thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--Pastor Steps Down After Megachurch Learns He Let Pedophile Son Work With Kids

Menlo Church / YouTube / Screenshot John Ortberg has pastored Menlo Church in Northern California since 2004 .
He 'll give his last address to the congregation on Sunday .
“ I want to express again my regret for not having served our church with better judgment , ” Ortberg said in a statement on church ’ s website .
“ I did not balance my responsibilities as a father with my responsibilities as a leader.
” According to church officials , Ortberg learned in July 2018 that his youngest son , Johnny Ortberg , was attracted to children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had never acted on that attraction .
The pastor believed him and kept his son ’ s confession a secret for 16 months , while the younger Ortberg continued to volunteer with children at Menlo Church and at local sports teams .
Last November , Johnny Ortberg told his brother Daniel Lavery about the attractions , and Lavery decided to inform Menlo Church ’ s elder board .
The elder board placed John Ortberg on leave without giving the congregation an official reason for his absence .
The board hired a lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed to have significant flaws .
The lawyer , who doesn ’ t appear to have had experience investigating child sex abuse , didn ’ t interview several key people ― including parents of children Johnny Ortberg worked with or Johnny Ortberg himself .
Also , Johnny Ortberg ’ s identity was kept secret even from some of the people interviewed for the investigation .
The board said Wednesday that it had received “ hundreds ” of emails and calls from church volunteers , parents , students , staff and community members .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ investigation , decisions , or communications ” had been insufficient and pledged to be more transparent in the future .
They said that all their decisions on how to handle the situation were made in collaboration with local district leaders of their conservative denomination , ECO : A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians .
Inside Menlo Church , where congregants recently learned that their senior pastor failed to inform church elders that his son , a volunteer , had expressed an attraction to minors .
According to church officials , no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were sexually abused by the son .
The lawyer conducting the initial investigation had “ the discretion to disclose ” Johnny Ortberg ’ s identity “ if it was needed , ” the board said in a statement .
The church itself didn ’ t disclose Johnny Ortberg ’ s name because of the lack of evidence of misconduct .
Revealing the name would have “ unnecessarily ” risked violating Johnny Ortberg ’ s right to privacy and could have resulted in defaming his character , the board said .
“ The elders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the volunteer as the church has a moral responsibility to protect the confidentiality of confession , especially when it pertains only to thoughts and not actions , ” the board wrote .
The elder board will hire an interim senior pastor while searching for John Ortberg ’ s replacement , it said .
The board is still finalizing the details of an audit of its existing child safety policies , as well as a “ supplemental ” investigation into Johnny Ortberg ’ s involvement in church-sponsored activities involving minors .

John Ortberg has pastored Menlo Church in Northern California since 2004. He'll give his last address to the congregation on Sunday. Menlo Church / YouTube / Screenshot
An evangelical pastor has resigned from his position at the helm of a California megachurch, more than eight months after its board first learned he failed to prevent his pedophile son from volunteering with children.
The elder board at Menlo Church, a multi-campus congregation headquartered in an affluent Bay Area neighborhood, announced Pastor John Ortberg’s resignation on Wednesday with a “heavy heart.” It will go into effect on Sunday, after Ortberg gives a final address to the church he has pastored since 2004.
Advertisement
Ortberg acknowledged Wednesday that for the church to flourish, he had to leave.
“I want to express again my regret for not having served our church with better judgment,” Ortberg said in a statement on church’s website. “I did not balance my responsibilities as a father with my responsibilities as a leader.”
He added, “I am hopeful that my leaving can mark a new beginning in our church’s ministry, and will also appreciate your prayers for our family.”
The whistleblower who informed church officials of the situation was Daniel Lavery, Ortberg’s other son. Lavery’s wife said Wednesday that the pastor’s resignation brings the couple no pleasure.
“More than anything, we wish it had not come to this point. We grieve that John’s departure became necessary to ensure real safeguarding,” Grace Lavery wrote in a tweet.
Advertisement
Justice and healing—the two ends of the good life—rarely coincide, and too often we are forced to pursue one at the expense of the other. Here, for once, they overlap. Justice for the survivors of Menlo. Healing for the survivors of Menlo. The work continues. — Grace Lavery 🐬 (@graceelavery) July 29, 2020
According to church officials, Ortberg learned in July 2018 that his youngest son, Johnny Ortberg, was attracted to children. But the son assured his father that he had never acted on that attraction. The pastor believed him and kept his son’s confession a secret for 16 months, while the younger Ortberg continued to volunteer with children at Menlo Church and at local sports teams.
To date, no one has come forward with allegations that they were sexually abused by Johnny Ortberg, church officials have said.
Last November, Johnny Ortberg told his brother Daniel Lavery about the attractions, and Lavery decided to inform Menlo Church’s elder board. The elder board placed John Ortberg on leave without giving the congregation an official reason for his absence. The board hired a lawyer to conduct an investigation that was later revealed to have significant flaws. The lawyer, who doesn’t appear to have had experience investigating child sex abuse, didn’t interview several key people ― including parents of children Johnny Ortberg worked with or Johnny Ortberg himself. Also, Johnny Ortberg’s identity was kept secret even from some of the people interviewed for the investigation.
By the time the elder board informed the congregation at large about the investigation, the probe was over. John Ortberg completed a “restoration” plan designed by the board and returned to the pulpit in March.
Advertisement
Unsatisfied with the investigation, Lavery publicly identified Johnny Ortberg on Twitter on June 28. Until that point, many congregants had been in the dark about the volunteer’s identity and his relationship with their pastor.
Current and former members of Menlo Church told HuffPost earlier this month that they were upset by how the elder Ortberg and the board handled the situation.
The board said Wednesday that it had received “hundreds” of emails and calls from church volunteers, parents, students, staff and community members. They apologized to those who believed their “investigation, decisions, or communications” had been insufficient and pledged to be more transparent in the future. They said that all their decisions on how to handle the situation were made in collaboration with local district leaders of their conservative denomination, ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.
Liviera Lim, a 23-year-old who attended Menlo Church for nine years before leaving for college, told HuffPost that the elders’ statement gave her hope that the board has recognized where they failed and that it is taking steps to make Menlo Church safer for children.
Advertisement
“What I hope to see this next time around is more thoroughness with the process, and transparency with the congregation and greater community,” she said.
Lim said that she admires Daniel and Grace Lavery for the “mental and emotional sacrifices” they made to ensure that the matter was taken seriously.
“I think both the Ortberg family and the elder board owe a sincere, non-justifying apology to the couple, who are the reason that Menlo’s children will (hopefully) be safer in the future,” she said.
Beth Seabolt, the chair of Menlo Church’s elder board claimed during a town hall earlier this year that Daniel Lavery’s efforts were motivated by a need to “lash out” at his parents. Daniel Lavery, a trans writer and columnist for Slate, is estranged from his parents. Seabolt later apologized for her comments.
Inside Menlo Church, where congregants recently learned that their senior pastor failed to inform church elders that his son, a volunteer, had expressed an attraction to minors. According to church officials, no one has come forward with allegations that they were sexually abused by the son. yhelfman via Getty Images
Advertisement
The lawyer conducting the initial investigation had “the discretion to disclose” Johnny Ortberg’s identity “if it was needed,” the board said in a statement. The church itself didn’t disclose Johnny Ortberg’s name because of the lack of evidence of misconduct. Revealing the name would have “unnecessarily” risked violating Johnny Ortberg’s right to privacy and could have resulted in defaming his character, the board said.
“The elders were careful not to reveal the identity of the volunteer as the church has a moral responsibility to protect the confidentiality of confession, especially when it pertains only to thoughts and not actions,” the board wrote.
The elder board will hire an interim senior pastor while searching for John Ortberg’s replacement, it said. The board is still finalizing the details of an audit of its existing child safety policies, as well as a “supplemental” investigation into Johnny Ortberg’s involvement in church-sponsored activities involving minors.
No one on the elder board has resigned. New voices could be added during an annual meeting on Aug. 30.
Tiger Bachler, who attended Menlo Church for over 20 years, told HuffPost that the careful wording of the elders’ statements led her to believe they didn’t think they mishandled the matter and that they were only asking John Ortberg to resign because of tremendous outside pressure. Some parishioners at Menlo Church also appear to be devastated by the loss of their pastor, Bachler said.
Advertisement
Bachler stopped regularly attending services at Menlo Church about five years ago, but when HuffPost talked to her earlier this month, she said she still considered Menlo to be her home church. Bachler now says that’s no longer the case.
She told HuffPost that the church needs to demonstrate that it believes that faith journeys aren’t dependent on a single man or pastor.
“I personally can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t react to what happened with immediate concern for children who may have been harmed, but they are blinded by John’s ability to deeply speak to them in his sermons,” Bachler said. “They seem to attribute their faith journey specifically to John rather than the church or even God.”
Kelly Morehead is a former attendee and recent ministry volunteer at Menlo Church whose own children were once involved in its youth programs. She told HuffPost that John Ortberg’s resignation is the “right next step toward accountability, reconciliation, and healing.” But Morehead said the elders need to be held accountable, too.
“Their initial response to Daniel’s allegations was an attempted ‘glossing over’ to protect John and the church’s brand,” Morehead said. “In failing to react with the appropriate concern and care for the youth of the church, the Elders failed John and the church.”
Advertisement
The board has not repudiated the validity of the “restoration” process it designed for John Ortberg, which allowed him to return to the pulpit. The elders suggested his resignation was more about recognizing that his presence was a “distraction” to the church’s mission.
They praised John Ortberg’s accomplishments, which included overseeing the addition of new campuses.
“In making this decision, we also wish to gratefully acknowledge that during John’s tenure at Menlo, many have come to know Jesus, and through John’s teaching they and many others have matured in their faith and embraced the life of the Christian mind in the midst of an increasingly secular world,” the board said.
Lim, who still attends Menlo Church when she’s in the neighborhood, said that the congregation has had a positive impact on her life and that she’s still grateful for the community.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--Ellen DeGeneres Pens Apology To Staff, Addresses Workplace Misconduct Allegations

In a letter to her crew obtained by The Hollywood Reporter , DeGeneres said she was disappointed to learn that people working on “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show ” were not treated with respect .
Earlier this month , a BuzzFeed News report detailed accusations of racism , fear and intimidation on the job , citing interviews with nearly a dozen current and former staff members .
Some sources said they faced unjust termination for taking medical or family bereavement days amid a toxic work culture that was largely blamed on the show ’ s executive producers and senior management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our show , I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness ― no one would ever raise their voice , and everyone would be treated with respect , ” DeGeneres wrote in the memo first published by The Hollywood Reporter .
“ Obviously , something changed , and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case .
And for that , I am sorry .
Anyone who knows me knows it ’ s the opposite of what I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ I could not have the success I ’ ve had without all of your contributions .
My name is on the show and everything we do and I take responsibility for that .
Alongside Warner Bros , we immediately began an internal investigation and we are taking steps , together , to correct the issues , ” she continued .
Though she implied that she was not personally involved in workplace issues at the long-running daytime talk show , DeGeneres said she was committed to ensuring they do not recur .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I ’ d want them done .
Clearly some didn ’ t .
That will now change and I ’ m committed to ensuring this does not happen again , ” she said .
Warner Bros. confirmed to HuffPost on Thursday that an internal investigation was conducted .
Its owner , WarnerMedia , interviewed dozens of current and former employees , the company said in a statement : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corroborated , we are disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show ’ s day-to-day management .
We have identified several staffing changes , along with appropriate measures to address the issues that have been raised , and are taking the first steps to implement them .
Warner Bros. and Ellen DeGeneres are all committed to ensuring a workplace based on respect and inclusion .
We are confident this course of action will lead us to the right way forward for the show.
” According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the show ’ s three executive producers , was singled out in the allegations and will likely be among those to depart .
A Warner Bros. spokesperson did not comment on reports of Glavin ’ s possible exit .
Following the publication of the BuzzFeed report , Glavin , along with fellow executive producers Mary Connelly and Andy Lassner , said they were “ heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience.
” “ For the record , the day to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely on us .
We take all of this very seriously and we realize , as many in the world are learning , that we need to do better , are committed to do better , and we will do better , ” their statement said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Following reports describing a toxic work culture on her show, Ellen DeGeneres has apologized to staff in a letter addressing the accusations and the subsequent internal investigation.
In a letter to her crew obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, DeGeneres said she was disappointed to learn that people working on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” were not treated with respect. Earlier this month, a BuzzFeed News report detailed accusations of racism, fear and intimidation on the job, citing interviews with nearly a dozen current and former staff members. Some sources said they faced unjust termination for taking medical or family bereavement days amid a toxic work culture that was largely blamed on the show’s executive producers and senior management staff.
Advertisement
“On day one of our show, I told everyone in our first meeting that The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be a place of happiness ― no one would ever raise their voice, and everyone would be treated with respect,” DeGeneres wrote in the memo first published by The Hollywood Reporter. “Obviously, something changed, and I am disappointed to learn that this has not been the case. And for that, I am sorry. Anyone who knows me knows it’s the opposite of what I believe and what I hoped for our show.”
“I could not have the success I’ve had without all of your contributions. My name is on the show and everything we do and I take responsibility for that. Alongside Warner Bros, we immediately began an internal investigation and we are taking steps, together, to correct the issues,” she continued.
Though she implied that she was not personally involved in workplace issues at the long-running daytime talk show, DeGeneres said she was committed to ensuring they do not recur.
“As we’ve grown exponentially, I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t. That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again,” she said.
Advertisement
Warner Bros. confirmed to HuffPost on Thursday that an internal investigation was conducted. Its owner, WarnerMedia, interviewed dozens of current and former employees, the company said in a statement:
“Though not all of the allegations were corroborated, we are disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management. We have identified several staffing changes, along with appropriate measures to address the issues that have been raised, and are taking the first steps to implement them. Warner Bros. and Ellen DeGeneres are all committed to ensuring a workplace based on respect and inclusion. We are confident this course of action will lead us to the right way forward for the show.”
According to multiple news sources, Ed Glavin, one of the show’s three executive producers, was singled out in the allegations and will likely be among those to depart. A Warner Bros. spokesperson did not comment on reports of Glavin’s possible exit.
Following the publication of the BuzzFeed report, Glavin, along with fellow executive producers Mary Connelly and Andy Lassner, said they were “heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience.”
“For the record, the day to day responsibility of the Ellen show is completely on us. We take all of this very seriously and we realize, as many in the world are learning, that we need to do better, are committed to do better, and we will do better,” their statement said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--No Charges Against Officer Who Killed Michael Brown, Prosecutor Says

CLAYTON , Mo .
( AP ) — St. Louis County ’ s top prosecutor announced Thursday that he will not charge the former police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri , a dramatic decision that could reopen old wounds amid a renewed and intense national conversation about racial injustice and the police treatment of minorities .
It was nearly six years ago that a grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson , the white police officer who shot Brown , a Black 18-year-old .
Civil rights leaders and Brown ’ s mother had hoped that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first Black prosecutor , would reopen the case after he took office in January 2019 .
“ My heart breaks ” for Michael ’ s parents , Bell said during a news conference .
“ I know this is not the result they were looking for and that their pain will continue forever.
” Describing the announcement as “ one of the most difficult things I ’ ve had to do , ” Bell said that his office conducted a five-month review of witness statements , forensic reports and other evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a simple one .
Could we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that when Darren Wilson shot Micheal Brown he committed murder or manslaughter under Missouri law .
After an independent and in-depth review of the evidence , we can not prove that he did , ” Bell said .
The August 2014 police shooting touched off months of unrest in Ferguson , Missouri , and made the St. Louis suburb synonymous with a national debate over police treatment of minorities .
The Ferguson unrest helped solidify the national Black Lives Matter movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black 17-year-old , was shot to death in Florida in 2012 .
The issue has taken on new life since George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis in May after a white police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed Black man ’ s neck for nearly eight minutes .
Ferguson is among cities around the world that has seen protests since Floyd ’ s death .
“ This is a time for us to reflect on Michael ’ s life , to support Michael ’ s family and to honor an transformative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his name , ” Bell said .
Bell — who took office in January 2019 as a reform-minded prosecutor promising to eliminate cash bail for nonviolent offenders and to increase the use of programs that allow defendants to avoid jail time — faced no restrictions in re-examining Brown ’ s death for potential murder charges .
Wilson was never charged and tried , so double jeopardy was not an issue .
There is no statute of limitations on filing murder charges .
The shooting happened after Wilson told Brown and a friend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walked down the middle of Canfield Drive on a Sunday afternoon .
A scuffle between Wilson and Brown ensued , ending with the fatal shot .
Wilson said Brown came at him menacingly , forcing him to fire his gun in self-defense .
Brown ’ s body remained in the street for four hours , angering his family and nearby residents .
Some people initially said Brown had his hands up in surrender when Wilson fired , although a grand jury and the U.S. Department of Justice didn ’ t find those accounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longtime prosecutor Bob McCulloch , drew considerable criticism for taking the case to a grand jury rather than charging Wilson himself .
Critics also accused McCulloch of swaying the grand jury to its decision not to indict Wilson — an accusation he emphatically denied .
Wilson resigned days after McCulloch ’ s Nov. 24 , 2014 , announcement that the grand jury would not indict the officer .
Bell , a former Ferguson councilman , upset McCulloch , a staunch law-and-order prosecutor , in the 2018 Democratic primary and ran unopposed that November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bell took steps to remove three veteran assistant prosecutors , including Kathi Alizadeh , who played a role in presenting evidence to the grand jury in the Ferguson case .
Bell , who , like McCulloch , is the son of a police officer , said in an interview after the election that he would appoint independent special prosecutors for allegations of wrongdoing by officers .
He said he would support police “ 200 % ” as long as they act appropriately .
But he said officers who violate the law must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Lesley McSpadden , asked Republican Gov .
Mike Parson to reopen the investigation in 2018 , saying Bell ’ s win was “ a clear mandate from the people of St. Louis to reform the criminal justice system , which first begins with securing justice for my son.
” But Parson ’ s office said it had no legal authority to appoint a special prosecutor .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — St. Louis County’s top prosecutor announced Thursday that he will not charge the former police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, a dramatic decision that could reopen old wounds amid a renewed and intense national conversation about racial injustice and the police treatment of minorities.
It was nearly six years ago that a grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson, the white police officer who shot Brown, a Black 18-year-old. Civil rights leaders and Brown’s mother had hoped that Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, the county’s first Black prosecutor, would reopen the case after he took office in January 2019.
Advertisement
“My heart breaks” for Michael’s parents, Bell said during a news conference. “I know this is not the result they were looking for and that their pain will continue forever.”
Describing the announcement as “one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do,” Bell said that his office conducted a five-month review of witness statements, forensic reports and other evidence.
“The question for this office was a simple one. Could we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that when Darren Wilson shot Micheal Brown he committed murder or manslaughter under Missouri law. After an independent and in-depth review of the evidence, we cannot prove that he did,” Bell said.
But, he said, “our investigation does not exonerate Darren Wilson.”
Wilson’s attorney, Neil Bruntrager, didn’t immediately return phone and email messages from The Associated Press.
Advertisement
The August 2014 police shooting touched off months of unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, and made the St. Louis suburb synonymous with a national debate over police treatment of minorities. The Ferguson unrest helped solidify the national Black Lives Matter movement that began after Trayvon Martin, a Black 17-year-old, was shot to death in Florida in 2012.
The issue has taken on new life since George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in May after a white police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed Black man’s neck for nearly eight minutes. Ferguson is among cities around the world that has seen protests since Floyd’s death.
“This is a time for us to reflect on Michael’s life, to support Michael’s family and to honor an transformative movement that will forever be linked to his name,” Bell said.
Bell — who took office in January 2019 as a reform-minded prosecutor promising to eliminate cash bail for nonviolent offenders and to increase the use of programs that allow defendants to avoid jail time — faced no restrictions in re-examining Brown’s death for potential murder charges. Wilson was never charged and tried, so double jeopardy was not an issue. There is no statute of limitations on filing murder charges.
The shooting happened after Wilson told Brown and a friend to get out of the street as they walked down the middle of Canfield Drive on a Sunday afternoon. A scuffle between Wilson and Brown ensued, ending with the fatal shot. Wilson said Brown came at him menacingly, forcing him to fire his gun in self-defense.
Advertisement
Brown’s body remained in the street for four hours, angering his family and nearby residents. Some people initially said Brown had his hands up in surrender when Wilson fired, although a grand jury and the U.S. Department of Justice didn’t find those accounts credible.
Bell’s predecessor, longtime prosecutor Bob McCulloch, drew considerable criticism for taking the case to a grand jury rather than charging Wilson himself. Critics also accused McCulloch of swaying the grand jury to its decision not to indict Wilson — an accusation he emphatically denied. Wilson resigned days after McCulloch’s Nov. 24, 2014, announcement that the grand jury would not indict the officer.
The Justice Department also declined to charge Wilson, but issued a scathing report citing racial bias in Ferguson’s police and courts.
Bell, a former Ferguson councilman, upset McCulloch, a staunch law-and-order prosecutor, in the 2018 Democratic primary and ran unopposed that November. Within days of taking office, Bell took steps to remove three veteran assistant prosecutors, including Kathi Alizadeh, who played a role in presenting evidence to the grand jury in the Ferguson case.
In his campaign to unseat McCulloch, Bell focused on larger criminal justice issues, not on McCulloch’s handling of the Wilson investigation.
Advertisement
Bell, who, like McCulloch, is the son of a police officer, said in an interview after the election that he would appoint independent special prosecutors for allegations of wrongdoing by officers. He said he would support police “200%” as long as they act appropriately. But he said officers who violate the law must be held accountable.
Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, asked Republican Gov. Mike Parson to reopen the investigation in 2018, saying Bell’s win was “a clear mandate from the people of St. Louis to reform the criminal justice system, which first begins with securing justice for my son.” But Parson’s office said it had no legal authority to appoint a special prosecutor.
Calls to reopen the Brown investigation also came from Justin Hansford, executive director of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center. In an August 2019 Washington Post op-ed, he called McCulloch’s ouster “a sign of hope and change.”
___


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--California Wildfire Surpasses Size Of Last Year's Biggest Blaze

Two Northern California wildfires have merged to form one that exceeds the size of last year ’ s biggest blaze in the state , fire officials said Thursday morning .
The Caldwell fire ― which was previously being managed as two separate incidents ― has now burned than 79,000 acres near the town of Canby and the Modoc National Forest in the northeast corner of the state .
Combined with two smaller wildfires nearby , the cluster known as the July Complex fire has surpassed 81,000 acres .
While the incident is 45 % contained , weather conditions could pose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response teams issued a Red Flag warning for the incidents through Thursday evening , meaning high temperatures , very low humidity levels and strong winds are all expected to increase the risk of fire danger .
“ Red Flag conditions may lead to increased fire behavior today , and drought stressed fuels are still holding heat for long period of times , ” the California Interagency Incident Management said in a joint statement Thursday morning .
“ It ’ s definitely different , but we ’ re still able to do our job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information officer for the Complex fire told News 10 , a local CBS affiliate .
Meals , bunking and checking into work are all very different than they were in the past .
“ One thing we ’ ve done for COVID for sleeping is limit the amount of people in one area , ” he continued .
“ So there ’ s actually going to be two additional sleeping areas tonight to make sure people are spaced out.
” The fire is now bigger than California ’ s largest blaze in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 77,758 acres in October and November across Sonoma County .
It ’ s the largest since the Camp and Woolsey fires in 2018 , which burned 153,336 and 96,949 acres , respectively .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) said earlier this month that residents of his state should take fire safety as seriously as the coronavirus this fire season .
“ I want to encourage everybody in the same spirit of responsibility as it relates to mitigating the transmission of COVID-19 , ” he said , “ to see what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lives and property by focusing on evacuation plans , focusing on [ doing ] the kind of work at the house to create some defensible space between yourself and some of the wild land .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Two Northern California wildfires have merged to form one that exceeds the size of last year’s biggest blaze in the state, fire officials said Thursday morning.
The Caldwell fire ― which was previously being managed as two separate incidents ― has now burned than 79,000 acres near the town of Canby and the Modoc National Forest in the northeast corner of the state. Combined with two smaller wildfires nearby, the cluster known as the July Complex fire has surpassed 81,000 acres.
Advertisement
While the incident is 45% contained, weather conditions could pose more challenges. A group of fire response teams issued a Red Flag warning for the incidents through Thursday evening, meaning high temperatures, very low humidity levels and strong winds are all expected to increase the risk of fire danger.
“Red Flag conditions may lead to increased fire behavior today, and drought stressed fuels are still holding heat for long period of times,” the California Interagency Incident Management said in a joint statement Thursday morning.
There is a mandatory evacuation order in effect for the Medicine Lake Recreation Area.
Maintaining safety during the COVID-19 pandemic has posed some new challenges for firefighters.
“It’s definitely different, but we’re still able to do our job,” Darrin Mcmillin, the public information officer for the Complex fire told News 10, a local CBS affiliate. Meals, bunking and checking into work are all very different than they were in the past.
“One thing we’ve done for COVID for sleeping is limit the amount of people in one area,” he continued. “So there’s actually going to be two additional sleeping areas tonight to make sure people are spaced out.”
Advertisement
The fire is now bigger than California’s largest blaze in 2019, the Kincade fire, which burned 77,758 acres in October and November across Sonoma County.
It’s the largest since the Camp and Woolsey fires in 2018, which burned 153,336 and 96,949 acres, respectively.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said earlier this month that residents of his state should take fire safety as seriously as the coronavirus this fire season.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--Edwin Ríos Wins Game For Dodgers In A Bizarre Major League First

Edwin Ríos was the first batter for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 13th inning against the Houston Astros Wednesday ― yet he managed to hit a 2-run home run to put LA ahead , 4-2 .
In a rules change for the coronavirus pandemic-shortened season , a runner is placed on second base at the start of every extra half-inning to promote scoring and shorten the game .
( A similar rule has been used in the minor leagues . )
So Ríos ’ blast actually happened with a teammate aboard , making him the first major leaguer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off an inning , according to MLB.com .
The Dodgers hung on for a 4-2 victory over the Astros for a two-game sweep .
It was their first meeting since the Astros were found to have illegally stolen signs in the 2017 season , which ended with a World Series victory over the Dodgers .
Ríos said he was just looking to hit a ground ball .
“ I was able to work a pretty good count , get my pitch and I was able to do some damage , ” he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was able to work a pretty good count , get my pitch and I was able to do some damage .
`` @ alannarizzo caught up with tonight 's # Dodgers hero , @ Edwin_Rios30 after his 13th inning homer .
pic.twitter.com/5G8CspCZKW — SportsNet LA ( @ SportsNetLA ) July 30 , 2020 Tuesday ’ s game was eventful for a different reason .
LA pitcher Joe Kelly threw near the head of Astros batters Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa ( with a breaking ball for the latter ) .
“ Nice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Correa after striking him out out .
The benches emptied .
No punches thrown .
The pitcher was presumably retaliating for the Astros ’ cheating , but denies it .
Kelly , who was not on the Dodgers then , is appealing his eight-game suspension .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Edwin Ríos was the first batter for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 13th inning against the Houston Astros Wednesday ― yet he managed to hit a 2-run home run to put LA ahead, 4-2.
Advertisement
Mathematically impossible, right? Well, not this year.
In a rules change for the coronavirus pandemic-shortened season, a runner is placed on second base at the start of every extra half-inning to promote scoring and shorten the game. (A similar rule has been used in the minor leagues.)
So Ríos’ blast actually happened with a teammate aboard, making him the first major leaguer to hit a two-run home run to lead off an inning, according to MLB.com.
The Dodgers hung on for a 4-2 victory over the Astros for a two-game sweep. It was their first meeting since the Astros were found to have illegally stolen signs in the 2017 season, which ended with a World Series victory over the Dodgers.
Ríos said he was just looking to hit a ground ball.
“I was able to work a pretty good count, get my pitch and I was able to do some damage,” he told reporters in the video below.
Advertisement
"I was able to work a pretty good count, get my pitch and I was able to do some damage."@alannarizzo caught up with tonight's #Dodgers hero, @Edwin_Rios30 after his 13th inning homer. pic.twitter.com/5G8CspCZKW — SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 30, 2020
He conceded that the new rule was “weird.”
Yet on Wednesday, “weird” was a good thing for the Dodgers.
Tuesday’s game was eventful for a different reason. LA pitcher Joe Kelly threw near the head of Astros batters Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa (with a breaking ball for the latter). “Nice swing, bitch” he reportedly told Correa after striking him out out. The benches emptied. No punches thrown.
The pitcher was presumably retaliating for the Astros’ cheating, but denies it. Kelly, who was not on the Dodgers then, is appealing his eight-game suspension.
Joe Kelly throws at Bregman and mocks Correa, a breakdown pic.twitter.com/jAwjXhCuLG — Jomboy (@Jomboy_) July 29, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--Michael Flynn Case To Be Reheard By Full U.S. Appeals Court

July 30 ( Reuters ) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday agreed to rehear arguments over whether the judge assigned to the criminal case against Michael Flynn , President Donald Trump ’ s former national security adviser , must grant a request to dismiss it .
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said it would hold an oral argument in the politically charged criminal case on Aug. 11 .
In a 2-1 decision on June 24 , a three-judge panel of the same court ruled in favor of Flynn and the Trump administration and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington had to grant the Justice Department ’ s motion to clear Flynn .
Sullivan asked the full court to reconsider the three-judge panel ’ s ruling , saying the Justice Department ’ s dropping of the Flynn case was unprecedented and had to be carefully scrutinized .
Flynn , a retired Army lieutenant general , was one of several former Trump aides charged under former Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation that detailed Moscow ’ s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election .
Flynn twice pleaded guilty to lying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s then-ambassador , Sergey Kislyak .
Flynn then switched lawyers to pursue a new scorched-earth tactic that accused the FBI of setting him up , and asked the judge to dismiss the charge .
After the Justice Department took the highly unusual step of seeking to abandon the case against Flynn , Sullivan appointed a retired judge to argue against the Justice Department ’ s request .
Sullivan , represented by his own lawyers , has said he can not serve as a “ rubber stamp ” and must carefully review the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissal .
The D.C .
Circuit panel disagreed in June , saying Sullivan was intruding on the Justice Department ’ s authority to decide which cases it pursues .
Democrats have said the Flynn case is an example of Attorney General William Barr improperly meddling to help Trump ’ s friends and political allies .
( Reporting by Jan Wolfe in Truro , Massachusetts and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington Editing by Chris Reese , Richard Chang and Jonathan Oatis )

July 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday agreed to rehear arguments over whether the judge assigned to the criminal case against Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, must grant a request to dismiss it.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said it would hold an oral argument in the politically charged criminal case on Aug. 11.
In a 2-1 decision on June 24, a three-judge panel of the same court ruled in favor of Flynn and the Trump administration and said U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington had to grant the Justice Department’s motion to clear Flynn.
Advertisement
Sullivan asked the full court to reconsider the three-judge panel’s ruling, saying the Justice Department’s dropping of the Flynn case was unprecedented and had to be carefully scrutinized.
Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, was one of several former Trump aides charged under former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation that detailed Moscow’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Flynn twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia’s then-ambassador, Sergey Kislyak.
Flynn then switched lawyers to pursue a new scorched-earth tactic that accused the FBI of setting him up, and asked the judge to dismiss the charge.
Advertisement
After the Justice Department took the highly unusual step of seeking to abandon the case against Flynn, Sullivan appointed a retired judge to argue against the Justice Department’s request.
Sullivan, represented by his own lawyers, has said he cannot serve as a “rubber stamp” and must carefully review the facts before deciding on the request for dismissal.
The D.C. Circuit panel disagreed in June, saying Sullivan was intruding on the Justice Department’s authority to decide which cases it pursues.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--Oprah Gives Up Her Cover Spot On O Magazine To Honor Breonna Taylor

For the first time in over two decades , Oprah Winfrey is nowhere to be seen on the cover of O magazine .
The decision to place Taylor on the September issue ’ s cover — one of the long-running publication ’ s final print editions before it goes completely digital — was explained by Winfrey on the publication ’ s website .
“ She was just like me , ” Winfrey wrote .
“ She was just like you .
And like everyone who dies unexpectedly , she had plans .
Plans for a future filled with responsibility and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 26-year-old EMT , was shot eight times by officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department on March 13 , after they entered her apartment with a no-knock drug warrant searching for another suspect .
Taylor ’ s boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , who was there at the time , believed the police were intruders and responded to their entry by firing shots from a legally owned firearm .
Winfrey continued her statement , outlining a personal conversation she had with Taylor ’ s mother , Tamika Palmer , who was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the loss and the grief of knowing that her daughter is gone forever.
” Winfrey explained that Palmer couldn ’ t stop seeing Taylor ’ s face and smile everywhere she looked , and was constantly grieving over the harsh reality that no one had been charged for the “ reckless ” killing of her daughter .
“ Imagine if three unidentified men burst into your home while you were sleeping , ” Winfrey wrote , describing the circumstances of Taylor ’ s death , “ and your partner fired a gun to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can ’ t be silent .
We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice .
And that is why Breonna Taylor is on the cover of O magazine .
I cry for justice in her name.
” The cover illustration of Taylor was done by Black digital artist Alexis Franklin , who explained in another O article that as she was completing the image , “ every stroke was building a person , ” and she had based the drawing on an original photo that Breonna had taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , simple but powerful , ” within it .
Franklin said that she had previously tried to shut down her feelings around the killing of Black people because she “ couldn ’ t take living day to day in such a state of awareness , ” but was forced to confront these emotions when constructing the cover .
“ Now I was as up close and personal as I could ever get to this woman and , consequently , to this very real problem , ” Franklin said .
“ I felt a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get it right , but I tried not to let that affect me .
My greatest work happens when I simply enjoy it and let my hands do what they know how to do.
” Further investigations following Taylor ’ s death revealed that no drugs were found at her residence .
A lawsuit filed by Taylor ’ s family states that the suspect police were searching for had already been arrested earlier that day .
None of the officers involved in Taylor ’ s death have been charged , more than four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hankison was fired in June .
The two other officers are on administrative leave .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
For the first time in over two decades, Oprah Winfrey is nowhere to be seen on the cover of O magazine.
Instead, Breonna Taylor is front and center.
The decision to place Taylor on the September issue’s cover — one of the long-running publication’s final print editions before it goes completely digital — was explained by Winfrey on the publication’s website.
Advertisement
“She was just like me,” Winfrey wrote. “She was just like you. And like everyone who dies unexpectedly, she had plans. Plans for a future filled with responsibility and work and friends and laughter.”
Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT, was shot eight times by officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department on March 13, after they entered her apartment with a no-knock drug warrant searching for another suspect. Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who was there at the time, believed the police were intruders and responded to their entry by firing shots from a legally owned firearm.
Winfrey continued her statement, outlining a personal conversation she had with Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, who was “having a particularly bad day dealing with the loss and the grief of knowing that her daughter is gone forever.” Winfrey explained that Palmer couldn’t stop seeing Taylor’s face and smile everywhere she looked, and was constantly grieving over the harsh reality that no one had been charged for the “reckless” killing of her daughter.
Advertisement
“Imagine if three unidentified men burst into your home while you were sleeping,” Winfrey wrote, describing the circumstances of Taylor’s death, “and your partner fired a gun to protect you. And then mayhem ... We can’t be silent. We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice. And that is why Breonna Taylor is on the cover of O magazine. I cry for justice in her name.”
The cover illustration of Taylor was done by Black digital artist Alexis Franklin, who explained in another O article that as she was completing the image, “every stroke was building a person,” and she had based the drawing on an original photo that Breonna had taken of herself that had “an innocence, simple but powerful,” within it.
Franklin said that she had previously tried to shut down her feelings around the killing of Black people because she “couldn’t take living day to day in such a state of awareness,” but was forced to confront these emotions when constructing the cover.
“Now I was as up close and personal as I could ever get to this woman and, consequently, to this very real problem,” Franklin said. “I felt a new level of determination and pressure to get it right, but I tried not to let that affect me. My greatest work happens when I simply enjoy it and let my hands do what they know how to do.”
Further investigations following Taylor’s death revealed that no drugs were found at her residence. A lawsuit filed by Taylor’s family states that the suspect police were searching for had already been arrested earlier that day.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--Iowa Football Team Showed Racial Bias, Bullied Black Players: Inquiry

IOWA CITY , Iowa ( AP ) — The Iowa football program ’ s culture has suffered from racial bias against Black players and bullying by a small number of current and former coaches , according to an investigation report released Thursday .
University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld said the report by an outside law firm shows that the “ climate and culture must and will change within our football program.
” “ Our student-athletes must have the ability to be true to themselves , and we can not and will not tolerate a systemic process that inhibits authenticity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Coach Kirk Ferentz , the longest-tenured head coach in college football , appears likely to keep his job , however .
The report found that many players believe he has already made several positive changes in recent weeks .
The university hired the Husch Blackwell law firm in June to review the program after dozens of former players , most of them Black , , spoke out on social media to allege racial disparities and mistreatment .
In addition to a public report summarizing the findings , the firm provided the university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former staff who were accused of mistreating players .
Harreld said the university will address the allegations against those coaches , who were not publicly identified .
Last month , the university cut ties with longtime strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle , awarding him a $ 1.1 million severance agreement .
Several players had cited Doyle as the major source of their mistreatment , an allegation he has denied .
Investigators found that many current and former Black players felt unhappy and unwelcome in the program , where the ideal player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clean-cut , white athlete from a midwestern background.
” They described an environment in ” which a small number of coaches felt empowered to bully and demean athletes , especially Black athletes , ” the report found .
“ In sum , the program ’ s rules perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity , ” the report concludes .
“ The program over-monitored players to the point that they experienced heightened anxiety and maintained a culture that allowed a small group of coaches to demean players @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa football program’s culture has suffered from racial bias against Black players and bullying by a small number of current and former coaches, according to an investigation report released Thursday.
University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld said the report by an outside law firm shows that the “climate and culture must and will change within our football program.”
Advertisement
“Our student-athletes must have the ability to be true to themselves, and we cannot and will not tolerate a systemic process that inhibits authenticity,” Harreld said in a statement.
Coach Kirk Ferentz, the longest-tenured head coach in college football, appears likely to keep his job, however. The report found that many players believe he has already made several positive changes in recent weeks.
Ferentz and athletic director Gary Barta were scheduled to hold a news conference later Thursday.
The university hired the Husch Blackwell law firm in June to review the program after dozens of former players, most of them Black,, spoke out on social media to allege racial disparities and mistreatment.
In addition to a public report summarizing the findings, the firm provided the university with four confidential personnel reports on current and former staff who were accused of mistreating players. Harreld said the university will address the allegations against those coaches, who were not publicly identified.
Advertisement
Last month, the university cut ties with longtime strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle, awarding him a $1.1 million severance agreement. Several players had cited Doyle as the major source of their mistreatment, an allegation he has denied.
But the review found the cultural problems went well beyond Doyle.
Investigators found that many current and former Black players felt unhappy and unwelcome in the program, where the ideal player “was built around the stereotype of a clean-cut, white athlete from a midwestern background.” They described an environment in ”which a small number of coaches felt empowered to bully and demean athletes, especially Black athletes,” the report found.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--Brendan Gleeson Teases Transformation Into Donald Trump In ‘The Comey Rule' Trailer

Irish actor Brendan Gleeson debuted his remarkable transformation into President Donald Trump in the first trailer for “ The Comey Rule.
” The promo for the small-screen adaptation of former FBI Director James Comey ’ s tell-all memoir , “ A Higher Loyalty : Truth , Lies and Leadership , ” was released Wednesday .
It chronicles “ the historically turbulent events surrounding the 2016 presidential election and its aftermath , ” per its promotional literature .
“ Harry Potter ” star Gleeson , who reportedly initially turned down the role , is only glimpsed as Trump from oblique angles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trailer here : ViacomCBS cable network Showtime will air the two-part miniseries , featuring Jeff Daniels as Comey , on Sept. 27 and 28 .
The series is “ not a biopic of one man , but is instead the story of two powerful figures , Comey and Trump , whose strikingly different personalities , ethics and loyalties put them on a collision course , ” per its promotional literature .
Director Billy Way successfully lobbied to bring forward the series ’ initially slated broadcast date in late November to before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy is on the line right now , ” Ray told Vanity Fair in an interview published Wednesday .
“ And I wanted this series to be part of that conversation.
” Brendan Gleeson plays President Donald Trump in the upcoming Showtime series `` The Comey Rule . ''
Important conversations are happening now .
Add your voice !
Join HuffPost Today !

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Irish actor Brendan Gleeson debuted his remarkable transformation into President Donald Trump in the first trailer for “The Comey Rule.”
The promo for the small-screen adaptation of former FBI Director James Comey’s tell-all memoir, “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership,” was released Wednesday. It chronicles “the historically turbulent events surrounding the 2016 presidential election and its aftermath,” per its promotional literature.
Advertisement
“Harry Potter” star Gleeson, who reportedly initially turned down the role, is only glimpsed as Trump from oblique angles in the 49-second spot.
Check out the trailer here:
ViacomCBS cable network Showtime will air the two-part miniseries, featuring Jeff Daniels as Comey, on Sept. 27 and 28.
The series is “not a biopic of one man, but is instead the story of two powerful figures, Comey and Trump, whose strikingly different personalities, ethics and loyalties put them on a collision course,” per its promotional literature.
Advertisement
Director Billy Way successfully lobbied to bring forward the series’ initially slated broadcast date in late November to before the 2020 election.
“I think our democracy is on the line right now,” Ray told Vanity Fair in an interview published Wednesday. “And I wanted this series to be part of that conversation.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--U.S. Economy Shrank At Record-Breaking 33% Rate Last Quarter

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The U.S. economy shrank at a dizzying 33 % annual rate in the April-June quarter — by far the worst quarterly plunge ever — when the viral outbreak shut down businesses , throwing tens of millions out of work and sending unemployment surging to 14.7 % , the government said Thursday .
The Commerce Department ’ s estimate of the second-quarter decline in the gross domestic product , the total output of goods and services , marked the sharpest such drop on records dating to 1947 .
The previous worst quarterly contraction , a 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Eisenhower administration .
Last quarter ’ s drop followed a 5 % fall in the January-March quarter , during which the economy officially entered a recession triggered by the virus , ending an 11-year economic expansion , the longest on record in the United States .
Diana Yitbarek , 44 , leaves the DC Department of Employment Services , after trying to find out about her unemployment benefits in Washington , DC , on July 16 .
The U.S. economy shrank at a 33 % annual rate in the April-June quarter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last quarter was driven by a deep pullback in consumer spending , which accounts for about 70 % of economic activity .
Spending by consumers collapsed at a 34 % annual rate as travel all but froze and shutdown orders forced many restaurants , bars , entertainment venues and other retail establishments to close .
The job market , the most important pillar of the economy , has been severely damaged .
Tens of millions of jobs vanished in the recession .
More than 1 million laid-off people have applied for unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , about one-third of the lost jobs have been recovered , but the resurgent virus will likely slow further gains in the job market .
President Donald Trump has pressured states to reopen businesses despite concerns that the virus remains a threat to workers and customers at many service industry jobs that require frequent face-to-face contact .
So dizzying was the contraction last quarter that most analysts expect the economy to produce a sharp bounce-back in the current July-September quarter , perhaps of as much as 17 % or higher on an annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed coronavirus cases having surged in a majority of states , more businesses being forced to pull back on re-openings and the Republican Senate proposing to scale back government aid to the unemployed , the economy could worsen in the months ahead .
The Trump administration is betting against that outcome in asserting that the economy will undergo a V-shaped recovery in which last quarter ’ s plunge would be followed by an impressive rebound in the current quarter — a hoped-for dose of good news that would be reported in late October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet many economists note that the economy can ’ t fully recover until the pandemic is defeated — a point stressed Wednesday at a news conference by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell .
The Fed chairman warned that the viral epidemic has been endangering a modest economic recovery and that as a result , the Fed plans to keep interest rates pinned near zero well into the future .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy shrank at a dizzying 33% annual rate in the April-June quarter — by far the worst quarterly plunge ever — when the viral outbreak shut down businesses, throwing tens of millions out of work and sending unemployment surging to 14.7%, the government said Thursday.
The Commerce Department’s estimate of the second-quarter decline in the gross domestic product, the total output of goods and services, marked the sharpest such drop on records dating to 1947. The previous worst quarterly contraction, a 10% drop, occurred in 1958 during the Eisenhower administration.
Advertisement
Last quarter’s drop followed a 5% fall in the January-March quarter, during which the economy officially entered a recession triggered by the virus, ending an 11-year economic expansion, the longest on record in the United States.
Diana Yitbarek, 44, leaves the DC Department of Employment Services, after trying to find out about her unemployment benefits in Washington, DC, on July 16. The U.S. economy shrank at a 33% annual rate in the April-June quarter, it was reported Thursday. SAUL LOEB via Getty Images
The contraction last quarter was driven by a deep pullback in consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of economic activity. Spending by consumers collapsed at a 34% annual rate as travel all but froze and shutdown orders forced many restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and other retail establishments to close.
Business investment and residential housing also suffered sharp declines last quarter. Government spending, diminished by a loss of tax revenue that forced layoffs, also fell.
Advertisement
The job market, the most important pillar of the economy, has been severely damaged. Tens of millions of jobs vanished in the recession. More than 1 million laid-off people have applied for unemployment benefits for 18 straight weeks. So far, about one-third of the lost jobs have been recovered, but the resurgent virus will likely slow further gains in the job market.
Job seekers exercise social distancing as they wait to be called into the Heartland Workforce Solutions office in Omaha, Neb., on July 15. ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Donald Trump has pressured states to reopen businesses despite concerns that the virus remains a threat to workers and customers at many service industry jobs that require frequent face-to-face contact.
So dizzying was the contraction last quarter that most analysts expect the economy to produce a sharp bounce-back in the current July-September quarter, perhaps of as much as 17% or higher on an annual basis. Yet with the rate of confirmed coronavirus cases having surged in a majority of states, more businesses being forced to pull back on re-openings and the Republican Senate proposing to scale back government aid to the unemployed, the economy could worsen in the months ahead.
The Trump administration is betting against that outcome in asserting that the economy will undergo a V-shaped recovery in which last quarter’s plunge would be followed by an impressive rebound in the current quarter — a hoped-for dose of good news that would be reported in late October, not long before Election Day.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-30--It Has Become 'Almost Impossible To Have A Restaurant' Now

Israeli chef , restaurant owner and cookbook author Einat Admony ― the powerhouse behind famous New York falafel chain Taïm , Middle Eastern restaurant Balaboosta and New York ’ s first couscous bar Kish-Kash ― is hopeful about the year ahead .
“ Change is coming , ” she says in this Voices in Food story , as told to Anna Rahmanan .
Although forced to permanently shutter Kish-Kash during the pandemic , Admony is still operating her other eateries , albeit offering different menus to fewer diners .
Here , she discusses her role as a woman inside a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israeli patrons and the changes she hopes to see in the near future .
On being a woman in a male-dominated industry I want to say that maybe I ’ m a better boss , because as a woman , I have more compassion and I ’ m sensitive ― but I don ’ t know if that ’ s true .
I met some men that are super sensitive and they ’ re great .
I do think that when women succeed , it ’ s more grounded .
Especially since I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m a bit more grounded and any success won ’ t change me .
I will treat people the same .
I think that a lot of my cooks and my employees love that I ’ m a woman because I make sure they eat lunch and if they are sick , I am more nurturing .
I treat them like my kids .
Have I been treated differently because I ’ m a woman ?
I ’ ve been asked this question many times .
I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have : I ’ m Israeli and I grew up in the military with a lot of alpha men , and so I developed thick skin .
If you had asked me 10 years ago about how I did it all , I would have said it ’ s not hard , that you can make it .
But I was the owner of a business from the beginning ― I opened my own place , it ’ s not like I worked for somebody .
I had a leverage that most humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not fair to say it ’ s easy .
On how the business has changed since her first restaurant opened When I opened my first place , Taïm , in 2005 , it was a different story .
I opened that place with 10 % of what I opened my last restaurant with ― a fraction of the cost .
Fifteen years have passed and all industries have changed ― the rent , payroll , minimum wage — everything .
It became almost impossible to have a restaurant and I think we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2005 .
All my colleagues back then were surprised because I came from a fine dining background .
Then , a few years later , they were looking to open a burger chain or a hot dog joint because they realized , especially after the 2008 recession , that all the restaurants were closing and nobody had money to spend at these fancy places .
The industry changed a lot .
I try to never take comments personally unless someone means them purposely .
I was never the kind of person that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jew or I ’ m dark , I am treated differently .
Never , ever .
I think it ’ s a little bit different for Black people here because there is so much history and so much bitterness and so many more things that it is always personal for them .
I also put up boundaries .
I am not religious at all , but I grew up in a very religious family .
I married a non-Jew , a French guy , and the one thing I kept very strongly is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my husband would never work on a Friday night , there is no way .
I will close the restaurant before I ’ d work then .
I have challah and light the candles and I enjoy having that tradition with my kids , and it ’ s a feast that I prepare from Thursday or Friday morning .
You have to put boundaries when you want a family life .
On the difference between Israeli and American diners Dining out is much more trendy in the United States , especially in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem : people loved it , packed it for three months and then something new and cool came up and people forgot about it .
Americans have a short attention span and need to go to the new hip place .
Israelis are also tougher clients .
They are much harder for the good and the bad , so if they don ’ t like it , they ’ ll tell you in your face , which is a good thing because then you can improve .
Americans stay back a bit more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t tell you to your face , so it ’ s a little bit tougher .
When Israelis like something , they will definitely tell everybody about it and support you , and that ’ s something I really like .
On how the industry will change post-COVID I really hope that landlords are going to get some help from the government so they don ’ t need their rents to be so high and people can actually open restaurants and don ’ t need to charge too much .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have so much competition in New York , especially from people that don ’ t come from the industry .
Every Wall Street guy that has a few bucks in his pocket opens a restaurant , so it ’ s very hard to compete with people who only know how to run a restaurant through social media promotion .
I think this year is great .
It may be horrible to say , but this is going to be the change and you are already seeing it .
You need somebody crazy like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how we ’ re not all liberal and open-minded .
Half of this country is crazy and thinks that somebody like that needs to be in power , which is a big problem .
So I think there is change coming .
I ’ m very hopeful .

ILLUSTRATION: YENWEI LIU/HUFFPOST; PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Israeli chef, restaurant owner and cookbook author Einat Admony ― the powerhouse behind famous New York falafel chain Taïm, Middle Eastern restaurant Balaboosta and New York’s first couscous bar Kish-Kash ― is hopeful about the year ahead. “Change is coming,” she says in this Voices in Food story, as told to Anna Rahmanan. Although forced to permanently shutter Kish-Kash during the pandemic, Admony is still operating her other eateries, albeit offering different menus to fewer diners. Here, she discusses her role as a woman inside a restaurant, the difference between American and Israeli patrons and the changes she hopes to see in the near future.
On being a woman in a male-dominated industry
I want to say that maybe I’m a better boss, because as a woman, I have more compassion and I’m sensitive ― but I don’t know if that’s true. I met some men that are super sensitive and they’re great. I do think that when women succeed, it’s more grounded. Especially since I’m a mom as well, I’m a bit more grounded and any success won’t change me. I will treat people the same.
Advertisement
I think that a lot of my cooks and my employees love that I’m a woman because I make sure they eat lunch and if they are sick, I am more nurturing. I treat them like my kids. Have I been treated differently because I’m a woman? I’ve been asked this question many times. I don’t think so. There is one thing I have: I’m Israeli and I grew up in the military with a lot of alpha men, and so I developed thick skin.
If you had asked me 10 years ago about how I did it all, I would have said it’s not hard, that you can make it. But I was the owner of a business from the beginning ― I opened my own place, it’s not like I worked for somebody. I had a leverage that most humans never have, so it’s not fair to say it’s easy.
On how the business has changed since her first restaurant opened
When I opened my first place, Taïm, in 2005, it was a different story. I opened that place with 10% of what I opened my last restaurant with ― a fraction of the cost. Fifteen years have passed and all industries have changed ― the rent, payroll, minimum wage — everything. It became almost impossible to have a restaurant and I think we were very lucky to open a fast-casual spot in 2005. All my colleagues back then were surprised because I came from a fine dining background. Then, a few years later, they were looking to open a burger chain or a hot dog joint because they realized, especially after the 2008 recession, that all the restaurants were closing and nobody had money to spend at these fancy places. The industry changed a lot.
On being a Jewish restaurant owner
I try to never take comments personally unless someone means them purposely. I was never the kind of person that thought that because I’m a Jew or I’m dark, I am treated differently. Never, ever. I think it’s a little bit different for Black people here because there is so much history and so much bitterness and so many more things that it is always personal for them.
Advertisement
Advice for up-and-coming women chefs
If a woman is passionate about the kitchen, there are many ways to get into the industry. The food industry is so wide now that you don’t have to work in restaurants to be in it.
“You have to put boundaries when you want a family life.”
I also put up boundaries. I am not religious at all, but I grew up in a very religious family. I married a non-Jew, a French guy, and the one thing I kept very strongly is Shabbat dinners on Friday nights. Even my husband would never work on a Friday night, there is no way. I will close the restaurant before I’d work then. I have challah and light the candles and I enjoy having that tradition with my kids, and it’s a feast that I prepare from Thursday or Friday morning. You have to put boundaries when you want a family life.
On the difference between Israeli and American diners
Dining out is much more trendy in the United States, especially in New York. I think Kish-Kash had that problem: people loved it, packed it for three months and then something new and cool came up and people forgot about it. Americans have a short attention span and need to go to the new hip place.
Israelis are also tougher clients. They are much harder for the good and the bad, so if they don’t like it, they’ll tell you in your face, which is a good thing because then you can improve. Americans stay back a bit more ― they will write on Yelp but won’t tell you to your face, so it’s a little bit tougher. When Israelis like something, they will definitely tell everybody about it and support you, and that’s something I really like.
Advertisement
On how the industry will change post-COVID
I really hope that landlords are going to get some help from the government so they don’t need their rents to be so high and people can actually open restaurants and don’t need to charge too much. For me, it was very hard to have so much competition in New York, especially from people that don’t come from the industry. Every Wall Street guy that has a few bucks in his pocket opens a restaurant, so it’s very hard to compete with people who only know how to run a restaurant through social media promotion.
I’m such an optimistic person, though. I want to believe that this is going to end up OK in the end. I hope that by next year, it’s going to go back to normal slowly.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--As a Woman Of Color, I Didn't Seek Treatment for Postpartum Depression

When my husband and I had our first baby , I was 29 years old and had just finished my master ’ s degree .
I was living my best life , making my own choices and imagining that my 30s would be nothing but smooth sailing ahead .
It was the supposed happiest time of my life , yet I felt like I was being submerged under a tsunami of sadness and despondency .
When I look back now , it ’ s so clear that I was suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety , but I was completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-generation immigrant , I came to the U.S. when I was 6 years old and assimilated quickly to my new adopted culture ― Chicago in the mid- ’ 80s .
The experience instilled a lifelong appreciation of having hit the jackpot of growing up as an American citizen .
So , even as I battled my own version of Dementors during that first year of motherhood , I was crippled by the throbbing awareness of how privileged my life was .
I mean , as a Pakistani American girl , I had won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homeland to seek educational opportunities for their girls .
My parents allowed me to speak my mind openly , pick what major I would pursue in college , choose my own life partner , and in general make all of my own life decisions .
What in the world could I possibly be depressed about ?
There was no room for me to be anything but ecstatic and grateful for this next phase of my life .
This played a huge role in hindering my ability to identify , much less seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not discriminate .
But the tightness in my chest never subsided and oftentimes made me wish I could fall asleep and never wake up .
Women , in general , have a hard time recognizing or being diagnosed for postpartum depression due to lack of knowledge , social stigmas and economic barriers .
But for women of color , the hurdles are even more pronounced because of the additional burdens of religious and ethnic expectations , and lack of cultural competence among providers and little to no mental health services within the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can say that I struggled ferociously with the shame of being a Muslim woman who could not find inner peace by praying .
In the Muslim culture ( and yes , there is a distinction from the religion of Islam ) , struggles with mental illness are often seen as a sign of weakness in one ’ s faith or an inconvenient influence from modern society .
In most Islamic countries , including Pakistan , attempting suicide is a criminal offense , which makes it chronically underreported .
If someone actually succumbs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of mosques will deny the person their last rites and burial , leaving grieving families scrambling on how and where to bury their loved ones .
I was well educated , in a healthy relationship and had access to great insurance – I was the picture-perfect example of a first-generation immigrant who had made it .
And so , I suffered in silence .
The desire to exude happiness left me feeling hollowed out and isolated from the very community I was trying to appease .
Even though research on postpartum depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is still inadequate focus on PPD and women of color .
What we do know is this : Evidence shows that there is a significant disparity between mental health diagnosis and treatment for black , Indigenous and people of color and their Caucasian counterparts .
Plus , research indicates that women of color are two to three times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression , yet white women are much more likely to begin postpartum mental health treatment than women of color .
Medicine combined with therapy helped tremendously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and religious stigma of being vocal about my mental health struggle .
I still feel compelled to add “ but I love my kids SO much ” whenever I talk about my experience with postpartum depression .
I still hesitate to share that antidepressants helped me become a better mother .
I vehemently believe every single person can benefit from going to therapy and it is one of the bravest and most empowering things you can do for yourself .
I am able to manage my depression with regular therapy and a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with me through the melancholy and help me find my way out .
No one else can do the hard work for me , but having a support system makes the passage to the other side much less arduous .
Here ’ s what I would want a woman of color suffering through mental anguish to know : You can not inoculate yourself from your mental struggles by denying its existence .
You must be proactive in finding support , even if that means going outside of your community of loved ones and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychiatrist or therapist does not make one self-indulgent : It is a cognizant act of self-love and mercy for which you don ’ t owe any explanations or apologies .

When my husband and I had our first baby, I was 29 years old and had just finished my master’s degree. I was living my best life, making my own choices and imagining that my 30s would be nothing but smooth sailing ahead.
Here’s what actually happened: I brought a little human into the world, and in the process completely lost myself and the life I knew.
Advertisement
It was the supposed happiest time of my life, yet I felt like I was being submerged under a tsunami of sadness and despondency. When I look back now, it’s so clear that I was suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety, but I was completely oblivious at the time.
Even if I had sensed it, there was no space for me to admit the truth.
As a first-generation immigrant, I came to the U.S. when I was 6 years old and assimilated quickly to my new adopted culture ― Chicago in the mid-’80s. The experience instilled a lifelong appreciation of having hit the jackpot of growing up as an American citizen.
Throughout my life, I have been cognizant of how radically empowered and advantageous my life has been because of my parents’ decision to immigrate.
So, even as I battled my own version of Dementors during that first year of motherhood, I was crippled by the throbbing awareness of how privileged my life was. I mean, as a Pakistani American girl, I had won the lottery for having parents who left their homeland to seek educational opportunities for their girls. My parents allowed me to speak my mind openly, pick what major I would pursue in college, choose my own life partner, and in general make all of my own life decisions.
Advertisement
What in the world could I possibly be depressed about? There was no room for me to be anything but ecstatic and grateful for this next phase of my life. This played a huge role in hindering my ability to identify, much less seek help for, a disease that does not discriminate. But the tightness in my chest never subsided and oftentimes made me wish I could fall asleep and never wake up.
Postpartum depression cannot be warded off by socioeconomic status or your level of education or your absolute belief in God ― and definitely not by the privileges afforded to you.
Women, in general, have a hard time recognizing or being diagnosed for postpartum depression due to lack of knowledge, social stigmas and economic barriers. But for women of color, the hurdles are even more pronounced because of the additional burdens of religious and ethnic expectations, and lack of cultural competence among providers and little to no mental health services within the community.
For example, different ethnicities can have varying symptoms that aren’t always easily identifiable by a Caucasian provider. In Asian Americans, mental illness commonly shows up as physical symptoms such as headaches, backaches and gastrointestinal pain.
From my own experience, I can say that I struggled ferociously with the shame of being a Muslim woman who could not find inner peace by praying. In the Muslim culture (and yes, there is a distinction from the religion of Islam), struggles with mental illness are often seen as a sign of weakness in one’s faith or an inconvenient influence from modern society.
Advertisement
In most Islamic countries, including Pakistan, attempting suicide is a criminal offense, which makes it chronically underreported. If someone actually succumbs to taking their own life, the vast majority of mosques will deny the person their last rites and burial, leaving grieving families scrambling on how and where to bury their loved ones.
Plus, within the Pakistani culture, there is rampant stigma around mental illness in which people are quickly dismissed as crazy or under the influence of something supernatural (“jinns”) and shunned from social interaction.
I was well educated, in a healthy relationship and had access to great insurance – I was the picture-perfect example of a first-generation immigrant who had made it. And so, I suffered in silence. The desire to exude happiness left me feeling hollowed out and isolated from the very community I was trying to appease.
Even though research on postpartum depression has advanced significantly over the last decade, there is still inadequate focus on PPD and women of color. What we do know is this: Evidence shows that there is a significant disparity between mental health diagnosis and treatment for black, Indigenous and people of color and their Caucasian counterparts. Plus, research indicates that women of color are two to three times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, yet white women are much more likely to begin postpartum mental health treatment than women of color.
It took me the birth of my second child and another round of postpartum depression to finally seek help from a medical professional.
Advertisement
Medicine combined with therapy helped tremendously, but I still struggle with the cultural and religious stigma of being vocal about my mental health struggle. I still feel compelled to add “but I love my kids SO much” whenever I talk about my experience with postpartum depression. I still hesitate to share that antidepressants helped me become a better mother.
And so, I still go to therapy and work against the notion that the privileges I have been awarded as a first-generation immigrant can somehow safeguard me from depression.
I vehemently believe every single person can benefit from going to therapy and it is one of the bravest and most empowering things you can do for yourself. I am able to manage my depression with regular therapy and a small community of loved ones who can sit with me through the melancholy and help me find my way out. No one else can do the hard work for me, but having a support system makes the passage to the other side much less arduous.
Here’s what I would want a woman of color suffering through mental anguish to know: You cannot inoculate yourself from your mental struggles by denying its existence. You must be proactive in finding support, even if that means going outside of your community of loved ones and seeking professional help. Going to a psychiatrist or therapist does not make one self-indulgent: It is a cognizant act of self-love and mercy for which you don’t owe any explanations or apologies.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-07-31--New Jersey's COVID-19 Prison Death Rate Is Worst In U.S. Now Some Inmates Might Get Out.

At least 78,526 people in prison have tested positive for COVID-19 , and at least 766 have died .
The coronavirus ’ s rapid spread through crowded detention facilities across the U.S. was predictable , but state and federal officials have been slow to depopulate prisons and jails — a move that would create more space for social distancing and reduce the number of people forced to live in a high-risk environment .
On Thursday , New Jersey ’ s Legislature finalized the text of a bill that could lead to the release of up to 20 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at freeing individuals who are near the end of their sentence .
Incarcerated people who are within a year of their release date would be eligible to get out up to eight months early by earning “ emergency credits ” — fourth months credit per month in prison during the pandemic .
Although the proposal leaves behind incarcerated individuals who could safely be released , it is far more ambitious than previous efforts to address COVID-19 in prisons in New Jersey ― or elsewhere in the country .
If passed , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state legislature to depopulate prisons in response to the pandemic .
COVID-19 is currently ravaging prisons and jails throughout the country : The 12 biggest sources of coronavirus cases in the country are in detention facilities , according to The New York Times ’ tracker .
In a state prison in Ohio , 80 % of the incarcerated population tested positive for the virus , and at least 13 of them died .
“ We know that there is a population in the state prisons that are going to be released within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mukherji ( D ) , a New Jersey state assemblyman who co-sponsored the bill , said in an interview .
“ If they ’ re about to get out anyway , why would we continue to put them and correctional officers and prison staff in harm ’ s way — as well as the community at large that they ’ re about to be released into — when we could accelerate their release in a thoughtful , prudent manner ?
” The coronavirus has spread rapidly through prisons because it is impossible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask-wearing is inconsistent , and access to soap , hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies is often limited .
Letting people out of prison removes them from this high-risk environment and , if done on a large scale , could create more space for the people who remain incarcerated to keep distance from one another .
The current version of the New Jersey bill includes an exception for most sex offenders , a move Mukherji described as part of a “ compromise ” to expedite the release of as many people as possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the most harshly punished in the country , and the draconian rules imposed on sex offenders who have completed their sentence make it hard for them to avoid returning to prison . )
New Jersey ’ s emergency credits bill has bipartisan support , and advocates are optimistic that it will pass — but the vote isn ’ t expected until the end of August , meaning the earliest that releases could begin is mid-September .
At least 2,892 people incarcerated in New Jersey state prisons have been infected with COVID-19 since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
In California , for example , Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D ) announced plans in March to expedite the release of 3,500 people who were set to be paroled within two months .
The modest population reduction did not prevent the virus from overwhelming the state ’ s prisons , and in July Newsom announced plans to release about 8,000 incarcerated individuals .
By then , more than 2,300 incarcerated people in California had tested positive for COVID-19 and 31 had died .
The New Jersey Legislature ’ s effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In April , Gov .
Phil Murphy ( D ) signed an executive order creating a process for the corrections department to temporarily release incarcerated people who are older than 60 , have high-risk medical conditions , are within three months of their release date or who were denied parole within the last year .
But fewer than 2 % of people incarcerated in New Jersey received approval to go home , the Bergen Record reported on Thursday .
The reasons the corrections commissioner found to deny release were often absurd .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prediabetes and sickle cell anemia , was denied release under the process created by the executive order because his father , whom he planned to live with , has an “ aggressive ” pit bull and a shotgun for hunting .
“ People who should have been released got caught up in the bureaucratic process and ultimately we lost dozens of lives in that , ” said Rev .
Charles Boyer , the pastor of Bethel AME Woodbury , who has pushed for the passage of the emergency credits legislation .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposite of that.
” Advocates of the New Jersey bill can point to specific lives that would have been saved if the legislation were already in effect .
Rory Price Jr. , 39 , died of the coronavirus 21 days before his release date from a New Jersey halfway house , The New York Times reported .
“ The bill is really aimed at making sure folks who are approaching the finish line of their sentences , who have served the majority of their sentence , who are coming home , are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fajardo , the policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey , said in an interview .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
At least 78,526 people in prison have tested positive for COVID-19, and at least 766 have died. The coronavirus’s rapid spread through crowded detention facilities across the U.S. was predictable, but state and federal officials have been slow to depopulate prisons and jails — a move that would create more space for social distancing and reduce the number of people forced to live in a high-risk environment.
On Thursday, New Jersey’s Legislature finalized the text of a bill that could lead to the release of up to 20% of the state prison population. The bill is aimed at freeing individuals who are near the end of their sentence. Incarcerated people who are within a year of their release date would be eligible to get out up to eight months early by earning “emergency credits” — fourth months credit per month in prison during the pandemic.
Advertisement
Although the proposal leaves behind incarcerated individuals who could safely be released, it is far more ambitious than previous efforts to address COVID-19 in prisons in New Jersey ― or elsewhere in the country. If passed, it would be the first push by a state legislature to depopulate prisons in response to the pandemic.
COVID-19 is currently ravaging prisons and jails throughout the country: The 12 biggest sources of coronavirus cases in the country are in detention facilities, according to The New York Times’ tracker. In a state prison in Ohio, 80% of the incarcerated population tested positive for the virus, and at least 13 of them died.
Unless more states enact measures to significantly reduce prison populations, that toll will likely continue to climb. In Texas, where case numbers spiked this month, 70% of the people incarcerated in a federal prison in Seagoville tested positive for COVID-19.
In New Jersey, lawmakers are faced with a severe crisis. The state has the highest prison death rate from the virus in the country, as well as the worst Black-white racial disparity in prison population.
Advertisement
“We know that there is a population in the state prisons that are going to be released within the next few months anyway,” Raj Mukherji (D), a New Jersey state assemblyman who co-sponsored the bill, said in an interview. “If they’re about to get out anyway, why would we continue to put them and correctional officers and prison staff in harm’s way — as well as the community at large that they’re about to be released into — when we could accelerate their release in a thoughtful, prudent manner?”
The coronavirus has spread rapidly through prisons because it is impossible to practice social distancing in most facilities, mask-wearing is inconsistent, and access to soap, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies is often limited. Letting people out of prison removes them from this high-risk environment and, if done on a large scale, could create more space for the people who remain incarcerated to keep distance from one another.
The current version of the New Jersey bill includes an exception for most sex offenders, a move Mukherji described as part of a “compromise” to expedite the release of as many people as possible. (People convicted of sex offenses are among the most harshly punished in the country, and the draconian rules imposed on sex offenders who have completed their sentence make it hard for them to avoid returning to prison.)
New Jersey’s emergency credits bill has bipartisan support, and advocates are optimistic that it will pass — but the vote isn’t expected until the end of August, meaning the earliest that releases could begin is mid-September. At least 2,892 people incarcerated in New Jersey state prisons have been infected with COVID-19 since March, and at least 49 have died.
In most other states, legislatures have left decisions about prison releases to governors, who have largely failed to act. Governors who have authorized large-scale releases did so only after the virus had spread throughout the state’s detention facilities.
Advertisement
In California, for example, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced plans in March to expedite the release of 3,500 people who were set to be paroled within two months. The modest population reduction did not prevent the virus from overwhelming the state’s prisons, and in July Newsom announced plans to release about 8,000 incarcerated individuals. By then, more than 2,300 incarcerated people in California had tested positive for COVID-19 and 31 had died.
The New Jersey Legislature’s effort follows a failed proposal by the governor. In April, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed an executive order creating a process for the corrections department to temporarily release incarcerated people who are older than 60, have high-risk medical conditions, are within three months of their release date or who were denied parole within the last year. But fewer than 2% of people incarcerated in New Jersey received approval to go home, the Bergen Record reported on Thursday.
The reasons the corrections commissioner found to deny release were often absurd. Johnell McCoy, who has asthma, prediabetes and sickle cell anemia, was denied release under the process created by the executive order because his father, whom he planned to live with, has an “aggressive” pit bull and a shotgun for hunting.
“People who should have been released got caught up in the bureaucratic process and ultimately we lost dozens of lives in that,” said Rev. Charles Boyer, the pastor of Bethel AME Woodbury, who has pushed for the passage of the emergency credits legislation. “This law works vigorously to do just the opposite of that.”
Advocates of the New Jersey bill can point to specific lives that would have been saved if the legislation were already in effect. Rory Price Jr., 39, died of the coronavirus 21 days before his release date from a New Jersey halfway house, The New York Times reported.
Advertisement
“The bill is really aimed at making sure folks who are approaching the finish line of their sentences, who have served the majority of their sentence, who are coming home, are not handed a death sentence,” Sarah Fajardo, the policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said in an interview.