thetorontostar--2020-03-06--AP Explains: Militant fighters in final battle in Syria

BEIRUT - Intermingled among 3 million civilians under siege in the Syrian government ’ s assault on the last opposition stronghold are tens of thousands of al-Qaida-linked fighters and other militants who came from around the world to take part in the country ’ s civil war .
These hardened fighters have nowhere left to go as the war reaches an endgame in Syria ’ s northwest province of Idlib on the Turkish border .
Like the civilians they terrorized for years , they are trapped in an ever-shrinking territory under constant bombardment by the Russian-backed offensive by the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a mix of home-grown fighters and the foreign jihadis who began converging to Syria after the 2011 uprising against Assad turned into an armed insurgency .
The influx made Syria one of the main centres for militants worldwide , described by a top U.S. envoy as the largest al-Qaida haven since Osama bin Laden ’ s days in Afghanistan .
Idlib is believed to have more than 50,000 fighters , including the hard-core militants as well as tens of thousands of Turkish-backed Syrian rebels , most of them with Islamic fundamentalist ideologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Syrian government struck safe passage deals with rebels as it took back control of areas around the country .
As a result , rebels from elsewhere flowed into Idlib , their last stronghold .
The current Russian-backed government offensive now aims to capture Idlib and crush the rebellion for good .
Here ’ s a look at the militants and their options : Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , Arabic for Levant Liberation Committee , is by far the strongest militant group in Idlib , affiliated with al-Qaida .
Also known as HTS , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and al-Qaida operative Abu Mohammed al-Golani .
The powerful HTS has militarily crushed many of its rivals within the opposition , carried out a crackdown against the civilian population and set up its own so-called “ salvation government ” in 2017 to run day-to-day affairs in the region .
HTS evolved from the Nusra Front , the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria , which rebranded itself and changed names on several occasions , claiming it had cut its links with al-Qaida .
In February 2018 , as HTS became more Syrian , most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group known as Horas al-Din , Arabic for “ Guardians of Religion.
” That group is now largely seen as the main al-Qaida branch in Syria and takes a hardline stance , rejecting a political solution for the war .
Most of its fighters are deployed in the rugged mountains of Idlib where they could take shelter amid the offensive .
Idlib is also home to the Turkistan Islamic Party , largely made up of thousands of Chinese jihadis .
Most are from the Turkic-speaking , Muslim Uighur community native to Xinjiang in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and near the strategic town of Jisr al-Shughour on the edge of Latakia , an Assad stronghold .
Overall , as many as 8,000 foreign militants have been estimated to be in Idlib .
The National Front for Liberation is a Turkish-backed Syrian rebel coalition , formed in 2018 , which has played a major role in fighting government forces in Idlib .
The group , made up of 16 factions , includes Islamic fundamentalist fighters believed to be more moderate than those of al-Qaida-linked groups .
One of the strongest factions is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey .
They later became part of the Turkey-backed coalition known as the Free Syrian Army .
As the noose tightens around Idlib , most of the militants have no choice but to fight till the end and die .
Some will try to blend in with the civilian population — although foreign fighters will have difficulty doing that .
Opposition activists in the region say local Syrian fighters have already begun separating themselves from the foreigners .
A number of foreign jihadis have split away from locals and moved into mountainous areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition activist who spends much of his time in Idlib .
Al-Golani , the HTS commander , gave a rare interview in late January to the Brussels-based International Crisis Group in which he presented HTS as a local Syrian group independent of al-Qaida ’ s chain of command “ with a strictly Syrian , not a transnational , Islamist agenda.
” “ Abu Mohammed al-Golani is a pragmatic person who comes from a generation of al-Qaida that tried to shift into local politics , contrary to al-Qaida ideology that tends to be international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wael Olwan , a former spokesman for a Syrian rebel group who now works as a researcher at the Turkish-based think-tank Jusoor for Studies .
As the Syrian government offensive pushes civilians toward the border with Turkey , analysts say that some foreign militants might try to cross the border into Turkey and from there move on to other parts of the world to carry out attacks for al-Qaida .
Sam Heller , a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group , said that if the government offensive moves all the way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfold as large numbers of civilians try to escape .
Militants could then exploit such chaos to slip away .
“ A military offensive on Idlib risks driving these militants into Turkey , and then dispersing them globally , including to Europe and the post-Soviet space , ” Heller said .
“ At that point , some of these more experienced foreign cadres could link up with militants elsewhere and serve as an accelerant for local jihadist violence , ” he said .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Prescribed burns starting at Land Between the Lakes

GOLDEN POND , Ky. - National Forest Service wildfire officials will start conducting seasonal prescribed burns Friday at Land Between @ @ @ @ @ , officials said .
Crews will burn dry fuels to reduce their availability and improve @ @ @ @ @ , according to a statement from Land Between the Lakes .
Fire crews and smoke @ @ @ @ @ through Sunday .
Land Between the Lakes covers more than 170,000 acres ( 68,800 hectares @ @ @ @ @ Tennessee .
Crew may conduct more prescribed burning throughout March , officials said .
The @ @ @ @ @ dry fuels in forested areas and recycle nutrients back into the soil .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--MH17 families hope truth emerges from unprecedented trial

AMSTERDAM - United by grief across oceans and continents , families who lost loved ones when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down in 2014 hope that a trial starting next week will finally deliver something that has remained elusive ever since : The truth .
A trial starts Monday in the Netherlands for three Russians linked to their country ’ s security and intelligence services and a Ukrainian rebel commander .
They are accused of mass murder for their alleged roles in shooting down the Boeing 777 on July 17 , 2014 , as it passed over conflict-torn eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew .
For the families of the victims , the trial is the latest development in a constant stream of news since they received devastating phone calls telling them that their loved ones had been killed .
Silene Fredriksz-Hoogzand ’ s life as she knew it ended that summer day .
Her son Bryce and his girlfriend Daisy were killed when a missile fired from territory controlled by pro-Russian rebels tore the passenger jet apart , sending wreckage and bodies raining down onto fields of sunflowers in eastern Ukraine .
The debris field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 square miles ) .
“ It never will return to normal , ” Fredriksz-Hoogzand said .
“ There ’ s a life before and a life after.
” Pictures and mementos of the young couple still adorn the walls of the house in Rotterdam where they lived with Fredriksz-Hoogzand and her husband , Rob .
The couple ’ s bedroom remains as it was the day they left , heading for a holiday in Indonesia .
On Monday , they will head to a conference centre to watch the trial proceedings with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The actual courtroom is close to Amsterdam ’ s Schiphol Airport where the flight known as MH17 had taken off , heading for Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia .
The suspects most likely will stay away and be tried in absentia under Dutch law .
The scale of the trial is unprecedented in Dutch law , said Marieke de Hoon , an assistant professor of international law at Vrije University Amsterdam .
The international investigation and prosecution are taking place in the Netherlands because most of the victims — 193 people — were Dutch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything like this in the Dutch system , it is huge , ” she said .
There are so many victims , there are so many victims ’ relatives , and they all have the right also to be part of the proceedings — to speak , to claim damages if there is a guilty verdict.
” Neither Russia nor Ukraine extradites its citizens .
Russia has consistently denied involvement in the downing , even after prosecutors alleged that the Buk missile system which destroyed the passenger plane was transported into Ukraine from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s base in Kursk and the launching system was then returned to Russia .
That announcement led the Netherlands and Australia to declare that they are holding Russia legally responsible for the downing .
After a painstaking investigation spanning years , an international team of investigators and prosecutors last year named four suspects : Russians Igor Girkin , Sergey Dubinskiy and Oleg Pulatov as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko .
More suspects could face charges as the investigations continue .
Key questions remain over who authorized the missile ’ s movement and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It remains to be seen whether the trial , expected to last months , will provide all the answers .
“ My expectations are very low , ” Fredriksz-Hoogzand said in her home .
“ But what we want is to know the truth .
What happened , and how ?
What were they thinking ?
Who gave the orders ?
” That sentiment is shared in Malaysia by the family of Mastura Mustafa , who was a flight attendant on MH17 .
“ Praise Allah , we hope this trial will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know the truth on who is responsible for the downing of MH17 , ” said her brother , Thaib Mustafa .
“ We truly hope that this case will finally come to an end after so many years.
” A clear picture has emerged over years of investigations into what brought down the flight .
A Dutch crash investigation pieced together the wreckage of the plane after it was brought to a hangar on a Dutch air force base and concluded that it was shot out of the sky by a Buk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Team made up of experts from the most-affected countries examined the wreckage and body parts , questioned witnesses and experts , studied radar and satellite images and analyzed data and intercepted communications before indicting the four suspects .
The team said last year there was “ almost daily telephone contact ” between the self-proclaimed leaders of the pro-Russia rebel Donetsk People ’ s Republic “ and their contacts in the Russian Federation.
” “ They spoke with leaders in Moscow , near the border with Ukraine and in Crimea .
Communication mostly took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian security service , ” it said .
Russia has rejected the investigation as one-sided and put forward its own theories as to what happened , alleging that Ukrainian forces which also have Buk missile systems were to blame .
The opening days of the trial will involve judges taking stock of the investigation so far .
Prosecutors will summarize their case , but evidence is unlikely to be examined until hearings later this year .
That is when the victims ’ next-of-kin will be able to make statements .
Fredriksz-Hoogzand and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their time comes .
It wasn ’ t until 14 months after the shootdown that they were able to hold a funeral for Bryce and Daisy .
“ We had a cremation .
They were cremated together , what was left of them , ” she said .
“ That was not much .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Arab voters key to blocking Netanyahu-led hard-line majority

TIRA , Israel - A surge in Arab voter turnout was key to depriving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist allies of a parliamentary majority in this week ’ s Israeli election .
Undercutting Netanyahu ’ s ambitions was celebrated as sweet payback in the nearly 2 million-strong minority that the hard-line leader had relentlessly tried to tarnish as disloyal to the state .
An Arab-led alliance of parties is sending more lawmakers than ever to the new parliament , giving them unprecedented leverage to deliver results for their constituents and potentially transform Israel ’ s electoral politics for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his nationalist base , Netanyahu lambasted Arab lawmakers during the campaign as terrorist sympathizers who advocated for Palestinian interests and were a danger to the country .
But the harsh rhetoric , coupled with concern over President Donald Trump ’ s Mideast plan and other legislation deemed discriminatory , seems to have backfired by energizing Arab voters .
“ He ’ s a little racist and talked trash about Arabs , Arabs , Arabs .
He talked dirty , and we showed him what Arabs can do , ” Mahmoud Hazkiya , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Tira , said with a smile .
“ Arabs are interested now , and we are not getting what we deserve.
” Breaking out of years of political apathy , nearly 65 % of Israel ’ s Arab citizens voted in Monday ’ s election — up from 59 % in the September vote and 49 % last April .
It marked the highest Arab turnout since 1999 .
With mergers among the Jewish-led leftist parties leaving their Arab candidates out of reasonable slots for parliament , Arabs rallied around the Joint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots for the umbrella group .
Together with a projected 20,000 Jewish votes , the list surged to an all-time high of 15 seats , emerging as the third largest party in parliament , trailing only Netanyahu ’ s Likud and Benny Gantz ’ s centrist Blue and White .
More significantly , it secured a 62-58 majority for the anti-Netanyahu forces in parliament and blocked Netanyahu , who had initially declared a “ great victory ” after Monday ’ s vote , from establishing the hawkish government he wanted .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public is here .
We forced everyone — because of our power , because of our public that granted us power — to treat us as an important and decisive factor , ” lawmaker Ahmad Tibi told Israel ’ s Army Radio Thursday .
He said the two additional seats picked up by the Joint List from September ’ s election prevented Benjamin Netanyahu from getting a 61-seat majority .
Tibi featured prominently in Netanyahu ’ s campaign as a symbol of the supposed illegitimate partners that Gantz would need for a coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was : “ Without Tibi , Gantz has no government.
” Tibi gleefully noted that it was now Netanyahu who had no government without Tibi .
Even so , he refrained from endorsing Gantz for prime minister after the former military chief ruled out a partnership with the Joint List .
If Gantz and the Joint List can ’ t resolve their differences , Israel could be looking at the prospect of a fourth consecutive election later this year .
Israel ’ s Arabs , who make up about 20 per cent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have largely been marginalized politically since the founding of the state in 1948 .
The Jewish establishment , leery of including those it perceived as identifying with the country ’ s adversaries , kept Arab-led parties out of government .
Arab leaders also insisted they had no interest in joining a government for fear of legitimizing Israel ’ s military occupation of Palestinian areas or being perceived as condoning military operations against their Palestinian brethren .
But a younger generation more comfortable with a dual Israeli-Arab identity and demanding solutions to everyday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a voice .
Polls show an overwhelming majority of Arab citizens want their leaders to focus more on reducing crime , improving infrastructure and addressing a housing crunch and discrimination rather than focusing exclusively on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
“ Yes , there is a connection to the Palestinians .
But at the end of the day we live in a country where you need to take care of yourself and then you can take care of others , ” said 33-year-old Zidan Hazkiya , the salesman ’ s cousin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our children : employment , education and many other things to move forward in life.
” In Tira , a town of 25,000 people known for their warm relations with nearby Jewish communities , the 72.5 % turnout was even higher than the national average .
More than 96 % of the votes went to the Joint List .
Part of the motivation derived from deep-seated anger over a law passed by Netanyahu ’ s government in 2018 that declared Israel to be the nation-state of the Jewish people and which Arabs believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Trump ’ s recent Mideast plan that densely populated Arab communities in Israel be added to a future Palestinian state .
But mostly it seems to reflect the Arab minority ’ s increasing desire to take a more active role in shaping the country .
“ The more seats we get , the more power we will have , ” said Fadila Maha , a 48-year-old mother of five .
“ God willing , if there are elections again they will get not 15 , but 20.
“ Arik Rudnitzky , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democracy Institute think-tank , said the unified message by the Joint List ’ s different factions played a key part in convincing Arabs their votes would matter .
“ There was optimism in the air .
They felt that their representatives aren ’ t busy with their own rivalries and were concentrated on one goal , ” he explained .
“ The public wanted to prove that ‘ we are citizens of the state and you can not just treat us as temporary or tentative citizens.
’ ” They still have a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu all but said their votes don ’ t count when it comes to the tricky arithmetic of resolving Israel ’ s third inconclusive election in less than a year .
Scrawling his analysis of the election results on a board , he jotted down 58 seats for what he called the “ Zionist right ” and 47 for the “ Zionist left.
” The Joint List , he said , “ is obviously not part of this equation.
” But even that slight didn ’ t damper enthusiasm on the Arab street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted for change , ” said Amir Abu-Het , a 39-year-old restaurant manager .
“ Netanyahu is more of the same , but now we have more power to move forward .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Alabama executes man convicted in killing of 3 officers

ATMORE , Ala. - A man convicted as an accomplice in the 2004 killings of three police officers in Alabama who were shot by another man was executed Thursday evening .
Inmate Nathaniel Woods , 43 , was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. CST Thursday following a lethal injection at the state prison in Atmore , authorities said .
The inmate had no last words before the chemicals began flowing , but appeared to arrange his hands in a sign of his Islamic faith .
Alabama ’ s first execution of the year came after a last minute bid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the son of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. , and others who argued it was unfair to execute a man who didn ’ t pull the trigger in the slaying .
The state of Alabama said that Woods was an active participant with the slayings and had bragged about it afterward in statements , song lyrics and art .
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary stay to consider last-minute appeals and then denied the inmate ’ s petitions .
Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey denied a request for clemency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital murder and sentenced to death in the slayings of the three Birmingham officers .
The officers ’ deaths in a hail of gunfire rocked Alabama ’ s largest city in 2004 .
Carlos Owen , Harley A. Chisolm III and Charles R. Bennett died while trying to serve a misdemeanour domestic assault warrant on Woods at a suspected drug house .
Prosecutors said Spencer was the triggerman in the slaying , opening fire on the officers with a high-powered rifle inside the apartment , though Woods was convicted as an accomplice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ statements to the media after the execution , describing lives shattered by the shootings .
“ Nathaniel Woods chose his fate on June 17 , 2004 .
That horrific day could have been prevented if he had any kind of compassion or respect for law enforcement , “ Starr Sidelinker said in reading a statement on behalf of Chisholm ’ s sister .
Greg Owen , the son of officer Owen , said in a written statement that his father was a 58-year-old grandfather who only wanted to protect people in the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of going home that day , he was ambushed , murdered and died on the floor of a filthy drug house , “ Greg Owen wrote .
Testimony showed the officers approached a small house where Woods and Spencer were believed to deal drugs ; at least two other people were also inside .
After talking to Woods through a back door , Owen and Chisholm entered .
State lawyers wrote in court filings that Woods said he was surrendering to officers and soon after Spencer opened fire with a high-powered rifle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ told jurors that Woods was the “ bait ” and lured officers deeper in the apartment .
Owen , 58 , and Chisholm , 40 , were found dead in the kitchen just inside a rear door , and Bennett , 33 , was fatally shot near the front door .
A fourth officer was wounded but survived .
Supporters waged a last-minute appeal to stop the execution as the case drew national attention .
Supporters argued that Spencer said he was the sole person responsible for the shootings and that Woods received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ He is actually innocent , ” Woods ’ sister , Pamela Woods , had told reporters outside the prison earlier Thursday .
“ Kerry Spencer the actual shooter has stated many times that he did it on his own with no help for anyone.
“ Spencer told The Appeal in an article about the case that Woods was “ 100 % innocent.
” “ Killing this African American man , whose case appears to have been strongly mishandled by the courts , could produce an irreversible injustice .
Are you willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executed ?
” Martin Luther King III had written the state ’ s governor , Ivey .
Woods had no last words after the warden read his death warrant .
At one point during the procedure , the inmate jerked his left arm upward against the restraints of the gurney .
His breathing became laboured and then slowed until it was no longer apparent .
No execution date has been set for Spencer , who was convicted before Woods and is on death row .
This story has been corrected to show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers killed and his son Greg , quoted , was Owen , not Owens .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Ohio State settling some suits over doc abuse; cost unclear

COLUMBUS , Ohio - Ohio State reached an unspecified settlement with nearly half of the roughly 350 men who say they were sexually abused decades ago by a team doctor who was jokingly known among some athletes by nicknames like “ Dr .
Jelly Paws.
” The settlement announced Friday is the first for accusers of the late Richard Strauss , who say the doctor groped and otherwise mistreated students for two decades while school officials knew about concerns but did little to stop him .
With the settlement not yet finalized , the school and others involved are staying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ohio State said in a statement that a special overseer independent of the university will help allocate the funds to individual accusers based on their experiences and the harm done .
The payments will come from “ existing institutional discretionary funding , ” not tuition or taxpayer or donor money , according to the school .
Rick Schulte , a lawyer who represented former Ohio State football players , wrestlers and other athletes , said the settlement will help the men move forward and heal .
“ The bravery of our clients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statement shared by the university .
“ We are pleased that Ohio State stepped forward and did the right thing.
” Schulte and university officials wouldn ’ t say whether specifics of the settlement had yet been shared with the affected plaintiffs .
“ Strauss ’ conduct was reprehensible , and the university ’ s failures at the time are completely unacceptable , ” Ohio State President Michael Drake said in the Friday statement .
“ While nothing can undo what happened here years ago , today ’ s university has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alumni , and this initial settlement is another important step in the process of restorative justice.
“ Mike DiSabato , the ex-wrestler whose claims in 2018 helped prompt the university to have a law firm investigate allegations about the doctor , said the settlement isn ’ t what he hoped but “ is a deal that allows us to move forward with closure.
” It remains to be seen how the deal might compare with those from other recent sexual misconduct scandals at major universities , including Michigan State ’ s $ 500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imprisoned sports doctor Larry Nassar .
Lawsuits by other Strauss accusers remain unresolved after months of mediation , and they have asked a judge to let them resume litigation .
The most vocal among them have argued for a settlement that would mandate institutional change and be costly enough to convey that Ohio State and other schools can ’ t let abuse happen again .
“ The other half of us that haven ’ t settled have experienced significant sexual abuse and significant coverup by Ohio State , so we feel we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Penn State people were , ” said Brian Garrett , a lead plaintiff in one of the still-pending cases .
Lawyers for a different group of plaintiffs said in a statement that they were excluded from the negotiations that led to Friday ’ s settlement .
They called for the university to share details of the settlement so that all of the men could judge it for themselves .
Some of the accusers have said they felt their federal lawsuits against the school were their only way to seek justice and accountability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strauss , who died in 2005 .
As more accusers came forward or sued , the university learned of about 1,500 alleged instances of decades-old sexual misconduct by Strauss , and old records and new interviews revealed a much different portrait of him from the one implied by his unblemished employment file .
Alumni began sharing stories of being groped barehanded during mandatory medical exams or when they sought treatment for unrelated ailments like coughs or shoulder injuries , and one former athlete described being drugged and raped .
Other ex-athletes recalled a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms and was joked about as “ Dr .
Jelly Paws.
” In an investigation conducted for the school , a law firm concluded Strauss sexually abused young men between 1979 and 1997 in medical exams at campus athletic facilities , the student health centre , his off-campus men ’ s clinic and his home .
Though concerns were raised with athletics and student health officials , none reported Strauss to law enforcement or regulators .
When the State Medical Board of Ohio eventually investigated him in 1996 after he complained about another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual misconduct was ignored and , inexplicably , no action was taken against him , according to a state panel ’ s review of the old investigation .
No one has publicly defended Strauss as dozens of men have recounted how the abuse has caused long-lasting harm to their health and relationships .
In lawsuits against Ohio State , they alleged the school violated the federal Title IX law that bars sex discrimination in education .
The university initially argued those claims were time-barred by law .
Beyond the litigation , Ohio State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more scrutiny .
The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has said it is examining whether the school responded “ promptly and equitably ” to students ’ complaints .
And Ohio ’ s medical board is reviewing whether there are any licensed Ohio doctors who knew or suspected Strauss ’ misconduct and should have reported it but didn ’ t .
If so , they could face disciplinary action , though Ohio ’ s window for criminally prosecuting that has passed .
The medical board also is reviewing about 2,000 closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by doctors over the past 25 years to determine whether any others involved evidence of criminal behaviour that was ignored .
Strauss ’ personnel records indicate he worked at five other schools before Ohio State .
None of those has said any concerns were raised about him .
The claims about Strauss are strikingly similar to accusations made public recently alleging decades-old abuse by another sports doctor who worked at the University of Michigan during the same era .
Follow Franko on Twitter at http : //www.twitter.com/kantele10 .
See AP ’ s coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ //apnews.com/OhioStateTeamDoctor .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Suit: website sold ammo to underage accused Texas shooter

SANTA FE , Texas - A teenager accused of fatally shooting 10 people at a Texas high school in 2018 was able to buy more than 100 rounds of ammunition online because his age was not verified , according to a lawsuit alleging that the website involved broke federal law .
Dimitrios Pagourtzis was a 17-year-old junior at the time of the May 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School .
Federal law prohibits minors from purchasing handgun ammunition , and bars licensed gun companies from selling handgun or shotgun ammunition to minors or anyone they have reason to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to an amended lawsuit filed Thursday , Pagourtzis initially ordered 50 rounds of hollow-point handgun ammunition and 105 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition , the Houston Chronicle reported .
Two weeks later , he purchased an additional 35 rounds of shotgun ammunition — both times from the website Luckygunner.com that did not require him to make an account , submit proof of age or set-up a secure two-step authorization , the filing said .
Among those killed at the school was a Pakistani exchange student whose parents filed the amended petition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed against the suspect ’ s parents , Rose Marie Kosmetatos and Antonios Pagourtzis , alleging they knew their son was exhibiting extreme behaviour and yet failed to prevent him from accessing their firearms , which authorities believe were used in the shooting .
Luckygunner.com , along with its owners , Red Stag , have been listed as additional defendants in the amended lawsuit , which claims Red Stag mailed the ammunition via FedEx without requiring an adult to sign for the package .
Neither Luckygunner.com nor Red Stag responded to requests from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law , the legal arm for Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund , a nationwide group , filed the petition on behalf of Abdul Aziz Sheikh and Farah Naz , the parents of Sabika Sheikh , who arrived as an exchange student last August .
In a statement , Sheikh ’ s parents said they are committed to fighting for accountability and for a safer future .
“ People need to know just how easy it was for the shooter to buy ammunition from a website that failed to take even basic steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement said .
Pagourtzis was charged with capital murder and faces life in prison .
He is being held at a maximum-security mental health facility .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Russia sought UN backing for Syria cease-fire, but failed

TANZANIA , Tanzania - Russia sought U.N. Security Council backing Friday for its agreement with Turkey aimed at establishing a cease-fire in Syria ’ s northwest , but diplomats said the United States called it premature and several European countries wanted to amend Moscow ’ s proposed statement welcoming the deal .
Russia ’ s proposed press statement , obtained by The Associated Press , would have encouraged all parties “ to fully implement the cease-fire.
” It also would have reaffirmed the council ’ s strong commitment to Syria ’ s “ sovereignty , independence , unity and territorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be no military solution to the nine-year Syrian conflict — only “ an inclusive Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political process under U.N. auspices.
” The agreement was announced Thursday after a six-hour meeting in Moscow between the president of Turkey , which supports the opposition , and the president Russia , the Syrian government ’ s key ally .
Fighting stopped at midnight Thursday and the skies over Idlib , the last rebel stronghold , were completely free of Russian and Syrian government warplanes Friday .
The truce , at least temporarily , halted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Russian-backed Syrian forces that killed hundreds and sent 1 million people fleeing toward the Turkish border .
The deal essentially froze the conflict lines in Idlib and did not require Syrian President Bashar Assad ’ s forces to roll back significant military gains .
There are concerns the cease-fire might not hold for as long as previous truces that collapsed , leading to waves of violence .
Russia ’ s U.N. ambassador , Vassily Nebenzia , said he called for closed Security Council consultations on the agreement because its meetings last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency , and this time we had an opportunity to discuss some positive developments.
” At the closed meeting , he said , “ members of the Security Council to various extents took note and welcomed the agreement.
” Nebenzia said Russia wanted to issue a press statement afterward , “ but due to the position of one delegation it was not possible.
” Several diplomats , speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed , said that was a reference to the United States .
But they also said Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed by France and the United Kingdom .
British Ambassador Karen Pierce wouldn ’ t comment on the discussions but said : “ This is all about the proof of the pudding being in the eating.
” “ It is a potentially helpful development to have this cease-fire and I don ’ t want to underestimate the efforts , particularly that Turkey ’ s put in , ” she said .
But Pierce said there are still a lot of questions about how the agreement will work : “ Who will monitor it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
And critically has the Syrian government formally signed up , and will the Syrian government be following the provisions of the cease-fire ?
” Germany ’ s ambassador , Christoph Heusgen , echoed Pierce , adding : “ What we are concerned about is the millions and millions of people who are suffering there and to see that the cease-fire now leads to safe zones where the people can go back to and they can survive.
” He said Germany and Britain are prepared to provide additional aid “ but for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is real.
” Nebenzia expressed hope that the cease-fire will be durable , but he said the agreement “ still does not exempt terrorists from being targeted.
” Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun , an ally of Russia , expressed hope that the “ fight against terrorism , especially foreign terrorist fighters , ” will continue .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Mom of missing kids gets bond reduced to $1 million in Idaho

BOISE , Idaho - A judge on Friday reduced bail to $ 1 million for the mother of two missing children after he lawyer contended at her first hearing in Idaho that the amount had been set too high because of media attention .
Wearing faded orange-and-white striped jail garb and bright pink lipstick , Lori Vallow Daybell spoke little but nodded emphatically whenever her attorneys mentioned her desire to vigorously defend herself against the child abandonment charges .
She told the judge she preferred to use her new last name “ Daybell ” rather than Vallow , as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her new husband Chad Daybell sat behind her in the small , packed courtroom .
On the other side of the room were Kay and Larry Woodcock , the grandparents of 7-year-old Joshua “ JJ ” Vallow .
He and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan , were last seen in September .
Police in eastern Idaho say both Lori Daybell and her husband have lied about the children ’ s whereabouts .
The couple left Idaho the day after police came to question them about the children in late November , and Lori Daybell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Idaho warrant .
She waived extradition and made her first appearance in Idaho before Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins .
Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood told the judge that Lori Daybell had already defied one court order when she refused to take her children to Idaho authorities in February .
He also noted that she ’ s continued to collect Social Security payments meant for both children , even though they haven ’ t been seen for months .
“ This case didn ’ t start as a criminal case .
It started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who are still missing , ” Wood said , detailing three mysterious deaths , Daybell ’ s sudden move to Hawaii and her alleged efforts to convince a friend to lie to police about the whereabouts of the children .
“ Since this last summer there has been an alarming pattern in the defendant ’ s life , ” Wood said .
Daybell ’ s attorney Edwina Elcox told the judge the $ 5 million bond initially set by a Hawaii judge before her extradition was excessively high .
A recent murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only had bond set at $ 1 million , Elcox said .
“ A bond set this high denies Lori due process , ” Elcox told the judge , suggesting the high amount was a reaction to the large amount of news coverage the case has generated .
Child desertion charges are so rare in Idaho that she ’ s never seen a case in a decade of practicing law , Elcox said .
“ It is abundantly clear the prosecutor just needed to find a charge to fit this case because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
The judge agreed that the bond should be reduced but also said he wanted Daybell closely monitored .
If she posts bail , she will have to wear a GPS-tracking ankle bracelet , stay within the region and maintain regular contact with her attorneys , he said .
He set a preliminary hearing for March 18 .
Investigations have said the tangled case stretches across the Western U.S. and includes probes into three mysterious deaths .
Lori Daybell ’ s estranged late husband , Charles Vallow , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother Alex Cox in Phoenix last July .
Cox , who said the shooting was in self-defence , died of unknown causes several months later .
Lori Daybell ’ s new husband , meanwhile , became a widower just two weeks before he married Lori Daybell .
Chad Daybell ’ s late wife Tammy died in October , and though her obituary said the death was from natural causes , law enforcement became suspicious when Daybell quickly remarried .
Tammy Daybell ’ s remains have been exhumed but the autopsy report has not @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Pence walks fine line on coronavirus response

CAMP MURRAY , Wash. - Vice-President Mike Pence decided silence was the way to go .
Soon after President Donald Trump asked him to lead the U.S. government ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak , Pence was on the phone with Washington ’ s Democratic Gov .
Jay Inslee , whose state is at the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S. Inslee told Pence that it would be best if the Trump administration “ stuck to the science and told the truth ” on the mounting public health crisis — and broadcast his prickly advice on Twitter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , Pence opted not to punch back at Inslee — to the dismay of Trump .
Instead , Pence heaped compliments on the governor for helping federal and state officials collaborate in a “ seamless way.
” As the virus continues to spread through U.S. communities and ravage the stock market , Trump and Pence have been a study in contrasts in their public response .
Trump grumbles that Democrats and the news media are needlessly fueling panic and has a ready retort for any critic .
Pence , for his part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out frequent praise for the boss ’ s performance , taking pains to avoid contradicting Trump ’ s questionable public health pronouncements and trying to foster bipartisan co-operation for a “ whole of America ” approach to containing the virus .
It ’ s a huge moment for Pence — arguably the biggest since Trump picked him to be his vice-presidential candidate .
If he can help Trump contain the outbreak and steady the stock market , it could have an immense impact not just on public health and the economy , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in the process elevate his own standing for a potential 2024 run .
A botched response , too , could have enormous implications for Trump and Pence politically and for the spread of the virus .
Pence has scaled back — but not ended — his political travel to deal with the virus .
But Trump aides believe the vice-president ’ s task force role gives the president more leeway to maintain his own political travel during a crucial part of the election year , when he ’ s trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field to boost his campaign in November .
Trump continues to play down concerns about the virus , advising Americans to “ be calm ” and that “ it will go away.
“ He also frequently takes credit for saving lives by acting early on to restrict travel to the U.S. from China .
Pence avoids publicly contradicting Trump but speaks more soberly about the impact as members of his coronavirus team caution that the virus could continue to spread in the U.S. before health officials are able to develop vaccines and therapies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wedged between the medical experts and the president — was fully evident Friday .
Trump , during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta , told reporters he had told Pence not to be complimentary of Inslee and called the governor “ a snake.
“ The president also pivoted from talk about a “ perfect ” test for the new coronavirus to his “ perfect ” phone call with Ukraine ’ s president last summer that spurred his impeachment .
“ We have a lot of problems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Trump said of Inslee .
“ So Mike may be happy with , him but I ’ m not.
” Pence , at a later White House briefing , had to fend off reporters ’ questions about whether Trump ’ s comments about Inslee and impeachment reflected a lack of seriousness about combating the virus .
He delivered a straight-faced defence : “ I promise you , President Trump has no higher priority than the health and safety of the American people.
” A day earlier the vice-president also defended Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization ’ s 3.4 % mortality rate estimate for those who contract the coronavirus .
Pence said Trump ’ s doubts were valid .
“ I think the president ’ s point was the world is still discovering the scope of the coronavirus , because many people who contract the coronavirus have no symptoms , ” Pence said .
“ I support the president ’ s judgment that we ’ re going to continue to learn more about this.
“ Since taking over as the virus point person , Pence has filled his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes , medical labs , airlines and other industries to discuss the way forward .
On Thursday , he scrapped plans for a fundraiser in Wisconsin and a campaign rally in Minnesota to focus his travels instead on the virus .
He set off on a grueling a 17-hour trip in which he visited the suburban Minneapolis headquarters of 3M , which manufactures surgical and healthcare masks , before flying to Washington state to meet with Inslee and state emergency response leaders .
His long hours have even caught the eye of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praise for subordinates .
“ Mike Pence is working 20 hours a day or more on this , ” Trump said Thursday .
But some Democrats remain skeptical that Pence is the right person for the task .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts were among those who questioned the wisdom of picking Pence .
They noted that as governor of Indiana , Pence faced criticism for being slow to authorize a needle exchange program in the southern part of the state when it saw a surge of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence also appears to be winning over some Democrats .
During Pence ’ s 3M visit , Democratic Gov .
Tim Walz said the vice-president had shown a collaborative mindset in the early going that indicated he understood that governors and state public health officials were at the tip of the spear in battling the virus .
Rep. David Cicilline , D-R.I. , was among Democrats who questioned picking Pence because of his track record .
But this week , after a House briefing by Pence ’ s team , Cicilline said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the administration is beginning to understand the gravity of this epidemic and this public health crisis.
” The first coronavirus case hit American shores in late January , a moment of peak partisanship as Trump ’ s impeachment trial edged to a close .
As Republican and Democratic lawmakers began working on a spending bill for the coronavirus outbreak , mistrust of Trump among Democrats was still running high .
As a result , some even small gestures by Pence have taken Democrats by surprise .
After Pence and his team of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their regular weekly luncheon earlier this week , they trooped over to the Democrats ’ lunch to give a presentation and take questions .
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois , the second-ranking Democrat , said “ it ’ s the first time I can remember ” that Pence had come to the weekly Democratic luncheon .
The Capitol is well-trod ground for Pence , who served in the House for a dozen years during the Bush and Obama administrations .
Senators of both parties who met with him described his style in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He got high marks for ceding the microphone to the public health experts in his entourage .
During the 2014-2015 Ebola crisis , former President Barack Obama faced some criticism from public health officials for being slow to respond initially .
But the criticism eventually turned to praise as Obama nudged Congress to make a $ 5.4 billion emergency appropriation and sent 3,000 U.S. troops to West Africa to help with the international response .
Now Trump , with Pence ’ s help , is looking for the same kind of turnaround @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the blocks ?
” observed Donna Shalala , a Florida Democrat who served as health and human services secretary during the Clinton administration .
“ We always stumble out of the blocks.
” Associated Press writers Laurie Kellman , Zeke Miller , Mary Clare Jalonick and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar in Washington contributed reporting .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--US sending military police to two border crossings

PHOENIX - The U.S. government says it is sending 160 military police and engineers to two official border crossings to deal with asylum seekers in case a federal appeals court strikes down one of the Trump administration ’ s key policies .
Senior Customs and Border Protection officials said Friday that active duty personnel will be in place by Saturday at ports of entry in El Paso and San Diego , where a large caravan attempted to cross the border in 2018 , resulting in chaos and the closure of the San Ysidro port , the nation ’ s busiest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members will be sent to that port and another 80 to the El Paso one .
The deployment is in response to a crowd of asylum-seekers that gathered at an El Paso crossing last Friday after the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily struck down the program known as “ Remain in Mexico , “ which forces asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases wind through court in the U.S. Officials shut down that border crossing for several hours that evening before the court reversed itself .
On Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the case , this time blocking the program in Arizona and California , the two border states under its authority .
About 60,000 asylum-seekers have been returned to Mexico while awaiting their immigration hearings in the U.S.
It ’ s unclear why the government is sending military police to El Paso , which isn ’ t subject to the current injunction blocking the program .
When asked about that , a senior official said military members can be moved to different ports of entry in response to shifting needs .
Critics call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable people to wait in high-crime Mexican border cities where they are often subjected to violence , extortion and kidnapping .
But “ Remain in Mexico , ” which the government calls the Migrant Protection Protocols , has been one of the most successful tools in the administration ’ s battle to stem the large number of asylum seekers looking for refuge in the U.S .
The Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court , which has consistently ruled in the administration ’ s favour on immigration policies , to intervene and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until next week to give the high court time to decide .
In the meantime , authorities say they ’ re preparing for more large groups of asylum seekers in case the appeals court strikes down the policy .
Seeking asylum at ports of entry is legal , but the government has gone to great lengths to prevent migrants from doing so , including a “ metering “ policy that requires asylum-seekers to wait on an unofficial list for months before they are even allowed to walk up to a U.S. agent and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the information on Friday gave few details about what exactly the military police will be doing , but did say military police won ’ t be conducting immigration enforcement .
In a statement , the Department of Defence said military members will place temporary barriers to restrict access through ports of entry and provide protection for CBP personnel .
The service members will come from the 687th Engineer Construction Company and the 519th Military Police Battalion at Fort Polk , Louisiana .
CBP says the deployment is scheduled to last two weeks but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are approximately 5,000 troops already at the border , about half of them members of the National Guard .
The defence department has also reallocated nearly $ 10 billion to construction of the border wall , although there are pending legal challenges .
Since Remain in Mexico began a year ago , officials have increasingly hardened the El Paso Paso Del Norte bridge .
Rolls of razor wire and forklifts with concrete barriers have been a regular fixture on the bridge for months , drawing the ire of local business leaders who say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who keep the El Paso economy afloat .


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--21 positive for coronavirus on cruise ship off California

SAN FRANCISCO - Twenty-one people aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast tested positive for the new coronavirus , including 19 crew members , Vice-President Mike Pence announced Friday , amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of at least 10 cases during its previous voyage .
Federal officials have been working with California authorities and “ we have developed a plan to bring the ship to a non-commercial port , “ Pence said .
“ All passengers and crew will be tested for the virus .
Those that will need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will require medical help will receive it.
” Pence said 46 of the more than 3,500 people on board were tested in the first round .
A military helicopter crew lowered test kits onto the 951-foot ( 290-meter ) Grand Princess by rope Thursday and later retrieved them for analysis as the vessel waited off San Francisco , under orders to keep its distance from shore .
Health officials trying to establish whether the virus is circulating on the Grand Princess undertook the testing after reporting that a passenger on a previous voyage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died of the disease .
In the past few days , health authorities disclosed that at least nine other people who were on the same journey also were found to be infected .
And some passengers on that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage .
“ We know the coronavirus manifested among the previous passengers ... we will be testing everyone on the ship , we will be quarantining as necessary , “ Pence said .
“ We anticipate that they will be quarantined on the ship , they will not need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Diamond Princess , was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama , Japan , last month because of the virus , and ultimately about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure , with the vessel essentially becoming a floating germ factory .
Meanwhile , the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 14 , with all but one victim in Washington state , while the number of infections swelled to over 200 , scattered across about half the states .
Pennsylvania , Indiana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
On Wall Street , stocks swung wildly as fears mounted over the potential damage to the global economy from factory shutdowns , travel bans , quarantines and cancellations of events big and small — a list that grew to include the world-famous South by Southwest arts festival in Austin , Texas , which was set to begin next week .
President Donald Trump signed an $ 8.3 billion measure to help public health agencies deal with crisis and spur development of vaccines and treatments .
Worldwide , the virus has infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,400 , the vast majority of them in China .
Most cases have been mild , and more than half of those infected have recovered .
Most of the dead in the U.S. were from suburban Seattle ’ s Life Care Center nursing home , now the subject of federal and state investigations that could lead to sanctions against it , including a possible takeover of its management .
Washington state has the nation ’ s biggest concentration of cases , with at least 70 .
Thirty medical professionals from the U.S. Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home to help care for patients and provide relief to the exhausted staff , said Dow Constantine , executive in charge of Seattle ’ s King County .
“ We are grateful the cavalry is arriving .
It will make rapid change in the conditions there , ” he said .
The nursing home was down to 69 residents after 15 were taken to the hospital in the preceding 24 hours , Constantine said .
Washington state also is setting up a command centre dedicated to nursing homes , Gov .
Jay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Seattle area — including Microsoft and Amazon , which together employ more than 100,000 people in the region — have shut down operations or urged employees to work from home .
The University of Washington called off classes at its three Seattle-area campuses for the next two weeks and will instead teach its 57,000 students online .
And a comics convention next week in Seattle that was expected to draw about 100,000 people was cancelled .
In California , the ship was returning to San Francisco after visiting Hawaii .
A Sacramento-area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month during a visit to a series of Mexican ports later succumbed to the virus , California authorities said .
Others who were on that voyage also have tested positive , with six cases in Northern California and three in Canada , authorities said .
Three dozen passengers on the Grand Princess have had flu-like symptoms over the past two weeks or so , said Mary Ellen Carroll , executive director of San Francisco ’ s Department of Emergency Management .
An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ventilation system , plus the close quarters and communal settings , make passengers and crew vulnerable to infectious diseases .
“ They ’ re not designed as quarantine facilities , to put it mildly , ” said Don Milton of the University of Maryland .
“ You ’ re going to amplify the infection by keeping people on the boat.
” He said the fallout from the ship quarantined in Japan demonstrates the urgent need to move people off the ship .
“ My advice is to get people off and into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship , ” Milton said .
Steven Smith and his wife , Michele , of Paradise , California , said they are a bit worried but feel safe in their room aboard the Grand Princess .
“ What ’ s given us hope is that the system that is in place , our government , the CDC , we feel is doing a remarkable job , ” Steven Smith said .
Associated Press writers Janie Har and Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco ; Gene Johnson , Martha Bellisle and Carla K. Johnson in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Washington ; and AP researcher Monika Mathur in Washington , D.C. , contributed to this report .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

Olga R. Rodriguez - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Prosecutors say Harvey Weinstein deserves a harsh sentence

NEW YORK - Harvey Weinstein deserves a harsh sentence for having “ trapped women into his exclusive control ” so he could sexually assault them in a cycle of abuse going back to the 1970s , prosecutors told a judge in a filing on Friday .
With the disgraced former movie mogul facing sentencing next week for his conviction on rape and sexual assault charges , prosecutors detailed a litany of allegations starting with a claim by a woman that she woke up in the middle of the night in a Buffalo , New York , hotel room in 1978 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ forcing himself sexually on her.
” Prosecutors said that encounter fit a pattern that continued for decades : Weinstein getting young women alone in hotel rooms and other settings before sexually attacking them , often while trying to trick them into thinking it was a path to stardom .
Based on “ a lifetime of abuse toward others , sexual and otherwise , ” prosecutors said they are seeking a sentence that “ reflects the seriousness of the defendant ’ s offences ” and punishes him for “ his total lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done.
” One of Weinstein ’ s lawyers , Arthur Aidala , declined comment on Friday .
He said the defence would file a response on Monday .
The letter comes in advance of Weinstein ’ s sentencing on Wednesday for his conviction last month on one count of criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a woman in 2006 and one count of third-degree rape for a 2013 attack on another woman .
His lawyers had contended at trial that any sexual contact was consensual .
On the criminal sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of five years in prison and a maximum of 25 years in prison , while the third-degree rape count carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison .
The judge could have the sentences run concurrently .
The 67-year-old Weinstein was moved Thursday to an infirmary unit at New York City ’ s notorious Rikers Island jail complex after undergoing a heart procedure at the hospital where he ’ d been held since his conviction last month .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Oil price dives as OPEC, Russia fail to agree on output cut

VIENNA - OPEC and key ally Russia failed to agree Friday on a cut to oil production that would have contained the plunge in the price of crude caused by the new coronavirus outbreak ’ s massive disruption to world business .
The price of oil fell sharply in international markets as a result , with the international benchmark plunging 9.4 % , down by a third since the start of the year .
While cheaper oil will translate into more affordable energy for consumers and businesses , it hurts producing countries and companies .
Thousands of workers have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patch .
The unraveling of the talks in Vienna also underscores the limited power of the cartel to influence world energy markets , unlike its heyday in the 1970s .
The United States recently became the world ’ s biggest oil producer and keeps on pumping at full capacity .
The 14 OPEC countries had wanted to cut output by 1.5 million barrels a day , or about 1.5 % of world production .
OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran say they need non-member allies like Russia to take 500,000 barrels of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , proved reluctant and OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo of Nigeria said Friday that the meeting had been adjourned .
“ At the end of the day , there was the general painful decision of the joint conference to adjourn the meeting , ” Barkindo said .
He said informal talks would continue because the situation was urgent .
“ The numbers are clear : The demand destruction is real , ” he said .
Barkindo said “ one or two ” non-OPEC countries at the talks Friday had been reluctant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other non-OPEC countries have been working with the cartel in recent years and agreed on earlier cuts .
However , Russia can tolerate low oil prices better than Saudi Arabia can and appears reluctant to slash output of its main revenue-making export .
While Saudi Arabia can produce oil cheaply , it needs $ 83.60 per barrel to balance its state budget , according to the International Monetary Fund , as it is almost exclusively dependent on oil revenue .
Russia needs only $ 42.40 a barrel .
Analysts say OPEC may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further , particularly as the full impact of the virus outbreak on the global economy has yet to be understood .
“ There is still too much uncertainty regarding the amount of demand destruction , ” analysts at research firm Petromatrix said in a note to investors .
The spread of the coronavirus has sharply reduced air travel and thus the demand for fuel , while industry in China , the world ’ s second largest economy , has been severely disrupted through shutdowns and travel restrictions .
German airline Lufthansa said Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity over the coming weeks to as little as 50 % of the level before the coronavirus crisis started .
Some economists think the global economy may shrink in the first quarter for the first time since the financial crisis , sapping demand for energy .
The international benchmark for crude oil fell $ 4.72 to settle at $ 45.27 a barrel on Friday .
It had been trading over $ 50 in recent days , and is down from $ 69 as recently as early January , before the outbreak .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 10.1 % , to settle at $ 41.28 a barrel .
With oil under $ 50 a barrel , U.S. producers , including oil giants such as Exxon , are scaling back drilling as their profits get hit .
The oil patch has already been shedding thousands of jobs and suffering through a surge of bankruptcies , and lower prices will exacerbate those problems .
Barkindo said OPEC was determined to avoid a repeat of the big market slump that began in 2014 , when the cartel held off production cuts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a resurgent U.S. oil industry .
That led to a fall in the price of oil from over $ 100 a barrel to below $ 40 by 2015 .
Even if OPEC and its allies agree on a production cut in the coming days or weeks , analysts say prices are unlikely to rise much .
That ’ s because the global economy is slowing rapidly .
But also because the the U.S. , which is not part of OPEC and unlike Russia does not co-operate in its output decisions , has ramped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market and keeping prices down .
McHugh reported from Frankfurt , Germany .
AP Business Writer Cathy Bussewitz contributed from New York .

David McHugh And Kiyoko Metzler - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--FBI agent, suspect wounded in shooting in Kentucky

SOMERSET , Ky. - An FBI agent serving a federal arrest warrant in Kentucky was treated at a hospital Friday after being wounded in a shooting , authorities said .
Agents were attempting to arrest two county constables in Pulaski County when the shooting occurred , according to news reports .
A suspect wounded in the shooting was in stable condition on Friday , and the agent had been released from the hospital , the FBI said .
The FBI has not identified the agents or the suspects , but an attorney , Robert Norfleet , told media outlets that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wallace , was arrested Friday morning .
Constables are elected positions in Kentucky and are able to make arrests and serve warrants .
An indictment against Wallace and another man , Gary Baldock , was handed down by a federal grand jury in London on Feb. 27 .
It was unsealed by the court on Friday .
The indictment said Wallace and Baldock conspired to “ injure , oppress , threaten and intimidate ” people in Pulaski County and deprived them of their constitutional right “ to be free from unreasonable search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fifth district constable , according to his Facebook page , which features a photo of him in a constable uniform and has posts about drug arrests in the county .
The shooting is being investigated by the FBI ’ s Inspection Division .
Authorities will thoroughly review the shooting as expeditiously as possible , a statement said .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--LSU study abroad programs cancelled due to virus concerns

BATON ROUGE , La .
- Louisiana State University announced Friday that it was cancelling scheduled programs for study abroad @ @ @ @ @ its faculty , staff and students due to concerns over the new coronavirus .
The @ @ @ @ @ on its website that the international study abroad programs are cancelled through Aug. 17 .
@ @ @ @ @ programs in countries under Level 3 or 4 travel advisories issued by the U.S. State @ @ @ @ @ The university says they are under a 14-day self-quarantine .
Travel by students , faculty @ @ @ @ @ will not be approved .
Students already in countries not under such advisories are continuing @ @ @ @ @ until travel advisories change.
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Plunging yields force investors and Fed to rethink strategy

WASHINGTON - The response in stock markets to the growing risk from the coronavirus has been swift and fierce .
But a better gauge of fear on Wall Street may be the bond market , where the moves over the past few weeks have been even more breathtaking .
Interest rates on a range of U.S. government bonds have plunged to all-time lows as investors seeking relative safety from stocks have furiously snapped them up .
( As the price of a bond goes up , its interest rate , or yield , declines . )
The yield on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other consumer debt — was 1.9 % as recently as Dec. 24 .
On Friday , it dipped below 0.7 per cent before finishing the day at 0.79 % .
“ The bond market is already pricing in a worst-case scenario — a U.S. and global recession , ” said Scott Anderson , chief economist at Bank of the West .
The plunging yields across bond markets could hamstring the Federal Reserve ’ s ability to respond to a future recession .
During previous economic slumps , the Fed has sought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stimulate borrowing and spending .
But with those rates already nearly as low as they can go , the Fed now has less firepower at its disposal .
The shrunken bond yields will also make it harder for those who invest in them to earn much income : The return on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note is now less than half the inflation rate .
After adjusting for inflation , an investor who buys a Treasury will effectively lose money over the course of the loan .
The widespread uncertainties surrounding the viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks .
From the record high that the Standard & Poor ’ s 500 stock index set two weeks ago , it ’ s now shed 12 % of its value .
The virus has cut off many needed parts and supplies from China and caused business travel restrictions , jeopardizing sales at hotels and airlines and raising the spectre of job losses .
Yet so far , there is little hard data to help investors determine how severe the impact will be .
Because it can take four to six weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of China ’ s factory shutdown hasn ’ t yet been fully felt by U.S. businesses .
The scant yields aren ’ t stopping panicky investors from shifting more and more money into bonds .
With bond yields below zero in Europe and Japan , global traders have piled into Treasurys , which , despite their diminished yields , still pay comparatively more income .
That increase in demand has raised U.S. bond prices and lowered yields .
One way of viewing the phenomenon is that investors in a very low-yielding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investment .
Or they may hope to sell the bond at a profit — if rates go even lower , as many evidently believe they will .
On the positive side of the ledger , low or negative interest rates can make it easier for companies and consumers to borrow , stimulating economic activity .
In part , the tumbling yields reflect investor expectations that the Fed will cut its short-term benchmark rate even further in coming months , even after having announced a surprise rate cut this week .
This week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fed ’ s rate to just 1 % to 1.25 % .
Some economists say that by mid-year , the benchmark rate may be back near zero , where it stood for seven years beginning with the 2008 financial crisis .
Seth Carpenter , an economist at UBS and a former Fed staffer , says investors are anticipating that if the Fed ’ s short-term rate does reach zero amid a sharp economic slowdown , it will remain at that level for years .
The Fed could even start buying longer-term bonds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rounds from 2008 through 2014 , to try to further reduce long-term rates .
Some investors are likely thinking , “ I want to own them first , so I can sell them to the Fed later , ” Carpenter said .
“ Inflation ’ s not roaring back anytime soon , ” he added , given that oil prices have also fallen as demand has slowed .
Should the Fed ’ s key rate reach zero , it ’ s “ probably going to be at zero for a long time.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston , suggested that the 10-year would likely fall further if the Fed cut its rate to zero .
At that point , “ there would be little room for the Federal Reserve to lower rates through large purchases of long-term Treasury securities — like it did to make conditions more accommodative in and after the Great Recession , “ he said .
Rosengren even floated the idea that the Fed “ could buy a broader set of assets , ” though he offered no specifics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bought a chunk of that country ’ s stocks .
He also mentioned the possibility of the Fed cutting its short-term rate into negative territory , as the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan have done .
Chairman Jerome Powell and several other Fed officials have rejected that option for now .
“ Such a policy would not be particularly successful in stimulating economic activity , ” Rosengren said .
He noted that negative rates can hurt the returns of pension funds , which typically invest much of their holdings in bonds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of greater saving could occur with bond yields very low , even if they ’ re not negative .
And if the economy worsens , the 10-year yield could drop further , potentially into negative territory .
“ We in the United States have been looking on with some curiosity at negative interest rates in Europe , “ said Carl Tannenbaum , chief economist at Northern Trust .
“ The day may come when we have to figure out what that means for us personally .
”

Christopher Rugaber - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Two attendees at pro-Israel conference positive for virus

WASHINGTON - Two people who attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington earlier this week have tested positive for the coronavirus , the group tweeted Friday .
Thousands of people attended the policy conference , including some members of Congress and administration officials .
Vice-President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were among the speakers .
“ We have confirmed that at least two Policy Conference attendees from New York have tested positive for the coronavirus , ” AIPAC tweeted .
They would be the first infections linked to the nation ’ s capital .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ House briefing , Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said health officials will be interviewing the individuals to see whom they may have had contact with , and try to determine who may have been exposed .
AIPAC said in its tweet that it is in contact with health officials in Westchester County , New York , and Washington .
It urged attendees to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and to consult with their doctors if they feel ill or have medical questions .
“ If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to inform your local health authorities so they can properly co-ordinate their response to this situation with the appropriate health authorities , ” AIPAC said .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Trump, at CDC, offers scattershot defence of virus response

ATLANTA - President Donald Trump ’ s visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday turned into a scattershot defence of his administration ’ s handling of the growing coronavirus crisis , veering into political digs and detours .
Trump , wearing his “ Keep America Great “ campaign hat while discussing the global worry , tried once more to quell growing alarm about the spread of the virus in America .
But he quickly ventured into side matters and political squabbles .
Trump called Washington state ’ s governor a “ snake.
” He said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus on a cruise ship be left aboard so they wouldn ’ t be added to the count for the nation ’ s total number of infections .
The president touted the accuracy of the test to detect the coronavirus , which members of his administration have acknowledged is not available to all who wants it , declaring it was “ perfect like the letter was perfect .
The transcription was perfect .
This was not as perfect as that , but pretty good.
” Trump was referring to the rough transcript @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s president , which prompted a whistleblower complaint that led to his impeachment .
Trump , who was acquitted by the Senate last month , has insisted he did nothing wrong .
Trump said his trip to the CDC had been cancelled earlier over concern about a possible infection there , but that person tested negative .
The visit was rescheduled for Friday afternoon .
“ Be calm .
It will go away , “ Trump told reporters earlier at the White House after signing a $ 8.3 billion coronavirus response funding bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have very low numbers compared to major countries throughout the world .
Our numbers are lower than just about anybody , “ Trump said about cases of the virus , which have rocked financial markets , interrupted travel and threaten to affect everyday life in the United States .
But his messaging was more haphazard at the Atlanta-based CDC .
Despite calling this week for bipartisanship during the crisis , he said he told Vice-President Mike Pence not to be complimentary during his Thursday meeting with Gov .
Jay Inslee of Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died , because “ he is a snake.
” “ Let me just tell you we have a lot of problems with the governor and , that ’ s where you have many of your problems , OK ?
“ Trump said .
“ So Mike may be happy with him but I ’ m not , OK ?
” So far , 14 people have died in the United States .
Trump downplayed concern that the country was not ready to respond to an outbreak .
Trump also said he talked on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom about the 3,500 people stuck on a cruise ship anchored off the coast of California .
Trump , at the CDC , advocated for the passengers to remain on the ship — in part so they would not count against the total number of victims in the United States .
He did say he would defer to the medical experts .
The legislation Trump signed at the White House provides federal public health agencies with money for vaccines , tests and potential treatments and helps state and local governments prepare and respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an unforeseen problem , ” Trump said about the virus .
“ It came out of nowhere .
We ’ re taking care of it.
” The Senate passed the $ 8.3 billion measure Thursday to help tackle the outbreak in hopes of reassuring a fearful public and accelerating the government ’ s response to the virus .
The money will pay for a multifaceted attack on a virus that is spreading more widely every day , sending financial markets spiraling again Thursday , disrupting travel and potentially threatening the U.S. economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would more than triple the $ 2.5 billion amount outlined by the White House 10 days ago .
The Trump proposal was immediately discarded by members of Congress from both parties .
Instead , the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations committees negotiated the increased figure and other provisions of the legislation in a burst of bipartisan co-operation that ’ s common on the panel but increasingly rare elsewhere in Washington .
The president , while touring the CDC , also boasted about his ability to understand the virus , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would take for a vaccine to be developed and available .
“ You know my Uncle was a great — he was at MIT .
He taught at MIT for a record number of years .
He was a great super genius , Dr. John Trump , “ the president said .
“ I like this stuff .
I really get it .
People are surprised that I understand it .
... Maybe I have a natural ability.
” Trump visited the CDC after touring tornado damage in Tennessee .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Palm Beach , Florida .
This story has been corrected to add full name of CDC : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Riechmann reported from Washington .
Lemire reported from New York .

Darlene Superville, Deb Riechmann And Jonathan Lemire - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Weather service: At least 6 tornadoes hit middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE - At least six tornadoes hit middle Tennessee during a series of storms early this week that killed 24 people and caused massive damage , the National Weather Service in Nashville confirmed Friday .
The strongest tornado overnight into Tuesday packed winds up to 175 mph ( 280 kph ) and lasted for eight miles ( nearly 13 kilometres ) in Putnam County , reaching EF-4 strength .
President Donald Trump viewed damage on the ground Friday in Putnam County , where 18 deaths occurred .
Before that twister touched down , a tornado reached EF-3 strength , hitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kph ) and carving a 60-mile ( 95-kilometre ) path across Nashville and Wilson counties .
Weaker EF-0 tornadoes touched down in Smith and Putnam counties ; another hit Putnam County ; and Cumberland County saw one as well .
Humphreys County experienced an EF-1 twister .
Tornadoes also were confirmed in other parts of the state .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-06--A ‘Germ-fest’ party preceded deadly nursing home outbreak in Washington state

KIRKLAND , Wash. - In the days before the Life Care Center nursing home became ground zero for coronavirus deaths in the U.S. , there were few signs it was girding against an illness spreading rapidly around the world .
Visitors came in as they always did , sometimes without signing in .
Staffers had only recently begun wearing face masks , but the frail residents and those who came to see them were not asked to do so .
And organized events went on as planned , including a purple-and-gold-festooned Mardi Gras party last week , where dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room , passed plates of sausage , rice and king cake , and sang as a Dixieland band played “ When the Saints Go Marching In.
” “ We were all eating , drinking , singing and clapping to the music , ” said Pat McCauley , who was there visiting a friend .
“ In hindsight , it was a real germ-fest.
” That was just three days before last Saturday ’ s announcement that a Life Care health-care worker in her 40s and a resident in her 70s had been diagnosed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be followed over the next few days by the first resident deaths : two men in their 70s , a woman in her 70s and a woman in her 80s .
Of the 14 deaths across the nation as of Friday , at least nine have been linked to the Seattle-area nursing home , along with at least a dozen other infections .
As disease detectives try to solve the mystery of how exactly the coronavirus got inside Life Care , they are also questioning whether the 190-bed home that had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was as vigilant as it could have been in protecting its vulnerable patients against an outbreak that had already killed thousands in China and around the world .
A team of federal and state regulators planned to visit Life Care on Saturday , a move that could lead to sanctions , including a possible takeover of its management .
The team will look at the home ’ s practices , including infection control .
In an outbreak like this , “ it ’ s not business as usual , so business as usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Dr. Mark Dworkin , an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health .
“ There needs to be some sort of mobilization within the facility for enhanced adherence to procedures .
Infection control and visitors logging in .
These things need to be translated out across the country.
” Life Care did not respond to questions from The Associated Press that were sent to an email address set up for news media inquiries .
In the week since the outbreak began , the centre has issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have lost loved ones .
It has also noted that visits have been halted , staffers are being screened and residents with any kind of respiratory illness have been placed in isolation .
Several family members and friends who visited residents at Life Care over the past few weeks told the AP they didn ’ t notice any unusual precautions , and none said they were asked about their health or if they had visited China or any other countries struck by the virus .
Pat and Bob McCauley , who visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the outbreak , said they noticed some staff members wearing face masks during a visit on Feb. 26 , that included the Mardi Gras party but didn ’ t think much of it .
They went to a common room with a half-dozen tables and began singing along with their friend as residents in wheelchairs bunched together to get clear view of the banjo , bass and washboard players .
“ As it became more crowded , we helped move patients into seats , move wheelchairs into places between tables , holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accommodate wheelchairs , ” said Pat McCauley .
“ We had very close contact with numerous patients.
” Two days later , when the couple arrived for another visit , they realized the reason for the masks .
A staff member told them at the door that they would have to wear ones themselves because a “ respiratory virus ” had spread .
They turned around and went home .
Lori Spencer , whose 81-year-old mother is at Life Care , said she also noticed the masks on a visit that same day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The hallways were crowded with people .
The place was buzzing , ” she said .
“ All the doors to the rooms were open , and I could see there were multiple people in there .
I kept thinking how people were on top of each other.
” Spencer said that firefighters had just visited the place too , and there were student nurses as well .
A union representative for the Kirkland firefighters said Thursday that all firefighters tested so far have come back negative for the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re cooking together and eating together , ” said Evan Hurley .
“ Trying to actually trace this all back to who ’ s been exposed is difficult.
” Betsy McCaughey , chair of the non-profit Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths , said that by the day the Mardi Gras party was held , the nursing home should have been doing more to protect its residents .
“ All these nursing facilities hold parties , ” she said .
“ The issue is : Were attendees asked ahead of time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Have you travelled to one of the coronavirus hot spots ?
Has someone in your family travelled to a hot spot ?
Is there any illness in your family ?
’ '' McCaughey estimates 380,000 nursing home residents die each year of infections , about half of them preventable .
She said U.S. federal regulators are largely to blame for not holding nursing homes to the same standards as hospitals .
While residents of nursing homes may need more social interaction than hospital patients , “ they shouldn ’ t have to sacrifice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Exactly how the virus made its way into the nursing home remains a mystery .
One theory is that someone who became infected overseas brought it to Washington state and passed it on to others .
Ordinarily in nursing homes , bedridden patients have the virus brought to them by visitors or staff members who are sick .
While Life Care generally has a good rating with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services , state inspectors last April found infection-control deficiencies following two flu outbreaks that affected 17 residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 67,000 .
A follow-up inspection found that it had corrected the problems .
As of Friday , 69 residents remained at Life Care after 15 were taken to the hospital within the past 24 hours .
King County Executive Dow Constantine said the state has offered to help families set up home care if they want to move their loved ones out .
Dr. Stephen C. Morris , a University of Washington School of Medicine public health specialist who was sent into the nursing home to evaluate patients Thursday , said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the staff there needed help .
“ They need nurses who are better trained .
They need doctors who are better trained , ” he said .
Family members said that since the nursing home has been locked down , they have agonized over leaving their loved ones inside and have resorted to communicating with them by tablet computers , cellphones and signs held up at the windows .
Patricia Herrick , whose 89-year-old mother died on Thursday , said it was difficult to know that her mother was caught in the epicentre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so nearby but completely inaccessible .
“ Knowing that she was in an environment that is dangerous and not being able to help ... it was awful , ” she said .
She said she wants her mother tested to see if she died of the virus .
Herrick said she noticed some staffers were wearing masks three days before the Mardi Gras party visit , but she didn ’ t think much of it .
She also said she walked right in that day without signing the visitors log .
But she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff of Life Care but with government health officials .
“ Even at the state level , the department of health should have dictated what these facilities should do : No parties .
Anyone with respiratory problems goes into isolation , “ Herrick said .
” This is a wake-up call .
There are holes in our system .
”

Bernard Condon And Carla K. Johnson - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Virginia lawmakers approve redistricting measure

RICHMOND , Va. - Virginia lawmakers approved a proposed change to the state ’ s constitution on Friday that supporters said would curb political gerrymandering , prompting an outcry by some Democrats who called it harmful to African Americans .
The state House narrowly voted to approve the proposed constitutional amendment that would task a bipartisan commission made up of lawmakers and citizens with drawing new congressional and legislative maps every 10 years .
The measure , which critics called deeply flawed , passed last year with broad bipartisan support now heads to voters for a final decision in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national spotlight on redistricting reform after taking full control of the statehouse this year .
The party has made redistricting reform a key campaign plank but has split on whether to support the proposed constitutional amendment or support alternative proposals that would give the new Democratic majority a greater say in drawing maps next year .
House Democrats were more divided on the measure than anything else this year and several members gave emotional floor speeches ahead of the vote .
Opponents said there were better ways to reform redistricting and lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better constitutional amendment that is more independent of partisan pressures and better protects minorities .
“ I see nothing wrong with reaching for perfection , “ Democratic Majority Leader Del .
Charniele Herring said .
A key sticking point for opponents was the fact that the state ’ s Supreme Court , which currently leans conservative , would have the final say in drawing maps in the event of a deadlock .
Supporters said the amendment was “ real reform ” and would ensure fair maps will be drawn next year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even if it is not perfect .
“ I do think it moves us forward , ” Democratic Del .
Schuyler VanValkenburg said .
The measured passed the House with every Republican voting for it along with nine out of 55 Democrats .
The 2020 census aims to count everyone living in the U.S. as of April 1 .
Those totals — broken down by counties , cities and specific addresses — will be provided to states in 2021 to use in drawing new boundaries for voting districts that could influence the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state legislatures for the next decade .
In many states , lawmakers and governors will shape the new districts .
After Republicans scored big statehouse victories in the 2010 elections , they used their enhanced power in 2011 to draw districts to their advantage in some states .
Democrats have historically done the same where they were in control .
Redistricting has long been a hot-button issue in Virginia , where federal judges in recent years have struck down both the state legislative and congressional maps as racially discriminatory .
Many black lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year and again this year on the grounds that it could dilute the influence of African Americans in drawing maps .
They said Friday on the House floor that the issue was of supreme importance to them and pleaded with their Democratic colleagues to side with them .
“ Hear our voices , please ; do what ’ s right and not what ’ s easy , “ said Del .
Jeff Bourne .
Black lawmakers in the Senate support he amendment , and it passed the upper body with near unanimous @ @ @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Pence: 21 on cruise ship test positive for coronavirus

WASHINGTON - Vice-President Mike Pence says 21 people on a cruise ship being held off San Francisco have tested positive @ @ @ @ @ urged older Americans to “ use caution ” in planning any cruise ship vacation .
@ @ @ @ @ on Friday , Pence said the government is planning to bring the Grand Princess cruise @ @ @ @ @ port ” where all the passengers and crew will be tested .
Those who need @ @ @ @ @ quarantined and those who need treatment will get treatment .
There are more than 3,500 @ @ @ @ @ counting passengers and crew .
Pence said 19 of those who tested positive were crew @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We would ask elderly Americans to use caution in planning a cruise vacation @ @ @ @ @ Get more of the Star in your inbox Never miss the latest news from the @ @ @ @ @ our newsletters to get today 's top stories , your favourite columnists and lots more @ @ @ @ @ Sign Up Now

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Bond denied for woman accused of abandoning baby in 2008

CONWAY , S.C. - A woman accused of abandoning her baby boy in 2008 beside a South Carolina highway was denied bond Friday morning .
Judge Larry Hyman declined to set bond for Jennifer Sahr , 32 , of Pensacola , Florida , but said he ’ d be open to changing his decision at her next hearing , news outlets reported .
Sahr , formerly Jennifer Rickel , was arrested Tuesday and charged with homicide by child abuse in the death of her infant , who was dubbed Baby Boy Horry .
Authorities said at the time that utility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a bag thrown into a ditch beside a route in Horry County on Dec. 4 , 2008 .
Officials said the infant was less than two days old and would have survived with proper care .
Solicitor Jimmy Richardson said police identified the infant ’ s father , who didn ’ t know he was a dad .
The man gave investigators Sahr ’ s name and DNA tests confirmed she was the infant ’ s mother .
The father didn ’ t want to be identified but said the infant was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to ask for privacy and respect for my family and I as we grieve over the death of my first and only born child and son , ” the father said .
“ I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing justice to my baby boy.
“ Hyman said prosecutors haven ’ t decided what charge they will seek against Sahr .
He said the charges could include murder with a possible death penalty sentence .
Sahr ’ s next hearing is set for April 13 .
Sahr ’ s attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-operating with authorities .
“ She is presumed innocent and people should not get out their pitchforks at this point , “ McCollum said .
” A lot of times these cases are highly emotional .
”


thetorontostar--2020-03-06--Very Large Array to close for group tours to contain virus

MAGDALENA , N.M. - The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is cancelling group tours of its Very Large Array in New Mexico to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus .
The observatory said Friday that the visitor centre and gift shop will remain open and self-guided walking tours will continue .
But a semi-annual open house , guided tours and special tours for school groups will be put on hold between March 15 and May 31 .
The move is meant to protect visitors and the workers who keep the facility running , Tony Beasley , the observatory director , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our first priority is the safety and health of our visitors and our staff , and these cancellations are being done to minimize the risk of exposure to this virus , “ Beasley said .
Astronomers use the Very Large Array to observe natural radiowaves from distant stars and planets .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-07--The Latest: Iran: Over 1,000 new cases, 21 more deaths

BEIJING - The Latest on the coronavirus outbreak ( all times local ) : Malaysia has turned away a cruise ship carrying around 2,000 passengers and crew from a port in northern Penang state , becoming the second country to bar the ship from docking after Thailand .
The Costa Fortuna was turned away from the popular resort island of Phuket in southern Thailand on Friday due to the presence of 64 Italians on board .
Thai health authorities have officially designated Italy a dangerous communicable disease area because it has been hit hard by the coronavirus .
Phee Boon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he was informed by the Penang port that it had turned away the cruise liner Saturday morning following a directive from the transport ministry .
He said the ship was now making its way to Singapore .
The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .
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thetorontostar--2020-03-07--Polish president OKs $510M for public media amid campaign

WARSAW , Poland - Poland ’ s president has signed a bill earmarking nearly 2 billion zlotys ( $ 510 million ) to fund public television and radio , broadcast outlets that have become mouthpieces for the country ’ s right-wing government and given the president positive coverage as he campaigns for reelection .
President Andrzej Duda , who hails from the ruling Law and Justice party , signed the funding bill late Friday as he campaigns for a second five-year term in a May election .
His decision was closely watched given how politically charged the issue of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political opposition had called for the money to instead be used for cancer treatment .
Duda said he had doubts about signing the legislation approved by parliament into law .
In doing so , he allowed a large injection of money to go into broadcasters that were already helping his campaign .
Putting the measure over its final hurdle with his signature was expected to hurt Duda with centrist voters given the reputation of Poland ’ s public media in recent years .
The Law and Justice party uses public television station TVP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to sully the standing of political opponents .
Older Poles critical of the government often liken the current practice to the propaganda of the communist era .
The mayor of Gdansk , Pawel Adamowicz , was killed at a public charity event last year after being the subject of months of negative coverage by TVP .
Opponents of the ruling party accused the broadcaster of waging a hate campaign against Adadowicz before an ex-convict killed the mayor .
Protests at TVP ’ s headquarters folowed the mayor ’ s death .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which by statute are supposed to be neutral — has caused Poland to fall in global free media rankings .
Reporters Without Borders called Poland ’ s public media “ government propaganda mouthpieces.
“ Directors of the entities ” tolerate neither opposition nor neutrality from employees and fire those who refuse to comply , ” according to the advocacy group .
The legislation earmarking more money for the broadcasters was needed to cover the gap left by a fall in revenue from licensing fees , which by law Poles are supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in practice often do not .
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