starting up,” Brier- by COVID-19 testing. itive spouse. Datepac con- This month, Arizona “next evolution, if you will. an increase in COVID-19 Western College will be us- ley said. “We didn’t want But, in early November, tinued to pay the infected We’re pretty excited about patients and municipali- ing and paying for testing what happened in the meat- YCEDA had the lab opera- employees while they were it,” Brierley said. ties can target resources to tional and soon had its first isolated at home. in their dormitories, which The next phase is com- those areas, perhaps with packing industry to happen house 200 students. “They here.” success story. The center The following week, YCE- munity-wide monitoring. a public informational started testing at Datepac, DA tested the wastewater can use that as an indica- YCEDA will work with YCEDA staff knew that campaign asking residents a company with several again, and it came out neg- tor when they need to do each municipality to con- the UofA was using waste- to do a better job of social date-packing facilities in ative. clinical testing. It can avoid duct twice-weekly testing distancing or by mobilizing water testing to detect Yuma. One of the packing “It stopped an outbreak in some of the need for clinical throughout the county, COVID-19 in Tucson dor- facilities with 200 workers their workforce. It worked testing until you know they covering most of the zip test units in those locations. mitories. They figured they had been testing negative like it was supposed to have a problem,” Brierley codes. The first goal is to YCEDA can do more local- could use the same testing before Thanksgiving. After work. It was so nice to have explained. track COVID-19 trends. The ized testing when there’s a in Yuma to protect the labor the holiday break, the sew- that happen,” Brierley said. Yuma County also funded center has brought in a re- high incidence of cases in force. Ideally they would er testing came back posi- Datepac reported that the pilot project in schools. searcher who will be doing a particular area, such as a have a lab in Yuma to avoid tive. employees were happy with That will kick off as soon as municipal modeling to ana- prison or nursing facility. sending samples to Tucson, YCEDA contacted Di- the sewer testing. “Employ- students go back to in-per- lyze what the trends mean. Brierley is happy to see which would add time and ana Gomez, director of ees felt really good about son learning. YCEDA will “When we see a rapid in- the state, the municipalities cost. the Yuma County Public the fact that they are being test sewage in the “School crease of disease or a high and public health officials “The key thing here is Health Services District, taken care of and being Alley” along 24th Street level of disease, then we will working together, and that the early warning,” Brier- who connected the center protected,” Brierley noted. between Araby Road and work with public health of- the project is making a dif- ley said, noting that infect- with Amanda Aguirre of “Datepac is very pleased South Avenue 9E. The par- ficials and the municipal ference. ed people shed the virus in the Regional Center for with how it’s working for ticipating schools will be authorities and come up “We’ve had some wins,” their stool a week before Border Health. That same them.” Otondo Elementary School, with a response plan so we he noted.

staff report, this program Rental assistance for for Yuma County. dination with other hous- of funds due to proceeds RENTAL furthers the council’s stra- Yuma County residents Participant selection ing providers in the county expected from the sale of FROM PAGE A1 tegic outcome for a “safe who are low-income, as prioritizes people who are to ensure an equitable dis- bonds to pay off the debt 2018; $277,657 in 2019 and and prosperous” city. Staff defined by HUD. The assis- currently homeless or have tribution of the assistance owed for police and fire- $240,000 in 2020 in HOME noted that “the provision of tance would be for a maxi- a pending eviction notice. throughout the county. fighter pensions. grants. In September, the rental assistance prevents mum of 12 months. Secondary priority is for This program is closely The city plans to make agency notified the con- or eliminates homeless- Distribution of the assis- people paying more than modeled after the Section two payments to the Arizo- sortium that it was cancel- ness, creating a safe living tance throughout the coun- 40% of their income for 8/Housing Choice Vouch- na Public Safety Personnel environment for our low- ty on a population basis. housing and people who er program that HACY ing the grant agreements Retirement System, with est-income residents.” Cost-sharing of rent. The can demonstrate a continu- currently administers and and returning the funds. Because of the pandemic, tenant will pay 30% of the ing financial impact from has trained staff, existing the first payment of $35 City staff did not say why HUD is allowing Commu- rent, and the program will COVID-19. protocols and expertise to million in February. Since the agency declined the nity Housing Development pay the balance directly to The council also autho- oversee the technical ele- Arizona law prohibits the awards. Organization funds to be the landlord on behalf of rized an agreement with ments of the program, staff city from spending more The Consortium Board reprogrammed into other the tenant. Security and the Housing Authority of noted. than its current annual met to consider how to real- eligible affordable housing utility deposits would be the City of Yuma to admin- In other action, the coun- budget, the council needs locate the funds and agreed activities if necessary. allowable, when applica- ister the program. HACY cil adopted an ordinance to authorize a transfer of on the rental assistance The key elements of pro- ble, and rents must comply has agreed to administer that amends the 2021 bud- the funds to make the pay- program. According to a gram include: with HUD’s allowable rents the program in close coor- get to authorize a transfer ment possible.

plete reversal from the one Transportation Secretary Mulvaney said others Pelosi in declaring that directive to begin offboard- TRUMP he put out just 24 hours ear- Elaine Chao became the who work for Trump had Trump “should not hold ing their posts ahead of the FROM PAGE A1 lier in which he said to the first Cabinet member to re- decided to remain in their office one day longer” and Biden team’s arrival. The The invasion of the Cap- violent mob: “We love you. sign. Chao, married to Sen- posts in an effort to provide urged Vice President Mike slowdown before now was itol building, a powerful You’re very special.” His ate Majority Leader Mitch some sort of guardrails for Pence and the Cabinet to due to Trump’s single-mind- symbol of the nation’s de- refusal to condemn the vi- McConnell, one of the law- the president during his fi- act. But Chao’s departure ed focus on his defeat since mocracy, rattled Republi- olence sparked a firestorm makers trapped at the Cap- nal days in office. may stall nascent efforts to Election Day at the expense cans and Democrats alike. of criticism and, in the new itol on Wednesday, said in “Those who choose to invoke the amendment. of the other responsibilities They struggled with how video, he at last denounced a message to staff that the stay, and I have talked with Staff-level discussions of his office. best to contain the impulses the demonstrators’ “law- attack “has deeply troubled some of them, are choosing on the matter took place Few aides had any sense of a president deemed too lessness and mayhem.” me in a way that I simply to stay because they’re wor- across multiple depart- of the president’s plans, dangerous to control his As for his feelings on leav- cannot set aside.” ried the president might put ments and even in parts of with some wondering if own social media accounts ing office, he told the nation Education Secretary Bet- someone worse in,” Mul- the White House, according Trump would largely re- but who remains command- that “serving as your presi- sy DeVos followed. In her vaney said. to two people briefed on main out of sight until he er in chief of the world’s dent has been the honor of resignation letter Thurs- Mulvaney’s predeces- the talks. But no member left the White House. White greatest military. my lifetime” while hinting day, DeVos blamed Trump sor in the chief of staff job, of the Cabinet has publicly House press secretary “I’m not worried about at a return to the public are- for inflaming tensions in retired U.S. Marine Corps expressed support for the Kayleigh McEnany read a the next election, I’m wor- na. He told supporters “our the violent assault on the general John Kelly, told move – which would make brief statement in which ried about getting through incredible journey is only seat of the nation’s democ- CNN that “I think the Cab- Pence the acting president she declared that the Cap- the next 14 days,” said just beginning.” racy. “There is no mistak- inet should meet and have a – though several were be- itol siege was “appalling, Republican Sen. Lindsey Just a day earlier, Trump ing the impact your rheto- discussion” about Section 4 lieved to be sympathetic reprehensible and antithet- Graham of South Carolina, unleashed the destructive ric had on the situation, and of the 25th Amendment – al- to the notion, believing ical to the American way.” one of Trump’s staunchest forces at the Capitol with it is the inflection point for lowing the forceful removal Trump is too volatile in his But her words carried lit- allies. He condemned the his baseless claims of elec- me,” she wrote. of Trump by his own Cabi- waning days in office. tle weight. Trump has long president’s role in Wednes- tion fraud at a rally that Others who resigned in net. In the West Wing, shell- made clear that only he day’s riots and said, “If prompted supporters to the wake of the riot: Deputy Senate Minority Lead- shocked aides were pack- speaks for his presidency. something else happens, disrupt the congressional National Security Advisor er Chuck Schumer joined ing up, acting on a delayed all options would be on the certification of Biden’s vic- ; Ryan table.” tory. After the storming of Tully, senior director for Democratic House Speak- the Capitol and the eventu- European and Russian af- er Nancy Pelosi declared al wee-hours certification of fairs at the National Secu- that “the president of the Biden’s win by members of rity Council; and first lady Ring in the New Year With United States incited an Congress, Trump released ’s chief of armed insurrection against a statement that acknowl- staff Stephanie Grisham, a America.” She called him edged he would abide by a former White House press “a very dangerous person peaceful transfer of power secretary. on Jan. 20. , Trump’s New Windows & Doors who should not continue in office. This is urgent, an The statement was post- former chief of staff-turned- emergency of the highest ed by an aide and did not special envoy to Northern magnitude.” originate from the presi- Ireland, told CNBC that Neither option to remove dent’s own Twitter account, he had called Secretary of Lifetime Warranty Trump seemed likely, with which has 88 million follow- State Mike Pompeo “to let little time left in his term ers and for four years has him know I was resigning. No Stucco Damage to draft the Cabinet mem- been wielded as a political ... I can’t do it. I can’t stay.” bers needed to invoke the weapon that dictates policy amendment or to organize and sows division and con- 1 Day Install (in the hearings and trial man- spiracy. most cases) dated for an impeachment. Trump couldn’t tweet Watch But the fact that the dra- it himself because, for the Also for matic options were even first time, the social media Batteries the subject of discussion in platform suspended his Replaced by Manufactured / Washington’s corridors of account, stating that the power served as a warning president had violated its your local Mobile Homes to Trump. rules of service by inciting Specialist Fears of what a desper- violence. Facebook adopt- ate president could do in ed a broader ban, saying his final days spread in Trump’s account would be Custom the nation’s capital and be- offline until after Biden’s yond, including speculation inauguration. Engraving Trump could incite more vi- Deprived of that social in as little 0% Financing olence, make rash appoint- media lifeblood, Trump ments, issue ill-conceived remained silent and en- as 2 days Guaranteed pardons – including for sconced in the executive Lowest Price himself and his family – or mansion until Thursday Karat Jewelers even trigger a destabilizing evening. But around him, !" international incident. loyalists headed for the Awards & Engraving No Subcontractors The president’s video exits, their departures – Thursday – which was re- which were coming in two 2390 S. Ave. B (@24th) leased upon his return to weeks anyway – moved up 928-782-3306 Twitter after his account to protest the president’s Get 5 New $ was restored – was a com- handling of the riot. Get 7 New 150 OFF Give the Gift of A Lifetime Energy Ef!cient Any Sliding WITH A Personal Touch! 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Orthopedic were tossed on technical He pointed out that Mar- Rehabilitation Over 220 Locations Nationwide grounds and that courts icopa County used voting Licensed, Bonded, Insured. never actually addressed centers in the presiden- Some conditions we treat ROC # 257049 the merits of the allega- tial preference election in include, but are not tions. March and in the state’s pri- limited to the following: But that fails to tell the mary in August – and that • Back & Neck Conditions whole story. the party didn’t object to the • Leg & Foot/Ankle Conditions Consider the claim of the audit procedures in either • Arm/Hand Pain • Chronic Pain Arizona Republican Party case. In fact, Hannah said, • TMJ • Multiple Sclerosis • Parkinsons Disease over the audit procedures the state GOP did not raise any concerns ahead of the • Work or Sports injuries used in Maricopa County. • Pre & Post Surgical Rehab Party lawyers argued the Nov. 3 general election even • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Arizona law requires the though the county informed • Vertigo/Dizziness sampling of ballots of 2% Republican and Democratic • Vestibular/Balance Disorders • Windows • Patio Doors • Entry Doors of precincts to compare the party officials about the up- machine tally with a hand coming audit process. Most Insurances Accepted AMERICA’S LARGEST REPLACEMENT WINDOW COMPANY count. Instead, the county But even if that were not We accept AHCCCS, – and some others – audited the case, Hannah said the WORKERS COMPENSATION, Call Window World today for a Free Estimate! 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