Hartford Courant -- January 13, 2022

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COVID-19 testing Reid honored at Capitol UConn women win Warmer afternoon
Biden administration redoubling efforts to Colleagues remember Late Sen. Harry Reid Five players score in double figures as Mixed clouds and sunshine, with
expand supply of test kits. NEWS, PAGE 4 as a “legendary leader.” NEWS, PAGE 4 the Huskies rout Butler. SPORTS, PAGE 1 a high of 41. SPORTS, PAGE 6
VOLUME CLXXXVI CCOOUURRAANNTT..CCOOMM THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022
The growth of Hartford HealthCare has “been aided by its campaign of intimidation,” according to the lawsuit. “Hartford
HealthCare has told some physicians that if they did not agree to join its practice, that Hartford HealthCare would ‘crush’ them.”
Health care monopoly alleged
Saint Francis Hospital sues Hartford HealthCare, Hartford HealthCare. ford HealthCare, as it has acquired delivery of health care in the Hart-
The 75-page lawsuit filed in physician practices over the last ford region for years to come.
claims anti-competitive and threatening practices
U.S. District Court in New Haven four years, has threatened and “Our team is reviewing the
alleges “a campaign of exclusion, intimidated physicians who don’t complaint and our assessment is
By Dave Altimari including Hartford Hospital, claim- acquisition and intimidation” and comply with its “dictates.” that the complaint is without any
CT Mirror ing that it is trying to create a monop- claims that Hartford HealthCare The lawsuit sheds light on many merit,” Hartford HealthCare chief
oly on hospital services by acquiring executives have stated in meet- issues that normally remain behind clinical officer Dr. Ajay Kumar said
Saint Francis Hospital and physician networks, particularly ings that their plan was to “crush” closed doors but could be aired in during a press call Wednesday.
Medical Center has sued Hartford cardiologists, and demanding that or “bury” Saint Francis. a courtroom as the two giants fight
HealthCare and its subsidiaries, they refer their patients only to The lawsuit claims that Hart- a legal battle that could affect the Turn to Lawsuit, Page 3
CORONAVIRUS IN CONNECTICUT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
James Rovella,
SHOW OF FORCE
head of state
police, will
meet with the
legislature’s
public safety
committee.
Drop in
traffic
stops on
agenda
Committee to meet
with police brass as
highway deaths rise
By Christopher Keating
Hartford Courant
HARTFORD — With high-
way enforcement down and
traffic deaths up, state legis-
lators will be meeting Thurs-
day with the Connecticut state
police commissioner to find
solutions to improving public
safety.
Both Democratic and
Republican lawmakers on
the legislature’s public safety
committee will meet with
Aiming to raise awareness about safety concerns, including mask shortages, teachers dressed in black and gathered outside Windsor High School James C. Rovella, a former
before the start of instruction Wednesday morning. MARK MIRKO/HARTFORD COURANT Hartford police chief who now
oversees the state police.
The meeting was prompted
Teachers wear black to protest lack of COVID-19 safety Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday he is by statistics showing that traffic
“doing everything I can to avoid” a return enforcement by the state police
in schools, but leaders aren’t budging on remote learning
to remote learning.” dropped by more than half
“We really want to make sure every kid since the start of the COVID-
By Seamus McAvoy | Hartford Courant goes to school, that there’s not a mix and a 19 pandemic.
T match, and a hybrid, and a back and forth. Despite vehicles driving
That didn’t work,” Lamont said. faster, enforcement has been
eachers at schools across Connecticut wore black
Inadequate supply of masks and tests: down sharply in several major
to work on Wednesday to draw attention to grow- In a survey by a coalition of labor unions, categories, including total
more than 60% of teachers, paraprofes- stops, tickets issued, and warn-
ing concerns amid the latest surge in COVID-19
sionals and other staff say their schools ings given to drivers.
cases, citing scarcity in safety supplies and a lack of lack the supplies and proper COVID-19 Traffic stops by troopers
safety protocols to feel safe at work. peaked most recently in 2014
adequate protocols. ¶ In a statement, union lead-
About 70% of educators said they with nearly 235,000 stops,
ers said there has been a “failure to distribute the couldn’t access masks before returning according to statistics from
to school on Jan. 3. More than half say the Institute of Municipal
promised N95 masks and home test kits, extensive
administrators don’t understand myriad and Regional Policy at UConn
staff shortages,” and emphasized “the need for flexibility in allowing for challenges they’re facing. in Hartford. That total fell to
157,007 in 2019 and then 75,988
short-term remote learning.” ¶ But state leaders, department officials
Turn to Schools, Page 3 in 2020 — the year that the
and school administrators remain united in their stance that every step ongoing pandemic started. The
to protect the safety of students and staff has already been taken, and that  Inside: Federal court upholds law that total dropped further to 59,891
eliminates a religious exemption to school for the first 10 months of 2021.
remote learning — even in the short term — is not an option. vaccination requirements. News, Page 3
Turn to Stops, Page 2
Inflation at highest level in 40 years
Consumer Price Index climbed 7% in the year through continue to buy foreign goods at
December, and 5.5% after strip- a rapid clip. Forecasters expect
surges by 7% since ’20
ping out volatile prices such as price gains to fade this year, but
food and fuel. The last time the how quickly that will happen is
By Jeanna Smialek main inflation index eclipsed 7% unclear.
and Ana Swanson was 1982. “Obviously 7% is a pretty big
The New York Times Policymakers have spent sticker shock,” said Omair Sharif,
months waiting for inflation to founder of the research firm Infla-
Inflation climbed to its highest fade, hoping supply chain prob- tion Insights.
level in 40 years at the end of 2021, lems might ease and allow compa- He added that inflation could
a troubling development for Pres- nies to catch up with booming plateau around 7%, but will take
ident Joe Biden and economic consumer demand. Instead, time to ease back from that peak.
policymakers as rapid price gains continued waves of the corona- It is likely to end 2022 lower, but
erode consumer confidence and virus have locked down facto- still above the near-2% level that
cast a shadow of uncertainty over ries, and shipping companies policymakers prefer.
the economy’s future. have struggled to work through Shoppers pick up items at a supermarket Wednesday in Glendale, Calif.
The Consumer Price Index extended backlogs as consumers Turn to Inflation, Page 2 Food prices rose 6.3% in 2021. ROBYN BECK/GETTY-AFP
Eight injured in Hartford fire; 32 people displaced Opinion .....................News, 12 Puzzles ...Connecticut, 7, 9
Obits ...................News, 14-16 Comics ...Connecticut, 8-9
Eight people were taken to the hospital Wednesday morning, including one who jumped from Lottery ........................News, 2
a window, after a fire burned in their Hartford apartment building. CONNECTICUT, PAGE 1 Classified .................News, 13
2 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Thursday, January 13, 2022
FROM PAGE ONE
Stops tee — rather than the full younger levels is an issue When you feel like you’re with warnings from troop- a regular basis, said that
membership — will partic- too. State police made 127 not going to be supported ers fell from 2019 to 2020, most officers are dedicated
from Page 1 ipate in the meeting, which offers last year to candi- by the legislature, when you but then rebounded in the to their profession. After 20
is not a public hearing. dates, leading to 120 start- feel you’re not supported first 10 months this year at years on the force, he says
State Rep. Greg Howard, Both the state police ing in the academy, officials by the command staff, and more than 27,000 warnings, he has taken only four sick
the ranking House Repub- brass and the troopers’ said. But only 83 graduated you’re going to be attacked surpassing all of 2020. days — and he says he is not
lican on the committee, union have cited low staff- because many dropped out and have internal affairs For both state and local an anomaly in the police
said in an interview that ing as a reason for fewer due to the rigorous training complaints and go through police, the combined number world.
lawmakers are trying to find patrols on the highways process. all that.” of stops statewide dropped “Do we have people who
answers so they can make and fewer traffic stops. The Andrew Matthews, a Despite the reasons cited from 512,000 in 2019 to about are here for a paycheck and
improvements during the total of troopers peaked retired sergeant who serves by Matthews, both Gov. Ned 188,000 in 2021. an early pension and to be
next regular session that at 1,283 under Republican as executive director of the Lamont and Rep. Stephen Democrats who able to go hide on third shift
starts on Feb. 9. Gov. M. Jodi Rell about 15 state troopers union, says Stafstrom, the co-chairman supported the police and do nothing? Yes, we do
“Cars stops are way years ago, and the number that other reasons for lack of the legislature’s judi- accountability law and have that,’’ Howard said
down. Fatalities are up,’’ has dropped below 900 at of enforcement include ciary committee, dismissed Republicans who opposed Wednesday. “Are there cops
said Howard, a police offi- times due to retirements concerns about the COVID- the idea that the police it have remained divided out there who are using the
cer in Stonington for the before going back up over 19 virus spreading to troop- accountability law trans- over whether the measure police bill and using COVID
past 20 years. “What is 900. Currently, 65 troop- ers and low police morale lates into few traffic stops. will improve policing across as their excuse to do noth-
going on and how can we ers are being trained at the that was caused by the new Besides the number of the state. At the same time, ing when they would have
help? What is the root police academy. police accountability law total stops, the latest statis- police chiefs and rank-and- done nothing, anyway? Yes,
cause? … What is the plan An estimated 276 troop- that many officers opposed. tics show that stops with file officers say they are we have that. But those are
and how can we help?’’ ers will be eligible to retire “Our troopers saw it tickets issued also dropped concerned the law will lead a minority of the profession.
Lawmakers will be asking by July 1, 2022 — when with the police account- by more than 50% from to difficulties in recruiting A majority wants to go to
Rovella for answers regard- changes in the cost-of-liv- ability bill,’’ Matthews said 105,000 in 2019 to slightly new officers and prompt work and do their job.’’
ing both finances and poli- ing adjustments in state recently. “When you don’t more than 45,000 in 2020. some older officers to retire
cies. pensions could prompt feel supported, you’re not Tickets dropped further at a time of low morale. Christopher Keating can
Only the leaders of the a large number of retire- eager to go out and self-ini- again to 27,596 for the first Howard, who talks to be reached at ckeating@
public safety commit- ments. Attrition at the tiate motor vehicle stops. 10 months of this year. Stops fellow police officers on courant.com
Inflation ingly accused Biden and that could keep prices rising
his party of driving prices too quickly for comfort.
from Page 1 higher by flooding the econ- Housing costs, based on
omy with too much money what it costs to rent a place
The data released in 2021, including a third to live, make up about a third
Wednesday showed the round of stimulus checks, of the Consumer Price Index,
cost of used cars and food and the president’s poll so the fact that landlords are
both increasing quickly, and numbers are showing dissat- charging more will matter to
provided further evidence isfaction among voters. overall inflation.
that price gains are broad- Inflation concerns are “My gut feeling is that the
ening beyond just a few also complicating Biden’s pace of appreciation is going
pandemic-disrupted cate- ability to pass his sprawling to be slower in 2022 than it
gories. Rents continue to climate and social policy bill. was in 2021,” said Jeff Tucker,
pick up at a solid pace, and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a senior economist at Zillow.
restaurant meals are more holds a key vote given the “But I don’t see rents actu-
expensive, possibly a sign razor-thin majority his party ally dropping or getting more
that recent wage increases hold in the Senate. Manchin affordable.”
are beginning to feed into has cited high prices as one Global supply chains
higher prices as employers of the reasons he won’t back also continue to experience
look to cover higher labor the legislation. disruptions that are lead-
costs. Biden and his advisers ing to shortages of parts and
That price increases are have tried to put a positive products and pushing costs
becoming more widespread spin on the numbers, while higher across broad array of
is a worrisome development A man walks past a deserted restaurant in Miami Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. The costs acknowledging the pain that consumer goods.
for economic policymak- of housing, cars and food have increased quickly — a worrisome development for economic price increases are caus- The price of food grew
ers, who are now poised to policymakers. CHANDAN KHANNA/GETTY-AFP ing consumers. They point 6.3% and apparel rose 5.8%
respond. Federal Reserve to the economy’s quick in the year to December.
officials have indicated that the central bank was of rate increases. Inves- which is why they draw rebound from the pandem- Used cars and trucks — a big
that they expect to raise shifting into inflation-fight- tors expect four rate moves investor and policymaker ic-induced 2020 recession, driver of price gains since last
interest rates several times ing mode after nearly two this year, and policymakers attention. including falling levels of spring, along with new vehi-
this year as they try to cool years of trying to prop up penciled in three as of their Controlling inflation is unemployment. cles — surged 37.3%. Auto
demand and the economy the pandemic-stricken December meeting. primarily the Fed’s job, but Policymakers and econ- manufacturers have been
in an attempt to prevent economy by keeping inter- Fed officials target a rising prices are a political omists had initially hoped struggling to obtain parts —
the pandemic-era burst est rates near zero. separate inflation index, liability for Biden. Demo- that rapid price gains would particularly computer chips
in prices from becoming a Officials expect price the personal consumption crats are heading into a chal- fade quickly in 2021, and imported from Asia — delay-
permanent feature of the gains to slow considerably, expenditures measure. The lenging midterm election many still expect them to ing production of new vehi-
economic landscape. but are closely watching CPI data released Wednes- year when they will battle to moderate throughout 2022. cles and pushing up demand
Jerome Powell, the Fed how quickly that happens day feeds into those figures retain control of Congress. But economists are paying for a finite supply of used
chair, emphasized Tuesday as they consider the pace and are released earlier, Republicans have increas- attention to a few factors ones.
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Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Thursday, January 13, 2022 3
FROM PAGE ONE
CORONAVIRUS IN CONNECTICUT
Court upholds law ending vaccine exemption in schools
By Edmund H. Mahony the suit in its entirety. single count was dismissed. Other civic and religious medical or religious exemp- dance of caution,” he said.
Hartford Courant She said the state agen- I want to thank the attor- group’s joined Tong’s office tions to that requirement. “This legislation is needed
cies, as arms of the state, neys in my office for their in its defense of the law as The new law elimi- to protect our kids against
A federal court has are immune from such excellent work arguing this friends of the court. nated the religious exemp- serious illnesses that have
upheld a new state law suits, and the two organi- case on behalf of the state They described them- tion, while grandfathering been well-controlled for
that eliminates a religious zations lacked standing to and the thousands of chil- selves in a filing with the students in kindergarten many decades, such as
exemption to state vacci- sue because they could not dren, families and educa- court as believing that “the through grade 12 who had measles, tuberculosis,
nation requirements for show how they are specifi- tors who will be safer due right to exercise religion already received such and whooping cough, but
communicable diseases, cally harmed by the law. to this outcome.” freely is precious, but that it exemptions. have reemerged. In recent
including COVID-19, for The parent claims fail, The parents — a Prot- was never intended to over- The General Assembly years, the number of chil-
public and private school Arterton said, because, estant, a Catholic and a ride protections for people’s eliminated the religious dren in our state who have
students. among other things, the Muslim — argued that safety and health.” exemption for school chil- not received routine vacci-
Two organizations, We Supreme Court has upheld vaccines contain cell lines They argued that child- dren at the height of the nations has been steadily
the Patriots USA and CT mandatory vaccination derived from aborted fetal hood vaccinations have coronavirus pandemic and increasing, which has
Freedom Alliance, joined laws in public health emer- cells and that injecting prevented more than 100 after lengthy debate and been mirrored by signifi-
three parents with differ- gencies and the new law “is themselves and their chil- million cases of severe widespread protest. cant growth in preventable
ent religious beliefs in a constitutional because it is a dren with such cells would disease, that all 50 states Few issues have been as diseases across the nation.”
suit against a variety of state neutral law of general appli- amount to what one parent impose vaccination require- contentious and polarizing “I want to make it clear,”
agencies and local school cability which is rationally called “participation in … an ments on children attend- as the effort to rescind the he said, “this law does not
boards in an effort to block related to a legitimate state act of intentional, premed- ing schools, and that recent religious exemption, which take away the choice of
enforcement of the law. purpose.” itated murder.” They also anti-vaccination sentiment had been part of state law parents to make medical
The groups and the “Vaccines save lives,” said claimed vaccines contain “has led to resurgences of since 1959. There were mass decisions for their chil-
parents claimed the new Attorney General William animal derivatives, includ- dangerous diseases such protests outside the Capi- dren. But, if they do choose
law violates a number of Tong, who’s office defended ing pork. as measles, mumps, and tol as the legislation was not to have their children
constitutional protections, the law. “The legislature’s One parent said she was pertussis.” debated. vaccinated, this bill best
among them the freedom action was fully lawful and forbidden by religion from The new state law Gov. Ned Lamont signed ensures that other children
to practice religion and rear necessary to protect public ingesting pork and another requires immunizations for the law in late April. and their families will not
children. health. The plaintiffs threw said she is raising her chil- all children before enroll- “When it comes to the be exposed to these deadly
U.S. District Judge Janet a laundry list of claims dren as vegans for religious ing in school. Before 2021, safety of our children, diseases for hours each day
Bond Arterton dismissed against the state, and every reasons. students could apply for we need to take an abun- in our schools.”
Schools COVID-19 relief bills.
Connecticut schools
from Page 1 received $443 million from
the CARES Act, including
The survey was tens of millions of dollars for
conducted by the Board of the state’s largest districts.
Education Union Coalition, Last fall, the state received
which represents more than federal approval to use $1.1
60,000 public education billion in American Rescue
employees in Connecticut. Plan dollars as schools
The coalition received prepared to return to safe,
responses from more than in-person learning.
5,500 school staff between Under the plan approved
Jan. 7 and Jan. 10. The by the federal Department
sample was not randomized, of Education, districts were
and participation varied directed to use those funds
from district to district. on one-time, self-sustaining
On Wednesday, Lamont investments, or on projects
highlighted the 620,000 focused on “measurement
tests the state has now and impact.”
distributed to K-12 students Districts were also
and teachers, and the more required to use at least 20%
than 2 million tests distrib- of the money to address
uted in all. the learning loss that
The state has also handed occurred during a year of
out about 5 million N95 mostly remote instruction,
masks, which are seen by according to a report by the
health experts to be most Connecticut Association of
effective at preventing infec- Boards of Education with
tion from the highly infec- help from the state Depart-
tious omicron variant. ment of Education.
Union leaders say some Examples include invest-
towns have still had trou- Windsor High School teachers wore black Wednesday to protest a lack of COVID-19 safety in schools. Teachers are demanding ments in after school
ble getting them before more testing, and union leaders say schools failed to receive promised N95 masks on time. MARK MIRKO/HARTFORD COURANT and summer enrichment
returning to school, even programs, but not necessarily
though N95 masks are now very hard to understand it,” dialogue” with union part- absent on Tuesday, accord- communications director, on upgrades to COVID-re-
less scarce in stores and she said. ners, a department spokes- ing to Dias. told the Courant Wednes- lated safety.
online. Some schools that Teachers and other staff person wrote in a statement. Union members claim day. “For student develop- Projects vary widely.
opened this week still didn’t members also are demand- “The Department of a remote option would ment, for child development, Middletown is strengthen-
have masks, according to ing more at-home rapid tests, Education with support and give them the flexibility to academic success and social ing its career and technol-
Kate Dias, president of the which have proven hard guidance from the entire continue on schedule with interaction, there’s no value ogy learning, and Bridgeport
Connecticut Education to come by for the general Lamont Administration is their lessons plans during to it.” is funding internships for
Association. public. Lines for PCR tests continuing the implementa- times of high community Senate President Pro Tem college kids to serve as tutors.
Those claims, and the remain long, with several tion of innovative processes transmission or severe Martin Looney, D-New Multiple communities are
survey results, came as a workplaces requiring nega- to address staffing shortages, outbreaks within schools. Haven, said Tuesday that using the money to fund
surprise to officials. Lamont tive lab tests for employees to deploy millions of masks Currently, state law only options around building universal pre-K.
said he believes schools have return to work. and test-kits for staff and views remote learning as an remote flexibility into the Thought schools directed
“overwhelmingly” received “I do think more testing students, and expand testing adequate replacement for 180-day school calendar are their investments into other
the supplies on time. is warranted, and I agree capacity within our schools students who need to quar- “things we will look at” when areas of need, several miti-
“If there are a few outli- with the educators on that,” and our communities,” they antine, or for those who the legislature reconvenes in gation strategies remain in
ers out there, give us a call, Rabinowitz said. wrote. live with vulnerable family February. place inside schools.
I’ll drive them there myself,” Robert Rader, executive Remote learning a members, but not for entire The priority remains Masking and distancing
Lamont said. director of the Connecti- non-starter for leaders: schools. on keeping kids in school, is still required. The state
Fran Rabinowitz, execu- cut Association of Boards of According to the union The state legislature disal- though, and Looney gave Department of Education
tive director of the Connecti- Education, acknowledged survey, nearly 90% of school lowed widespread remote no indication that a remote recently updated its guid-
cut Association of Public the teachers concerns that staff believe superintendents learning when it passed option has any support ance in accordance with the
School Superintendents, there is “not enough being should have the ability to the June 2021 Public Acts, among lawmakers. Centers for Disease Control
was also under the impres- done to help them.” implement remote instruc- and guidance from the state Officials overwhelmingly and Prevention, which
sion schools had the supply “All I can say is that our tion days in the short term. Department of Education agree that there is no substi- reduced the quarantine
of N95 masks they needed to districts are doing the best Staffing shortages and does not mandate a remote tute for in-person learning, period and shifted the focus
feel safe. they can,” he said. “They’re student absences have option. and no new safety measures onto detecting symptomatic
The association has been getting out masks, and help- slammed districts in recent The flexibility to move that jeopardize that should cases.
in “constant communication” ing with tests as appropriate.” days, and some administra- instruction online in the be expected. State leaders are reluctant
with the teachers unions and “We’re all awed by the tors have had no choice but short term, like union lead- “What we’re not going to to implement more strict
with the state Department of work that teachers and to close schools. ers are calling for, would have sacrifice is getting kids in the measures, such as an N95
Education, Rabinowitz said, principals and superinten- Waterbury was closed to come as an executive order classroom,” Reiss said. mask mandate among staff.
adding that “everyone has a dents have done over the last Monday and is only open from Lamont’s office, barring COVID-19 relief money: No government official has
right to feel safe in schools.” couple of years, and our hope for half days this week amid a new law. Such an option is Concerns over school safety given any indication that a
A few districts didn’t is that such difficult issues COVID-related absences not under consideration. have raised questions over remote option is on the table.
receive their masks as early will be behind us soon,” among teachers and bus “From our standpoint, how schools are using the “I think we’re all hoping
as others, but those issues Rader added. drivers. The district reported there’s no value to us in millions of dollars in federal for the positivity rate to take
had mostly been addressed, The state Department of 241 staff members positive remote learning. No value. money they received under a real dip in the next few
Rabinowitz said. “I’m trying Education is in “continuous for COVID-19 and 343 were None,” Max Reiss, Lamont’s the previous two pieces of weeks,” Rader said.
Lawsuit to health care that is high Hospital, UConn Health Hartford HealthCare, the tion,” the lawsuit goes on to oly, they are able to set
in quality with lower costs.” and Bristol Hospital — lawsuit states. say. “Hartford HealthCare higher prices, and health
from Page 1 Saint Francis is seeking also suffer due to Hartford “Dr. Chowdhury admit- has told some physicians care plans are forced to
financial damages, a court HealthCare’s “anticompet- ted the most cardiology that if they did not agree to accept them because of the
“Hartford Healthcare will order to divest any physi- itive conduct.” cases at Saint Francis prior join its practice, that Hart- hospital’s wide range of
vigorously defend [against] cian practices that Hartford It also claims that Hart- to his acquisition,” the ford HealthCare would physicians.
these allegations. We deny HealthCare has purchased ford HealthCare and its lawsuit states. “Many of ‘crush’ them.” “Hartford HealthCare
any of them to be true. The since 2020 and a permanent network “have interfered these losses are especially The lawsuit alleges that charges higher prices in
real focus for all of us at this injunction prohibiting what with managed care plans’ harmful to Saint Francis, Hartford HealthCare exec- part because it has higher
time is serving the need of it describes as “anticompet- use of ‘tiered’ networks, and to competition, dispro- utives in some cases “said costs than Saint Francis or
the community in Connecti- itive conduct.” which provide employers portionate to the numbers more specifically that if other hospitals in the area.
cut.,’’ Kumar said. “Our Despite providing and consumers with an of physicians lost.” the physician did not join For example, even after
teams remain determinedly “health care that is higher opportunity to obtain lower “Hartford HealthCare’s Hartford HealthCare, adjusting for the complex-
focused on making sure that cost and lesser quality” than cost, higher quality health acquisition of the physi- that Hartford HealthCare ity of cases, patients at Hart-
in this raging pandemic we its competitors, Hartford care at a preferred rate.” cian practices of cardiolo- would recruit a physician to ford Hospital stay in the
continue to pay attention HealthCare — which oper- The lawsuit names 21 gists is especially harmful to compete specifically against hospital 10% longer than
to what matters most at the ates Hartford Hospital — is physicians whose practices Saint Francis and Hartford that doctor. In other cases, if they are hospitalized at
moment — the health and cornering the market on were acquired by Hart- HealthCare’s other hospi- Hartford HealthCare has Saint Francis,” the lawsuit
well-being of the patients, lucrative operations such ford HealthCare over the tal competitors. That is threatened specialist physi- states.
access to testing, access as cardiac and orthopedic last four years and nine because cardiac and cardiac cians with the loss of refer- “This both increases
to information, access to surgeries by forcing doctors others who became exclu- surgery cases are among the rals from its more than 50 costs and reduces quality,
monoclonal antibodies, to send their patients only sively affiliated with Hart- most profitable cases for employed primary care since longer hospital stays
access to care. Our team to Hartford HealthCare ford HealthCare’s network, hospitals, and therefore the physicians.” create a risk of possible
is focused on that at the hospitals or by obtaining known as Integrated Care loss of such cases is espe- The lawsuit alleges that hospital-acquired infec-
moment.” exclusive rights to robotic Partners, or ICP. cially harmful.” Hartford HealthCare is tions. Patients are also
A spokesperson for Trin- equipment — specifically a Among them is Ulysses violating Connecticut’s unable to return home as
ity Health of New England, “Mako” robot used in many Wu, an infectious disease ‘Campaign of Unfair Trade Practices quickly as they would like.
the parent company of St. knee and other bone proce- specialist who has spoken Act and the federal Sher- Hartford HealthCare is
Francis, issued a statement dures, the lawsuit alleges. to media including CT intimidation’ man Act by “unreasonably able to maintain its domi-
Tuesday night: “Our ulti- The lawsuit also claims Mirror about the COVID restrained trade in each of nant position despite these
mate goal is to ensure that that other hospitals in pandemic. Saint Francis The growth of Hartford the relevant markets.” deficiencies because of its
residents of the greater the Hartford region — also lost Muzibul Chow- HealthCare has “been aided It argues that because market power and its anti-
Hartford area have access Manchester Memorial dhury, a cardiologist, to by its campaign of intimida- they have created a monop- competitive conduct.”
4 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Thursday, January 13, 2022
Biden redoubling focus on testing
More rapid, PCR “We’re doing everything
kits ordered for use we can to make sure that
our children have an oppor-
in nation’s schools tunity to stay in school,”
Cardona said Wednesday
By Zeke Miller on “CBS Mornings.” “That’s
Associated Press where they need to be, and
we know we can do it safely.”
WASHINGTON — The States are applying to the
Biden administration is Centers for Disease Control
redoubling its efforts to and Prevention for the tests,
expand supply and accessi- Cardona said, adding that
bility of COVID-19 testing as he expected distribution to
it faces mounting criticism begin as early as next week.
over long lines and supply “We recognize that
shortages for testing nation- schools are the hubs of
wide and confusion about the community” and they
when to get tested amid the should be open for instruc-
omicron surge. tion, the secretary added,
The White House saying it is “vital for our
announced Wednesday students.”
that a dedicated stream of “We have been very clear,
5 million rapid tests and 5 publicly and privately, that
million lab-based PCR tests we want to see schools
will be made available to open,” White House press
schools starting this month secretary Jen Psaki said
to ease supply shortages and Monday. She cited the
promote the safe reopening massive amount of funding
of schools. for schools as evidence of
It said Dr. Tom Inglesby, the administration ensuring
director of the Johns “we were prepared and had
Hopkins Center for Health resources needed to address
Security at the Bloomberg whatever may come up in
School of Public Health, will People wait in line to receive a test for the coronavirus Wednesday in Boston. CHARLES KRUPA/AP the pandemic.”
join the COVID-19 team to The new crop of tests is
oversee the enhanced test- even some former advisers. cials failed to prepare for test when they have symp- you want to test,” she added. enough to cover only a small
ing push. The moves come “The big tragedy here more contagious variants toms that appear to be The school testing initia- fraction of the more than 50
just days before private is that we came through when Biden declared on the COVID-19,” she said, includ- tive announced Wednes- million students and educa-
insurers will be required to last winter and even the Fourth of July that the coun- ing fever, cough, sore throat, day comes after the nation’s tors in the nation’s schools,
reimburse Americans for summer, and never did the try was “closer than ever to respiratory symptoms and third-largest public school but it’s on top of more
tests and the launch of a new work to address the struc- declaring our independence muscle aches. system, in Chicago, closed than $10 billion devoted to
federal website for Ameri- tural issues that are putting from a deadly virus.” Walensky also said Ameri- for days after an impasse school-based tests autho-
cans to order free tests to be us back in the situation that “They underestimated cans should test after known between teachers and offi- rized in the COVID-19 relief
shipped to their doors. we’re in right now,” said Dr. this virus,” Bright said. exposure to the virus, gener- cials over reopening policies. law and about $130 billion
The test supply push, Megan Ranney, academic Now, he said, “the admin- ally five days after being The closure was a black earmarked in that law to
though, will likely be too dean at the Brown Univer- istration is overwhelmed exposed, or earlier as part eye for Biden, who made keep kids in school.
late for many Americans sity School of Public Health. with this current surge.” of test-to-stay protocols in reopening schools — and Additionally, the CDC
trying to safely navigate the “Nothing that is happening Dr. Rochelle Walensky, schools and workplaces. keeping them open — a is set to release new guid-
omicron-fueled case surge, today is unpredictable.” the director of the Centers “Certainly if you’re going priority of the White House ance later this week to help
which is already showing Some of today’s chal- for Disease Control and to gather with family, if response. schools implement “test-
signs of cresting. lenges are rooted in deci- Prevention, on Wednesday you’re going to a gathering Education Secretary to-stay” policies, in which
President Joe Biden plans sions made months ago, offered guidance for when where people are immu- Miguel Cardona said schools use rapid tests to
to update the country on said Dr. Rick Bright, a Americans should use tests nocompromised or where students need to be in keep close contacts of those
his administration’s efforts public health expert at the — which were in short they’re elderly or where their classrooms and the who test positive in the
on Thursday, a speech that Rockefeller Foundation supply as Americans trav- you have people who might announcement shows the classroom.
comes as his administration and a former member of eled and saw family during be unvaccinated or poorly administration’s commit-
faces escalating criticism Biden’s transition team. He the busy holiday season. protected from a vaccine ment to helping schools stay Los Angeles Times contrib-
from health experts and said administration offi- “Americans should take a that might be an opportunity open. uted.
Reid remembered while
lying in state at Capitol
Ex-senator from age 82. Vice President Kamala
“Harry Reid made the Harris did not speak during
Nevada dubbed a
world a better place,” said the ceremony, but paused
‘legendary leader’ House Speaker Nancy at the casket in tribute, as
Pelosi, D-Calif. did the Republican leaders
By Lisa Mascaro “To see him lead and legis- in Congress — Sen. Mitch
Associated Press late was to see a master at McConnell of Kentucky
work,” added Pelosi, who and Rep. Kevin McCarthy
WASHINGTON — The worked with him when they of California. Later, Justices
late Sen. Harry Reid was were the top two Democrats Sonia Sotomayor and Elena
remembered Wednesday at in Congress. Kagan stopped by.
the U.S. Capitol as a “legend- Reid served longer in Influential in retirement,
ary leader,” a hardscrabble Congress than anyone from Reid said that after Biden
Democrat who rose from Nevada and was Senate won the election, he should
poverty in a dusty Nevada majority leader alongside give his new presidency just
mining town to deliver land- two presidents. He led the three weeks to try to work
mark legislation from the Senate during one of its with Republicans. If not,
chamber’s most powerful more consequential legis- Biden should force changes
position. lative sessions, securing in the Senate’s filibuster
President Joe Biden, who the economic recovery bill rules to allow simple major-
has called Reid a “great during the Great Reces- ity passage of elections and
American,” paid silent trib- sion and President Barack voting rights legislation and President Joe Biden touches the flag-draped casket of former Senate Majority Leader Harry
ute, stopping by briefly as Obama’s landmark health other priorities, Reid said. Reid of Nevada on Wednesday. Reid died in December at the age of 82. MARIAM ZUHAIB/AP
Reid lay in state at the Capi- care law. “The time’s going to come
tol Rotunda. Biden made the Senate Majority Leader when he’s going to have to she sat in the Rotunda with He championed the Dream After an exercise accident
sign of the cross and let his Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., move in and get rid of the the couple’s five adult chil- Act and Obama’s Deferred at home, and with Demo-
hand linger for a moment on spoke of having to explain filibuster,” Reid said. dren. As she approached Action for Childhood Arriv- crats back in the Senate
the flag-draped casket. Reid’s abrupt style. “Even With the Senate in diffi- the casket, she set the hat als to protect young immi- minority, Reid announced
Reid’s family and though Harry talked softly, cult discussions this week beneath it under the Capitol grants in the U.S. without he would not seek reelec-
colleagues joined for an what he said carried the on changes to the filibuster dome, before placing a hand legal status from deporta- tion in 2016.
earlier ceremony that was force of thunder,” Schumer to push election and voting out in a kiss goodbye. tion. In his farewell address
almost as succinct as the said. legislation past Republican First elected to the House As his power rose, Reid to the Senate, he acknowl-
senator’s own dry-humored The service was largely objections, Schumer leaned in 1982 and reelected in engineered a Democratic edged he had done things
style of hanging up the closed to the public under on Reid’s legacy as a “stew- 1984, Reid served 30 years legacy for his state with that “probably a lot of
phone rather than engag- COVID-19 protocols, though ard of the Senate.” in the Senate, including a Nevada’s early presiden- people wouldn’t do.” But he
ing in lengthy goodbyes. He former colleagues, staff and “He also knew the Senate decade as the Senate Demo- tial caucus. He left behind passed on his advice to those
was recalled as one of the others steamed in to visit had to adapt to changing cratic leader. a state party apparatus that wondering how he made it
Senate’s more significant, during the day and most times,” Schumer said. A man of few words, was sometimes referred to to Washington.
and memorable, leaders wore masks. He was only During the ceremony, Reid often wrote notes — as the “Reid Machine” for “I didn’t make it because
and a soft-spoken “force of the 15th senator have to had Landra Reid, the senator’s to family, colleagues and a its enduring political power of my good looks. I didn’t
thunder.” the honor; his casket rested wife of 62 years, held a black Nevada student advocate seeking to elect the next make it because I am a
Reid, who had pancreatic on the catafalque used for hat that her husband often who had reached out on generation of Democratic genius. I made it because I
cancer, died last month at Abraham Lincoln. wore in his final years, as immigration law changes. leaders. worked hard,” Reid said.
COVID-19 top cause of death among police officers in 2021, report says
By Derrick according to preliminary including 62 officers killed and stabbings. One officer pandemic. back, threatening resigna-
Bryson Taylor data compiled by the orga- with firearms, the report was killed by floodwaters, With no comprehensive tions and legal action.
The New York Times nization. said. Fifty-eight were killed and another was killed in a accounting of how many In October, New York
Of those, it found that in traffic-related incidents tornado. officers had been sickened City’s largest police union
For the second year in 301 federal, state, tribal and while working the road- In the three decades with the virus, departments sued over the city’s vaccine
a row, COVID-19 was the local law enforcement offi- ways. before the pandemic, the from coast to coast reported mandate.
leading cause of death for cers had died because of Both the number of organization’s annual tally large outbreaks in the ranks. The Police Benevolent
U.S. law enforcement offi- COVID-19. deaths from firearm of officers killed in the line Vaccinations, which have Association of New York
cers, according to a report “It has been reported to assaults and traffic-related of duty surpassed 200 only proven to be effective in said it opposed a vaccine
released Tuesday by the NLEOMF that these offi- fatalities had risen from the twice, in 2001 and 2007. The preventing severe illness mandate for officers that
National Law Enforcement cers have died due to direct previous year. last time it went above 300 and death, have remained does not allow an option of
Officers Memorial Fund. exposure to the virus during The remaining deaths was in 1930. a hard sell for some officers. being tested weekly instead
A total of 458 officers the commission of their were attributed to reasons Last fall, it was reported In recent months, as local of being vaccinated.
died in the line of duty official duties,” the report such as heart attacks, that more than 460 U.S. governments began imple- A federal judge this week
in the country last year, said. strokes and 9/11-related law enforcement officers menting vaccine mandates dismissed a lawsuit filed by
making it the deadliest year Felony assaults were illnesses, the report said. had died from COVID- for workers, some police several Los Angeles police
in more than 90 years and responsible for the deaths Other officers were killed 19 infections tied to their officers and law enforce- officers who had sued over
a 55% increase from 2020, of 84 officers last year, in beatings, drownings work since the start of the ment unions have pushed the city’s vaccine mandate.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Thursday, January 13, 2022 5
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6 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Thursday, January 13, 2022
WORLD & NATION
NEWS BRIEFING
Trump rips politicians
over failing to disclose
COVID-19 boosters
From news services 2024 presidential contender,
has notably declined to say
NEW YORK — Former whether he has received a
President Donald Trump is booster.
slamming politicians who Many House Republicans,
refuse to say whether they including top Trump allies,
have received COVID-19 have also declined to disclose
booster shots as “gutless.” their vaccination status.
“You gotta say it. Whether
you had it or not, say it,” PM Johnson apologizes:
Trump said in an interview Prime Minister Boris John-
that aired Tuesday night on son apologized Wednes-
the conservative One Amer- day for attending a garden
ica News Network. party during Britain’s first
Trump, who was booed coronavirus lockdown, but
last month by supporters brushed aside demands that
after revealing he had gotten he resign for breaching the
a booster shot, has become rules his own government
increasingly vocal in calling had imposed on the nation.
out those who have ques- The apology was Johnson’s
tioned the vaccines’ efficacy attempt to assuage a tide of
and safety. It’s a change in anger from the public and
posture for Trump as he eyes politicians over accusations Rescuers and security forces sift through rubble after a car bomb exploded Wednesday at the international airport in
a White House run in 2024. he and his staff repeatedly Mogadishu, Somalia. Eight people were killed and another nine were injured, according to a local doctor. The al-Shabab extremist
Even though the vaccines flouted pandemic restric- group claimed responsibility for the attack. The airport is also the site of the U.S. Embassy. FARAH ABDI WARSAMEH/AP
were developed during the tions by socializing when it
Trump administration, they was banned.
remain deeply unpopular Trying to calm the furor, Prince Andrew by an Amer- leader Kim Jong Un over- Iran frees detainee: An Rapper’s slaying: A Tennes-
with large segments of the Johnson acknowledged for ican woman who says he saw a successful flight test Iranian employee of the see man wanted in the fatal
Republican base, fueled in the first time Wednesday sexually abused her when of a hypersonic missile he British Council detained for shooting of rapper Young
part by rampant disinforma- that he went to a May 2020 she was 17. claimed would remark- more than three years in Iran Dolph in his hometown
tion. Trump, while in office, garden party at his Down- U.S. District Judge Lewis ably increase the country’s and sentenced to a decade in of Memphis was captured
consistently downplayed ing Street office, though he Kaplan rejected an argu- nuclear “war deterrent.” prison over widely criticized Tuesday in Indiana, while
the risk posed by COVID-19 said that he had considered ment by Andrew’s lawyers The state media report espionage charges has been another man was indicted
and he received his vaccine it a work event to thank staff that Virginia Giuffre’s suit came a day after the mili- freed and returned to the on murder charges, author-
privately, even as other for their efforts during the should be thrown out at an taries of the United States, United Kingdom, the orga- ities said.
members of his administra- pandemic. early stage because of an old South Korea and Japan said nization said Wednesday. A grand jury indicted
tion were inoculated in public “I want to apologize,” legal settlement she had with they detected North Korea Aras Amiri won her Cornelius Smith, 32, on
to help boost confidence in Johnson told lawmakers Jeffrey Epstein, the finan- firing what they suspected appeal to Iran’s Supreme first-degree murder and
the shots. in the House of Commons. cier she claims set up sexual was a ballistic missile into Court, the British Council other charges in the shoot-
“Well, I’ve taken it. I’ve “With hindsight, I should encounters with the prince. its eastern sea. announced. She had been ing that killed Young Dolph,
had the booster,” Trump said have sent everyone back Kaplan said the $500,000 The Korean Central arrested during a private trip the Shelby County, Tennes-
in the interview. “I watched inside.” settlement between Epstein News Agency said Tues- to visit family in Tehran that see, District Attorney’s Office
a couple of politicians be Opponents and allies have and Giuffre didn’t involve day’s launch involved a did not involve her work at said.
interviewed and one of the been demanding Johnson the prince. Giuffre sued hypersonic glide vehicle, the government-founded Smith, who was arrested
questions was, ‘Did you get come clean about the party, Andrew, 61, in August, saying which after its release from cultural organization, it last month on an auto-theft
the booster?’ .... And they, held when Britons were she was coerced into sexual the rocket booster demon- previously said. warrant involving the vehicle
‘Oh, oh,’ they’re answering banned from meeting more encounters with him in 2001 strated “glide jump flight” There was no immedi- used in Young Dolph’s killing,
it — like in other words, the than one person outside by Epstein and his long- and “corkscrew maneu- ate word on her release was being held without bond.
answer is ‘Yes,’ but they don’t their households to curb the time companion, Ghislaine vering” before hitting a sea from Iranian authorities. Separately, the U.S.
want to say it. Because they’re spread of the coronavirus. . Maxwell. Giuffre said she was target 621 miles away. But Amiri’s lawyer, Hojjat Marshals Service said Justin
gutless.” Opposition Labour Party sexually abused by Andrew Photos released by the Kermani, confirmed her Johnson, 23, was arrested,
Trump did not name leader Keir Starmer said the multiple times. agency showed a missile acquittal to The Associ- after a murder warrant was
names, and his spokespeo- British public thought John- Andrew’s lawyers had said mounted with a pointed ated Press, saying that Iran’s issued for him earlier this
ple did not immediately son was “lying through his the lawsuit lacked specificity cone-shaped payload soar- Supreme Court had deter- month. The agency did not
respond to questions about teeth.” and was disqualified by the ing into the sky while leav- mined that her earlier espi- say where in Indiana that
which politicians he was deal she reached in 2009 with ing a trail of orange flames. onage conviction in the Johnson was found.
referencing. But Florida Gov. Prince Andrew lawsuit: A lawyers for Epstein. The launch was North country’s Revolutionary Young Dolph, whose real
Ron DeSantis, a rising star in judge in New York has for Korea’s second test of its Court was “against Shariah,” name was Adolph Thornton
the Republican Party who is now refused to dismiss a NKorea missile test: North purported hypersonic or Islamic law. He did not Jr., was gunned down Nov. 17
often mentioned as a possible lawsuit against Britain’s Korea said Wednesday its missile in a week. elaborate. at a cookie shop.
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8 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Thursday, January 13, 2022
WORLD & NATION
Reunited families fear extortion
Talks of payments has been criticized for
for separation spark considering large payouts.
President Joe Biden himself
threats in homeland said, “That’s not going
to happen,” when asked
By Elliot Spagat, in November about the
Ben Fox and $450,000 figure, and later
Claudia Torrens clarified that he backed some
Associated Press compensation.
Last month, the Justice
WASHINGTON — For Department withdrew from
the 30-year-old Honduran talks over financial compen-
woman, the worst seemed to sation after eight months but
be over. She’s been reunited didn’t rule out an agreement.
with her son who, as a “While the parties have
6-year-old, was separated been unable to reach a global
from her under the Trump settlement agreement at this
administration. She’s work- time, we remain committed
ing construction in North to engaging with the plain-
Carolina. And attorneys tiffs and to bringing justice to
were negotiating a payment the victims of this abhorrent
for families like hers that policy,” the department said
endured separations. in a statement.
But reports about those This month, attorneys for
negotiations have created families renewed a request
a new worry: extortion for the administration to turn
attempts stemming from over troves of records on how
the mistaken belief that she the policy was conceived and
received a huge payout. Her executed, signaling a poten-
family has already received Unaccompanied migrant children at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Donna, Texas. Families separated under the tially long court battle.
demands for $5,000 a month. Trump administration now face extortion attempts for money that has not been paid. DARIO LOPEZ-MILLS/POOL VIA AP 2021 Talks have continued over
“Apparently, I am a non-monetary issues, includ-
millionaire now,” said the was considering $450,000 given to people who were ent criminal elements, and cation, we are here to work ing reunifying families in
woman, who, like others a person to compensate for separated in the United that they have been warned and get that done as soon as the United States and other
interviewed by The Associ- suffering — or $900,000 for States.’ And I told him that I to be vigilant as criminal possible,” she said. services, such as mental
ated Press, spoke on condi- a parent and child. A person did not know anything about gangs are considering them The task force has health, attorneys said.
tion of anonymity due to familiar with the talks who that,” he said. the subjects of extortion,” reunited about 112 children De Anda asked the admin-
fears for her family’s safety. spoke to the AP on condition The man said he and he wrote to Michelle Brane, with their parents in the istration to consider admit-
“I don’t have the money to of anonymity because discus- his daughter tried going to executive director of the U.S. as of last week. They ting family members who
pay for something like that, sions were private confirmed the U.S. in 2019. They were Homeland Security Depart- are being granted permis- were threatened since the
and I don’t know what to do. that figure had been floated. kidnapped in Mexico for two ment’s Family Reunifica- sion to stay in the country news reports. The admin-
I am desperate, really.” “People here think that weeks, released to Mexican tion Task Force. “As a result for at least three years while istration has focused on
While specific reports I have lots of money,” said authorities after paying more of the (news) leaks, family they pursue asylum or seek parents and children who
are isolated, widespread a 47-year-old business than $3,000 and deported to members in the U.S., and permanent status through were separated but says
extortion in Central Amer- owner in northern Guate- Guatemala. those trapped in home coun- another program. it will consider additional
ica explains why many seek mala whose wife was sepa- “I don’t live in peace,” he try, now live in constant fear.” Other attorneys for the families case by case.
asylum in the United States rated from their son. He said. “I am always looking The task force, which is families said they had no The Honduran woman
in the first place. Some advo- has become more nervous over my shoulder.” aiming to reunite nearly direct knowledge of threats said her 56-year-old mother
cates fear prospects of large because of news reports Ricardo de Anda, an 2,000 children with their tied to possible payments has received notes asking for
payments will fuel many on the settlement talks and attorney for the Honduran parents in the United States, but said they were inevita- $5,000 a month. The mother
more threats. An attorney now changes his cellphone woman and Guatemalan had planned for the possibil- ble, if they haven’t happened cares for the woman’s other
for the woman and other number every two weeks. man, said five of the 72 fami- ity of extortion, realizing that already. The attorneys children, an 11-year-old son
families has asked U.S. offi- The man lives in Guate- lies he represents have told such threats are common in suspect some attempts have and 7-year-old daughter. The
cials to consider admitting mala with his 14-year-old him they were threatened Central America, and set up gone unreported or word woman wants all to join her
more relatives because of daughter, while his wife and after news coverage of the a system to channel reports hasn’t reached them. in North Carolina.
the threats. now 18-year-old son live in possible payments. One in through the U.N. refugee “I have no doubt that it’s Acquaintances have
It is far from clear whether Atlanta after being separated Guatemala was targeted in agency, Brane said in an happening in more cases warned that the children
families will receive any at the border for more than a an attempted kidnapping. interview last month. than we know about,” said may be unsafe in Honduras.
money at all from the U.S. month in 2018. The man said “These families have Brane said she had not yet Trina Realmuto, execu- “I am scared,” said the
government. Negotiations he was getting text messages told us that they are now received any specific reports, tive director of the National woman, who takes pills
to settle claims for damages at the time threatening to the subject of rumors in but the potential danger Immigration Litigation Alli- for anxiety and went to
ended amid political outrage kidnap his son if he didn’t their communities as to the underscores the need for ance, which was involved in the emergency room with
over payments erupted pay money. apparent wealth of family the task force to complete its settlement talks over finan- chest pains after the threats
following a report in the “My neighbor told me members in the U.S., that work. cial compensation. against her mother. “I don’t
The Wall Street Journal the other day, ‘So you have they have been subjected “If families are in unsafe The talks are delicate for know what can happen to
that the Justice Department money, because money was to surveillance by appar- situations and need reunifi- the administration, which my kids.”
Jan. 6 panel seeks interview
from GOP leader McCarthy
By Farnoush Amiri
and Eric Tucker
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The
House panel investigating
the U.S. Capitol insurrec-
tion requested an interview
and records from House
Minority Leader Kevin
McCarthy on Wednesday,
shifting their investiga-
tion to a top ally of former
President Donald Trump in
Congress.
Mississippi Rep. Bennie
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman speaks Wednesday after a meeting of the Thompson, Democratic
NATO-Russia Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels. OLIVIER MATTHYS/AP chairman of the panel,
requested that McCarthy, Rep. Kevin McCarthy is the third House Republican
No decision yet on Ukraine, R-Calif., provide infor- contacted for an interview by the committee investigating
mation to the nine-mem- the Jan. 6 riot. EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/GETTY POOL PHOTO
ber panel regarding the
but NATO, Russia eye talks violence that took place last Feb. 3 or 4. “The Select past few weeks, GOP Reps.
January and his communi- Committee has tremendous Jim Jordan and Scott Perry
cations with former White respect for the prerogatives were also contacted by the
House Chief of Staff Mark of Congress and the privacy panel but have denied the
By Lorne Cook tary alliance to agree not to Sherman also expressed Meadows in the days prior of its Members,” Thompson requests to sit down with
Associated Press admit any more members. optimism following the to the attack. wrote. “At the same time, we lawmakers or provide docu-
Speaking after the meet- Brussels meeting given that “We also must learn have a solemn responsibility ments.
BRUSSELS — The ing at NATO headquarters Moscow did not dismiss the about how the President’s to investigate fully the facts The panel, comprised of
United States and NATO in Brussels, U.S. Deputy idea of further talks. plans for January 6th came and circumstances of these seven Democrats and two
rejected key Russian secu- Secretary of State Wendy NATO Secretary General together, and all the other events. Republicans, has already
rity demands for easing Sherman reaffirmed that Jens Stoltenberg, who ways he attempted to alter A request for comment interviewed more than 300
tensions over Ukraine but some of Putin’s secu- chaired the meeting, said the results of the election,” from McCarthy’s office was people and issued subpoe-
left open Wednesday the rity demands “are simply NATO nations and Russian Thompson said in the letter. not immediately returned. nas to more than 40 as it
possibility of future talks non-starters.” envoys both “expressed the “For example, in advance of McCarthy attracted seeks to create a compre-
with Moscow on arms “We will not slam the need to resume dialogue January 6th, you reportedly the committee’s attention hensive record of the Jan. 6
control, missile deploy- door shut on NATO’s and to explore a schedule explained to Mark Mead- through his public charac- attack and the events lead-
ments and ways to prevent open-door policy,” she told of future meetings.” ows and the former Presi- terizations after the riot of ing up to it.
military incidents between reporters after almost four Stoltenberg said NATO dent that objections to the his private discussions with The committee says
Russia and the West. hours of talks. “We are not is keen to discuss ways to certification of the electoral Trump. Thompson’s letter the extraordinary trove of
The decisions came at a going to agree that NATO prevent dangerous mili- votes on January 6th ‘was cites multiple statements material it has collected —
meeting of the NATO-Rus- cannot expand any further.” tary incidents or accidents doomed to fail.’ ” and interviews in which 35,000 pages of records so
sia Council, the first of its The meeting was called involving Russia and the The request seeks infor- McCarthy described his far, including texts, emails
kind in over two years. as an estimated 100,000 Western allies, reducing mation about McCarthy’s interactions with the presi- and phone records from
That Russia’s delegation combat-ready Russian space and cyber threats, conversations with Trump dent, including a CBS inter- people close to Trump — is
did not walk out of the talks troops, tanks and heavy as well as setting limits on “before, during and after” view in which McCarthy fleshing out critical details
and remained open to the military equipment are missile deployments and the riot, with lawmak- said: “I was very clear with of the worst attack on the
prospect of future discus- massed near Ukraine’s east- other arms control initia- ers seeking a window into the President when I called Capitol in two centuries,
sions after having its main ern border. The buildup tives. He underlined that Trump’s state of mind from him. This has to stop and which played out on live
positions rebuffed were has caused deep concerns Ukraine has the right to an ally who has acknowl- he has to go to the Ameri- television.
seen as positive notes in a in Kyiv and the West that decide its future security edged repeated interactions can public and tell them to Thompson said in an
week of high-level meet- Moscow is preparing for an arrangements and that with the then-president. stop this.” interview last month that
ings aimed at staving off a invasion. NATO would continue to The committee also wants One of his Republican about 90% of the witnesses
feared Russian invasion of Russia denies that it leave its door open to new to question McCarthy colleagues, Washington subpoenaed by the commit-
Ukraine. has fresh plans to attack members. about communications Rep. Jaime Herrera Butler, tee have cooperated despite
Russian President Vlad- its neighbor and in turn “No one else has anything with Trump and White has said McCarthy told her the defiance of high-profile
imir Putin wants NATO accuses the West of threat- to say, and of course, Russia House staff in the week that Trump told him, “Well, Trump allies such as Mead-
to withdraw its troops ening its security by posi- does not have a veto,” he after the violence, including Kevin, I guess these people ows and Steve Bannon.
and military equipment tioning military personnel said. a conversation with Trump are more upset about the Lawmakers said they have
from countries that border and equipment in Central In the U.S. on Wednesday, that was reportedly heated. election than you are.” been effective at gather-
Russia, which include and Eastern Europe. Senate Democrats released The committee acknowl- The Republican leader ing information from other
Ukraine but also NATO While noting that “esca- their proposal for legisla- edged the sensitive and is the third member of sources in part because they
allies like Estonia, Latvia lation does not create tion that would ratchet up unusual nature of its request Congress the committee has share a unity of purpose
and Lithuania. Putin also optimum conditions for sanctions on Russia if it as it proposed a meeting reached out to for volun- rarely seen in a congressio-
asked for the 30-nation mili- diplomacy, to say the least,” sends troops into Ukraine. with McCarthy on either tary information. In the nal investigation.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Thursday, January 13, 2022 9
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
Poll: Economic fears now top virus
Pandemic slipping
in list of concerns
for many in the US
By Will Weissert
and Hannah Fingerhut
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Head-
ing into a critical midterm
election year, the top polit-
ical concerns of Americans
are shifting in ways that
suggest Democrats face
considerable challenges to
maintaining their control of
Congress.
A poll from Associated
Press-NORC Center for
Public Affairs Research
finds that management of
the coronavirus pandemic,
once an issue that strongly
favored President Joe Biden
and his fellow Democrats,
is beginning to recede in
the minds of Americans.
COVID-19 is increasingly
overshadowed by concerns
about the economy and
personal finances — partic-
ularly inflation — which are
topics that could lift Repub-
licans.
Just 37% of Americans
name the virus as one of Americans are worried about prices and supply chain disruptions. Above, trucks line up to enter a shipping terminal Nov. 10 in Oakland, Calif. NOAH BERGER/AP
their top five priorities for
the government to work The poll was conducted Senate seat. “We might Vivek Murthy said. “As a Judy Kunzman doesn’t suggesting the country
on in 2022, compared with in early December, when never be done with this.” doctor, I’ve certainly seen blame Biden for the ongo- ignore the pandemic.
53% who said it was a lead- worries about the virus were That sentiment reflects it with my patients over the ing pandemic, calling it “just But compared with last
ing priority at the same time rising as omicron took hold the challenge for Demo- years. When you get tired one of those events that are year, higher percentages
a year ago. in the country, but before it crats at the onset of the and beaten down by a health impossible to predict and of people called out other
The economy outpaced sparked record caseloads, election year. The party problem — whether it’s a almost as impossible to fix.” issues, including immigra-
the pandemic in the open- overwhelmed testing sites won the White House and personal health problem or But she’s worried about tion among Republicans and
ended question, with 68% and hospitals, and upended control of Congress in 2020 a broader public health chal- continued supply chain gun control among Demo-
of respondents mentioning holiday travel. with pledges to manage the lenge — it can lead to disen- disruptions, which affect “a crats, as pressing in 2022.
it in some way as a top 2022 Still, in recent follow-up pandemic more compe- gagement.” lot of the other issues that Some said they were encour-
concern. A similar percent- interviews with partic- tently than the Trump The White House says we’re having: The rising aged by early indications
age said the same last year, ipants, many said those administration. COVID-19’s waning as food prices. The fact that I that the latest outbreak,
but mentions of inflation developments didn’t shake After initially earn- a preeminent concern can’t buy my new car.” while spreading fast, could
are much higher now: 14% their views. ing high marks — roughly actually underscores its “Everything has chips and have milder effects for many.
this year, compared with less “If we say anything along 70% approved of Biden’s success rolling out preven- the chips aren’t there,” said “I’m hopeful with
than 1% last year. the lines of, ‘Let’s wait until handling of the pandemic tative measures, includ- Kunzman, 75, of Middle- omicron,” said Saman-
Consumer prices jumped the pandemic dies down,’ from late February through ing vaccines. It argues that town, Pennsylvania, refer- tha Flowers, a 33-year-old
7% for the 12 months ending well, this son of a gun virus mid-July — the virus’s economic jitters now exac- ring to a pandemic-fueled, community college teacher
in December, the most since has unlimited ability to persistence has under- erbated by the pandemic global shortage of micro- in Columbia, Missouri,
1982, the Labor Department mutate,” said Mary Small, mined the new president’s eventually will ease. chips many electronics which has its own open
reported Wednesday. a 65-year-old pharmaceu- message. Still, with Demo- depend on. She’s waited Senate seat on Novem-
Meanwhile, roughly twice tical research contractor Administration officials crats likely struggling to months for the car she’d ber’s ballot. “Even though
as many Americans now in Downingtown, Pennsyl- acknowledge that the public campaign on the idea that like to become available and more people are getting it,
mention their household vania, who hopes efforts is growing increasingly they’ve now defeated the noted that her sister faced the sickness hasn’t been as
finances, namely, the cost to promote gun safety will weary of COVID-19. virus, the other issues gain- difficulties finding a new harsh for most people. Since
of living, as a governmental take center stage in Novem- “Pandemic fatigue is real, ing attention among voters cellphone. we’re all going to end up sick
priority, 24% versus 12% last ber’s elections, including and all of us feel it at some pose more immediate polit- Many respondents in anyway, let it be one that we
year. her state’s race for an open point,” Surgeon General ical headaches. the survey said they’re not can recover from better.”
Volunteers step up to
save ailing owners’ pets
By Leanne Italie Her organization also like 79-year-old Kathy Reis-
Associated Press tries to help pet owners in ter.
need of direction. She adopted a 12-year-old
NEW YORK — Who will She urges owners to iden- Chihuahua named Jackson
take your pet when you die? tify a committed caregiver, with the help of Tyson’s
The question often provide written instruc- Place Animal Rescue in
doesn’t have an easy answer, tions for a pet’s routine and Holland, Michigan.
especially for ill or older put a financial plan in place. The nonprofit helps
people headed to residen- Her group has distributed people with terminal
tial nursing care or assisted thousands of emergen- illnesses find new homes
living. cy-card door hangers to for their pets. Reister, who
During the pandemic, pet food banks and animal has been diagnosed with
specialized rescue, advo- welfare organizations so congestive heart failure,
cacy and adoption services owners can make their had recently lost her own
run by volunteers are trying wishes known. dog and was having a hard
to fill the void, one pet at a Another organization, time at home alone when
time. Pet Peace of Mind, works she took in Jackson last
Leaders in the small directly with about 250 August.
movement said the past hospices around the coun- “I’ve never been without
couple of years have opened try to provide and train a dog since about 1965,” said
the eyes of many. volunteers who care for the widow. “His previous
“The thing about COVID pets of the seriously and owner had passed away.”
is a lot of people are think- terminally ill, said Dianne Soon after, Jackson
ing, ‘I can’t be guaranteed McGill, the president and was also diagnosed with
to be around forever.’ A founder in Salem, Oregon. congestive heart failure,
lot more people are trying Most of the hospices are and Tyson’s Place stepped
to make plans in advance, providing home services, in with a grant to help Reis-
which is the best thing to where pets are often giving ter cover his medical bills.
do because unfortunately, comfort and support. She promised to return him
a lot of people wait until “These specialty volun- to the agency for rehoming
they’re in hospice or there’s teers bring pet care knowl- should her health take a
a desperate situation,” said edge with them so they can turn for the worse. Caitlin Koska, left, and Michael White appear with their 14-year-old rescue dog, Luna, at their
Amy Shever, founder and do whatever is needed to “Having him has really wedding in 2021 in St. Joseph, Mich. The couple adopted the Chihuahua through Tyson’s Place
director of 2nd Chance 4 help,” she said. “So they’re helped me want to continue Animal Rescue after her owner died. CAT CARTY BUSWELL VIA AP
Pets in suburban Sacra- walking, feeding, playing, to live and keep fighting,”
mento, California. cleaning up or helping to said Reister, of Grandville, Jill Bannik-Brecht Now, hospices and social Rafuse’s face as she held her
The number of pets arrange a plan for rehom- Michigan. founded Tyson’s Place workers refer patients up to the camera, has been
surrendered to shelters due ing.” “I started walking one about six years ago. to Tyson’s Place. Bannik- viewed nearly a million
to caretaker health or death While providing pet care block down and one block It services the entire Brecht is struggling to times.
is up from 7.3% in 2009 to or adoption services often back home with him. Now state of Michigan, work- expand her foster reach. “Then so many people
10.2% during the pandemic, isn’t top of mind for social we walk at least 20, 25 ing directly with a pet Bannik-Brecht knows of started sharing stories with
according to the Best workers or nurses, it’s a minutes a day. He needs to owner before rehoming just a few other rescues like us about how their grand-
Friends Network of thou- huge emotional driving walk, and I need to walk. becomes an urgent matter, hers. One, in Canada, also parents’ cats ended up in
sands of public and private force for patients and loved He’s made such a big differ- or with family members needs help. shelters and how their
shelters, rescue groups and ones living far away, McGill ence in my life.” after a death, using a small Angela Rafuse, 27, in Hali- grandparents worry about
other animal welfare orga- said. Caitlin Koska, 31, and network of foster homes. fax, Nova Scotia, founded what will happen to their
nizations in all 50 states. “Care workers hear about Michael White, 34, in Ypsi- For Koska, Tyson’s Place My Grandfather’s Cat on cats or their dogs because
The pets of seniors are the issues from family lanti, Michigan, included took care of extensive May 18, her grandfather’s there’s nowhere to take
often seniors themselves, members,” she said. “They 14-year-old Luna in their dental work for Luna before birthday. them,” Rafuse said.
languishing in shelters or say, my mom is really, really May 1 wedding after Koska she was adopted. He died in 2019 and left After she launched,
the first to be euthanized upset about what’s going adopted her through “I used to work for a behind his grumpy 14-year- emails asking for help and
after they’re declared to happen to her pet. I live Tyson’s Place around high-kill animal shelter, old cat, Mackenzie. offering donations rolled in,
unadoptable, Shever said. out of state. I can’t help her. Thanksgiving 2020. Luna, and I knew what happened “She was my grand- but she didn’t have enough
They’re routinely given How do we get some pet also a Chihuahua, was their to the old dogs when they mother’s best friend and foster homes to meet
up by relatives who can’t care in place while she’s ring bearer. came in. I remember one when she passed away, my demand. She’s working to
take in a dog or cat. The life navigating her end-of- “Her owner had gone dog who animal control grandfather took care of expand. One of Rafuse’s
spans of other pets, such life journey or when she into a nursing home and literally picked up from the her for the next year before goals is to help keep a pet
as parrots, are far longer, passes?” could no longer take care of side of his dead owner’s he passed away,” Rafuse at home until the final
which sometimes scares off “I’ve got a million stories her,” Koska said. “She has body, and he didn’t even said. Rafuse promised her moment.
loved ones. about patients who literally a lot of dental issues, cata- have an opportunity to be grandfather she would take As for Mackenzie, she’s
Shever’s focus is educat- hung on until they heard racts and very poor hearing. adopted. He was put to Mackenzie. She began post- living her best life, hiking
ing veterinarians and shel- that their pet had received She’s just the sweetest dog. sleep because we didn’t ing TikTok videos of their and kayaking with Rafuse.
ters on how they can get a new home,” McGill said. Everybody who knows her have space,” Bannik-Brecht adventures. One video, “She’s still grumpy,”
involved. Enter angels-on-earth loves her.” said. of Mackenzie scratching Rafuse said.
10 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Thursday, January 13, 2022
Media outlets grappling Report: IRS
to start tax
with virus ‘data disaster’
season with
News organizations rethink reporting of case counts during omicron wave big backlog
By David Bauder substantially higher. to last Tuesday’s, showing a 56% increase.
Associated Press For that reason, The Associated Press The New York Times used a daily count
has recently told its editors and reporters in an online chart, yet also included a By Tara Siegel Bernard
NEW YORK — For two years, corona- to avoid emphasizing case counts in stories two-week trend in both cases and deaths. The New York Times
virus case counts and hospitalizations about the disease. That means, for example, Hospitalization and death rates are
have been widely used barometers of the no more stories focused solely on a particu- considered by some to be a more reliable The IRS will kick off the approaching tax
pandemic’s march across the world. lar country or state setting a one-day record picture of COVID-19’s current impact on season with a backlog of at least 10 million
But the omicron wave is making a mess for number of cases, because that claim has society. Yet even the usefulness of those unprocessed returns from last year, accord-
of the usual statistics, forcing news orga- become unreliable. numbers has been called into question ing to a new report by the National Taxpayer
nizations to rethink the reporting of such Throughout the media, there has been in recent days. In many cases, hospital- Advocate.
figures. more caution in use of official case counts. izations are incidental: There are people The pile of returns remaining are from the
“It’s just a data disaster,” said Katherine An NBC News story Monday about the being admitted for other reasons and are “most challenging year taxpayers and tax
Wu, a staff writer who covers COVID-19 for skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases surprised to find they test positive for professionals have ever experienced,” the
The Atlantic magazine. relied on a one-week average of case counts. COVID-19, said Tanya Lewis, senior editor advocate, Erin Collins, wrote in her report.
The number of case counts soared over A Tuesday story simply referred to a “tidal for health and medicine at Scientific Amer- One reason for the backlog: Stimulus
the holidays, an expected development wave” of cases. ican. payments to the people from the govern-
given the emergence of a variant more During its coverage of a Senate hear- Despite the imperfections, case counts ment during the pandemic have been largely
transmissible than its predecessors. ing with health experts Tuesday, the should not be ignored, said Gary Schwitzer, routed through the IRS, which Collins said
Yet these counts only reflect what is case counts CNN flashed onscreen were a University of Minnesota School of Public was already short-staffed.
reported by health authorities. They do not two-week averages. MSNBC used a variety Health instructor and publisher of Health- The vast majority of taxpayers — 77% —
include most people who test themselves at of measurements, including a listing of the NewsReview.org, which monitors health received refunds in 2021, but tens of millions
home, or are infected without even know- five states with highest reported numbers coverage in the media. of them experienced delays. Collins called
ing about it. Holidays and weekends also over the past three days. The numbers illustrate trends, giving a last year’s situation “horrendous” from the
lead to lags in reported cases. On its website’s “Guide to the Pandemic,” picture of which areas of the country are standpoint of taxpayers. Although the back-
If you could add all those numbers up — The Washington Post used a seven-day being hit particularly hard or where the log is not too different from last season’s, it is
and you can’t — case counts would likely be average of cases and compared that number surge may have peaked, he said. far higher than the backlog the IRS typically
faced before the pandemic began.
“Paper is the IRS’ kryptonite, and the
agency is still buried in it,” Collins said in
a statement about her 2021 annual report,
which was sent to Congress on Wednes-
day. The Office of the Taxpayer Advocate,
which Collins leads, is an independent entity
within the IRS.
The IRS warned taxpayers Monday that
staffing shortages and backlogs would trans-
late into another frustrating filing season,
which begins Jan. 24 and runs through April
18 (in most states).
Collins reiterated the agency’s recom-
mendation that Congress provide it with
enough money to do its job. Since 2010,
the IRS’ staffing is down 17%; and its work-
load over the same period, measured by the
number of individual returns, is up by 19% to
169 million in 2021, according to the report.
BUSINESS BRIEFING
UK court: ‘VIP
lane’ unlawful
LONDON — Britain’s High Court ruled
Wednesday that the government acted
unlawfully when it used a “VIP lane” to
award millions of dollars’ worth of contracts
to suppliers of personal protective equip-
ment during the first wave of the coronavirus
American companies are still importing teak, a valuable and versatile hardwood, from Myanmar despite sanctions the U.S. imposed after the pandemic in 2020.
military seized power last Feb. 1, a trade data report says. Above, a worker marks logs in Wuntho, Myanmar. GEMUNU AMARASINGHE/AP 2016 Two groups brought the legal action
against the Department of Health and Social
Care, alleging its use of the “High Priority
Firms keep bringing in teak
Lane,” reserved for referrals from lawmakers
and senior officials, gave unfair advantage to
some suppliers “because of who they knew,
not what they could deliver.”
The contracts included one worth over
US importers still receiving announced last April, ban dealings with MTE,” the military still receives funds from $464 million to pest control firm PestFix
Myanmar Timber Enterprise, a state- the trade “no matter who officially exports and another worth some $344 million to the
wood from Myanmar despite
owned company under the country’s the timber,” the report said. hedge fund Ayanda Capital.
coup sanctions, report says Ministry of Natural Resources and Envi- It urged the U.S. government to enforce
ronmental Conservation. It alone over- the sanctions and to investigate possible
By Elaine Kurtenbach sees exports of timber and sells to private breaches of the restrictions.
Associated Press companies through auctions. It is not clear exactly where the teak Man freed after
The sanctions ban all transactions with ends up, since it is imported by suppliers of
BANGKOK — American companies are the company or people connected with it by timber for construction and other manu-
cockpit incident
still importing teak from Myanmar despite U.S. people and companies. It also imposed facturers.
sanctions imposed after the military seized sanctions on the military-appointed minis- Myanmar’s military, headed by Senior
power last year, a recently released report ter of Natural Resources and Environmen- Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, deposed the elected
based on trade data said. tal Conservation. government of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National A passenger arrested in Honduras for
Teak is one of the most valuable hard- The European Union imposed similar League for Democracy last Feb. 1. Suu Kyi damaging the cockpit of an American
woods, used in home flooring, doors, sanctions in June. It also bans dealings with was arrested and charged with about a Airlines jet during boarding was released
window frames and furniture. Myanmar Myanmar’s Forest Products Joint Venture dozen crimes. On Monday, the 76-year-old by authorities hours later.
is the biggest producer of the wood, even Corp. Nobel Peace Prize laureate was sentenced The flight, which was scheduled to depart
though its natural forests are dwindling. Yet, sales and shipments of teak and other to four more years in prison, on top of the Tuesday afternoon for Miami, was delayed,
American importers were still receiving valuable hardwoods to the U.S. have contin- two-year sentence she was ordered to serve arriving early Wednesday about eight hours
shipments of teak as recently as December ued. The timber arrived in 82 different from earlier cases. late.
even though sanctions were put in place shipments from last Feb. 1 to Nov. 30, mainly The military takeover has drawn nonvi- The passenger was freed because the
in April, data from the Panjiva global trade teak boards and other wood items used in olent nationwide demonstrations, which airline didn’t press charges, a Honduran offi-
database show. Similar trends have been shipbuilding, outdoor decking, construc- security forces have quashed with deadly cial said. The airline said Wednesday it was
reported from Europe. tion and furniture. force, killing more than 1,400 civilians, not dropping the matter and would pursue
The human rights group Justice for By buying through intermediaries, the according to a list compiled by the Assis- charges.
Myanmar is urging the U.S. and other importers are skirting the sanctions, the tance Association for Political Prisoners. The cockpit door was open before the
governments to crack down on the teak report contends. Timber is one of resource-rich Myan- breach, American Airlines said. The passen-
trade in line with sanctions against the “Considering that sanctions aim to block mar’s most valuable industries, bringing in ger leaned out of a cockpit window before
country’s military leadership. trade with MTE, and the timber exported millions of dollars a year in taxes and export crew members and local police intervened
Those U.S. Treasury sanctions, from Myanmar is originally auctioned by revenues. and he was apprehended, the airline said.
Agency: Russia to blame for natural gas crisis ConsumerPriceIndex
InDecember,theconsumerpriceindex
increased0.5percent.
By David McHugh be needed to avoid a severe shortage in case short-term market pricing. He has also CPIONE-MONTHPERCENTCHANGE
Associated Press of colder-than-expected weather. asserted that German gas customers have Seasonallyadjusted
“In terms of European gas ... we believe been reselling Russian gas to Poland and 1.0
FRANKFURT, Germany — The head of there are strong elements of the tightness Ukraine.
0.8
the International Energy Agency blamed in European gas markets due to Russia’s When pressed by reporters on the call,
Russia for worsening Europe’s natural gas behavior,” Birol told reporters. Birol resisted saying that Russia was using 0.6
crisis, saying Wednesday that high prices “Contrary to other pipeline supporters, gas to put political pressure on western
0.4
and low storage levels largely stem from such as Norway, Algeria and Azerbaijan, Europe. Russia has moved thousands of
the behavior of state-owned gas supplier which increase their supplies to Europe, troops near its border with Ukraine and 0.2
Gazprom. Gazprom reduced its exports to Europe by made demands that Ukraine be barred from
Russia could send up to a third more 25%” in the fourth quarter compared with membership in the NATO alliance.
gas through existing pipelines, said Fatih a year ago “despite high market prices,” he It also wants German and European -0.2 Dec.2021:
Birol, executive director of the Paris-based added. Union regulators to approve its newly built 0.5%
30-member organization that provides Russian President Vladimir Putin has Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would bypass -0.4
policy recommendations on affordable and underscored that Gazprom has met its other countries and start bringing natural
-0.6
sustainable energy. That would amount to obligations under long-term contracts gas directly to Europe, but it faces opposi- DEC. DEC.
some 10% of European daily consumption and blamed high spot gas prices on Euro- tion from Ukraine, Poland and the United '20 '21
— about what industry officials say would pean decisions to move toward volatile States. SOURCE:U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics TNS