thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-13--Colin Kaepernick Calls Out Hypocrisy In NFL's Racial Justice 'Propaganda'

Colin Kaepernick , who ’ s been unsigned by the NFL for years after protesting racial injustice on the field , called out the league Sunday for hypocrisy in appearing to champion Black lives while still not signing a player who kneeled with him .
The activist and ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback used the opening weekend of pro games to say that the NFL participates in what he considers performative activism for racial justice , given that safety Eric Reid remains unsigned .
Reid is an NFL free agent who proudly joined then-teammate and longtime friend Kaepernick in the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing in the league , which has a long , troubled history confronting racism .
“ While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about Black Life , they are still actively blackballing Eric Reid … for fighting for the Black community , ” Kaepernick tweeted .
“ Eric set 2 franchise records last year , and is one of the best defensive players in the league.
” Staring in 2013 , Reid played five seasons with the 49ers .
He signed as a free agent with the Carolina Panthers and played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 19 seasons Conservative politicians — including then-presidential candidate Donald Trump ― reacted angrily to Kaepernick and Reid ’ s silent protest , wrongly arguing that the players were protesting the U.S. flag , the national anthem and the military .
Some fans were turned off by the protests , and as president , Trump has continued to deride the movement among athletes .
Kaepernick has been unable to get a job in the NFL since 2017 even though he led San Francisco to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Reid was let go by the 49ers after the 2017 season and was not initially signed by any other team .
He joined Kaepernick in filing a grievance arguing that the NFL and its owners colluded to prevent their employment because of their protest .
The two players eventually settled with the league in February 2019 .
The Panthers signed Reid a few games into the 2018 season , and he was vocal about the support he received from the team ’ s owner , David Tepper , and former coach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue peacefully protesting on the field long after Kaepernick played his last NFL game .
But under Carolina ’ s new coach , Matt Rhule , the team has purged veterans with big contracts such as Reid ’ s .
The team released Reid in March after he had signed a three-year , $ 22 million contract extension with the team the previous offseason .
He has remained an unsigned free agent since the release .
Kaepernick ’ s comments came on the same day most NFL teams opened their seasons in empty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got the quarterback blackballed in the first place ― kneeling , locking arms , raising fists or staying off the field during the national anthem .
Last Thursday , some attendees at the league ’ s opening game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans booed as players on both teams linked arms on the field in a gesture of unity as seven statements against racism appeared on the scoreboards .
The league now also follows the national anthem with “ Lift Every Voice and Sing , ” commonly known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , The Associated Press reported that the NFL will allow players to have decals on the back of their helmets bearing the names or initials of victims of systemic racism and police violence .

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Colin Kaepernick, who’s been unsigned by the NFL for years after protesting racial injustice on the field, called out the league Sunday for hypocrisy in appearing to champion Black lives while still not signing a player who kneeled with him.
The activist and ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback used the opening weekend of pro games to say that the NFL participates in what he considers performative activism for racial justice, given that safety Eric Reid remains unsigned.
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Reid is an NFL free agent who proudly joined then-teammate and longtime friend Kaepernick in the 2016 protest that got the quarterback stonewalled from playing in the league, which has a long, troubled history confronting racism.
“While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about Black Life, they are still actively blackballing Eric Reid … for fighting for the Black community,” Kaepernick tweeted. “Eric set 2 franchise records last year, and is one of the best defensive players in the league.”
While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about Black Life, they are still actively blackballing Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) for fighting for the Black community. Eric set 2 franchise records last year, and is one of the best defensive players in the league. https://t.co/KQXTaOCcnU — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 13, 2020
Staring in 2013, Reid played five seasons with the 49ers. He signed as a free agent with the Carolina Panthers and played for that team in the 2018 and ’19 seasons
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The NFL did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Conservative politicians — including then-presidential candidate Donald Trump ― reacted angrily to Kaepernick and Reid’s silent protest, wrongly arguing that the players were protesting the U.S. flag, the national anthem and the military. Some fans were turned off by the protests, and as president, Trump has continued to deride the movement among athletes.
Kaepernick has been unable to get a job in the NFL since 2017 even though he led San Francisco to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season and his conference’s title game the following year.
Reid was let go by the 49ers after the 2017 season and was not initially signed by any other team. He joined Kaepernick in filing a grievance arguing that the NFL and its owners colluded to prevent their employment because of their protest. The two players eventually settled with the league in February 2019.
The Panthers signed Reid a few games into the 2018 season, and he was vocal about the support he received from the team’s owner, David Tepper, and former coach Ron Rivera. Reid made sure to continue peacefully protesting on the field long after Kaepernick played his last NFL game.
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But under Carolina’s new coach, Matt Rhule, the team has purged veterans with big contracts such as Reid’s. The team released Reid in March after he had signed a three-year, $22 million contract extension with the team the previous offseason. He has remained an unsigned free agent since the release.
“My agents have been in communications with teams daily, but there have been no developments,” Reid told Deadspin.
It’s been a pleasure Carolina! I enjoyed my time and the support I received from the fans, media, teammates, and staff there will be remembered. Looking forward to furthering my career in another city! — Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) March 18, 2020
Kaepernick’s comments came on the same day most NFL teams opened their seasons in empty stadiums with player protests that mirrored what got the quarterback blackballed in the first place ― kneeling, locking arms, raising fists or staying off the field during the national anthem.
Last Thursday, some attendees at the league’s opening game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans booed as players on both teams linked arms on the field in a gesture of unity as seven statements against racism appeared on the scoreboards.
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The league now also follows the national anthem with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” commonly known as the Black national anthem. In July, The Associated Press reported that the NFL will allow players to have decals on the back of their helmets bearing the names or initials of victims of systemic racism and police violence.
The NFL’s so-called social awakening follows nationwide protests over police brutality and systemic oppression of Black people in the U.S., sparked initially by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-13--Hurricane Paulette Rolls Toward Bermuda; Sally Threatens Gulf Coast

MIAMI ( AP ) — Residents of Bermuda were urged to prepare to protect life and property ahead of Hurricane Paulette , while Tropical Storm Sally threatened to intensify into a hurricane as it approached the U.S. Gulf Coast .
Paulette gained hurricane status late Saturday and was expected to bring storm surge , coastal flooding and high winds to Bermuda , according to a U.S. National Hurricane Center advisory .
Bermuda ’ s government announced that L.F. Wade International Airport would close Sunday evening , and government buildings would be closed on Monday and Tuesday .
It opened several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustained winds of 80 mph as the system moved along a curved course toward Bermuda , forecasters said .
The biggest threats were strong winds , storm surge , up to 6 inches of rain and life-threatening surf and rip currents .
The storm was 240 miles southeast of the territory Sunday and was moving northwest at 14 mph .
It ’ s the strongest in terms of winds of six disturbances the center was tracking in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico .
New Orleans and surrounding areas , meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was expected to become a hurricane on Monday and reach shore by early Tuesday ― bringing hurricane conditions to a region stretching from from Morgan City , Louisiana , to Ocean Springs , Mississippi .
Tropical storm conditions were expected in the region by Monday .
Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Saturday , and officials in the New Orleans area issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas outside of levee protection .
Storm surge from Sally was forecast to reach dangerous levels , due in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feet of water was predicted from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs , Mississippi , including Lake Borgne .
A slow moving storm , Sally could produce rain totals up to 20 inches by the middle of the week , forecasters said .
The system was moving west-northwest at 13 mph early Sunday .
It was centered 135 miles west of St. Petersburg , Florida , and 280 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River .
Heavy rain was battering the southwest coast of Florida , the Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once a tropical storm , Rene was forecast to become a remnant low Monday .
Tropical Depression Twenty was expected to strengthen this week and become a tropical storm by Tuesday , forecasters said .
A low pressure system near the Cabo Verde Islands had a high chance of formation , while a disturbance in the Gulf had a low chance of formation .
The Hurricane Center also reported a tropical depression in the central Atlantic that did not appear to threaten land .

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MIAMI (AP) — Residents of Bermuda were urged to prepare to protect life and property ahead of Hurricane Paulette, while Tropical Storm Sally threatened to intensify into a hurricane as it approached the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Paulette gained hurricane status late Saturday and was expected to bring storm surge, coastal flooding and high winds to Bermuda, according to a U.S. National Hurricane Center advisory.
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Bermuda’s government announced that L.F. Wade International Airport would close Sunday evening, and government buildings would be closed on Monday and Tuesday. It opened several shelters for evacuees.
Paulette had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph as the system moved along a curved course toward Bermuda, forecasters said. The biggest threats were strong winds, storm surge, up to 6 inches of rain and life-threatening surf and rip currents.
The storm was 240 miles southeast of the territory Sunday and was moving northwest at 14 mph. It’s the strongest in terms of winds of six disturbances the center was tracking in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
A Hurricane Warning for #Sally is also in effect for parts of southeastern #Louisiana and southern #Mississippi. Tropical storm force winds are likely to begin there on Monday. https://t.co/wVCrCIjDrB pic.twitter.com/sb0ZDH2FxI — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 13, 2020
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New Orleans and surrounding areas, meanwhile, were in the crosshairs of Sally, which was expected to become a hurricane on Monday and reach shore by early Tuesday ― bringing hurricane conditions to a region stretching from from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Tropical storm conditions were expected in the region by Monday.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Saturday, and officials in the New Orleans area issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas outside of levee protection.
The tropical storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph with higher gusts, forecasters said.
Storm surge from Sally was forecast to reach dangerous levels, due in part to the tide. Up to 11 feet of water was predicted from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including Lake Borgne.
A slow moving storm, Sally could produce rain totals up to 20 inches by the middle of the week, forecasters said. The system was moving west-northwest at 13 mph early Sunday. It was centered 135 miles west of St. Petersburg, Florida, and 280 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Heavy rain was battering the southwest coast of Florida, the Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. advisory.
Once a tropical storm, Rene was forecast to become a remnant low Monday. Tropical Depression Twenty was expected to strengthen this week and become a tropical storm by Tuesday, forecasters said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-13--NFL Teams Open The Season Highlighting Racial Injustice

NFL teams opening their seasons in empty stadiums knelt , locked arms , raised fists in protest or stayed off the field entirely for the “ Star-Spangled Banner ” and the Black anthem “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ” on Sunday as the once-reluctant league brought racial injustice to the forefront on the first full slate of the football season .
In Atlanta , where the Falcons and Seahawks wore armbands honoring civil rights leader John Lewis , the players did not move as the opening kickoff sailed through the end zone .
Then every player on both teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were standing .
Lewis , the Georgia Congressman who died in July , was named an honorary captain for the game .
The Falcons also wore shirts with his quote : “ The Vote is the most powerful , nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society.
” While fans were absent everywhere but Jacksonville because of the coronavirus pandemic , the Minnesota Vikings hosted the family of George Floyd , who died in May after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed Black man ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videotaped killing that sparked national protests over police brutality against Black men .
Vikings players locked arms in the end zone about a half-hour before their game against Green Bay for “ Lift Every Voice and Sing , ” the song unofficially known as the Black national anthem that was played before each game on Sunday as part of the NFL ’ s social awakening .
About 10 of Floyd ’ s relatives were then shown on the stadium video board from their perch in the upper concourse near the Gjallarhorn .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vikings took their name from , had been sounded before every game since 2007 , but it remained silent .
The Packers remained in their locker room for the two songs , following the lead of the Miami Dolphins , who said in a video last week that they would stay off the field for the national anthem rather than participate in “ empty gestures ” designed to placate the league ’ s fans .
Among the early games , the Jacksonville Jaguars , Buffalo Bills and New York Jets also remained in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We don ’ t need another publicity parade .
So we ’ ll just stay inside until it ’ s time to play the game , ” Miami players said in the video .
“ This attempt to unify only creates more divide .
So we will skip the song and dance and as a team we ’ ll stay inside.
” Other teams lined up on their sideline or along the goal line and locked arms .
A handful of players ― along with Indianapolis coach Frank Reich ― knelt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2016 protest by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick that forced the NFL to confront racial injustice in a way that Commissioner Roger Goodell and many of the league ’ s most powerful owners would have preferred to avoid .
“ To be clear ― we were not protesting the flag , the anthem , or the men and women who wear the uniform , ” the Colts said in a statement .
“ The timing of this action is meant to highlight that the presence , power and oppression of racism remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it means to be an American.
” Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Patriots owner Robert Kraft joined their teams as they lined up on the goal line when “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ” was played before their games .
Quarterback Cam Newton , who was making his New England debut against Miami , appeared to be singing along .
When the anthem began in Detroit , a slew of Lions walked off the field and headed toward their locker room ; some remained on the field and knelt .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a knee while about 20 of their teammates waited for the anthem to end before jogging onto the field .
The NFL had been the focus of protests in American sports ever since Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to call attention to the systematic oppression of Black people in the U.S. Kaepernick , who led San Francisco to the Super Bowl in 2012 and the NFC title game the next year , was unable to get a job in the league in 2017 .
But the football league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot in her own apartment by Louisville police in March ; when Floyd was killed in May ; when Jacob Blake was shot and paralyzed by Kenosha , Wisconsin , police in August ; and when protests over those and other acts of violence against Black Americans erupted across the nation .
Goodell posted a video in June conceding that the league had been late in acknowledging the problem .
Since then , the league has taken visible steps like allowing racial justice messages in end zones and on helmets and T-shirts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward social justice causes or offered their stadiums as polling places for the November election .

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NFL teams opening their seasons in empty stadiums knelt, locked arms, raised fists in protest or stayed off the field entirely for the “Star-Spangled Banner” and the Black anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on Sunday as the once-reluctant league brought racial injustice to the forefront on the first full slate of the football season.
In Atlanta, where the Falcons and Seahawks wore armbands honoring civil rights leader John Lewis, the players did not move as the opening kickoff sailed through the end zone. Then every player on both teams dropped to a knee in the spot they were standing.
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After about 15 seconds, they rose, trotted off the field, and the game proceeded as normal.
“We’re taking this moment and making it a movement, not just as a race, a community or a team, but as a nation,” Falcons defensive end Steven Means said in a statement issued by the team. “It’s time to stand up, rise up and vote.”
Lewis, the Georgia Congressman who died in July, was named an honorary captain for the game. The Falcons also wore shirts with his quote: “The Vote is the most powerful, nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society.”
While fans were absent everywhere but Jacksonville because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Minnesota Vikings hosted the family of George Floyd, who died in May after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed Black man’s neck for nearly eight minutes — a videotaped killing that sparked national protests over police brutality against Black men.
Vikings players locked arms in the end zone about a half-hour before their game against Green Bay for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the song unofficially known as the Black national anthem that was played before each game on Sunday as part of the NFL’s social awakening.
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About 10 of Floyd’s relatives were then shown on the stadium video board from their perch in the upper concourse near the Gjallarhorn. The symbol of Norse mythology, which the Vikings took their name from, had been sounded before every game since 2007, but it remained silent.
“We hope in silencing the Gjallarhorn today we can continue to call attention to these silenced voices and collectively work toward a better, more just society,” the team said.
The Packers remained in their locker room for the two songs, following the lead of the Miami Dolphins, who said in a video last week that they would stay off the field for the national anthem rather than participate in “empty gestures” designed to placate the league’s fans. Among the early games, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets also remained in their locker rooms for the pregame ceremonies.
“We don’t need another publicity parade. So we’ll just stay inside until it’s time to play the game,” Miami players said in the video. “This attempt to unify only creates more divide. So we will skip the song and dance and as a team we’ll stay inside.”
Other teams lined up on their sideline or along the goal line and locked arms. A handful of players ― along with Indianapolis coach Frank Reich ― knelt during the anthem, a silent echo of the 2016 protest by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick that forced the NFL to confront racial injustice in a way that Commissioner Roger Goodell and many of the league’s most powerful owners would have preferred to avoid.
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Several teams made a point of stressing on Sunday that their protest was not unpatriotic ― a point Kaepernick also made, but which was often drowned out by politicians latching on to the issue, including President Donald Trump.
“To be clear ― we were not protesting the flag, the anthem, or the men and women who wear the uniform,” the Colts said in a statement. “The timing of this action is meant to highlight that the presence, power and oppression of racism remains inconsistent with the unity and freedoms of what it means to be an American.”
Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Patriots owner Robert Kraft joined their teams as they lined up on the goal line when “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was played before their games. Quarterback Cam Newton, who was making his New England debut against Miami, appeared to be singing along.
The Dolphins remained in their locker room, as they promised in their 2-minute, 15-second video featuring nearly 20 players trading pointed rhymes about the nation’s social protest movement.
When the anthem began in Detroit, a slew of Lions walked off the field and headed toward their locker room; some remained on the field and knelt. On the other sideline, several Bears players took a knee while about 20 of their teammates waited for the anthem to end before jogging onto the field.
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The NFL had been the focus of protests in American sports ever since Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to call attention to the systematic oppression of Black people in the U.S. Kaepernick, who led San Francisco to the Super Bowl in 2012 and the NFC title game the next year, was unable to get a job in the league in 2017.
But the football league was in its offseason when Breonna Taylor was shot in her own apartment by Louisville police in March; when Floyd was killed in May; when Jacob Blake was shot and paralyzed by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police in August; and when protests over those and other acts of violence against Black Americans erupted across the nation.
Goodell posted a video in June conceding that the league had been late in acknowledging the problem. Since then, the league has taken visible steps like allowing racial justice messages in end zones and on helmets and T-shirts. Some team owners have pledged money toward social justice causes or offered their stadiums as polling places for the November election.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-13--West Coast Wildfires: Death Toll Reaches 33, Tens Of Thousands Evacuated

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) — Nearly all of the dozens of people reported missing after a devastating blaze in southern Oregon have been accounted for , authorities said , as crews continued to battle wildfires that have killed at least 33 victims from California to Washington state .
The flames have destroyed neighborhoods , leaving a barren , gray landscape in their wake , driven tens of thousands of people from their homes and cast a shroud of smoke over the region .
The crisis has come amid the coronavirus outbreak , the economic downturn and nationwide racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland for more than 100 days .
“ What ’ s next ?
” asked Danielle Oliver , who had to flee her home outside Portland .
“ You have the protests , coronavirus pandemic , now the wildfires .
What else can go wrong ?
” Late Saturday , the Jackson County Sheriff ’ s office said that four people had died in the wildfire that burned in the Ashland area .
Authorities earlier this week said as many as 50 people could be missing from the blaze .
But they said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now down to one .
At least 10 people have been killed in the past week throughout Oregon .
Officials have said more people are missing from other blazes , and the number of fatalities is likely to rise .
Twenty-two people have died in California , and one person has been killed in Washington state .
Among the people killed was Millicent Catarancuic , who was found near her car at her five-acre home in Berry Creek , California .
At one point she was ready to evacuate with her dogs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed her mind as the winds seemed to calm and the flames stayed away .
Then the fire changed direction , rushing onto the property too quickly for her to leave .
She died , along with her animals .
“ I feel like , maybe when they passed , they had an army of cats and dogs with her to help her through it , ” said her daughter , Holly Catarancuic .
Fire-charred landscapes looked like bombed-out cities in Europe after World War II , with buildings reduced to charred rubble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the wildfires died in an instant , overcome by flames or smoke as they desperately tried to escape .
“ We absolutely must act now to avoid a future defined by an unending barrage of tragedies like the one American families are enduring across the West today , ” said Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden .
The dry , windy conditions that fed the flames in Oregon were probably a once-in-a-generation event , said Greg Jones , a professor and research climatologist at Linfield University in McMinnville .
The warmer world can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribute to their severity , he said .
There was some good news Saturday : The same smoke that painted California skies orange also helped crews corral the state ’ s deadliest blaze this year by blocking the sun , reducing temperatures and raising humidity .
Smoke created cooler conditions in Oregon as well .
But it was also blamed for creating the dirtiest air in at least 35 years in some places , “ literally off the charts , ” the state ’ s environmental quality spokesperson , Laura Gleim , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air with an acrid metallic scent like pennies .
It was so thick that Ashley Kreitzer could not see the road when she headed to work as a driver for a ride-hailing service .

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SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Nearly all of the dozens of people reported missing after a devastating blaze in southern Oregon have been accounted for, authorities said, as crews continued to battle wildfires that have killed at least 33 victims from California to Washington state.
The flames have destroyed neighborhoods, leaving a barren, gray landscape in their wake, driven tens of thousands of people from their homes and cast a shroud of smoke over the region.
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The crisis has come amid the coronavirus outbreak, the economic downturn and nationwide racial unrest that has led to protests in Portland for more than 100 days.
“What’s next?” asked Danielle Oliver, who had to flee her home outside Portland. “You have the protests, coronavirus pandemic, now the wildfires. What else can go wrong?”
Ellie Owens, 8, from Grants Pass, Ore., looks at fire damage Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, as destructive wildfires devastate the region in Talent, Ore. (AP Photo/Paula Bronstein) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Late Saturday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s office said that four people had died in the wildfire that burned in the Ashland area. Authorities earlier this week said as many as 50 people could be missing from the blaze. But they said the number of people unaccounted for is now down to one.
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At least 10 people have been killed in the past week throughout Oregon. Officials have said more people are missing from other blazes, and the number of fatalities is likely to rise. Twenty-two people have died in California, and one person has been killed in Washington state.
Among the people killed was Millicent Catarancuic, who was found near her car at her five-acre home in Berry Creek, California. At one point she was ready to evacuate with her dogs and cats in the car. But she changed her mind as the winds seemed to calm and the flames stayed away.
Then the fire changed direction, rushing onto the property too quickly for her to leave. She died, along with her animals.
“I feel like, maybe when they passed, they had an army of cats and dogs with her to help her through it,” said her daughter, Holly Catarancuic.
George Coble lost everything just outside Mill City, Oregon — his fence-building business, five houses where his family lived and a collection of vintage cars, including a 1967 Mustang.
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“We’ll just keep working and keep your head up and thank God everybody got out,” Coble said.
George Coble walks through what remains of a home on his property destroyed by a wildfire Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in Mill City, Ore. (AP Photo/John Locher) ASSOCIATED PRESS
In a town nearby, Erik Tucker spent the day coated in ash and smudged with charcoal, hauling buckets of water through what remained of his neighborhood to douse hot spots.
“No power, debris everywhere, smoke, can’t breathe,” he said, the air thick with ash.
Fire-charred landscapes looked like bombed-out cities in Europe after World War II, with buildings reduced to charred rubble piled atop blackened earth. People caught in the wildfires died in an instant, overcome by flames or smoke as they desperately tried to escape.
The Democratic governors of all three states have said the fires are a consequence of global warming.
“We absolutely must act now to avoid a future defined by an unending barrage of tragedies like the one American families are enduring across the West today,” said Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
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The dry, windy conditions that fed the flames in Oregon were probably a once-in-a-generation event, said Greg Jones, a professor and research climatologist at Linfield University in McMinnville. The warmer world can increase the likelihood of extreme events and contribute to their severity, he said.
A graffiti sign reads, "I Can't Breathe," in heavy smoke from the wildfires creating an orange glow over Portland, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Lindsay Whitehurst) ASSOCIATED PRESS
There was some good news Saturday: The same smoke that painted California skies orange also helped crews corral the state’s deadliest blaze this year by blocking the sun, reducing temperatures and raising humidity.
Smoke created cooler conditions in Oregon as well. But it was also blamed for creating the dirtiest air in at least 35 years in some places, “literally off the charts,” the state’s environmental quality spokesperson, Laura Gleim, said.
In Portland, smoke filled the air with an acrid metallic scent like pennies. It was so thick that Ashley Kreitzer could not see the road when she headed to work as a driver for a ride-hailing service.
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“I couldn’t even see 5 feet ahead of me,” she said. “I was panicking, I didn’t even know if I wanted to go out.”
People stuffed towels under door jambs to keep smoke out or wore N95 masks in their own homes.
Meanwhile, there was political turmoil as Oregon’s fire marshal was forced out while a half-million state residents were ordered to evacuate or warned to be ready to leave. Details were scarce on why he was put on leave, then resigned.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-13--Shooting Near Rutgers University Leaves 2 Dead, 6 Wounded: Police

A shooting near Rutgers University in New Jersey early Sunday has left two people dead and six others injured , @ @ @ @ @ to a New Brunswick neighborhood around 1:18 a.m. reported finding eight gunshot victims , all @ @ @ @ @ various hospitals .
Two of the victims , both men , later died .
The @ @ @ @ @ least one house party on the street , according to local reports , which described @ @ @ @ @ students living off-campus .
The shooting took place amid at least one house party on @ @ @ @ @ local reports .
No arrests or a motive for the shooting have been announced .
@ @ @ @ @ to be related to Rutgers University or its students , police and local prosecutors said @ @ @ @ @ Information as to the description ( s ) of the perpetrator ( s ) is @ @ @ @ @ the investigation is active and ongoing , ” the Rutgers Police Department said in a @ @ @

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A shooting near Rutgers University in New Jersey early Sunday has left two people dead and six others injured, authorities said.
Authorities responding to a New Brunswick neighborhood around 1:18 a.m. reported finding eight gunshot victims, all of whom were taken to various hospitals. Two of the victims, both men, later died.
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The shooting took place amid at least one house party on the street, according to local reports, which described the area as popular for students living off-campus.
The shooting took place amid at least one house party on the street, according to local reports. CBS 2
No arrests or a motive for the shooting have been announced. The incident is not believed to be related to Rutgers University or its students, police and local prosecutors said in a statement.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-14--Nevada Gov. Condemns Trump's 'Reckless And Selfish' Indoor Campaign Rally

As President Donald Trump pushed ahead with his first indoor campaign rally in months in Henderson , Nevada , on Sunday night , Gov .
Steve Sisolak ( D ) condemned him for selfishly endangering lives and hosting an event deemed high risk by his own government .
Gatherings of more than 50 people have not been permitted in Nevada since May , a guideline based on White House recommendations .
Sisolak denounced Trump ’ s actions in an 11-part Twitter thread .
“ Tonight , President Donald Trump is taking reckless and selfish actions that are putting countless lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he began .
“ Despite reports from his own White House , despite local officials in Southern & Northern Nevada reiterating to the venues the existing restrictions in State emergency directives , tonight , the President is knowingly packing thousands into an indoor venue to hold a political rally.
” “ To put it bluntly : he didn ’ t have the guts to make tough choices ― he left that to governors and the states .
Now he ’ s decided he doesn ’ t have to respect our state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t believe the rules apply to him , ” the governor wrote .
“ This is an insult to every Nevadan who has followed the directives , made sacrifices , and put their neighbors before themselves .
It ’ s also a direct threat to all of the recent progress we ’ ve made , and could potentially set us back.
” Trump ’ s rally , roughly 20 miles south of Las Vegas , is his first to be held indoors since his highly criticized Tulsa , Oklahoma , event on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the area , a top Tulsa health official said .
At another rally in Minden , Nevada , on Saturday night , Trump criticized Sisolak ’ s restrictions on crowd sizes and accused him of setting double standards for Republicans .
“ He tried to stop us , ” Trump said .
“ He couldn ’ t. ” Rallies were originally planned at airports in Reno and Las Vegas , but they were moved after authorities said they would violate local directives .
“ The City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and verbal warning to the event organizer that the event as planned would be in direct violation of the governor ’ s COVID-19 emergency directives , ” the City of Henderson said in a statement .
“ Specifically , gatherings of more than 50 people in a private or public setting is prohibited.
” The venue may face a fine of up to $ 500 for the violation and its business license could be suspended or revoked , the statement said .
Trump told his supporters that the venue ’ s owner thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t allowed to host the indoor event and told them to “ tell your governor to open up your state.
” The Trump campaign had said it would provide attendees with masks and temperature checks .
Some attendees wore masks , but many did not .
Social distancing did not appear to be enforced at the crowded event .
Trump has been under fire for his confession to journalist Bob Woodward that he deliberately misled Americans about the deadly threat of the coronavirus .
Though he knew how dangerous the virus is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses to reopen , promoted crackpot remedies and mocked people for wearing face masks .

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As President Donald Trump pushed ahead with his first indoor campaign rally in months in Henderson, Nevada, on Sunday night, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) condemned him for selfishly endangering lives and hosting an event deemed high risk by his own government.
Gatherings of more than 50 people have not been permitted in Nevada since May, a guideline based on White House recommendations. Sisolak denounced Trump’s actions in an 11-part Twitter thread.
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“Tonight, President Donald Trump is taking reckless and selfish actions that are putting countless lives in danger here in Nevada,” he began. “Despite reports from his own White House, despite local officials in Southern & Northern Nevada reiterating to the venues the existing restrictions in State emergency directives, tonight, the President is knowingly packing thousands into an indoor venue to hold a political rally.”
He accused the president of failing to develop a unified national response strategy and ignoring guidelines states have established for themselves.
“To put it bluntly: he didn’t have the guts to make tough choices ― he left that to governors and the states. Now he’s decided he doesn’t have to respect our state’s laws. As usual, he doesn’t believe the rules apply to him,” the governor wrote.
“This is an insult to every Nevadan who has followed the directives, made sacrifices, and put their neighbors before themselves. It’s also a direct threat to all of the recent progress we’ve made, and could potentially set us back.”
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As Governor, I have worked with public health and infectious disease specialists to create emergency directives to protect public health and get our economy back on track. — Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) September 14, 2020
That means limiting gathering sizes, mandating face coverings and practicing social distancing. All of which the President recklessly disregarded for his own gain this weekend in Nevada. — Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) September 14, 2020
At a time when Nevada is focused on getting our economy back on track and protecting public health, the President’s actions this weekend are shameful, dangerous and irresponsible. — Governor Sisolak (@GovSisolak) September 14, 2020
Trump’s rally, roughly 20 miles south of Las Vegas, is his first to be held indoors since his highly criticized Tulsa, Oklahoma, event on June 20. That gathering likely contributed to a spike in COVID-19 cases in the area, a top Tulsa health official said.
At another rally in Minden, Nevada, on Saturday night, Trump criticized Sisolak’s restrictions on crowd sizes and accused him of setting double standards for Republicans. “He tried to stop us,” Trump said. “He couldn’t.”
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Rallies were originally planned at airports in Reno and Las Vegas, but they were moved after authorities said they would violate local directives.
The City of Henderson told Trump’s venue, Xtreme Manufacturing, that it would be violating state laws if the rally went ahead.
“The City of Henderson has issued a compliance letter and verbal warning to the event organizer that the event as planned would be in direct violation of the governor’s COVID-19 emergency directives,” the City of Henderson said in a statement. “Specifically, gatherings of more than 50 people in a private or public setting is prohibited.”
The venue may face a fine of up to $500 for the violation and its business license could be suspended or revoked, the statement said.
Trump told his supporters that the venue’s owner thought it was unfair that Trump wasn’t allowed to host the indoor event and told them to “tell your governor to open up your state.”
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The Trump campaign had said it would provide attendees with masks and temperature checks. Some attendees wore masks, but many did not. Social distancing did not appear to be enforced at the crowded event.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-13--Bob Woodward Reveals Why He Concluded Trump Is The 'Wrong Man For The Job'

PELLEY : It might disappoint some of your fans that you reach an editorial conclusion at the end of this @ @ @ @ @ are not supposed to do .
WOODWARD : Yes .
I say the president is @ @ @ @ @ job .
PELLEY : But , you ’ re known as the reporter who doesn @ @ @ @ @ on the scale .
And yet , at the end of this book , you @ @ @ @ @ : It ’ s a conclusion based on evidence , overwhelming evidence , that he @ @ @ @ @ occasion with the virus and tell the truth .
And one of the things that @ @ @ @ @ “ In the presidency , there ’ s always dynamite behind the door.
” The @ @ @ @ @ .
He is the dynamite .

PELLEY: It might disappoint some of your fans that you reach an editorial conclusion at the end of this book, something that reporters are not supposed to do.
WOODWARD: Yes. I say the president is the wrong man for the job.
PELLEY: But, you’re known as the reporter who doesn’t put his thumb on the scale. And yet, at the end of this book, you do just that.
WOODWARD: It’s a conclusion based on evidence, overwhelming evidence, that he could not rise to the occasion with the virus and tell the truth. And one of the things that President Trump told me, “In the presidency, there’s always dynamite behind the door.” The real dynamite is President Trump. He is the dynamite.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-13--Health Official Out To Manipulate CDC Reports Has Deep Russian Ties

Politico was the first to report last week that HHS Assistant Secretary Michael Caputo has been orchestrating a pressure campaign on the CDC to alter agency reports — and even stop them — to fit Trump ’ s far more optimistic view of COVID-19 .
The president himself admitted that he lied when he presented a sunnier view of the pandemic .
Caputo , a former top official of the Trump campaign who has no medical or scientific background , has claimed his actions are a defense against the imagined “ deep state ” out to get Trump .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears about his history with Russia , which interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump .
Did you see what Trump is doing to the FACTS from @ CDCgov ?
I ’ m livid .
Michael Caputo has zero experience in public health , his only qualification is he is a LYING Trump Loyalist with ties to Russia .
https : //t.co/xqVCRAcIvV ?
— Nancy Santanello , MD , MS , FISPE ( @ nancysantanello ) September 12 , 2020 Caputo , who lived in Russia for six years , was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1999 and helped him get elected as president .
He also served as an adviser to a subsidiary of the state-owned energy company Gazprom , and reportedly helped shore up Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s reputation .
Caputo ’ s Kremlin ties were so concerning that he became a target of former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
He was questioned but was not charged with any offenses .
He also testified before the House Intelligence Committee that he had no contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Caputo has attempted to scrub his links to Russia in his Wikipedia bio — and insisted in an interview that his work doesn ’ t make him a “ Putin stooge.
” He told his hometown newspaper , The Buffalo News , that “ at the time , Putin wasn ’ t such a bad guy.
” Before he was appointed to his current role , Caputo also scrubbed nearly his entire Twitter history , which was riddled with graphic , offensive attacks , outlandish conspiracy theories , and racist comments about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he calls Trump ’ s “ phony ” impeachment and has spread baseless accusations concerning activities in Ukraine by Joe and Hunter Biden .
A key source of that Ukrainian smear , Andrii Derkach , turned out to be a Russian spy attempting to interfere in the current U.S. election , the Treasury Department revealed last week .
Caputo has claimed it was Ukraine , not Russia , that interfered in the 2016 election .
Caputo is also a long-time associate of political strategist Roger Stone , who was found guilty of seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress and tampering with witnesses in the investigation into Russian election interference .
He was an aide to former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort , who is also a convicted felon .
He told the Buffalo News that amid the “ good ” work the CDC does are “ sometimes stories which seem to purposefully mislead and undermine the president ’ s COVID response with what [ other ] scientists label as poor scholarship.
” Dr. Tom Inglesby , director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ new low for science in the U.S. ” So this is thuggery , suitable for some tinpot dictatorship , where the great leader wants the science to say what he wants it to say .
@ SpoxHHS is a public health menace .
# COVID19 https : //t.co/4zxtItFoji — Gregg Gonsalves ( @ gregggonsalves ) September 12 , 2020 MMWR is an essential way CDC communicates w/ world .
A former campaign official & his team interfered for months to change its recommendations .
Terrible new low for science in US .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their expertise to help control this pandemic https : //t.co/ccTzCwF32q — Tom Inglesby ( @ T_Inglesby ) September 12 , 2020

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Politico was the first to report last week that HHS Assistant Secretary Michael Caputo has been orchestrating a pressure campaign on the CDC to alter agency reports — and even stop them — to fit Trump’s far more optimistic view of COVID-19. The president himself admitted that he lied when he presented a sunnier view of the pandemic.
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Caputo, a former top official of the Trump campaign who has no medical or scientific background, has claimed his actions are a defense against the imagined “deep state” out to get Trump. But reports of his CDC scheme have renewed fears about his history with Russia, which interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump.
Did you see what Trump is doing to the FACTS from @CDCgov? I’m livid.
Michael Caputo has zero experience in public health, his only qualification is he is a LYING Trump Loyalist with ties to Russia. https://t.co/xqVCRAcIvV? — Nancy Santanello, MD, MS, FISPE (@nancysantanello) September 12, 2020
If you can’t trust a professional propagandist who worked for Putin, who can you trust? 🙃 https://t.co/tgEOXm8D4P — Greg Olear (@gregolear) September 12, 2020
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Caputo’s Kremlin ties were so concerning that he became a target of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. He was questioned but was not charged with any offenses. He also testified before the House Intelligence Committee that he had no contact with Russians while serving on the Trump campaign.
Caputo has attempted to scrub his links to Russia in his Wikipedia bio — and insisted in an interview that his work doesn’t make him a “Putin stooge.” He told his hometown newspaper, The Buffalo News, that “at the time, Putin wasn’t such a bad guy.”
Before he was appointed to his current role, Caputo also scrubbed nearly his entire Twitter history, which was riddled with graphic, offensive attacks, outlandish conspiracy theories, and racist comments about the Chinese.
Caputo has slammed what he calls Trump’s “phony” impeachment and has spread baseless accusations concerning activities in Ukraine by Joe and Hunter Biden. A key source of that Ukrainian smear, Andrii Derkach, turned out to be a Russian spy attempting to interfere in the current U.S. election, the Treasury Department revealed last week. Caputo has claimed it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.
Caputo is also a long-time associate of political strategist Roger Stone, who was found guilty of seven felonies last year, including lying to Congress and tampering with witnesses in the investigation into Russian election interference. He was an aide to former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who is also a convicted felon.
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Caputo admitted to Politico he has attempted to change CDC reports.
He told the Buffalo News that amid the “good” work the CDC does are “sometimes stories which seem to purposefully mislead and undermine the president’s COVID response with what [other] scientists label as poor scholarship.”
But Caputo’s efforts to manipulate scientific information have been roundly slammed.
Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, called it a “new low for science in the U.S.”
Gregg Gonsalves, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Yale University Medical School, characterized it as “thuggery, suitable for some tinpot dictatorship.”
So this is thuggery, suitable for some tinpot dictatorship, where the great leader wants the science to say what he wants it to say. @SpoxHHS is a public health menace. #COVID19 https://t.co/4zxtItFoji — Gregg Gonsalves (@gregggonsalves) September 12, 2020
MMWR is an essential way CDC communicates w/ world. A former campaign official & his team interfered for months to change its recommendations. Terrible new low for science in US. Leave CDC alone, let them use their expertise to help control this pandemic https://t.co/ccTzCwF32q — Tom Inglesby (@T_Inglesby) September 12, 2020
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So Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong!
“since Michael Caputo [Trump campaign official], was installed in April... there have been substantial efforts to align the [scientific] reports with Trump's...claims...about the outbreak.”
These actions cause excess deaths! https://t.co/doOzrz6HXw — Michael Mina (@michaelmina_lab) September 12, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-14--Trump Instigates 'Lock Him Up' Chant For Obama At Rally

President Donald Trump incited the crowd at his rally in Nevada Sunday to chant “ lock him up ” about former President Barack Obama .
Trump repeated his evidence-free claim during his speech in Henderson that Obama “ got caught spying on my campaign.
” He added : “ We have him cold .
Now let ’ s see what happens.
” In an instant they were chanting “ lock him up ” — a new riff on Trump ’ s 2016 election refrain , when he and his fans chanted “ lock her up , ” referring to Hillary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been imprisoned for using a personal email server while she was secretary of state .
His daughter , White House adviser Ivanka Trump , has used her personal email account for government business hundreds of times .
First lady Melania Trump also reportedly used private email for government business .
The President says President Obama got caught spying on his campaign and the crowd chants lock him up ?
pic.twitter.com/mDYAWBO0n2 — Acyn Torabi ( @ Acyn ) September 14 , 2020 As for Obama , the Justice Department ’ s own inspector general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither the former president nor former Vice President Joe Biden had any involvement in the decision to launch an investigation into possible collusion by the Trump campaign into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Since the last election , seven top people in Trump ’ s last campaign , his administration or close associates have been arrested : Former campaign manager Paul Manafort , Trump ’ s personal attorney Michael Cohen , former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon , campaign operative Roger Stone , former national security adviser Michael Flynn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s former foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos .
Trump and his company are under investigation in New York for possible financial fraud , the Manhattan district attorney has said .

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President Donald Trump incited the crowd at his rally in Nevada Sunday to chant “lock him up” about former President Barack Obama.
Trump repeated his evidence-free claim during his speech in Henderson that Obama “got caught spying on my campaign.” He added: “We have him cold. Now let’s see what happens.”
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Trump then hesitated, looked into the crowd and pointed.
In an instant they were chanting “lock him up” — a new riff on Trump’s 2016 election refrain, when he and his fans chanted “lock her up,” referring to Hillary Clinton.
Trump claimed Clinton should have been imprisoned for using a personal email server while she was secretary of state. His daughter, White House adviser Ivanka Trump, has used her personal email account for government business hundreds of times. First lady Melania Trump also reportedly used private email for government business.
The President says President Obama got caught spying on his campaign and the crowd chants lock him up? pic.twitter.com/mDYAWBO0n2 — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) September 14, 2020
As for Obama, the Justice Department’s own inspector general told the Senate late last year that neither the former president nor former Vice President Joe Biden had any involvement in the decision to launch an investigation into possible collusion by the Trump campaign into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-14--Trump's Rigged Election Cries Are Right Out Of Kremlin Playbook, Warns Ex-Intel Official

President Donald Trump ’ s repeated complaints that the presidential election is rigged dovetails perfectly with Russia ’ s strategy for creating chaos and voter confusion in the U.S. , a former top intelligence official warned Sunday .
“ That message that you can ’ t trust our system , that you can ’ t trust the vote , that you can ’ t trust the other party — that you can ’ t trust — is exactly what the Russians , particularly , hope to achieve , ” said Sue Gordon , former deputy director of national intelligence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the divisions and to get Americans to say , ‘ You know what ?
It ’ s not worth it .
I can ’ t trust it .
We ’ re not going to vote , ‘ ” Gordon noted on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation.
” Trump has a particular responsibility to instill trust in the election , Gordon said .
“ I ’ m going to always hold the president more responsible than anybody else because he ’ s , well , the president , and his voice carries further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite Trump ’ s repeated cries of election fraud and U.S. intelligence showing that Russia , China , Iran and other foreign interests are working to influence the 2020 vote , Gordon declared that the nation ’ s election infrastructure is “ as well protected as it ’ s ever been.
” Gordon said she believes that the “ most significant strategic threat to America is if we end up not believing in ourselves — and I ’ ve shared this with the president .
”

President Donald Trump’s repeated complaints that the presidential election is rigged dovetails perfectly with Russia’s strategy for creating chaos and voter confusion in the U.S., a former top intelligence official warned Sunday.
“That message that you can’t trust our system, that you can’t trust the vote, that you can’t trust the other party — that you can’t trust — is exactly what the Russians, particularly, hope to achieve,” said Sue Gordon, former deputy director of national intelligence.
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“Their aim would be to sow the divisions and to get Americans to say, ‘You know what? It’s not worth it. I can’t trust it. We’re not going to vote,‘” Gordon noted on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Trump has a particular responsibility to instill trust in the election, Gordon said.
“I’m going to always hold the president more responsible than anybody else because he’s, well, the president, and his voice carries further, speaks louder,” Gordon said.
Despite Trump’s repeated cries of election fraud and U.S. intelligence showing that Russia, China, Iran and other foreign interests are working to influence the 2020 vote, Gordon declared that the nation’s election infrastructure is “as well protected as it’s ever been.”
Gordon said she believes that the “most significant strategic threat to America is if we end up not believing in ourselves — and I’ve shared this with the president.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-14--Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Out Of Surgery As Search For Gunman Continues

The deputies , who graduated together from the sheriff ’ s academy 14 months ago , were shot while sitting in their patrol car at a Metro rail station and were able to radio for help , the sheriff said .
The shooting took place in Compton , which is located about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles .
The department has faced criticism during recent protests over racial unrest but it ’ s unclear if that was a factor in the shooting .
Officers have only a “ very , very generic description ” of the shooter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended version of the video reviewed by the Los Angeles Times shows the shooter running away in the direction from which he came .
He turns a corner out of the frame , past a second figure lingering on the sidewalk , according to the Times .
It ’ s unclear if the second person was involved in the attack .
A Sheriff ’ s Department spokeswoman declined to comment , citing the ongoing investigation .
“ This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice , ” Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Violence of any kind is wrong ; those who commit it should be caught and punished.
” A handful of protesters gathered outside the hospital where the injured deputies were being treated .
The protesters tried to provoke deputies stationed outside and at one point were prevented from entering the emergency room , Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez with the Churches in Action group told the TV station KABC .
A radio reporter who was near the protest scene was taken into custody .
The sheriff ’ s department later tweeted that the reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protester .
“ The female adult , who was later identified as a member of the press , did not identify herself as press and later admitted she did not have proper press credentials on her person , ” the department stated .
After being released , Josie Huang , a reporter for public radio station KPCC , a National Public Radio affiliate , said on Twitter that she had been covering the sheriff ’ s news conference when she returned to the hospital after hearing protesters shouting .
She was wearing her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of several videos Huang said she shot moments before her arrest showed two men carrying red , black and green flags and yelling at deputies outside the hospital while a few other people stood by recording on their cellphones .
“ I was filming an arrest when suddenly deputies shout ‘ back up.
’ Within seconds , I was getting shoved around .
There was nowhere to back up , ” Huang said on Twitter .
In another video , Huang can be heard shouting , “ I ’ m a reporter ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she falls to the ground .
The executive editor of the station , Megan Garvey , expressed outrage over the arrest and said her reporter appeared to be wearing her credentials and had shouted her KPCC affiliation .
NPR ’ s Editorial Director Nancy Barnes said the network was “ appalled ” by the arrest of a reporter doing her job .
Protesters have railed against the LA Sheriff ’ s Department for weeks over recent shootings by deputies , including the killing of a man on a bicycle last month .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shootings and Saturday ’ s ambush and investigators are “ chasing all leads , ” Villanueva told the Times .

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities were continuing to search Monday for a gunman who walked up to a parked sheriff’s squad car and opened fire, critically wounding two Los Angeles County deputies in an ambush recorded on surveillance video.
Officials asked for the public’s help in identifying the gunman in a weekend ambush after officials offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
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The 31-year-old female deputy and 24-year-old male deputy underwent surgery after the shooting Saturday evening and were expected to recover, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Sunday.
“They performed in an admirable fashion in spite of grave adversity,” Villanueva said during a conversation with local religious leaders. “God bless them.”
The deputies, who graduated together from the sheriff’s academy 14 months ago, were shot while sitting in their patrol car at a Metro rail station and were able to radio for help, the sheriff said. The shooting took place in Compton, which is located about 15 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
The department has faced criticism during recent protests over racial unrest but it’s unclear if that was a factor in the shooting. Officers have only a “very, very generic description” of the shooter to go on, officials said.
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Surveillance video shows a person approach the parked patrol car on foot and shoot with a handgun through the passenger-side window.
“The gunman walked up on the deputies and opened fire without warning or provocation,” the department stated.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies guard the entrance to St. Francis Medical Center early Monday, Sept. 13, 2020, after two deputies were shot late Saturday, Sept. 12 while sitting inside their patrol vehicle guarding a Metro station in Compton, Calif. (AP Photo/Jintak Han) ASSOCIATED PRESS
An extended version of the video reviewed by the Los Angeles Times shows the shooter running away in the direction from which he came. He turns a corner out of the frame, past a second figure lingering on the sidewalk, according to the Times. It’s unclear if the second person was involved in the attack. A Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Moments after the shooting, the passenger door opens and a deputy stumbles out, hand on head, according to the newspaper. The driver’s-side door opens soon after.
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The video sparked reaction from President Trump who responded on Twitter: “Animals that must be hit hard!”
“This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice,” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted. “Violence of any kind is wrong; those who commit it should be caught and punished.”
A handful of protesters gathered outside the hospital where the injured deputies were being treated. The protesters tried to provoke deputies stationed outside and at one point were prevented from entering the emergency room, Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez with the Churches in Action group told the TV station KABC.
“Unacceptable behavior. The hospital should be a sanctuary, we should leave hospitals alone,” he said. Mendez and members of his group gathered nearby in prayer for the wounded deputies.
Videos from the scene recorded at least one person in the crowd yelling, “I hope they ... die.”
A radio reporter who was near the protest scene was taken into custody. The sheriff’s department later tweeted that the reporter interfered with the arrest of a male protester.
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“The female adult, who was later identified as a member of the press, did not identify herself as press and later admitted she did not have proper press credentials on her person,” the department stated.
After being released, Josie Huang, a reporter for public radio station KPCC, a National Public Radio affiliate, said on Twitter that she had been covering the sheriff’s news conference when she returned to the hospital after hearing protesters shouting. She was wearing her press pass, she said.
One of several videos Huang said she shot moments before her arrest showed two men carrying red, black and green flags and yelling at deputies outside the hospital while a few other people stood by recording on their cellphones.
Huang tweeted that she began walking behind deputies who were following the small group of protesters.
“I was filming an arrest when suddenly deputies shout ‘back up.’ Within seconds, I was getting shoved around. There was nowhere to back up,” Huang said on Twitter. In another video, Huang can be heard shouting, “I’m a reporter... I’m with KPCC” as she falls to the ground.
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The executive editor of the station, Megan Garvey, expressed outrage over the arrest and said her reporter appeared to be wearing her credentials and had shouted her KPCC affiliation. NPR’s Editorial Director Nancy Barnes said the network was “appalled” by the arrest of a reporter doing her job.
The office of the Los Angeles County Inspector General, which oversees investigations and actions of the sheriff’s department, has opened an investigation into the reporter’s arrest.
Protesters have railed against the LA Sheriff’s Department for weeks over recent shootings by deputies, including the killing of a man on a bicycle last month. There was no known connection between the recent shootings and Saturday’s ambush and investigators are “chasing all leads,” Villanueva told the Times.
“Of course, there’s an important conversation going on about policing in this country, but these are folks who put their lives on the line for us, and we will find justice for them,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on CNN Sunday.
HuffPost’s Hayley Miller contributed reporting.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-14--Wildfires Raise Fight Over Climate Change Before Trump's Visit

BEAVERCREEK , Ore. ( AP ) — With crews battling wildfires that have killed at least 35 people , destroyed neighborhoods and enveloped the West Coast in smoke , another fight has emerged : leaders in the Democratic-led states and President Donald Trump have clashed over the role of climate change ahead of his visit Monday to California .
California , Oregon and Washington state have seen historic wildfires that have burned faster and farther than ever before .
Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger wildfires in the U.S. to global warming from the burning of coal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the fires are a consequence of climate change , while the Trump administration has blamed poor forest management for the flames that have raced through the region and made the air in places like Portland , Oregon , Seattle and San Francisco some of the worst in the world .
“ It is maddening right now that when we have this cosmic challenge to our communities , with the entire West Coast of the United States on fire , to have a president to deny that these are not just wildfires , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Jay Inslee said Sunday on ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” California Gov .
Gavin Newsom speaks to the media after he toured the North Complex Fire zone in Butte County on Friday , Sept. 11 , 2020 , outside of Oroville , Calif. Gov .
Gavin Newsom toured the fire-ravaged region Friday and strongly asserted that climate change was evident and pledged to redouble efforts to “ decarbonize ” the economy .
( Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP , Pool ) He noted that just in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August , with world-record-setting heat in Death Valley .
It had 14,000 dry lightning strikes that set off hundreds of fires , some that combined into creating five of the 10 largest fires in the state ’ s recorded history .
And it had back-to-back heat waves .
“ This is truly the bellwether for climate change on the West Coast , ” she said Sunday on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation.
” “ And this is a wake-up call for all of us that we have got to do everything in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At a rally in Nevada , Trump blamed the way states have run the land , saying “ it is about forest management.
” White House adviser Peter Navarro echoed that Sunday on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union , ” saying that for many years in California , “ particularly because of budget cutbacks , there was no inclination to manage our forests.
” Forest management , which includes tree thinning and brush clearing , is costly , labor-intensive work that is effective in reducing fuel for wildfires .
Millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts every year in Western states though many argue more needs to be done .
The efforts can also be undercut when homeowners in rural areas don ’ t undertake similar efforts on their own properties .
It isn ’ t clear if global warming caused the dry , windy conditions that have fed the fires in the Pacific Northwest , but a warmer world can increase the likelihood of extreme events and contribute to their severity , said Greg Jones , a professor and research climatologist at Linfield University in McMinnville , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong winds could fan the flames in hard-hit southern Oregon to Northern California and last through Tuesday .
Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as the fast-moving flames turned neighborhoods to nothing but charred rubble and burned-out cars .
At least 10 people have been killed in Oregon .
Officials have said more people are missing , and the number of fatalities is likely to rise , though they have not said how high the toll could go as they search .
In California , 24 people have died , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
Firefighter Steve McAdoo , who has run from one blaze to another in Oregon for six days , said his neighbors in rural areas outside Portland should clear trees near their homes because a week like they just survived could happen again .

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BEAVERCREEK, Ore. (AP) — With crews battling wildfires that have killed at least 35 people, destroyed neighborhoods and enveloped the West Coast in smoke, another fight has emerged: leaders in the Democratic-led states and President Donald Trump have clashed over the role of climate change ahead of his visit Monday to California.
California, Oregon and Washington state have seen historic wildfires that have burned faster and farther than ever before. Numerous studies in recent years have linked bigger wildfires in the U.S. to global warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas.
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The Democratic governors say the fires are a consequence of climate change, while the Trump administration has blamed poor forest management for the flames that have raced through the region and made the air in places like Portland, Oregon, Seattle and San Francisco some of the worst in the world.
Scientists say the wildfires are all but inevitable, but that the main drivers are plants and trees drying out due to climate change and more people living closer to areas that burn. Forest thinning and controlled burns have proven challenging to implement on the scale needed to combat those threats.
Trump is headed to McClellan Park, a former air base just outside Sacramento, California, White House spokesman Judd Deere said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he would be meeting with Trump.
The governors have been blunt: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Sunday called climate change “a blowtorch over our states in the West.”
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“It is maddening right now that when we have this cosmic challenge to our communities, with the entire West Coast of the United States on fire, to have a president to deny that these are not just wildfires, these are climate fires,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to the media after he toured the North Complex Fire zone in Butte County on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, outside of Oroville, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom toured the fire-ravaged region Friday and strongly asserted that climate change was evident and pledged to redouble efforts to “decarbonize” the economy. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool) ASSOCIATED PRESS
As Newsom toured a ghostlike landscape destroyed by flames Friday, he called out the “ideological BS” of those who deny the danger.
“The debate is over around climate change. Just come to the state of California, observe it with your own eyes,” he said.
He noted that just in the last month, California had its hottest August, with world-record-setting heat in Death Valley. It had 14,000 dry lightning strikes that set off hundreds of fires, some that combined into creating five of the 10 largest fires in the state’s recorded history. And it had back-to-back heat waves.
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Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said about 500,000 acres typically burn each year, but just in the past week, flames have swallowed over a million acres, pointing to long-term drought and recent wild weather swings in the state.
“This is truly the bellwether for climate change on the West Coast,” she said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “And this is a wake-up call for all of us that we have got to do everything in our power to tackle climate change.”
At a rally in Nevada, Trump blamed the way states have run the land, saying “it is about forest management.” White House adviser Peter Navarro echoed that Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” saying that for many years in California, “particularly because of budget cutbacks, there was no inclination to manage our forests.”
Forest management, which includes tree thinning and brush clearing, is costly, labor-intensive work that is effective in reducing fuel for wildfires. Millions of dollars are spent on such reduction efforts every year in Western states though many argue more needs to be done. The efforts can also be undercut when homeowners in rural areas don’t undertake similar efforts on their own properties.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti accused Trump of perpetuating a lie that only forest management can curtail the massive fires seen in recent years. He pointed to drought and the need to reduce carbon emissions.
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“Talk to a firefighter, if you think that climate change isn’t real,” the Democratic mayor said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
It isn’t clear if global warming caused the dry, windy conditions that have fed the fires in the Pacific Northwest, but a warmer world can increase the likelihood of extreme events and contribute to their severity, said Greg Jones, a professor and research climatologist at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon.
Warnings of low moisture and strong winds could fan the flames in hard-hit southern Oregon to Northern California and last through Tuesday. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes as the fast-moving flames turned neighborhoods to nothing but charred rubble and burned-out cars.
At least 10 people have been killed in Oregon. Officials have said more people are missing, and the number of fatalities is likely to rise, though they have not said how high the toll could go as they search. In California, 24 people have died, and one person was killed in Washington state.
Firefighter Steve McAdoo, who has run from one blaze to another in Oregon for six days, said his neighbors in rural areas outside Portland should clear trees near their homes because a week like they just survived could happen again.
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“I would think the way the climate is changing, this may not be the last time,” he said.
In the small southern Oregon town of Talent, Dave Monroe came back to his burned home, partly hoping he’d find his three cats.
“We thought we’d get out of this summer with no fires,” he said. “There is something going on, that’s for sure, man. Every summer we’re burning up.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-14--Tear Gas Fired On Protesters After Fatal Police Shooting In Pennsylvania

Police deployed tear gas on a crowd of people protesting early Monday after an officer shot and killed a man in Pennsylvania while responding to a domestic disturbance call .
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Lancaster following the shooting death of Ricardo Munoz , 27 , on Sunday afternoon .
The crowd formed outside the police station .
Police said multiple buildings and government vehicles were damaged by demonstrators .
Munoz was fatally shot after coming out of a home and chasing an officer with a knife , police said .
Body camera video showed the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then falls to the ground .
( Be warned that the video below is disturbing . )
The officer was placed on administrative leave , according to local news outlets .
The Lancaster County District Attorney ’ s Office was leading the investigation .
District Attorney Heather Adams acknowledged the protests in a news release late Sunday and called for calm .
“ We ask that acts of protest remain peaceful as violence and destruction of property will become headlines and serve no purpose for the safety and wellbeing of our citizens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the use of “ chemical munitions ” against protesters early Monday , the police department said in a statement that the crowd was given several warnings to disperse before the gas was deployed .
The crowd “ failed to follow the instructions , ” police stated , adding that items including glass bottles , gallon jugs filled with liquid , parts of plastic road barricades and more had been thrown at officers .

Police deployed tear gas on a crowd of people protesting early Monday after an officer shot and killed a man in Pennsylvania while responding to a domestic disturbance call.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Lancaster following the shooting death of Ricardo Munoz, 27, on Sunday afternoon. The crowd formed outside the police station. Police said multiple buildings and government vehicles were damaged by demonstrators.
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Munoz was fatally shot after coming out of a home and chasing an officer with a knife, police said. Body camera video showed the officer fire several shots at Munoz, who then falls to the ground. (Be warned that the video below is disturbing.)
The officer was placed on administrative leave, according to local news outlets.
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office was leading the investigation. District Attorney Heather Adams acknowledged the protests in a news release late Sunday and called for calm.
“We ask that acts of protest remain peaceful as violence and destruction of property will become headlines and serve no purpose for the safety and wellbeing of our citizens and neighborhoods,” Adams stated.
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As for the use of “chemical munitions” against protesters early Monday, the police department said in a statement that the crowd was given several warnings to disperse before the gas was deployed.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-14--Gulf Coast Residents Brace For Possible New Hurricane

“ I mean , after Katrina , anything around here and anything on the water , you ’ re going to take serious , ” he said , as he loaded the back of his SUV with cases of bottled water in a grocery store parking lot in Waveland , Mississippi .
“ You can ’ t take anything lightly.
” Gagnard said he planned to head back across the state line to prepare his own home for winds and rain Sally was expected to bring to the New Orleans area .
Forecasters from the National Hurricane Center in Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurricane on Monday and reach shore by early Tuesday , bringing dangerous weather conditions , including risk of flooding , to a region stretching from the western Florida Panhandle to southeast Louisiana .
“ I know for a lot of people this storm seemed to come out of nowhere , ” said Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards .
“ We need everybody to pay attention to this storm .
Let ’ s take this one seriously.
” Edwards urged people to prepare for the storm immediately .
He also said there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Hurricane Laura into New Orleans — exactly the area that could be hit by Sally , which is a slow-moving storm .
In Mandeville , a city about 35 miles ( 56 kilometers ) north of New Orleans , resident Chris Yandle has purchased a week ’ s worth of groceries and moved all his patio furniture into his family ’ s house and shed in preparation for the storm .
“ I ’ m mostly trying to stay calm — especially with a family of four and a dog to worry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve lived through many hurricanes growing up in Louisiana , but I haven ’ t felt this anxious about a hurricane in my life.
” “ It needs to be understood by all of our friends in the coastal region and in south Mississippi that if you live in low-lying areas , the time to get out is early tomorrow morning , ” Gov .
Tate Reeves said late Sunday .
In Waveland , Mississippi , Joey Chauvin used rope to tie down a tall wooden post topped with a statue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the driveway leading to his weekend camp .
He said a matching pelican marker on the opposite side of the driveway was washed away in Tropical Storm Cristobal earlier this summer .
That storm pushed more than 3 feet ( 1 meter ) of water into the area .
“ If this one hits the coast as a Cat 2 , I ’ m thinking we ’ re gon na have at least six to seven feet of water where we ’ re standing at , ” Chauvin said .
“ So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to stay.
” The system was moving west-northwest at 9 mph ( 15 kph ) Monday morning .
It was centered 120 miles ( 195 kilometers ) east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River , and 175 miles ( 280 kilometers ) southeast of Biloxi , Mississippi .
On Sunday , Florida ’ s Gulf Coast was battered with windy , wet weather .
“ That system is forecast to bring not only damaging winds but a dangerous storm surge , ” said Daniel Brown of the Hurricane Center .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could produce a tremendous amount of rainfall over the coming days.
” This isn ’ t the only storm in the Atlantic basin .
Paulette gained hurricane status late Saturday and was expected to bring storm surge , coastal flooding and high winds to Bermuda , according to a U.S. National Hurricane Center advisory .
Once a tropical storm , Rene was forecast to become a remnant low Monday .
Tropical Depression Twenty strengthened into Tropical Storm Teddy on Monday morning , and was expected to become a hurricane later in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tropical Depression Twenty-One formed Monday in the eastern portion of the Atlantic Ocean .
“ It is likely that this storm system will be impacting Alabama ’ s Gulf Coast .
While it is currently not being predicted as a direct hit to our coastal areas , we know well that we should not take the threat lightly , ” said Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey .
She urged residents to prepare and stay informed of the storm ’ s path in the coming days .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Storm-weary Gulf Coast residents rushed to finish last-minute preparations Monday as Hurricane Sally chugged slowly through warm Gulf waters. Forecasters said the biggest threat is flooding, with as much as two feet of rain falling in some areas.
“The bottom line continues to be that Sally is expected to be a dangerous slow-moving hurricane near the coast of southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama during the next 2-3 days,” the National Hurricane Center said early Monday.
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Sally is perhaps the least welcome guest among lots of company: For only the second time in recorded history, meteorologist Philip Klotzbach said, there are five tropical cyclones churning in the Atlantic basin: Paulette, Rene, Teddy and now Vicky also are spinning over ocean waters.
Jeremy Burke was lifting things off the floor in case of flooding in his Bay Books bookstore in the Old Town neighborhood of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, a popular weekend getaway from New Orleans, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) to the west. The streets outside were emptying fast.
“It’s turning into a ghost town,” he said. “Everybody’s biggest fear is the storm surge, and the worst possible scenario being that it just stalls out. That would be a dicey situation for everybody.”
The National Hurricane Center said it was too early to tell exactly where Sally would come ashore, because it’s still not known when it would make a turn to the north.
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At 10 a.m. local time, it was about 135 miles (220 kilometers) east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. A hurricane-hunter aircraft crew said it was strengthening rapidly, to top winds of 85 mph (140 kmh). It was moving slowly, at just 6 mph (9 kph).
Sally is expected to reach shore by early Tuesday, bringing dangerous weather conditions, including risk of flooding, to a region stretching from the western Florida Panhandle to southeast Louisiana.
“That system is forecast to bring not only damaging winds but a dangerous storm surge,” said Daniel Brown of the Hurricane Center. “Because it’s slowing down, it could produce a tremendous amount of rainfall over the coming days.”
Sally could produce rain totals up to 24 inches (61 centimeters) by the middle of the week, forecasters said.
People in New Orleans were watching the storm’s track intently. A more easterly landfall would likely bring the heavier rains and damaging winds onto the Mississippi coast, or east of that. Already outer bands from the storm were hitting the Florida Panhandle.
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A more westerly track would pose another test for the low-lying city, where heavy rains have to be pumped out through a century-old drainage system. Officials with the Sewerage and Water Board said Sunday that all of the pumps were in operation ahead of the storm, but the aging system is susceptible to breakdowns.
The Hurricane Center warned of an “extremely dangerous and life-threatening storm surge” for areas outside the levee protection system that protects the greater New Orleans area stretching from Port Fourchon, Louisiana, to the Alabama/Florida border.
“I know for a lot of people this storm seemed to come out of nowhere,” said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards Sunday. “We need everybody to pay attention to this storm. Let’s take this one seriously.”
It was just a little over two weeks ago when the opposite end of the state was bracing for Hurricane Laura, which blew ashore on August 27 as a Category 4 hurricane in Cameron Parish, which borders Texas. That storm scoured the southwestern Louisiana coast, ripping off rooftops and leaving large parts of the city of Lake Charles uninhabitable. So far 32 people have died in Texas and Louisiana, the vast majority of them in Louisiana.
Mississippi officials warned Hurricane Sally was expected to coincide with high tide, leading to significant storm surge.
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Pensacola, on Florida’s Panhandle, was bracing for 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 centimeters) of rain.
All northern Gulf Coast states are urging residents to prepare. A mandatory evacuation was already been issued in Grand Isle, Louisiana, ahead of Sally. On Saturday, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued a mandatory evacuation order for Orleans Parish residents living outside the parish’s levee protection system.
Hurricane Paulette, meanwhile, was moving away from Bermuda. The entire island was inside its eye on Monday and many customers lost power, but Bermuda’s buildings are built to withstand bigger hurricanes.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-14--Maricel Presilla: 'I Think We're In For Other Surprises In The Future'

Maricel Presilla is a triple threat : A chef , culinary historian and restaurant owner , the Cuban-born food guru has a lot to say about the way history and gastronomy intermingle to define a culture and a people .
In this Voices in Food story , as told to Anna Rahmanan , Presilla sings the praises of American customers ( “ they are grateful for good taste ” ) , identifies supermarkets as windows into cultural shifts , and discusses how she believes the culinary scene will reemerge victorious after coronavirus .
A bit of optimism can go a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence of Latin cuisine over time in the United States I started working on the history of food because I realized that food is a window into different cultures .
Traditionally , Latin people have had a historic influence on some parts of the United States but I would say that , later , more specifically , the Mexican influence has been tremendous .
That has been the case not only in the border states but elsewhere .
For example , New Jersey is now very Latin and there are so many Mexicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were mostly Cubans .
There is also an incredible connection between the Caribbean and Louisiana .
The beans and rice dish that they eat on Mondays ?
That ’ s essentially Caribbean !
On the ways supermarkets reflect changes in culture New Jersey is now very Latin American and there are so many Mexicans , but when I first moved here in 1984 , there were mostly Cubans .
Something as simple as going to the supermarket and seeing the changes in the kinds of food sold there shows history at work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Jersey , they would only carry Cuban tubers , yuka , malanga and things like that .
Slowly , I started seeing foods from all over the Americas .
I saw mole , this dried corn from Peru or Ecuador , or these different tropical fruits that were not used in Cuban cooking but were used in Ecuador .
I saw peppers from Peru , like the yellow aji amarillo .
The market is the mirror into the history of immigration in this country .
You see it in drinks also .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans during Prohibition and there is a bar culture and cocktail culture in Cuba that was very important and had a lot of influence in the United States .
First it was the daiquiris and then the mojitos .
You also begin to see the high-end wines from Argentina — like Catena or Susana Balbo — in restaurant names .
That stuff is about the history of immigrants and the impact that we ’ ve had .
As someone who has been feeding Americans for 20 years — which is how long I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them — if I had to choose the perfect clientele for a restaurant among people from different countries , I would pick people from the United States because I find that Americans are grateful .
This might seem romantic because Americans sometimes are too critical and they don ’ t think of themselves as being great or open-minded , but what I have seen in 20 years of serving them food that isn ’ t their own is that they are grateful for good taste .
They are grateful for good meals — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chef .
I never had to make compromises for my clientele .
I never turned down the heat of my dish because I thought my clientele won ’ t like it .
They appreciated the effort that I put into my food , appreciated the flavors of my food and they kept me going .
Through evolution , this country has become a country of great diners .
With so many restaurants from so many different countries , Americans have gotten used to it .
It especially happens in large cities where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Los Angeles , for example , and there is Persian food everywhere , so Americans have gotten used to different foreign cuisines and really started appreciating them .
Also , Americans are reading cookbooks and are learning and practicing at home .
On how COVID-19 will permanently change culinary endeavors The restaurant business is suffering a lot everywhere , but I have to say that this isn ’ t the first time in history that a great catastrophe is , possibly , followed by a period of growth .
People are desperate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so the minute that there is a vaccine or a measure of security , people are going to go back to restaurants with a vengeance .
I know that there ’ s going to be a re-birth and , maybe , changes will take place .
People will have learned lessons .
I don ’ t know if a very high-end restaurant will have to be rethought but I know that restaurants will do well and will be full again .
That is my prediction .
I say that as a historian with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Black Death in the 14th century .
There was a rebirth , a renaissance after that and even after the outbreak of influenza .
What I ’ ve learned is that restaurants are really fragile structures because your success depends on so many variables .
Liquor stores are doing so much better , for example , as are online operations , so I think that people will look at the successful models and incorporate them because , obviously , this isn ’ t the last pandemic .
I think we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

ILLUSTRATION: YENWEI LIU/HUFFPOST; PHOTO: COURTESY OF MARICEL PRESILLA
Maricel Presilla is a triple threat: A chef, culinary historian and restaurant owner, the Cuban-born food guru has a lot to say about the way history and gastronomy intermingle to define a culture and a people. In this Voices in Food story, as told to Anna Rahmanan, Presilla sings the praises of American customers (“they are grateful for good taste”), identifies supermarkets as windows into cultural shifts, and discusses how she believes the culinary scene will reemerge victorious after coronavirus. A bit of optimism can go a long way, clearly.
On the influence of Latin cuisine over time in the United States
I started working on the history of food because I realized that food is a window into different cultures. Traditionally, Latin people have had a historic influence on some parts of the United States but I would say that, later, more specifically, the Mexican influence has been tremendous. That has been the case not only in the border states but elsewhere. For example, New Jersey is now very Latin and there are so many Mexicans, but when I moved here there were mostly Cubans. There is also an incredible connection between the Caribbean and Louisiana. The beans and rice dish that they eat on Mondays? That’s essentially Caribbean!
Advertisement
On the ways supermarkets reflect changes in culture
New Jersey is now very Latin American and there are so many Mexicans, but when I first moved here in 1984, there were mostly Cubans. Something as simple as going to the supermarket and seeing the changes in the kinds of food sold there shows history at work.
When I came to Hudson County, New Jersey, they would only carry Cuban tubers, yuka, malanga and things like that. Slowly, I started seeing foods from all over the Americas. I saw mole, this dried corn from Peru or Ecuador, or these different tropical fruits that were not used in Cuban cooking but were used in Ecuador. I saw peppers from Peru, like the yellow aji amarillo. The market is the mirror into the history of immigration in this country.
You see it in drinks also. Obviously Havana was the watering hole for Americans during Prohibition and there is a bar culture and cocktail culture in Cuba that was very important and had a lot of influence in the United States. First it was the daiquiris and then the mojitos. You also begin to see the high-end wines from Argentina — like Catena or Susana Balbo — in restaurant names. That stuff is about the history of immigrants and the impact that we’ve had.
On the ideal restaurant customer
As someone who has been feeding Americans for 20 years — which is how long I’ve had restaurants and worked in them — if I had to choose the perfect clientele for a restaurant among people from different countries, I would pick people from the United States because I find that Americans are grateful. This might seem romantic because Americans sometimes are too critical and they don’t think of themselves as being great or open-minded, but what I have seen in 20 years of serving them food that isn’t their own is that they are grateful for good taste. They are grateful for good meals — that’s my experience as a chef. I never had to make compromises for my clientele. I never turned down the heat of my dish because I thought my clientele won’t like it. They appreciated the effort that I put into my food, appreciated the flavors of my food and they kept me going.
Advertisement
Through evolution, this country has become a country of great diners. With so many restaurants from so many different countries, Americans have gotten used to it. It especially happens in large cities where the whole world is there. You go to Los Angeles, for example, and there is Persian food everywhere, so Americans have gotten used to different foreign cuisines and really started appreciating them. Also, Americans are reading cookbooks and are learning and practicing at home.
On how COVID-19 will permanently change culinary endeavors
The restaurant business is suffering a lot everywhere, but I have to say that this isn’t the first time in history that a great catastrophe is, possibly, followed by a period of growth. People are desperate for the experience that restaurants give, so the minute that there is a vaccine or a measure of security, people are going to go back to restaurants with a vengeance. I know that there’s going to be a re-birth and, maybe, changes will take place. People will have learned lessons. I don’t know if a very high-end restaurant will have to be rethought but I know that restaurants will do well and will be full again. That is my prediction. I say that as a historian with an understanding that it even happened during the Black Death in the 14th century. There was a rebirth, a renaissance after that and even after the outbreak of influenza.
What I’ve learned is that restaurants are really fragile structures because your success depends on so many variables. Liquor stores are doing so much better, for example, as are online operations, so I think that people will look at the successful models and incorporate them because, obviously, this isn’t the last pandemic. I think we’re in for other surprises in the future.