thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Democrat’s personal scandal roils N. Carolina Senate race

RALEIGH , N.C. - A race in North Carolina critical to control of the U.S. Senate has been thrown into turmoil over allegations of personal misconduct by Democrat Cal Cunningham , a married man who had an extramarital relationship this summer with a consultant .
Previously undisclosed text messages obtained by The Associated Press and additional interviews show that the relationship extended beyond suggestive texts , as was previously reported , to an intimate encounter as recent as July .
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate , and the contest between Cunningham and Republican Sen. Thom Tillis has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , with polls showing a tight race and both parties investing heavily in the outcome .
Cunningham ’ s personal indiscretion offers a fresh test of whether voters will punish candidates for their private , consensual activity , and the answer they deliver could determine which party wields power in the Senate .
The chamber has been a bulwark for Republicans under President Donald Trump , with Democrats in control of the House .
An Army Reserve lieutenant colonel with a wholesome appeal , Cunningham was widely viewed as the kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative-leaning Southern states like North Carolina .
Yet the text messages and interviews offer a glimpse that is at odds with the image of a devoted family man .
A week ago , a conservative website , NationalFile.com , published text messages between Cunningham and Arlene Guzman Todd , a public relations strategist from California , that suggested a personal relationship .
The newly obtained texts , which are between Guzman Todd and a friend , provide a more specific timeline about their recent relationship , as well as details that describe intimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The text messages were not obtained from Guzman Todd .
But the AP contacted her to confirm their authenticity .
In a series of interviews late Monday as well as in the text messages , Guzman Todd described two in-person encounters with Cunningham .
One was in March in Los Angeles that she said did not include intimate contact , and a second was in July in North Carolina , where she said they were intimate .
In text messages to her friend , Guzman Todd said she was intimate with Cunningham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characterized as “ weird.
” In another exchange , Guzman Todd indicated that she was frustrated by the limited attention that he showed her .
“ I ’ m just going to send to his opponent his naked photos , ” Guzman Todd wrote .
“ That will teach him.
” “ You don ’ t deserve me Cal , ” she said in a separate text message to her friend .
She added in another , “ He knows ( that I ) can tank his campaign.
” In a statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and embarrassment , and disrespect I ’ ve caused to my immediate family , loved ones , and everyone affected by this situation.
” “ A few months back , I displayed a lapse in judgment by engaging in a relationship with Cal Cunningham during a period of marital separation , ” Guzman Todd said .
“ The relationship spanned several months and consisted primarily of a series of text exchanges and an in-person encounter.
“ She did not elaborate , but her text messages described the intimacy .
Cunningham ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ texts or on Guzman ’ s statement .
The campaign instead pointed to a statement issued on Friday , shortly before they confirmed the authenticity of an initial round of texts that were made public between Cunningham and Guzman Todd .
“ I have hurt my family , disappointed my friends , and am deeply sorry .
The first step in repairing those relationships is taking complete responsibility , which I do .
I ask that my family ’ s privacy be respected in this personal matter , “ Cunningham , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two decades , said at the time .
Democratic control of the Senate will be vital if Democrat Joe Biden wins the presidency .
Without it , he can be assured that the Republican majority will reject his plans to expand health care access , make significant investment in green energy and rewrite the tax code so that wealthy Americans shoulder more of the burden .
But it ’ s also unclear whether the revelation of an affair between two consenting adults is something North Carolina voters will care about , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , who has been married three times and paid hush money to a porn star to keep silent about an extramarital tryst .
Cunningham , 47 , was a star recruit for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer .
He ’ s been a fundraising powerhouse .
He also checks important boxes : He ’ s a veteran , a father , an officer in the Army Reserve , a lawyer and a former state senator .
In recent years , he worked for the environmental services company WasteZero .
And he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effectively against Tillis and could be compelling to critical independent voters .
“ He had this clean-cut image with a great story , a great background , an impeccable record of service , ” said Brad Crone , a longtime state Democratic consultant .
“ He was straight out of central casting.
” Tillis has seized on the revelations , arguing that Cunningham “ owes the people of North Carolina a full explanation ” for his extramarital activity .
But he may be ill positioned to force the issue after disclosing hours before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has contracted the coronavirus .
“ On the debate stage last week Cal said it ’ s about integrity -- and I agree , ” Tillis said on “ Fox & Friends.
“ Both candidates are now on the sidelines .
Tillis is self-isolating at his home , and his Charlotte campaign office is closed for the rest of the week .
Cunningham pulled out of a previously planned online forum on Monday with the Libertarian candidate in the race .
His campaign gave no reason for his decision .
Despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep supporting Cunningham for the seat , saying he ’ s still right on the issues important to the party faithful and the country .
“ Cunningham had a critical lapse in judgement and morality .
My prayers go out to his family as they work through healing , ” tweeted North Carolina state Sen. Erica Smith , who lost to Cunningham in the March Democratic primary .
“ I ask our supporters to unite around our platform and stand with Cal for NC.
” But Chris Cooper , a political science professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s history isn ’ t already baked into how people feel about Cunningham .
Cooper said how much the revelations will damage Cunningham ’ s campaign depends on whether additional details surfaced beyond the texts .
“ It was a character-first campaign , and it was as much about who Cal Cunningham is than what Cal Cunningham stands for — and that ’ s a harder sell today than it was last week , ” Cooper said Tuesday .
Slodysko reported from Washington .
Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman in Washington contributed @ @ @ @

By Brian Slodysko And Gary D. Robertson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Pence-Harris debate to unfold as Trump recovers from virus

SALT LAKE CITY - Vice-President Mike Pence and his Democratic challenger , California Sen. Kamala Harris , are poised to meet Wednesday for a debate that will offer starkly different visions for a country confronting escalating crises .
The faceoff in Salt Lake City is the most highly anticipated vice-presidential debate in recent memory .
It will unfold while President Donald Trump recovers at the White House after testing positive last week for the coronavirus and spending several days in the hospital , a serious setback for his campaign that adds pressure on Pence to defend the administration ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the debate is her highest-profile opportunity to vocalize how the Democratic presidential nominee , Joe Biden , would stabilize the U.S. , especially when it comes to resolving the pandemic and addressing racial injustice .
She will be able to explain her views on law enforcement , an area in which she ’ s viewed warily by some progressives , given her past as a prosecutor .
Ultimately , the debate is a chance for voters to decide whether Pence and Harris are in a position to step into the presidency at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hardly a theoretical question as the 74-year-old Trump combats the virus , and Biden , at 77 , would become the oldest person to become president if he ’ s elected .
While the debate will likely cover a range of topics , the virus will be at the forefront .
Pence and Harris will appear on stage exactly 12.25 feet ( 3.7 metres ) apart separated by plexiglass barriers .
Anyone in the small audience who refuses to wear a mask will be asked to leave .
Pence , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have since tested positive , has faced questions about whether he should be at the debate at all .
The vice-president has repeatedly tested negative for the virus , and his staff and doctors insist he does not need to quarantine under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines .
The CDC defines risky “ close contact ” as being within 6 feet ( 1.8 metres ) of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before the onset of symptoms or a positive test .
Pence ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for plexiglass barriers , arguing it was medically unnecessary .
But the Commission on Presidential Debates had already agreed to the barriers , and Pence ’ s aides said their presence wouldn ’ t dissuade him from attending the event .
Pence ’ s chief of staff , Marc Short , said there is “ zero risk ” of the vice-president pulling out of the debate over the plexiglass spat .
He said Pence “ will be there ” because it ’ s “ too important for the American people.
” “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added .
Sabrina Singh , a spokesperson for Harris , said the senator “ will be at the debate , respecting the protections that the Cleveland Clinic has put in place to promote safety for all concerned.
” The Cleveland Clinic serves as a health adviser to the Commission on Presidential Debates .
Despite the early sparring , the debate is unlikely to be a repeat of the chaotic debate between Trump and Biden last week .
Pence is eager to seize on Harris and Biden ’ s liberal policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift the conversation away from the Republican administration ’ s uneven handling of the pandemic .
Pence serves as chair of the president ’ s coronavirus task force , which has failed to implement a comprehensive national strategy even as Trump himself recovers from the disease and the national death toll surges past 210,000 with no clear end in sight .
Biden has raised questions about whether he will participate in his next scheduled debate with Trump , telling reporters on Tuesday : “ I think if he still has COVID , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The vice-president is a 61-year-old former Indiana governor and ex-radio host , an evangelical Christian known for his folksy charm and unwavering loyalty to Trump .
Harris is a 55-year-old California senator , the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother .
She is also a former prosecutor whose pointed questioning of Trump ’ s appointees and court nominees and cool charm on the campaign trail made her a Democratic star .
She will make history as the first Black woman to appear in a vice-presidential debate .
Democrats hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help energize key groups of likely Democratic voters — African Americans and young people , in particular — who have shown less excitement for Biden .
It ’ s unclear how aggressive the candidates will be with each other .
Both have adopted a cautious approach on the trail , keeping in line with past running mates who , above all , are tasked with not hurting their party ’ s ticket .
Some Harris allies fear that a conservative approach will prevent her from shining .
“ Overly scripting Kamala Harris is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her gun before you walk into a gun fight , ” said Nathan Barankin , who served as Harris ’ chief of staff in the Senate and when she was California attorney general .
While some Democrats have set high expectations for the debate , Harris and her allies have been trying to keep them low .
Last month , when California ’ s state Senate president told Harris on a Zoom call that home state fans were excited to watch her debate , Harris quickly interjected .
“ He ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laughing .
“ I ’ m just , I ’ m so concerned , like I can only disappoint.
” Gender will likely play a role in the debate , Hillary Clinton , the first woman to lead a presidential ticket , said during a recent fundraiser .
She suggested Pence would try to paint Harris as “ the inexperienced woman candidate.
“ Harris will have to be mindful of the double standard for women in politics as she responds , Clinton said .
“ She ’ s got to be firm and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the other side , but to do it in a way that doesn ’ t , you know , scare or alienate voters , ” Clinton said .
Harris has been preparing for the debate in Salt Lake City since Saturday .
Karen Dunn , a Washington lawyer who helped prepare Clinton for her 2016 debates against Trump , is leading Harris ’ debate preparations .
Harris plans to focus on failures of leadership by the Trump-Pence administration but avoid personal attacks against Trump , as Biden has done since the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a campaign aide who wasn ’ t authorized to discuss debate planning publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity .
Pence ’ s team has been reluctant to discuss his strategy in debate preparations except to note that he is “ thorough ” in everything he does .
Pence has spent the last four years defending the president on a near-daily basis and mastered the art of turning Trump ’ s chaotic rhetoric into more palatable , middle-of-the-road commentary .
Aides note that Pence ’ s criticism has focused almost exclusively on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s likely to stay that way Wednesday , but he has not completely ignored Harris .
In an interview with a conservative talk show host in Iowa last week , the vice-president cast the California senator as a left-wing extremist .
Pence also said he was “ counting the days to the debate.
“ “ In Kamala Harris , you have someone who actually was the most liberal member of the United States Senate in 2019 , ” Pence said .
“ While I ’ m going to go there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , and I ’ m going to take the fight to Joe Biden and his agenda , we ’ re also going to make sure people know the record of his running mate , and the positions that she ’ s taken.
” Peoples reported from New York .
Colvin reported from Washington .

Steve Peoples, Kathleen Ronayne And Jill Colvin - The Associated Press

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada
Postal Code


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--The Latest: Harris team assured by VP debate safety measures

WASHINGTON - The Latest on the 2020 presidential election ( all times local ) : Kamala Harris ’ chief of staff says the Democratic campaign is confident in the safety measures for Wednesday ’ s vice-presidential debate .
But Karine Jean-Pierre also called it “ shameful ” that Vice-President Mike Pence ’ s team objected to the use of a plexiglass barrier between the candidates .
She noted that Pence heads the White House ’ s coronavirus task force and says he and his team should want more protection for him and people involved in the debate .
Her comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Harris and Pence will meet Wednesday night at the University of Utah for the only vice-presidential debate .
Jean-Pierre says Harris is well-prepared to show viewers the contrast between President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic and how she and Joe Biden would approach it .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT ’ S HAPPENING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE : President Donald Trump is recovering from the coronavirus at the White House .
He announced Tuesday that he had instructed his aides to abandon COVID-19 relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 3 election .
Democrat Joe Biden campaigned in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , on Tuesday .
— 5 questions as Pence and Harris prepare for debate faceoff HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says he and President Donald Trump “ shouldn ’ t have a debate ” as long as the president remains positive for the coronavirus .
Biden said Tuesday that he ’ s “ looking forward to being able to debate him ” but said “ we ’ re going to have to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t know Trump ’ s status since the president returned to the White House after being hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for three days after a COVID-19 diagnosis .
Biden told reporters while boarding his plane back to Delaware in Hagerstown , Maryland : “ I think if he still has COVID , then we shouldn ’ t have a debate.
” The next debate is scheduled for Oct. 15 , with a third debate slated for Oct. 22 .
Biden ’ s campaign says he tested negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate Joe Biden says the U.S. doesn ’ t have to choose between “ law and order ” and racial justice .
Speaking near the national historic site in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , on Tuesday , Biden cited “ instances of excessive police force ” and “ heart-wrenching cases of racial injustice ” that have inspired peaceful protests across the country .
Biden says instances of violence and burning during some demonstrations “ can not be tolerated ” but also should not obscure the larger issues .
President Donald Trump is campaigning as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and blasting racial justice protests as violent anarchy in U.S. cities led by Democrats .
And the president has falsely accused Biden of calling to “ defund the police ” across the country .
Biden says he believes “ in law and order ” and has “ never supported defunding the police.
” But he said he also believes that “ injustice is real ” and rooted in 400 years of history that includes slavery , Jim Crow segregation and a fundamentally uneven economy .
Biden said anyone who doesn ’ t see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t “ opened your eyes to the truth in America.
” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has issued a sweeping call for national unity , using a picturesque , symbolic backdrop of the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War to warn that the U.S. again is “ in a dangerous place.
” Biden argued Tuesday in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , that the U.S. can overcome centuries of economic and racial divisions , along with deep partisan rifts that have accelerated in recent years .
He says some semblance of bipartisanship is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebuild a battered economy .
But he said the country must “ decide to co-operate ” the same way that partisans have decided “ not to co-operate.
” The former vice-president again denounced white supremacy and promised he ’ d “ provide for the common good ” and ensure there is “ no place for hate in America ” if he ’ s elected .
Biden didn ’ t mention President Donald Trump and instead invoked Abraham Lincoln and called for Americans to listen to the “ better angels ” that the 16th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Americans “ can ’ t undo what has been done , ” Biden said , but the nation “ can do so much better.
” Joe Biden has again tested negative for the coronavirus .
His campaign announced Tuesday afternoon that the Democratic presidential nominee underwent another round of testing for the virus earlier in the day and it “ was not detected.
” It was Biden ’ s fourth negative test since last week ’ s debate in Cleveland , where he shared a stage for 90 minutes with President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had tested positive for the virus .
He was hospitalized for three days but returned to the White House on Monday evening to continue his recovery .
Biden was tested twice hours just after Trump ’ s announcement , both by doctors in Delaware and by a former White House physician .
He underwent subsequent tests on Sunday and Tuesday -- and all came back negative .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent recommends quarantine for people who were exposed to the virus , but Biden ’ s campaign won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Kamala Harris tested negative for the coronavirus on Monday , two days before her debate with Vice-President Mike Pence .
A campaign aide shared the results on Tuesday .
The campaign did not respond to questions about if and when she would be tested again ahead of Wednesday ’ s debate .
Harris , the Democratic vice-presidential nominee , and Pence will participate in a 90-minute debate at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City .
A plexiglass shield will be between them as a precaution against possible virus transmission .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nor will the moderator .
The Commission on Presidential Debates requires everyone accessing the debate site to have tested negative .
Both Harris and Pence are currently in Utah preparing .
Vice-President Mike Pence ’ s doctor says Pence does not need to quarantine and has continued to test negative for COVID-19 as he prepares for Wednesday ’ s vice-presidential debate .
White House physician Dr. Jesse Taylor Schonau says in a memo released Tuesday that Pence “ has remained healthy , without any COVID-19 symptoms ” and has continued daily tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The doctor said Pence is not considered to have had close contact with anyone who has tested positive this week , including President Donald Trump and some of his senior aides , according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines .
The CDC defines close contact as having been within six feet of someone for 15 minutes or more .
The memo says Pence “ is encouraged to go about his normal activities and does not need to quarantine.
” Michelle Obama is going after President Donald Trump in a scathing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wilful mismanagement ” of the coronavirus crisis and of racism .
She calls on Black and all young voters not to “ waste ” their votes .
In the video , released Tuesday by Joe Biden ’ s campaign , Mrs. Obama notes that more Americans have died from COVID-19 than died in the Iraq , Afghanistan , Vietnam and Korean wars combined .
She charges that with respect to the virus , “ our commander in chief , sadly , has been missing in action.
” Mrs. Obama accuses Trump of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans are “ lying about how minorities will destroy the suburbs , ” which she says is meant to “ distract from his breathtaking failures.
” She also calls on undecided voters “ to think about all those folks like me and my ancestors ” and have some empathy for what it ’ s like “ to walk around your own country scared that someone ’ s unjustified fear of you could put you in harm ’ s way.
” And to Black and brown voters , and all young voters , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mrs. Obama urges them to make a plan to vote , because “ we don ’ t have the luxury to assume that things are going to turn out okay .
”


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Legal squabbling marks campaign over proposed rent controls

LOS ANGELES - State regulators are investigating a claim by supporters of a ballot proposal to let cities expand rent control that opponents have accepted improper campaign donations .
The allegations will be reviewed by the enforcement division of the Fair Political Practices Commission , which said it had made no decision about the validity of the claims .
It wasn ’ t clear when a decision would be reached .
The Yes on 21 committee alleged that in several dozen cases property owners and landlords attempted to conceal the source of donations given to a rival committee attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lawyer for No on 21 , Californians for Responsible Housing , called the claims “ silly.
“ The filing represents the latest in an ongoing squabble between the two sides over campaign rules .
Proposition 21 aims to reduce the impact of a more than two-decade-old state law that says new rent control policies don ’ t apply to properties built sincen1995 .
The proposition is supported by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the state Democratic Party .
It is opposed by the California Apartment Association , California Republican Party and Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measure “ runs the all-too-real risk of discouraging availability of affordable housing ” and that the law he signed last year already caps rent .
The 43 donations at issue represent a tiny sliver of the money pouring into the race .
Supporters of the measure raised about $ 24 million by late September , while opponents raised about $ 54 million , according to state campaign contribution data .
The complaint pointed to donations from differently named groups that had identical addresses or other common information .
The complaint said those listings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true source of money “ from the public .
The facts of the case have not yet been established by the agency .
Skinnell , the lawyer for the No campaign , said the Yes side was misconstruing what could be common accounting practices .
“ The fact that they had the same address doesn ’ t mean anything , ” he said .
The Yes committee had also made campaign finance allegations against a separate committee , No on Prop 21 , Californians to Protect Affordable Housing .
The agency found insufficient @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Florida governor extends voter registration after site crash

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. - Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis extended the state ’ s voter registration deadline Tuesday after he said heavy traffic crashed the state ’ s online system and potentially prevented thousands of enrolling to cast ballots in next month ’ s presidential election .
Several progressive groups are suing for an additional extension .
DeSantis extended the deadline that expired Monday until 7 p.m. Tuesday .
In addition to online registration , DeSantis ordered elections , motor vehicle and tax collectors offices to stay open until that hour for anyone who wanted to register in person .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday would be accepted .
Voting and minority rights groups responded with a federal lawsuit , saying the confusion required more time , but DeSantis disagreed , saying the seven-hour outage required a comparable extension .
The problems began about 5 p.m. Monday and continued until the midnight deadline .
“ You can have the best site in the world , but sometimes there are hiccups , ” DeSantis said during a press conference at The Villages , a large retirement community in central Florida .
“ If 500,000 people descend at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dream Defenders , New Florida Majority , Organize Florida , LatinoJustice PRLDEF and others filed their lawsuit in Tallahassee , saying at least two additional days were needed to give those denied access enough time to learn of the extension and respond .
They said that anything less would be voter suppression .
“ No voter should be denied their right to vote during a global health pandemic because Florida did not have a functioning online voter registration system , ” said Jorge Vasquez , power and democracy director at Advancement Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
No hearing was immediately set .
There were no immediate reports of major glitches during the additional period through Tuesday evening that potentially allowed thousands more people to register in Florida ’ s 67 counties .
In Leon County , for example , there were nearly 2,000 additional transactions — including new or updated registrations — by late-afternoon , county Elections Supervisor Mark Early said .
Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee , who oversees the voting system , said that at times on Monday the online registration system “ was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per hour.
” Officials said many of the requests were likely repeated attempts by those who failed to get into the system , which went online in 2017 .
There were complaints before the 2018 registration deadline that the system was sluggish .
Lee ’ s office is investigating the overload .
CEO Matthew Prince of Cloudflare , the internet infrastructure company that protects Florida ’ s elections website , tweeted that he has seen no indication that any voter registration systems it protects had been hit by a cyberattack .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned elections officials nationwide last week that cyberattacks could disrupt their systems during the run-up to the election .
They particularly noted “ distributed denial-of-service ” attacks , which inundate a computer system with requests , potentially clogging up servers until the system becomes inaccessible to legitimate users .
The volume of requests that overwhelmed the Florida registration site Monday was not consistent with denial-of-service attacks , which typically render websites unavailable with barrages of several hundred million requests per second .
The potential for outside meddling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a key battleground state in November ’ s election between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger , former Vice-President Joe Biden .
The state has lingering questions about Russian hacking during the election four years ago .
Biden tweeted Tuesday that the Republican governor ’ s decision to extend the deadline “ is a win for our democracy.
” Whatever caused the disruption , it threw up a roadblock for those trying to register .
Sarah Dinkins , a Florida State University student , tried to help her younger sister register @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 p.m. and by 10:30 p.m. had not been successful .
“ I feel very frustrated , ” she said .
“ If the voting website doesn ’ t work , fewer people potentially Democratic voters will be able to vote.
” The outage impacted many Florida felons , who just received the right to vote in a 2018 state referendum that passed overwhelmingly — if they have completed probation and don ’ t have any outstanding fines or fees .
Murderers and sex offenders are still banned .
Desmond Meade , executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the group heard from dozens of felons who couldn ’ t register .
This is not the first major computer shutdown to affect the state government this year .
For weeks in the spring , tens of thousands of Floridians who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic couldn ’ t file for unemployment benefits because of repeated crashes by that overwhelmed computer system , delaying their payments .
DeSantis replaced the director overseeing that system but blamed the problems on his predecessor , fellow Republican Rick Scott , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumped on the latest issue , saying it and the unemployment fiasco showed that the DeSantis administration is inept and accused it of trying to stop people from voting .
“ The utter incompetence of Gov .
Ron DeSantis in allowing the state ’ s voter registration website to crash on the very last day to register for the upcoming November election is , sadly , completely believable , ” U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said .
“ His administrative buffoonery in operating the state ’ s unemployment system telegraphed today ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blunder intimates a continuing pattern of voter suppression that the governor has become notorious for.
” Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale .
AP writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami , Christina Almeida Cassidy in Atlanta and Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report .

Brendan Farrington, Bobby Caina Calvan And Terry Spencer - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--New Orleans park vandalism: Racial slurs and $10k in damages

NEW ORLEANS - Vandals broke into an amusement park in New Orleans and went on a “ rampage of destruction ” that caused $ 10,000 worth of damage , park officials in the city said Tuesday .
The vandalism spree on Sunday was the second break-in at the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park in the past week , New Orleans City Park spokesperson Amanda Frentz said in a statement .
Frentz said the perpetrators broke doors , windows and pieces of a 100-year-old carousel on Sunday .
An antique band organ and one carousel horse were damaged with what appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of other carousel horses were ripped from the structures .
The perpetrators also left behind graffiti of “ racially charged and sexually profane messages , “ and the names Alex and Justin A , the statement said .
The latest incident comes after those who broke into the carousel building last week used fire extinguishers to spray horses on the carousel building , The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate reported .
“ We were in the process of cleaning that stuff up when this happened ” Rob DeViney , the park ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper .
“ When we saw the physical damage and racial slurs it was a gut punch.
” “ This hurts my heart , ” said a statement by Bob Becker , the park ’ s CEO .
“ The Carousel and Storyland are such traditional iconic parts of the Park .
The Carousel is over 100 years old .
To have them survive Katrina only to then be disrespected in this way is a true travesty.
“ Officials are offering a $ 1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Border aid group raided again; experts say it’s a pattern

PHOENIX - The Border Patrol raided a humanitarian group ’ s aid camp on Monday , following a pattern of criminalization that has grown under the Trump administration .
Agents apprehended 12 immigrants and detained seven volunteers at a No More Deaths camp near the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona in what was the second raid since the summer .
The volunteers were eventually released without charges .
The raid follows the two trials the federal government has brought against Scott Warren , a volunteer with No More Deaths who was eventually acquitted of harbouring immigrants .
No More Deaths is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in response to a large number of migrants who were dying while attempting to cross the brutal Sonoran Desert .
Dramatically increased enforcement and deterrent tactics that began in the mid 1990s , along with the increasingly limited ways in which someone could legally migrate to the U.S. , resulted in tens of thousands of people dying while trying to cross through treacherous and dangerously hot desert areas where they were less likely to be detected .
No More Deaths has two aid camps in Arizona , and volunteers leave water jugs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the desert .
Their work and the work of other humanitarian groups around the world has increasingly come under attack as nationalistic and xenophobic viewpoints become more prevalent , experts say .
Even after years of coexisting with the Border Patrol mostly peacefully , No More Deaths has seen its water jugs destroyed by border agents , and several of its volunteers have faced federal charges .
The Border Patrol also executed a search warrant at the camp near Arivaca , Arizona , on July 31 .
Paige Corich-Kleim , a volunteer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents destroyed much of the camp ’ s infrastructure , including a window to a locked office and dishes .
A low-flying helicopter also caused several tarps to blow over , and a storage shed was ripped apart , Corich-Kleim said .
She described the raid as “ violent.
” The U.S. Border Patrol declined to answer questions from The Associated Press .
In several tweets , however , Tucson Sector Chief Roy D. Villareal said that agents had executed a warrant at the No More Deaths camp near Arivaca and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health status.
” He said some of the immigrants were wearing camouflage .
“ Multiple sex offenders , multiple gang members apprehended this year attempting to illegally enter our country .
You don ’ t know who you ’ ll encounter , ” Villareal said .
Calling it a “ so called Samaritan camp , ” Villareal added : “ Huge risk to themselves , our communities , and our country.
” Corich-Kleim said seven volunteers were who were on site were detained for several hours but were not criminally charged .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often dehydrated or have severe blisters from walking so much .
“ We have tried to keep open relationships and open communication with Border Patrol but have seen a dramatic shift in their enforcement tactics over the last few years , ” Corich Kleim said .
She added that although the group previously had written and verbal agreements with the agency that allowed them to carry out their work , there hasn ’ t been an agreement in place for a while .
“ Part of what protects humanitarian workers at the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most part , they ’ re not under the purview of the Border Patrol , ” said Bijal Shah , associate professor of law at the Sandra Day O ’ Connor College of Law , at Arizona State University .
Shah said the Border Patrol appears to be crossing lines it hasn ’ t before — targeting not just non-citizens for immigration violations , but citizens for carrying out aid .
Since the Trump administration took office , several No More Deaths volunteers have faced criminal charges .
Scott Warren , whose case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June 2019 for helping two Central American men who had crossed the border illegally .
A jury deadlocked on charges , but the government went forward with a second trial .
Warren was acquitted a year ago .
Rachel Gore Freed , the vice-president and chief program officer for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee , said the pattern of criminalizing humanitarian work is a global phenomenon and has grown over the last few years as nationalistic views have risen .
“ I think racism and xenophobia and scarcity mentality kind of dictate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our southern border , ” Freed said .
Her group partners with No More Deaths .
“ To me , compassionate , humanitarian assistance is the fundamental part of protecting someone ’ s dignity and of protecting human rights .
It ’ s a basic part of protecting both our individual and collective human rights , ” Freed said .
Corich-Kleim , the volunteer , said No More Deaths will continue to carry out its work .
“ I think we don ’ t really have a choice .
As long as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re gon na try our best to be there and help folks , ” she said .


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Police accused of beating porcupines to death with batons

ROCKLAND , Maine - Two police officers in Maine were fired and are facing animal cruelty charges after using their batons to beat porcupines to death , authorities said .
Former Rockland Officers Addison Cox , 27 , of Warren , and Michael Rolerson , 30 , of Searsmont , also face charges of hunting at night , according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife .
Rockland Police Chief Chris Young confirmed the firing of two officers but declined to divulge details , asking members of the community to trust that he handled the situation appropriately .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ given to those who wear a badge and are tasked with protecting their communities ; it ’ s a power that I do not take lightly , ” he posted on social media .
Police say the animal cruelty charges stem from the officers using retractable batons to kill porcupines while on duty , The Courier-Gazette newspaper reported .
A third officer videotaped the killings and shared them to Snapchat groups , the newspaper reported .
A prosecutor didn ’ t return a message from The Associated Press seeking details .
Both former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that represents them to appeal their dismissals .
Paperwork filed in court in Rockland didn ’ t indicate whether either officer had an attorney .
The AP was unable to locate phone numbers for either of the officers .


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Democrats ask if more material omitted from Barrett response

WASHINGTON - Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are calling on the Justice Department to provide any missing materials from a questionnaire completed by Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett .
Barrett , who was nominated to the high court last month by President Donald Trump , signed a 2006 newspaper ad sponsored by an anti-abortion group in which she said she opposed “ abortion on demand ” and defended “ the right to life from fertilization to the end of natural life.
” The ad was not included in materials Barrett provided to the Judiciary Committee for her pending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when she was nominated to the job she holds as a Chicago-based federal appeals court judge .
In a letter Tuesday signed by all 10 Democrats on the Judiciary panel , lawmakers asked the Justice Department to explain the omission and confirm whether any other materials have been left out from the Senate questionnaire .
If so , the department should immediately provide the materials for committee review , the senators said .
A Justice Department spokeswoman said the department has received the letter and is reviewing it .
Democrats don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nomination , but they are trying to slow it down as Republicans speed ahead with an aggressive timetable , starting with hearings next week , aimed at confirming her before the election .
Trump backs moving ahead quickly and on Tuesday called off negotiations on further coronavirus relief , saying Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell should focus “ full time ” on confirming Barrett .
The 2006 ad , an open letter signed by Barrett and others , “ opposed women ’ s reproductive freedoms and explicitly called for overturning Roe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court decision on abortion , senators wrote .
The ad also referred to “ the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade.
’ ’ The ad , which had more than 1,200 names attached to it , appears to be the most direct expression of Barrett ’ s opposition to abortion and has intensified debate over whether she would vote to restrict , if not overturn , abortion rights if confirmed to the Supreme Court .
Barrett ’ s failure to disclose the 2006 letter “ leads to additional questions about other potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators wrote in the letter .
It also raises concerns that the process of collecting materials responsive to the Senate questionnaire , “ like the nomination process itself , has been rushed , for no legitimate reason , ” the senators wrote .
The letter was signed by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein , the top Democrat on the Judiciary panel , and nine other Democrats .
White House spokesperson Judd Deere said last week that Barrett , who is Catholic , has distinguished her personal views from her responsibilities as a judge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day she was nominated , ‘ A judge must apply the law as written .
Judges are not policymakers , and they must be resolute in setting aside any policy views they might hold , ’ ” Deere said in an email .
Meanwhile , an outside group advocating for conservative judges announced on Tuesday a 15-member team of pro bono legal professionals who will be conducting rapid response and other campaign-style support for Barrett ’ s confirmation .
“ The confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett is the opportunity of more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative majority on the Supreme Court in over 80 years , ” said Mike Davis , a former chief counsel to Republicans on the Judiciary Committee who now heads the Article Three Project .
He said the group is prepared to “ do whatever it takes to push Judge Barrett ’ s nomination over the finish line by the end of October.
” At a separate news conference Tuesday , several Senate Democrats said Barrett has a clear record of opposing abortion rights .
“ Judge Barrett has shown by her past writings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Supreme Court nominee ) that she would overturn Roe v. Wade , ?
said Sen. Richard Blumenthal , D-Conn. , a member of the Judiciary Committee .
Sen. Mazie Hirono , D-Hawaii , another committee member , also attended the news conference , which focused on abortion rights and included advocacy groups .
Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Man who wouldn’t wear mask on plane claims unfair treatment

PROVO , Utah - A man who refused to wear a face mask on a Utah-bound Allegiant flight and was escorted off the plane claims he was treated unfairly by flight attendants and wants an apology from the airline .
Rio Honaker was removed from the Provo-bound flight in Mesa , Arizona , on Saturday after an argument with a flight attendant resulted in Honaker and another passenger getting into a physical altercation .
Honaker says he was following the airline ’ s face covering rules and that he was not responsible for the fight , KSL-TV reported Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a mask covering only his mouth because wearing a mask over his nose gives him anxiety .
Before the flight , Honaker said , he received a message from Allegiant saying he needed to wear a face covering over his mouth and nose .
Honaker didn ’ t think that meant he needed to wear a face mask .
A fight broke out between Honaker and another man who asked him to comply with the rules .
Honaker was removed from the plane and cited for disorderly conduct .
Video taken by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choking Honaker , pulling his hair and hitting him in the back .
Allegiant Air has said passengers are required to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times when travelling .


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--21 MacArthur fellows awarded $625K in ‘genius grants’

Writers , sociologists and scientists , a documentary filmmaker , a legal scholar and an environmental health advocate are among @ @ @ @ @ year ’ s MacArthur fellows .
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation on @ @ @ @ @ each receive $ 625,000 over five years to use as they please .
The Chicago-based @ @ @ @ @ genius grants ” every year since 1981 to help further the pursuits of people with @ @ @ @ @ , 68 , artist , Cross Performance Inc. , New York , New York .


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Activists, scientists, authors among ‘genius grant’ fellows

CHICAGO - An activist speaking out about inadequate waste and water sanitation in rural America , an author of young adult and children ’ s literature reflecting the world ’ s diversity , and a neuroscientist who used mathematics to study the brain ’ s development are among the 21 recipients of this year ’ s “ genius grants “ .
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced the fellowships Tuesday .
Each will receive $ 625,000 over five years to spend as they please .
Writers , sociologists , scientists , a documentary filmmaker , a legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the luminaries named this year .
The Chicago-based foundation has awarded the “ genius grants ” every year since 1981 to help further the pursuits of people with outstanding talent .
MacArthur Fellows managing director Cecilia Conrad says this year ’ s group offers a reason to celebrate as the nation deals with civil unrest , a global pandemic and natural disasters .
“ They are asking critical questions , developing innovative technologies and public policies , enriching our understanding of the human condition , and producing works of art that provoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Environmental activist Catherine Coleman Flowers , who grew up in Lowndes County , Alabama , is the founding director of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice in Montgomery .
The former high school teacher in Detroit and Washington , D.C. is also a senior fellow for the Center for Earth Ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York .
Flowers , 62 , has documented how a lack of access to sufficient and sustained water treatment and clean water contributes to a cycle of poverty , particularly in rural , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ ve been interested in environmental health since crop dusters used to spray DDT over homes and we could see dead birds and snakes lying around from the effects of the chemical , ’ ’ Flowers told the Associated Press .
Flowers said her work has taught her to trust her instincts and work with scientists to prove if what is being seen or experienced is true .
“ COVID-19 has illustrated how environmental health is important to society in general because marginalized communities are impacted first , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paradigm that is harmful to humans , ” she said .
Flowers said she was surprised to learn she had been named a grant recipient .
“ I was humbled and grateful at the same time .
It was almost unbelievable , ” she said .
” The next day I had to revisit what happened to see if it was real.
” The foundation also selected author Jacqueline Woodson , University of Utah evolutionary geneticist Nels Elde and University of Minnesota cognitive neuroscientist Damien Fair for a grant .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was going on , ” Fair said of his selection .
” But after that , joy , and a lot of humility .
I work with some of the most brilliant minds on the planet , many of who are deserving of such an award .
So , it is very humbling , to be honest.
” Fair , 44 , is intent on advancing understanding of the brain ’ s development in both typical and atypical contexts , relying on advancements in technology and mathematical techniques .
It is an interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accident while practicing at Yale New Haven Hospital .
There he worked on what he called a “ silly ” experiment looking at areas of the braining using what he calls functional MRI .
He said the experiment didn ’ t go anywhere , but it awakened a desire to study brain function .
Fair says he is hoping the award with shine a spotlight his efforts to increase information flow across various disciplines , professionals and communities to promote brain health .
“ Feeling humbled and inspired to join an incredible collection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world , ” Elde said of being named as a fellow .
Elde , 47 , said a fascination with microbial creatures is what sparked his interest in evolutionary genetics .
His curiosity led him to think about ancient life and the shared biology humanity can see today in distantly related species .
He asserts that although viruses don ’ t fit the definition of being alive , they infect all living things and have a profound impact on their evolution .
“ The better we understand the rules of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat immune defences and use our cells to replicate , the better our chances of blocking or limiting infections and pandemics in the future , ” he said .
Jacqueline Woodson , 57 , is frequently described as a writer redefining children ’ s and young adult literature because her books , such as “ The Other Side , ” “ Brown Girl Dreaming ” and “ Red at the Bone ” , reflect the diversity of the world and stretches her readers ’ intellectual abilities .
“ The award in and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing .
Keep doing the fabulous work you ’ ve always been doing.
’ So that ’ s helpful , ” she said , adding the importance of her work is a question for society , not herself .
Other fellows announced Tuesday were econometrician Isaiah Andrews , writer and sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom , chemical engineer Paul Dauenhauer , playwright Larissa FastHorse , anthropologist Mary L. Gray , fiction writers N.K .
Jemisin and Cristina Rivera Garza , artist Ralph Lemon , cellular and developmental biologist Polina V. Lishko , property law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Molina , poet Fred Moten , singer and composer Cecile McLorin Salvant , experimental physicist Monika Schleier-Smith , biological chemist Mohammad R. Seyedsayamdost , sociologist Forrest Stuart and documentary filmmaker Nanfu Wang .

Herbert G. McCann - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-06--Supreme Court turns away Republican appeal on ranked voting

PORTLAND , Maine - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away a last-ditch effort by the Maine Republican Party to stop ranked choice voting from being used for the first time in the state ’ s presidential contest .
Justice Stephen Breyer rejected the request for the high court to intervene after the GOP sought to delay ranked voting in this November ’ s presidential election until state voters had the final say through a “ People ’ s Veto ” referendum .
The Maine GOP ’ s appeal was filed after the first votes had been cast by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast this week as more voters returned absentee ballots , either in person or by mail .
The appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court came after the state Supreme Judicial Court twice rebuffed the Maine GOP .
It focused on whether the Maine GOP collected enough signatures to force a referendum on a law expanding ranked voting to the presidential contest .
The appeal contended some of the rules governing the collecting of signatures were unconstitutional .
The GOP contended the Maine Constitution required ranked voting in the presidential race to be delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success on a lawsuit seeking to reinstate the referendum .
The ranked voting system , approved by Maine voters in 2016 , has become a partisan issue after Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin was ousted in 2018 despite collecting the most first-place votes .
Under the system , voters are allowed to rank all candidates in order of preference on the ballot .
A candidate who wins a majority of first-place votes is the winner .
If there ’ s no majority winner , then there are additional tabulations in which last-place candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieve a majority winner .
The voting system is already used in U.S. House and U.S. Senate races in Maine .
It isn ’ t used in state gubernatorial or legislative races because of concerns that it runs afoul of the Maine Constitution .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Minneapolis mural dedicated to George Floyd defaced again

MINNEAPOLIS - A large mural dedicated to George Floyd in Minneapolis has been defaced again .
Surveillance video from Cup @ @ @ @ @ a face mask over a ski mask walk up to the mural and spray red @ @ @ @ @ a.m. Sunday , a store employee , T.J. Abumayyaleh , told the Star Tribune .
@ @ @ @ @ in handcuffs , died May 25 after a white officer pressed his knee against Floyd @ @ @ @ @ said he couldn ’ t breathe .
The mural is located near the site where @ @ @ @ @ seen bystander video set off protests , sometimes violent , around the world .
It @ @ @ @ @ that the mural has been damaged .
A former medical student at the University of @ @ @ @ @ Reformer , an online news site , that he was the person who defaced the @ @ @ @ @ in August .
The 26-year-old man claimed he was drunk at the time and apologized @ @ @ @ @ plans for a permanent memorial to Floyd at the site .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--For Coptic Church, changes, questions after priest ouster

For 17 years , Sally Zakhari said she told priests and leaders in the Coptic Orthodox Church her childhood nightmare — how a Coptic priest visiting from Egypt sexually abused her at her Florida home during what was supposed to be her first confession .
“ I ’ ve already gone to countless bishops .
I ’ ve already gone to two different popes , ” she told The Associated Press .
She went to police as well .
She said she watched the priest — Reweis Aziz Khalil — continue serving at Coptic churches .
Then , Zakhari aired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Khalil was stripped of his priesthood and ordered to return to his pre-ordination name days later .
In announcing the move , Khalil ’ s Minya and Abu Qurqas diocese in Egypt mentioned undated complaints by congregants in Egypt as well as from the United States and Canada .
A papal decree said disciplinary action had been taken against Khalil in the past for “ his repeated infringements.
” Neither statement specified the nature of the complaints or “ infringements.
” The papal decree said prior action against Khalil included “ defrocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It wasn ’ t clear what that entailed and there were times when Khalil served as priest after 2014 .
In response to questions and a request to interview Khalil , his attorney , Michelle Suskauer , said by email : “ Mr .
Khalil will not be responding to your questions and denies all allegations against him.
” For Egypt ’ s ancient Coptic Church , which is usually closed about its inner workings , the allegations and the laicization after sexual abuse claims were unusually public and shocked many .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were announced and questions were raised about oversight and the handling of Zakhari ’ s allegations .
After Khalil ’ s ouster , several Coptic dioceses in America and other Western countries issued statements supporting survivors of clerical sexual abuse , encouraging members to report sexual misconduct or announcing protocols to handle claims and protect the vulnerable .
Some , like Zakhari , are using social media to keep the spotlight on how accusations are handled , setting off intense debates among some Coptic Christians .
Others argue such issues are too sensitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scrutiny could be exploited to unfairly taint the church or its clergy — a concern amplified among some by Christians ’ status as a religious minority in Egypt .
Despite Khalil ’ s removal , Zakhari , now 33 , said she can not celebrate .
“ This has been too many years , ” she said .
“ I ’ m not scandalizing anything .
I ’ m just saying the truth.
” Over the years , as other faith communities publicly grappled with clerical abuse , the Coptic Church in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when targeted with violence by militant groups and other extremists .
The church is the main community among Egypt ’ s Christian minority and has many followers who have emigrated to the United States and elsewhere .
“ As Copts , we ’ re not used to discussing such things in public , ” said Samuel Tadros , senior fellow at Hudson Institute ’ s Center for Religious Freedom .
“ While I ’ m sure that such cases have existed throughout time and are probably not limited to just one individual ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handled behind closed doors.
” Emotions run the gamut .
Online , some criticized openly naming the priest and said “ sins ” shouldn ’ t be publicly exposed .
Others praised the church for removing Khalil from the priesthood .
Still others said leaders acted too slowly and demanded education about sexual misconduct and transparent and swift handling of accusations .
Zakhari said she is not trying to hurt the church she loves .
“ We wanted this to just be handled , ” she said .
It happened in the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she recounted in a statement she made to the Altamonte Springs Police Department in Florida in February 2013 .
( As a rule , the AP does not name survivors or alleged survivors of sexual abuse unless they have identified themselves publicly , as Zakhari has done . )
A first-generation American , she was born in Florida to parents who are “ faithful servants ” in the Coptic Church .
The church was the centre of her strict upbringing , she said .
According to the police report , Zakhari told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priest from Egypt , was staying with her family in Florida .
While alone with her , ostensibly to take her confession , Khalil touched her under her bra , squeezed and fondled her breasts and started kissing her face , neck , ears and lips and forced his tongue inside her mouth , she said in the report , which was viewed by the AP .
As he left , her statement to police said , Khalil told her whatever happens in confession is a secret .
The Altamonte Springs Police Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report with the state attorney ’ s office and it was determined then that the statute of limitations had expired .
At 16 , Zakhari said , she started telling her story to people involved with the church , and around 17 — in 2003 or 2004 , she said — she told Bishop Youssef of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States .
She said she told her mother later .
“ With our culture , it ’ s really hard to talk about sexual abuse to begin with , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s difficult to even have this conversation with my parents.
” Father Pishoy Salama of St. Maurice & St. Verena Coptic Orthodox Church in Canada said Zakhari , whom he met at a youth conference , began sharing her abuse allegations with him years ago .
“ Her pain was real , and her story was always consistent , ” he said .
Around 2010 , Zakhari said , her mother saw in a church publication that Khalil had been promoted in clerical rank by his diocese in Egypt .
Tracking exactly how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult , especially since Khalil , then a priest of a diocese in Egypt , has served in different areas in the U.S .
According to Zakhari , Bishop Youssef told her he was aware of other abuse allegations against Khalil and said the then-priest had been sent to Egypt and banned from the Southern Diocese .
An AP request to interview Bishop Youssef was answered by a public relations representative who provided statements by the Southern Diocese .
According to the statements , Khalil left the Southern Diocese long before Zakhari spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did everything in its power ” to prevent Khalil from serving in ministry and the bishop barred Khalil from returning to his diocese .
One statement said Bishop Youssef “ believed Ms. Zakhari ’ s complaint against the former priest and informed her of the immediate action taken against him.
” This included him bringing the accusation to the attention of then-Pope Shenouda III and his successor , Pope Tawadros II , as well as the then-bishop of Khalil ’ s diocese in Egypt , Metropolitan Arsanious , it said .
“ Bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any influence , control or ecclesiastical authority over a Diocese in Egypt , ” the statement said .
“ Nor did he have any authority over the former priest after he had left the Southern Diocese.
” The statement said it was “ disappointing ” that Zakhari has expressed dissatisfaction “ with how the Southern Diocese and specifically Bishop Youssef handled this troubling issue when she came forward.
” It added that Bishop Youssef and the Southern Diocese “ remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults and creating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement didn ’ t address some of the AP ’ s questions , including whether Bishop Youssef was aware of other reports of abuse against Khalil .
Coptic Orthodox Church spokesman in Egypt , Father Boules Halim , didn ’ t respond to specific questions but said that the Church doesn ’ t cover up crimes against its followers .
Bishop Makarios of the Minya and Abu Qurqas diocese , reached via WhatsApp , declined to comment beyond publicly issued statements .
Khalil moved on .
Over the years , Zakhari said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different states , sometimes as a visiting priest .
She said she contacted Coptic leaders to alert them .
At least one of Khalil ’ s stints , at the St. Mary and ArchAngel Gabriel Coptic Orthodox Church of West Virginia in Charleston , came after the Church banned him from serving in 2014 .
Between October 2015 and February 2016 , three postings captured by the Internet Archive ’ s Wayback Machine from the website of the West Virginia church appear to mention Khalil .
Multiple photos of a priest who appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church ’ s Facebook page in late 2015 and early 2016 .
In some , he ’ s surrounded by congregation members or poses with children , some wearing costumes , and adults .
Bassam Makar , treasurer at the West Virginia church , said Khalil served as priest there for about five months .
He said the church ’ s board wasn ’ t aware Khalil had been ordered to stop serving and when it found out , Khalil ’ s service was ended .
He said there were no complaints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
Makar said that while he respects the laicization decision , he dislikes that the issue had become public .
“ It ’ s OK to prevent him from serving but we don ’ t need to announce it and then it becomes a scandal .
That ’ s not good for the church , ” he argued .
“ I am not saying to cover up for anyone … I want everyone to be held accountable but not in a public way .
... We are all sinners.
” That there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to airing that story comes as no surprise to Salama , the priest in Canada .
Clergy members are held in high esteem and some help perpetuate a culture of silence , using their authority and religious arguments to urge victims to “ forgive and forget ” and call for “ unrestricted obedience ” to religious authorities , he said .
“ We know that there was a problem in the system , ” Salama said of Zakhari ’ s case .
“ But , you know , so long as everyone ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not my fault , it ’ s someone else ’ s , ’ then maybe we are all to blame.
” Halim , the church spokesman in Egypt , was asked about the divergent reactions to Khalil ’ s case in an interview with Copts United website .
“ The church doesn ’ t punish a priest the moment he makes a mistake .
...
When there is a deviant position regarding the teachings or the behaviour , the church provides a chance , two , 10 and possibly up to 20 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , ” he said .
“ The church takes a position and makes a judgment — and that happens in very limited and very rare situations — when it sees that there ’ s nothing that works.
” At that point , the church must announce its decision so that people are warned , and the person doesn ’ t exploit his clerical garb to continue his violations , he said .
Asked by the AP about his comments , which angered some of those advocating for accountability , Halim said via @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church policies for defrocking and were not related to a particular incident .
“ I stress that there ’ s a difference between a sin and a crime , ” he said .
“ For a sin , we give a chance for repentance and a crime is handled by investigation authorities .
We do not cover up any crime against our children.
” There have been announced changes .
Among them , the Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America and the Diocese of New York and New England said in a joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and procedures related to claims of sexual misconduct .
They also said they engaged a third-party victim reporting centre and established behavioural guidelines on interaction with minors , as part of efforts to prevent sexual abuse and promptly investigate claims .
The Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Pennsylvania and Affiliated Regions , which includes West Virginia , issued statements on sexual misconduct after the papal decree .
It pledged to revamp policies , establish clear protocols for investigating allegations , provide mandatory sexual misconduct training to clergy and servants and conduct thorough background checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diocese , we recognize that the current infrastructure in place to deal with allegations of sexual misconduct is insufficient , ” it said .
It has since issued a “ progress report.
” Ishak Ibrahim , a religious freedoms researcher with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights , lauded the public steps to tackle sexual misconduct by some dioceses but said the momentum hasn ’ t been matched in Egypt .
Fear among some Coptic Christians that criticism of clergy could hurt the church or spark “ social bullying ” against them leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
With Egypt ’ s largely conservative culture , sexual issues are not typically publicly discussed and many , Christians and Muslims alike , worry that coming forward with stories of sexual abuse could hurt victims ’ reputations .
Recently , young Egyptian activists have increasingly campaigned online to chip away at the stigma .
But in the West — where the church has expanded — Coptic leaders must deal with the different ways of thinking of younger members , said the Hudson Institute ’ s Tadros .
Zakhari @ @ @ @ @ @ @ openness .
She said her faith has fueled her years-long fight .
“ I just know Jesus Christ would not be OK with this , ” she said , her voice cracking .
“ I know that this is a responsibility that Jesus Christ gave me.
” Fam reported from Winter Park , Florida .
New York-based AP investigative researcher Randy Herschaft and reporters Samy Magdy and Maggie Michael in Cairo contributed to this report .
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Vandals strike lighthouse on North Carolina’s Outer Banks

OCRACOKE , N.C. - Park rangers with the Cape Hatteras National Seashore say they are investigating vandalism to the oldest @ @ @ @ @ .
The Virginian Pilot reports that rangers discovered damage to the Ocracoke Lighthouse on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ was missing from the door .
A wire screen on the door had also been @ @ @ @ @ discovered more damage the next day .
It included several damaged windows in the keeper @ @ @ @ @ lighthouse and in outbuildings .
The lighthouse on North Carolina ’ s Outer Banks was @ @ @ @ @ it is on the National Register of Historic Places .
The structure and grounds are @ @ @ @ @ Ocracoke is an island that is reachable only by plane or boat .
It is @ @ @ @ @ .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Greece recalls its ambassador to Azerbaijan

ATHENS , Greece - Greece ’ s Foreign Ministry says it is recalling its ambassador to Azerbaijan following what it @ @ @ @ @ and insulting allegations ” by the Azerbaijani government that it is tolerating the preparation of @ @ @ @ @ statement Wednesday , the ministry said the Greek ambassador had been recalled to Athens for @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijani government had claimed Greece was tolerating the preparation of terrorist acts , attempts to @ @ @ @ @ against Azerbaijan due to the latter ’ s conflict with Armenia over the separatist region @ @ @ @ @ said it had filed a protest over the issue on Tuesday with the Azerbaijani ambassador @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--AP source: US to announce charges against British IS members

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department is preparing to announce charges Wednesday against two men from Britain who joined the Islamic State and were part of a cell that beheaded Western hostages , a law enforcement official said .
El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey are two of four men dubbed “ the Beatles ” by the hostages they held captive because of their British accents .
They are expected to make their first appearance in the afternoon in federal court in Alexandria , Virginia , said the official , who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a milestone in a years-long effort by U.S. authorities to bring to justice members of the group known for beheadings and barbaric treatment of American aid workers , journalists and other hostages in Syria .
The men ’ s arrival in the U.S. sets the stage for arguably the most sensational terrorism trial since the 2014 criminal case against the suspected ringleader of a deadly attack on the diplomatic compound in Benghazi , Libya .
Videos of the killings , released online in the form of Islamic State propaganda , stunned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The recordings routinely showed prisoners in orange jumpsuits on their knees beside a captor dressed in black whose native English drove home the global reach of a group that at its peak occupied vast swaths of Syria and Iraq .
Elsheikh and Kotey have been held since October 2019 in American military custody after being captured in Syria one year earlier by the U.S.-based Syrian Democratic Forces .
The Justice Department has long wanted to put them on trial , but those efforts were complicated by wrangling over whether Britain , which does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share evidence that could be used in a death penalty prosecution .
Attorney General William Barr broke the diplomatic standoff earlier this year when he promised the men would not face the death penalty .
That prompted British authorities to share evidence that U.S. prosecutors deemed crucial for obtaining convictions .
In interviews while in detention , the two men admitted they helped collect email addresses from Kayla Mueller that could be used to send out ransom demands .
Mueller was killed in 2015 after 18 months in ISIS captivity .
The State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly so benign .
The agency declared Elsheikh and Kotey as specially designated global terrorists in 2017 and accused them of holding captive and beheading approximately two dozen hostages , including American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff , and aid worker Peter Kassig .
Specifically , the State Department said Elsheikh “ was said to have earned a reputation for waterboarding , mock executions , and crucifixions while serving as an ISIS jailer.
” Kotey , according to the State Department , acted as an Islamic State recruiter and “ likely engaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceptionally cruel torture methods , including electronic shock and waterboarding.
” The other two Beatles included the most infamous member of the group , Mohammed Emwazi , known as “ Jihadi John , ” who was killed in a 2015 drone strike .
Emwazi appeared and spoke in the video of Foley ’ s execution .
The fourth member , Aine Lesley Davis , was sentenced to seven years in prison in Turkey in 2017 .

Eric Tucker And Matthew Barakat - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Macron visits flood-ravaged mountains above French Riviera

SAINT-MARTIN-VESUBIE , France - A van clings to the edge of an Alpine ravine , tossed by an exceptional storm .
A tattered French flag hangs off a tree uprooted by vicious floods .
Emergency medics treat injured residents in a brasserie converted into a field hospital .
With at least 12 dead and others missing , France and Italy are still assessing damage and cleaning up after violent rains that began Friday , sweeping away homes and unearthing bodies from cemeteries .
French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting the mountainous area near the Mediterranean coast Wednesday , and promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The nation will not abandon any of its territories , any of its children , ” he said in a Facebook post before the trip .
“ Together we will surmount this.
” Still reeling days later , residents described to The Associated Press what they called the worst flooding in their lifetimes .
In the village of Saint-Martin-Vesubie , dogs barked frantically as their owners muzzled them to board evacuation helicopters for the city of Nice .
One man sent his family to safety while he stayed behind to try to sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some compensation for the damage to his home .
Residents gathered outside the town hall , hugging and trying to console each other .
Someone set up a barbecue while people waited to be evacuated , grilling sausages for the group .
Across the street , the town brasserie is now a field hospital and resting point for rescuers and medics working in the area .
Outside one home , a van hung precariously on the edge of a cliff .
In Breil-sur-Roya , someone rescued a French tricolour flag from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and hung it to dry on the remains of a tree felled by the storm .
Mud caked everything — cars , dishes , floors and walls .
Four deaths have been reported in France , and eight in Italy since the storm pounded France ’ s Alpes-Maritimes region and Italy ’ s northwestern regions of Liguria and Piedmont .
The Alpes-Maritimes regional administration said about 20 people were still missing Wednesday .
The French prime minister said more than 900 rescuers , 500 police officers and some troops were involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is home to 12,000 residents .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Officials: Nigerian migrant burned alive in Libya’s Tripoli

CAIRO - A migrant worker was burned to death in the Libyan capital , U.N. and government officials said Wednesday , the latest in abuses that migrants and refuges face in the conflict-stricken country .
The interior ministry of the U.N.-supported government said three Libyans on Tuesday stormed a factory in the Tripoli neighbourhood of Tajoura , where African migrants were working .
The Libyans detained one the workers , a Nigerian , poured gasoline on him and set him on fire , the ministry said in a statement .
No motive for the shocking crime was given .
Three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated in a nearby hospital , the ministry said .
The alleged perpetrators , all in their 30s , were arrested and referred to prosecutors for investigation , it said .
“ The young man was burned alive , in yet again another senseless crime against migrants in the country , ” tweeted Federico Soda , the chief in Libya for the International Organization for Migration .
The migrant ’ s death underscores the perils that migrants face in Libya , which has emerged as a major transit point for African and Arab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid years-long chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi .
In May , the family of a slain Libyan human trafficker attacked a group of migrants in the desert town of Mizdah , shooting and killing at least 30 migrants .
mostly from Bangladesh , according to the U.N. migration agency .
In July , Libyan authorities shot dead three Sudanese migrants in the western coastal town of Khoms .
The migrants were reportedly trying to escape after they were intercepted by the Libyan coast guard in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Migrants typically pass through Libya on their way to Europe , departing from Tripoli ’ s rocky coastline in inflatable dinghies .
The Libyan coast guard , trained by the European Union to keep migrants from reaching European shores , intercepts boats at sea and returns them to Libya .
Rights groups say those efforts have left migrants at the mercy of brutal armed groups or confined in squalid and overcrowded detention centres that lack adequate food and water .
The EU agreed earlier this year to end an anti-migrant smuggler operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military ships to concentrate on upholding a widely flouted U.N. arms embargo that ’ s considered key to winding down Libya ’ s relentless war .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Hurricane Delta makes landfall in Mexico, toppling trees

CANCUN , Mexico - Hurricane Delta made landfall Wednesday just south of the Mexican resort of Cancun as an extremely dangerous Category 2 storm , downing trees and knocking out power to some resorts along the northeastern coast of Yucatan Peninsula .
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said satellite imagery , radar data from Cuba and surface observations in Mexico indicate that the centre of Delta came ashore around 5:30 a.m. local time , sustaining top winds of 110 mph ( 175 kmh ) .
Civil defence official Luís Alberto Vázquez said there were no immediate reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toppled about 95 trees and knocked out electricity to parts of Cancun and Cozumel .
Ortega said about 39,000 people had been evacuated in the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatan , and that about 2,700 people had taken refuge in storm shelters in the two states .
Early Wednesday , guests of the Fiesta Americana Condesa hotel awoke in the sweltering classrooms of the Technological Institute of Cancun campus where they had been moved Tuesday .
All of the windows had been covered with plywood so they couldn ’ t see what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ howling winds started around 2 a.m. and there had been heavy rain .
The power — and with it the air conditioning — had been knocked out early Wednesday so it was steamy as tourists used their cellphone light to get up and make their way for a first cup of coffee .
“ The hard part has been the waiting , ” said Ana Karen Rodríguez of Monterrey .
She and a friend arrived in Cancun Tuesday morning and by afternoon were shuttled to the shelter .
She said the hotel had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been good .
I feel comfortable actually.
” Throughout the day Tuesday , the situation had appeared grave for this stretch of the Mexican coast .
Delta had increased in strength by 80 mph in just 24 hours , and its top winds peaked at 145 mph ( 230 kph ) before it weakened as it neared the shore .
Forecasters warned it was still an extremely dangerous storm nevertheless , with a life-threatening storm surge that could raise water levels 9 to 13 feet ( 2.7 to 4 metres ) , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooding inland .
Thousands of Quintana Roo residents and tourists were hunkering down in government shelters .
Everyone had been ordered off the streets by 7 p.m .
The evacuations of low lying areas , islands and the coastline expanded as Delta exploded over the warm Caribbean waters offshore .
Much of Cancun ’ s hotel zone was cleared out as guests were bused to inland shelters .
In Cancun alone , the government opened 160 shelters .
State tourism officials said more than 40,000 tourists were in Quintana Roo , a fraction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delta ’ s damage comes on top of months of pandemic-induced lockdown that has devastated the state ’ s tourism industry .
At the Cancun Convention Center , 400 tourists from hotels and rental properties bunked for the night .
“ We hope that in this place we are surely much safer , ” Quintana Roo Tourism Secretary Marisol Vanegas said .
“ This is a structure that has withstood other hurricanes.
” Delta was forecast to spend several hours lashing the Yucatan Peninsula before moving into the Gulf of Mexico and growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before striking the U.S. Gulf coast .
People in Louisiana or Mississippi should prepare now for hurricane-force winds to begin hitting their coastlines on Friday , the hurricane centre advised .
Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards said Delta was expected to make landfall there Friday night or Saturday morning and the entire state is in the storm ’ s possible path .
State and local officials in coastal areas were shoring up levees , sandbagging and taking other protections measures , he said .
Louisiana is still recovering from Hurricane Laura , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roared ashore as a Category 4 storm in August .
More than 6,600 Laura evacuees remain in hotels around the state , mainly in New Orleans , because their homes are too heavily damaged to return .
Mexico put the commander of its navy in charge of the federal response .
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Tuesday that 5,000 federal troops and emergency personnel were being made available in Quintana Roo to aid in storm efforts .
Juan Carlos Avila arrived at the Technological Institute of Cancun shelter with his seven-months pregnant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alexander .
He said Tuesday evening the staff had made them comfortable and seemed well prepared .
The family , which lives in Miami , had been in Cancun a week and already went through Tropical Storm Gamma , which soaked the area over the weekend .
“ We ’ ve practically lived in storms during our stay here in Cancun , ” Avila said .
Associated Press writers Gabriel Alcocer in Cancun and Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge , La .
contributed to this report .

Luis AndréS Henao - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Croatia tycoon Todoric acquitted in one trial, more pending

ZAGREB , Croatia - A Croatian court on Wednesday acquitted the country ’ s best-known tycoon in one of the cases related to the collapse of a retail company that has shaken the Balkan region .
The County Court in the capital , Zagreb , on Wednesday ruled that Ivica Todoric and three others were not guilty of charges that they syphoned 1.25 million euros ( $ 1.47 million ) from the firm Agrokor .
The court ruled that there was not enough evidence to prove that the group in 2013 made a fictitious deal between Agrokor and a Swiss-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal .
Todoric has been accused of mismanaging Agrokor and embezzling millions .
He was arrested in London in 2017 and extradited to Croatia .
More proceedings against Todoric are pending .
He has pleaded not guilty , claiming charges against him were politically motivated .
“ The prosecutors have filed a monstrous false indictment , ” he said after the ruling .
“ I am fighting to expose corruption and I have documentation.
” Agrokor had focused on food retailing throughout the Balkans and had thousands of workers before it collapsed under @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--‘Saturday Night Live’ has best season opener since 2016

NEW YORK - The big debate — the one between Alec Baldwin and Jim Carrey — was a winner in the ratings .
“ Saturday Night Live ” scored its biggest season premiere audience in four years and second best in 12 years , emphasizing the importance of presidential election time for the NBC comedy show .
Its “ cold open ” featured Baldwin , portraying President Donald Trump , satirizing last week ’ s debate performance .
Carrey debuted with his impersonation of Democratic opponent Joe Biden .
During a busy week for news and sports , “ Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show , despite starting at 11:35 p.m. on the East Coast , the Nielsen company said .
It was shown live across the country , which meant it aired during prime time in the West .
With 8.24 million viewers , it was the second most-watched “ SNL ” episode since May 2017 , with the exception being last December ’ s triumphant return of Eddie Murphy .
It was also a return to its familiar New York studio for the comedy show , which did a few remote episodes last spring because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratings overshadowed some rough reviews .
“ The Late Shift ” author Bill Carter called it a “ standout — not in a good way ” for some uniformly flat skits .
“ We needed ‘ Saturday Night Live ’ to rise to the occasion for this moment , and it didn ’ t , ” agreed Eric Deggans , critic for National Public Radio .
“ Let ’ s hope the nation ’ s firehose of news will slow a bit , and the show will have time to catch its breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most-watched broadcast network last week , averaging 5.5 million viewers in prime time .
Fox had 3.9 million viewers , ABC had 3.8 million , CBS had 2.7 million , Univision had 1.14 million , Ion Television had 1.11 million and Telemundo had 1 million .
Fox News Channel topped the cable networks with an average of 5.18 million viewers in prime time .
ESPN had 3.9 million , CNN had 2.85 million , MSNBC had 2.8 million and HGTV had 1.16 million .
ABC ’ s “ World News Tonight ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an average of 8.2 million viewers , NBC ’ s “ Nightly News ” had 7.3 million and the “ CBS Evening News ” had 5.4 million .
For the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4 , the top 20 prime-time programs , their networks and viewerships :


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Over 50 arrested in police bust against Barcelona drug dens

BARCELONA , Spain - At least 51 people have been arrested in a massive crackdown on drug dens in and @ @ @ @ @ city of Barcelona , police said Wednesday .
The latest anti-drug operation involved more than @ @ @ @ @ 40 searches in flats in the city centreneighbourhood of Raval and other nearby locations , @ @ @ @ @ regional police force said .
National and local police agents also took part in the @ @ @ @ @ helicopters .
Flats used for storing drugs and as “ narcoflats ” where users look @ @ @ @ @ cocaine fixes have been spreading in the poorest areas of Spain ’ s biggest cities @ @ @ @ @ amounts of people were arrested in the two previous crackdowns , in June 2019 and @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Stolen Mao calligraphy worth millions found cut in half

HONG KONG - A calligraphy scroll by former Chinese leader Mao Zedong estimated to be worth millions of dollars was cut in half after it was stolen last month in a high-profile burglary in Hong Kong , police said .
The scroll was found damaged when police arrested a 49-year-old man in late September on suspicion of handling stolen property .
The South China Morning Post , quoting an unidentified police source , reported that the scroll was cut in two by a buyer who had purchased it for 500 Hong Kong dollars ( $ 65 ) and had believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to our investigation , someone thought that the calligraphy was too long , ” Tony Ho , senior superintendent of the police Organized Crime and Triad Bureau , said at a news conference Tuesday .
“ It was difficult to show it , to display it , and that ’ s why it was cut in half.
” Police said the scroll was part of a multimillion-dollar theft by three burglars from collector Fu Chunxiao ’ s apartment in September .
Fu , who is well known for his collection of stamps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China at the time of the burglary and has not been in Hong Kong since January because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The burglars took 24,000 Chinese postage stamps , 10 coins and seven calligraphy scrolls from Fu ’ s apartment , where he stored his collections .
Fu estimated that the Mao calligraphy was worth about $ 300 million and that the theft totalled about $ 645 million .
No independent appraisals of the collections were available .
Police have arrested three men in relation to the burglary and on suspicion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two people connected to the burglary are still at large , Ho said .
Although some of the stolen items have been found , the 24,000 stamps and six other calligraphy scrolls have not been recovered , police said .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Reward set as Atlanta police seek suspect in actor’s death

ATLANTA - Authorities are offering a $ 10,000 reward as they continue to search for the person who shot actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd in Atlanta .
Best known for his roles in Spike Lee films , Byrd was found dead around 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning on the city ’ s southwest side .
He had been shot multiple times in the back .
The reward was announced Tuesday .
Police have not identified a suspect in the 70-year-old actor ’ s shooting death or said why it may have happened .
Byrd was found shot near his home and died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital .
Robert Calloway told WSB-TV he found Byrd in a yard and ran to a fire station for help .
Calloway didn ’ t know Byrd .
“ I thought he had a health issue .
He was in the yard , ” Callaway said .
Byrd acted in films including “ Clockers , ” “ Chi-Raq , ” “ Bamboozled , ” “ He Got Game ” and “ Da Sweet Blood of Jesus.
” Also a stage actor , Byrd was nominated in 2003 for a Tony award for for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Ma Rainey ’ s Black Bottom , ” co-starring Whoopi Goldberg and Charles S. Dutton .
Police ask anyone with information to call them or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477 , or submit information online at www.StopCrimeATL.com .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--US expresses concern over China link to Cambodian base

PHNOM PENH , Cambodia - The United States expressed disappointment Wednesday that Cambodia is tearing down a U.S.-funded building used for a maritime security program , and voiced concern that the action may be linked to the possible use of a Cambodian naval base by China ’ s military .
“ Such a military presence would negatively impact the U.S.-Cambodia bilateral relationship and be disruptive and destabilizing to the Indo-Pacific region , ” the U.S. State Department said in a statement distributed Wednesday by the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh .
Controversy over the Ream Naval Base on the Gulf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , when The Wall Street Journal reported that an early draft of a reputed agreement seen by U.S. officials would allow China 30-year use of the base , where it would be able to post military personnel , store weapons and berth warships .
The State Department said the U.S. hopes Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will accept Washington ’ s offer of a dialogue to discuss how the United States “ can support infrastructure at Ream that would benefit an independent Cambodia and all nations supportive of a free and open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for influence in Southeast Asia .
China is Cambodia ’ s closest political ally and main source of economic support , through aid and investment .
Relations between Cambodia and the United States are rocky because of Washington ’ s criticisms of Hun Sen ’ s government for being undemocratic .
Concerns about China ’ s intentions for the area were heightened by a deal that gave a Chinese company control over a large part of the coastline , and construction of an airport on its land that appeared to be designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hun Sen in June last year responded that China has not been given exclusive rights to use the base , while also saying that warships from all nations , including the United States , are welcome to dock there .
He pointed out that Cambodia ’ s Constitution does not allow foreign military bases to be established on its soil .
However , the issue was resurrected last week with new reports in Western media about satellite photos showing the demolished facility .
Cambodia on Tuesday issued a statement saying that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Ream base and its relocation in a new building elsewhere was a planned upgrade because the existing facility was too small and lacked docking facilities , with limited capacity for training and other activities , It said the new facility would involve no change in function or relationships with foreign partners .
Hun Sen on Wednesday addressed the controversy again .
Speaking at a ceremony opening an amusement park , he denied that Cambodia was allowing China to establish a base on its territory .
He said that to clarify the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ television to rebroadcast , with English subtitles , his speech last year denying that China was being allowed to set up a base .
He also said he had ordered the Foreign Ministry to send an official diplomatic note to all foreign embassies in Cambodia to let them know his government ’ s position .


thetorontostar--2020-10-07--Johnny Nash, singer of ‘I Can See Clearly Now,’ dies at 80

Johnny Nash , a singer-songwriter , actor and producer who rose from pop crooner to early reggae star to the creator and performer of the million-selling anthem “ I Can See Clearly Now , ” died Tuesday , his son said .
Nash , who had been in declining health , died of natural causes at home in Houston , the city of his birth , his son , Johnny Nash Jr. , told The Associated Press .
He was 80 .
Nash was in his early 30s when “ I Can See Clearly Now ” topped the charts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business lives .
In the mid-1950s , he was a teenager covering “ Darn That Dream ” and other standards , his light tenor likened to the voice of Johnny Mathis .
A decade later , he was co-running a record company , had become a rare American-born singer of reggae and helped launch the career of his friend Bob Marley .
Nash praised “ the vibes of this little island ” when speaking of Jamaica , and he was among the first artists to bring reggae to U.S. audiences .
He peaked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1970s , when he had hits with “ Hold Me Tight , ” “ You Got Soul , ” an early version of Marley ’ s “ Stir It Up ” and “ I Can See Clearly Now , ” still his signature song .
Reportedly written by Nash while recovering from cataract surgery , “ I Can See Clearly Now ” was a story of overcoming hard times that itself raised the spirits of countless listeners , with its swelling pop-reggae groove , promise of a “ bright , bright sunshiny day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midway , “ Look straight ahead , nothing but blue skies !
” , a backing chorus lifting the words into the heavens .
The rock critic Robert Christgau would call the song , which Nash also produced , “ 2 minutes and 48 seconds of undiluted inspiration.
” Although overlooked by Grammys judges , “ I Can See Clearly Now ” was covered by artists ranging from Ray Charles and Donny Osmond to Soul Asylum and Jimmy Cliff , whose version was featured in the 1993 movie “ Cool Runnings.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Louise ” to a Windex commercial , and in recent years was often referred to on websites about cataract procedures .
“ I feel that music is universal .
Music is for the ears and not the age , ” Nash told Cameron Crowe , then writing for Zoo World Magazine , in 1973 .
“ There are some people who say that they hate music .
I ’ ve run into a few , but I ’ m not sure I believe them.
” The fame of “ I Can See @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own .
He rarely made the charts in the years following , even as he released such albums as “ Tears On My Pillow ” and “ Celebrate Life , ” and by the 1990s had essentially left the business .
His last album , “ Here Again , ” came out in 1986 , although in recent years he was reportedly digitizing his old work , some of which was lost in a 2008 fire at Universal Studios in Los Angeles .
Nash was married three times , and had two children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childhood and as an adult lived with his family on a ranch in Houston , where for years he also managed rodeo shows at the Johnny Nash Indoor Arena .
In addition to his son , he is survived by daughter Monica and wife Carli Nash .
John Lester Nash Jr. , whose father was a chauffeur , grew up singing in church and by age 13 had his own show on Houston television .
Within a few years , he had a national following through his appearances on “ The Arthur Godfrey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doris Day ’ s “ A Very Special Love ” and a collaboration with peers Paul Anka and George Hamilton IV on the wholesome “ The Teen Commandments ( of Love ) .
” He also had roles in the films “ Take a Giant Step , ” in which he starred as a high school student rebelling against how the Civil War is taught , and “ Key Witness , ” a crime drama starring Dennis Hopper and Jeffrey Hunter .
His career faded during the first half of the 1960s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and renewed success , in the mid-60s after having a rhythm and blues hit with “ Let ’ s Move and Groove Together ” and meeting Marley and fellow Wailers Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston during a visit to Jamaica .
Over the next few years their careers would be closely aligned .
Nash convinced his manager and business partner Danny Sims , with whom he formed JAD Records , to sign up Marley and the Wailers , who recorded “ Reggae On Broadway ” and dozens of other songs for JAD .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 1970s when Nash was the bigger star internationally and with Marley gave an impromptu concert at a local boys school .
Nash ’ s covers of “ Stir It Up ” and “ Guava Jelly ” helped expose Marley ’ s writing to a general audience .
The two also collaborated on the ballad “ You Poured Sugar On Me , ” which appeared on the “ I Can See Clearly Now ” album .
After the 1980s , Nash became a mystery to fans and former colleagues as he stopped recording @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press or anyone in the music industry .
In 1973 , he told Crowe that he anticipated years of hard work : “ What I want to do is be a part of this business and to express myself and get some kind of acceptance by making people happy.
” A quarter century later , he explained to The Gleaner during a visit to Jamaica that it was “ difficult to develop major music projects ” without touring and promoting and that he preferred to be with his family .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the people I ’ ve had the chance to meet .
I never won the Grammy , but I don ’ t put my faith in things of that nature , ” he added .
“ A lifetime body of work I can be proud of is more important to me .
And the special folksy blend to the music I make , that ’ s what it is all about.
” AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this story from Los Angeles .
Italie reported from New York .