thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Virgin Atlantic completes rescue plan; 1,150 jobs lost

LONDON - Virgin Atlantic completed its 1.2 billion-pound ( $ 1.6 billion ) restructuring plan and cut 1,150 jobs Friday as the airline sought to rebuild following the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic .
The deal had been approved by the High Court in London earlier this week , and was formally recognized by a U.S. court — the last step in the legal process in the long-haul carrier ’ s efforts to rebuild its balance sheet and to emerge from the crisis .
It cut jobs as it announced it was putting the plan into place and further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sacrifices so many of our people have made , further reducing the number of people we employ is heart-breaking but essential for survival , ” Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said .
“ I truly hope that as demand returns , we will see many members of our team returning to us.
“ Aviation has been devastated by the spread of the virus , as governments around the world moved to curtail travel to safeguard public health .
Airlines have been begging for government help until passengers feel comfortable returning to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and said it was the only way to enable the removal of travel restrictions to open up flying to key markets .
The airline announced the refinancing package in July to ensure its survival after passenger numbers dropped 98 % in the second quarter .
It includes 600 million pounds of support from the airline ’ s owners , Virgin Group and Delta Airlines , 450 million pounds of deferred payments to creditors and 170 million pounds of financing from U.S.-based Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP .
Virgin Atlantic , founded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Group , has already cut 3,550 jobs , shuttered operations at London ’ s Gatwick Airport and announced plans to retire 11 aircraft as it seeks to weather the slowdown in air travel .
The airline says it doesn ’ t expect passenger volume to return to pre-pandemic levels until 2023 .
Delta invested $ 360 million in Virgin Atlantic in December 2012 , acquiring a 49 % stake in the airline .
Virgin Group owns the remaining shares .
Virgin flies from London ’ s Heathrow Airport and Manchester to destinations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistan , South Africa , Nigeria , Israel and the Caribbean .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Jamaica’s Holness wins big in early Jamaican elections

ST. CATHERINE , Jamaica - Prime Minister Andrew Holness won big in his bet on early elections as his Jamaica Labour Party captured 49 of 63 seats in Parliament , swamping the rival People ’ s National Party .
Addressing the nation on a virtual livestream after the PNP conceded defeat Thursday evening , Holness congratulated Jamaicans for a smooth and fair election held amid restrictions aimed at stifling the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Tonight the victor is the people of Jamaica .
“ What it says to me is that the Jamaican people are maturing in their outlook ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destructive impact on the national good , “ he said .
The party won despite a recent spike in COVID-19 cases that has threatened several years of strong economic growth .
Debt had been shrinking , unemployment hit a record low and the stock market was booming .
The JLP focused on pledges to rebuild the economy from the fallout of the pandemic , which has damaged tourism and exports .
The PNP focused on providing social programs to assist the most vulnerable , including students , poor and working-class Jamaicans .
Elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2021 , but on August 11 , Holness called for a new general vote .
The PNP and the JLP have been political rivals since Jamaica gained political independence in 1962 .
In the last general election in 2016 , the JLP won a narrow 33-30 advantage .
With over 800 new cases of the novel coronavirus recorded since last week , Jamaicans were voting with a spike looming , and local experts worried that the election would exacerbate a possible health crisis .
The country of nearly 3 million has reported more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of the epidemic .
Voters were required to wear masks and maintain physical distancing .
Special times for voting were laid out for thos who have tested positive for COVID-19 .

Sharlene Hendricks - The Associated Press

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thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Typhoon Haishen approaching Japan, packing powerful winds

TOKYO - A powerful typhoon , the second in a week , was barrelling toward the southern cluster of Japanese Okinawa islands on Saturday , prompting warnings about torrential rainfall and fierce wind gusts .
Weather officials have cautioned about Typhoon Haishen for the last several days , urging people to brace for what could be a record storm and be ready to take shelter and stock up on food and water .
The Japan Meteorological Agency said Haishen , packing sustained winds of up to 198 kilometres ( 123 miles ) per hour early Saturday , was on course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later the main southern island of Kyushu .
But the pouring rain , high tides and winds will hit long before the typhoon , the agency said .
Haishen , or “ sea god ” in Chinese , was moving northward at 15 kmh ( 9 mph ) from out at sea , south of Minami Daito , an island to the south of Japan .
The projected course has Haishen hitting the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday .
Earlier this week , Typhoon Maysak battered southern Japan , injuring dozens of people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A cargo ship carrying 43 crew members and 5,800 cows from New Zealand capsized off the coast of Japan .
Two people were rescued on Friday and was one body was recovered .
Rescuers also spotted dozens of cow carcasses floating in the area .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Trump targets ‘white privilege’ training as ‘anti-American’

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has directed the Office of Management and Budget to crack down on federal agencies ’ anti-racism training sessions , calling them “ divisive , anti-American propaganda.
” OMB director Russell Vought , in a letter Friday to executive branch agencies , directed them to identify spending related to any training on “ critical race theory , “ “ white privilege ” or any other material that teaches or suggests that the United States or any race or ethnicity is “ inherently racist or evil.
” The memo comes as the nation has faced a reckoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other spheres of American life .
Trump has spent much of the summer defending the display of the Confederate battle flag and monuments of Civil War rebels from protesters seeking their removal , in what he has called a “ culture war ” ahead of the Nov. 3 election .
Meanwhile , he has rejected comments from Democratic nominee Joe Biden and others that there is “ systemic racism ” in policing and American culture that must be addressed .
Vought ’ s memo cites “ press reports ” as contributing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to segments on Fox News and other outlets that have stoked conservative outrage about the federal training .
Vought ’ s memo says additional federal guidance on training sessions is forthcoming , maintaining that “ The President , and his Administration , are fully committed to the fair and equal treatment of all individuals in the United States.
” “ The President has a proven track record of standing for those whose voice has long been ignored and who have failed to benefit from all our country has to offer , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , regardless of race , religion , or creed , ” he added .
“ The divisive , false , and demeaning propaganda of the critical race theory movement is contrary to all we stand for as Americans and should have no place in the Federal government .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--White Tulsa officer charged in shooting of Black man

TULSA , Okla. - A jury has indicted a white Tulsa police officer on a reckless conduct charge for shooting a Black man during a traffic stop in March , saying the officer took “ unreasonable risk “ when he shot at the man ’ s car multiple times .
The Oklahoma multicounty grand jury on Thursday charged Aaron Russell , 29 , with misdemeanour reckless conduct with a firearm in the March 21 shooting of 35-year-old Michael Delaney , who was struck in the shoulder when Russell shot at his car .
The grand jury determined that Russell “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probability of death or great bodily harm and demonstrated a conscious disregard ” for Delaney ’ s safety when he shot multiple times at the car while Delaney was in it .
“ I was completely shocked by that , ” Russell ’ s attorney , Scott Wood , said of the indictment .
“ He did everything related to this incident pursuant to his training.
” The grand jury , however , declined to charge Russell with felony assault and battery with a deadly weapon .
On March 21 , Russell approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a suspicious person .
Police said Russell saw what appeared to be a pistol in the vehicle and ordered him to get out of the car .
Delaney refused , and he accelerated while Russell was partially in the vehicle trying to get him out , police said .
Russell proceeded to shoot at Delaney as he drove away , striking him once in the shoulder , according to police reports .
“ Review of the in-car video and body worn camera evidence did not support the initial belief that officers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearm was determined to be an airgun , ” Tulsa Police Officer Jeanne Pierce said in a Thursday press release .
Pierce said that information led authorities to amend the case against Delaney , who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour count of obstruction in July .
Delaney is being held in the Tulsa County Jail on complaints of eluding police , reckless driving and driving without a license .
Pierce said Russell has been on administrative leave since the shooting and will not return to work until the criminal case is complete .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be restricted , and he will be reviewed by Internal Affairs .
The indictment comes at a time of increased scrutiny of law enforcement after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Indian, Chinese defence ministers meet amid border tensions

NEW DELHI - Defence ministers of India and China have met in the Russian capital to try to solve rising tensions along their disputed border in the eastern Ladakh region , where a June clash killed 20 Indian soldiers .
India ’ s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted about his meeting Friday night with Chinese counterpart Gen. Wei Fenghe that lasted about two hours .
He didn ’ t give any details about the outcome of the first direct high-level contact between the two sides in the monthslong standoff .
The ministers met on the sidelines of a meeting of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization .
The body comprises China , India , Pakistan , Russia , Kazakhstan , Krgyzstan , Tajikistan and Uzbekistan .
In his address , Singh said “ peace and security in the region demands a climate of trust , non-aggression , peaceful resolution of differences and respect for international rules.
” Troops on both sides are aggressively deployed in the Karakorum mountains in the Ladakh region .
The two Asian giants share thousands of kilometres ( miles ) of disputed border .
Both have accused the other of fresh provocations , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s territory this week and vowed to protect their territorial integrity .
India ’ s army chief Gen. M.M .
Naravane visited the region on Thursday and Friday .
He met with soldiers and local commanders deployed in difficult high altitude terrain , an Indian Defence Ministry statement said .
Earlier this week , India said its soldiers had thwarted “ provocative ” movements by China ’ s military over the last weekend .
In turn , China ’ s Defence Ministry accused Indian troops of crossing established lines of control and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Line of Actual Control , the disputed and undemarcated 3,500-kilometre ( 2,175-mile ) border between India and China , stretches from the Ladakh region in the north to the Indian state of Sikkim .
The standoff is over disputed portions of a pristine landscape that boasts the world ’ s highest landing strip , a glacier that feeds one of the largest irrigation systems in the world , and is a critical link in China ’ s massive Belt and Road infrastructure project .
The two nations fought a border war in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended in an uneasy truce .
Since then , troops from opposing sides have guarded the undefined mountain border area , occasionally brawling .
They have agreed not to attack each other with firearms .
Rival soldiers brawled bitterly in May , and in June fought with clubs , stones and fists , leaving 20 Indian soldiers dead .
China did not report any casualties , although unconfirmed reports based on photos of new burial grounds say Chinese losses may have topped three dozen .
Accusing each other of instigating the violence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory but also try to end the standoff , which has dramatically changed the India-China relationship .
Several rounds of military and diplomatic talks on the crisis have been unsuccessful .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Portland killing suspect and victim had guns, documents say

PORTLAND , Ore. - ?
Both the suspect in the slaying of the right-wing protester in Portland , Oregon last weekend and the victim had handguns when their confrontation started after dueling street demonstrations , according to court documents made public Friday .
The documents said victim Aaron “ Jay ” Danielson , a supporter of a right-wing group called Patriot Prayer , was wearing a loaded Glock pistol in a holster and had bear spray and an expandable metal baton when someone said something like “ wan na go , “ which is frequently a challenge to a fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporter Michael Forest Reinoehl , who was fatally shot by federal agents late Thursday in Washington state , then opened fire and killed Danielson after he took part in a caravan of President Donald Trump supporters who drove pickup trucks through downtown Portland .
Some of the Trump supporters fired paint ball pellets at counter-demonstrators , while Black Lives Matter protesters tried to block the vehicles .
Law enforcement officials released the information they had compiled — justifying an arrest warrant for Reinoehl on a second-degree murder charge in the Aug. 29 killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing shook a quiet suburb of Olympia , Washington .
Bystanders Thursday night ducked for cover behind automobiles from dozens of gunshots as four agents serving on a U.S .
Marshals Service task force opened fire at Reinoehl .
Authorities said Reinoehl , 48 , was armed with a semi-automatic handgun .
A witness who was driving to the small apartment complex that Reinoehl was leaving said she saw him open fire from a car and that the officers returned fire .
Reinoehl then got out of the car and started running away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness , Deshirlynn Chatman , told The Olympian newspaper .
“ He did open fire first , ” she said in a video posted by The Olympian .
Lt. Ray Brady of the Thurston County Sheriff ’ s Department said investigators have not concluded whether Reinoehl fired any shots .
Another video shot during the immediate aftermath showed Reinoehl lying motionless on the street with law enforcement officers in tactical gear and automatic rifles milling around .
After several minutes , one man performed chest compressions on Reinoehl .
“ Yeah , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to make it , ” Jashon Spencer narrated on the video that he posted on Facebook .
Brady said he did not believe the officers involved in the shooting had body cameras or dashboard cameras on their vehicles .
In a videotaped interview broadcast the evening of his death by Vice News , Reinoehl came close to admitting he shot Danielson , a supporter of a right-wing group called Patriot Prayer , on Aug. 29 after a caravan of President Donald Trump backers drove their pickup trucks through downtown Portland .
Reinoehl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but to do what he did because he thought he and a friend were about to be stabbed .
“ I hate to say it , but I see a civil war right around the corner , ” Reinoehl , with a partially covered tattoo of a raised fist on the right side of his neck , said in the interview .
Reinoehl told Vice News he was an anti-fascist but was not a member of antifa , an umbrella description for far-left-leaning militant groups that resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself in a social media post as “ 100 % ANTIFA.
” Facebook said on Friday they removed pages related to Patriot Prayer , whose members have brawled with protesters from antifa and other demonstrators in the past .
“ They were removed as part of our ongoing efforts to remove violent social militias from our platform , ” Facebook spokesperson Sally Aldous said .
It was not immediately clear where Reinoehl hid out in the five days that elapsed since shooting in Portland .
Brady said the “ suspect ” who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Reinoehl — left an apartment shortly around 7 p.m. Thursday , got into a vehicle , and was confronted by the task force members .
They fired into the vehicle , Reinoehl got out and ran and was shot , Brady said .
Federal agents from the FBI and the U.S .
Marshals Service had located Reinoehl on Thursday after a warrant was issued for his arrest and Reinoehl pulled a gun during the encounter , a senior Justice Department official in Washington said .
The official wasn ’ t authorized to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AP on condition of anonymity .
A U.S .
Marshals Service statement issued later said the fugitive task force had “ attempted to peacefully arrest him.
“ “ Initial reports indicate the suspect produced a firearm , threatening the lives of law enforcement officers ” the statement said .
U.S .
Marshals Service fugitive task forces — comprised of deputy marshals , other federal agents and local law enforcement officers from a variety of agencies — apprehend violent felons and other suspects .
Brady said the four task force members who fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deputies , a police officer from the Washington city of Lakewood and Washington State Department of Corrections officer .
Brady said investigators haven ’ t yet determined how many rounds were fired but witnesses Chad Smith and Chase Cutler , who were working on cars nearby , told The News Tribune they saw two SUVs converge on a man in a vehicle at the apartment complex .
They said they heard 40 to 50 shots , the Tacoma , Washington , newspaper reported .
Brady said he doesn ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was shot , and that it was not clear what brought him to Lacey , on the outskirts of Olympia , the state capital .
Reinoehl ’ s sister , who requested her name not be used because of the threats she and her family have been receiving , said in an interview with The Associated Press Friday that she had had not been in touch with him for three years .
She said her brother ’ s son and daughter “ need to be allowed to grieve what happened.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopefully they can put their lives back together and sort through this and process the trauma that no one that young should ever have to deal with , ” the sister said .
Selsky reported from Salem , Oregon .
Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Washington , DC ; Rebecca Boone in Boise , Idaho , Michael Liedtke in San Ramon , California ; and Suman Naishadham in Atlanta contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--The Latest: Mexico states run out of death certificates

MEXICO CITY — The coronavirus pandemic has hit Mexico so hard that the governments of several states ran out of death certificates .
Officials said Friday the federal forms started running out about 15 to 20 days ago in at least three states — Baja California , the State of Mexico and Mexico City .
Authorities say a million new forms have been printed and are being distributed .
The certificates are printed with special characteristics because falsification has been a problem in the past .
Mexico has suffered the fourth-highest level of COVID-19 deaths in the world .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose by 6,196 to 623,090 , while deaths rose by 522 to 66,851 .
Cases in Mexico now appear to have plateaued and are no longer decreasing .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK — Model projects 1.9M more coronavirus deaths by end of 2020 — Will long Labor Day weekend mean another U.S. coronavirus spike ?
— WHO chief says the U.N. health agency won ’ t recommend any COVID-19 vaccine before it is proved safe and effective , even as Russia and China have started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have finished .
— U.S. unemployment dropped sharply in August to a still-high 8.4 % from 10.2 % , with about half the 22 million jobs lost to the coronavirus outbreak recovered so far — Italy ’ s ex-leader Silvio Berlusconi admitted to Milan hospital as precaution to monitor his coronavirus infection .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : SEOUL , South Korea -- South Korea has reported 168 new cases of the coronavirus , the third consecutive day the daily jump came below 200 in a possible sign the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented social distancing restrictions .
The figures released Saturday brought the national caseload to 21,010 , including 333 deaths .
Officials say 115 of the new cases were in the Seoul metropolitan area , home to half of the country ’ s 51 million population .
Infections were also reported in other big cities , including Bunsan , Gwangju , Daejeon and Daegu .
Authorities have decided to extend for another week tougher social distancing restrictions in the Seoul area , saying the viral spread is still at risky levels .
Restaurants are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery after 9 p.m. Gyms , billiard clubs and after-school academies are closed .
Officials have also shut down churches and nightspots and shifted most schools back to remote learning nationwide .
NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana athletic and education officials are cautiously planning for high school football games to begin in October , while Gov .
John Bel Edwards is expressing hope he will be able to ease some restrictions on businesses next week .
State officials , leaders of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association and lawmakers discussed plans for resuming football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state ’ s coronavirus statistics .
Later in the day , Edwards made no commitment to ease restrictions that have limited public gatherings and restaurant seating while shutting down bars since July .
But , noting that current restrictions expire next Friday , he said he hopes he will be able to move to less restrictive regulations .
He didn ’ t give any details on what looser rules might allow .
SANTA FE , N.M. — New Mexico officials say enrolment in Medicaid has increased by nearly 7 % in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic , with employers shedding jobs and more families entering into poverty .
In a briefing Friday for state legislators , Human Services Secretary David Scrase praised federal legislation that increases the federal matching rate for Medicaid health care and allows the state to quickly extend no-cost coronavirus testing to the poor and undocumented immigrants .
At the same time , he says the current 6.2 % boost in federal matching funds is inadequate to keep up with rebounding demand for medical services under Medicaid and could end abruptly at the discretion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump is urging Americans to “ remain vigilant ” about the coronavirus over the Labor Day weekend .
Trump said at a White House briefing Friday that “ we need everybody to be careful ” and to “ apply common sense ” in their interactions with one another .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , said this week that several Midwestern states that have seen jumps in coronavirus caseloads should be especially vigilant during the holiday weekend .
They are North Dakota , South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Indiana and Missouri .
Past increases in cases of COVID-19 have followed the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays .
Trump is eager to put the pandemic in the past , but he tells Americans to “ let ’ s just try to get through this one weekend.
” UNITED NATIONS — The president of the United Nations General Assembly is warning that a vaccine for COVID-19 must be made available to everyone who needs it because if just one country is left out the world will still face a crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks to a vaccine and a post-COVID-19 world , Tijjani Muhammad-Bande also warned that “ inclusion is key , because without inclusion the suffering of those who are already left behind , will continue — and we can not guarantee peace in that kind of a context.
” He said statements from those developing vaccines have said they intend to make them widely available which is important .
“ I believe that there will be protocols and agreements to guarantee affordability and accessibility to the product when it is available , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday with The Associated Press that the pandemic , perhaps ironically , has defied initial predictions that developing countries would be hardest hit because many of their health systems are poorer .
But what has happened , he said , is that death rates and infections are far lower in percentage terms in developing countries , including in Africa , than in the major developed countries of the world .
PARIS -- Coronavirus cases in France increased to nearly 9,000 in the last 24 hours , health officials said Friday .
The 8,975 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections since France successfully grappled with the spread of the coronavirus during a strict two-month lockdown .
There were some 1,800 cases less a day earlier .
The rise likely reflects an increase in tests , along with the return to work and end of vacation when many French may not have observed social distancing .
Hospitalizations , including in ICUs , remained relatively stable .
But active clusters increased to 444 , with 53 new clusters reported in the last day .
Total deaths in France have reached nearly 30,700 .
OKLAHOMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of changes to how it reports coronavirus data and expects an increase in the number of confirmed positive cases as a result , health officials said Friday .
Among the changes , positive results from rapid antigen tests will now be counted as positive cases .
Previously , positive results from antigen tests were considered “ probable ” and were treated the same by the Department of Health in terms of contact tracing and investigation , but were not included in the daily case count , said Oklahoma Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were very few antigen tests and the ones that were out there were not that good , frankly , ” Frye said .
“ The new machines are better.
” Frye said more than 200 antigen machines and testing kits are being deployed to Oklahoma nursing homes , and that more will be deployed to schools by the end of the year .
The changes will be reflected in the state ’ s data reporting beginning on Tuesday , Frye said .
SEATTLE — A widely cited model predicts worsening outbreaks in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more coronavirus deaths in 2020 unless governments act .
Mask mandates and social distancing could save hundreds of thousands of lives , but there is “ a tremendous amount of COVID fatigue ” among the world ’ s government leaders because of economic downturns , said Dr. Christopher Murray of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington .
Most of the world ’ s population lives in the Northern Hemisphere .
Respiratory illnesses tend to peak in winter months , a seasonal effect expected to hold true for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ models are based on assumptions about human behaviour , so there is a large amount of uncertainty .
Even if a vaccine proves safe and effective , there won ’ t be time to distribute enough vaccine to change the bleak forecast , Murray said .
The IHME model projects the wave will peak globally in mid-December at 30,000 deaths per day and in the United States in early December at about 2,900 deaths per day .
India , the United States , Brazil , Mexico and Japan will lead the world in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the forecast .
ANKARA , Turkey — The number of daily confirmed COVID-19 deaths in Turkey topped 50 — the highest single-day fatality in the country since mid-May .
Health Ministry figures released Friday showed that 53 people had died in the past 24 hours , bringing the overall death toll in the country to 6,564 .
There were 1,610 new confirmed cases of the virus within the last 24 hours , as the number of infected people also continued to hover around levels previously seen in May .
Authorities have imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other large social gatherings .
Turkey has recorded more than 276,000 infections since March .
BERLIN — Authorities in Germany have acknowledged two mishaps involving coronavirus tests as the country reports 1,453 cases in the past 24 hours .
Health officials in Hamburg say 250 samples were lost ; they were taken from people who were tested at the airport last week upon return from high-risk areas .
Authorities say all of those affected should still be in quarantine and would be tested again .
Health officials in Bavaria say test results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at airports in the southern German state were delayed due to technical problems .
Meanwhile , Berlin ’ s public health office say they registered dozens of potential “ super spreading events , ” where people infected with coronavirus came into contact with several others including at four schools , five doctor ’ s practices and a sex party .
ALFRED , Maine -- An outbreak of the coronavirus at a jail that is linked to another outbreak at a wedding poses enough of a risk that schools in Maine ’ s southernmost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said Friday .
York County is home to an outbreak of more than 80 cases at a jail in the community of Alfred , as well as other outbreaks .
The jail cases overlap with a larger outbreak centred on a wedding reception in Millinocket , in the northern part of the state , that has sickened more than 140 people and killed three .
State officials have said a jail employee attended the August reception .
Every Maine county but York is designated at lowest risk for the virus , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s test-positivity rate of 1.8 % is three times the state average .
LONDON — The head of the World Health Organization says the U.N. health agency won ’ t recommend any coronavirus vaccine before it is proved safe and effective .
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the comment Friday , even as Russia and China have started using their experimental vaccines before long-term studies have been completed .
Other countries have proposed streamlining authorization procedures .
He says vaccines have been used successfully for decades and credited them with eradicating smallpox and bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to newly developed Ebola vaccines that helped end the recent Ebola outbreak in Congo .
Tedros appealed to people opposed to vaccination to do their own research .
“ The anti-vaccine movement , they can build narratives to fight against vaccines .
But the track record of vaccines tells its own story and people should not be confused , ” he says .
“ They can have a look for themselves on how the world actually used vaccines to reduce under 5 mortality to save children.
” He says he ’ s hopeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus vaccine “ so the world can get back to normal.
” MADRID — Spain is nearing a half a million coronavirus infections since the beginning of the pandemic after adding more than 10,000 new cases on Friday .
The new Health Ministry data showed a significant increase in the latest wave of contagion sweeping Spain , although authorities say the situation has no comparison with when the outbreak peaked .
Health authorities say Spain is testing more , most of the cases discovered don ’ t require hospitalization and the treatment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths added on Friday for a total toll of 29,418 .
PHOENIX — Arizona reported 728 confirmed coronavirus cases and 41 deaths on Friday .
That increased the state ’ s totals to 204,681 cases and 5,171 confirmed deaths .
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Arizona went from 784 on Aug. 20 to 545 on Thursday , while the rolling average for daily deaths went from 43 to 34 .
Arizona was a national hot spot in June and July , but cases and deaths have been trending downward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greek authorities say coronavirus checks will be carried out on all care homes for the elderly throughout the country within the next 10 days .
Care homes had remained untouched in the first wave of the pandemic in Greece , when a lockdown imposed early in the outbreak is credited with keeping the number of cases and deaths low .
But a recent increase in the spread of the virus after restrictions were relaxed and foreign tourists were welcomed into the country has resulted in outbreaks in at least two care homes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced 202 new cases and one death , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 11,200 and 279 deaths in Greece .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Court: Money owed can’t block voting rights for NC felons

A North Carolina court ruled Friday that outstanding restitution , fees or other court-imposed monetary obligations can ’ t prevent convicted felons from voting if they ’ ve completed all other portions of their sentence .
The ruling , which may face appeals , could pave the way for an influx of thousands of felons to have their voting rights restored amid hotly contested races for the presidency and U.S. Senate in the battleground state .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear how many were affected by the ruling , but lawyers for the plaintiffs said it was in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice , one of the advocacy groups involved in the challenge , said that the ruling would allow some convicted felons to start registering to vote immediately .
“ This ruling is a major victory for the thousands of North Carolinians who have been denied access to the ballot due to an inability to pay financial obligations , “ said Dennis Gaddy , executive director of Community Success Initiative , one of the organizations behind the legal challenge .
Asked whether the state government defendants would appeal , Laura Brewer , a spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , said lawyers were reviewing the ruling .
The three-judge panel of Wake County Superior Court , which was considering a challenge to state law governing the restoration of voting rights , declined to settle the lawsuit ’ s arguments that probation , parole and post-release supervision are also unfair impediments to voting for those who have completed their incarceration .
The judges said further proceedings were needed to address those issues .
In North Carolina , felons can register to vote again once they complete all aspects of their sentence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court fees or restitution .
In a 2-1 decision , the judges ruled that a portion of state law requiring felons to pay all monetary obligations before voting again violates the state constitution because it conditions the ability to cast a ballot on one ’ s financial means .
In the majority opinion , the judges note that the state constitution requires that one ’ s property , or financial means , must not affect their ability to vote .
Yet , under current state law , “ the ability for a person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditioned on whether that person possesses , at minimum , a monetary amount equal to any fees , fines and debts assessed as a result of that person ’ s felony conviction , ” the judges wrote in the opinion .
Therefore , they ruled that the provision of state law regarding the payment of financial obligations violates the equal protection clause of the state constitution .
A separate preliminary injunction issued Friday bars the state from stopping felons from registering to vote if the only remaining portion of their sentence is satisfying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plaintiffs has previously told the judges that an estimated 56,000 felons who completed their incarceration still couldn ’ t vote because of other unfinished aspects of their sentence .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear how many of those were prevented from voting solely because of monetary obligations and would benefit from Friday ’ s ruling .
The plaintiffs , which include advocacy groups and several ex-offenders seeking to vote again , have argued that the 1970s-era state law on restoration of voting rights disproportionately hurts minorities and is racially discriminatory .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ represent 42 % of the people on probation , parole and post-release supervision in North Carolina and are unable to vote , even though they make up 21 % of the state ’ s voting-age population .
State lawyers representing legislative leaders and state elections board members have said the law doesn ’ t violate constitutional rights because it treats all people convicted of felonies the same by withholding the right to vote .
The chairman of the North Carolina GOP , Michael Whatley , said in a statement : “ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules for an election when absentee ballots have already started going out and voting has begun .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Alaska Supreme Court rules bonding plan is unconstitutional

JUNEAU , Alaska - The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday rejected as unconstitutional former Gov .
Bill Walker ’ s proposal to use bonding to pay Alaska ’ s oil and gas tax credit obligations .
The court , in a written ruling , said the plan , which was approved by the Legislature in 2018 , is “ unconstitutional in its entirety.
” The bill passed by lawmakers approved the creation of a state corporation that would be empowered to sell up to $ 1 billion in bonds to pay off remaining tax credit obligations .
The Legislature previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geared toward small producers and developers , saying that the program had become unaffordable .
The state constitution limits the power to incur state debt .
But a 2018 legal opinion by then-Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth said the proposed bonds would not be considered state debt subject to the constitutional restraints because they would be “ subject-to-appropriation ” bonds and contingent upon annual legislative appropriation decisions .
Superior Court Judge Jude Pate dismissed the lawsuit brought by resident Eric Forrer , who had challenged the bonding plan .
Forrer appealed .
The Alaska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said subject-to-appropriation bonds are “ contrary to the plain text of the Alaska Constitution and the framers ’ intent.
” “ If the State intends to utilize financing schemes similar to HB 331 in the future , it must first seek approval from the people — if not through a bond referendum then through a constitutional amendment , ” the opinion states .
HB 331 refers to the bonding bill .
Joe Geldhof , an attorney for Forrer , said “ the real winner here “ is Alaska ’ s constitution and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t incur “ needless debt based on a scheme.
” Gov .
Mike Dunleavy ’ s office , in a statement , said the departments of Revenue and Law have begun a review to understand the impacts of the decision .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Judge orders US to stop detaining migrant children in hotels

HOUSTON - A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Friday to stop detaining immigrant children in hotels before expelling them from the United States , saying the much-criticized practice skirted “ fundamental humanitarian protections.
“ U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee ruled that the use of hotels as long-term detention spaces violates a two-decade-old settlement governing the treatment of immigrant children in custody .
She ordered border agencies to stop placing children in hotels by Sept. 15 and to remove children from hotels as soon as possible .
Immigration agencies since March have expelled 148,000 people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump administration says people crossing the border without authorization threaten public health and must quickly be forced out of the country .
Advocates for immigrants argue the administration is using the pandemic as a pretext to sidestep federal anti-trafficking laws and asylum protections .
To prevent them from being allowed to stay in the U.S. , the Trump administration has taken at least 577 unaccompanied children to hotels since March , where they are detained and then typically placed on deportation flights .
Most of the children have been placed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Texas , one in Arizona .
That ’ s instead of sending them to shelters operated by the Department of Health and Human Services , where minors receive legal services , education , and the chance to be placed with relatives living in the U.S. Those facilities are licensed by the states where they are located .
More than 13,000 beds in HHS facilities are currently empty .
Gee ’ s order directs the Trump administration to resume sending unaccompanied children to HHS , and it also applies to children with parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It also gives lawyers who work with immigrant youths access to the children that the government is trying to expel under the emergency declaration .
Separately , legal groups have sued the U.S. to prevent the expulsions of immigrant children altogether .
The government “ can not seriously argue in good faith that flouting their contractual obligation to place minors in licensed programs is necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 , ” Gee wrote .
Hotels can still be used for one- or two-night stays as part of travel between different places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately comment Friday , but government lawyers indicated that they would consider an appeal .
Private contractors at the hotels monitor detained children and families around the clock and generally don ’ t allow people to leave their rooms .
Families that have been detained in the hotels have told The Associated Press that they are served regular meals , but that the telephones have been removed from their rooms .
One father from Haiti alleged that before his family was taken from their room , a contractor gave him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feed to their infant daughter , in case their temperatures were checked before boarding a flight .
They were expelled to Haiti without the chance to request asylum .
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied using ice as an artificial cooling measure .
It has described the contractors from MVM Inc. , as “ transportation specialists ” who “ ensure each minor remains safe and secure while in this temporary housing.
” The Trump administration has argued that Gee doesn ’ t have the authority to stop the use of hotels because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longstanding court settlement known as the Flores agreement .
It has previously appealed several of Gee ’ s rulings targeting detention practices .
Leecia Welch , an attorney at the National Center for Youth Law , called the ruling “ a resounding victory for immigrant children.
” “ The government ’ s attempt to use the pandemic as a subterfuge to carry out its ruthless immigration agenda clearly violates the rule of law and human decency , ” Welch said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--George Washington professor’s racial hoax claim stokes anger

WASHINGTON - George Washington University is investigating the case of a history professor who allegedly admitted to fraudulently pretending to be a Black woman for her entire career , and said Friday that she will not be teaching her classes this semester .
In a blog post that has gained international attention , a writer claiming to be Jessica Krug , a GW associate professor of history , writes that she is in fact a white Jewish woman from suburban Kansas City .
The writer claims she has lived most of her adult life “ under various assumed identities within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to claim : first North African Blackness , then US rooted Blackness , then Caribbean rooted Bronx Blackness.
” Krug did not respond to a request on her blog page for comment .
In a statement released Friday night , University Provost Brian Blake and Dean Paul Wahlbeck wrote : “ Dr .
Krug will not be teaching her classes this semester .
We are working on developing a number of options for students in those classes , which will be communicated to affected students as soon as possible.
” The blog post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling the deception “ the very epitome of violence , of thievery and appropriation.
” The writer blames “ unaddressed mental health demons ” dating back to childhood and says she frequently thought of confessing the deception , “ but my cowardice was always more powerful than my ethics.
” Krug ’ s biography on the GW website lists imperialism and colonialism and African-American history among her areas of expertise .
Her writings centre heavily on issues of African culture and diaspora .
The post caused an immediate furor on social media , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recalling their interactions with Krug .
Hari Ziyad , editor of the online publication RaceBatr , which had published Krug ’ s writings , wrote on Twitter that Krug had confirmed the details of the blog post to him in a phone call Thursday morning .
He described Krug as “ someone I called a friend up until this morning when she gave me a call admitting to everything written here.
” Ziyad wrote that Krug claimed to be Afro-Caribbean from the Bronx .
He said he had defended Krug in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he recalls clues to the deception including her “ clearly inexpert salsa dancing ” and “ awful New York accent.
” Krug ’ s public persona comes across in a video testimony to a New York City Council hearing on gentrification from June .
Referring to herself as Jess La Bombalera , Krug refers to “ my Black and brown siblings ” in the anti-gentrification movement and criticizes “ all these white New Yorkers ” who “ did not yield their time to Black and brown indigenous New Yorkers.
” In their letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GW Community , ” Blake and Wahlbeck said : “ We want to acknowledge the pain this situation has caused for many in our community and recognize that many students , faculty , staff and alumni are hurting .
...
Please know that we are taking this situation seriously and are here to support our community .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Brazil leader rapped for stirring doubt on COVID-19 vaccine

SAO PAULO - Critics of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are again speaking out against the leader ’ s stance on the coronavirus pandemic , this time rejecting his view that vaccination for the virus shouldn ’ t be mandatory .
Bolsonaro ’ s first such comments came Monday , when he told a supporter , “ No one can force anyone to get a vaccine.
” He repeated it Thursday night during a live broadcast on Facebook , adding his opposition to administering vaccines that are yet to be proven on Brazilian soil .
“ It has been proven in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazil , ” he said , without specifying to which potential vaccine he was referring .
“ We can not be irresponsible and put a vaccine into people ’ s bodies .
As I said , nobody can oblige someone to take a vacccine.
” The comments were swiftly rebuked by opponents on social media .
Sao Paulo state Gov .
João Doria , a former Bolsonaro ally turned foe , said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that immunization can not be viewed as a personal decision .
Sao @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the pandemic ’ s epicenter in Brazil , with its more than 30,000 dead from COVID-19 accounting for about a fourth of the country ’ s death toll from the illness .
“ It is sad that once again Brazil ’ s president is setting a denialist example , ” Doria said in a video call .
“ It should be obligatory , except in special cases or under health circumstances that justify not taking a vaccine .
An infected person infects others , and makes possible the death of others.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an adversary of both Bolsonaro and Doria , said in a statement that the president ’ s efforts to create an air of doubt about a future vaccine “ ignores the importance of the shots to protect the health of the entire population.
” The national health council , which is a branch of Bolsonaro ’ s own health ministry , said in a statement that the government should not be talking about vaccination against COVID-19 not being mandatory .
“ The right to individual liberty is not absolute to the point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council said .
Since the onset of the crisis , Bolsonaro has set himself against lockdowns and other broad restrictions on activity imposed by governors at the recommendation of health experts .
The president called COVID-19 “ a little flu , ” and warned that shutting down the economy would inflict a greater hardship on the millions who live hand to mouth .
Brazil ’ s health ministry to date has confirmed more than 4 million cases of the disease and 125,000 deaths .
Both numbers trail only the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins University .
Because Brazil ’ s caseload is so high , and it has a large , dispersed population of 210 million people , several vaccine developers selected the nation to conduct human trials of their products .
Bolsonaro ’ s federal government struck an initial deal with AstraZeneca for 30 million doses of its vaccine , which could later rise to 100 million in total .
Sao Paulo ’ s state government , meanwhile , forged an agreement with Chinese vaccine developer Sinovac for 60 million shots , if it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call COVID-19 a “ Chinese virus ” and reject working with companies from China .
Doria said Bolsonaro ’ s move to stir skepticism about foreign-made vaccines is a mistake .
“ With one vaccine we can not immunize the entire Brazilian population .
We need two , three , maybe four , produced in large scale , ” the governor said .
“ As long as it is proven to be efficient , it doesn ’ t matter if it is Chinese , Russian , French , American or British .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A recent poll by Ipsos Institute in 27 countries published Wednesday found 88 % of Brazilians surveyed said they would get immunized against COVID-19 if a vaccine was available .
Brazil ’ s health ministry expects the distribution of vaccines can start in the first months of 2021 .
Max Igor Lopes , an infectious disease specialist at Sao Paulo ’ s Hospital das Clinicas , believes controversy about mandatory vaccination isn ’ t helpful .
“ What is important is that people take the vaccine because they understand that it brings a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And this is the vaccine ’ s purpose .
”

Mauricio Savarese And Tatiana Pollastri - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Mexico tortilla shop gives free TV, internet for school kids

MEXICO CITY - A tortilla shop has started giving free wifi and television access for kids in its Mexico City neighbourhood whose homes don ’ t have them , or whose brothers and sisters are already using the services for remote learning during the pandemic .
Mexico ’ s government schools started at-distance classes Aug. 24 using televised lessons due to the coronavirus , because 94 % of Mexican homes have TVs .
But there are often many youngsters in a Mexican family and they all need to look up something online or watch classes at the same time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Esperanza ” — the Corner of Hope — comes in .
The owners of Grandma ’ s Tortilla Shop in the southern borough of Tlalpan set up learning areas to offer free tutoring , TV and computer access .
The assemblage of space spills out of the store into a tent set up on the sidewalk outside , and continues into the bed of an old pickup truck parked at the curb .
A true community effort , classes that need more room or quiet are held in neighbouring shops .
Dalia Dãvila @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up the informal non-profit project at their tortilla shop after she heard neighbours ad friends worrying about how their children were going to keep up with classes .
Initially it started with a single balky TV and the store ’ s wifi , but when the TV burned out in a rainstorm , neighbours came to her aid by providing a new television set and other items .
“ We saw how worried they ( mothers ) were , thinking : ‘ Either I work , or I educate my children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their classes , how are we going to eat ?
’ ” said Dávila , who continues to bake and sell tortillas while overseeing the project .
“ So we neighbours started organizing to help out.
” There is a box of textbooks , one smartphone , one tablet and a laptop , all donated .
“ People have brought pencils , donated notebooks and even brought donated grain for food packages , ” Lozano said .
The spaces serve about 50 children each day , and classes are staggered to avoid crowding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tutors come to teach classes in English , math and the sciences .
“ We saw there was inequality right now , because of the pandemic .
A lot of parents don ’ t have money to buy a telephone , a television or a computer , ” Lozano said .
“ The truth is that if you miss out on a year you never make it up .
And the truth is we are not talking about one or two children , we are talking about millions of kids all over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have real repercussions.
” The government has distributed some 140 million free textbooks , and homes that have no television can listen to radio classes .
Students will not return to classrooms until the government ’ s version of a stoplight to evaluate the pandemic ’ s risk is safely at green .
Only 44 % of Mexican households have a computer .
A slightly higher percentage , 56 % , have some sort of internet service , though many of those connections are used just for smartphones .
According to polling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they use the internet for phones , 33 % with a laptop and 29 % for a desktop computer .
Most households have more than one child , often taking classes simultaneously and putting a strain on TV and computer access .
María Luisa Moreno Barajas , a mother of four whose husband is unemployed , brought her young son José Mario to study at one part of the improvised learning area that spills over into a neighbouring ironworker ’ s shop .
José Maria isn ’ t disturbed at all by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I was in school , ” he said .
“ This project has helped us a lot , ” his mother said .
“ We do have internet that my father lent us , but because there are a lot of us , we ’ re all using the internet at the same time.
” “ So there are times when we can ’ t do all research we need to do , ” she said .
“ That ’ s why I come to the Corner of Hope .
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or print off something , there is someone who can help us.
” Manuel López Pereyra , a researcher in the education department of Mexico City ’ s Iberoamerican University , said such community efforts are great , but they illustrate what the government hasn ’ t done .
“ One of the education policies that we would expect is for the government to help these families that don ’ t have access to technology , ” he said .
“ But now , when we are in a moment of crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need , the community is who is coming to save the day .
”


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Groups ask for restraining order to stop census wind-down

ORLANDO , Fla. - Days after the U.S. Census Bureau said that it had already taken steps to wind down operations for the 2020 census , a coalition of cities , counties and civil rights groups on Friday tried to stop the statistical agency in its tracks .
The coalition asked a federal judge in San Jose to issue a temporary restraining order stopping the Census Bureau from taking any further actions toward ending the once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident .
The coalition is asking a judge in a lawsuit to make the Census Bureau restore its previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of October , instead of using a revised plan to end operations at the end of September .
Arguments aren ’ t scheduled until the middle of the month .
“ Every day that we lose , we are not going to be able to get it back , “ said Melissa Sherry , an attorney representing the coalition of plaintiffs during a virtual hearing .
The door-knocking phase of the 2020 didn ’ t start for most of the U.S. until the beginning of August , so winding down operations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that overlooks minority communities , the plaintiffs said in a court filing .
During the door-knocking phase , census takers go to households that haven ’ t yet answered the census questionnaire online , by phone or by mail .
“ We just didn ’ t think they would start dimming the lights right after they turned on the light switch , “ Sherry said .
The lawsuit contends the Census Bureau changed the schedule to accommodate a directive from President Donald Trump to exclude people in the country illegally from the numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process known as apportionment .
More than a half dozen other lawsuits have been filed in tandem across the country , challenging Trump ’ s memorandum as unconstitutional and an attempt to limit the power of Latinos and immigrants of colour during apportionment .
But an attorney for the federal government , Alexander Sverdlov , told U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh on Friday that any concerns about the bureau ’ s revised plan are unwarranted .
When a region reaches between 85 % to 90 % of households counted , its census takers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need counting , Sverdlov said .
The problem isn ’ t with the Census Bureau ’ s revised plan but with an end-of-the year deadline to turn over numbers used for redrawing congressional districts , and Congress hasn ’ t granted an extension that would allow the Census Bureau to end the count at the later date , Sverdlov said .
Koh didn ’ t say when she would make a decision .
Meanwhile , top Democratic congressional leaders on Friday demanded that the Trump administration provide documents , emails , notes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau and the Commerce Department made the decision to end the 2020 census a month early .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau director Steven Dillingham that they were concerned the schedule was compressed so that the apportionment count would be controlled by the Trump administration .
In the letter , Pelosi and Schumer recounted a meeting with Trump administration officials during negotiations over coronavirus-relief legislation in which they raised their concerns about the changed census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials a statement from four former Census Bureau directors who said it would be difficult to have a fair and accurate count with the compressed schedule .
House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows responded , “ the Democrats just want to control the apportionment and we aren ’ t going to let them do that , “ according to Pelosi and Schumer .
“ It appears that Mr. Meadows may have made the previously unspoken intentions of ( the ) President and his Administration clear : the White House was intervening to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while in office rather than ensuring an accurate count for the American people as required by the Constitution , “ Pelosi and Schumer said in the letter .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Slain shooting suspect was a regular at Portland protests

PORTLAND , Ore. - The man believed to have fatally shot a supporter of President Donald Trump following skirmishes between Black Lives Matter protesters and a pro-Trump caravan in Portland , Oregon , was a regular at the demonstrations that have roiled the Northwest city for months .
Michael Forest Reinoehl , 48 , had described himself in a social media post as “ 100 % ANTIFA , ” and suggested the tactics of counter-protesters amounted to “ warfare.
” He had been shot at one protest and cited for having a gun at another .
Authorities say he may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marijuana in exchange for a weapon .
Reinoehl was himself killed Thursday when he pulled a gun as a federal task force attempted to apprehend him near Lacey , Washington , the U.S .
Marshals Service said in a statement .
The arrest attempt came shortly after Reinoehl gave an interview to VICE News in which he appeared to acknowledge having killed Aaron “ Jay ” Danielson , 39 , on Saturday .
In the interview , Reinoehl said he “ had no choice ” but to do what he did because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be stabbed .
“ You know , lots of lawyers suggest that I shouldn ’ t even be saying anything , but I feel it ’ s important that the world at least gets a little bit of what ’ s really going on , ” Reinoehl told the TV news program .
“ I had no choice .
I mean , I , I had a choice .
I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of colour .
But I wasn ’ t going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a text message to AP that she told police he appeared to be a person caught on video running from the scene of the fatal shooting .
She provided the statement on the condition of anonymity , citing dozens of threats her family had received since people online identified him from a video of the shooting .
Danielson was fatally shot in the chest Aug. 29 after some participants in a caravan of Trump supporters , estimated at about 600 cars , drove downtown and encountered Black Lives Matter protesters .
Skirmishes broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firing paintball weapons at people in the street .
Video taken by a live-streamer appeared to show Danielson , a member of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer , spraying pepper spray just before he was shot .
Earlier , on July 5 , police cited Reinoehl on allegations of possessing a loaded gun in a public place , resisting arrest and interfering with police .
He was not booked into jail ; Brent Weisberg , a spokesman for the Multnomah County District Attorney ’ s Office , said Monday the case remains under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made .
On July 26 , Reinoehl was shot near his elbow after he got involved in a scuffle between an armed white man and a group of young people of colour .
The man who was carrying that gun , Aaron Scott Collins , told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he and a friend had just left a bar when they saw the group harassing an older Black man .
His friend began filming them with a phone , and the group confronted them , calling them Nazis , he said .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was struck in the head with a skateboard and fell down .
He felt people trying to grab his gun from its holster , and he decided to pull it out to get control of it .
Reinoehl , whom he did not know , then began grabbing at the slide , Collins said .
Reinoehl later that day spoke to an AP videographer .
His arm was wrapped in a bloody bandage ; he said he was on his way to meet protest medics so they could change it .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started the altercation between Collins and the group , but that several people had decided to intervene when they saw Collins fighting with minors .
“ As soon as the adults jumped in , he pulled out a gun , ” Reinoehl said .
“ I jumped in there and pulled the gun away from people ’ s heads , avoided being shot in the stomach and I got shot in the arm.
” He added : “ It ’ s escalating to a point where they ’ re trying to disrupt us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They ’ re shooting at us , they ’ re sending people in who are starting fights .
It ’ s terrible .
...
It ’ s warfare.
” Reinoehl was also wanted on a warrant out of Baker County in eastern Oregon , where court records show he skipped a hearing related to a June case in which he has been charged with driving under the influence of controlled substances , reckless driving , reckless endangerment and unlawful possession of a firearm .
Police said he drove on an interstate at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter in the car , while racing his 17-year-old son , who was in a different vehicle .
His daughter also has attended protests with him ; at one , she was photographed carrying a baseball bat .
“ I ’ m trying to give her an education , ” he told the AP .
“ She ’ s going to be contributing to running this new country that we ’ re fighting for.
” In court documents released late Friday authorites say it appeared Reinoehl texted his son on Aug. 7 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a quarter pound of weed and $ 100 ... .I need a piece now.
” Reinoehl wrote on his Facebook page that he was a professional snowboarder for Deviation , a Portland ski and snowboard company , and he posted several videos of himself and his son snowboarding .
But in a statement Monday , Deviation said Reinoehl had never been an employee or sponsored athlete of the company .
One friend who knows Reinoehl through snowboarding said he had been sponsored by various companies over the years and had sometimes won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point that his nickname became “ Big Mike.
” The friend described him as “ a really nice guy , a gentle giant ” who sometimes fashioned himself into “ a defender role.
” The friend spoke on the condition of anonymity , citing threats he had received online .
He sent Reinoehl a message recently to ask if he was all right ; Reinoehl hadn ’ t responded , he said .
In her text message , Reinoehl ’ s sister said they were never close and she had been estranged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said she learned about his potential involvement in the shooting when she received a threatening phone call Sunday — the first of 60 that day .
“ Violence and hate are never acceptable , “ she added .
” When people use violence to fight for peace and equality , all we get is more violence , and the cause suffers.
” This story has been corrected to show Aaron “ Jay ” Danielson was 39 , not 38 .
Johnson reported from Seattle .
Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed @ @ @ @ @

Gene Johnson And Gillian Flaccus - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Police: Shoplifting suspect shot dead after stabbing officer

SAN ANTONIO - A San Antonio police officer and a security guard fatally shot a Black shoplifting suspect Friday after he stabbed the officer in the face , officials said .
The shooting happened about 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of an H-E-B supermarket in northwest San Antonio .
Police Chief William McManus said the security guard suspected the man of shoplifting and detained him inside the store until a police officer arrived .
The guard and officer escorted the man to the officer ’ s patrol car .
“ The suspect was standing in front of the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backpack .
I ’ m not sure what that was about .
He stepped to his right out of the view of the COBAN ( police dashboard camera system ) , and a second later he came back , very aggressively and very quickly , and stabbed the officer in the face , ” McManus said .
“ It was quite a vicious attack.
“ The knife used had a blade almost 5 inches ( 13 centimetres ) long , McManus said .
When the struggle continued , the officer and the guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The officer was passing in and out of consciousness en route to the hospital because of blood loss , McManus said .
He was listed in serious condition at San Antonio Military Medical Center .
San Antonio has experienced increased tension between law enforcement officers and the Black community in recent days .
A Black man spent two days in jail after he was mistakenly arrested while jogging last month as a domestic violence suspect .
McManus has said the officers “ acted appropriately ” after the man refused to identify himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deputy shot and killed a knife-wielding , troubled Black combat veteran while he and two other deputies had been responding to a call for mental health detention .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Biden slams Trump over alleged comments mocking US war dead

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden declared President Donald Trump “ unfit ” for the presidency on Friday , delivering an impassioned reaction to a report that Trump — who never served in uniform — allegedly mocked American war dead .
The president and his allies have dismissed the report in The Atlantic as false .
The allegations , sourced anonymously , describe multiple offensive comments by the president toward fallen and captured U.S. service members , including calling World War I dead at an American military cemetery in France “ losers ” and “ suckers ” in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which were confirmed independently by The Associated Press , are shining a fresh light on Trump ’ s previous public disparagement of American troops and military families .
That opens a new political vulnerability for the president less than two months from Election Day .
Voice cracking , Biden told reporters that “ you know in your gut ” Trump ’ s comments , if true , are “ deplorable.
” “ I ’ ve just never been as disappointed , in my whole career , with a leader that I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Biden added .
“ If the article is true — and it appears to be , based on other things he ’ s said — it is absolutely damning .
It is a disgrace.
” He added that “ the president should humbly apologize to every Gold Star mother and father , to every Blue Star family that he ’ s denigrated .
... Who the heck does he think he is ?
” Trump , in the Oval Office , said no apology was necessary , because it was a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made the comments in November 2018 , as he was set to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery during a trip to France .
The White House said the visit was scrubbed because foggy weather made the helicopter trip from Paris too risky and a 90-minute drive was deemed infeasible .
Speaking Friday in the Oval Office , Trump denied ever uttering such comments : “ It was a terrible thing that somebody could say the kind of things — and especially to me ‘ cause I ’ ve done more for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Later , in a press briefing , Trump suggested the source of the story was his former chief of staff , retired Marine Gen. John Kelly .
“ It could have been a guy like John Kelly , ” Trump told reporters , saying his former top aide “ was unable to handle the pressure of this job.
“ Biden ’ s critique was personal .
The former vice-president often speaks about his pride for his late son Beau ’ s service in the Delaware Army National Guard .
As he spoke , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rebut Trump ’ s alleged comments that Marines who died in battle were “ suckers ” for getting killed .
“ When my son was an assistant U.S. attorney and he volunteered to go to Kosovo when the war was going on , as a civilian , he wasn ’ t a sucker , ” Biden declared .
“ When my son volunteered to join the United States military as the attorney general , he went to Iraq for a year , won the Bronze Star and other commendations , he wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Washington from a Thursday visit to Pennsylvania , Trump told reporters that the Atlantic report was “ a disgraceful situation ” by a “ terrible magazine.
” “ I would be willing to swear on anything that I never said that about our fallen heroes , ” Trump told the reporters , gathered on the tarmac in the dark .
“ There is nobody that respects them more .
No animal — nobody — what animal would say such a thing ?
” Biden has framed the election from the start as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His allies quickly seized on the reported comments in hopes they could drive a wedge between military families and veterans and Trump .
They also believe the issue could help win over disaffected Republican voters who are fed up with Trump ’ s constant controversies .
In particular , Biden ’ s team believes his well-documented experience , both personally and politically , with military issues could help him make inroads with a population that broadly supported Trump in the 2016 election and could help sway the election this year in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself has not served in the military .
Military families were broadly supportive of Trump in the 2016 election , and a Pew Research Center survey of veterans conducted in June 2019 found overall that veterans were more supportive of Trump than the general public , and that roughly 60 % of the veterans polled identified as Republicans .
On a call with reporters hosted by the Biden campaign Friday , Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth lambasted Trump for “ belittling the sacrifices of those who have shown more bravery than he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army National Guard lieutenant colonel who lost both of her legs in the Iraq War , has been a prominent critic of Trump ’ s handling of military issues .
Knocking Trump for allegedly inventing an injury to avoid serving in the Vietnam War , Duckworth said she ’ d “ take my wheelchair and my titanium legs over Donald Trump ’ s supposed bone spurs any day.
” Khizr Khan , the Gold Star father who drew national attention after criticizing Trump during the 2016 Democratic National Convention , joined Duckworth on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ life is a testament to selfishness.
” “ Words we say are windows into our souls .
So when Donald Trump calls anyone who places their lives in service of others a loser , we understand Trump ’ s soul , ” he said .
Khan ’ s son , Humayun , was killed in action in Iraq in 2004 .
In 2016 , Trump responded to the criticism from Khan by claiming he ’ d made sacrifices of his own and by making an Islamophobic attack on Khan ’ s wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a headscarf at the Democratic convention , saying : “ She had nothing to say .
She probably — maybe she wasn ’ t allowed to have anything to say .
You tell me.
” Trump also denied calling the late Arizona Sen. John McCain , a decorated Navy officer who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam , a “ loser “ after his August 2018 death .
Trump acknowledged Thursday he was “ never a fan ” of McCain and disagreed with him , but said he still respected him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-class triple-A funeral ” without hesitation because “ I felt he deserved it.
” In 2015 , shortly after launching his presidential candidacy , Trump publicly blasted McCain , saying , “ He ’ s not a war hero.
” He added , “ I like people who weren ’ t captured.
” At the time , Trump also shared a news article on Twitter calling McCain a “ loser.
” Trump only amplified his criticism of McCain as the Arizona lawmaker grew critical of his acerbic style of politics , culminating in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act .
That vote shattered what few partisan loyalties bound the two men , and Trump has continued to attack McCain for that vote , even posthumously .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told “ Fox & Friends ” on Friday that he was with the president for a good part of the trip to France .
“ I never heard him use the words that are described in that article , ” Pompeo said .
Asked Friday about the possibility of seeing Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pennsylvania , for the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks next week , Biden said : “ I didn ’ t know he was going until after I announced on my own .
Of course.
” Asked if he ’ d be willing to share a stage with Trump , he said : “ Yes .
He ’ s still the president of the United States of America .
”

Zeke Miller And Alexandra Jaffe - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--No 7th trial for Mississippi man freed from prison in 2019

JACKSON , Miss .
- A Mississippi man freed last year after 22 years in prison will not be tried a seventh time in a quadruple murder case , a judge ruled Friday after prosecutors told him they no longer had any credible witnesses .
Curtis Flowers was convicted multiple times in a bloody slaying and robbery at a small-town furniture store in 1996 .
The U.S. Supreme Court threw out the most recent conviction in June 2019 , citing racial bias in jury selection .
“ Today , I am finally free from the injustice that left me locked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , ” Flowers said in a statement released by his lawyer .
“ I ’ ve been asked if I ever thought this day would come .
I have been blessed with a family that never gave up on me and with them by my side , I knew it would.
” Montgomery County Circuit Judge Joseph Loper signed the order Friday after the state attorney general ’ s office , which had taken over the case , admitted the evidence was too weak to proceed with another trial .
“ As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no key prosecution witness ... who is alive and available and has not had multiple , conflicting statements in the record , ” Assistant Attorney General Mary Helen Wall wrote in a filing presented to Loper on Friday .
Four people were shot to death on July 16 , 1996 , in the Tardy Furniture store in Winona .
They were owner Bertha Tardy , 59 , and three employees : 45-year-old Carmen Rigby , 42-year-old Robert Golden and 16-year-old Derrick “ Bobo ” Stewart .
Relatives of some of the victims have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killer .
Flowers was convicted four times in the slayings : twice for individual slayings and twice for all four killings .
Two other trials involving all four deaths ended in mistrials .
Each of Flowers ’ convictions was overturned .
In June 2019 , the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out the conviction and death sentence from Flowers ’ sixth trial , which took place in 2010 .
Justices said prosecutors showed an unconstitutional pattern of excluding African American jurors in the trials of Flowers , who is Black .
The Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ In the Dark ” investigated the case .
Crucially , the podcast recorded jailhouse informant Odell Hallmon in 2017 and 2018 recanting his testimony that Flowers had confessed to him .
Hallmon ’ s story of the confession had been key evidence in later trials , but he told the podcast on a contraband cellphone from behind bars that his story was “ a bunch of fantasies , a bunch of lying.
” “ The only witness who offered direct evidence of guilt recanted his prior testimony , admitting he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made a jailhouse confession to the murders , ” Wall wrote Friday .
The podcast also presented an analysis finding a long history of racial bias in jury selection by Montgomery County District Attorney Doug Evans , and found evidence suggesting another man may have committed the crimes .
Evans stepped aside from the case after State Attorney General Lynn Fitch took office in January .
“ This prosecution was flawed from the beginning and was tainted throughout by racial discrimination , ” said defence lawyer Rob McDuff of the Mississippi Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred and lasted far too long , but we are glad it is finally over.
” After the Supreme Court ruling , Flowers was moved off death row at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman and taken to a regional jail in the central Mississippi town of Louisville .
He remained in custody because the original murder indictment was still active .
At the request of Flowers ’ attorneys , Loper set bond at $ 250,000 , with Flowers released in December after 10 % of that amount was posted .
The judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the $ 25,000 should be returned to Matthew Popoli , who donated the money to support Flowers .
Popoli had remained anonymous until Friday .
Winona sits near the crossroads of Interstate 55 , the major north-south artery in Mississippi , and U.S. Highway 82 , which runs east to west .
It about a half-hour ’ s drive from the flatlands of the Mississippi Delta .
Among its 4,300 residents , about 48 % are Black and 44 % are white .
Census Bureau figures show that about 30 % live @ @ @

Emily Wagster Pettus And Jeff Amy - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--Alleged Boogaloo members face terrorism charges in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS - Two men who prosecutors say are members of an anti-government extremist group , who toted guns on Minneapolis streets during unrest following the death of George Floyd and spoke about shooting police , blowing up a courthouse and killing politicians , have been charged with federal terrorism counts .
Michael Robert Solomon , 30 , of New Brighton , Minnesota , and Benjamin Ryan Teeter , 22 , of Hampstead , North Carolina , are members of the “ Boogaloo Bois , ” authorities say .
They are charged with conspiring to provide and attempting to provide material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for allegedly building firearms suppressors that they believed they sold to Hamas , and for allegedly offering to fight as “ mercenaries ” for the group .
Assistant Attorney General John Demers said in a statement that people who seek to engage in terrorist activity will be held accountable , “ no matter what witch ’ s brew of ideological motivations inspire “ them .
Solomon and Teeter made their first court appearances via videoconference Friday in U.S. District Court .
They were both appointed federal defenders , but attorneys were not immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd , a Black man , died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd ’ s neck for nearly eight minutes , as Floyd repeatedly said he couldn ’ t breathe .
His death , captured on bystander video , sparked protests in Minneapolis and beyond .
Authorities began investigating the Boogaloo Bois after learning that some members were discussing violence and were armed during the unrest in Minneapolis .
Boogaloo supporters , who use the movement ’ s name as a slang term for a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequently show up at protests armed with rifles and wearing Hawaiian shirts .
According to an FBI affidavit , Solomon posted a message on Facebook on May 26 asking people to contact him on an encrypted platform .
That same day , Teeter publicly posted : “ Lock and load boys .
Boog flags are in the air , and the national network is going off.
” His public posts show he then travelled from North Carolina to Minnesota .
A witness told the FBI that Solomon was seen openly carrying a firearm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boogaloo Bois subgroup called the “ Boojahideen , “ and was willing to protect the witness from police , white supremacists and looters .
Solomon allegedly said his mission was to get police out of the city .
Later , the witness invited Solomon , Teeter and another person to stay at the witness ’ s house , where they spoke about committing acts of violence against police and other targets , the affidavit says .
The witness said Solomon and Teeter talked about attacking a National Guard Armory to steal weapons and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teeter and Solomon believed to belong to Hamas , later recorded a conversation in which Solomon , Teeter and another person talked about shooting police .
During many conversations , Solomon and Teeter told the informant that the views of Hamas — a Palestinian Islamic political party — aligned with their own anti-government views and that they wanted to work as “ mercenaries ” on behalf of Hamas ’ armed wing so they could earn cash for the Boogaloo movement .
They said they needed money to recruit members and buy land for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affidavit , they came up with a plot to blow up a historical county courthouse in northern Minnesota so they could “ make a statement , “ but then delayed that plan .
Solomon later said : “ I want to murder a bunch of U.S. politicians .
That ’ s the statement I want to make.
” Solomon and Teeter met an undercover FBI employee , whom they believed to be a more senior member of Hamas , and offered to build firearms suppressors and other weapons for the group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Hamas to be used overseas to attack Israeli and U.S. forces , the affidavit said .
When the undercover FBI employee asked to explain killing politicians , Solomon said he would “ build a gallows ... in front of the Congress building in D.C. and just start hanging politicians left and right.
” When discussing possible security , Teeter said he can shoot from a distance and , “ you can ’ t stop threats that you can ’ t see , ?
the affidavit said .


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--2 grizzly bears killed after conflicts near Yellowstone

BOZEMAN , Mont .
- Wildlife officials in Montana have said two grizzly bears were killed this week after entering an occupied tent and an recreational vehicle storage compartment near Yellowstone National Park .
The Montana Department of Fish , Wildlife and Parks responded to 15 reports of two bears getting into garbage , approaching houses and entering campgrounds , the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported Friday .
“ When garbage and other attractants are left unsecured and available to bears , human safety becomes a huge concern , and bear mortalities are the unfortunate result , ” department southwest Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials said the bears , one male and one female , were previously removed from residential areas last year but resurfaced last month .
Experts then captured the animals Aug. 16 for relocation but they returned to the area again Aug. 25 .
The department decided to euthanize the bears over concerns for human safety after consulting with the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service .
Wildlife officials have urged travellers to store food , garbage and other bear attractants in bear-resistant containers or hung at least 10 feet ( 3 metres ) @ @ @


thetorontostar--2020-09-04--US Forest Service police dog survives second stabbing attack

SACRAMENTO , Calif. - A highly decorated U.S. Forest Service police dog suffered nine stab wounds during a marijuana raid in Northern California .
But he survived after he was airlifted to a veterinary clinic , the agency said Friday .
What ’ s more , it ’ s the second time the dog , an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois named Ice , recovered after being seriously injured on the job .
Ice was wounded Aug. 27 in the Klamath National Forest south of the Oregon border when he was released to catch a suspect who had fled down a steep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 5,500 marijuana plants .
He kept hold of the suspect even after he was stabbed , while his handler , Patrol Capt .
Christopher Magallon , made the arrest .
Magallon then gave his dog first aid while calling in a helicopter , which flew Ice more than 70 miles to the Veterinary Specialty Center in Medford , Oregon .
The dog , which had been wearing a protective vest , was released later that afternoon , and federal prosecutors are still considering charges .
“ Thankfully , despite the attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ice will quickly recover and return to service until his expected retirement at the end of this month , “ Cody Wheeler , the Forest Services ’ North Zone patrol commander , said in a statement .
Ice had multiple stab wounds that were more severe during a similar raid in 2016 , the agency said .
He received the 2016 Law Enforcement and Investigations Director ’ s Award for Valor and Heroism after surviving the earlier assault .
He was also honoured then as a “ Top Dog ” award winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hero Dogs , appearing in a nationally televised award ceremony in 2017 .


thetorontostar--2020-09-05--Child care crisis pushes US mothers out of the labour force

NEW YORK - Angela Wynn had just launched her own project management business , hitting a career stride after years of struggle that began with earning an undergraduate degree as a single mother .
Then the coronavirus pandemic hit , forcing many schools to shift online .
The now-married mother of five saw little choice but to give up her newly minted business to help three of her children cope with remote learning while her husband , the primary breadwinner , kept his job at a senior living centre .
“ To see all that come to fruition , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s gone , ” said Wynn , who has always been the main caretaker for her children , ages 1 , 5 , 11 , 12 and 18 .
“ But my priority is my kids and their education is everything.
” Wynn ’ s story is becoming distressingly common .
Research is increasingly pointing to a retreat of working mothers from the U.S. labour force as the pandemic leaves parents with few child care options and the added burden of navigating distance learning .
The trend threatens the financial stability of families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the crisis could stall — if not reverse — decades of hard-fought gains by working women who are still far from achieving labour force parity with men .
Thousands of school districts are starting the school year with remote instruction , including most of the largest ones .
At least half the country ’ s child care providers are closed and may not survive the crisis without financial help to cope with implementing safety standards and reduced enrolment .
Negotiations for a bailout of the industry have stalled in Congress .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that women in their prime-earning years — 25 to 54 — were dropping out of the work force more than other age groups .
About 77 % of women in that age group were working or looking for work in February , compared to 74.9 % in August .
The decline is most pronounced among Black women of that age range , whose participation rate is down 5 percentage points since February , compared to 4 percentage points for Hispanic women and 2 percentage points for white women .
Overall , the drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labour force since February .
“ We think this reflects the growing child care crisis , ” BNP Paribas economists Daniel Ahn and Steven Weinberg wrote in recent report .
“ It is hard to see this abating soon , and if anything could become worse as we move into fall.
” Few families can afford for mothers not to work indefinitely : Mothers are now are the equal , primary , or sole earners in 40 % of U.S. families , up from 11 % in 1960 , according to federal labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. labour force , making their inability to work a significant drag on the economy and hindering any recovery from the pandemic ’ s impact .
In Wynn ’ s case , she is working a part-time job to help pay the bills .
Even so , the family is taking a financial hit , refinancing their home outside Nashville and starting a garden in their backyard to cut down on grocery bills .
Despite the leaps over the past decades , working women still entered the pandemic at a disadvantage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ every dollar men earn , according to research by the National Women ’ s Law Center .
Among working mothers and fathers , the wage gap is even higher at 70 cents .
The median household earnings for mothers in the U.S. is $ 42,000 , compared to $ 60,000 for fathers .
When left with no choice but to give up one income as child care options collapse , that wage gap incentivizes fathers to stay in the workforce and mothers to leave , or at least scale back .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In times of uncertainty and recession , you protect the primary earner , “ said Liana Christin Landivar , a sociologist at the Maryland Population Research Center and author of the book , “ Mothers at Work : Who Opts Out ?
” That is bearing out in the numbers .
More mothers than fathers have exited the labour force since the pandemic began , according to research published in August by Sage Journals , which analyzed data from the Current Population Survey .
Between February and April , labour force participation fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 6 , and 4.3 % for those with children 6 to 12 .
Fathers of children under 12 also left the workforce , but at lower rates , said Landivar , who co-authored the report .
In a separate study , the same researchers found mothers are cutting back on working hours more than fathers .
Mothers of children under 12 were working more than six fewer hours a week than fathers in April , compared to less than five fewer hours in February , according to the study , which looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women from the CPS , a monthly survey of 60,000 households sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics .
“ We already knew there was a large gender inequality in the labour force , and the pandemic just makes this worse , ” Landivar said .
For Anna Hamilton and her husband , juggling two careers while raising two children was always a bit of house of cards .
The pandemic knocked it down , at least for now .
Hamilton , who lives in the Atlanta area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job at a small investment firm , a job she stuck with for 12 years in part because it allowed her family to move twice so her husband could pursue his career as a cancer surgeon .
She has mixed feelings but one thing she knows is that working full-time while handling remote schooling last spring was unbearable .
“ There was a lot yelling .
I thought , ‘ Let ’ s just admit what ’ s happening and maybe everyone will be happier , ’ ” said Hamilton , 43 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I hope it ’ s not a career-ender.
” Concerned about attrition and loss of productivity , some companies are now rolling out generous benefits to help working parents cope with school and day care closures because of the pandemic .
Microsoft is offering an extra 12 weeks of paid family leave for employees struggling with child care issues .
Google added 14 more weeks .
Duolingo , the foreign language-learning app , is allowing parents to request reduced working hours with full pay and benefits .
“ Our CEO has talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re starting to see attrition tick up , especially with female employees .
They thought it had to do with the parenting load , ” said Christine Rogers-Raetsch , vice-president of people at Duolingo .
“ We set a directional goal for ourselves : Let ’ s not lose any parents during this.
” But most women don ’ t work for tech companies , and instead make up a majority of the country ’ s teachers , nurses , child care workers , social workers , librarians , bookkeepers , waitresses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal labour figures .
Mothers in particular are the majority of the country ’ s teachers , nurses and child care workers .
Despite the progress over the past two years , 80 % of U.S. private sector workers have no access to paid family leave , which is not mandated by federal law .
“ When we leave it to employers , the vast majority of higher income workers get more coverage and low-income workers just don ’ t .
This disproportionately affects women , ” Landivar said .
The pandemic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the back burner with the expectation of ramping back up once their children reached school age .
With the youngest of her three children now 6 years old , Kate Albrecht Fidler had begun studying for certification as a human resources professional , hoping to jump-start a career she had largely put on hold .
But in April , the 49-year-old was furloughed from her part-time job at a hospital and now she ’ s once again looking for any flexible job she can get because she ’ ll have to shepherd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural town of Adams , New York .
“ For women in their prime earning years , this is a complete disaster , ” Albrecht Fidler said .
“ There ’ s no way to catch up.
” AP Business Writer Chris Rugaber in Washington contributed to this story .

Alexandra Olson And Cathy Bussewitz - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-09-05--Clarification: PolyMet Mine story

Clarification: PolyMet Mine story

ST. PAUL , Minn. - In a story published Sept. 4 about a key water quality permit for a proposed @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota , an Associated Press headline said the judge allowed the disputed project to proceed @ @ @ @ @ a state agency didn ’ t deviate from most of its rules when it issued @ @ @ @ @ mine project still faces several legal challenges .