The Dayton experience appears to be a trend, reflecting preliminary data of the CDC. The question for the NYTimes and the local officials, has become: what has happened?  What are the factors involved?

While several factors, mostly inter-related, are at play, the fact that Medicaid was expanded in Ohio in 2015 is considered to have the biggest impact.  It has given nearly 700,000 low-income adults in the state access to free addiction and mental health treatment. In Dayton, there are now more than a dozen residential and outpatient clinics.  And, the availability and treatment with such narcotic antagonists as methadone and naltrexone.

Democrats also easily won all eight of California's statewide elective offices, and 60 of the 80 seats in the State Assembly. They also hold 28 of the 40 seats in the State Senate. 24 years ago, Republicans held sway in Sacramento. Today, they've been thoroughly marginalized.

Further, for the first time in over 100 years, an incumbent Sheriff of Los Angeles County has been defeated in his bid for re-election. Sheriff Jim McDonnell, a Republican has conceded the race to retired Sheriff's Dept. Lt. Alex Villanueva, who openly campaigned as a Democrat even though the post of Sheriff is ostensibly nonpartisan. McDonnell has promised an orderly transition.

Democrats make up 43.5% of all registered voters in California, while the share of the electorate held by Republicans has dropped from 35.5% in 1998 to only 24% today. The changing demography has proven to be a boon for the Democrats, especially since the Republicans no only make little or no effort to woo minority voters, they more often than not alienate them and chase them away.

Finally, on a more sobering note, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman has taken / been placed on a leave of absence, in the wake of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against him by staff. I'll offer odds of better than even that he ultimately resigns. I can only say that as a card-carrying Democrat, I really expect far better from those who would desire to lead us.

That's really what it's called

This dispute is set make it all the way to our nation's highest court later this month with important implications for law enforcement agencies and criminal justice reform. The case could rest on the say of one Supreme Court Justice in particular: Neil Gorsuch.

They are clearly alarmed by these results.  I suspect those my age may be less so.  I find it the most encouraging thing I have read in ages.

But what the poll found is that they have a lot of work to do when it comes to those 38 and younger. Just one example: Four in 10 say it is OK to burn the flag

The highlights provided to Secrets:
Half of those surveyed believe the United States is sexist (50 percent) and racist (49 percent).
American exceptionalism is on the decline -- 46 percent of younger Americans do not agree that "America is the greatest country in the world."
38 percent of younger Americans do not agree that "America has a history that we should be proud of."
One in eight (14 percent) of millennials agree that "America was never a great country and it never will be."
46 percent of younger Americans agree that "America is more racist than other countries."
19 percent of millennials believe that the American flag is "a sign of intolerance and hatred."

It's like back to the future.  Except in our day those numbers would have been higher.

Outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) flaked again when he withdrew his "no" vote against controversial judicial nominee Jonathan Kobes.

Flake has pledged to stage an epic protest against President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who refused to allow a vote on a bill to protect Bob Mueller.

On the medical team's end, Dr Gelb and his colleagues rushed into operation planning, aided by advanced technologies including a three-dimensional computer modeled surgery run-through and 3D-printed customized cutting guides. During the complex procedure, the team relied on intraoperative CAT scans and assisted tool navigation systems to achieve ideal alignment between the patient and donor's bones and correct placement of implanted plates and anchoring screws.

In total, Underwood received Fisher's upper and lower jaw bones, including his 32 teeth, palate (roof of the mouth), floor of the mouth, lower eyelids, cheeks, nose, and nasal passage sections. Underwood's own tongue remained, but underwent reconstruction.

For food, it will be a basic turkey, stuffing, potatoes, brussel sprouts (I'm one of the few who like these).   Not sure about desert... probably pie, cheesecake and ice cream.  There are some family birthdays this time of year, so we usually have extra deserts.

Fun because, aside from being actual fun, it was clear attitudes toward Trump are evolving.  And not in a Trump positive way.

Politics was almost entirely avoided.  The one time it was mentioned was interesting.  My brother has two sons.  Both in their late 40s.  One is in the process of retiring from the army.  The brief mention was an eye rolling reference to Trumps Thanksgiving "message" to the troops.  

I had seen it before I left the house today.  If you haven't you should.  It is just awful.  Really just pitifully embarrassingly awful.  He was clearly fed up.  With that and the fake deployment to the southern border and whatever else.  

Fed up and no one dared challenge him.  It was clear no one wanted to talk politics so it was quickly moved on from but it was like a breath of fresh air.

We spent most of the rest of the time talking about the MARVEL universe, Stan Lee and movies in general.  I was stunned to find as a group they knew more about many of these subjects than I did.

Big Marijuana vs. craft weed: Will cannabis conglomerates ruin small family farms?

In describing how his film came to fruition, Pozdorovkin recalls, "I went [to Germany] to investigate, to talk to the workers. Most of them were forbidden from talking about the accident. But a lot of them talked about the perils of automation, the way that their work environment was made worse as the result of robots. I'm using the tropes of science fiction and true crime to make a film that investigates some of the philosophical and economic problems that automation brings with it."

In case you need something non political to worry about

The tragedy proved to be a true watershed moment in not only San Francisco's history, but California's as well. But while the life and times of Harvey Milk have been publicly recounted and celebrated in both an Academy Award-winning 1984 documentary and 2009 feature film, less well known and remembered is the equally impressive progressive legacy of George Moscone, who is the subject of a new documentary, "Moscone: A Legacy of Change."

"Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has a busy weekend with pit stops planned in Vermont and New Hampshire, where she's expected to pump up her progressive bonafides and put out her 2020 presidential feelers."

A conservative sums up the problem

In short, Republicans really needed those other red-state pickups this cycle, because the pickings will be mighty slim in two years. Even if the GOP manages to escape that trap in 2020, the Class 3 split looks just as bad (22 GOP seats, 12 Democrats) and the battlegrounds even more challenging -- Georgia and Arizona again, Florida, North Carolina again, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, among others. If Republicans don't figure out how to increase their suburban strength again, it's possible that we'll see a net loss of anywhere from two to seven seats in the upper chamber in two years, and worse down the road.

The court records Friday showed both a manslaughter and murder charge entered in her file, but the clerk confirmed that the murder charge is the one prosecutors are moving forward on.

Next week is the finale.  They promised updated content based on what happens in DC.  You almost wonder if this film makers with all their connections got a heads up.  Because I think next week it's likely there will indeed be things to update.

This is starting to look like it could be a very big deal.  Just saw a segment on MJ.  I didn't know much about it but it seems to have very big implications for several important people.

More that 80 (known) young girls and women.  pleasure islands for rich men.  It has another name but I didn't use it.  One of the women actually named Allen Dershowitz as being involved.

Although not named in the letters, one of those involved in the decision-making was U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who was a U.S. Attorney in Florida at the time.