thetorontostar--2020-05-14--‘A pressure cooker’: Pa. governor aims to contain GOP revolt

HARRISBURG , Pa. - By many accounts , Gov .
Tom Wolf has helped mitigate Pennsylvania ’ s coronavirus outbreak and avoided the full-blown disasters seen elsewhere .
His success in the next challenge — containing the growing resistance to his efforts — is to be determined .
The Democrat at the helm in one of the premier battlegrounds in November ’ s presidential election is struggling to fight a Republican revolt over his stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns .
Egged on by state GOP lawmakers , counties have threatened to defy his orders while at least a few business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The mild-mannered Wolf has had to decide how far to go in enforcing the orders , mindful of criticism that he ’ s nothing short of a tyrant .
The chief instigator behind the Republican strategy , President Donald Trump , is set to visit the state Thursday .
Ahead of the trip , Trump stoked the conflict , tweeting that Pennsylvanians “ want their freedom now.
” Behind the rhetoric is a political fight as much over people ’ s well-being and public health — federal health officials are aligned with Wolf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is over who will be blamed for the state ’ s economic devastation if it is not repaired by Election Day .
Around 2 million Pennsylvania residents have lost their jobs since mid-March , with food and milk giveaways drawing mileslong lines .
Meanwhile , some have gone two months without money because of the state ’ s problem-plagued online unemployment benefits portal .
Republicans in the state , like their counterparts in swing states Michigan and Wisconsin , say they are sticking up for desperate people .
But they are also jockeying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Trump , take the blame .
“ Tom Wolf is going to be as much on the ballot as much as the president , the Legislature and Congress for his handling of this , but he ’ s going to be judged not just by Republicans but by Democrats and independents , ” said Lawrence Tabas , chairman of Pennsylvania ’ s Republican Party .
For Democrats who have stood by Wolf , that ’ s just fine right now .
Polls show that the public has generally embraced how Wolf — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has managed the crisis .
A Washington Post-Ipsos poll released Tuesday found that more than 2 in 3 people surveyed from April 27 to May 4 approve of how Wolf has handled the outbreak .
Trump ’ s approval nationally in the same poll was much lower , at 43 % .
When Trump visits Thursday , he ’ ll head to the politically moderate Allentown area to tour a medical products distribution centre .
He did particularly well in the area in the 2016 election , when his narrow win in Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since then , Republicans lost the area ’ s congressional seat for the first time in two decades , and Allentown , with highways connecting it to New Jersey and New York City , has become one of Pennsylvania ’ s coronavirus hot spots .
“ Here in the Lehigh Valley , people know we ’ re in the middle of the pandemic , and they also aren ’ t taking Trump as seriously as they once did , ” said Democratic state Rep. Peter Schweyer of Allentown .
The visit will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state as president , a marker of Pennsylvania ’ s importance to his reelection hopes .
While Trump ’ s advisers have started to doubt whether they can hold Michigan , another Rust Belt state Trump won , they believe Pennsylvania and Wisconsin remain in play if the economy rebounds .
That may mean pressuring the states ’ Democratic governors to ease restrictions on business , travel and public spaces — even if it risks a resurgence of the virus .
Pennsylvania is 10th among states in overall infection rate — with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per 100,000 residents , and nearly 4,000 deaths , according to federal statistics .
It is bordered on three sides by states with higher infection rates .
New infections have been trending down , and Wolf has been easing restrictions in lightly affected counties — but not fast enough for some .
“ I know my constitutional rights , and I ’ ve got to pay my bills , ” Brad Shepler , a barber who resumed cutting hair — something that is prohibited everywhere in the state right now — told police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they visited his home studio this week a few miles from Pennsylvania ’ s Capitol .
“ The governor ’ s not paying my bills , so I ’ ve got to pay my bills.
” Trump weighed in Monday on the intensifying political fight , tweeting : “ The great people of Pennsylvania want their freedom now , and they are fully aware of what that entails.
” Hours later , Wolf threatened in an extraordinary news conference to punish a growing number of counties that vowed to let businesses reopen against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus aid from them and branded them “ cowards , ” saying they are “ choosing to desert in the face of the enemy , in the middle of a war that we Pennsylvanians are winning and that we must win.
” Wolf — who hasn ’ t spoken one cross word about Trump or the White House ’ s handling of the outbreak — also warned that business owners could lose certificates and licenses to operate , and face insurance sanctions .
The Republican National Committee accused Wolf of being on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he is just trying to keep people safe , already had vetoed legislation Republicans passed in April to limit his powers during the disaster emergency .
Meanwhile , he has won legal challenges to his shutdown orders in both the state Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court , let construction work restart and lifted the most severe restrictions in many areas .
Still , two-thirds of the state ’ s 12.8 million people are expected to remain under stay-at-home orders past this week .
After Wolf ’ s bare-knuckled message on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
In others , Wolf ’ s threat gave them pause .
Republican state Rep. Dan Moul from conservative Adams County said he didn ’ t want to be responsible for someone losing a valuable business license .
“ We ’ re trying to get things moving in a safe and responsible manner , ” Moul said .
“ Because this thing is turning into a pressure cooker .
This thing is going to blow up if he doesn ’ t make a move soon.
” Associated Press writer Jonathan Lemire in @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Asia Today: Japan easing emergency, Wuhan starts new testing

BANGKOK - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Thursday the lifting of a coronavirus state of emergency ahead of schedule in most of the country except for eight high-risk areas .
Abe lifted the measure in 39 of the country ’ s 47 prefectures .
It remains in effect in Tokyo , Osaka , Kyoto and Hokkaido and three other prefectures .
Abe declared a month-long state of emergency on April 7 in Tokyo and six other urban prefectures and later extended it to the whole country through May 31 .
He said experts will meet next week to decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remaining areas and pledged to bring the coronavirus outbreak under control by the end of May .
With signs of infections slowing , Abe is seeking to balance disease prevention and the economy .
“ Today is a new beginning for our daily lives , a new normal , ” Abe said .
He warned of a possible resurgence of infections and urged people to adopt “ new lifestyles ” and continue social distancing measures such as working from home and avoiding out-of-town trips .
The state of emergency gives local leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures but does not impose penalties .
Japan has more than 16,000 confirmed cases , including about 680 deaths .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : — CHINA SAYS US OFFICIALS FAILED IN VIRUS FIGHT : China says U.S. authorities failed to effectively fight the coronavirus pandemic and “ abused American people ’ s trust.
” Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian did not identify any officials by name but appeared to be firing back against accusations from the Trump administration that China mishandled or deliberately delayed releasing information about the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan late last year .
U.S. officials are “ engaged in political manipulation of buck-passing and shirking responsibilities , ” Zhao said at a daily briefing Thursday .
He dismissed talk of legal action against the Chinese government as “ frivolous ” and said the U.S. should “ focus more on fighting the epidemic and safeguarding the lives and health of the American people , and stop playing such buck-passing game.
” — WUHAN TESTING UNDERWAY : Some residential compounds in Wuhan have begun testing inhabitants for the coronavirus as a program to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 million people in 10 days got underway .
One compound in the city ’ s Qiaokou district said several hundred people had been tested since Wednesday .
Another compound in the same district said Thursday it was registering residents before starting .
The city ordered local communities to test everyone after six new cases surfaced last weekend , the first infections there in more than a month .
Wuhan , where the virus was first detected last December , was the hardest-hit city in China with 3,869 reported deaths .
China reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in total .
— WHO SAYS NATIONS MUST REMAIN VIGILANT : A World Health Organization official said the debate between protecting health and reviving economies is a “ false dichotomy ” and that countries must remain vigilant as they lift restrictions .
Takeshi Kasai , WHO ’ s Western Pacific director , said Thursday the reopening of economies shouldn ’ t be rushed and must be done cautiously .
He said the world must “ create a new normal in which we don ’ t have to choose between health and livelihood.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems and have measures in place for early detection , isolation and contact tracing , and ensure they are ready for the possibility of a large-scale community outbreak .
— AUSTRALIA PUSHING INQUIRY : Australia says it will continue to push for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus even if it hurts trade relations with China .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison had been accused of playing “ deputy sheriff ” to the United States after calling for the inquiry .
But he brushed off the criticism .
“ We have always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our national interests , and we always will , ” he told reporters .
China has suspended beef imports from four abattoirs and plans to impose tariffs on Australian barley , after warning the inquiry could harm two-way trade ties .
— TYPHOON PREP IN PHILIPPINES : A strong typhoon roared toward the eastern Philippines as authorities worked to evacuate tens of thousands of people safely during the virus lockdown .
The typhoon is expected to slam ashore later Thursday .
The lockdown to fight the coronavirus requires people to stay home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set off infections .
Governors say social distancing will be nearly impossible for residents who must flee to emergency shelters .
Some shelters are now quarantine facilities , and they may have to be turned back into storm shelters .
— NEW CASES IN SOUTH KOREA : South Korea has confirmed 29 more coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours as it battles a spike linked to nightlife spots in Seoul .
The additional cases reported by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pushed the national total to 10,991 with 260 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were people infected locally while three came from overseas .
South Korea ’ s caseload has climbed in the past week , with new cases linked to nightclubs in Seoul ’ s entertainment Itaewon district threatening South Korea ’ s hard-won progress in containing the virus .
— INDIA CONSIDERING ARMY CHANGES : The Indian army is considering a proposal to offer civilians a voluntary three-year term of military service , the news agency Press Trust of India reported .
The proposal being considered is seen as an answer to unemployment as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward a temporary experience .
Also , the home ministry asked all Central Armed Police Forces to sell only Indian-made goods in their canteen stores , seen as an effort to promote local products under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s mission of a self-reliant India .
The ministry also appealed to Indians to use products made in the country .
India has more than 78,000 coronavirus cases .

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thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Italian lawmaker sorry for calling hostage a ‘neo-terrorist’

ROME - A right-wing lawmaker apologized Thursday for calling a young Italian woman who converted to Islam while held hostage in Somalia a “ neo-terrorist.
” Alessandro Pagano of the anti-migrant League party said in a Facebook post that he had intended to criticize the government , not Silvia Romano , with his remarks in the lower house of parliament .
Pagano drew outrage and a reprimand from fellow lawmakers and the Vatican on Wednesday after he referred to Romano while complaining about the government ’ s refusal to reopen churches during the coronavirus lockdown .
Pagano alleged there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy ’ s coalition government , “ and yet when a neo-terrorist comes back ... ” It was a reference to the decision by the Italian premier and foreign minister to greet Romano at Rome ’ s Ciampino airport Sunday , and apparent willingness to pay ransom to her captors .
Romano , 24 , was freed after 18 months as a hostage of Somalia ’ s al-Shabab Islamic extremists .
She returned to Italy wearing the green hijab typical of Somali Muslim women , and told prosecutors she had freely converted during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has unleashed waves of anti-Islam hate speech on social media , criticizing her conversion , her decision to work as a volunteer in Kenya and the ransom paid for her freedom .
Pagano said his remarks were directed at the government , saying the ransom payment and high-profile welcome for Romano was a propaganda victory for al-Shabab .
He expressed “ maximum solidarity ” with Romano .
“ If I offended some sensitivities , I apologize , ” he said .
League leader Matteo Salvini tried to downplay Pagano ’ s comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Silvia alone , as we wish her a long and happy life.
” Salvini , who is known for his anti-migrant , anti-Muslim rhetoric , wrote on Facebook : “ Let ’ s look instead at the true enemy , the true danger to our children , Italy , the world and freedom : Fanatical , integralist , violent and assassin Islam.
” Romano , for her part , has reportedly urged Italians to stop “ getting angry to defend me.
“ “ The worst for me is over , let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote to friends on a closed Facebook account , according to the ANSA news agency .
She said she was happy to be able to embrace her family and friends and thanked “ all those friends , known and unknown , who dedicated a thought to me .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Michigan settles suit after landmark right to read ruling

LANSING , Mich. - The state of Michigan early Thursday announced a settlement in a lawsuit over poor reading skills that was filed on behalf of Detroit schoolchildren , weeks after a federal appeals court issued a groundbreaking decision recognizing a constitutional right to education and literacy .
The 2016 lawsuit that the appeals court had sent back to a federal judge in Detroit alleged that the city ’ s public schools were in “ slum-like conditions ” and “ functionally incapable of delivering access to literacy.
” Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer and the plaintiffs announced the agreement in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to announce that we have reached a settlement that will help secure the right of access to literacy for students in Detroit who faced obstacles they never should have faced , “ they said .
” This landmark court decision recognizes that every child in Michigan deserves an opportunity to obtain an education , which is essential to having a strong foundation in life and a brighter future.
” Details of the deal will be released later Thursday .
U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy III had dismissed the case in 2018 , asserting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fundamental right to literacy .
But on April 23 , the appeals court said students at poor performing , dilapidated Detroit schools are entitled to a basic minimum education under the U.S. Constitution .
The decision could lead to millions of dollars in new spending .
The Republican-led Legislature recently asked the full 6th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals to set aside the 2-1 ruling .
It said managing K-12 education is a job for state and local officials , not the federal judiciary .
Whitmer , a Democrat , replaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendant after being elected in 2018 .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Burundi kicks out top WHO official in country ahead of vote

KIGALI , Rwanda - Burundi is kicking out the World Health Organization ’ s top official in the country just days before the presidential election and after the WHO raised concerns about crowded political rallies .
A foreign ministry letter seen by The Associated Press says the WHO representative to Burundi , Walter Kazadi Mulombo , has been declared persona non grata and must leave the East African nation by Friday .
The letter says three WHO experts also must go .
The letter gives no explanation for the expulsions .
Reached by phone and asked for details , Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The WHO representative , Mulombo , did not immediately respond to phone calls .
The day that election campaigning in Burundi began late last month , images circulated online of crowded political rallies with President Pierre Nkurunziza in attendance .
The head of the WHO Africa region messaged the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about it , the Africa CDC chief has said .
The Africa CDC chief , John Nkengasong , on Thursday called Burundi ’ s action “ unfortunate ” and said any differences should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that affect the pandemic response , “ We don ’ t have the luxury of kicking out the WHO , ” he told reporters .
“ This war has to be won in a co-ordinated fashion , and co-ordination is key .
We ’ re in dire need of expertise .
... We encourage countries to do the right thing .
” Burundi has 27 confirmed cases of the coronavirus , but some citizens and others have raised concerns that more exist .
Authorities have been accused of downplaying the virus and relying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have alleged squalid conditions and lack of access to quarantine facilities .
Burundi is using virus restrictions to limit election observers , however , telling the East African regional bloc that any arriving foreigners would face a 14-day quarantine .
The election is May 20 .
Holding a vote that allows the virus to spread could make it “ extremely difficult ” for a country to contain it later , the Africa CDC chief said .
“ If an election is conducted that limits space for people to come together , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not ensure that ... then it ’ s gon na put you in danger.
“ Burundi ’ s previous election in 2015 sparked deadly political turmoil as Nkurunziza successfully ran for a third term that some said he had no right to pursue .
This time he ’ s not running , but critics have accused the ruling party of targeting the leading opposition party and its supporters ahead of the vote .
Some fear further unrest if this election ’ s results are disputed over allegations of rigging .
This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has expelled a United Nations official .
It kicked out the U.N. human rights office a year ago after the U.N. repeatedly raised concerns about killings and other alleged abuses following the 2015 vote .
Burundi also became the first country to leave the International Criminal Court after ICC judges authorized an investigation into allegations of state-sponsored crimes including murder , rape and torture .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Turkish soccer player confesses to killing son in hospital

ANKARA , Turkey - Turkish authorities have arrested a former top-tier soccer player who confessed to killing his 5-year-old son while the boy was being treated in a hospital on suspicion of a COVID-19 infection .
Cevher Toktas , 32 , handed himself over to police and confessed to having smothered his son , Kasim , with a pillow on May 4 , the state-run Anadolu Agency reported .
The boy ’ s death was initially not believed to be suspicious , although he tested negative for COVID-19 .
His body has been exhumed for an autopsy as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ television reported that Toktas , who currently plays with amateur league team Bursa Yildirimspor , told police that he tried to suffocate his son because he did not love him , and turned himself in to police 11 days later because he felt remorse .
The boy was admitted to the children ’ s hospital in the northwestern province of Bursa with a cough and high fever on April 23 — an official Turkish public holiday celebrating children — and placed in isolation along with his father .
Soon after , Toktas said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for help , saying Kasim had taken a turn for the worse .
The 5-year-old was rushed to the hospital ’ s intensive care unit , where he died two hours later .
No trial date has been set yet .
Between 2007 and 2009 , Toktas played for the Hacettepe soccer team , which briefly competed in the Turkish top-tier Super League .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--As coronavirus rolls on, Republicans hit ‘pause’ on new aid

WASHINGTON - Businesses are going belly up , tens of millions have been laid off and , by some measures , the U.S. seems headed for another Great Depression .
But Republicans surveying the wreckage aren ’ t ready for another round of coronavirus aid , instead urging a “ pause.
” It ’ s a position based on a confluence of factors .
Polls show GOP voters think the government is already doing enough .
Republicans on Capitol Hill are divided over the best approach .
Billions approved by Congress have yet to be spent .
And it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to do next , if anything , to juice the economy — his payroll tax cut idea hasn ’ t gained any traction on Capitol Hill .
For these and other reasons , GOP leaders see an unfolding crisis that does not yet cry out for further action .
“ There ’ s just a pragmatic piece to this , which is , if we ’ re going to do another bill , let ’ s get into June and July so we know how people are re-emerging , ” said Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up his leadership post last year to take the top GOP job on the Financial Services Committee .
The political balancing act comes as the long-dormant deficit-hawk wing of the GOP lumbers back to life , recoiling from the House Democratic proposal to spend another $ 3 trillion in taxpayer money .
Yet many Republicans concede there is risk to standing pat at a time of massive unemployment , financial struggles for local governments and growing COVID-19 caseloads , particularly with the November election fast approaching .
Despite their distaste for further negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passage of another coronavirus measure as inevitable .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , a proponent of the “ pause , ” said Tuesday that Republicans are “ taking a look at what we ’ ve already done .
And we ’ ve added about $ 3 trillion to the national debt , and assessing the effectiveness of that before deciding to go forward.
” Yet McConnell also cracked open the door , cautiously , to more legislation , provided that it is “ narrowly targeted.
” “ I ’ m in discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration .
If we reach a decision along with the administration to move to another phase , that ’ ll be the time to interact with the Democrats , ” he said .
Still , recent polls show GOP voters are far more likely to be satisfied with the government ’ s virus response than Democrats .
They are less fearful of a second wave of cases as states loosen stay-at-home orders , and they are not clamouring for more aid .
“ We ’ re starting to hear grumbling against spending that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while , ” said Adam Brandon , president of FreedomWorks , a conservative group that has helped promote demonstrations around the country demanding a relaxation of state lockdown orders .
On Capitol Hill , the question of what to do next is sowing GOP division .
Conservative senators from solidly red states argue that Washington has done enough , and they have been squaring off in meetings with GOP moderates and pragmatists siding with Democrats .
The moderates are supportive of fiscal relief for states and local governments , help for the Postal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further provisions on testing and tracing for the virus , which has already claimed more than 80,000 lives in the U.S .
The conservative senators have influence with Trump , but he doesn ’ t share their fiscal instincts .
The president and deputies like Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have signalled a willingness to deliver aid to state and local governments — funding that is a core demand of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. And Trump at one point even floated a massive debt-financed effort on infrastructure , leaving many conservatives aghast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drawing a red line against state and local aid .
The president is talking to governors , noted a top House GOP leadership aide who requested anonymity to describe private conversations .
The aide emphasized that the president remains extremely popular in most Republican congressional districts and still gives members a lot of cover by going along with him .
“ As states begin to reopen we need to wait and see where and what the need is , but the policy process is ongoing at the White House , ” said a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe internal dynamics .
“ The president has said more help is coming.
” Many think the next coronavirus bill , when it passes , will be the last one for a while , with Congress likely to maintain an intermittent schedule as the election nears .
“ I don ’ t see us coming back before the election so I ’ d rather us get this smart and right rather than shovelling more coal into the fire , and people saying we ’ ll come back and do more , ” McHenry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Republicans are dreading another round of negotiations with Democrats .
While each of the four prior COVID-19 response measures passed by almost unanimous votes , the outcome required GOP leaders to accept significant legislative victories for Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y .
They fear another episode in which Mnuchin , a former Democrat , gives them even more .
For now , negotiations are in neutral .
The Senate is poised to push off the legislative debate until after the Memorial Day break , when Republicans hope the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We will be working in a bipartisan way and with the White House to make sure ... we ’ re addressing the very serious needs of the American people when it becomes both to the health emergency and the economic emergency that they ’ re experiencing right now , ” said No .
2 Senate Republican John Thune of South Dakota .
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Alan Fram contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Trump’s push for opening school clashes with Fauci’s caution

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump called on governors across the nation to work to reopen schools that were closed because of the coronavirus , pointedly taking issue with Dr. Anthony Fauci ’ s caution against moving too quickly in sending students back to class .
The president accused Fauci of wanting “ to play all sides of the equation , “ a comment that suggested he is tiring of the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert .
“ I think they should open the schools , absolutely .
I think they should , ” Trump told reporters at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made in a television interview .
“ Our country ’ s got to get back and it ’ s got to get back as soon as possible .
And I don ’ t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed.
” Fauci had urged caution in testimony before a Senate committee Tuesday , although he made clear that he believes reopening decisions will likely differ from one region to the next .
“ We don ’ t know everything about this virus and we really better be pretty careful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Fauci told the committee .
At one point , he told members that “ the idea of having treatments available or a vaccine to facilitate the re-entry of students into the fall term would be something that would be a bit of a bridge too far.
” Fauci later clarified that he was not implying students should be barred from returning to class until a COVID-19 vaccine is developed .
But his comments were nonetheless seized on by conservative commentators , as well as Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. , who called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To me , it ’ s not an acceptable answer , ” Trump said of Fauci on Wednesday .
He said the coronavirus has “ had very little impact on young people , ” although there is growing concern over cases of a mysterious inflammatory syndrome in young people that is thought to be related to the virus .
Speaking of Fauci , Trump told Maria Bartiromo in an interview for Fox Business Network ’ s ” Mornings with Maria “ that ” I totally disagree with him on schools.
” Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including on the effectiveness of certain drugs that have been tested to treat the virus .
Trump has also complained to aides and confidants about Fauci ’ s positive media attention and his willingness to contradict the president .
But Trump has also acknowledge that the blowback to removing the doctor would be fierce .
In his testimony , Fauci issued a blunt warning that cities and states could “ turn back the clock ” and see more death and economic damage if they lift stay-at-home orders too quickly — a message that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s push to reopen the nation as he tries to blunt the economic damage caused by the pandemic during an election year .
“ There is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control , ” Fauci warned as more than two dozen states have begun to lift their lockdowns .
Among those are Colorado and North Dakota , whose governors met with Trump on Wednesday .
In North Dakota , which has had fewer cases than many other states , Republican Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 1 with precautions that include limiting bars and restaurants to half capacity and requiring barbers and cosmetologists to wear masks .
Burgum announced this week that schools may offer some summer programs beginning June 1 if local school officials approve and precautions are taken , such as limiting class sizes .
At the same time , cases and deaths have continued to rise .
State health officials on Tuesday reported two new deaths from COVID-19 , bringing its death toll to 38 .
The state also reported 53 new cases , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Colorado has been far worse .
The death toll there surpassed 1,000 this week , with more than 20,000 having tested positive .
Democratic Gov .
Jared Polis this month began to gradually relax restrictions , however , while warning there could be rollbacks if the virus surges .
Polis had criticized the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the early days of the pandemic for swooping in to purchase personal protective equipment and other supplies that Colorado , like many states , had been negotiating for with private vendors .
But recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach to working with the administration .
The White House has stepped up precautions in recent days to protect the president and senior administration officials from the virus after two individuals who work on the compound tested positive .
Because he had contact with one of those individuals , Vice-President Mike Pence has been keeping his distance from Trump , talking by phone instead of in person .
“ I haven ’ t seen Mike Pence , and I miss him , ” Trump said .
“ For a little while we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know what happens with this very crazy and horrible disease.
” Associated Press writers Jim Anderson in Denver and James MacPherson in Bismarck , North Dakota , contributed to this report .

Kevin Freking And Jill Colvin - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Obama emerges as central figure in 2020 presidential race

WASHINGTON - Nearly eight years after he was last on the ballot , Barack Obama is emerging as a central figure in the 2020 presidential election .
Democrats are eagerly embracing Obama as a political wingman for Joe Biden , who spent two terms by his side as vice-president .
Obama remains the party ’ s most popular figure , particularly with black voters and younger Democrats , and Biden ’ s presidential campaign is planning for him to have a highly visible role in the months to come .
For President Donald Trump , that means an opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favourite political foils .
In recent days , Trump and his allies have aggressively pushed conspiracy theories about Obama designed to fire up the president ’ s conservative base , taint Biden by association and distract from the glut of grim health and economic news from the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Partisans on both sides want to make this about Obama , ” said Ned Price , who served as spokesperson for Obama ’ s White House National Security Council .
The renewed political focus on Obama sets the stage for an election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also be about its past .
As Biden looks to Obama for personal validation , he ’ s also running to restore some of the former president ’ s legacy , which has been systematically dismantled by Trump .
The current president is running in part to finish that job .
Yet Trump ’ s anti-Obama push also frequently takes on a darker , more conspiratorial tone that goes far beyond differences in health care policy and America ’ s role in the world .
His current focus is on the actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisers took in the closing days of their administration , as they viewed intelligence reports about Michael Flynn .
Flynn had a short-lived stint as Trump ’ s national security adviser before being fired for lying to Vice-President Mike Pence about his interactions with Russia ’ s ambassador to the U.S. Trump ’ s own administration acknowledged on Wednesday that Obama advisers followed proper procedures in privately “ unmasking ” Flynn ’ s name , which was redacted in the intelligence reports for privacy reasons .
Flynn ultimately pleaded guilty to lying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department moved last week to drop the case against him .
Despite there being no evidence of wrongdoing by Obama , Biden or other administration officials , Trump is eagerly pushing the notion of an unspecified crime against the former president , branding it “ Obamagate.
” He ’ s being backed up by Republican allies , including Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley who took to the Senate floor this week to ask of the Flynn matter : “ What did Obama and Biden know , and when did they know it ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears among some former Obama and Biden advisers about how far he may be willing to go in using the levers of government to push his case against them in an election year .
The Justice Department is conducting an investigation into the origins of the Russia probe that ensnared Flynn and other Trump associates .
Trump ’ s renewed focus on Obama comes as Republicans grow increasingly anxious that the rising coronavirus death toll and cratering economy will damage the president ’ s reelection prospects in November .
More than 84,000 Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 30 million have claimed unemployment .
Biden ’ s campaign drew a direct connection between the president ’ s attacks on Obama and the twin crises battering his administration .
“ It ’ s no surprise that the president is erratically lashing out at President Obama , desperate to distract from his own failures as commander in chief that have cost thousands of Americans their lives during this crisis , ” said TJ Ducklo , a Biden campaign spokesman .
Trump ’ s emphasis on Obama also comes as the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period of political restraint as he prepares to embrace his role as leading surrogate for Biden .
Last week , Obama told a large gathering of alumni from his administration that DOJ ’ s decision to drop the Flynn case put the “ rule of law at risk.
” He also criticized the Trump White House ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Biden ’ s campaign has been eager to get Obama involved in the election , though his exact role is still forming , particularly given that the pandemic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rallies and other in-person events in battleground states .
The former president is also expected to campaign for Democratic House and Senate candidates across the country .
Though Obama campaigned for Democratic candidates in the 2018 midterms , he has mostly tried to avoid overt politics since leaving the White House .
He ’ s spoken out publicly against Trump on rare occasions , frustrating many Democrats who have wanted him to be more aggressive in calling out his successor .
But the 2020 election has always loomed as the moment when Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s told advisers he ’ s eager to do so .
Despite his strident public neutrality during the Democratic primary , he spoke to Biden regularly and has continued to do so as the campaign moves into the general election , according to aides .
Biden ’ s campaign sees Obama as a clear asset as they seek to not only energize Democrats , but to also appeal to independents and more moderate Republicans who may be wary of four more years of Trump in the White House .
A recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans say they have a favourable opinion of Obama .
That includes 92 % of Democrats and 19 % of Republicans .
Obama ’ s favourable ratings are higher than either of the men who will be on the ballot in November .
The same poll showed 41 % of Americans had a favourable opinion of Biden , and 40 % viewed Trump in a favourable light .
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Ground Game .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Australian pedophile priest sentenced to more jail time

MELBOURNE , Australia - An Australian pedophile priest was sentenced to more jail time Thursday after admitting to crimes against another four boys in the 1970s .
In all , Gerald Ridsdale is known to have abused at least 69 children .
He has been behind bars since 1994 after he was sentenced to 34 years .
He had been eligible for parole in 2022 .
But Victorian County Court Judge Gerard Mullaly on Thursday extended Ridsdale ’ s non-parole period by another two years , by which time Ridsdale will be 90 years old .
“ You knew what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harmful , but you kept doing these things to these children over and over , ” Mullaly said .
“ It seems you knew no boundaries or had any sense of restraint.
” Ridsdale ’ s latest crimes involved two brothers who were abused when the then-parish priest took them rabbit shooting .
“ We trusted our beautiful , innocent children with this bastard without question when we should have been more vigilant on their behalf , ” the elderly parents of the brothers said .
They labelled the former priest as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pedophile.
“ Ridsdale admitted the abuse but his lawyer Tim Marsh had earlier argued his client shouldn ’ t spend more time behind bars .
Marsh had suggested an appropriate sentence would be one that did not interfere with the earliest possible release date , and if Ridsdale had been sentenced for all his crimes at once , his jail time would not exceed the previous sentence .
A government inquiry released this month concluded that Australian Cardinal George Pell knew Ridsdale had been sexually abusing children years before his arrest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual abuse had been released in 2017 , but findings concerning Pell — who was formerly Pope Francis ’ finance minister and at one time the third-highest ranking cleric in the Vatican — had been redacted until this month to avoid prejudicing juries in any future prosecutions .
The government decided to release the full report after the High Court last month overturned convictions against Pell on charges he molested two choirboys in a Melbourne cathedral in the late 1990s when he was an archbishop .
The 78-year-old cleric spent 13 months in @ @ @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Former German nuke plant towers demolished in morning blasts

BERLIN - The two cooling towers of a former nuclear power plant in southwestern Germany were demolished early Thursday in @ @ @ @ @ whose timing was kept under wraps to prevent crowds from gathering during the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ ahead of time only that the 150-meter ( nearly 500-foot ) towers at the Philippsburg @ @ @ @ @ would be brought down on Thursday or Friday .
On Thursday , the company said @ @ @ @ @ after 6 a.m .
Such demolitions usually attract many sightseers , but large assemblies aren @ @ @ @ @ under rules aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 .
The Philippsburg plant ’ s @ @ @ @ @ in 2011 and 2019 as part of Germany ’ s plan to exit nuclear power @ @ @ @ @ last reactor is set to go offline at the end of 2022 .
A transformer @ @ @ @ @ electricity generated from renewable sources in northern Germany to the country ’ s south will @ @ @ @ @ of the towers .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Uplifting idea: Cranes reunite families in corona crisis

WATERMAEL-BOITSFORT , Belgium - Something he saw as he drove to work one morning gave Tristan Van den Bosch an uplifting idea .
“ I saw a man shouting at his mother , ” said Van den Bosch .
Not unusual — except that the man was on the ground and his mother was three stories up .
She was , like many seniors , locked down in a care home to avoid the COVID-19 virus .
But as days have turned to weeks and months , families like this one have struggled .
“ We can help this man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As operations manager at Group-f , a cleaning and maintenance company , Van der Bosch had a problem .
The pandemic had reduced business to a trickle , leaving many of his cranes standing idle in the depot .
Why not use those cranes to lift people , so they can see relatives on the upper floors of homes for the aged ?
Since then , Van den Bosch has been driving his cranes to homes in several towns across Belgium .
A platform carries families to their relatives ’ windows .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vanish from faces creased by age .
No internet connection does as well .
Eve Putseys didn ’ t quite know what to expect as she was lifted up to see her 88-year-old aunt , Suzanne , at the La Cambre care home on the outskirts of Brussels .
“ It ’ s been seven long weeks since I haven ’ t been able to see her , ” she said .
“ It ’ s all quite emotional.
” “ I got to see her -- and that was great , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ she looked very happy to see me.
” The anxiety of families with relatives in nursing homes is well placed ; of the 8,843 confirmed and suspected cases who had died of the virus in Belgium as of Tuesday , 4,538 were in such facilities .
Their families are left feeling helpless , fearing they will not see each other again .
Little wonder Van den Bosch had little trouble filling his platforms for this special kind of joyride .
The La Cambre home prepared the facility , the families and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoothly .
“ It has been hard work but quite rewarding , ” said La Cambre director Thibaut Chevrier .
“ We only saw emotions through the eyes of the residents and the families.
” Soon , Group-f officials expect , the platforms will again be used to clean up facades and office fronts .
But in the meantime , they have been put to good use .
“ Yes , OK , it costs money , the operators cost money but the machines are all used , ” Van den Bosch said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re happy that we have been able to help people.
” While nonstop global news about the effects of the coronavirus have become commonplace , so , too , are the stories about the kindness of strangers and individuals who have sacrificed for others .
“ One Good Thing ” is an AP continuing series reflecting these acts of kindness .

Raf Casert And Virginia Mayo - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Strong typhoon slams into pandemic-hit Philippines

MANILA , Philippines - A strong typhoon slammed into the eastern Philippines on Thursday after authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people while trying to avoid the virus risks of overcrowding emergency shelters .
The first typhoon to hit the country this year rapidly gained force as it blew from the Pacific then barged ashore in San Policarpio town in Eastern Samar province around noon , weather agency administrator Vicente Malano said .
The typhoon came as the Philippines is trying to fight COVID-19 outbreaks largely by locking Filipinos in their homes and prohibiting gatherings that can set off infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 772 deaths , have been reported in the country .
Typhoon Vongfong , which was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometres per hour ( 93 miles per hour ) and gusts of up to 185 kph ( 115 mph ) , was forecast to blow northwestward and barrel across densely populated eastern provinces and cities before exiting in the north Sunday .
Overcrowding in emergency shelters is a common scene in the archipelago hit by about 20 typhoons and storms annually and regularly experiencing volcanic eruptions and earthquakes .
Many officials faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ villagers from the double threats .
Video showed fierce rain and wind swaying coconut trees , rattling tin roofs and obscuring visibility in Eastern Samar , where some towns lost power .
“ This is very complicated , ” Mayor Benjamin Ver of a town in the typhoon ’ s path told The Associated Press by telephone .
Far-flung Jipapad is prone to landslides and flooding .
The town in Eastern Samar province is surrounded by mountains and planked by two rivers that often swell in storms .
The only evacuation centres for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the town hall where residents could be sheltered from the typhoon .
Ver , who also is the town ’ s only doctor , said he has secured enough face masks to protect his villagers from the virus in the town hall when the typhoon hits .
Observing social distancing “ is almost impossible ” if all the villagers are cramped in the town hall , but Ver said he would see what else can be done .
Jipapad and the entire Eastern Samar , a province of half a million people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbouring regions , provincial Gov .
Ben Evardone said .
All emergency shelters have been turned into quarantine facilities with medical equipment in case of outbreaks but may have to be rearranged back into evacuation centres if large numbers of people need shelter , Evardone told The AP .
Northern Samar provincial Gov .
Edwin Ongchuan said he has asked for twice the usual number of school buildings to be turned into typhoon shelters to accommodate about 80,000 residents who were being forcibly evacuated from high-risk coastal villages .
“ If we used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need 20 to accommodate the evacuees with social distancing , ” Ongchuan said by telephone .
The government weather agency warned that “ along with large swells , this storm surge may cause potentially life-threatening coastal inundation ” and added that sea travel would be dangerous in regions expected to be battered by Vongfong , a Vietnamese word for wasp .
Metropolitan Manila will not be hit directly by the storm but may be lashed by strong winds .
Officials were advised to remove many medical quarantine tents set up outside hospitals that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The impoverished eastern region initially hit by Vongfong was devastated in 2013 by Typhoon Haiyan , which left more than 7,300 people dead or missing , flattened entire villages , swept ships inland and displaced more than 5 million .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Dentists re-open in France after two-month lockdown

PARIS - Anyone who suffered through France ’ s two-month lockdown with a toothache or other oral affliction of a non-emergency nature has a hope of licking the pain .
Dental practices around the country are cautiously reopening and accepting appointments after the French government eased restrictions on some businesses , services and public activity .
Yet getting back to work in the age of coronavirus requires caution , especially for over 40,000 dentists in France who are among the health professionals at highest risk of becoming infected .
Because respiratory droplets are a way the virus spreads among people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practitioners .
That means not only disinfecting tools and surfaces , but layer upon layer of extra screens , wraps , gloves and masks .
The World Health Organization has recommended specialized face masks for health care providers performing medical procedures such as ventilation and intubation that produce fine , airborne particles , which might transmit the coronavirus .
Drilling teeth for fillings is also known to generate aerosolized viral particles .
Paris dentist Sabrine Jendoubi said the trade-off for safety is the discomfort of additional head and body wear .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the operating theatre .
Today , we wear it for everything.
“ Jendoubi said .
Of the various filtering face masks certified to protect against viruses in the air , she finds the FFP2-rated model ” the most complicated , as it ’ s really tight.
” “ It filters out every virus and bacteria , so it ’ s quite heavy to wear but it protects us and the patients , ” Jendoubi said .
The additional precautions are also an added expense .
An operator of medical clinics and offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AP it is costing 50,000 euros ( $ 54,000 ) to supply each of the company ’ s centres with the hygiene and protective equipment recommended by the French government .
“ We will communicate to the government these difficult adjustments in terms of profitability , but for now we ’ re focused on this public health issue , ” Carine Benharrous , director of dental operations at Doctocare , said .
The limited distance between the faces of dentists and their patients also is a potential concern , as some experts have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infectious dose of the coronavirus may become more seriously ill with COVID-19 .
In Britain , all routine dental care has been suspended except for telephone consultations and prescriptions .
While dentists in Denmark are returning to their offices , they are wearing protective suits and plastic face shields while tending to patients lying with their mouths wide open .
Cleaning teeth to remove plaque is being done by hand instead of with ultrasonic devices that would increase the risk of producing spit .
Yet in some European countries , dental practices never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Italy , one of the nations hit hardest by infections and virus-related deaths , reduced their services to take only urgent cases in person , managing other patients by telephone .
Proof that a pandemic wasn ’ t an excuse to avoid an Italian dentist chair was an April 23 photo on Twitter of U.S .
Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich wearing a protective hairnet and paper drape .
“ A trip to the dentist in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” Gingrich tweeted with emoji of an Italian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adamson reported from Leeds , England .
Jan Olsen in Copenhagen , Nicole Winfield in Rome and Maria Cheng in London contributed .

Thomas Adamson And Nicolas Garriga - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--UN chief warns psychological suffering from virus is growing

TANZANIA , Tanzania - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged governments , civil society and health authorities on Wednesday to urgently address mental health needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic , warning that psychological suffering is increasing .
The U.N. chief said in a video message launching a policy briefing that “ after decades of neglect and under-investment in mental health services , the COVID-19 pandemic is now hitting families and communities with additional mental stress.
” He pointed to “ grief at the loss of loved ones , shock at the loss of jobs , isolation and restrictions on movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and fear for the future.
” Guterres said those most at risk and in need of help are front-line health care workers , older people , adolescents , young people , those with preexisting mental health conditions , and those caught up in conflict and crisis .
“ Mental health services are an essential part of all government responses to COVID-19 , ” he said .
“ They must be expanded and fully funded.
” The 17-page U.N. briefing stressed that “ the mental health and well-being of whole societies have been severely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority to be addressed urgently.
” The U.N. said “ a long-term upsurge in the number and severity of mental health problems is likely ” and warned that if action isn ’ t taken COVID-19 “ has the seeds of a major mental health crisis ” as well as “ a physical health crisis.
” The briefing cited widespread psychological distress from the immediate health aspects of the virus , the consequences of physical isolation , fear of infection , dying and losing family members , physical distancing from loved ones and peers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation and rumours about the virus and deep uncertainty about the future are common sources of distress , ” the U.N. briefing said .
“ In every community , there are numerous older adults and people with preexisting health conditions who are terrified and lonely , ” it said .
“ Emotional difficulties among children and adolescents are exacerbated by family stress , social isolation , with some facing increased abuse , disrupted education and uncertainty about their futures.
” Because of the size of the problem , the U.N. said , most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to a historic under-investment in mental health needs and called for the widespread availability of emergency mental health and psychological support during the pandemic .
The U.N. also urged the development of mental health services for the future “ to support society ’ s recovery from COVID-19 .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--NFL players accused of armed robbery at South Florida party

MIAMI - Police in South Florida are trying to find New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar after multiple witnesses accused them of an armed robbery at a party , authorities said Thursday .
Miramar police issued arrest warrants for both men Thursday on four counts each of armed robbery with a firearm .
Baker faces an additional four counts of aggravated assault with a firearm .
The residential community is located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami .
Baker , 22 , and Dunbar , 27 , were attending a cookout at a Miramar home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Baker pulled out a handgun , the warrant said .
Baker , Dunbar and two other men began robbing other people at the party of thousands of dollars in cash , watches and other valuables , witnesses told investigators .
Police said the four men then fled the home in three vehicles : a Mercedes Benz , a Lamborghini and a BMW .
Witnesses said the vehicles were parked in a way that would make it easy to leave quickly , leading detectives to believe the robbery was planned .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are both from Miami .
Baker was one of three first-round draft picks the Giants had last season .
He was the 30th pick overall out of Georgia .
He played in all 16 games , starting 15 .
He had 61 tackles and no interceptions .
He was the last of the three New York picks in that first round .
“ We are aware of the situation .
We have been in contact with DeAndre , ” the Giants said in a statement .
“ We have no further comment at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2015 and was traded to the Seahawks in March .
He started 11 games last season , making 37 tackles and four interceptions .
“ We are aware of the situation involving Quinton Dunbar and still gathering information , ” the Seahawks said in a statement .
“ We will defer all further comment to league investigators and local authorities.
” Dunbar spent Thursday morning on a video conference with the Seattle media for the first time since being traded from Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You just want to feel wanted at the end of the day .
...
I just hope to repay them with the way I carry myself as a person , ” Dunbar said on the video conference .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Virus tests hospitals in pockets of US as some states reopen

SILVER SPRING , Md .
- From a hospital on the edge of the Navajo Nation to the suburbs of the nation ’ s capital , front-line medical workers in coronavirus hot spots are struggling to keep up with a crushing load of patients while lockdown restrictions are lifting in many other parts of the U.S. Governors are starting to slowly reopen some segments of their local economies , pointing to evidence that COVID-19 deaths and new hospitalizations are peaking or starting to recede in their states .
But a government whistleblower warned Thursday that the U.S. faces its “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders act decisively to prevent a rebound of the virus .
While many state and local officials see modest signs of progress in the pandemic fight , coronavirus outbreaks are testing public health networks in pockets of the U.S .
Among them is a suburb of Washington , D.C .
The head of a hospital system in Maryland ’ s Prince George ’ s County , a majority black community bordering the city , said the area ’ s intensive care units “ are bursting at the seams.
” Meanwhile , a civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s jail failed to stop an “ uncontrolled ” coronavirus outbreak and isolated infected prisoners in cells with walls covered in feces , mucus and blood .
“ I would say we are the epicenter of the epicenter , ” said Dr. Joseph Wright , interim CEO of University of Maryland Capital Region Health .
The hospital in Gallup , New Mexico , is on the front lines of a grinding outbreak on the Navajo Nation that recently prompted a 10-day lockdown with police setting up roadblocks to discourage non-emergency shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest over inadequate staffing and to urge the CEO of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital to resign .
The departure last week of the hospital ’ s lung specialist has limited its ability to treat COVID-19 patients , as people with acute respiratory symptoms are transported to Albuquerque some two hours away .
About 17 nurses were cut from the hospital ’ s workforce in March , at least 32 workers have tested positive for the virus and its intensive care unit is at capacity .
“ My staff is physically exhausted , emotionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injury , ” chief nursing officer Felicia Adams said .
Meanwhile , in Washington , Rick Bright , a vaccine expert who alleges he was ousted from a high-level scientific post after warning the Trump administration to prepare for the pandemic , told a congressional panel that the U.S. lacks a plan to produce and fairly distribute a coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available .
Asked by lawmakers if Congress should be worried , Bright , who wore a protective mask while testifying , responded : “ Absolutely.
” President Donald Trump dismissed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a disgruntled employee.
” The White House has launched what it calls “ Operation Warp Speed ” to produce , distribute and administer a vaccine once it becomes available .
Bright ’ s testimony follows a warning this week from Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious disease expert , that rushing to reopen could “ turn back the clock ” and lead to more suffering and death , complicating efforts to revive the economy .
The U.S. has the largest outbreak in the world by far : over 1.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
Worldwide , the virus has infected more than 4.4 million and killed over 300,000 .
Experts say the actual numbers are likely far higher .
The pressure is on to staunch job losses in the U.S. after unemployment soared to 14.7 % in April , the highest since the Great Depression .
Another nearly 3 million applied for unemployment benefits last week as more companies slashed jobs .
Roughly 36 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the country in the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of businesses to close , the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday .
Many states are lifting lockdowns , leading to tentative resumptions of commerce , but there are frustrations among some people still living under tough restrictions .
In Michigan , hundreds of people , some armed , protested Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home order in heavy rain outside the state capitol on Thursday , while about 500 people rallied outside the residence of Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz .
But elsewhere , Richmond , Virginia , opted out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing an increase in cases and the city ’ s large minority population , and Kansas delayed reopening bars and bowling alleys .
Even in places that have relaxed restrictions , hospitals continue to operate on an emergency footing .
Georgia provided a network of hospitals with extra nurses so exhausted employees could take some time off and recover .
The Northeast Georgia Health System , which operates four hospitals , is still struggling to buy the disposable protective gowns it needs .
It has assigned workers to collect and sanitize suits so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are sewing gowns and masks .
“ That ’ s our most critical need , ” said Tracy Vardeman , the health system ’ s chief strategy officer .
“ We ’ re going through as many as 6,000 a day.
” The system ’ s largest hospital serves a county at the epicenter of the state ’ s poultry industry .
About one-third of Hall County ’ s residents are Hispanic or Latino , a demographic that has accounted for up to 60 % of the system ’ s COVID-19 patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grocery store in the heart of the Hispanic community .
“ I think there is increasing realization that this is a severe issue and we can not take it lightly , ” said Dr. Antonio Rios , a leader of the hospital system ’ s affiliated physicians ’ group .
Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan has announced the first stage of reopening beginning Friday evening , but Prince George ’ s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said Thursday that a local order would extend through June 1 .
Wright , the hospital CEO in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the three emergency departments his medical system operates are steadily seeing upward of 70 new COVID-19 confirmed and suspected patients every day .
Officials say the community has been particularly affected in part because it is a gateway to the District of Columbia and many of its 909,000 residents are essential workers who continue to go to jobs every day .
That largely mirrors the scenario in Queens , the epicenter of New York ’ s outbreak .
“ We are certainly still very much in a very busy phase of this surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallout from the pandemic continues to pummel nations worldwide .
France announced an 18-billion-euro ( $ 19.4 billion ) plan to support restaurants , hotels and other tourist facilities which have been closed since mid-March .
And Germany ’ s parliament approved boosting payments to people in a government-backed short-term work program that lets businesses keep employees on the payroll awaiting better times .
China , where the pandemic originated , has now gone a month without announcing any new deaths from the coronavirus .
On Friday the National Health Commission reported four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jilin , where a cluster of uncertain origin has been detected in recent days .
China has maintained social distancing and bans on foreigners entering the country , but has increasingly opened up the world ’ s second-largest economy to allow both large factories and small businesses to resume production and dealings with customers .
Garcia Cano reported from Washington ; Lee reported from Santa Fe , New Mexico .
Associated Press writers Jeff Amy in Atlanta , and Christopher Rugaber and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar in Washington contributed .

Michael Kunzelman, Regina Garcia Cano And Morgan Lee - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Venezuela says 39 ex-soldiers caught trying to enter country

CARACAS , Venezuela - Venezuelan authorities said Thursday they have seized 39 military deserters trying to enter the country from Colombia , saying they are believed linked to the failed armed incursion by sea early in the month that was aimed at toppling President Nicolás Maduro .
Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López gave no details on where or when the former soldiers were captured .
Officials had previously reported the arrests of at least 40 people , including two Americans , as a result of the May 3 raid on the coastal town of Macuto .
Speaking on state television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captured deserters “ came to fulfil a task as part of the general scheme ” of the thwarted maritime incursion .
He repeated the government ’ s charge that the raid had “ foreign financing , with equipment supplied by powers such as the United States ( and ) the government of Colombia itself.
” Maduro on Thursday claimed that “ new mercenary groups ” are being formed in neighbouring Colombia , though he presented no evidence .
The governments of the United States and Colombia , which are close allies of Venezuelan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the allegation that they were involved in the armed attack .
On Monday , Guaidó announced that two of his U.S.-based political advisers had resigned over their ties to the failed raid .
Two Americans were captured after the incursion along with eight other men , some of whom were described as Venezuelan deserters .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Back-to-school could be delayed by California budget cuts

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - The deep financial hole brought on by the coronavirus is striking home for California schools after Gov .
Gavin Newsom released a dramatically revised state budget plan .
And the upcoming cuts could make it harder to resume in-classroom education for 6 million schoolchildren .
“ It ’ s asking us to do more with less , ” said Jeff Freitas , president of the California Federation of Teachers , which represents 120,000 education employees across California .
“ It makes it more difficult to get back into the classroom.
” The budget Newsom outlined Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 million for K-12 education , including state and federal dollars , compared with $ 103.4 billion in the current budget year .
Funding from Proposition 98 , the constitutionally mandated formula that sets how much money schools get annually , is down roughly $ 10 billion from the current budget .
Newsom said he staved off deeper cuts by tapping federal dollars , eliminating tax breaks and other methods .
Almost all students have been learning from home since mid-March , when Newsom enacted a statewide stay-at-home order in response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more resources for distance learning .
School leaders also expect schools to look vastly different whenever students are able to safely return to classrooms , possibly with staggered start times , smaller class sizes and different rules for recess and lunch .
Keely Bosler , Newsom ’ s director of finance , said it was hard to say exactly what the cuts would mean in each district , as they all face different financial pictures .
But she said many will be in hard positions and that cuts to schools were among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building the budget .
“ I do think that the amount of money that was provided to offset the reductions will be a significant help , “ she said .
Vernon Billy , chief executive officer of the California School Boards Association , said 40 % of local education agencies were considering layoffs even before the pandemic .
Furloughing or laying off staff would make it harder for schools to safely respond to the virus when students return , Freitas said .
“ I don ’ t know how you do social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know how you do cleaning with fewer custodians , ” he said .
Newsom is asking the federal government for billions more in assistance for education and other other programs .
Without it , his budget threatens roughly $ 350 million in cuts to after-school education , career and technical education , adult education block grants and other existing programs .
He now enters negotiations with lawmakers ahead of a June 30 deadline for adopting a budget .
He has also nixed about $ 1.8 billion in new programs he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck .
Among them : Grants for preschool special education and child nutrition programs and programs for teacher credentialing and development .
“ Many schools that have been on the front line of serving meals to children during this crisis have exhausted their nutrition budgets and need additional support to continue operations and make critical investments , ” said Kathy Saile , director of No Kid Hungry California .
Newsom said the cuts could have been deeper .
He is using roughly $ 4 billion in federal coronavirus to help schools overcome “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is also eliminating some tax breaks for individuals and businesses to bring in another $ 4.5 billion for schools .
He wants to spend several billion dollars the state had set aside to pay off long-term pension obligations to reduce the immediate pension burdens on school districts .
Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon , a Democrat , called the budget grim and said he ’ ll be looking for suggestions to ease the burden on schools .
He said he will ask lawmakers and school districts “ to come forward and help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ layoffs .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Authorities charge 10 in alleged MS-13 deaths, other crimes

NEW YORK - Federal authorities on Thursday brought charges including murder , attempted murder , and murder conspiracy against 10 men accused of being part of the notorious MS-13 gang .
U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue of the Eastern District said the men were all in custody in connection to three killings and other crimes .
One was arrested Wednesday in Maryland ; five were arrested Thursday , four in New York and one in California ; and four were already in detention .
“ The murders and crimes of violence allegedly committed by these defendants are trademark MS-13 offences — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pose a grave danger to the residents of our communities , ” Donoghue said in a statement announcing the arrests .
One of the killings in the federal complaints was of Andy Peralta , a 17-year-old found dead in April 2018 in a Queens park .
Authorities said he was beaten , stabbed and strangled because he was mistakenly believed to part of a rival gang .
Another was Victor Alvarenga , killed in November 2018 in Queens .
Authorities said he was walking down the street when he was approached and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and head .
The third was Abel Mosso , shot on a Queens subway platform in February 2019 .
Authorities said he was assaulted on a subway then dragged onto a station platform , with onlookers warned by his assailants not to get involved .
Donoghue said if convicted , six of the men face mandatory sentences of life in prison and are eligible for the death penalty .
Three of the men face maximum sentences of life in prison and the last man faces up to 15 years in prison .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--I-75 reopens in southwest Florida as wildfire continues

NAPLES , Fla. - A section of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley reopened Thursday afternoon after four brush fires that eventually merged in southwest Florida caused it to close a day earlier , authorities said .
The four fires merged and grew into a 8,500-acre ( 3,440-hectare ) fire on Thursday , according to an evening tweet from the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services .
The blaze was about 10 % contained .
The Florida Highway Patrol said on Twitter that troopers had reopened Alligator Alley .
The toll road had been closed after smoke caused visibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still proceed with caution .
Alligator Alley extends from near Naples on Florida ’ s Gulf Coast , to Broward County in South Florida .
On Wednesday night , four fires were burning a total of about 400 acres ( 162 hectares ) , officials said at the time .
One of the fires threatened about 30 homes in the Collier County area of Golden Gate Estates , according to the Florida Forestry Service .
Greater Naples Fire Rescue District Chief Kingman Schuldt told the Naples Daily News that the fires have since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structures .
The Collier County Sheriff ’ s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were co-ordinating voluntary evacuations Wednesday night , but officials moved on to mandatory evacuations by Thursday .
The Greater Naples Fire Rescue District led efforts to fight the blazes , while two Lee County strike teams and one Sarasota County team also responded , Schuldt said .
Fire crews from Miami-Dade and Broward county were joining the effort Thursday evening , officials said .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Medal of Honor winner dies at 41; saved lives in Afghanistan

WINSTON-SALEM , N.C. - Former Army Staff Sgt .
Ronald Shurer II , who received the Medal of Honor in 2018 for braving heavy gunfire to save lives in Afghanistan , has died of cancer .
He was 41 .
Miranda Shurer said her husband died Thursday in Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington , D.C. She said he was diagnosed with cancer three years ago .
Ronald Shurer II received the nation ’ s highest military honour from President Donald Trump in a formal White House ceremony attended by 250 people .
“ He was an amazing man .
Obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing soldier , ” Miranda Shurer said .
“ The same characteristics that made him a great teammate in Special Forces also made him a great husband and a great father and a great friend .
He was very loved.
” A native of Fairbanks , Alaska , Shurer was a senior medical sergeant in the special forces on April 6 , 2008 , when his team encountered machine-gun and sniper fire and rocket-propelled grenades from militants .
Shurer stabilized one soldier , then fought his way amid gunfire up a mountain to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There , he treated and stabilized four more soldiers .
Shurer helped evacuate them .
He lowered the wounded down the steep mountainside while using his body to shield them from enemy fire .
After he had loaded the wounded in an evacuation helicopter , Shurer went back up the mountain to fight .
Initially rejected by the military because of a medical condition , Shurer successfully enlisted a year after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 , 2001 .
He was promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant in late 2006 and served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force in Afghanistan from late November 2007 to late May 2008 .
He was honourably discharged a year later .
Shurer then began a career with the Secret Service as a special agent assigned to a field office in Phoenix , Arizona , in September 2009 .
He was selected for the Secret Service ’ s counter assault team and assigned to the Special Operations Division in June 2014 .
“ Today , we lost an American Hero : Husband , Father , Son , Medal of Honor Recipient - Special Agent Ronald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation and Agency — your memory and legacy will live on forever , ” the U.S. Secret Service said in a tweet .
Miranda Shurer , citing restrictions from the coronavirus pandemic , said her husband will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery near the nation ’ s capital at a future date .
In addition to his wife , Shurer is survived by two sons .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Burr steps aside as Senate intelligence chair amid FBI probe

WASHINGTON - A Republican senator with access to some of the nation ’ s top secrets became further entangled in a deepening FBI investigation as agents examining a well-timed sale of stocks during the coronavirus outbreak showed up at his home with a warrant to search his cellphone .
Hours later , Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina stepped aside Thursday as chairman of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee , calling it the “ best thing to do.
“ Burr has denied wrongdoing .
“ This is a distraction to the hard work of the committee and the members , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country is too important to have a distraction , ” Burr said .
He said he would serve out the remainder of his term , which ends in 2023 .
He is not running for reelection .
The search warrant marked a dramatic escalation in the Justice Department ’ s investigation into whether Burr exploited advance information when he unloaded as much as $ 1.7 million in stocks in the days before the coronavirus caused markets to plummet .
Such warrants require investigators to establish to a judge that probable cause exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The warrant was confirmed by two people familiar with the matter , including a senior department official .
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation .
Burr faces no public accusations by the government that he exploited inside information received during briefings .
But the search warrant immediately affected the standing inside Congress of the influential Republican , who has earned bipartisan support for leading a congressional investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign — work that sometimes rankled President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the warrant also underscored the public scrutiny surrounding the stock market activities of multiple senators and their families around the same time .
On Thursday , a spokesman for Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif. , said she was asked “ some basic questions “ by law enforcement about sales her husband made and had voluntarily answered questions .
Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler , a new lawmaker from Georgia , and her husband dumped substantial portions of their portfolio and purchased new stocks around the time Congress was receiving briefings on the seriousness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no involvement in the trades and said they were managed by third-party advisers .
A spokesperson said Loeffler has forwarded documents to the Justice Department , the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Senate Ethics Committee “ establishing that she and her husband acted entirely appropriately and observed both the letter and the spirit of the law.
” In Burr ’ s case , the search warrant was served on a lawyer for him , and FBI agents went to the senator ’ s home in the Washington area to retrieve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The decision to obtain the warrant was approved at the highest levels of the department , the official said .
Alice Fisher , a lawyer for Burr , noted that Burr called for an ethics inquiry into the stock sales once they were disclosed .
She said the senator has “ been actively co-operating with the government ’ s inquiry , as he said he would.
“ “ From the outset , Senator Burr has been focused on an appropriate and thorough review of the facts in this matter , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Fisher said in a statement .
Trump , speaking to reporters at the White House before travelling to Pennsylvania on Thursday , said he was unaware that Burr was leaving his intelligence post .
“ I know nothing about it — never discussed it with anybody , ” Trump said .
“ That ’ s too bad.
” Senate records show Burr and his wife sold between roughly $ 600,000 and $ 1.7 million in more than 30 transactions in late January and mid-February , just before the market began to dive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarms about the virus .
Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels .
Burr has acknowledged selling the stocks because of the coronavirus but said he relied “ solely on public news reports , ” specifically CNBC ’ s daily health and science reporting out of Asia , to make the financial decisions .
Senators did receive a closed-door briefing on the virus on Jan. 24 , which was public knowledge .
A separate briefing was held Feb. 12 by the Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s unclear if he attended either session .
He was first elected to the Senate in 2004 and chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee as it conducted its own investigation into Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential election .
The committee last month issued a report supporting the conclusion by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia had interfered on Trump ’ s behalf .
As chairman , Burr has access to the most sensitive classified information that is provided to Congress .
Along with Republican and Democratic leadership and the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burr is part of the group of eight lawmakers in Congress who receive the highest level classified briefings .
His decision to leave the chairman position surprised fellow committee members .
Sen. John Cornyn , R-Texas , said he respected Burr ’ s decision , adding that “ he ’ s entitled to a presumption of innocence just like anybody else.
” “ The best I can tell , he is trying to do the right thing by the Senate , and I appreciate it , ” Cornyn said .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
The next several Republican members in seniority are already chairmen of other committees , though they could choose to switch .
Next in seniority is Idaho Sen. James Risch , who told reporters on Thursday that he didn ’ t know whether he would keep his current perch as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee or move to the intelligence panel .
Following him is Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , who heads the Senate Small Business Committee .
He said that he wasn ’ t aware that Burr was stepping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes over was up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. Maine Sen. Susan Collins , chairwoman of the Senate Aging Committee , is third in line .
The Los Angeles Times first reported the search warrant .
Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro , Colleen Long and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report .

Eric Tucker, Michael Balsamo And Mary Clare Jalonick - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Dining with dummies? Renowned restaurant adds mannequins

WASHINGTON , Va. - One of the country ’ s most renowned restaurants says mannequins will add a touch of whimsy and help with social distancing when customers return to its grand dining room later this month .
Mannequins dressed in fine 1940 ’ s-style attire were already theatrically staged Thursday at The Inn at Little Washington , tucked in the foothills of Virginia ’ s Blue Ridge Mountains about 90 minutes west of Washington , D.C .
Although business restrictions are set to begin easing in some parts of Virginia on Friday , restaurants can only serve dine-in customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant has opted to wait until May 29 to resume dining service indoors .
“ When we needed to solve the problem of social distancing and reducing our restaurant ’ s occupancy by half , the solution seemed obvious — fill it with interestingly dressed dummies , ” chef and proprietor Patrick O ’ Connell said in a statement .
“ This would allow plenty of space between real guests and elicit a few smiles and provide some fun photo ops.
” O ’ Connell , a self-taught cook , has won multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recipient of the James Beard Foundation ’ s lifetime achievement award .
He was also awarded the National Humanities Medal in 2019 .
“ We ’ re all craving to gather and see other people right now , ” O ’ Connell said .
“ They don ’ t all necessarily need to be real people .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Appeals court allows emoluments suit against Trump to proceed

WASHINGTON—A federal appeals court in Virginia on Thursday revived a lawsuit accusing U.S. President Donald Trump of violating the Constitution by profiting from his Washington hotel , a decision that will most likely lead the Justice Department to appeal to the Supreme Court to keep the plaintiffs from gathering evidence in the case .
“ We recognize that the president is no ordinary petitioner , and we accord him great deference as the head of the executive branch , ” the majority opinion from the Fourth U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals said .
“ But Congress and the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grant the extraordinary relief the president seeks.
” The 15-member appeals court in Richmond met in December to consider whether a three-judge appellate panel had wrongly dismissed the lawsuit over the Trump International Hotel brought by the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland .
The local jurisdictions were about to begin evidence gathering when the panel threw out the case .
The Justice Department asked the full appeals court to either uphold the panel ’ s ruling or allow the department to appeal the lower-court judge ’ s procedural rulings against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief that is rarely allowed when a case is in midstream .
The attorneys general for the District of Columbia and Maryland are arguing that Trump ’ s interest in the hotel violates the Constitution ’ s bans on accepting benefits or “ emoluments ” from state or foreign governments .
Government officials from Maine to Saudi Arabia have patronized the 263-room luxury property .
The local jurisdictions claim they have standing to sue because the Trump hotel competes with hotels and convention centres in their areas .
The Justice Department contends that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violating the emoluments bans without the express authorization of Congress and that the plaintiffs want to engage in a fishing expedition for documents for blatantly political reasons .
The appeals court split 9-6 over the decision .
The two dissenting opinions and one concurring opinion revealed a wide gap between the justices .
Eight of the nine judges who favoured allowing the lawsuit to go forward were appointed by Democratic presidents .
The ninth , Chief Judge Roger Gregory , was a recess appointment by president Bill Clinton and then was reappointed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in opposition were appointed by Republican presidents .
Writing for the majority , Judge Diana Gribbon Motz , who was appointed by Clinton , said Trump was asking for a drastic form of emergency relief on the grounds that the lower-court judge had abused his discretion and committed serious legal errors .
But she said that Judge Peter J. Messitte of the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt , Md.
, had issued detailed written opinions , had applied the correct legal standards and had not acted arbitrarily .
So the appeals court had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halt the case .
In a dissenting opinion also signed by five other judges , Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III , who was appointed by president Ronald Reagan , said the court was allowing itself to be used as a political tool to harass the president .
“ Can we not see the political cloak we are asked to don ?
” he wrote .
“ No federal court has ever allowed a party to sue the president under the domestic emoluments clause.
” He added , “ Would it not be fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something other than law was afoot ?
” In yet another opinion , four judges in the majority fired back .
“ The public ’ s confidence and trust in the integrity of the judiciary suffer greatly when judges who disagree with their colleagues ’ view of the law accuse those colleagues of abandoning their constitutional oath of office , ” wrote Judge James A. Wynn Jr. , who was appointed by president Barack Obama .
Brianna Herlihy , a Justice Department spokeswoman , said the appeals court “ erred by not even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s defences.
” She said the department “ intends to seek further review in the Supreme Court.
” Legal experts said the department would most likely request an administrative stay of the case while it prepared its appeal .
Karl A. Racine , the attorney general for the District of Columbia , and Brian E. Frosh , the attorney general for Maryland , applauded the decision .
“ The Fourth Circuit ruled that President Trump is subject to the same rules of the legal system as everyone else , ” they said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hotel has progressed significantly further than two similar emoluments cases working their way through other courts .
The Supreme Court is already weighing two cases on whether the powers of the presidency protect Trump from prosecutors and House committees seeking information about his business affairs .
The court ’ s decision could have bearing on the emoluments cases .
Just blocks from the White House , the Trump International Hotel has been a magnet for lobbyists and for state , federal and foreign officials seeking to influence the president or those within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is owned by Trump and managed by his eldest sons , operates the hotel .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club to partially reopen this weekend

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. - President Donald Trump ’ s Mar-a-Lago club will partially reopen to members this weekend as South Florida slowly reopens from the coronavirus lockdown .
An email sent Thursday to members says the Palm Beach resort ’ s Beach Club restaurant , its pool and its whirlpool will reopen Saturday after being closed two months , but its main building that includes hotel rooms , the main dining area and the president ’ s private residence will remain closed .
Members will have to practice social distancing and lounge chairs will be set 6 feet ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to bring their own towels .
The email was first reported by The Washington Post .
The Trump Organization did not return a call seeking comment and a security guard who answered at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday afternoon said no administrators were available .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a close ally of the president , has been slowly allowing the state to reopen , with the hard-hit counties of South Florida trailing the rest of the state .
Restaurants in Palm Beach County , like most of the state , can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must maintain 6 feet ( 2 metres ) between tables outdoors .
DeSantis is expected to soon boost the capacity limit to 50 % .
Bars and nightclubs are closed .
Mar-a-Lago executives told Florida officials last month that it was temporarily laying off 153 workers because of the shutdown , a decision the president defended at the time .
“ You can ’ t have many hundreds of employees standing around doing nothing , ” he said April 21 .
“ There ’ s no customer .
You ’ re not allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s economic relief bill specifically bars Trump ’ s businesses , as well as those with ties to other top government officials and members of Congress and their immediate families , from receiving emergency loans and other benefits meant to help businesses retain workers during the pandemic .
Palm Beach County has had nearly 4,300 confirmed COVID-19 cases since early March and at least 263 deaths .
As of 2018 , Mar-a-Lago ’ s approximately 500 members paid $ 14,000 annual dues for access to the 17-acre ( 6.9-hectare ) estate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200,000 initiation fee that doubled after Trump ’ s 2016 election .
Members pay extra to dine and stay on the property .
Trump purchased Mar-a-Lago — “ the world ’ s most celebrated private club , ” according to its website — from the foundation of cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1985 for $ 10 million and has invested tens of millions of dollars improving the property .
He opened it as a club in 1995 .
The property now boasts 58 bedrooms , 33 bathrooms , a 20,000-square-foot ( 1,858-square-meter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and three bomb shelters .
Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington , D.C. , contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-14--Karen Pence: ‘It’s OK to not be OK’ during pandemic

WASHINGTON - Karen Pence says it ’ s OK to not be OK during the coronavirus pandemic .
While Vice-President Mike Pence runs the White House coronavirus task force , his wife is leading a parallel effort to help people deal with anxiety and other unsettling emotions brought on by the pandemic .
Two months into the crisis , millions of Americans are struggling to cope with the fallout , whether it ’ s losing loved ones , losing a job or staying at home more than they ever have .
“ This is something we ’ re all going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not like anything we ’ ve ever gone through before , ” Karen Pence told The Associated Press in a recent interview .
She is lead ambassador for the PREVENTS task force , an acronym for the President ’ s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide .
It was created in 2019 to focus on veterans ’ suicides but recently launched a social media campaign called “ More Than Ever Before ” to help reach Americans before they get to “ the end of their rope , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know there ’ s help out there , and there are things that we can do to prevent some of the effects that this is having on our mental health as a nation , ” Mrs. Pence said .
She joined the PREVENTS effort early this year , before the extent of the coronavirus threat in the U.S. became clear .
A majority of Americans say they have felt at least one negative emotional reaction in the last seven days , according to a new poll conducted by NORC at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least a third of Americans reported feeling nervous , depressed , lonely or hopeless at least one day in the past week .
But taken together , 61 % of Americans say they have felt at least one of those emotions at one point throughout the week .
Nine per cent also reported having a physical reaction , such as sweating , nausea or hyperventilating , when thinking about their experience with the pandemic on one or more days .
The new poll , conducted last week , is the second wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thirty-eight per cent of Americans say they felt lonely at least one of the last seven days .
Sixteen per cent said they felt that way on three or more days .
And 38 % said they felt hopeless about the future at least once , with 14 % saying they felt that way on three or more days .
Those patterns are similar for feelings of anxiety and depression .
Mrs. Pence says there are four basic things people can do to help them cope with the situation , beginning with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gauge how they ’ re feeling and then reach out to a friend or other individual if they need someone to hear them out .
They should also figure out what puts them at ease , whether it ’ s reading , cooking or another activity , and schedule time for it .
Mrs. Pence , a watercolour artist , said she ’ s been working on a painting of a friend ’ s house and is designing her family ’ s Christmas card .
People should also talk about their struggles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations .
And if they ’ re concerned about themselves or someone else , they should feel comfortable calling the national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK .
“ It ’ s OK to not be OK , “ said Mrs. Pence .
She posts tips and information about available resources on her Twitter page .
Among those grappling with the new dynamics is Jody Garrison , who works from her Milwaukee home , turning old books into journals and selling them online .
It ’ s the rare trip to the grocery store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later this week to pick up her car after a repair — that brings on the anxiety .
“ You worry about , ‘ Am I going to catch something from touching something ?
’ so I truly don ’ t go out in public much at all , ” she said by telephone .
Being retired helps , as Garrison had long settled into a routine .
The 68-year-old plays with her grandchildren online and meets friends there , and is exercising and reading more , too .
“ I think what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve tried really hard to stay focused on things that kept me happy in the past to sustain the thought of being alone , ” she said .
“ I ’ m trying to stay focused on the positive , and when you do that , it doesn ’ t seem quite so bad.
” Anxious to see the U.S. economy humming again , President Donald Trump has pushed back against those who warn that coronavirus cases will spike after state lockdowns are lifted .
He says more people will die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools , businesses and workplaces remain closed and people stay at home .
Experts say rates of suicide and substance abuse were rising before the pandemic , but it ’ s too soon to know how much they may have increased during the outbreak .
Suicide prevention and mental health advocates said they welcome the PREVENTS effort but would like to see more spending on a more co-ordinated effort to reduce deaths caused by despair .
“ You don ’ t have to be a mental health expert to know we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Patrick Kennedy , D-R.I. , co-chair of a new public-private effort to respond to mental health and suicide prevention needs both during and after the coronavirus .
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. , with 48,000 deaths reported in 2018 , said Jerry Reed , who serves with Kennedy on the executive committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention , which is separate from the virus-related initiative .
Reed , a longtime suicide prevention advocate , said he ’ d like to see the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus put into responding to mental health needs .
“ I like the fact that we all came together to flatten the physical curve of the virus , ” Reed said .
“ I would suggest we all come together to flatten the mental health curve.
” Associated Press writers Tammy Webber in Chicago and Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report .
This story has been corrected to show that Kennedy represented Rhode Island , not Massachusetts .

Darlene Superville - The Associated Press