thetorontostar--2020-06-22--Professor who asked student to “Anglicize” name put on leave

OAKLAND , Calif. - A professor at a San Francisco Bay Area community college has been put on leave after asking a Vietnamese-American student to “ Anglicize ” her name because it sounds like a vulgarity in English , school officials confirmed .
Laney College President Tammeil Gilkerson said that as soon as campus leaders learned of the comments , an unnamed faculty member was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation , the East Bay Times reported .
Freshman Phuc Bui Diem Nguyen told KGO-TV last week that on her second day of classes at the college in Oakland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trigonometry professor , Matthew Hubbard , asking her to use a different name .
“ On the surface this incident is obviously disturbing and comes after decades of discussing and working to combat structural racism , xenophobia , and violence “ against the Black and Asian Pacific Islander community , Gilkerson said .
Hubbard said in an email to The Associated Press that he was sorry for his mistakes “ and the pain they caused so many.
” He declined to elaborate .
About 30 per cent of the college ’ s more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said people would ask how to pronounce her name when they didn ’ t know how while she was growing up .
“ He ’ s being an ignorant person and not trying to learn my name , ” she said of the professor .
Emails exchanged between Hubbard and Nguyen shared on social media show Hubbard wrote to her saying her name “ sounds like an insult in English.
” Nguyen responded that his request “ feels discriminatory ” and warned the professor she would file a complaint with the school if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her given birth name .
Hubbard wrote her back repeating the request , saying he would change his name if he lived in Vietnam and it was offensive .
“ I understand you are offended , but you need to understand your name is an offensive sound in my language , ” he wrote .
After the emails went viral on social media Thursday , Hubbard tweeted an apology that read : “ I apologize for my insensitive actions which caused pain and anger to my student , and which have now caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people who read my two inappropriate emails on the internet.
” He has since deleted his Twitter account


thetorontostar--2020-06-22--Biden campaign commits to 3 general election debates

WASHINGTON - Joe Biden ’ s campaign said Monday that the presumptive Democratic nominee would commit to participating in three debates , and slammed a push by President Trump ’ s advisers for an additional debate as an “ effort to change the subject.
” “ Our position is straightforward and clear : Joe Biden will accept the Commission ’ s debates , on the Commission ’ s dates , under the Commission ’ s established format and the Commission ’ s independent choice of moderators , ” said Biden Campaign Manager Jen O ’ Malley Dillon in a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the non-profit group that sponsors general election debates , which was obtained by The Associated Press .
“ Donald Trump and Mike Pence should do the same.
” “ Any ‘ debate proposals ’ in lieu of that are just an effort to change the subject , avoid debates , or create a distracting ‘ debate about debates , ’ ” she added .
The letter , which was first reported by The Washington Post , came in response to a request made by Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale and former New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , earlier debate to the current schedule of three .
They also proposed that each campaign have a role in selecting the debate moderators .
Trump ’ s team noted absentee and mail voting is being expanded because of the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed concern that some ballots — especially those by elderly voters most at risk to the virus — could be cast before the first debate .
The first is scheduled for Sept. 29 at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana , the second on October 15 at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third for a week later , Oct. 22 , at Belmont University in Nashville , Tenn .
The seeming acceptance that a vast number of this year ’ s votes will be cast by mail marks a change for the campaign .
Both Giuliani and Trump have criticized widespread mail voting and claimed without evidence that mail ballots are ripe for fraud .
In the Monday letter , O ’ Malley Dillon also pointed out that the Trump campaign ’ s request for more debates marked a shift from December , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debates altogether .
That shift comes as Trump ’ s campaign has been seeking to paint Biden as mentally unsuited for the presidency , pointing to some of his verbal flubs on the campaign trail and lambasting the former vice-president for campaigning “ from his basement ” during the pandemic , as Trump hit the campaign trail for his first rally during the pandemic this past weekend .
Indeed , in a statement on the Biden campaign ’ s refusal to engage in additional debates , Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to send the Democrat out in unscripted situations , noting it ’ s been more than 80 days since Biden held a press conference .
“ An earlier and longer debate schedule is necessary so Americans can see the clear difference between President Trump ’ s vibrant leadership and Biden ’ s confused meandering , ” he said .
In the Monday letter , O ’ Malley also asked that the CPD confirm that it ’ s formulating safety plans to ensure that the debates will go on despite the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held in a town hall format , which would allow voters to ask questions of each candidate .
“ The Trump campaign proposal for elaborate negotiations is merely an effort to dodge fair , even-handed debates , ” O ’ Malley Dillon wrote .

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thetorontostar--2020-06-22--New law lifts secrecy from Garner officer’s complaint file

NEW YORK - After years of secrecy , a contentious leak to a news website and a recent change in state law , New York City ’ s police watchdog agency disclosed Monday the complaint history for the police officer fired for the 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner .
Records showing former Officer Daniel Pantaleo was the subject of seven misconduct complaints prior to Garner ’ s death were provided to the Associated Press by the Civilian Complaint Review Board in response to a request under a new state law making police disciplinary files public .
Pantaleo ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now-defunct website Think Progress in 2017 amid a legal dispute over whether the records could be made public .
At the time , state law shielded police personnel files from disclosure .
A review board investigator resigned after being identified as the leaker .
The cloak-and-dagger approach to the records changed this month when state lawmakers , spurred by protests over George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis , changed a law that for decades had blocked police disciplinary records from public disclosure .
The Civilian Complaint Review Board moved quickly to respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The agency on Monday also provided complaint histories for several other officers recently accused of misconduct .
Officer Vincent D ’ Andraia , who was charged with assault after a bystander recorded him violently shoving a protester to the ground on May 29 , had five complaints in his five years on the force .
The review board substantiated just one of them , stemming from a frisking incident last year , and recommended he receive additional training .
Officer Francisco Garcia , who faces disciplinary charges after a violent arrest during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the subject of complaints in four prior cases , none of which resulted in discipline .
A complaint last December that Garcia used offensive , gender-related language was closed because of pending litigation .
As for Pantaleo , allegations were substantiated in two of the cases reported to the review board and he was docked two vacation days as punishment for a June 2012 stop and frisk incident , according to the records .
Another substantiated complaint to the city ’ s Civilian Complaint Review Board , stemming from a December 2011 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive additional training .
The review board ’ s records do not necessarily reflect all disciplinary matters involving Pantaleo or other officers .
The NYPD , which also investigates complaints through its internal affairs bureau , has yet to respond to a request for its disciplinary records .
Then-police commissioner James O ’ Neill fired Pantaleo last August , more than five years after Garner ’ s death , following the recommendation of the administrative judge who presided over his department disciplinary trial .
Bystander video showed Pantaleo , who is white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Garner , who is Black , for about seven seconds as they struggled against a glass storefront window and fell to a Staten Island sidewalk .
Officers were trying to arrest Garner for selling untaxed cigarettes .
Garner ’ s dying gasps of “ I can ’ t breathe ” have again become a rallying cry among police reform activists after Floyd echoed those words as a Minneapolis officer pressed a knee into his neck , leading to his death last month .
Pantaleo joined the force in 2006 .
It wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subject of a review board complaint — an unsubstantiated allegation that he refused to obtain medical treatment for someone .
The last complaint prior to Garner ’ s death was an unsubstantiated use of force claim in March 2013 .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Fauci hopeful for a vaccine by late 2020, early 2021

WASHINGTON - Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday he is cautiously optimistic there will be a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year or early 2021 , but warned that the next few weeks will be critical to tamping down coronavirus hot spots around the country .
Fauci and other top health officials also said they have not been asked to slow down testing for coronavirus , a controversial issue after President Donald Trump said last weekend that he had asked them to do just that because it was uncovering too many infections .
Trump said earlier in the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We will be doing more testing , ” Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious disease expert , told a House committee .
The U.S. has tested more than 27 million people , with about 2.3 million – or 8.4 % -- testing positive .
The health officials returned to Capitol Hill at a fraught moment in the nation ’ s pandemic response , with coronavirus cases rising in about half the states and political polarization competing for attention with public health recommendations .
“ We ’ ve been hit badly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was “ really quite concerned ” about rising community spread in some states , including Arizona , which Trump was visiting Tuesday to view construction of a border wall and for a rally at a megachurch .
“ The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges , ” he said .
Fauci , who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , was testifying along with Centers for Disease Control director Dr. Robert Redfield , Federal Drug Administration chief Dr. Stephen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health Service , Adm. Brett Giroir .
Since Fauci ’ s last appearance at a high-profile hearing more than a month ago , the U.S. has begun emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns .
But it ’ s being done in an uneven way , with some states far less cautious than others .
A trio of states with Republican governors who are bullish on reopening — Arizona , Florida and Texas — are among those seeing worrisome increases in cases .
Last week , Vice-President Mike Pence published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal saying the administration ’ s efforts have strengthened the nation ’ s ability to counter the virus and should be “ a cause for celebration.
” Then at his weekend rally in Tulsa , Trump called for slowing testing .
White House officials later tried to walk back Trump ’ s comment , suggesting it wasn ’ t meant to be taken literally .
Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey , who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee , said during Tuesday ’ s hearing that Trump ’ s testing comment at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action , and unfortunately it continues the president ’ s pattern of ignoring the advice of his own public health experts.
” Trump played down those comments Tuesday , saying under his administration the U.S. is doing more testing than any other country .
Fauci has recently warned that the U.S. is still in the first wave of the pandemic and has continued to urge the American public to practice social distancing .
And , in a recent ABC News interview , he said political demonstrations such as protests against racial injustice are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked if that applied to Trump rallies , he said it did .
Fauci continues to recognize widespread testing as critical for catching clusters of COVID-19 cases before they turn into full outbreaks in a given community .
About 2.3 million Americans have been sickened in the pandemic , and some 120,000 have died , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Giroir was tapped by the White House to oversee the expansion of coronavirus testing .
But he gained notoriety after a whistleblower complaint flagged him for trying to push a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 without conclusive scientific evidence .
The FDA has since withdrawn its emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine .
“ There have been a lot of unfortunate missteps in the Trump administration ’ s response to the COVID-19 pandemic , “ Pallone said .
” As communities across the country ease social distancing guidance and reopen their economies , it is critically important that both the administration and Congress remain focused on containing the spread of the coronavirus and providing the resources and support Americans need during this time of crisis.
” There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are no treatments specifically developed for the disease , although the antiviral drug remdesivir has been shown to help some patients , as well as a steroid called dexamethasone , and plasma from patients who have recovered .
Since Fauci last testified , hospital physicians have become more skilled in treating coronavirus patients with the techniques and medications at their disposal .
The U.S. continues to ramp up testing , with some 27.5 million Americans , or more than 8 % of the population , tested thus far .
But most communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing contact tracing , the work of identifying people who have had interactions with an infected person .
That could make it more difficult to tamp down emerging outbreaks .
The Energy and Commerce Committee has oversight over drugs and vaccines , among other facets of the U.S. health care system .
Committee Democrats have been harshly critical of the administration .
However , not all Republicans have lined up to defend the White House .
Some GOP members were growing concerned early in the year that the administration wasn ’ t doing @ @ @ @

Lauran Neergaard And Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Court: Montana family owns dinosaur fossils worth millions

HELENA , Mont .
- Dinosaur fossils worth millions of dollars unearthed on a Montana ranch belong to the owners of the land ’ s surface rights , not the owners of the mineral rights , a U.S. appeals court ruled .
The June 17 ruling by the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2016 decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters of Billings that found dinosaur fossils were part of the surface estate , not the mineral estate , in cases of split ownership .
The surface rights where the fossils were found are owned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The composition of minerals found in the fossils does not make them valuable or worthless , ” Watters wrote .
“ Instead the value turns on characteristics other than mineral composition , such as the completeness of the specimen , the species of dinosaur and how well it is preserved.
” Brothers Jerry and Bo Severson , who owned two-thirds of the mineral rights on property once owned by their father , appealed Watters ’ decision to the 9th Circuit .
A three-judge panel of the appeals court overturned Watters ’ ruling in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a larger panel of judges to hear the case .
In the meantime , the 2019 Montana Legislature passed a bill stating that dinosaur fossils are part of a property ’ s surface estate unless they are reserved as part of the mineral estate .
Before making its decision , the 9th Circuit asked Montana ’ s Supreme Court to rule on whether fossils were minerals under state law because at the time the case was filed , there was not a definitive law .
In a 4-3 ruling last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not considered minerals under state law .
“ Because Mary Ann and Lige Murray are the undisputed owners of the surface estate here ... the ( Montana ) Supreme Court ’ s decision requires a resolution in their favour , ” Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas wrote on behalf of himself and 10 other members of the 9th Circuit .
Eric Nord , the attorney for the Murrays , declined to comment Tuesday .
Shane Swindle , an attorney for the Seversons , did not immediately return phone or email messages seeking comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the U.S. Supreme Court .
The dinosaurs unearthed on the ranch include a T. rex found in 2013 , a triceratops skull discovered in 2011 and the 2006 discovery of a pair of dinosaurs that appeared to have been locked in battle when they died .
The T. rex was sold for millions of dollars .
The so-called dueling dinosaurs drew a bid of $ 5.5 million in a 2014 auction , but failed to reach the $ 6 million reserve price .
In a legal effort to clarify the ownership of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , the Murrays sought a court order saying they owned the fossils , sparking the legal battle .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Phils say 2 more players, 2 staffers test positive; 12 total

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Phillies say two more players and two additional staff numbers have tested positive COVID-19 , spiking the number of total members in the organization who have the virus to 12 .
The Phillies said Tuesday all other tests within the organization have come back negative .
One of the two players tested positive outside the team ’ s spring complex in Clearwater , Florida .
The Phillies did not identify anyone affected by COVID-19 .
The Phillies shut their spring complex after five players tested positive on Friday for COVID-19 .
Philadelphia became the first big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outbreak .
Three staff members at the camp also tested positive , and the Phillies didn ’ t identify any of those affected .
MLB responded Friday night by shutting down all 30 spring-training sites in Florida and Arizona , states that have seen a recent spike in coronavirus cases , and ordering that they undergo thorough cleansing and sanitizing .
The cases come as Major League Baseball moves closer to implementing a 60-game schedule for its shortest season since 1878 after the players ’ association rejected a negotiated deal of the @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Floodwaters soak homes, cut roads in Serbia and Bosnia

BELGRADE , Serbia - Serbia has introduced emergency measures in a number of municipalities after heavy rains in the past few days caused widespread damage and floodwaters burst into homes and cutting off roads , authorities said Tuesday .
Surging rivers led to around 700 houses being flooded in western and central Serbia , according to public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia .
Some 70 families in the western town of Ljubovija and hundreds more in central Serbia were forced to evacuate their homes .
Serbian army personnel stepped in to help bolster flood defences in some areas .
Local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said some people were moved to a local sports hall while electricity and water supplies had to be switched off .
A local official in Ljubovija , Milan Kovacevic , described the situation there as “ dramatic “ after the Ljubovidja river overwhelmed flood protection in some places .
Dozens of people have been left without electricity or water .
“ Everyone was doing their best to beef up the banks , but it wasn ’ t enough , “ he told RTS .
The broadcaster reported that three bridges in the town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snarled as the rivers burst their banks and there are mounting concerns of landslides .
In neighbouring Bosnia , a landslide cut a key road connecting the central town of Tuzla with the capital Sarajevo .
Floods also have hit a western area in Bosnia , damaging roads , bridges and houses in the Balkan country .
Both Serbia and Bosnia were hit by major flooding in 2014 when dozens of people died and entire towns were soaked under water .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Rural Missouri pastor: Virus ‘just started to sprout up’

O ’ FALLON , Mo .
- Pastor Joshua Manning is waiting for test results , but he can tell by the persistent fever and body aches that he probably has the coronavirus .
His wife and three kids have symptoms , too , and so many members of his Community Baptist Church in tiny Noel , Missouri , are infected that he ’ s closing the building until things improve .
“ We did all the things we were supposed to do , ” Manning , 41 , said .
“ We shut down for two months .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up.
” Have they ever .
At the start of June , McDonald County in the far southwestern corner of Missouri had fewer than two dozen confirmed cases of COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus .
As of Tuesday , 498 cases have been confirmed , many of them tied to the Tyson Foods chicken processing plant in Noel .
Meat processing plants across the U.S. have been stung by outbreaks , including plants in other parts of Missouri .
Few places , though , have been hit like McDonald County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , only six other Missouri counties and the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City have recorded more cases .
Last week , Missouri health officials began testing all 1,400 workers at the Tyson plant .
Results are expected to be announced soon , along with the state ’ s plan to address the outbreak .
People from neighbouring areas also work at the plant .
Newton County , just to the north , has also seen a spike in cases , with 279 , most of those announced this month .
McDonald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south and Oklahoma to the west — is known for soaring bluffs , waterfalls and breath-taking beauty along the Elk River , a popular spot for camping and float trips .
Noel itself is named for a founding family , but the yuletide-sounding name prompts thousands of Christmas cards and letters each December to be sent to the Noel Post Office so they can be stamped from “ The Christmas City.
” The arrival of immigrants to work at the Tyson plant has resulted in a unique and diverse community .
Manning said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the town of 1,800 residents , and his church hosts services where five languages are spoken .
The Spanish language pastor is hospitalized with COVID-19 , Manning said .
Manning wonders if government leaders shouldn ’ t have flipped their approach to slowing the spread of the coronavirus .
“ We were shut down for two months with no cases within 100 miles of here , and now ’ s the situation where we need to be shut down , ” Manning said .
“ I will be fine .
My family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be older people .
I want to keep them away from the church , keep them at home , because I don ’ t want that risk for them.
” Missouri was among the earliest states to start to reopen , and statewide restrictions were lifted effective June 16 .
Republican Gov .
Mike Parson frequently urges Missourians to use common sense , but the McDonald County Health Department is going further , stressing the need to avoid gatherings beyond immediate family , to wear a mask when leaving home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tyson said in a statement that its top priority is “ the health and safety of our team members , their families and our communities.
” The company said it has put in place protective measures that include symptom screenings for all employees before every shift , mandatory face masks , social distancing requirements and physical barriers between work stations .
McDonald County Presiding Commissioner Bill Lant said the outbreak was surprising given the county ’ s sparse population spread out over 600 square miles ( 1,550 square kilometres ) , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have tested positive have shown mild symptoms or no symptoms at all .
Only a few people have been hospitalized , and the county has reported no deaths .
“ I think we will be fine , it ’ s just a matter of working together , and we are , ” Lant said .
“ Everybody ’ s singing out of the same hymn book .
”


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Bars close, cities debate masks as Florida virus cases rise

ORLANDO , Fla. - A popular bar where dozens of workers and patrons have contracted the coronavirus became Florida ’ s first to have its liquor license suspended since bars and pubs reopened earlier this month , after a state inspector found patrons weren ’ t socially distancing and following other restrictions .
At least 13 employees and 28 patrons have tested positive for COVID-19 at the The Knight ’ s Pub , a bar popular with students from nearby University of Central Florida , the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation said late Monday in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bar could be much higher .
Dr. Raul Pino , a state health officer in Orlando , said Monday , without naming the establishment , that a bar near the University of Central Florida campus had been linked to 152 coronavirus cases .
The coronavirus-related license suspension comes as Florida ’ s caseload surpassed the 100,000-person mark this week and scores of bars and restaurants across Florida have voluntarily closed for a short time because patrons or workers came down with the virus .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis on Tuesday warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspectors with the state licensing office — “ the grim reaper here “ — and , after a warning , those not following social distancing and other guidelines meant to stop the virus ’ spread would lose their liquor licenses .
“ The guidelines are in place for a reason .
We want environments that aren ’ t going to be a huge risk of transmissions , “ DeSantis said at a news conference at a hospital in Orlando .
“ If you go in , and it ’ s Dance Party USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s not cut-and-dry .
There ’ s no tolerance for that.
” Florida had 103,503 cases on Tuesday , a daily jump of 3,286 cases .
Florida also reported 3,238 deaths , an increase of 64 from the previous day .
The newly announced cases ranged from the top federal prosecutor in Tallahassee to 11 athletes on different teams at the University of Florida .
State senate Democrats on Tuesday criticized DeSantis for refusing to issue a statewide order mandating the wearing of masks in public .
They said he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing little to address it .
“ We ’ re not looking at the second wave , but this is the first wave on steroids , and we ’ re sitting here not taking it seriously , ” said state Sen. Perry Thurston of Fort Lauderdale .
Last week , several municipalities , including Tampa , Orange County , home to Orlando , and the Florida Keys , required that everyone wear face masks in public .
Several other municipalities are weighing the question .
St. Petersburg ’ s mayor signed an order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enclosed businesses , and mayors in Miami-Dade cities also issued similar rules .
Lakeland officials rejected the requirement as too difficult to enforce , and Palm Beach County was close to passing one on Tuesday .
Universal and SeaWorld , both in Orlando , as well as Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa , have opened back up in recent weeks .
Walt Disney World is set to reopen next month after being closed since mid-March , but some Disney World workers are petitioning the theme park resort to delay its opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 5,000 signatures from workers and their family members .
Disney World has a workforce of 77,000 employees .
“ With the recent spikes in COVID-19 cases in Florida , the plan to reopen theme parks should be re-evaluated , “ the petition said .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up within weeks .
For some , especially older adults and those with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness or be fatal .
AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spencer in Fort Lauderdale contributed to this report .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--The Latest: Lexington, Ky., sees 90-minute voting wait times

WASHINGTON - The Latest on a handful of primary elections across the United States ( all times local ) : Voting appears to be running smoother than in primaries held two weeks earlier in Georgia and Nevada .
While there were reports of some voters in New York and Kentucky having to cast ballots in person Tuesday after not receiving an absentee ballot , it did not appear to be causing the long lines that were seen in places like Milwaukee and Atlanta .
The longest wait times were reported at the lone voting site in Lexington , Kentucky .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ added two more check-in stations after turnout remained steady into the late morning , with voters reporting a wait time of about an hour and a half .
“ Usually we get a pretty big rush in the morning , ” Blevins said .
“ That we expected , but usually it dies down around late morning .
That didn ’ t happen.
” Wait times were minimal in Jefferson County , though voting advocates said they were concerned that the lone polling place for the entire Louisville area was too difficult for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City , much of the complaints fielded by voter protection groups centred on polling places that opened late and voters reporting they had not received both pages of their ballot .
In Louisville , voters encountered only mild traffic on their way into the Kentucky fairgrounds .
Inside the polling site , some chairs for volunteers were left empty , as crowds moved through to cast their ballots in small groups spaced apart .
“ They should have more ( elections ) like this .
You can get in and get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an African-American woman who said that she did not have to wait in lines like she normally would .
Michael Baker was dissatisfied with the polling location because it was far away from where he lived in the West End .
He noted that most people in his neighbourhood don ’ t have cars .
Baker voted for state Rep. Charles Booker in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate .
“ I heard people say to me that would take away a lot of votes from Amy ( McGrath ) , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American brother , I want to use my vote for another brother to try and get into office , to hope that we can get some change.
” For some voters in Shelbyville , Kentucky , the state of America was a big factor in how they cast their ballots .
For that reason , they voted for President Donald Trump and other Republicans .
Explaining his vote for Trump , health care worker Tony Parada said , “ Not that I ’ m a fan of the gentleman necessarily , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I feel like that ’ s an underpinning of a lot of American politics nowadays.
” Jerry and Libby Claypool said they were fearful of what might happen if Democrats won .
“ I feel if Republicans don ’ t stay in power , this country is going to hell , ” Jerry Claypool said .
“ I feel like what ’ s going on right now is very , very scary , “ his wife , Libby Claypool , added .
She said she thinks people started out protesting nicely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction and it breaks her heart .
Neither Parada nor the Claypools , all of whom are white , had reservations about voting in person .
“ I ’ ve lived through a lot of diseases and yes , this is a bad one , but let ’ s get real .
We ’ re not all going to die from it , “ said Libby Claypool , who said she ’ s nearly 80 .
Kentucky ’ s two biggest cities are trying something new this year because of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big site in each city .
So far , it seems to be working out , despite heavy rainfall in Kentucky .
In Louisville , the state ’ s largest city with 600,000 residents , voters are being shuttled to the Kentucky Exposition Center from satellite lots .
Large crowds were flowing through the convention centre so quickly Tuesday morning that there was no need for people to stand at wait at the many social distancing markers on the floor .
“ It was in and out , no waiting at all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American explosives expert who works as a consultant to law enforcement and the military .
But he wasn ’ t able to vote in the Democratic Party primary like he wanted to because he ’ s a registered independent .
He ended up switching parties and said : “ Now I should be set for November.
” In Lexington , the state ’ s second-largest city with 323,000 people , voters are being sent into the hallways of the University of Kentucky ’ s football stadium .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Mall evacuated after package found near Wisconsin GOP office

HUDSON , Wis. - Police in western Wisconsin evacuated a mall and called in a bomb squad after a package made out of a military-grade ammunition can was found Tuesday outside a local Republican Party campaign office .
Officers in Hudson were sent to the scene just before 9 a.m. Police said the package has been identified as a potential threat and the area has been cordoned off , the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported .
Hudson officials placed trucks full of dirt in front of the GOP headquarters , and a bomb squad has been dispatched from Wausau , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
No one was in the office when the package was discovered , Willems said .
“ We have differences in our views , in our philosophies , and our vision for America , but violence or threats of violence can not stand because such actions lead to potential destruction that can ’ t be overcome , ” Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Andrew Hitt said in a statement .
A safety perimeter was set up and a local mall was evacuated .
Police said they are working with several agencies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public to avoid the area .
The investigation is ongoing .
Hudson is a town of about 14,000 located 25 miles ( 40 kilometres ) east of Minneapolis .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--LIVE: Mourners bid farewell to Rayshard Brooks at historic Atlanta church

ATLANTA - Scores of mourners , some dressed all in white and others wearing Black Lives Matter shirts , gathered at the historic Atlanta church that was the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s pulpit for a funeral Tuesday for the Black man whose killing by police in a fast-food parking lot stoked protests across the U.S. against racial injustice .
“ We are here because individuals continue to hide behind badges and trainings and policies and procedures rather than regarding the humanity of others in general and Black lives specifically , ” the Rev .
Bernice King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter , said at the private service at Ebenezer Baptist Church .
She noted ruefully that the killing took place in Atlanta , the “ Black mecca “ and “ the city that is supposed to be ` too busy to hate.
’ ” But in a powerful echo of her father ’ s “ I Have a Dream ” speech , she declared : “ Rayshard Brooks ’ death will not be in vain because justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
” Brooks ’ widow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and friends dressed in white .
Former state lawmaker Stacey Abrams and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms , both of whom have been mentioned as potential running mates for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , were there .
Some mourners wore T-shirts with Brooks ’ picture .
Nearly everyone wore masks against the coronavirus .
“ We would be dishonest if we did not discuss what got us here in the first place , ” said the Rev .
Raphael Warnock , senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist .
“ Rayshard Brooks is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice and a battle for the soul of America .
This is about him , but it is so much bigger than him.
” He recited a long list of names of Black people to die at the hands of police in recent years , including Eric Garner , Michael Brown , Philando Castile and George Floyd , lamenting in front of the congregation : “ Sadly we ’ ve gotten too much practice at this.
” Brooks , 27 , was shot twice in the back June 12 by Officer Garrett Rolfe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to handcuff him for being intoxicated behind the wheel of his car at a Wendy ’ s drive-thru .
Video showed Brooks snatching a police Taser and firing it at the white officer while running away .
Rolfe , 27 , was charged with murder and jailed without bail .
A second officer , Devin Brosnan , 26 , was charged with aggravated assault , accused of stepping on Brooks ’ shoulder as he lay dying on the pavement .
Lawyers for both men said their clients ’ actions were justified .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence set off around the country by the case of George Floyd , the Black man who was pronounced dead May 25 after a white Minneapolis put his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for nearly eight minutes .
Atlanta ’ s police chief stepped down less than 24 hours after Brooks ’ death , and the Wendy ’ s was burned by protesters .
While Brooks was not a member of Ebenezer Baptist , the church where King preached is a “ sanctuary for those who suffer , ” Warnock said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry offered financial help for the service , according to the statement .
An afternoon bail hearing for Rolfe that would have conflicted with the funeral was cancelled by a judge .
Under the law , crime victims and their families are entitled to be heard at such proceedings .
Meanwhile , a new poll that finds nearly all Americans favour at least some change to the nation ’ s criminal justice system , and they overwhelmingly want to see clear standards on when police officers may use force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line .
The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research said 29 % think the criminal justice system needs “ a complete overhaul , ” 40 % say it needs “ major changes , ” and 25 % say it needs “ minor changes.
” Just 5 % believe no changes are necessary .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Rides, water parks, playgrounds reopening from COVID-19

TRENTON , N.J. - Amusement and water parks , along with playgrounds across New Jersey can reopen July 2 from the COVID-19 pause , Gov .
Phil Murphy said Tuesday .
The parks must limit capacity to 50 % and face masks must be worn by workers and attendees “ where practicable , “ the governor said .
The announcement includes rides at shore resorts , he added .
The state reported nearly 400 new case since Monday , for a total of 169,000 positive cases .
There were 57 more deaths reported since Monday putting the overall death toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a day after the governor said casinos and indoor dining could restart also on July 2 , but at 25 % capacity .
The state is in Stage 2 of three of reopening from the virus .
Salons , barbershops and tattoo and massage parlours also reopened this week .
For most people , the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness or death .
A look at other developments : Murphy ’ s administration and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represents about 32,000 state workers , reached a deal to furlough employees instead of laying them off , the governor said Tuesday .
Murphy declined to offer any details about the agreement , saying workers still needed to ratify the deal .
The state ’ s budget faces a $ 10 billion hole over the current and next fiscal years , Murphy has said .
A quirky illuminated boat parade is among the latest casualties of the coronavirus outbreak .
Ocean City ’ s Night In Venice boat parade will not be held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fireworks .
Mayor Jay Gillian made the announcements Monday night .
He says the large crowds those events typically draw , combined with the already large volume of visitors Ocean City is seeing this year , make it unsafe to hold the boat parade or fireworks .
Murphy said there are too many reports of fireworks being set off across the state .
Fireworks are illegal in New Jersey , but are easily accessible , for example at shops along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania .
“ We ’ re hearing far too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is no way to blow off steam.
“ Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Family says sister of prominent Egyptian activist arrested

CAIRO - The family of a leading Egyptian pro-democracy activist , who was arrested amid a clampdown following anti-government protests last year , said his youngest sister was detained Tuesday .
Sanaa Seif , the youngest sister of Alaa Abdel-Fattah , was taken into an unmarked white van by what her family believes were officers dressed in plain clothes from outside the public prosecutor ’ s headquarters in Cairo .
The family had been to the prosecutor ’ s office to file a complaint about an alleged attack outside Cairo ’ s Tora prison complex the previous day , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no immediate statement from authorities on Sanaa Seif ’ s detention and a government media officer said he was not available for comment .
Sanaa Seif appeared less than two hours after being detained at the State Security Prosecution office in another Cairo neighbourhood , her older sister said , though it was not clear what charges the 26-year-old faces .
The family of activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah had been going daily for a week to Tora prison hoping to receive a letter from Alaa that prison officials had promised they would pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of posts on social media .
In their posts , they said a group of women attacked them when they were sleeping outside the prison complex , beating the two sisters and their mother — all of them activists — and stealing their belongings while security officials stood nearby .
“ Sanaa came to join us at the public prosecutor ’ s officer so the prosecutors could see the bruises on her body from yesterday ’ s attack , ” Mona Seif said .
Alaa Abdel-Fattah , who rose to prominence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was among more than 2,900 people who activists say were arrested following the small and rare September protests that demanded President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi step down .
His arrest on Sept. 29 , 2019 came after he had been released in March following five years in prison for taking part in a peaceful protest against the military trials of civilians .
Philip Luther , Amnesty International ’ s research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa , said Sanaa Seif ’ s arrest outside the public prosecutor ’ s headquarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security forces have become.
” “ The Public Prosecutor now has a choice : either to uphold the law and investigate the attacks against Sanaa Seif and her family , including the role of the security forces in yesterday ’ s assault , or to be complicit with the security forces in targeting Sanaa Seif and her family simply for questioning her brother ’ s arbitrary detention and inquiring about his health amid a pandemic , ” he said .
Prosecutors ordered Sanaa Seif detained for 15 days pending an investigation into charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorist crimes and misuse of social media , Mona Seif said .
Abdel-Fattah had been detained several times before under different governments for lobbying for civil rights on social media and in public .
An influential blogger , he hails from a family of political activists , lawyers and writers .
His late father was one of Egypt ’ s most tireless rights lawyers and his sisters are also political activists .
His aunt is award-winning novelist Ahdaf Soueif .
To many , Abdel-Fattah ’ s imprisonment in 2013 after el-Sissi rose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed draconian laws banning public gatherings and unauthorized demonstrations — was another sign of Egypt ’ s return to autocratic rule .
El-Sissi led the military ’ s removal in 2013 of the country ’ s first democratically elected Islamist president , Mohammed Morsi .
Morsi ’ s one-year rule proved divisive , sparking nationwide protests .
Since then , el-Sissi has overseen an unprecedented crackdown on dissent and media , silencing critics and jailing thousands .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Flood of mail-in votes tests elections in Kentucky, New York

LOUISVILLE , Ky. - Overwhelmed Kentucky and New York officials faced a deluge of mail-in votes likely to delay results for days after high-profile primaries Tuesday , contests testing whether establishment Democratic congressional candidates can withstand challengers fueled by voter fury over racism .
There was particular concern about how voting might play out in Louisville , Kentucky .
The state ’ s largest city and hometown of a serious challenger for the Democratic nomination for the Senate , Louisville — population nearly 600,000 — had just one in-person polling place .
But voting was moving smoothly early Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exposition Center so quickly that there was no need for people to stand and wait at the many social-distancing markers on the floor .
Each of the city ’ s local districts was replicated inside the vast convention centre , and plenty of poll workers were available to direct voters to their designated areas to cast their ballots .
And while masks weren ’ t required , the overwhelming majority of voters appeared to wear them .
Outside , buses shuttled people from huge parking lots to the centre ’ s doors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) like this .
You can get in and get out quick , “ said 70-year-old Mary Moorman , an African American woman who said she did not have to wait in lines like she normally would , though she noticed that there were few passengers on the bus she took from her West End neighbourhood to the Exposition Center .
But some voters said the centralized in-person polling place made voting more complicated .
Michael Baker , an African American man who is also from the West End , was dissatisfied with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from where he lived .
“ In my neighbourhood , most people don ’ t have cars , ” he said .
“ It ’ s not fair for them to have one site , and it be so far away from people who are not able to commute here.
“ The consolidation of polling places came in response to the coronavirus pandemic , which has upended life in America since March .
On Tuesday , the pandemic was feared to take its toll on voters hoping to cast ballots without long waits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winners in all but the most one-sided contests .
But voting appeared to be running smoothly in New York as well on Tuesday , with no major issues reported across the state .
Like other states , Kentucky and New York have made it easier for voters to cast ballots by mail instead of risking exposure to the virus by waiting in long lines .
That is likely to mean delayed election results , with far more mail-in votes than usual and ballot-counting procedures that haven ’ t been adjusted to handle them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
In both , Democrats were waiting to see if nationwide protests sparked by last month ’ s killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody would translate to decisive turnout by African American and progressive voters .
Amy McGrath , favoured by party leaders and buoyed by a massive $ 41 million back account , faced an eleventh-hour scare as she fought to become the Democratic nominee against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. She ’ s a former Marine combat pilot with centrist views , which top Democrats like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strong match for the Republican-heavy state .
But first-term state legislator Charles Booker ’ s underfinanced campaign has caught fire after he attended recent protests against the March police killing of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in her Louisville home .
That ’ s helped Booker win support from progressive icons like Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , and the state ’ s two largest newspapers , leaving the primary ’ s outcome unpredictable .
“ I heard people say to me that would take away a lot of votes from Amy ( McGrath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But being an African American brother , I want to use my vote for another brother to try and get into office , to hope that we can get some change.
” Meanwhile , House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel , D-N.Y. , embraced by a who ’ s who of prominent Democrats , was battling for a 17th House term .
His challenger is educator and political neophyte Jamaal Bowman , who has drawn strength from anti-racism protests and his accusations that Engel has grown aloof from his district in parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a liberal , has support from the likes of Hillary Clinton , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Black Caucus .
He ’ s also outspent Bowman , who ’ s been helped by progressive groups and a coveted endorsement by The New York Times .
Virginia was also holding congressional primaries , and there was one Republican House runoff each in North Carolina and Mississippi .
Kentucky has been overwhelmed by such an increase in mail ballots that the state ’ s two biggest counties , Jefferson and Fayette , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on election night , said Secretary of State Michael Adams .
Jefferson County is home to Louisville .
Kentucky typically receives few mail ballots , but expects them to account for the majority of votes this time .
With the state now allowing any registered voter to vote by mail , more than 400,000 mail ballots were returned as of Sunday .
New York officials expect the vast majority of votes to be mail ballots this year , compared to their typical 5 % share .
Counties have until eight days after Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mail ballots , with 1.7 million requested by voters .
Other notable contests Tuesday included an effort by one-time CNBC anchor and former Republican Michelle Caruso-Cabrera to grab the Democratic nomination from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , D-N.Y. Ocasio-Cortez , who has become a progressive icon , was an unknown 28-year-old when she won a 2018 primary over longtime Rep. Joe Crowley , who seemed in line to become House speaker .
As Tuesday ’ s voting approached , President Donald Trump continued his effort to undermine Americans ’ faith in mail-in voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system is rife with fraud .
“ Because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS , 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations history - unless this stupidity is ended , “ he tweeted , accusing proponents of “ using Covid in order to cheat.
” Already this year , problems like long lines and lost mail-in ballots have plagued elections in Georgia , Nevada , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
Fram and Jaffe reported from Washington .
Associated Press writers Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington and Michael Warren in Atlanta contributed to this report .

Alan Fram, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn And Alexandra Jaffe - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Tanzanian opposition leader arrested as election approaches

DODOMA , Tanzania - Police in Tanzania have arrested the leader of a prominent opposition party while he was meeting with supporters , a party official said Tuesday as pressure rises ahead of the national election in October .
Zitto Kabwe was in police custody without clear charges against him , said the secretary general of the Alliance for Transparency and Change party , Addo Shaibu .
Also arrested at the meeting in Kilwa district was lawmaker Suleiman Bungara , Shaibu said .
Rights groups accuse President John Magufuli of shrinking the democratic space in the East African country since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been shut down — another large one was closed Tuesday — and non-governmental organizations ’ work has been severely restricted .
While police have enforced Magufuli ’ s ban on political rallies when it comes to opposition parties , ruling party officials have been holding rallies and other political activities across the country ahead of the election in which the president seeks a second term .
Kabwe recently was found guilty of sedition and barred from making public statements for one year .
Before that , he had been a vocal critic of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in dealing with the coronavirus .
Tanzania hasn ’ t updated its number of virus cases since late April , and the president has claimed COVID-19 has been defeated .
Magufuli has recommended prayer , exercise and herbal medicines as the best ways to combat the pandemic but also reminds Tanzanians to wash their hands regularly .
While the government says Tanzania has just 509 virus cases , Kabwe has said it is covering up the true extent of the pandemic and that the number of infections could be more like 20,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ licence of the print and online publication of the Tanzania Daima Daily without announcing a reason .
The newspaper , one of the largest in the country , is owned by the leader of the official opposition in parliament , Freeman Mbowe .
The newspaper ’ s editor , Martin Mallera , said the decision was shocking news to several hundred workers who are now left jobless .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Scottish grandmother climbs a mountain, one step at a time

LONDON - In the end , Margaret Payne scaled her mountain , one step at a time .
The 90-year-old grandmother who launched an epic climb to raise money for charity completed her fundraiser Tuesday .
Paybe scaled the stairs at her home the equivalent of 731 metres ( 2,398 feet ) — enough to reach the peak of Scotland ’ s iconic Suilven mountain .
Payne , who is from Ardvar in the Scottish Highlands , calculated that climbing 282 flights of her staircase would get her to the top of a mountain she climbed only once , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climbed a few stairs every day until I got to the top , 282 times , ’ ’ Payne told The Associated Press .
The feat took her 73 days and kept her busy for 10 weeks while the U.K. sheltered in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Payne took on the challenge after being inspired by military veteran Tom Moore , who completed 100 laps of his garden just before his 100th birthday to raise money for the National Health Service .
The feat captivated the lockdown nation , and Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 40 million ) .
Watching his feat on television , Payne ’ s daughter , Nicky McArthur , told her mother , “ Look at what Tom is doing .
We should turn your stair climbing into something.
’ ’ Suddenly , Payne ’ s regular exercise routine on wet and windy Scottish days was transformed into her own fundraiser for the NHS in gratitude for the care for her husband , Jim , received before he died on Christmas Day last year .
Three other charities , NHS Highlands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her desire to help struck a chord in a country where 42 , 927 people with the coronavirus have died and the efforts of the NHS have been heralded as nothing short of heroic .
Payne has raised 416,000 pounds ( $ 521,000 ) , much of which came in small donations from people who were struggling in the pandemic .
Among her many fans are Prince Charles and his wife , Camilla , who wrote Payne to praise her accomplishments .
“ There could hardly be a better example of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in raising money for vital charities , ’ ’ Charles wrote .
“ It is people like yourself who show that , for every hardship there has been a hero - or , of course , a heroine.
’ ’ Payne seemed properly pleased with completing her epic climb , in part because it helped her show herself what she could do , to move past her own personal grief and to help others .
Her telephone keeps ringing sometimes with reporters , sometimes it is just people who want to cheer her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagine myself ever doing anything like this again , ’ ’ Payne said .
“ But I think that it is important , as you get old , that you don ’ t sit back and think ‘ I ’ m getting old , I can just relax.
’ If you want to keep going , you must keep active , and keep walking .
’ ’


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Charleston expected to remove statue of slavery advocate

COLUMBIA , S.C. - Officials in the historic city of Charleston , South Carolina , are expected to vote Tuesday for the removal of a statue of former vice-president and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun from a downtown square , the latest in a wave of such actions triggered by the death of George Floyd .
A majority of council members in the coastal city have said they support the resolution , which would bring the statue down from atop a 100-foot ( 30-meter ) monument in downtown Marion Square , placing it permanently at “ an appropriate site where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The expected vote comes a week after Mayor John Tecklenburg announced he would send the resolution to the City Council .
Word came during a news conference on the fifth anniversary of the slaying of nine Black parishioners in a racist attack at a downtown Charleston church and as other cities across the nation debate monuments to Confederates and other historical figures who repressed or oppressed other people .
“ What a beautiful show of support from our City Council , ” Tecklenburg said , adding that he was happy to see so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to erase our long and often tragic history but to begin to write a new and more equitable future.
” The final resting place of the statue of the former vice-president , who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate , has not been determined , the decision left up to a special panel .
The mayor has anticipated it would go to a local museum or educational institution .
The night Tecklenburg announced his plans , dozens of protesters linked arms around the monument , shouting , “ Take it down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed signs and spray-painting on the monument .
Police said they made several arrests for vandalism and ultimately closed off the area overnight .
In the heart of downtown Charleston , Calhoun towers over a sprawling square frequented by locals and tourists alike , and is used as a venue for numerous festivals and large public events .
Several organizers have said in recent weeks that they would no longer use the space while the statue remained .
About 40 % of enslaved Africans brought to North America came through the port city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a formal apology for its role in the slave trade .
In its resolution , the city said the statue , in place since 1898 , “ is seen by many people as something other than a memorial to the accomplishments of a South Carolina native , but rather a symbol glorifying slavery and as such , a painful reminder of the history of slavery in Charleston.
” Calhoun ’ s support of slavery never wavered , saying in several speeches on the U.S. Senate floor in the 1830s that slaves in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the North and calling slavery a “ positive good.
” Tecklenburg said the removal isn ’ t covered under South Carolina ’ s Heritage Act , which protects historical monuments and names of buildings , as the monument is not on public property or in commemoration of one of the historical events listed in the act .
According to the National Parks Service , the city technically leases the land where the monument sits , which “ is to be kept open forever as a parade ground for the Sumter Guards and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tecklenburg ’ s interpretation has not been legally disputed .
A two-thirds vote from the state General Assembly is required to make any changes under the Heritage Act , a tough task in a state where conservatives dominate the House and Senate , last used to remove the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds in 2015 .
Several Black lawmakers are urging local governments and colleges to act on their own and defy the monument protection law because it carries no stated penalties and hasn ’ t faced a court challenge , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meg Kinnard can be reached at https : //twitter.com/MegKinnardAP .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Woman accused of killing abuser freed on bond after 2 years

KENOSHA , Wis. - A Milwaukee woman who was in custody for two years accused of killing a man who sexually assaulted her and other underage girls has been released from jail , according to one of the community groups that raised her $ 400,000 bail .
Chrystul Kizer , 19 , was released Monday from the Kenosha County Jail where she was awaiting trial for killing 34-year-old Randall Volar III in June 2018 .
Kizer was 17 at the time .
She faces five felony charges , including first-degree intentional homicide .
Advocates for trafficking victims have been pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kizer , who is Black , was able to post bond due to an influx of donations , most of them small , associated with the Black Lives Matter movement , according to Sharlyn Grace , executive director of the Chicago Community Bond Fund .
Community groups including the Chrystul Kizer Defence Committee , Milwaukee Freedom Fund and Survived & Punished also contributed , the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported .
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault , but Kizer discussed her case in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was published in late 2019 .
Kenosha police had been investigating Volar , who was white , for child trafficking and possession of child pornography at the time of his death .
District Attorney Michael Graveley said at Kizer ’ s most recent court appearance that there ’ s no doubt Volar sexually assaulted Kizer and other girls .
Police have seized videotapes that show some of the assaults , according to court documents .
But , he said , there ’ s evidence that Kizer planned Volar ’ s shooting death and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BMW .
Speaking to The Washington Post from jail , Chrystul maintained she was defending herself and that when she told Volar she didn ’ t want to have sex , he pinned her to the floor .
“ I didn ’ t intentionally try to do this , ” she said .
Chrystul said she met Volar when she was 16 after he responded to an advertisement she had posted on Backpage.com .
She needed money for snacks and school notebooks and Volar was the first to respond , she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ works with defence committees and support groups for victims of trafficking and sexual abuse who have been “ further harmed by prosecution.
“ The group has posted bond for eight other women in similar circumstances , she said .
“ The state has failed to protect Chrystul and others who are disproportionately black women , ” Grace said .
Kizer ’ s bond was originally set at $ 1 million .
Judge David Wilk lowered the bond to $ 400,000 in February .
If convicted of first-degree intentional homicide , Kizer faces a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a judge could set a parole eligibility date .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Governor: Texas hits 5,000 new virus cases for first time

AUSTIN , Texas - Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott said Tuesday that Texas has surpassed 5,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time , another troubling milestone as the largest pediatric hospital in the U.S. begins taking adult patients to free up bed space in Houston .
The announcement comes days after Texas eclipsed 4,000 new cases for the first time just last weekend .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , told lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday that “ the next couple weeks are going to be critical ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to curtail an alarming spike in new cases .
“ There remain a lot of people in the state of Texas who think that the spread of COVID-19 is not a challenge , ” Abbott told Bryan television station KBTX .
“ The coronavirus is serious .
It ’ s spreading.
“ He did not offer an exact number of new positive cases or tests in total , which were expected to be available later Tuesday .
But Abbott on Monday underscored that the infection rate in Texas has doubled since late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the state reached an 11th consecutive day of record COVID-19 hospitalizations with more than 3,700 .
Abbott is now emphasizing face covering more strenuously than at any point he has during the pandemic .
He has not taken new actions that many Democrats have called for — including making face covering mandatory — but hinted Tuesday that new measures could be coming .
Abbott has stressed that Texas still has plenty of hospital beds , but some of the state ’ s largest medical centres are starting to carve out new spaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Hospital , the largest pediatric hospital in the United States , said Tuesday it was admitting adult patients across its campuses to free up more hospital bed space in the Houston area .
The number of COVID-19-positive hospital patients in Harris County , which encompasses Houston , has nearly tripled since May 31 .
“ Our power on the local level was stripped away and we started opening up , ” Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday .
“ I said two months ago I thought we were moving too quickly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ourselves where we are today.
” In another development , the Texas Juvenile Justice Department said late Monday that a youth at the Giddings State School tested positive for COVID-19 , marking the first confirmed case of the virus at a Texas juvenile detention facility .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks .
But for others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , the highly contagious virus can cause severe illness , including pneumonia , and be fatal .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Powerful earthquake shakes southern, central Mexico

MEXICO CITY - A powerful earthquake centred near the southern Mexico resort of Huatulco killed at least one person , swayed buildings in Mexico City and sent thousands fleeing into the streets .
Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said one person was killed and another injured in a building collapse in Huatulco , Oaxaca .
Otherwise he said reports were of minor damage such as broken windows and collapsed walls .
Ports , airports and refineries were not damaged , he said in a video-recorded phone conversation with his civil defence chief .
There had been more than 140 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seismic alarms sounded midmorning with enough warning for residents to exit buildings .
Power was knocked out to some areas .
Helicopters flew over downtown Mexico City and police patrols sounded their sirens .
Groups of people still milled around in close proximity on streets and sidewalks in some neighbourhoods of the capital about an hour after the quake .
Many were not wearing masks despite past appeals from municipal officials for them to do so as a way to curb the spread of the new coronavirus .
The U.S. Geologic Survey said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. ( 11:29 a.m. Eastern ) along Mexico ’ s southern Pacific coast at a depth of 16 miles ( 26 km ) .
The epicenter was 7 miles ( 12 km ) south-southwest of Santa Maria Zapotitlan in Oaxaca state It was felt in Guatemala and throughout south and central Mexico .
In Huatulco , a laid-back beach destination known for surfing and small protected coves , the earthquake knocked goods off shelves and some rubble from buildings .
Mari González of the Princess Mayev hotel in Huatulco said staff and guests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quake , but that 45 minutes after the initial quake they were still outside as strong aftershocks continued .
“ It was strong , very strong , ” she said .
González said there was some visible broken glass and mirrors , but no major damage .
The staff was waiting for the aftershocks to dissipate before fully evaluating the property .
Local news media reported damage to some buildings in the state capital , Oaxaca city .
State officials said they were looking for damage .
The USGS estimated that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shaking and another 49 million felt weak or light shaking .
The earthquake hit a quake-prone region where four underground tectonic plates come together .
In the past 35 years , there have been at least seven magnitude 7 or greater earthquakes , killing around 10,000 people — most of them in a 1985 8.0 quake .
“ This has the potential to be a deadly earthquake and cause significant damage , ” U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Paul Earle said .
“ This area is capable of and has had larger earthquakes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aftershocks , ” Earle said .
“ It is not unexpected to see a magnitude 6 at this point and a number of smaller ones.
” This quake happened when the Cocos plate , which is to the southwest of the area , slipped under the North American plate , Earle said .
“ You ’ ve got all sorts of plates and they ’ re moving quickly , ” Earle said .
“ The important thing is how fast the plates are moving relative to each other.
” The U.S. National Oceanic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with waves three to 10 feet above tide levels along parts of the coasts of Mexico .
Smaller waves were expected through Central America , Peru and Ecuador .
Guatemala ’ s national disaster agency issued a tsunami alert for its southern Pacific coast forecasting the arrival of waves up to a meter high .
It advised people to move away from the sea .
Associated Press writers Chris Torchia in Mexico City and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report .

Christopher Sherman - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Donors pledge $130 million for UN Palestinian refugee agency

JERUSALEM - International donors pledged over $ 130 million Tuesday to the United Nations agency helping Palestinian refugees , an amount the organization ’ s head says is encouraging but not enough to keep operations running through the end of the year .
The U.N .
Relief and Works Agency has faced a financial crisis since the United States pulled all funding in 2018 , leaving the organization with a massive budgetary shortfall .
Agency Director-General Philippe Lazzarini told reporters following a virtual fundraising conference that despite the “ very strong expression of support ” by international donors “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not know if our operations will run until the end of the year.
” He said the donations covered only a fraction of the roughly $ 400 million budget gap the agency is facing .
UNRWA was established to aid the 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forced from their homes in the war surrounding Israel ’ s establishment in 1948 .
The agency provides food , education , health care and other services for Palestinian refugees and their descendants — now numbering some 5 million — in Lebanon , Syria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strip and East Jerusalem .
Lazzarini said there was no intention at this time to cut any of UNRWA ’ s core services , but “ in reality , there is nothing left to cut without impacting the scope and the quality of the services.
” The U.S. , once UNRWA ’ s largest donor , pulled support in 2018 triggering a financial crisis and forcing other donors to plug an approximately $ 211 million hole in the agency ’ s $ 1.2 billion budget .
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the effort to make UNRWA funding sustainable , predictable and sufficient.
“


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Robert Durst loses coronavirus mistrial bid in murder case

LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles judge denied a request for a mistrial Tuesday in the murder case against New York real estate heir Robert Durst after a three-month delay from the coronavirus outbreak .
Judge Mark Windham said Durst ’ s right to a fair trial has not been compromised by putting the case on hold in March just days after it began .
It is scheduled to resume in July in an Inglewood courthouse that has a larger courtroom to accommodate social distancing .
Defence attorney David Chesnoff argued by phone that Durst would not be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two other members of his legal team have been told by doctors not to appear in court because of the virus .
He also argued that jurors , court staff , prosecutors and spectators could be exposed to the virus in the courtroom , restrooms , elevators and cafeteria .
Deputy District Attorney John Lewin said the defence was making a strategic move because Durst wants a “ do over.
” Windham noted that it took months to whittle 1,000 prospective jurors down to 23 , including 11 alternates .
Durst , 77 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his best friend , Susan Berman , who was shot in her home in 2000 .
He has denied any role in her death , but his lawyers acknowledged he sent a note with the word “ cadaver ” written on it directing police to her body .
Prosecutors allege he killed Berman because he feared she was going to tell New York police that she knew he had killed his wife in 1982 and helped him cover up the crime .
The body of Kathleen Durst has never been found , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Durst has never been charged with any crime related to her disappearance and has denied any role in her death .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Baseball’s back: MLB sets 60-game sked, opens July 23 or 24

NEW YORK - Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus following months of acrimony .
A dramatically altered season with games full of new rules was the final result of failed financial negotiations .
But for fans eager to see any baseball this year , at least now they can look forward to opening day .
The announcement by MLB came while more players continue to test positive for the virus — at least seven on the Philadelphia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained , that if health situations deteriorated , all games could still be wiped out .
One day after the players ’ association rejected an economic agreement and left open the possibility of a grievance seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages , the bickering sides agreed on an operations manual .
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred then unilaterally imposed the schedule , his right under a March agreement with the union .
In a twist , the sides expanded the designated hitter to games involving National League teams for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra innings with a runner on second base .
Playoff teams remain at 10 for now — there is still talk of a possible expansion .
The rejected deal had called for 16 teams .
Players will start reporting for the resumption of training on July 1 .
It remains to be seen which players will report back to work — high-risk individuals are allowed to opt out and still receive salary and service time , but others who sit out get neither money nor the service credit needed for eligibility for free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and four games vs. each of the five clubs in the corresponding division in the other league , according to details obtained by The Associated Press .
A team is scheduled to make only one trip to each city it visits in MLB ’ s shortest season since 1878. a schedule of such brevity that some fans may question the legitimacy of records .
No matter what , the season will be among the most unusual ever for a sport that takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a marathon and not a sprint : Washington started 19-31 and 27-33 last year but finished 93-69 to earn a wild card and won a seven-game World Series for its first title .
The trade deadline will be Aug. 31 and the deadline to be in an organization for post-season eligibility is Sept. 15 .
Teams can resume making trades Friday , when rosters will no longer be frozen .
Active rosters will be 30 during the first two weeks of the season , 28 during the second two weeks and 26 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 on Sept. 1 , as originally intended this year .
With no minor leagues , teams would be allowed to retain 60 players each , including a taxi squad .
Up to three players from the taxi squad can travel with a team to a game , and one of the three must be a catcher .
MLB is keeping the planned innovation that pitchers must face three batters or finish a half inning —- players refused to agree a year ago but also waived their right to block .
The injured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than revert to 15 , as initially intended .
Public opinion shredded both sides as they locked in a ferocious financial battle during a pandemic that has led to more than 120,000 deaths and 2.3 million infections in the U.S. and led to a 14.7 % unemployment rate , the highest since the Great Depression .
MLB originally hoped to be the first U.S. major league to return , with an 82-game schedule starting around the Fourth of July , but public sniping broke out between management and players who distrust teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of franchise appreciation .
MLB claimed that without gate-related revenue it would lose $ 640,000 for each additional regular-season game , a figure the union disputed .
MLB became exasperated with the union ’ s leadership team , headed by former All-Star first baseman Tony Clark and Bruce Meyer , a litigator hired in August 2018 .
Manfred and Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem were infuriated when Clark said he considered the result of a one-on-one meeting with Manfred last week a proposal rather than what MLB termed a framework for a deal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , the season will be 60 games over 66 or 67 days , depending on whether there is a nationally televised Thursday night opener .
It is scheduled to end Sept. 27 , which leaves little margin to make up September rainouts .
Players are being given staggered reporting times over several days for intake screening .
The time will be used for coronavirus testing ahead of the resumption of workouts , which were stopped March 12 due to the pandemic .
Because of an uptick of infections in Florida and Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently are leaning toward training in their regular-season ballparks .
Detroit remained partial to Lakeland , Florida , and Toronto was hoping to gain government permission to work out at Rogers Centre .
Under terms of the deal the sides reached on March 26 , which was to have been opening day , players would receive prorated portions of their salaries if the 60-game schedule is not cut short by the virus .
Salaries originally totalled $ 4 billion , and the prorated portion of about 37 % reduces pay to $ 1.48 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from $ 563,500 at the minimum to $ 36 million for Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole at the top , but the spread would now be from $ 208,704 to $ 13,333,333 .
MLB initially had sought last month in its initial economic proposal to reduce pay to about $ 1 billion , and players vowed not to give up full prorated pay and proposed a 114-game schedule that amounted to $ 2.8 billion .
The relationship deteriorated back to the level of the labour wars that led to eight work stoppages from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a grievance claiming MLB didn ’ t fulfil the provision in the March deal requiring the longest season economically feasible , conditioned by several other provisions .
MLB would claim the union bargained in bad faith , and the case would be argued before arbitrator Mark Irvings .
That would be a prelude to the expiration of the current labour contract on Dec. 1 , 2021 , which likely will be followed by a lockout .


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--Cawthorn, 24, defeats Trump’s pick in N Carolina GOP primary

RALEIGH , N.C. - A 24-year-old real estate investment CEO won Tuesday ’ s Republican primary runoff for a western North Carolina congressional seat over President Donald Trump ’ s endorsed candidate for the nomination .
Madison Cawthorn handily defeated Lynda Bennett to complete an upset for the GOP nomination in the 11th Congressional District .
Bennett had received the president ’ s backing on Twitter and the earlier endorsement of Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , who until recently had held the seat .
Cawthorn , who also supports Trump , won by a roughly 2-to-1 margin while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had recorded a phone message for Bennett ’ s campaign .
Meadows is a former House Freedom Caucus leader who represented the 11th District for more than seven years .
Cawthorn won despite other notable Bennett endorsements — Sen. Ted Cruz among them — and outside support from the political arms of the Freedom Caucus .
On Tuesday night , Cawthorn said he won because of a superior ground game with voters and a message about freedom “ that translated across generations and across ethnic groups.
” “ My opponent seemed like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I wanted to be a representative for the people of North Carolina , “ he told The Associated Press in a phone interview .
Cawthorn ’ s campaign also got help from a super PAC that backs candidates allied with Sen. Rand Paul .
Cawthorn , who would reach the constitutionally-mandated age of 25 to serve in the House in August , was paralyzed from the abdomen down after a 2014 car accident .
He ’ ll face Democrat Moe Davis , a former military prosecutor , and other party nominees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered Republican-leaning despite recent boundary changes following litigation .
Chris Cooper , a political science professor at Western Carolina University , said Cawthorn had a compelling story and benefited from local Republicans unhappy with details around how Bennett entered the race .
Meadows announced the day before the December filing deadline that he wouldn ’ t seek reelection .
The surprise departure came so late that candidates who had already committed to run for other elected offices were barred from switching .
Some disgruntled GOP activists felt that Meadows concealed his decision from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Meadows ’ wife , announced her candidacy within a few hours of his announcement .
“ The Trump endorsement obviously didn ’ t play well , and I don ’ t think that Trump is unpopular in the district , ” Cooper said .
Rather , he said , the endorsement looked like it was done as a favour to Meadows .
A House Freedom Caucus spokeswoman didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment .
Neither did Bennett ’ s campaign .
Cawthorn called for the runoff after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary in early March .
Bennett had failed to get more than 30 % of the vote needed to win outright .
Cooper said the size of Cawthorn ’ s victory signals the local party isn ’ t fiercely divided , which should help Cawthorn in his general election race .
Davis is a former chief prosecutor for military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , who later became a critic of how cases there were being handled .
The scheduled May runoff was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
With voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mail-in absentee ballots were popular in the 17 mountain counties within the 11th District leading up to the runoff .
Poll workers at in-person voting sites wore face masks and provided voters single-use pens and cotton swabs to mark ballots .
Meadows wasn ’ t named chief of staff until after the March primary and resigned from the House a few weeks later .
The 11th District seat is currently vacant .

Gary D. Robertson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-06-23--The Latest: Democratic Ky. Senate primary too early to call

WASHINGTON - The Latest on a handful of primary elections across the United States ( all times local ) : The Democratic Senate primary in Kentucky is too early to call .
As of 10 p.m .
ET on Tuesday , Amy McGrath had roughly 45 % of the counted vote .
Charles Booker was in second with about 36 % of the counted vote .
The Senate race is among the dozens of races in the state in which The Associated Press did not declare winners on Tuesday .
They include all primary elections for state legislature , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s 4th and 6th Congressional Districts , and the Republican primary in the state ’ s 3rd Congressional District .
The coronavirus pandemic led to a huge increase in voters casting ballots by mail , and counties were unable to process and count those ballots on the night of the election .
Many counties , including Jefferson , the state ’ s largest , didn ’ t report any results on Tuesday .
The state does not expect to release additional results until Tuesday , June 30 , a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not expect to declare any additional winners until then .
Joe Biden has won the Democratic presidential primary in New York .
Tuesday ’ s results came as no surprise since Biden had accumulated the requisite number of delegates to clinch the presidential primaries for their parties .
New York is a reliably Democratic-voting state .
The general election is in November .
The state is also holding congressional primaries on Tuesday .
One of the highest-profile races is between Eliot Engel and Jamaal Bowman .
Engel is seeking his 17th-House term .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
A 24-year-old real estate investment CEO has won the Republican primary runoff for Mark Meadows ’ North Carolina congressional seat over President Donald Trump ’ s endorsed candidate .
Madison Cawthorn defeated Lynda Bennett on Tuesday in the 11th Congressional District .
Bennett had received the president ’ s backing and the endorsement of Meadows , Trump chief of staff .
Cawthorn finished second to Bennett in a 12-candidate primary in March , but the runoff was needed because Bennett failed to get more than 30 % of the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who would reach the constitutionally-mandated age of 25 to serve in the House in August , was paralyzed from the abdomen down after a 2014 car accident .
He ’ ll face Democrat Moe Davis in November .
The district is still considered Republican-leaning despite recent boundary changes following litigation .
Cawthorn has described himself as a strong Trump supporter but says he wouldn ’ t be beholden to anyone in Washington .
A group locked outside a voting site in Louisville , Kentucky , were seen on video banging on doors at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only polling location .
A judge ruled Tuesday that the site could remain open 30 minutes past the 6 p.m. poll close time after two U.S. Senate candidates petitioned the court .
Jefferson County Clerk spokesperson Nore Ghibaudy says about 175 more voters were let in after the court reopened the polling location .
Ghibaudy says poll workers urged all voters in the building ’ s lobby to get in a line before 6 p.m .
He said the voters who were locked out were not in the building ’ s lobby just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut and locked .
Virginia Republicans have picked Daniel Gade to be their nominee and face off against incumbent Mark Warner for a Senate seat later this year .
Gade won a low-key primary Tuesday against two other opponents .
Gade raised by far the most money and has the highest profile of the three .
Virginia was once a hotly contested swing state where Senate elections were decided by small margins .
But the state has swung solidly blue in the Trump era as voters in the state ’ s growing suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans haven ’ t won a statewide election in more than a decade .
Gade is a retired Army officer who was seriously injured in Iraq in 2005 , losing a leg after his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb .
Gade advised President George W. Bush on military and disability issues and was President Donald Trump ’ s appointee to serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission , but withdrew his nomination after a lengthy delay in the Senate over his confirmation .
Gade previously taught at West Point and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has won the Democratic presidential primary in Kentucky .
Tuesday ’ s results came as no surprise since the former vice-president has accumulated the requisite number of delegates to clinch the presidential primary .
The Democratic presidential convention is set for late August .
President Donald Trump was earlier declared the winner of Kentucky ’ s Republican presidential primary , while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won the Republican Senate primary in the state .
Kentucky ’ s Democratic Senate primary is one of the most interesting races on Tuesday .
Amy McGrath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on McConnell in November .
The race was too early to call at poll close .
President Donald Trump has won the Republican presidential primary in Kentucky , while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has won the Republican Senate primary in the state .
Tuesday ’ s results came as no surprise since Trump has consolidated support around his reelection bid .
McConnell is the nation ’ s most powerful senator .
Trump has already accumulated the requisite number of delegates to clinch the Republican presidential nomination .
The Democratic Senate primary is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
Amy McGrath and Charles Booker are competing to take on McConnell in November .
The race was too early to call at poll close .
Advocacy groups are calling for extended voting time in Kentucky , citing long lines in one of the state ’ s largest cities .
The ACLU of Kentucky , the state ’ s NAACP chapter and other groups sent a letter to the state ’ s board of elections on Tuesday requesting a one-hour extension in counties that have had long lines .
Polls in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 6 p.m. Lexington ’ s lone polling sites had long lines at some points , but voting in Louisville ’ s only polling site had not seen similar delays .
“ These long wait times have the potential to discourage voters from exercising their right to vote , ” said the letter addressed to state board of elections executive director Jared Dearing and general counsel Taylor Brown .
Kentucky ’ s Secretary of State , Michael Adams , said despite some delays , Kentucky has been “ a national success story.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roof.
” A Kentucky woman was allowed to vote after convincing the board of elections that her dogs ate her and her husband ’ s absentee ballots .
Christine Stanley , a 34-year-old Lexington health care attorney , voted in the Democratic primary at Kroger Field but only after getting out of line and going before the board of elections .
After showing the board evidence , including “ lots of bite marks , drool and dirt , ” she and her husband were allowed to vote , and Stanley said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council seat she is seeking , for Charles Booker in the Democratic primary to challenge Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and for Democrat Josh Hicks to run against Republican Rep. Andy Barr .
“ I haven ’ t seen Amy say anything that was really inspiring , ” Stanley said by telephone after voting Tuesday .
“ Charles Booker , when he speaks , he talks about all these issues that are happening in Kentucky.
” Stanley , who is Black , said race didn ’ t really play a part in her choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative experience , and I think that he has seen firsthand what Kentucky needs , ” she said .
She believes McGrath should start at the state legislative level and try again in a few years .
A voter in New York says she applied for an absentee ballot in roughly April , but it never arrived .
Thirty-two-year-old illustrator Dena Cooper says she went to her polling place in Brooklyn ’ s Bay Ridge neighbourhood on Tuesday to vote in person since she never received her absentee ballot .
When she explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was told to go home and wait for the absentee ballot to arrive .
But in fact , New York voters who have applied for but not cast absentee ballots can legally vote in person .
After getting advice from Common Cause ’ s voter-information hotline , Cooper planned to try again to vote Tuesday evening .
Cooper was keen to vote for Bernie Sanders for president , even though Joe Biden has enough delegate support to be the Democratic presidential nominee .
She says she wants to give Sanders “ as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in negotiating the party ’ s priorities .
Scores of voters are standing in the cavernous entrances of a football stadium on the University of Kentucky ’ s campus in Lexington in lines that snake back-and-forth between metal barriers and spill outside onto the sidewalk .
Sixty-four-year-old Sharon Holland and her 38-year-old daughter , Sandy Perry , waited about an hour , including a few minutes with their umbrellas in the rain , to vote for President Donald Trump , Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr .
Holland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merged all its polling places into one large site , citing older voters and disabled voters as being particularly inconvenienced .
But despite the long wait , she said she never considered leaving without voting .
“ I needed to be here to cast my vote ‘ cause if you don ’ t come and cast your vote then you really don ’ t have the right to complain about anything , “ she said .
Both mother and daughter described Trump as having done an “ excellent ” job .
Holland says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things he says or the way he says them.
“ But she says , ” He does do what he says he ’ s going to do .
I just look at policy.
” A voting rights advocate says there ’ s a lot of work to do before the November election .
Kristen Clarke , executive director of the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , said Tuesday that “ it ’ s clear that there are many voters who are seeking to vote absentee , and there are many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive their ballots and had to go to polling places.
“ New York , Kentucky and Virginia are holding congressional primaries Tuesday , and there was one Republican House runoff each in North Carolina and Mississippi .
Clarke said she was also concerned about President Donald Trump ’ s repeated attacks on mail voting .
“ What is plainly clear is that voters want as many options available to them , “ Clarke said .
” There are many people seeking to vote by absentee ballot , and there are many people seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Lexington , Kentucky , says Tuesday ’ s primary election was the longest he ’ s ever spent in line to cast a ballot .
Fifty-five-year-old Bob Woods arrived at Kroger Field at the University of Kentucky around 10 a.m. and spent nearly an hour and fifteen minutes in a line winding through the entryway of the stadium before approaching the room where voters were being checked in .
“ I knew that a lot of people had voted by mail previous to this , so I was a little surprised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people in line when I got there , ” Woods said , adding : “ This is definitely the longest that I ’ ve ever waited.
” Woods , who works in consulting , said the line hit a bottleneck at the check-in stations , where only about four workers for each of two lines were present to check voters in before allowing them into the booths , many of which remained open because of the holdup .
The check-in station also posed challenges for social distancing .
“ People really got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though he estimated that about 75-80 % of people were masked .
Voting appears to be running smoother than in primaries held two weeks earlier in Georgia and Nevada .
While there were reports of some voters in New York and Kentucky having to cast ballots in person Tuesday after not receiving an absentee ballot , it did not appear to be causing the long lines that were seen in places like Milwaukee and Atlanta .
The longest wait times were reported at the lone voting site in Lexington , Kentucky .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ added two more check-in stations after turnout remained steady into the late morning , with voters reporting a wait time of about an hour and a half .
“ Usually we get a pretty big rush in the morning , ” Blevins said .
“ That we expected , but usually it dies down around late morning .
That didn ’ t happen.
” Wait times were minimal in Jefferson County , though voting advocates said they were concerned that the lone polling place for the entire Louisville area was too difficult for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City , much of the complaints fielded by voter protection groups centred on polling places that opened late and voters reporting they had not received both pages of their ballot .
In Louisville , voters encountered only mild traffic on their way into the Kentucky fairgrounds .
Inside the polling site , some chairs for volunteers were left empty , as crowds moved through to cast their ballots in small groups spaced apart .
“ They should have more ( elections ) like this .
You can get in and get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an African-American woman who said that she did not have to wait in lines like she normally would .
Michael Baker was dissatisfied with the polling location because it was far away from where he lived in the West End .
He noted that most people in his neighbourhood don ’ t have cars .
Baker voted for state Rep. Charles Booker in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate .
“ I heard people say to me that would take away a lot of votes from Amy ( McGrath ) , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American brother , I want to use my vote for another brother to try and get into office , to hope that we can get some change.
” For some voters in Shelbyville , Kentucky , the state of America was a big factor in how they cast their ballots .
For that reason , they voted for President Donald Trump and other Republicans .
Explaining his vote for Trump , health care worker Tony Parada said , “ Not that I ’ m a fan of the gentleman necessarily , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I feel like that ’ s an underpinning of a lot of American politics nowadays.
” Jerry and Libby Claypool said they were fearful of what might happen if Democrats won .
“ I feel if Republicans don ’ t stay in power , this country is going to hell , ” Jerry Claypool said .
“ I feel like what ’ s going on right now is very , very scary , “ his wife , Libby Claypool , added .
She said she thinks people started out protesting nicely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction and it breaks her heart .
Neither Parada nor the Claypools , all of whom are white , had reservations about voting in person .
“ I ’ ve lived through a lot of diseases and yes , this is a bad one , but let ’ s get real .
We ’ re not all going to die from it , “ said Libby Claypool , who said she ’ s nearly 80 .
Kentucky ’ s two biggest cities are trying something new this year because of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big site in each city .
So far , it seems to be working out , despite heavy rainfall in Kentucky .
In Louisville , the state ’ s largest city with 600,000 residents , voters are being shuttled to the Kentucky Exposition Center from satellite lots .
Large crowds were flowing through the convention centre so quickly Tuesday morning that there was no need for people to stand at wait at the many social distancing markers on the floor .
“ It was in and out , no waiting at all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American explosives expert who works as a consultant to law enforcement and the military .
But he wasn ’ t able to vote in the Democratic Party primary like he wanted to because he ’ s a registered independent .
He ended up switching parties and said : “ Now I should be set for November.
” In Lexington , the state ’ s second-largest city with 323,000 people , voters are being sent into the hallways of the University of Kentucky ’ s football stadium .