usatoday--2020-08-07--'A form of terrorism': Ahmaud Arbery's murder is just the latest painful reminder of Georgia's dark

'A form of terrorism': Ahmaud Arbery's murder is just the latest painful reminder of Georgia's dark history of lynchings

AUGUSTA , Ga. — Wanda Cooper-Jones had “ The Talk ” with her son Ahmaud when he learned to drive .
The conversation where Black parents warn their children how to stay safe when encountering law enforcement .
“ I didn ’ t think him jogging , that that would put him in danger , ” Cooper-Jones said .
Ahmaud Arbery , 25 , was shot to death Feb. 23 in Brunswick , Georgia .
It wasn ’ t until May , after a third prosecutor and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation became involved in the case , that Travis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and William Bryan Jr. would be charged with his murder .
Arbery ’ s death has been labeled a lynching , which is defined as a killing by three or more people claiming extrajudicial reasons to kill .
The renowned educator , adviser to presidents and first president of Tuskegee University , Booker T. Washington , was among the first to document lynchings in the country .
He set the standard for Monroe Work , a Black sociologist who documented lynchings between 1881 and 1936 .
Lynchings weren ’ t just hangings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom were Black ( 94 % in Georgia and 96 % in South Carolina ) — were also shot , beaten , stabbed , drowned , tortured and burned alive .
Sometimes all of the above .
There are 4,745 documented lynchings in the collection Work started in 1904 .
If anything , it ’ s a vast under-count , said Dana Chandler , associate professor for Tuskegee University Archives , who is in charge of Work ’ s lynching files at the historically Black university .
A lot more people were carted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no one knew what happened , Chandler said .
The backstory to many accounts of lynching often boils down to Blacks voting , earning more than neighboring whites or committing perceived slights to white supremacy , according to the Equal Justice Initiative .
One of worst times for Black people was after the Civil War , according to a recent study released by the Equal Justice Initiative , “ Reconstruction in America.
” In 12 years , from 1865 to 1876 , at least 2,000 Black people were lynched .
One such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County in November 1868 .
Perry Jeffreys , his wife and their four sons were lynched after Jeffreys voted , according to Reconstruction in America .
Lynching was used to control people , Chandler said .
It was telling people to stay in their place .
A year earlier in Edgefield County , six were lynched , and in July 1876 , during the Hamburg massacre , six Black national guardsmen were murdered , one tortured , by whites seeking a reversal of the gains of Black citizens .
The Meriwether Monument in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor the one white man killed in the Hamburg massacre and makes no mention of the other killings .
The U.S. Supreme Court furthered the efforts of whites seeking supremacy over Blacks , finding 12 times that laws passed to protect the rights of Blacks were unconstitutional .
Further attempts to empower Blacks ended when Rutherford B. Hayes agreed to pull federal troops out of the South to win the controversial 1876 presidential election .
Between 1885 to 1908 , all 11 former Confederate states rewrote their constitutions to restrict voting rights for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blacks , as the Jim Crow period had begun .
Emmett Till 's lynching ignited a civil rights movement : Historians say George Floyd 's death could do the same The U.S. Supreme Court put its stamp of approval on Crow in an 1896 decision , Plessy v. Ferguson .
Segregation was constitutional , the nation ’ s highest court decided .
From 1882 to 1933 , according to research of the lynching archives at Tuskegee University , a total of 94 people were lynched in the Georgia and South Carolina counties along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white .
No jury had convicted the victims of any crime , although several were dragged out and murdered during their trials .
Fannie Flono , a former resident of Augusta and a journalist who wrote `` Thriving in the Shadows : The Black Experience in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County , '' is related to two different sets of lynching victims .
The first time it happened in her family was Oct. 25 , 1898 , when Wash Mackey and James Mackey , her relatives , and Luther Sullivan were dragged to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They had been on trial for allegedly killing Mrs. O. Adkinson , a white woman .
Flono is also related to Bertha Lowman , 27 , Clarence Lowman , 14 , and Damon Lowman , 21 , who were dragged out of the Aiken County jail the night of Oct. 8 , 1926 , after Damon Lowman was acquitted of murder in the shooting of Sheriff Henry Howard .
According to accounts given to Black investigators , a large crowd gathered to watch the executions .
The sheriff killed Bertha Lowman when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against her head and fired .
Her family never discussed the lynchings , but her grandparents told stories going back to Reconstruction , Flono said .
The story of what happened to members of her family is not unique in the Augusta area .
In April 1893 , John Peterson was accused of rape in Denmark , South Carolina .
He fled and appealed to Gov .
Benjamin Tillman , who sent him back to Denmark .
There , the victim told a mob that Peterson wasn ’ t the one who attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dennis Head and Jesse Butler were lynched in Aiken County on July 16 , 1903 , after they said they didn ’ t know where a murder suspect was .
James A. Nelson was lynched July 12 , 1894 , in Edgefield County so he couldn ’ t testify against a white man .
On Dec. 28 , 1889 , in Barnwell County , eight Black men were lynched when a mob took them from the jail .
On Feb. 19 , 1933 , Herman Jeter was dragged from his Aiken County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father .
He was beaten to death because he was suspected of stealing liquor .
The men who dragged him from his home stood trial .
They were acquitted .
According to studies by the Equal Justice Initiative and others , 99 % of those who took part in lynching were never convicted of any crime .
The real story of what happened to Ahmaud Arbery didn ’ t come to light until more than two months after he was killed .
The McMichaels and Bryan told police they believed Arbery had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Bryan showed they chased after him in two pickup trucks as he jogged through their neighborhood .
They worked to pin him in , and Travis McMichael confronted Arbery with a shotgun .
He shot Arbery twice , and then cursed Arbery and called a dying Arbery a racial slur , according to Bryan .
When Cooper-Jones pointed out that George Barnhill , the prosecutor assigned to Arbery ’ s killing in Brunswick earlier this year , had a conflict , Barnhill took offense .
Although he had already told law enforcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crime , he put Cooper-Jones off , telling her that he couldn ’ t do any investigation until Arbery ’ s toxicology report was completed .
'Violent racists ' : Black Americans report hate crimes , violence in wake of George Floyd protests and Black Lives Matter gains He couldn ’ t have been more nonchalant , Cooper-Jones said .
The police wouldn ’ t answer her telephone calls .
No attorney was interested in taking her case .
“ Those were some dark days , ” she said .
But Arbery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass a hate crime law this year .
Congress nearly passed an anti-lynching bill this year , until Sen. Rand Paul , R-Kentucky , refused to support it .
It was supposed to be passed by unanimous consent and had the support of 99 senators , but Paul ’ s failure to support it doomed the bill .
It would have been named for Emmett Till , a 14-year-old Black child tortured and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after he was falsely accused of affronting a white woman .
Many people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk about racial injustice , including what happened in the past .
He ’ s a true believer in Tuskegee ’ s mission to maintain the lynching archives .
“ I want people to know that history can be told without any embellishment ... and it can change people , '' Chandler said .
`` It has changed people .
”

'A form of terrorism': Ahmaud Arbery’s murder is just the latest painful reminder of Georgia's dark history of lynchings
Show Caption Hide Caption Nation's first lynching memorial confronts legacy of racial terror The National Memorial for Peace and Justice opened in April of 2018, becoming the nation's first memorial dedicated to the legacy of enslaved black people terrorized by lynching. USA TODAY
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Wanda Cooper-Jones had “The Talk” with her son Ahmaud when he learned to drive. The conversation where Black parents warn their children how to stay safe when encountering law enforcement.
“I didn’t think him jogging, that that would put him in danger,” Cooper-Jones said.
Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was shot to death Feb. 23 in Brunswick, Georgia. It wasn’t until May, after a third prosecutor and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation became involved in the case, that Travis McMichael, his father, Gregory McMichael, and William Bryan Jr. would be charged with his murder.
Arbery’s death has been labeled a lynching, which is defined as a killing by three or more people claiming extrajudicial reasons to kill.
The renowned educator, adviser to presidents and first president of Tuskegee University, Booker T. Washington, was among the first to document lynchings in the country. He set the standard for Monroe Work, a Black sociologist who documented lynchings between 1881 and 1936.
Opinion: Floyd and Arbery killings are modern-day lynchings
Lynchings weren’t just hangings. People — the vast majority of whom were Black (94% in Georgia and 96% in South Carolina) — were also shot, beaten, stabbed, drowned, tortured and burned alive. Sometimes all of the above.
There are 4,745 documented lynchings in the collection Work started in 1904. If anything, it’s a vast under-count, said Dana Chandler, associate professor for Tuskegee University Archives, who is in charge of Work’s lynching files at the historically Black university.
A lot more people were carted off in the middle of the night and no one knew what happened, Chandler said.
Lynchings are 'a form of terrorism'
The backstory to many accounts of lynching often boils down to Blacks voting, earning more than neighboring whites or committing perceived slights to white supremacy, according to the Equal Justice Initiative.
One of worst times for Black people was after the Civil War, according to a recent study released by the Equal Justice Initiative, “Reconstruction in America.” In 12 years, from 1865 to 1876, at least 2,000 Black people were lynched.
One such incident happened in what is now McDuffie County in November 1868. Perry Jeffreys, his wife and their four sons were lynched after Jeffreys voted, according to Reconstruction in America.
Lynching was used to control people, Chandler said. It was telling people to stay in their place.
“It’s a form of terrorism,” Chandler said.
A year earlier in Edgefield County, six were lynched, and in July 1876, during the Hamburg massacre, six Black national guardsmen were murdered, one tortured, by whites seeking a reversal of the gains of Black citizens. The Meriwether Monument in North Augusta was erected in 1916 to honor the one white man killed in the Hamburg massacre and makes no mention of the other killings.
The U.S. Supreme Court furthered the efforts of whites seeking supremacy over Blacks, finding 12 times that laws passed to protect the rights of Blacks were unconstitutional. Further attempts to empower Blacks ended when Rutherford B. Hayes agreed to pull federal troops out of the South to win the controversial 1876 presidential election.
Between 1885 to 1908, all 11 former Confederate states rewrote their constitutions to restrict voting rights for Blacks. Laws were enacted to control Blacks, as the Jim Crow period had begun.
Emmett Till's lynching ignited a civil rights movement: Historians say George Floyd's death could do the same
The U.S. Supreme Court put its stamp of approval on Crow in an 1896 decision, Plessy v. Ferguson. Segregation was constitutional, the nation’s highest court decided.
From 1882 to 1933, according to research of the lynching archives at Tuskegee University, a total of 94 people were lynched in the Georgia and South Carolina counties along the Savannah River. Only two were white. No jury had convicted the victims of any crime, although several were dragged out and murdered during their trials.
The painful family history of Fannie Flono
Fannie Flono, a former resident of Augusta and a journalist who wrote "Thriving in the Shadows: The Black Experience in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County," is related to two different sets of lynching victims.
The first time it happened in her family was Oct. 25, 1898, when Wash Mackey and James Mackey, her relatives, and Luther Sullivan were dragged to the Republican Church in Edgefield County and murdered. They had been on trial for allegedly killing Mrs. O. Adkinson, a white woman.
Flono is also related to Bertha Lowman, 27, Clarence Lowman, 14, and Damon Lowman, 21, who were dragged out of the Aiken County jail the night of Oct. 8, 1926, after Damon Lowman was acquitted of murder in the shooting of Sheriff Henry Howard.
According to accounts given to Black investigators, a large crowd gathered to watch the executions. The sheriff killed Bertha Lowman when he pressed the barrel of his handgun against her head and fired.
Her family never discussed the lynchings, but her grandparents told stories going back to Reconstruction, Flono said.
The story of what happened to members of her family is not unique in the Augusta area.
In April 1893, John Peterson was accused of rape in Denmark, South Carolina. He fled and appealed to Gov. Benjamin Tillman, who sent him back to Denmark. There, the victim told a mob that Peterson wasn’t the one who attacked her. The mob lynched him anyway.
Dennis Head and Jesse Butler were lynched in Aiken County on July 16, 1903, after they said they didn’t know where a murder suspect was. James A. Nelson was lynched July 12, 1894, in Edgefield County so he couldn’t testify against a white man. On Dec. 28, 1889, in Barnwell County, eight Black men were lynched when a mob took them from the jail.
On Feb. 19, 1933, Herman Jeter was dragged from his Aiken County home in front of his wife and father. He was beaten to death because he was suspected of stealing liquor. The men who dragged him from his home stood trial. They were acquitted.
According to studies by the Equal Justice Initiative and others, 99% of those who took part in lynching were never convicted of any crime.
The 'dark days' after Ahmaud Arbery's murder
The real story of what happened to Ahmaud Arbery didn’t come to light until more than two months after he was killed.
The McMichaels and Bryan told police they believed Arbery had been burglarizing the neighborhood. A video shot by Bryan showed they chased after him in two pickup trucks as he jogged through their neighborhood. They worked to pin him in, and Travis McMichael confronted Arbery with a shotgun. He shot Arbery twice, and then cursed Arbery and called a dying Arbery a racial slur, according to Bryan.
When Cooper-Jones pointed out that George Barnhill, the prosecutor assigned to Arbery’s killing in Brunswick earlier this year, had a conflict, Barnhill took offense. Although he had already told law enforcement Arbery’s death wasn’t a crime, he put Cooper-Jones off, telling her that he couldn’t do any investigation until Arbery’s toxicology report was completed.
'Violent racists': Black Americans report hate crimes, violence in wake of George Floyd protests and Black Lives Matter gains
He couldn’t have been more nonchalant, Cooper-Jones said. The police wouldn’t answer her telephone calls. No attorney was interested in taking her case.
“Those were some dark days,” she said.
But Arbery's death prompted the Georgia General Assembly to pass a hate crime law this year. Congress nearly passed an anti-lynching bill this year, until Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, refused to support it. It was supposed to be passed by unanimous consent and had the support of 99 senators, but Paul’s failure to support it doomed the bill.
It would have been named for Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black child tortured and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after he was falsely accused of affronting a white woman.
Many people, including Chandler, believe Americans need to talk about racial injustice, including what happened in the past. He’s a true believer in Tuskegee’s mission to maintain the lynching archives.
“I want people to know that history can be told without any embellishment ... and it can change people," Chandler said. "It has changed people.”


usatoday--2020-08-07--Why Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would be a disastrous duo in the year of George Floyd

San Diego – When campaigning for president , choosing a running mate tells Americans about your priorities , judgment and decision-making .
It also tells us whether you ’ ve been paying attention .
We need to know whether you ’ re in tune with what the country is going through , or whether you ’ re locked away — or quarantined — within your own bubble .
President Trump is at a disadvantage .
This is not the time for his divisive brand of politics , which pits “ us ” vs “ them , ” and drives wedges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment to engage in racial politicking , look for scapegoats , and stoke fears .
Such tactics worked four years ago , and Trump won by encouraging half the country to dislike the other half .
But a lot has changed in this country in just the last four months .
Given the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department in May , and the pain and destruction it caused , I ’ ll bet that a lot of Americans have lost their taste for the red meat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally be good news for Joe Biden .
That is , if the likely Democratic nominee doesn ’ t botch his pick for vice president .
If the attack line against Trump is going to be that he is out of step with the moment , then it would be foolish for Democrats to put a presidential ticket that hearkens back to an earlier time .
Like the 1990 ’ s , when — amid skyrocketing crime rates — politicians in both parties competed to see who could be the toughest on crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1980 ’ s , Democrats were determined to not be pushed around anymore .
Gov .
Bill Clinton of Arkansas bragged that he supported the death penalty ; he even took a break the campaign trail , at one point , to return to Little Rock to oversee an execution .
Among Democrats , there was , in that decade , not one tougher hombre than Biden .
In 1992 , during a speech on the Senate floor , Sen. Biden , D-Del.
, bragged that a crime bill he had written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything but hang people for jaywalking.
” In 1994 , Biden , authored the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and would , for the next 20 years , defend what he called the “ Biden bill.
” Signed by President Clinton , the law led to longer prison sentences , more prison cells , harsher policing , and higher incarceration rates for African Americans .
The Judge Roy Bean version of Joe Biden doesn ’ t set well in an era where elected officials are talking about police reform and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a realization in many quarters that the criminal justice system is not serving African-Americans as many as it is serving them up to a vindictive and blood-thirsty citizenry .
It ’ s about time that light bulb went off .
But , as any viewer of NBC ’ s “ Law and Order ” knows , the police are only half the equation .
It ’ s the prosecutors who have the power to take away people ’ s freedom by putting them in prison , if they meet the burden of proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an imperfect system .
Emotion , biases , vengeance , prejudice can all get in the way of achieving what prosecutors are supposed to be seeking : justice .
For the last thirty years , I ’ ve seen those imperfections up-close while covering the criminal justice system and writing about its abuses in three major U.S. cities : Phoenix , Dallas and San Diego .
Here is what I ’ ve learned : District Attorneys should be appointed by the local Board of Supervisors and not elected by the people .
State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissions .
Because when prosecutors have to stand before the public for election , they morph into a strange beast : half lawyer , half politician .
This is a dangerous combination .
If there is one thing that it is incompatible with justice , it ’ s ambition — the ambition that courses through the veins of most politicians , who are usually too busy trying to be popular to properly do the job at hand .
COLUMN : Joe Biden is the national reset we need on COVID-19 , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ambition that has guided Kamala Harris from her days as San Francisco District Attorney to California Attorney General to U.S .
Senator to 2020 Democratic presidential candidate .
And it is ambition that has led Harris to where she is now — one of the apparent front-runners to be Biden ’ s running mate .
Biden-Harris .
This is a match made in , well , about as far from heaven as you can get .
More like at a public execution .
Remember that racist 1994 crime bill that Biden authored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many years ?
The same crime bill that fueled the mass incarceration that decimated the African-American community in the United States ?
Well , it was that bill that gave Harris the bricks to build her own political career on the west coast .
According to many legal experts , Harris was not the fabled “ progressive prosecutor ” she pretends to be .
While she was San Francisco District Attorney , lawyers who worked for her were routinely accused of prosecutorial misconduct and cutting corners to rack up convictions even if some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , she did nothing .
Our view : Complicating coronavirus stimulus is the last thing struggling unemployment offices need She seems to have decided early on that , as a black woman , the only way to climb the ladder politically in the Golden State was to reassure white liberal donors that she could protect them and their belongings from people who looked like her .
It worked .
She rose alright — on the backs of the less connected : the poor , the dispossessed , people of color .
Biden-Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticket .
As anyone who has been paying attention already knows , the theme of this rotten year is racial justice .
America needs a fix to our criminal justice system , not another glaring reminder of just how broken it really is .
Ruben Navarrette Jr. , a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors , is a syndicated columnist and host of the podcast , “ Navarrette Nation.
” Follow him on Twitter : @ RubenNavarrette

Why Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would be a disastrous duo in the year of George Floyd America needs a fix to our criminal justice system, not a glaring reminder of who broke it.
Show Caption Hide Caption How a contentious election affects a peaceful transition of power What history has shown us about contested elections and peaceful transitions of power. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
SAN DIEGO — When campaigning for president, choosing a running mate tells Americans about your priorities, judgment and decision-making.
It also tells us whether you’ve been paying attention. We need to know whether you’re in tune with what the country is going through or whether you’re locked away — or quarantined — within your own bubble.
President Donald Trump is at a disadvantage. This is not the time for his divisive brand of politics, which pits “us” vs. “them” and drives wedges between groups. This is not the moment to engage in racial politicking, look for scapegoats and stoke fears. Such tactics worked four years ago, and Trump won by encouraging half the country to dislike the other half.
But a lot has changed in this country in just the past four months. Given the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department in May, and the pain and destruction it caused, I’ll bet that a lot of Americans have lost their taste for the red meat of racial division.
All this would normally be good news for Joe Biden. That is, if the likely Democratic nominee doesn’t botch his pick for vice president.
Biden's 1990s crime record
If the attack line against Trump is going to be that he is out of step with the moment, then it would be foolish for Democrats to put a presidential ticket that hearkens back to an earlier time.
Like the 1990s, when — amid skyrocketing crime rates — politicians in both parties competed to see who could be the toughest on crime. Having lost three presidential elections in the 1980s, Democrats were determined to not be pushed around anymore. Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas bragged that he supported the death penalty; he even took a break the campaign trail, at one point, to return to Little Rock to oversee an execution.
Among Democrats, there was, in that decade, not one tougher hombre than Biden. In 1992, during a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Biden, D-Del., bragged that a crime bill he had written was so heavy-handed, it did “everything but hang people for jaywalking.” He also helped write the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and would thereafter defend what he called the “Biden bill.” Signed by President Clinton, the law led to longer prison sentences, more prison cells, harsher policing and higher incarceration rates for African Americans.
The Judge Roy Bean version of Joe Biden doesn’t sit well in an era when elected officials are talking about police reform and social justice. Finally, there has been a realization in many quarters that the criminal justice system is not serving African Americans as much as it is serving them up to a vindictive and blood-thirsty citizenry. It’s about time that light bulb went off.
But as any viewer of NBC’s “Law and Order” knows, the police are only half the equation. It’s the prosecutors who have the power to take away people’s freedom by putting them in prison, if they meet the burden of proof.
This was always going to be an imperfect system. Emotion, biases, vengeance, prejudice can all get in the way of achieving what prosecutors are supposed to be seeking: justice.
For the past 30 years, I’ve seen those imperfections up close while covering the criminal justice system and writing about its abuses in three major U.S. cities: Phoenix, Dallas and San Diego.
Here is what I’ve learned: District Attorneys should be appointed by the local Board of Supervisors and not elected by the people. State attorneys general should be appointed by independent commissions.
Because when prosecutors have to stand before the public for election, they morph into a strange beast: half lawyer, half politician. This is a dangerous combination. If there is one thing incompatible with justice, it’s ambition — the ambition that courses through the veins of most politicians, who are usually too busy trying to be popular to properly do the job at hand.
COLUMN: Joe Biden is the national reset we need on COVID-19, but he's more than 75,000 lives away
It is ambition that has guided Kamala Harris from her days as San Francisco district attorney to California attorney general to U.S. senator to 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.
And it is ambition that has led Harris to where she is now — one of the apparent front-runners to be Biden’s running mate.
Harris' bad prosecution record
Biden-Harris. This is a match made in, well, about as far from heaven as you can get. More like at a public execution.
Remember that racist 1994 crime bill that Biden championed and defended for so many years? The same crime bill that fueled the mass incarceration that decimated the African American community in the United States? Well, it was that bill that gave Harris the bricks to build her own political career on the West Coast.
According to many legal experts, Harris was not the fabled “progressive prosecutor” she pretends to be. While she was San Francisco's district attorney, lawyers who worked for her were routinely accused of prosecutorial misconduct and cutting corners to rack up convictions even if some innocent people went to jail. About this, she did nothing.
Our View: Complicating coronavirus stimulus is the last thing struggling unemployment offices need
She seems to have decided early on that, as a Black woman, the only way to climb the ladder politically in the Golden State was to reassure white liberal donors that she could protect them and their belongings from people who looked like her. It worked. She rose all right — on the backs of the less connected: the poor, the dispossessed, people of color.
Biden-Harris 2020? That’s not the ticket. As anyone who has been paying attention already knows, the theme of this rotten year is racial justice. America needs a fix to our criminal justice system, not another glaring reminder of just how broken it really is.
Ruben Navarrette Jr., a member of the USA TODAY Board of Contributors, is a syndicated columnist and host of the podcast “Navarrette Nation.” Follow him on Twitter: @RubenNavarrette


usatoday--2020-08-07--With 9 storms so far this hurricane season, what happens if we run out of names?

• The hyperactive 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has already used nine storm names .
• The next few names on the 2020 list are Josephine , Kyle , Laura , Marco , Nana and Omar .
If we get to Hurricane Wilfred , then it 's time to worry .
From Arthur to Isaias , the hyperactive 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has already used nine storm names , with most setting a record for being early .
And with the heart of the season still to come , what happens if we run out of names ?
The concern is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each year 's list ( there are no Q , U , X , Y , or Z storms because of the lack of usable names that begin with those letters ) , and federal forecasters Thursday predicted that as many as 25 storms could form .
So what do we call those extra storms ?
Like we did during the unforgettable 2005 season when 28 storms formed , forecasters will start using the letters of the Greek alphabet to name storms – Alpha , Beta , Gamma , Delta , Epsilon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to be a pretty huge year , ” said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy , who said it ’ s likely that there will be more storms than names .
One forecasting company , AccuWeather , expects that those Greek letters will be used this year for only the second time on record .
2020 may not quite match 2005 , however , for the number of storms : “ It looks like this season could be one of the more active in the historical record , ” but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named storms of 2005 because the oceans were warmer and other conditions were more conducive to storm formation 15 years ago , said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lead forecaster Gerry Bell on Thursday .
Forecasters formally begin naming Atlantic Basin hurricanes in 1950 , using names from the international phonetic alphabet of the time : Able , Baker , Charlie , and so on .
They started using female names in 1953 and switched to alternating male and female names in 1979 .
The World Meteorological Organization chooses hurricane names several years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criteria .
If a hurricane is particularly deadly or costly , then its name is `` retired '' by the WMO and replaced by another one .
For example , Florence and Michael were retired in 2018 , and Harvey , Irma , Maria and Nate were retired in 2017 .
For the Atlantic Basin and the eastern Pacific , six lists of names are used , with each list used again – minus any retired names – six years after it was last used .
The WMO also selects the names to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year the names start with the `` A '' storm on that year 's list , no matter how many names were used the previous year .
The next few names on the 2020 list are Josephine , Kyle , Laura , Marco , Nana and Omar .
See the full list here .
More : On the heels of Isaias , forecasters say 10 more hurricanes are likely this season

With 9 storms so far this hurricane season, what happens if we run out of names?
Show Caption Hide Caption Hurricane names, explained Katrina, Maria, Harvey and Sandy are all infamous names belonging to some of the worst hurricanes in history. But where do these names come from? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The hyperactive 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has already used nine storm names.
Forecasters formally begin naming Atlantic Basin hurricanes in 1950.
The next few names on the 2020 list are Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana and Omar.
If we get to Hurricane Wilfred, then it's time to worry.
From Arthur to Isaias, the hyperactive 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has already used nine storm names, with most setting a record for being early. And with the heart of the season still to come, what happens if we run out of names?
The concern is that there are only 21 names on each year's list (there are no Q, U, X, Y, or Z storms because of the lack of usable names that begin with those letters), and federal forecasters Thursday predicted that as many as 25 storms could form.
So what do we call those extra storms?
Like we did during the unforgettable 2005 season when 28 storms formed, forecasters will start using the letters of the Greek alphabet to name storms – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and so on.
“Everything looks ready to be a pretty huge year,” said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy, who said it’s likely that there will be more storms than names.
One forecasting company, AccuWeather, expects that those Greek letters will be used this year for only the second time on record.
2020 may not quite match 2005, however, for the number of storms: “It looks like this season could be one of the more active in the historical record,” but it’s unlikely to beat the 28 named storms of 2005 because the oceans were warmer and other conditions were more conducive to storm formation 15 years ago, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration lead forecaster Gerry Bell on Thursday.
How do forecasters choose names?
Forecasters formally begin naming Atlantic Basin hurricanes in 1950, using names from the international phonetic alphabet of the time: Able, Baker, Charlie, and so on. They started using female names in 1953 and switched to alternating male and female names in 1979.
The World Meteorological Organization chooses hurricane names several years in advance, based on a strict criteria. If a hurricane is particularly deadly or costly, then its name is "retired" by the WMO and replaced by another one. For example, Florence and Michael were retired in 2018, and Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate were retired in 2017.
For the Atlantic Basin and the eastern Pacific, six lists of names are used, with each list used again – minus any retired names – six years after it was last used.
Tracking the life of Hurricane Isaias Isaias’ track from the Caribbean to the United States was a bumpy one. We break down its life as a hurricane. Accuweather
The WMO also selects the names to replace those that are retired. Each year the names start with the "A" storm on that year's list, no matter how many names were used the previous year.
The next few names on the 2020 list are Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana and Omar. See the full list here.
Contributing: The Associated Press
More: On the heels of Isaias, forecasters say 10 more hurricanes are likely this season


usatoday--2020-08-07--'Confessing our love and trust in Jesus': Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin share baptism photos

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin are celebrating another experience as a married couple : a joint baptism .
Bieber Wednesday shared on Instagram four pictures of Baldwin and himself immersed in an outdoor body of water in a post proclaiming their baptism and commitment to Jesus .
The music superstar 's post said : `` The moment @ haileybieber my wife and I got baptized together !
This was one of most special moments of my life .
Confessing our love and trust in Jesus publicly with our friends and family . ''
In the first picture , the couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a dock , the music superstar facing downward with an unidentified man 's hand on his back .
In the second picture , Bieber , 26 , and Baldwin , 23 , are submerged to their shoulders , each holding one of the man 's hands .
In the third picture , Baldwin is looking up at the man and in the final one , her head is going under the water while Bieber is blocked by the man 's head .
The post received many responses offering praise and support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York 's Hillsong Church who previously baptized Bieber , responded : `` Amazing .
Love you . ''
Entertainment journalist Jason Kennedy , a longtime Bieber friend , wrote : `` One of the top moments of my life doing this with you '' .
Vocal producer and instructor Jan Smith , who has worked with Bieber , offered two words of praise : `` Blessing !
!
!
Saved !
!
!
! ''
Bieber has talked about faith in the past .
In an episode of the couple 's Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their relationship that preceded their eventual marriage .
`` We both had made mistakes , '' Bieber said .
`` When we understand how much God 's forgiven us and given us grace , it gives us the ability to give each other grace . ''

'Confessing our love and trust in Jesus': Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin share baptism photos
Show Caption Hide Caption ShowBiz Minute: Waititi, Bieber, Cage Taika Waititi to direct new "Star Wars" film; Justin Bieber and wife Hailey will debut a new series on Facebook Watch; Nicolas Cage to star as Joe Exotic in limited TV series. (May 5) AP
Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin are celebrating another experience as a married couple: a joint baptism.
Bieber Wednesday shared on Instagram four pictures of Baldwin and himself immersed in an outdoor body of water in a post proclaiming their baptism and commitment to Jesus.
The music superstar's post said: "The moment @haileybieber my wife and I got baptized together! This was one of most special moments of my life. Confessing our love and trust in Jesus publicly with our friends and family."
In the first picture, the couple is in the water at what appears to be a dock, the music superstar facing downward with an unidentified man's hand on his back. In the second picture, Bieber, 26, and Baldwin, 23, are submerged to their shoulders, each holding one of the man's hands. In the third picture, Baldwin is looking up at the man and in the final one, her head is going under the water while Bieber is blocked by the man's head.
The post received many responses offering praise and support.
Carl Lentz, a pastor at New York's Hillsong Church who previously baptized Bieber, responded: "Amazing. Love you."
Entertainment journalist Jason Kennedy, a longtime Bieber friend, wrote: "One of the top moments of my life doing this with you".
Vocal producer and instructor Jan Smith, who has worked with Bieber, offered two words of praise: "Blessing!!! Saved!!!!"
Bieber has talked about faith in the past. In an episode of the couple's Facebook Watch series, they talked about difficulties in their relationship that preceded their eventual marriage.
"We both had made mistakes," Bieber said. "When we understand how much God's forgiven us and given us grace, it gives us the ability to give each other grace."


usatoday--2020-08-07--Woman gives birth amid Beirut blast chaos

A woman gave birth to a boy in near darkness at a hospital in Beirut , Lebanon hospital moments after @ @ @ @ @ on August 4 .

Woman gives birth amid Beirut blast chaos
A woman gave birth to a boy in near darkness at a hospital in Beirut, Lebanon hospital moments after an explosion rocked the city on August 4.
Storyful


usatoday--2020-08-07--Air Force dad goes undercover to surprise sons

When U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt .
Javier Franco Jr. returned home to Tampa , Fla. , he rang his @ @ @ @ @ to surprise his unsuspecting sons .

Air Force dad goes undercover to surprise sons
When U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Javier Franco Jr. returned home to Tampa, Fla., he rang his own doorbell carrying a pizza to surprise his unsuspecting sons.
Militarykind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-08-07--Donald Trump tops Joe Biden in July fundraising by $25M, but cash-on-hand advantage erased

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hauled in $ 25 million more than Democratic challenger Joe Biden in July , ending a stretch of back-to-back months where the former vice president topped the incumbent president in campaign fundraising .
But for the first time , the two candidates have about the same amount of money left to spend with now less than 90 days until the Nov. 3 election .
The Trump campaign , the Republican National Committee and their joint fundraising committees collectively raised $ 165 million in July , according to the campaign , bringing the president 's overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2020 election cycle .
The campaign said it was a monthly fundraising record for Trump , eclipsing any month during his 2016 campaign as well .
The joint effort of the Biden campaign , the Democratic National Committee and their fundraising committees raised $ 140 million in July , the Biden campaign reported , which is $ 1 million less than it raised in June .
`` The President ’ s support continues to increase while Joe Biden just posted a down fundraising month from his basement , '' Trump campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More : Joe Biden tops Donald Trump in fundraising for second straight month However , the Biden campaign boasted $ 294 million cash on hand , $ 50 million more than its balance after June , erasing the president 's considerable advantage that has spanned the entire race .
The Trump campaign said it has a warchest of $ 300 million still to spend .
The Trump campaign had $ 51 million more on hand than Biden after June .
That was after Biden outraised Trump by $ 10 million in June , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden campaign manger Jen O ’ Malley Dillon called it `` another lights-out fundraising month , banking another $ 50 million for the final stretch to election day.
” She said 97 % of Biden 's donations came from `` grassroots donors '' and the average online contribution was $ 34.77 .
More : Experts held 'war games ' on the Trump vs. Biden election .
Their finding ?
Brace for a mess For months , Trump has trailed in polls both nationally and in critical swing states as the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president .
The campaigns did not disclose expenditures for July .
Those details wo n't be publicly available until financial reports are posted by the Federal Election Commission .
Much of the Trump campaign 's spending activity in July went toward an aggressive television advertising blitz in several battlegrounds states that sought to question Biden 's mental fitness , paint him as a left-wing radical and tie him to efforts to `` defund the police . ''
The Trump campaign spent $ 41.3 million in television advertising in July , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Analytics .
More : ‘ Grim resolve ’ : Biden is up big and the Senate is in sight , but Democrats still haunted by fear of letdown For the rest of the race , the Biden campaign on Wednesday announced a $ 280 million advertising plan across 15 swing states – including Texas , Georgia , Ohio and Iowa – as it seeks to put Trump on the defense in several reliably Republican states that he won in 2016 .
The Biden campaign reserved $ 220 million in television ads and $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign has reserved $ 151 million in television advertising between between now and the November election , according to Advertising Analytics .

Donald Trump tops Joe Biden in July fundraising by $25M, but cash-on-hand advantage erased
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hauled in $25 million more than Democratic challenger Joe Biden in July, ending a stretch of back-to-back months where the former vice president topped the incumbent president in campaign fundraising.
But for the first time, the two candidates have about the same amount of money left to spend with now less than 90 days until the Nov. 3 election.
The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and their joint fundraising committees collectively raised $165 million in July, according to the campaign, bringing the president's overall fundraising mark to $1.1 billion in the 2020 election cycle. The campaign said it was a monthly fundraising record for Trump, eclipsing any month during his 2016 campaign as well.
The joint effort of the Biden campaign, the Democratic National Committee and their fundraising committees raised $140 million in July, the Biden campaign reported, which is $1 million less than it raised in June.
"The President’s support continues to increase while Joe Biden just posted a down fundraising month from his basement," Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said in a statement.
More: Joe Biden tops Donald Trump in fundraising for second straight month
However, the Biden campaign boasted $294 million cash on hand, $50 million more than its balance after June, erasing the president's considerable advantage that has spanned the entire race.
The Trump campaign said it has a warchest of $300 million still to spend. The Trump campaign had $51 million more on hand than Biden after June. That was after Biden outraised Trump by $10 million in June, $141 million to $131 million.
Biden campaign manger Jen O’Malley Dillon called it "another lights-out fundraising month, banking another $50 million for the final stretch to election day.” She said 97% of Biden's donations came from "grassroots donors" and the average online contribution was $34.77.
More: Experts held 'war games' on the Trump vs. Biden election. Their finding? Brace for a mess
For months, Trump has trailed in polls both nationally and in critical swing states as the coronavirus pandemic and economic downfall takes a toll on the president.
The campaigns did not disclose expenditures for July. Those details won't be publicly available until financial reports are posted by the Federal Election Commission.
Much of the Trump campaign's spending activity in July went toward an aggressive television advertising blitz in several battlegrounds states that sought to question Biden's mental fitness, paint him as a left-wing radical and tie him to efforts to "defund the police." The Trump campaign spent $41.3 million in television advertising in July, according to research from the campaign ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics.
More: ‘Grim resolve’: Biden is up big and the Senate is in sight, but Democrats still haunted by fear of letdown
For the rest of the race, the Biden campaign on Wednesday announced a $280 million advertising plan across 15 swing states – including Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Iowa – as it seeks to put Trump on the defense in several reliably Republican states that he won in 2016.
The Biden campaign reserved $220 million in television ads and $60 million for digital advertising. The Trump campaign has reserved $151 million in television advertising between between now and the November election, according to Advertising Analytics.
Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.


usatoday--2020-08-07--Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests negative on second COVID-19 test

DeWine tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday morning using a rapid test .
That test was part of the protocol to greet President Donald Trump on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland .
DeWine then returned to Columbus and took a second COVID-19 test from Ohio State University 's Wexner Medical Center .
That polymerase chain reaction or PCR test came back negative late Thursday night .
First lady Fran DeWine and staff members also tested negative .
The first test was an antigen test .
The second test was a PCR test , which looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's known to be more sensitive and accurate .
More : Which members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19 ?
PCR tests for the governor , first lady and staff were run twice and came back negative both times .
They were run on two different diagnostic platforms .
`` We feel confident in the results from Wexner Medical Center , '' DeWine said in a released statement .
`` This is the same PCR test that has been used over 1.6 million times in Ohio by hospitals and labs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or rapid tests are n't prevalent in Ohio yet .
DeWine announced on Tuesday that Ohio would soon acquire 500,000 rapid tests as part of a collaboration with five other states .
`` We will be working with the manufacturer to have a better understanding of how the discrepancy between these two tests could have occurred , '' DeWine said in the statement .
Mike and Fran DeWine plan to take another PCR test Saturday , out of an abundance of caution and at the direction of doctors .
Those results will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 14 days at his Cedarville home .
He already keeps a small circle of in-person contacts : his wife , Lt. Gov .
Jon Husted , security personnel and a few staff members .
`` I spend most days right here anyway , '' DeWine said via videoconference from the front porch of his home .
`` I ’ m on the phone a lot .
I ’ m on conference calls a lot . ''
DeWine is n't the first governor to test positive for COVID-19 .
Oklahoma Gov .
Kevin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago .
Last month , DeWine 's state prisons ' director , Annette Chambers-Smith , announced she received a positive COVID-19 test result after feeling slight symptoms .
DeWine took some of the earliest aggressive action to combat the spread of COVID-19 in his state , one of the first five governors to close bars , restaurants , and wineries in March .
During the first few months of the pandemic , Ohio was reported as an early success story .
The state gradually lifted its stay-at-home order throughout May and June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , as well as a decline in hospitalizations .
In recent weeks , however , cases began to surge , with the state reporting more than 1,000 new cases per day for most of July .
“ We ’ re going the wrong way , ” Dewine said of the uptick in cases to NBC 's Meet the Press last month .
“ We are at a crucial stage .
We are at the point where we could become Florida , '' he said , issuing a statewide mask mandate in late @ @

Jackie Borchardt, Jessie Balmert and Jason Lalljee, Cincinnati Enquirer

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests negative on second COVID-19 test
Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus: CDC releases six new possible symptoms The CDC released six new possible symptoms of coronavirus, which include muscle pain and headache. USA TODAY
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's second COVID-19 test came back negative Thursday evening.
DeWine tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday morning using a rapid test. That test was part of the protocol to greet President Donald Trump on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland.
DeWine then returned to Columbus and took a second COVID-19 test from Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center. That polymerase chain reaction or PCR test came back negative late Thursday night.
First lady Fran DeWine and staff members also tested negative.
The first test was an antigen test. The second test was a PCR test, which looks at specific genetic material for the virus. It's known to be more sensitive and accurate.
More: Which members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19?
PCR tests for the governor, first lady and staff were run twice and came back negative both times. They were run on two different diagnostic platforms.
"We feel confident in the results from Wexner Medical Center," DeWine said in a released statement. "This is the same PCR test that has been used over 1.6 million times in Ohio by hospitals and labs all over the state."
Antigen or rapid tests aren't prevalent in Ohio yet. DeWine announced on Tuesday that Ohio would soon acquire 500,000 rapid tests as part of a collaboration with five other states.
"We will be working with the manufacturer to have a better understanding of how the discrepancy between these two tests could have occurred," DeWine said in the statement.
Mike and Fran DeWine plan to take another PCR test Saturday, out of an abundance of caution and at the direction of doctors. Those results will be released.
DeWine had planned to quarantine for 14 days at his Cedarville home. He already keeps a small circle of in-person contacts: his wife, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, security personnel and a few staff members.
"I spend most days right here anyway," DeWine said via videoconference from the front porch of his home. "I’m on the phone a lot. I’m on conference calls a lot."
DeWine isn't the first governor to test positive for COVID-19. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he had the disease several weeks ago. Last month, DeWine's state prisons' director, Annette Chambers-Smith, announced she received a positive COVID-19 test result after feeling slight symptoms.
DeWine took some of the earliest aggressive action to combat the spread of COVID-19 in his state, one of the first five governors to close bars, restaurants, and wineries in March.
During the first few months of the pandemic, Ohio was reported as an early success story. The state gradually lifted its stay-at-home order throughout May and June and saw a plateau in newly reported cases, as well as a decline in hospitalizations.
In recent weeks, however, cases began to surge, with the state reporting more than 1,000 new cases per day for most of July.
“We’re going the wrong way,” Dewine said of the uptick in cases to NBC's Meet the Press last month.
“We are at a crucial stage. We are at the point where we could become Florida," he said, issuing a statewide mask mandate in late July.


usatoday--2020-08-07--'Thirty miles a day': They're walking 750 miles to arrive in DC on 57th anniversary of MLK's 'I Have

CHICAGO — About 40 people on foot , riding bikes and perched atop graffitied cars paraded through Chicago 's North Side on Thursday evening .
Children skipped and hung out car windows with their fists in the air .
Drivers honked and blasted music as pedestrians clapped and cheered the passing caravan .
The diverse group of men , women and children was three days into a 750-mile march from Milwaukee to Washington , D.C. , planned to coincide with the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. 's famous `` I Have A Dream '' speech on Aug. 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days ago , we began to march in Milwaukee , '' said community activist and violence interrupter Frank Nitty , who helped organize the march .
`` We had already been marching 15-20 miles a day .
I wanted to keep that streak going . ''
'There 's no way to stop us ' : Milwaukee protesters begin march to Washington , D.C .
The march , which hopes to bring awareness to racial inequity and police brutality , stepped off in Milwaukee on Tuesday with about 20 participants , aiming to complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stayed overnight in Zion , Illinois , on Tuesday , then in Winnetka , Illinois , on Wednesday , Nitty said .
They hoped to reach Indiana by Thursday night .
Milwaukee resident Sandy Solomon , 49 , said she pulled a calf muscle on the first day and had to briefly sit out in one of the cars to wrap her leg .
Then she kept walking .
`` The biggest thing that most of us are dealing with is that our feet are sore , so we got some Epsom salt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some foot tubs and soak them at night , '' Solomon said .
Marchers were keeping food , luggage and other supplies in the trunks of their cars , and Nitty 's son and other teens occasionally handed out snacks and water bottles to marchers or those on the curb in need of food .
Nitty said the group initially planned to set up camp at night or rent an RV , but he ended up paying for hotel rooms for the first night .
On the second night , when the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the march on social media paid for their hotel rooms , said Nitty , who has been posting Facebook Live videos to his 80,000 followers .
Most of the meals have been donated , and people on foot and in cars have periodically linked up with the march .
Minutes before , a woman had run over and handed Nitty a blow horn and some cash .
While the group does n't have any official name or affiliation , it supports the mission of the Black Lives Matter movement , Nitty said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ only what they had on and joined just with that , '' Nitty said as a middle-aged woman began walking with the group .
`` It 's been amazing going through these small towns and have people coming out to help and march for awhile . ''
Nitty said the group plans out its specific route about five days in advance , with a general intention to avoid highways but still pass through major cities .
`` We ’ re taking streets the whole way , '' Nitty said .
`` We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through neighborhoods and communities — mainly suburban communities that don ’ t have to deal with this issue , and let them know that they ’ re not going to get no sleep until Black lives matter .
We want to be peaceful , but we also want to be a disruption .
We don ’ t want people to be comfortable with what ’ s going on .
There ’ s no comfort in Black lives not mattering . ''
For Milwaukee-based victims advocate Tory Lowe , marching from Chicago to Milwaukee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been doing it every year for the last five years to protest police brutality .
Three weeks ago , Nitty approached Lowe and asked him if he was interested in going a little further .
`` We 're not going to stop , '' Lowe said .
`` We ’ re going to continue until the injustice in America is dealt with properly . ''
But walking the walk has n't been easy so far , Lowe said .
`` Thirty miles a day — world classes athletes wouldn ’ t walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` We ’ re doing something that most people wouldn ’ t even attempt , and we ’ re doing it together . ''
This year 's anniversary of the historic march comes in the wake of a series of worldwide protests condemning police brutality and calling for criminal justice reform .
In June , the Rev .
Al Sharpton announced he was organizing a march in Washington on the anniversary to `` restore and recommit that dream . ''
Looking for books about racism ?
Experts suggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' We 're going back to Washington , '' Sharpton declared when giving his eulogy at the funeral of Floyd , an unarmed Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground with his knee .
`` We need to go back to Washington and stand up — Black , white , Latino , Arab in the shadows of Lincoln and tell them , ‘ This is the time to stop this . '
'' Martin Luther King III , attorney Benjamin Crump and families of police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ march under the rallying call `` Get Your Knee Off Our Necks . ''
The families of Floyd , Breonna Taylor and Eric Garner planned to speak at the event , according to the National Action Network .
Amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic , the NAACP this week launched a website for a `` virtual march '' to provide a `` series of events and activities to recommit to the dream Dr. Martin Luther King defined in the 1963 march , to call for police accountability and reform , and to mobilize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' according to an NAACP press release .

'Thirty miles a day': They're walking 750 miles to arrive in DC on 57th anniversary of MLK's 'I Have A Dream' speech
Show Caption Hide Caption 750-mile march: Group march from Milwaukee to DC for racial equality Correction: A previous version of this video misspelled Frank Nitty’s name. This group is marching 750 miles from Milwaukee to arrive in Washington DC on the 57th anniversary of MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech. USA TODAY
CHICAGO — About 40 people on foot, riding bikes and perched atop graffitied cars paraded through Chicago's North Side on Thursday evening. Children skipped and hung out car windows with their fists in the air. Drivers honked and blasted music as pedestrians clapped and cheered the passing caravan.
The diverse group of men, women and children was three days into a 750-mile march from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C., planned to coincide with the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have A Dream" speech on Aug. 28.
"When George Floyd died 69 days ago, we began to march in Milwaukee," said community activist and violence interrupter Frank Nitty, who helped organize the march. "We had already been marching 15-20 miles a day. I wanted to keep that streak going."
'There's no way to stop us': Milwaukee protesters begin march to Washington, D.C.
The march, which hopes to bring awareness to racial inequity and police brutality, stepped off in Milwaukee on Tuesday with about 20 participants, aiming to complete 31 miles a day. The group stayed overnight in Zion, Illinois, on Tuesday, then in Winnetka, Illinois, on Wednesday, Nitty said. They hoped to reach Indiana by Thursday night.
Milwaukee resident Sandy Solomon, 49, said she pulled a calf muscle on the first day and had to briefly sit out in one of the cars to wrap her leg. Then she kept walking.
"The biggest thing that most of us are dealing with is that our feet are sore, so we got some Epsom salt and we’re going to get some foot tubs and soak them at night," Solomon said.
Marchers were keeping food, luggage and other supplies in the trunks of their cars, and Nitty's son and other teens occasionally handed out snacks and water bottles to marchers or those on the curb in need of food.
Nitty said the group initially planned to set up camp at night or rent an RV, but he ended up paying for hotel rooms for the first night. On the second night, when the group had grown to 25, someone tracking the march on social media paid for their hotel rooms, said Nitty, who has been posting Facebook Live videos to his 80,000 followers.
Most of the meals have been donated, and people on foot and in cars have periodically linked up with the march. Minutes before, a woman had run over and handed Nitty a blow horn and some cash. While the group doesn't have any official name or affiliation, it supports the mission of the Black Lives Matter movement, Nitty said.
WATCH: The two key ingredients to achieve a successful protest
"We got some people who had only what they had on and joined just with that," Nitty said as a middle-aged woman began walking with the group. "It's been amazing going through these small towns and have people coming out to help and march for awhile."
Martin Luther King III: John Lewis, MLK together again Martin Luther King III imagines the sweet reunion between his parents and Rep. John Lewis on the other side. USA TODAY, USA TODAY
Nitty said the group plans out its specific route about five days in advance, with a general intention to avoid highways but still pass through major cities.
"We’re taking streets the whole way," Nitty said. "We’re going to make sure we go through neighborhoods and communities — mainly suburban communities that don’t have to deal with this issue, and let them know that they’re not going to get no sleep until Black lives matter. We want to be peaceful, but we also want to be a disruption. We don’t want people to be comfortable with what’s going on. There’s no comfort in Black lives not mattering."
For Milwaukee-based victims advocate Tory Lowe, marching from Chicago to Milwaukee is nothing new. He said he has been doing it every year for the last five years to protest police brutality. Three weeks ago, Nitty approached Lowe and asked him if he was interested in going a little further.
"We're not going to stop," Lowe said. "We’re going to continue until the injustice in America is dealt with properly."
But walking the walk hasn't been easy so far, Lowe said.
"Thirty miles a day — world classes athletes wouldn’t walk 30 miles a day for 24 days," he said. "We’re doing something that most people wouldn’t even attempt, and we’re doing it together."
This year's anniversary of the historic march comes in the wake of a series of worldwide protests condemning police brutality and calling for criminal justice reform. In June, the Rev. Al Sharpton announced he was organizing a march in Washington on the anniversary to "restore and recommit that dream."
Looking for books about racism? Experts suggest these must-read titles for adults and kids
Key things that propel a protest to a successful movement Do protests ever enact real change? Yes. But not all movements are created equal. Here's the ingredients of a successful movement. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
"We're going back to Washington," Sharpton declared when giving his eulogy at the funeral of Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground with his knee. "We need to go back to Washington and stand up — Black, white, Latino, Arab in the shadows of Lincoln and tell them, ‘This is the time to stop this.'"
Martin Luther King III, attorney Benjamin Crump and families of police brutality victims were expected to attend the march under the rallying call "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks." The families of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Eric Garner planned to speak at the event, according to the National Action Network.
Amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, the NAACP this week launched a website for a "virtual march" to provide a "series of events and activities to recommit to the dream Dr. Martin Luther King defined in the 1963 march, to call for police accountability and reform, and to mobilize voters ahead of the November elections," according to an NAACP press release.
Contributing: Ricardo Torres, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Savannah Behrmann, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-08-08--No masks required as 250,000 expected at 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Here's what to know.

One of the largest events since the beginning of the pandemic has begun in South Dakota : More than 250,000 people are expected at the iconic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally .
That 's scaled down from previous years , where about half-a-million people have descended on the city of about 7,000 for an event that has developed a reputation as an anything-goes festival .
While the 80-year tradition is n't as raucous as it once was , festivalgoers will be largely free of social distancing restrictions common elsewhere in the country during this year 's 10-day festival .
Bikers flocking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wo n't face quarantining requirements if they are from a coronavirus hot spot .
So far , few people are heeding that encouragement , according to an Associated Press reporter at the event .
Many who rode their bikes into Sturgis on Friday expressed defiance at the rules and restrictions that have marked life in much of the world during the pandemic .
“ Screw COVID , ” read the design on one T-shirt being hawked .
“ I went to Sturgis.
” Local officials have made efforts to scale down the event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flock to Sturgis in large numbers .
“ It ’ s the biggest single event that ’ s going on in the United States that didn ’ t get canceled , ” said Rod Woodruff , who operates the largest campground and concert venue that lies outside the bounds of the city .
“ A lot of people think it ’ s going to be bigger than ever.
” In addition to normal concerns about crime , many locals are worried the huge crowds and lack of social distancing rules will lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally may be known for rowdy , drunken and naked shenanigans , but in recent years longtime attendees complain it has lost its edge .
First-time visitors might be excused for thinking the rally isn ’ t much more than an excuse to create one of the world ’ s largest open-air shopping malls .
There 's usually corporate sponsorships , licensed T-shirt vendors , insurance companies and lawyers .
Most attendees in recent years are professionals with too much to lose if they get arrested .
The top three professions at Sturgis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city officials have said in previous years .
That 's translated to big money for the local economy .
Last year , the rally brought in about $ 1.3 million in tax revenue for South Dakota , according to the state Department of Revenue .
Is the event risky during a pandemic ?
While outdoor events are widely believed to be lower risk than indoor ones , the unprecedented size of the gathering is prompting serious concerns .
`` You 're just adding fuel to a fire , '' epidemiologist Dr. John Brownstein @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota is already experiencing increases in transmission .
COVID is not under control in South Dakota ; it 's just not . ''
Among Brownstein 's worries : That attendees could become infected at the event and spread it across the nation as they return home – and that the rural health care system does n't have the ability to handle a possible local surge in cases .
Many locals seem to share in the concern .
When asked earlier this year whether the iconic motorcycle rally should be held , their answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than half of the community expressed their feelings in a survey .
A sizable majority of 62 % asked city officials to postpone the rally .
Several steps have been taken to reduce risk , local media reports : The Community Center will not be hosting vendors inside as in the past , according to NewsCenter 1 .
And Sturgis High School will not offer shower services nor host the annual pancake breakfast as in the past .
Mayor Mark Carstensen on Thursday told CNN the city is setting up sanitation stations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are n't mandated .
Why are local leaders allowing the event to go on ?
Businesses pressured the City Council to proceed and Sturgis officials say the rally would happen whether they wanted it or not .
So they opted to try to scale it back , canceling city-hosted events and slashing advertising for the rally .
Daniel Ainslie , Sturgis ’ city manager , said the city received a letter sent by attorneys for an outside business containing threats of litigation unless the rally moved forward .
It suggested the city did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally because previous court rulings found that the rally is not produced by a single organizer .
For his part , Woodruff said he felt he had little choice but to proceed with the rally .
He employs hundreds of people in August and a smaller full-time staff .
“ We spend money for 355 days of the year without any return on it , hoping people show up for nine days , ” he said .
“ We ’ re a nine-day business.
” What are the rules in South Dakota about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kristi Noem has taken a relaxed approach to the pandemic .
Even as Republican governors in states like Texas have moved to require people to wear masks , Noem didn ’ t require physical distancing or masks at the July 3 celebration at Mount Rushmore , which President Donald Trump attended .
She supported holding the Sturgis rally , tweeting Thursday : `` I trusted my people , they trusted me , and South Dakota is in a good spot in our fight against COVID-19 .
The # Sturgis motorcycle rally starts this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors to see what our great state has to offer ! ''
Noem has pointed out that no virus outbreak was documented from the several thousand people who turned out to see President Donald Trump and fireworks at Mount Rushmore last month .
Daily virus cases have been trending upward in South Dakota , but the seven-day average is still only around 84 , with fewer than two deaths per day .

No masks required as 250,000 expected at 10-day Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Here's what to know.
Show Caption Hide Caption 'I'm still getting hit': Sturgis-bound motorcyclists shelter in Wyoming due to hail Motorcyclists traveling through the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming were forced to take shelter inside construction machines due to hail. Storyful
One of the largest events since the beginning of the pandemic has begun in South Dakota: More than 250,000 people are expected at the iconic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
That's scaled down from previous years, where about half-a-million people have descended on the city of about 7,000 for an event that has developed a reputation as an anything-goes festival.
While the 80-year tradition isn't as raucous as it once was, festivalgoers will be largely free of social distancing restrictions common elsewhere in the country during this year's 10-day festival.
Bikers flocking to the small town from around the country won't face quarantining requirements if they are from a coronavirus hot spot.
And masks? They're encouraged – not required.
So far, few people are heeding that encouragement, according to Associated Press reports from Friday and Saturday.
Many who rode their bikes into Sturgis on Friday expressed defiance at the rules and restrictions that have marked life in much of the world during the pandemic.
“Screw COVID,” read the design on one T-shirt being hawked. “I went to Sturgis.”
Local officials have made efforts to scale down the event, but some expect restriction-weary bikers to flock to Sturgis in large numbers.
“It’s the biggest single event that’s going on in the United States that didn’t get canceled,” said Rod Woodruff, who operates the largest campground and concert venue that lies outside the bounds of the city.
“A lot of people think it’s going to be bigger than ever.”
In addition to normal concerns about crime, many locals are worried the huge crowds and lack of social distancing rules will lead to an unmanageable outbreak of COVID-19.
What is Sturgis?
The rally may be known for rowdy, drunken and naked shenanigans, but in recent years longtime attendees complain it has lost its edge.
First-time visitors might be excused for thinking the rally isn’t much more than an excuse to create one of the world’s largest open-air shopping malls. There's usually corporate sponsorships, licensed T-shirt vendors, insurance companies and lawyers.
Most attendees in recent years are professionals with too much to lose if they get arrested. The top three professions at Sturgis are doctors, lawyers and accountants, city officials have said in previous years.
That's translated to big money for the local economy. Last year, the rally brought in about $1.3 million in tax revenue for South Dakota, according to the state Department of Revenue.
What is it like at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally right now?
The scene Saturday looked much like past years, with throngs of maskless bikers packing the streets.
Motorcyclist Kevin Lunsmann, 63, rode more than 600 miles to the rally from Big Lake, Minnesota, with several friends. Lunsmann, who has attended the event every year since 2003, said he was “somewhat" concerned about the coronavirus, but not enough to miss the 80th anniversary.
The crowds of people and rows of bikes did surprise him, though. He said there was no difference from previous years “other than a few people wearing masks.” While Lunsmann was avoiding the bars and nightclubs this year, many others were not. They were filled with revelers as the sun set Friday.
“Everybody’s still partying hardy,” Lunsmann said.
Bob Graham, 71, was one of the few people wearing masks as he walked along Main Street. “We don’t want the virus. We want to come up here a few more years yet,” Graham said.
Graham made his 36th annual trip to Sturgis from Central City, Nebraska, with his wife, calling it “kind of like our therapy for the year.”
For Stephen Sample, who rode his Harley from Arizona, the event was a break from the routine of the last several months, when he’s been mostly homebound or wearing a mask when he went to work as a surveyor.
“I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to be cooped up all my life either,” he said.
Is the event risky during a pandemic?
While outdoor events are widely believed to be lower risk than indoor ones, the unprecedented size of the gathering is prompting serious concerns.
"You're just adding fuel to a fire," epidemiologist Dr. John Brownstein, told ABC News. "South Dakota is already experiencing increases in transmission. COVID is not under control in South Dakota; it's just not."
Among Brownstein's worries: That attendees could become infected at the event and spread it across the nation as they return home – and that the rural health care system doesn't have the ability to handle a possible local surge in cases.
Many locals seem to share in the concern. When asked earlier this year whether the iconic motorcycle rally should be held, their answer was an overwhelming "no."
More than half of the community expressed their feelings in a survey. A sizable majority of 62% asked city officials to postpone the rally.
Several steps have been taken to reduce risk, local media reports: The Community Center will not be hosting vendors inside as in the past, according to NewsCenter 1. And Sturgis High School will not offer shower services nor host the annual pancake breakfast as in the past.
Mayor Mark Carstensen on Thursday told CNN the city is setting up sanitation stations and giving out masks, although they aren't mandated.
Why are local leaders allowing the event to go on?
Businesses pressured the City Council to proceed and Sturgis officials say the rally would happen whether they wanted it or not. So they opted to try to scale it back, canceling city-hosted events and slashing advertising for the rally.
Daniel Ainslie, Sturgis’ city manager, said the city received a letter sent by attorneys for an outside business containing threats of litigation unless the rally moved forward. It suggested the city did not have the right to cancel the rally because previous court rulings found that the rally is not produced by a single organizer.
For his part, Woodruff said he felt he had little choice but to proceed with the rally. He employs hundreds of people in August and a smaller full-time staff.
“We spend money for 355 days of the year without any return on it, hoping people show up for nine days,” he said. “We’re a nine-day business.”
What are the rules in South Dakota about masks, social distancing?
Gov. Kristi Noem has taken a relaxed approach to the pandemic. Even as Republican governors in states like Texas have moved to require people to wear masks, Noem didn’t require physical distancing or masks at the July 3 celebration at Mount Rushmore, which President Donald Trump attended.
She supported holding the Sturgis rally, tweeting Thursday: "I trusted my people, they trusted me, and South Dakota is in a good spot in our fight against COVID-19. The #Sturgis motorcycle rally starts this weekend, and we're excited for visitors to see what our great state has to offer!"
I trusted my people, they trusted me, and South Dakota is in a good spot in our fight against COVID-19.
The #Sturgis motorcycle rally starts this weekend, and we're excited for visitors to see what our great state has to offer! https://t.co/UiHvaYviqa — Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) August 6, 2020
Noem has pointed out that no virus outbreak was documented from the several thousand people who turned out to see President Donald Trump and fireworks at Mount Rushmore last month.
Daily virus cases have been trending upward in South Dakota, but the seven-day average is still only around 84, with fewer than two deaths per day.
Contributing: Patrick Anderson, Sioux Falls Argus Leader; Trevor Hughes; The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-08-07--'It's disintegrated': Canada's last intact Arctic ice shelf has collapsed

• The shelf ’ s area shrank by about 30 square miles due to the collapse .
• The Arctic has been warming at a rate twice that of the rest of the world .
• Two of Canada ’ s ice caps , located on the Hazen Plateau in St. Patrick Bay , disappeared completely this summer .
A huge section of the Milne Ice Shelf , located on Ellesmere Island in the northern Canadian territory of Nunavut , collapsed into the Arctic Ocean , according to the Canadian Ice Service .
This created an `` ice island '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size .
As a comparison , Manhattan Island is about 23 square miles .
“ Entire cities are that size .
These are big pieces of ice , ” Luke Copland , a glaciologist at the University of Ottawa who was part of the research team studying the ice shelf , told Reuters .
“ This was the largest remaining intact ice shelf , and it ’ s disintegrated , basically.
” The ice service said on Twitter that “ above-normal air temperatures , offshore winds and open water in front of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recipe for ice shelf break up.
” The ice shelf has now been reduced in area by about 43 % .
An ice shelf is a thick slab of ice , attached to a coastline and extending out over the ocean , according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center .
`` Some shelves persist for thousands of years , '' the center said .
So what 's going on up there ?
Though the planet is warming worldwide due to climate change , the Arctic has been warming at a rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
This summer has been particularly warm : Arctic sea ice melted to its lowest July level on record and in June , a town in Siberia soared to 100.4 degrees , believed to be a record high for the Arctic .
The ice shelf collapse on Ellesmere Island also meant the loss of the Northern Hemisphere ’ s last known `` epishelf '' lake , a geographic feature in which a body of freshwater is dammed by the ice shelf and floats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition , as reported by Yale Environment 360 , two of Canada ’ s ice caps , located on the Hazen Plateau in St. Patrick Bay , disappeared completely earlier this summer , two years earlier than scientists predicted , according to the NSIDC .
“ When I first visited those ice caps , they seemed like such a permanent fixture of the landscape , ” Mark Serreze , director of NSIDC and a geographer at the University of Colorado , Boulder , said in a statement .
“ To watch them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blows me away.
” More : The amount of Arctic sea ice melted away to a record low for the month of July

'It’s disintegrated': Canada's last intact Arctic ice shelf has collapsed
Show Caption Hide Caption Sea ice creates stunning patterns as it escapes the Arctic Ocean The NASA images, captured by the Aqua and Landsat 8 satellites, show the Arctic sea ice melting as it drifts south along the coast of East Greenland. Buzz60
The shelf’s area shrank by about 30 square miles due to the collapse.
The Arctic has been warming at a rate twice that of the rest of the world.
Two of Canada’s ice caps, located on the Hazen Plateau in St. Patrick Bay, disappeared completely this summer.
Canada's last intact ice shelf has collapsed, researchers announced Thursday.
A huge section of the Milne Ice Shelf, located on Ellesmere Island in the northern Canadian territory of Nunavut, collapsed into the Arctic Ocean, according to the Canadian Ice Service. This created an "ice island" that's about 30 square miles in size.
As a comparison, Manhattan Island is about 23 square miles.
“Entire cities are that size. These are big pieces of ice,” Luke Copland, a glaciologist at the University of Ottawa who was part of the research team studying the ice shelf, told Reuters. “This was the largest remaining intact ice shelf, and it’s disintegrated, basically.”
The ice service said on Twitter that “above-normal air temperatures, offshore winds and open water in front of the ice shelf are all part of the recipe for ice shelf break up.”
The ice shelf has now been reduced in area by about 43%.
An ice shelf is a thick slab of ice, attached to a coastline and extending out over the ocean, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. "Some shelves persist for thousands of years," the center said.
So what's going on up there? Though the planet is warming worldwide due to climate change, the Arctic has been warming at a rate twice that of the rest of the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This summer has been particularly warm: Arctic sea ice melted to its lowest July level on record and in June, a town in Siberia soared to 100.4 degrees, believed to be a record high for the Arctic.
The ice shelf collapse on Ellesmere Island also meant the loss of the Northern Hemisphere’s last known "epishelf" lake, a geographic feature in which a body of freshwater is dammed by the ice shelf and floats atop ocean water, Reuters said.
In addition, as reported by Yale Environment 360, two of Canada’s ice caps, located on the Hazen Plateau in St. Patrick Bay, disappeared completely earlier this summer, two years earlier than scientists predicted, according to the NSIDC.
“When I first visited those ice caps, they seemed like such a permanent fixture of the landscape,” Mark Serreze, director of NSIDC and a geographer at the University of Colorado, Boulder, said in a statement. “To watch them die in less than 40 years just blows me away.”
More: The amount of Arctic sea ice melted away to a record low for the month of July


usatoday--2020-08-08--Colorado State suspends football activities following allegations of racism and verbal abuse

Colorado State football team activities have been suspended indefinitely due to allegations of racism and verbal abuse in the program .
“ Today , we learned of some extremely troubling allegations of racism and verbal abuse from CSU ’ s athletic administration generally and in the football program specifically .
`` I have consulted with President ( Joyce ) McConnell about these new allegations , which obviously deeply concern her as well .
Effective immediately , and for the best interests of our student-athletes , I am pausing all football-related activities indefinitely .
This includes practices , workouts , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked President McConnell to expand the independent investigation she announced on Tuesday to include a comprehensive review of our athletic department and football program specifically related to allegations of racism and verbal abuse .
While we have been working hard towards playing football this fall , the holistic well-being of our student-athletes is our unequivocal top priority .
We must and will address these allegations before we focus on playing football.
” The Coloradoan reached out to CSU leadership on Friday seeking interviews regarding an investigation by the paper looking into allegations by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who say they witnessed racial insensitivity and emotional and verbal abuse among coaches and athletic administrators .
TOP 25 : Outlooks for teams in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll OPINION : Only a matter of time before college athletes use all of their power to dismantle system McConnell hired the law firm Husch Blackwell on Thursday to conduct an independent investigation of the athletic department 's handling of COVID-19 health protocols .
That came in response to a Coloradoan report in which CSU athletes and staff voiced concern about coronavirus protocols .
CSU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 following a surge in COVID-19 positive tests .
The football program had 11 positive tests as of Aug. 3 .
Another round of 150 coronavirus tests ( all CSU athletes , not just football ) were conducted Monday .
The results of those tests have not been shared .
The Coloradoan requested updated COVID-19 test result numbers on Friday but they have not been provided as of 6:30 p.m. Friday .
Follow Kevin Lytle on Twitter @ Kevin_Lytle and on facebook.com/KevinSLytle .
Coloradoan Sports can also be followed on Twitter .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local journalism at Coloradoan.com/subscribe .

Colorado State suspends football activities following allegations of racism and verbal abuse
Show Caption Hide Caption CSU athletes, staff say athletic administration covering up COVID-19 health threat CSU athletes, staff say athletic administration covering up COVID-19 health threat Wochit
Colorado State football team activities have been suspended indefinitely due to allegations of racism and verbal abuse in the program.
On Friday night, CSU released a statement from athletic director Joe Parker.
“Today, we learned of some extremely troubling allegations of racism and verbal abuse from CSU’s athletic administration generally and in the football program specifically.
"I have consulted with President (Joyce) McConnell about these new allegations, which obviously deeply concern her as well. Effective immediately, and for the best interests of our student-athletes, I am pausing all football-related activities indefinitely. This includes practices, workouts, and team meetings.
"I have also asked President McConnell to expand the independent investigation she announced on Tuesday to include a comprehensive review of our athletic department and football program specifically related to allegations of racism and verbal abuse. While we have been working hard towards playing football this fall, the holistic well-being of our student-athletes is our unequivocal top priority. We must and will address these allegations before we focus on playing football.”
A Statement from Director of Athletics Joe Parker on @CSUFootball https://t.co/NEQ67TWmp5 — Colorado State Rams (@CSURams) August 8, 2020
The Coloradoan reached out to CSU leadership on Friday seeking interviews regarding an investigation by the paper looking into allegations by multiple former CSU players and athletics staff who say they witnessed racial insensitivity and emotional and verbal abuse among coaches and athletic administrators.
AMWAY COACHES POLL: Clemson leads preseason top 25
TOP 25: Outlooks for teams in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll
OPINION: Only a matter of time before college athletes use all of their power to dismantle system
McConnell hired the law firm Husch Blackwell on Thursday to conduct an independent investigation of the athletic department's handling of COVID-19 health protocols. That came in response to a Coloradoan report in which CSU athletes and staff voiced concern about coronavirus protocols.
CSU voluntarily shut down summer workouts on July 29 following a surge in COVID-19 positive tests. The football program had 11 positive tests as of Aug. 3. Another round of 150 coronavirus tests (all CSU athletes, not just football) were conducted Monday.
The results of those tests have not been shared.
The Coloradoan requested updated COVID-19 test result numbers on Friday but they have not been provided as of 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Follow Kevin Lytle on Twitter @Kevin_Lytle and on facebook.com/KevinSLytle. Coloradoan Sports can also be followed on Twitter. If you don't already, please support local journalism at Coloradoan.com/subscribe.


usatoday--2020-08-08--Former Angels employee Eric Kay charged with distributing fentanyl in connection with Tyler Skaggs'

Corrections and clarifications : A previous version of this story misstated the manner in which charges were brought against Kay .
He was charged by criminal complaint .
A former Los Angeles Angels employee has been charged by federal authorities in Texas for distributing fentanyl in connection with the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs last year , U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox announced Friday .
Eric Kay , the team 's longtime director of communications , was arrested and arraigned at a federal courthouse in Fort Worth , Texas on Friday , according to Nealy Cox .
The 45-year-old Kay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison if convicted .
`` Any loss to life from a fentanyl overdose is a tragedy , '' Nealy Cox said .
`` All we can hope is that we learn from this tragedy .
Tyler Skaggs ' death , coming as it did in the midst of an ascendent baseball career , should be a wake-up call . ''
Michael Molfetta , Kay 's attorney , said in a statement that Skaggs ' death is a tragedy and addiction is `` a debilitating and destructive disease . ''
He said his client @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself to authorities and `` will patiently wait for his opportunity to make his story known . ''
`` The court room is the best and only place to litigate this matter , '' Molfetta said .
`` Our defense team is working diligently to bring the truth to light . ''
Skaggs , a left-handed pitcher , was found dead in a Texas hotel room in July 2019 while the team was on a road trip .
He was 27 .
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner ’ s office determined that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his system at the time of his death .
`` It was later ascertained that but for the fentanyl , Mr. Skaggs would not have died , '' Nealy Cox 's office wrote in a news release .
According to a criminal complaint filed last week and unsealed Friday , Kay initially denied knowing that Skaggs used drugs and told investigators that he had last seen Skaggs when they checked into the hotel on June 30 , the day prior to his death .
Federal investigators , however , later obtained text messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the complaint as `` T.S . ''
— from later that evening in which Skaggs asked Kay to deliver pills to his hotel room .
`` Hoe [ sic ] many ? ''
Kay asked Skaggs in a text message obtained by investigators .
`` Just a few like 5 , '' the pitcher replied .
The two exchanged messages again just before midnight , according to investigators , during which Skaggs gave Kay his room number .
According to the criminal complaint , federal authorities determined that Skaggs and Kay `` had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The complaint also alleges that Kay `` would distribute these pills to ( Skaggs ) and others in their place of employment and while they were working . ''
The Angels said in a statement that they have fully cooperated with law enforcement and MLB since the Skaggs ' death and also hired a former federal prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation .
`` We learned that there was unacceptable behavior inconsistent with our code of conduct , and we took steps to address it , '' the team said .
`` Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management was aware , or informed , of any employee providing opioids to any player , nor that Tyler was using opioids . ''
In a statement released through attorney Rusty Hardin , the Skaggs family said it would encourage the Angels to make public the findings of that independent investigation .
`` We are relieved that no one else who was supplied drugs by this Angels executive met the same fate as Tyler , '' the Skaggs family said in part of the statement .
Contact Tom Schad at tschad @ usatoday.com @ @ @ @ @ @

Former Angels employee Eric Kay charged with distributing fentanyl in connection with Tyler Skaggs' death
Corrections and clarifications: A previous version of this story misstated the manner in which charges were brought against Kay. He was charged by criminal complaint.
A former Los Angeles Angels employee has been charged by federal authorities in Texas for distributing fentanyl in connection with the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs last year, U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox announced Friday.
Eric Kay, the team's longtime director of communications, was arrested and arraigned at a federal courthouse in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, according to Nealy Cox. The 45-year-old Kay faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
"Any loss to life from a fentanyl overdose is a tragedy," Nealy Cox said. "All we can hope is that we learn from this tragedy. Tyler Skaggs' death, coming as it did in the midst of an ascendent baseball career, should be a wake-up call."
Michael Molfetta, Kay's attorney, said in a statement that Skaggs' death is a tragedy and addiction is "a debilitating and destructive disease." He said his client traveled from California to Texas to surrender himself to authorities and "will patiently wait for his opportunity to make his story known."
"The court room is the best and only place to litigate this matter," Molfetta said. "Our defense team is working diligently to bring the truth to light."
Skaggs, a left-handed pitcher, was found dead in a Texas hotel room in July 2019 while the team was on a road trip. He was 27. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office determined that he had ethanol, fentanyl and oxycodone in his system at the time of his death.
"It was later ascertained that but for the fentanyl, Mr. Skaggs would not have died," Nealy Cox's office wrote in a news release.
According to a criminal complaint filed last week and unsealed Friday, Kay initially denied knowing that Skaggs used drugs and told investigators that he had last seen Skaggs when they checked into the hotel on June 30, the day prior to his death.
Federal investigators, however, later obtained text messages between Kay and Skaggs — identified in the complaint as "T.S." — from later that evening in which Skaggs asked Kay to deliver pills to his hotel room.
"Hoe [sic] many?" Kay asked Skaggs in a text message obtained by investigators.
"Just a few like 5," the pitcher replied.
The two exchanged messages again just before midnight, according to investigators, during which Skaggs gave Kay his room number.
According to the criminal complaint, federal authorities determined that Skaggs and Kay "had a history of narcotic transactions." The complaint also alleges that Kay "would distribute these pills to (Skaggs) and others in their place of employment and while they were working."
The Angels said in a statement that they have fully cooperated with law enforcement and MLB since the Skaggs' death and also hired a former federal prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation.
"We learned that there was unacceptable behavior inconsistent with our code of conduct, and we took steps to address it," the team said. "Our investigation also confirmed that no one in management was aware, or informed, of any employee providing opioids to any player, nor that Tyler was using opioids."
In a statement released through attorney Rusty Hardin, the Skaggs family said it would encourage the Angels to make public the findings of that independent investigation.
"We are relieved that no one else who was supplied drugs by this Angels executive met the same fate as Tyler," the Skaggs family said in part of the statement.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.