usatoday--2020-10-23--'Mama, they just shot us for nothing': Illinois police officer fatally shoots Black teen, injures wo

CHICAGO — A Black teen was killed and a woman was injured Tuesday night after a Waukegan police officer shot into a car that allegedly reversed toward him .
Marcellis Stinnette , 19 , died from his injuries , according to a preliminary autopsy report released Thursday .
`` This is truly a tragedy , '' Lake County coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said in a press release .
The incident happened just before midnight Tuesday , when an officer approached a `` suspicious '' vehicle , Waukegan Police Commander Edgar Navarro told reporters Wednesday .
As the officer was conducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was spotted moments later by another officer , who got out of his car to approach the vehicle , Navarro said .
`` That officer exited his vehicle , and the vehicle that he was investigating began to reverse towards the officer .
The officer then pulled out his duty weapon and fired into the vehicle , '' Navarro said .
The officer , who is Hispanic and a 5-year veteran of the department , was `` in fear for his safety , '' according to police .
He struck both Stinnette , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Tafara Williams , who was in the driver 's seat .
They both were taken to the hospital , where Stinnette died .
No firearms were found in the vehicle , Navarro said .
He did not elaborate on why the vehicle was initially stopped .
You know George Floyd and Breonna Taylor 's stories.10 years after his death , you should also know DJ Henry 's .
Both officers involved have been placed on leave , but it was not immediately clear how long they would remain on leave , Navarro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams have questioned the department 's official narrative .
Cliftina Johnson , Williams ’ mom , said she visited her daughter in the hospital , where she is in serious condition .
Her daughter is in her 20s and is a mother of two .
`` When I got there , she said , 'Mama , they just shot us for nothing , ' '' Johnson told reporters on Wednesday .
`` My daughter said she put her hand up , and if she didn ’ t put her hand up , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead . '
'' Williams , who the coroner ’ s office did not identify by name , has serious injuries but is expected to recover , the office said .
Illinois State Police 's Public Integrity Task Force was investigating the incident , according to the department .
The Waukegan Police Department had turned over all reports , body cam and dashcam videos , Navarro said .
Lake County State 's Attorney Michael Nerheim said Wednesday he would review the state police investigation and make the `` entire case file '' available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This will take some time , '' Nerheim said .
`` We 're all upset about this , but I just hope people will stay calm and respect he process . ''
Dozens of men , women and children marched through Waukegan on Thursday afternoon to demand justice for Williams and Stinnette , walking with fists raised and chanting `` Black lives matter . ''
`` Say his name !
Marcellis Stinnette !
What 's her name ?
Tafara Williams , '' the group chanted , according to livestreams of the march posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue in Rhode Island after moped driver was critically injured in a crash involving police Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said Wednesday the shooting affected him on a personal level .
`` This is tough on this community .
I know this family personally .
Their great-grandmother used to babysit me .
To speak to them about this , yeah it hurts , '' Cunningham said at a press conference .
`` I 'm a Black man who grew up in that same neighborhood .
It could have been me . ''
Cunningham urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation , saying that there was a lot of `` uncertainty '' and `` rumors flying around . ''
`` I 'm nervous for Waukegan .
We ’ ve seen this play out through this country .
It just rips through communities , and it takes years to rebuild , '' he said .
With a population of more than 86,000 , Waukegan is majority Hispanic or Latino and about a quarter non-Hispanic white and a quarter Black , according to the Census Bureau .
The city is about 15 miles south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blake , 29 , was shot in the back multiple times as he was getting into a car , triggering unrest in the city and sparking protests around the nation .
Of the more than 5,700 people police have shot since 2015 , 24 % were Black , even though Black Americans make up 13 % of the U.S. population , according to a Washington Post database of fatal shootings by on-duty police officers .

'Mama, they just shot us for nothing': Illinois police officer fatally shoots Black teen, injures woman
Show Caption Hide Caption Waukegan shooting: Advocacy groups call for special prosecutor Bishop Tavis Grant of Rainbow P.U.S.H. Coalition speaks during a rally held in Waukegan following a police shooting that left a Black man dead. Associated Press, USA TODAY
CHICAGO — A Black teen was killed and a woman was injured Tuesday night after a Waukegan police officer shot into a car that allegedly reversed toward him.
Marcellis Stinnette, 19, died from his injuries, according to a preliminary autopsy report released Thursday.
"This is truly a tragedy," Lake County coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said in a press release.
The incident happened just before midnight Tuesday, when an officer approached a "suspicious" vehicle, Waukegan Police Commander Edgar Navarro told reporters Wednesday. As the officer was conducting his investigation, the vehicle fled and was spotted moments later by another officer, who got out of his car to approach the vehicle, Navarro said.
"That officer exited his vehicle, and the vehicle that he was investigating began to reverse towards the officer. The officer then pulled out his duty weapon and fired into the vehicle," Navarro said.
The officer, who is Hispanic and a 5-year veteran of the department, was "in fear for his safety," according to police.
He struck both Stinnette, who was in the passenger seat, and Tafara Williams, who was in the driver's seat. They both were taken to the hospital, where Stinnette died.
No firearms were found in the vehicle, Navarro said. He did not elaborate on why the vehicle was initially stopped.
You know George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's stories. 10 years after his death, you should also know DJ Henry's.
Both officers involved have been placed on leave, but it was not immediately clear how long they would remain on leave, Navarro said.
The families of Stinnette and Williams have questioned the department's official narrative. Cliftina Johnson, Williams’ mom, said she visited her daughter in the hospital, where she is in serious condition. Her daughter is in her 20s and is a mother of two.
"When I got there, she said, 'Mama, they just shot us for nothing,'" Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. "My daughter said she put her hand up, and if she didn’t put her hand up, she said, 'Mama, I would be dead.'"
Williams, who the coroner’s office did not identify by name, has serious injuries but is expected to recover, the office said.
Illinois State Police's Public Integrity Task Force was investigating the incident, according to the department. The Waukegan Police Department had turned over all reports, body cam and dashcam videos, Navarro said.
Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim said Wednesday he would review the state police investigation and make the "entire case file" available to the public once complete.
"This will take some time," Nerheim said. "We're all upset about this, but I just hope people will stay calm and respect he process."
Dozens of men, women and children marched through Waukegan on Thursday afternoon to demand justice for Williams and Stinnette, walking with fists raised and chanting "Black lives matter."
"Say his name! Marcellis Stinnette! What's her name? Tafara Williams," the group chanted, according to livestreams of the march posted to social media.
More: Protests continue in Rhode Island after moped driver was critically injured in a crash involving police
Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said Wednesday the shooting affected him on a personal level.
"This is tough on this community. I know this family personally. Their great-grandmother used to babysit me. To speak to them about this, yeah it hurts," Cunningham said at a press conference. "I'm a Black man who grew up in that same neighborhood. It could have been me."
Cunningham urged residents to wait for the results of the investigation, saying that there was a lot of "uncertainty" and "rumors flying around."
"I'm nervous for Waukegan. We’ve seen this play out through this country. It just rips through communities, and it takes years to rebuild," he said.
With a population of more than 86,000, Waukegan is majority Hispanic or Latino and about a quarter non-Hispanic white and a quarter Black, according to the Census Bureau.
The city is about 15 miles south of Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Jacob Blake, 29, was shot in the back multiple times as he was getting into a car, triggering unrest in the city and sparking protests around the nation.
Of the more than 5,700 people police have shot since 2015, 24% were Black, even though Black Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, according to a Washington Post database of fatal shootings by on-duty police officers.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-10-22--President Trump weighing firing of FBI Director Christopher Wray after election

President Donald Trump is considering a number of key staff changes after the election , including the dismissal of FBI Director Christopher Wray , two administration officials said Thursday .
Removing Wray would rock the law enforcement agency yet again , three years after the firing of FBI Director James Comey .
Trump also has expressed displeasure with Defense Secretary Mark Esper and more recent frustration with Attorney General William Barr who has so far not responded to the president ’ s repeated public appeals for the attorney general to take action against his political rivals related to unsubstantiated claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Wray , who Trump selected to replace Comey following his 2017 dismissal related to the then-director ’ s management of the Russia investigation , is the subject of much criticism from the president .
The discussions about Wray ’ s possible removal were first reported by the Washington Post .
Two officials , who spoke on the condition of anonymity , said Trump regards Wray as having gone out of his way to separate himself from the president on multiple occasions .
Late last year , Trump rebuked Wray following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s report highly critical of the FBI work in the the Russia investigation that shadowed much of Trump ’ s presidency .
Trump appeared to threaten the FBI director , when in an interview with ABC News Wray affirmed a key finding in the report , indicating that the Russia inquiry was opened with the “ appropriate predication and authorization.
“ Asked if he thought Trump ’ s campaign was unfairly targeted in the Russia investigation , Wray said : “ I do not.
” “ I don ’ t know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wray was reading , but it sure wasn ’ t the one given to me , ” Trump tweeted then , adding that Wray “ with that kind of attitude will never be able to fix the FBI ... ” More recently , Wray has drawn Trump ’ s ire for his testimony during congressional hearings in September when he highlighted the conclusions of intelligence officials who warned that Russia was actively attempting to denigrate the candidacy of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
At a separate hearing , Wray told lawmakers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread voter fraud , contradicting Trump ’ s repeated claims in the run-up to next month ’ s election .
The FBI director also has crossed Trump in assessing antifa , a far left anti-facist movement , as an ideology and not a terror group .
There also are personal differences between the two , said a person who has seen Trump and Wray in meetings together , referring to their distinct styles and personality , the person said .
In a field of high-profile candidates for the director 's job , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the career prosecutor proved an unlikely final choice , though Trump lavished him with praise when he announced the pick on Twitter .
At that time , Trump described Wray as `` an impeccably qualified individual , and I know that he will again serve his country as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity once the Senate confirms him to lead the FBI . ''
Immediately after his confirmation , Wray plunged into a job that he saw as a mission to restore the FBI 's brand .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitably raises questions about things like brand , '' Wray said in a 2018 interview with USA TODAY .
`` What I try to tell our folks is that while there are a lot of opinions out there about us , the opinions that really matter are the opinions of a jury when one of our agents takes the stand or a judge when he 's being presented with a warrant or community leaders who are having to work side-by-side with our people . ''
When Trump would later turn on his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , he quietly urged the bureau 's agents , analysts and lawyers to tend to their work with a colorful refrain : `` Keep calm and tackle hard . ''

David Jackson and Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

President Trump weighing firing of FBI Director Christopher Wray after election
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump says Wrays testimony on antifa bothered him President Donald Trump says he is bothered by FBI Director Chris Wray's testimony this week that antifa is an ideology, not an organization. (Sept. 18) AP
President Donald Trump is considering a number of key staff changes after the election, including the dismissal of FBI Director Christopher Wray, two administration officials said Thursday.
Removing Wray would rock the law enforcement agency yet again, three years after the firing of FBI Director James Comey.
Trump also has expressed displeasure with Defense Secretary Mark Esper and more recent frustration with Attorney General William Barr who has so far not responded to the president’s repeated public appeals for the attorney general to take action against his political rivals related to unsubstantiated claims of misdeeds related to the 2016 election.
But Wray, who Trump selected to replace Comey following his 2017 dismissal related to the then-director’s management of the Russia investigation, is the subject of much criticism from the president.
The discussions about Wray’s possible removal were first reported by the Washington Post.
Two officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Trump regards Wray as having gone out of his way to separate himself from the president on multiple occasions.
The FBI declined to comment
Late last year, Trump rebuked Wray following the release of a Justice Department inspector general’s report highly critical of the FBI work in the the Russia investigation that shadowed much of Trump’s presidency.
Trump appeared to threaten the FBI director, when in an interview with ABC News Wray affirmed a key finding in the report, indicating that the Russia inquiry was opened with the “appropriate predication and authorization.“
Asked if he thought Trump’s campaign was unfairly targeted in the Russia investigation, Wray said: “I do not.”
“I don’t know what report current Director of the FBI Christopher Wray was reading, but it sure wasn’t the one given to me,” Trump tweeted then, adding that Wray “with that kind of attitude will never be able to fix the FBI...”
More recently, Wray has drawn Trump’s ire for his testimony during congressional hearings in September when he highlighted the conclusions of intelligence officials who warned that Russia was actively attempting to denigrate the candidacy of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
FBI Director: Russia trying to sow discord in US FBI Director Christopher Wray says Russia is trying to influence opinions and sow discord and divisiveness in the U.S. Wray spoke at the opening event of the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. (July 19) AP
At a separate hearing, Wray told lawmakers that he was not aware of evidence indicating widespread voter fraud, contradicting Trump’s repeated claims in the run-up to next month’s election. The FBI director also has crossed Trump in assessing antifa, a far left anti-facist movement, as an ideology and not a terror group.
'Keep calm and tackle hard'
There also are personal differences between the two, said a person who has seen Trump and Wray in meetings together, referring to their distinct styles and personality, the person said.
In a field of high-profile candidates for the director's job, which included former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the career prosecutor proved an unlikely final choice, though Trump lavished him with praise when he announced the pick on Twitter.
At that time, Trump described Wray as "an impeccably qualified individual, and I know that he will again serve his country as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity once the Senate confirms him to lead the FBI."
Immediately after his confirmation, Wray plunged into a job that he saw as a mission to restore the FBI's brand.
"People talk about criticism, and that inevitably raises questions about things like brand," Wray said in a 2018 interview with USA TODAY. "What I try to tell our folks is that while there are a lot of opinions out there about us, the opinions that really matter are the opinions of a jury when one of our agents takes the stand or a judge when he's being presented with a warrant or community leaders who are having to work side-by-side with our people."
When Trump would later turn on his own director, Wray never returned fire. Instead, he quietly urged the bureau's agents, analysts and lawyers to tend to their work with a colorful refrain: "Keep calm and tackle hard."


usatoday--2020-10-22--'Are you ready for tough questions?' Top moments from Trump's combative interview with Lesley Stahl

'Are you ready for tough questions?' Top moments from Trump's combative interview with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes

WASHINGTON – “ 60 Minutes ” host Lesley Stahl started her interview President Donald Trump with a question about the interview itself : “ Are you ready for some tough questions ?
” Trump responded by asking for “ fairness '' and wondering aloud if she asked Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tough questions too , a probe he 'd repeat throughout the 38-minute contentious interview the two had Tuesday .
Trump has used the interview , which he abruptly cut short , to continue attacks on the media ahead of the final presidential debate .
The interview , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was released early by Trump on Thursday , when he told his Twitter followers to “ look at the bias , hatred , and rudeness ” from Stahl and CBS , an accusation not supported by the video .
The White House had its own camera running during the interview , ostensibly for archival purposes , and in releasing its own tape of the interview , violated an agreement with CBS , the station said .
The interview will still be broadcast on `` 60 Minutes '' on Sunday .
The program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all four national candidates : Trump and Vice President Mike Pence , as well as Biden and running mate Kamala Harris .
Here are some of the top moments from Stahl ’ s interview with Trump : ‘ You would never say that to Biden ’ The president repeatedly insisted Stahl would not have asked similar 'hard ' questions to Biden .
“ You would never say that to Biden , ” Trump said when Stahl challenged him on his claim he “ created the greatest economy in the history of the country.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden like you interview me , ” Trump said later in the interview , accusing Stahl of “ protecting ” Biden .
The media would rather ask Biden what kind of ice cream he liked , Trump said , than about unverified allegations against his son Hunter Biden .
After Vice President Mike Pence entered the room , Trump asked him about Stahl ’ s questioning .
`` You think she 'd ask questions like this of Joe ? ''
Trump asked his vice president .
Stahl ’ s questions about Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of mask-wearing amid the COVID-19 pandemic drew a sharp response from the president .
“ I 'm watching all these people jammed in together .
And I 'm seeing most of them without masks .
And I 'm wondering the message that you 're sending with these pictures , ” she said .
Trump pivoted to a familiar theme – his “ record-setting rallies ” with “ many , many masks.
” Stahl interjected : “ you used to have bigger rallies.
” “ No , these are much bigger than I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative , you ’ re so negative .
These are the biggest rallies we ’ ve ever had .
You just come in here with that negative attitude , ” Trump said .
Many attendees at the president ’ s rallies neither wear masks nor social distance despite the risk of COVID-19 .
On Obamacare : ‘ I hope that they end it ’ During a back-and-forth about the status of Trump ’ s to-be-released health care plan and whether people with pre-existing conditions would be protected , Stahl asked the president what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the Affordable Care Act , which it 's expected to do in November .
Trump replied , “ I hope that they end it .
It 'll be so good if they end it because we will come up with a plan.
” The Supreme Court is set to add another justice , Judge Amy Coney Barrett next week , filling the vacancy left after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death .
Democrats lack the votes to block the nomination but have centered their opposition to her confirmation around the fate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they say will be overturned by Trump ’ s nominee and the conservative majority on the court .
Barrett declined to answer questions about the legislation during her confirmation hearings .
‘ Why don ’ t you get back to your interview ’ In another exchange , Trump interrupts Stahl ’ s questioning to complain about media coverage of Joe Biden , accusing the media of going soft on the former vice president while he ’ s “ in the midst of a scandal , ” referring to New York Post stories about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stahl responds , “ He ’ s not , ” to which the president replies “ Of course he is , Lesley .
You ’ re like Big tech .
You ’ re protecting him.
” Trump then claims his campaign was spied on , to which Stahl says “ There ’ s no evidence of that.
” She interrupts him to say “ This is ’ 60 Minutes ’ and we can ’ t put on things we can ’ t verify.
” Stahl again says she doesn ’ t know the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president says , “ So why don ’ t you get back to your interview and let ’ s go.
” Stahl and Trump got into another verbal tit-for-tat when Stahl asked whether Trump thinks his tweets and attacks on opponents are turning people off .
Trump responded by asking , “ Where are we sitting ?
” Trump , who intermittently accused Biden of corruption , says the press is “ very biased , very very biased.
” “ You ’ re trying to discredit us , ” she replied .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lesley , ” he said .
In a discussion about partisanship in the U.S. , Trump said the country had been coming together before “ the plague.
” Stahl asked whether he does anything to unify the country , to which he responded , “ I do , I think I do unify the country .
I think I will unify the country .
It ’ s called success.
” She asked if he takes responsibility for the partisanship in America .
“ I ’ d like not to .
Perhaps everybody has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ But when people put out phony witch hunts , when they spy on your campaign , you have to fight back .
And if you don ’ t fight back , you ’ re not sitting here very long , you go back home , you go back home to mommy.
” Stahl asked the president why it seems like he ’ s always attacking others , when Trump butted in .
“ I don ’ t think so .
It ’ s not attack .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ You ’ re very aggressive , ” she says .
“ I don ’ t view it that way .
I ’ m defending myself and I ’ m defending the institution of the presidency , ” he replied .
‘ I didn ’ t want this kind of interview ’ Before Trump abruptly ended the interview , Trump attacked Stahl one more time .
“ I didn ’ t want to have this kind of interview , ” Stahl said .
“ Of course you did , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t , ” she replied .
Trump said Stahl `` brought up a lot of subjects that were inappropriately brought up . ''
“ You ’ re the president , don ’ t you think you should be accountable to the American people ?
” she asked .
Trump said he doesn ’ t mind “ tough questions ” from Stahl but that Biden has “ never been asked a question that ’ s hard.
” “ Forget him for a minute , ” she said .
“ You ’ re the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying , “ Excuse me , Lesley , you started with me ‘ Are you ready for tough questions ?
’ That ’ s no way to talk.
” In the final seconds of the clip , a voice off-camera said they have 5 minutes until Pence joins the interview .
That ’ s when Trump says “ I think we have enough .
”

‘Are you ready for tough questions?’ Top moments from Trump's combative interview with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes
Show Caption Hide Caption Election 2020: Final presidential debate to be moderated by Kristen Welker Kristen Welker is a co-anchor of NBC's "Weekend TODAY" and NBC News White House correspondent. She will moderate the final presidential debate. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – “60 Minutes” host Lesley Stahl started her interview President Donald Trump with a question about the interview itself: “Are you ready for some tough questions?”
Trump responded by asking for “fairness" and wondering aloud if she asked Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden tough questions too, a probe he'd repeat throughout the 38-minute contentious interview the two had Tuesday.
Trump has used the interview, which he abruptly cut short, to continue attacks on the media ahead of the final presidential debate. The interview, which originally was set to air on Sunday, was released early by Trump on Thursday, when he told his Twitter followers to “look at the bias, hatred, and rudeness” from Stahl and CBS, an accusation not supported by the video.
The White House had its own camera running during the interview, ostensibly for archival purposes, and in releasing its own tape of the interview, violated an agreement with CBS, the station said.
The interview will still be broadcast on "60 Minutes" on Sunday. The program is scheduled to air taped interviews with all four national candidates: Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, as well as Biden and running mate Kamala Harris.
Trump: Trump releases '60 Minutes' tape of contentious interview with Lesley Stahl
Here are some of the top moments from Stahl’s interview with Trump:
‘You would never say that to Biden’
The president repeatedly insisted Stahl would not have asked similar 'hard' questions to Biden.
“You would never say that to Biden,” Trump said when Stahl challenged him on his claim he “created the greatest economy in the history of the country.”
“I wish you would interview Joe Biden like you interview me,” Trump said later in the interview, accusing Stahl of “protecting” Biden.
The media would rather ask Biden what kind of ice cream he liked, Trump said, than about unverified allegations against his son Hunter Biden.
After Vice President Mike Pence entered the room, Trump asked him about Stahl’s questioning.
"You think she'd ask questions like this of Joe?" Trump asked his vice president.
Questions about rallies and COVID-19
Stahl’s questions about Trump’s rallies and their participants’ lack of mask-wearing amid the COVID-19 pandemic drew a sharp response from the president.
“I'm watching all these people jammed in together. And I'm seeing most of them without masks. And I'm wondering the message that you're sending with these pictures,” she said.
Trump pivoted to a familiar theme – his “record-setting rallies” with “many, many masks.”
Stahl interjected: “you used to have bigger rallies.”
“No, these are much bigger than I ever had. You’re so negative, you’re so negative. These are the biggest rallies we’ve ever had. You just come in here with that negative attitude,” Trump said.
Many attendees at the president’s rallies neither wear masks nor social distance despite the risk of COVID-19.
On Obamacare: ‘I hope that they end it’
During a back-and-forth about the status of Trump’s to-be-released health care plan and whether people with pre-existing conditions would be protected, Stahl asked the president what would happen if the Supreme Court took up the Affordable Care Act, which it's expected to do in November.
Trump replied, “I hope that they end it. It'll be so good if they end it because we will come up with a plan.”
The Supreme Court is set to add another justice, Judge Amy Coney Barrett next week, filling the vacancy left after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. Democrats lack the votes to block the nomination but have centered their opposition to her confirmation around the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which they say will be overturned by Trump’s nominee and the conservative majority on the court. Barrett declined to answer questions about the legislation during her confirmation hearings.
‘Why don’t you get back to your interview’
In another exchange, Trump interrupts Stahl’s questioning to complain about media coverage of Joe Biden, accusing the media of going soft on the former vice president while he’s “in the midst of a scandal,” referring to New York Post stories about Hunter Biden’s foreign contacts.
Stahl responds, “He’s not,” to which the president replies “Of course he is, Lesley. You’re like Big tech. You’re protecting him.”
Trump then claims his campaign was spied on, to which Stahl says “There’s no evidence of that.” She interrupts him to say “This is ’60 Minutes’ and we can’t put on things we can’t verify.”
Stahl again says she doesn’t know the accuracy of Trump’s claims before the president says, “So why don’t you get back to your interview and let’s go.”
‘Where are we sitting?’
Stahl and Trump got into another verbal tit-for-tat when Stahl asked whether Trump thinks his tweets and attacks on opponents are turning people off.
Trump responded by asking, “Where are we sitting?”
“In the Roosevelt Room,” Stahl responds.
“Of what?” asks the president.
“The White House,” Stahl says.
Trump, who intermittently accused Biden of corruption, says the press is “very biased, very very biased.”
“You’re trying to discredit us,” she replied.
“You’re discrediting yourself, Lesley,” he said.
“No, you are,” she shot back.
‘You go back home to mommy’
In a discussion about partisanship in the U.S., Trump said the country had been coming together before “the plague.”
Stahl asked whether he does anything to unify the country, to which he responded, “I do, I think I do unify the country. I think I will unify the country. It’s called success.”
She asked if he takes responsibility for the partisanship in America.
“I’d like not to. Perhaps everybody has to take a little responsibility for it,” he said. “But when people put out phony witch hunts, when they spy on your campaign, you have to fight back. And if you don’t fight back, you’re not sitting here very long, you go back home, you go back home to mommy.”
‘You’re very aggressive’
Stahl asked the president why it seems like he’s always attacking others, when Trump butted in.
“I don’t think so. It’s not attack. It’s defense against attacks,” he said.
“You’re very aggressive,” she says.
“I don’t view it that way. I’m defending myself and I’m defending the institution of the presidency,” he replied.
‘I didn’t want this kind of interview’
Before Trump abruptly ended the interview, Trump attacked Stahl one more time.
“I didn’t want to have this kind of interview,” Stahl said.
“Of course you did,” he said. “No I didn’t,” she replied.
Trump said Stahl "brought up a lot of subjects that were inappropriately brought up."
“You’re the president, don’t you think you should be accountable to the American people?” she asked.
Trump said he doesn’t mind “tough questions” from Stahl but that Biden has “never been asked a question that’s hard.”
“Forget him for a minute,” she said. “You’re the president.”
He then interrupted her, saying, “Excuse me, Lesley, you started with me ‘Are you ready for tough questions?’ That’s no way to talk.”
In the final seconds of the clip, a voice off-camera said they have 5 minutes until Pence joins the interview. That’s when Trump says “I think we have enough.”


usatoday--2020-10-23--COVID-19 herd immunity strategy fits Donald Trump's failures in coronavirus war

A White House struggling to show competence as a pandemic surges in the midst of a reelection campaign has been offered a remarkable solution : Do next to nothing , and everything will be just fine .
The fix bandied about in the Oval Office , according to news reports , involves a concept known as herd immunity .
Epidemiologists say proper herd immunity is the goal of a new vaccine , where widespread immunization slows the spread of a disease until it eventually dies out .
What 's being discussed in the White House is a variant of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine , pandemic restrictions should be lifted on Americans thought to be at minimal risk of death from COVID-19 — like younger people — allowing them to `` live their lives normally '' and risk infection .
The resulting cascade of theoretically mild cases , the argument goes , would use natural infection to hasten the same necessary herd immunity .
This is a convenient solution for Donald Trump .
It fits neatly within his failure to produce a national plan for curtailing coronavirus with rapid testing , contact tracing and isolating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mantra that states fully reopen for economic recovery , even as the disease spreads .
There 's just one problem .
Infectious disease experts say it 's junk science , and worse , would risk doubling or tripling the number of Americans dead from COVID-19 .
Marc Lipsitch , director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard T.H .
Chan School of Public Health , admonishingly labeled the idea as `` policy-based evidence-making rather than evidence-based policymaking . ''
`` ( It ) is the most amazing combination of pixie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Michael Osterholm , head of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota .
The idea , in the absence of a widely distributed vaccine , of lifting restrictions on all but the most vulnerable Americans , such as the elderly or medically frail , has been dubbed `` focused protection '' by three scientists who drafted what they call The Great Barrington Declaration.The three recently discussed their ideas with administration officials .
They argue that pandemic restrictions on gatherings and indoor activities are creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other things , increases in poverty and mental health problems .
News reports say the Barrington theory has been promoted within the White House by Scott Atlas , a neuroradiologist who has become Trump 's favorite health adviser , overshadowing experts such as the nation ’ s foremost infectious disease specialist , Dr. Anthony Fauci ( called a `` disaster '' by Trump on Monday ) .
An example of Atlas ' expertise was on display last weekend when he asserted on Twitter that masks do n't stop disease spread .
The social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misinformation .
Research shows that less than 10 % of the population has developed antibodies from coronavirus infection and is potentially immunized , where roughly 60 % is necessary to achieve herd immunity .
Allowing that many people to be infected , given the COVID-19 fatality rate , would lead to hundreds of thousands of additional deaths .
Even then , it remains unclear whether immunity from infection lasts very long .
Reinfection cases , though rare , have emerged .
Nor are younger people immune from serious illness .
About 32 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those findings have become reality in places like La Crosse , Wisconsin , where coronavirus infections that swept through the city 's three colleges this fall have spread to nursing homes that previously had been untouched by the pandemic : 19 deaths among care patients followed .
Moreover , research shows that infections among young people often translate to infections among older people .
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released this month describes how positive COVID-19 rates for those ages 20-39 preceded a wave of illness among those 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about all of this ?
`` The cure can not be worse than the problem itself , '' he said this week .
He 's right about one thing .
The `` cure '' under White House consideration would be much worse than the coronavirus problem , as terrible as it is .

COVID-19 herd immunity strategy fits Donald Trump's failures in coronavirus war Our View: 'Focused protection' by three scientists' Great Barrington Declaration offers president a convenient solution.
COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A White House struggling to show competence as a pandemic surges in the midst of a reelection campaign has been offered a remarkable solution: Do next to nothing, and everything will be just fine.
The fix bandied about in the Oval Office, according to news reports, involves a concept known as herd immunity. Epidemiologists say proper herd immunity is the goal of a new vaccine, where widespread immunization slows the spread of a disease until it eventually dies out.
What's being discussed in the White House is a variant of this. It argues that while waiting for a vaccine, pandemic restrictions should be lifted on Americans thought to be at minimal risk of death from COVID-19 — like younger people — allowing them to "live their lives normally" and risk infection. The resulting cascade of theoretically mild cases, the argument goes, would use natural infection to hasten the same necessary herd immunity.
'Pixie dust and pseudoscience'
This is a convenient solution for Donald Trump. It fits neatly within his failure to produce a national plan for curtailing coronavirus with rapid testing, contact tracing and isolating the infected. And it endorses his mantra that states fully reopen for economic recovery, even as the disease spreads.
There's just one problem. Infectious disease experts say it's junk science, and worse, would risk doubling or tripling the number of Americans dead from COVID-19.
Marc Lipsitch, director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, admonishingly labeled the idea as "policy-based evidence-making rather than evidence-based policymaking."
"(It) is the most amazing combination of pixie dust and pseudoscience I've ever seen," said Michael Osterholm, head of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
'Focused protection'
The idea, in the absence of a widely distributed vaccine, of lifting restrictions on all but the most vulnerable Americans, such as the elderly or medically frail, has been dubbed "focused protection" by three scientists who drafted what they call The Great Barrington Declaration. The three recently discussed their ideas with administration officials. They argue that pandemic restrictions on gatherings and indoor activities are creating more harm than good with, among other things, increases in poverty and mental health problems.
News reports say the Barrington theory has been promoted within the White House by Scott Atlas, a neuroradiologist who has become Trump's favorite health adviser, overshadowing experts such as the nation’s foremost infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci (called a "disaster" by Trump on Monday).
An example of Atlas' expertise was on display last weekend when he asserted on Twitter that masks don't stop disease spread. The social media site pulled the tweet for spreading misinformation.
Research shows that less than 10% of the population has developed antibodies from coronavirus infection and is potentially immunized, where roughly 60% is necessary to achieve herd immunity. Allowing that many people to be infected, given the COVID-19 fatality rate, would lead to hundreds of thousands of additional deaths.
Even then, it remains unclear whether immunity from infection lasts very long. Reinfection cases, though rare, have emerged.
Nor are younger people immune from serious illness. About 32% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are under 50. Those findings have become reality in places like La Crosse, Wisconsin, where coronavirus infections that swept through the city's three colleges this fall have spread to nursing homes that previously had been untouched by the pandemic: 19 deaths among care patients followed.
Moreover, research shows that infections among young people often translate to infections among older people. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released this month describes how positive COVID-19 rates for those ages 20-39 preceded a wave of illness among those 60 and older.
How does Trump feel about all of this? "The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself," he said this week.
He's right about one thing. The "cure" under White House consideration would be much worse than the coronavirus problem, as terrible as it is.


usatoday--2020-10-22--Former NFL star Dana Stubblefield sentenced to 15 years to life for rape conviction

Former NFL star Dana Stubblefield on Thursday was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for raping a developmentally disabled woman at his home in 2015 .
In July , a jury in San Jose , California , found the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle guilty of rape and the use of a gun during the commission of a felony in luring the victim to his home with the promise of a babysitting job .
Stubblefield , 49 , was a first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1993 and went on to win Defensive Rookie of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a member of the 49ers team that beat the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX in 1995 .
In addition to his three Pro Bowl appearances , he was named first team All-Pro and AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 .
After leaving San Francisco as a free agent after the 1997 season , Stubblefield played three seasons in Washington and returned for two more in San Francisco before spending his final year in Oakland .
In 2003 , the NFL fined Stubblefield and three other Raiders for testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a federal judge fined him $ 5,000 and placed him on two years ’ probation for lying to an IRS agent about his steroid use as part of the BALCO investigation .

Former NFL star Dana Stubblefield sentenced to 15 years to life for rape conviction
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL power rankings 7.0: Cowboys come crashing down and there's a new number one SportsPulse: The Cowboys are currently a bottom five team and we have a new number one after the Green Bay Packers got throttled by Tampa Bay. Mackenzie Salmon reveals our biggest risers and fallers in this week's power rankings. USA TODAY
Former NFL star Dana Stubblefield on Thursday was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for raping a developmentally disabled woman at his home in 2015.
In July, a jury in San Jose, California, found the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle guilty of rape and the use of a gun during the commission of a felony in luring the victim to his home with the promise of a babysitting job.
Stubblefield, 49, was a first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1993 and went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors that season. He was also a member of the 49ers team that beat the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX in 1995. In addition to his three Pro Bowl appearances, he was named first team All-Pro and AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1997.
After leaving San Francisco as a free agent after the 1997 season, Stubblefield played three seasons in Washington and returned for two more in San Francisco before spending his final year in Oakland.
In 2003, the NFL fined Stubblefield and three other Raiders for testing positive for steroids. Five years later, a federal judge fined him $5,000 and placed him on two years’ probation for lying to an IRS agent about his steroid use as part of the BALCO investigation.


usatoday--2020-10-22--Opinion: Raiders have become a COVID-19 headache for NFL, and they might have to pay

Two times might be a coincidence , three times a trend .
Four cases of running reckless with the NFL ’ s COVID-19 mitigation plan ?
There 's the hammer , waiting to be dropped .
The Las Vegas Raiders are under review for violating conditions of the league ’ s pandemic protocols , and it is not pretty .
The positive test that resulted in right tackle Trent Brown ’ s placement on the COVID-19 reserve list this week is compounded by video evidence that revealed violations of “ intensive protocol ” measures during practices that included several players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not adhering to social distancing on the sidelines , a league official with knowledge of the probe told USA TODAY Sports under the condition of anonymity .
The person did not want to be identified because the investigation is active .
“ It is this kind of non-compliance that puts the season in jeopardy , ” the person said .
The review , conducted by the NFL and NFL Players Association , also turned up evidence that Brown removed the electronic contact tracing device that players and staff members are required to wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unlike the Tennessee Titans , who have not been disciplined — but still could face a fine — after an outbreak resulted in at least 24 players and staff members testing positive for COVID-19 , the Raiders are seemingly on the verge of drawing NFL punishment that could take into account other violations .
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell concluded that the Titans case was “ a teaching moment.
” That might not be the final analysis with the Raiders .
They are surely living up to their reputation as renegades .
Consider : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he contracted COVID-19 before training camp , was among five NFL coaches fined $ 100,000 after Week 2 for not wearing masks properly .
The Raiders were also fined $ 250,000 .
• The Raiders were fined $ 50,000 for allowing a non-credentialed team employee into the locker room at Allegiant Stadium following the Week 2 victory against the New Orleans Saints .
• Raiders tight end Darren Waller was fined $ 30,000 and nine teammates , including quarterback Derek Carr and tight end Jason Witten , were fined $ 15,000 each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event in Henderson , Nevada , that benefited Waller ’ s foundation .
Now there ’ s another matter that raises questions about whether the team ’ s culture is at fault for the cases that have already resulted in the franchise and individuals drawing fines totaling $ 565,000 – and likely counting – while threatening to put the team at a competitive disadvantage for Sunday ’ s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
Said the league official , “ This is self-inflicted.
” Brown ’ s apparent non-compliance regarding the electronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the review was first reported by the NFL Network , then later confirmed by USA TODAY Sports .
The collection of video surveillance from security cameras at NFL team headquarters is now standard for COVID-19 reviews , added to league policy after the Titans ’ outbreak .
On Wednesday , the rest of the Raiders ’ starting offensive line was sent home for isolation due to close contact with Brown .
Also , cornerback Damon Arnette was placed on the COVID-19 list and safety Johnathan Abram sent home for isolation due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be eligible to play on Sunday provided they don ’ t test positive during daily testing over a five-day window and pass a point-of-care test on game day .
Whether they are notably hurt by missing a week of practices will provide an interesting subplot for Sunday , given that the offensive line will be tested by blitz packages crafted by Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles , whose No .
1-ranked unit befuddled Aaron Rodgers last Sunday in helping to hand the Green Bay Packers their first loss of the season .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys to be healthy , ” Bowles said on Thursday when asked if he is monitoring the COVID-19 issues impacting the Raiders .
“ They ’ ve played a lot of different guys this year , they can swing guys around .
We ’ ve just got to be ready to play our game.
” The league , which this month shuffled its schedule amid multiple COVID-19 predicaments , is determined to stage Raiders ’ game against the Buccaneers this weekend – albeit by moving the matchup out of the `` Sunday Night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was switched to 4:05 p.m. EDT , while the Seattle Seahawks-Arizona Cardinals game was moved to prime time .
The NFL , concerned that issues with the Raiders could escalate before Sunday and wary of having to reschedule the game , made the switch to Seahawks-Cardinals to ensure that a game is available for the slot that consistently attracts the most viewers ( averaging 17.5 million this season ) for any prime-time TV program each week .
So , the league may have mitigated one risk by taking the Raiders-Bucs off prime time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lurk when it comes to the Raiders .

Opinion: Raiders have become a COVID-19 headache for NFL, and they might have to pay
Show Caption Hide Caption Lorenzo's Locks: Three best bets you should consider for NFL Week 7 SportsPulse: Lorenzo is looking to bounce back after his first sub .500 week of the season. Here are his best bets for Week 7 in the NFL. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Two times might be a coincidence, three times a trend.
Four cases of running reckless with the NFL’s COVID-19 mitigation plan?
There's the hammer, waiting to be dropped.
The Las Vegas Raiders are under review for violating conditions of the league’s pandemic protocols, and it is not pretty.
The positive test that resulted in right tackle Trent Brown’s placement on the COVID-19 reserve list this week is compounded by video evidence that revealed violations of “intensive protocol” measures during practices that included several players not wearing masks or face shields and not adhering to social distancing on the sidelines, a league official with knowledge of the probe told USA TODAY Sports under the condition of anonymity. The person did not want to be identified because the investigation is active.
“It is this kind of non-compliance that puts the season in jeopardy,” the person said.
The review, conducted by the NFL and NFL Players Association, also turned up evidence that Brown removed the electronic contact tracing device that players and staff members are required to wear as a tool for mitigating spread.
Unlike the Tennessee Titans, who have not been disciplined — but still could face a fine — after an outbreak resulted in at least 24 players and staff members testing positive for COVID-19, the Raiders are seemingly on the verge of drawing NFL punishment that could take into account other violations. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell concluded that the Titans case was “a teaching moment.” That might not be the final analysis with the Raiders.
They are surely living up to their reputation as renegades. Consider:
• Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who said he contracted COVID-19 before training camp, was among five NFL coaches fined $100,000 after Week 2 for not wearing masks properly. The Raiders were also fined $250,000.
• The Raiders were fined $50,000 for allowing a non-credentialed team employee into the locker room at Allegiant Stadium following the Week 2 victory against the New Orleans Saints.
• Raiders tight end Darren Waller was fined $30,000 and nine teammates, including quarterback Derek Carr and tight end Jason Witten, were fined $15,000 each for not wearing masks during a charity event in Henderson, Nevada, that benefited Waller’s foundation.
Now there’s another matter that raises questions about whether the team’s culture is at fault for the cases that have already resulted in the franchise and individuals drawing fines totaling $565,000 – and likely counting – while threatening to put the team at a competitive disadvantage for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Said the league official, “This is self-inflicted.”
NFL WEEK 7 PICKS: Will Raiders prevail against Buccaneers?
Brown’s apparent non-compliance regarding the electronic device and the use of video evidence in the review was first reported by the NFL Network, then later confirmed by USA TODAY Sports. The collection of video surveillance from security cameras at NFL team headquarters is now standard for COVID-19 reviews, added to league policy after the Titans’ outbreak.
On Wednesday, the rest of the Raiders’ starting offensive line was sent home for isolation due to close contact with Brown. Also, cornerback Damon Arnette was placed on the COVID-19 list and safety Johnathan Abram sent home for isolation due to contact tracing.
The isolated players would be eligible to play on Sunday provided they don’t test positive during daily testing over a five-day window and pass a point-of-care test on game day. Whether they are notably hurt by missing a week of practices will provide an interesting subplot for Sunday, given that the offensive line will be tested by blitz packages crafted by Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, whose No. 1-ranked unit befuddled Aaron Rodgers last Sunday in helping to hand the Green Bay Packers their first loss of the season.
“First and foremost, you want those guys to be healthy,” Bowles said on Thursday when asked if he is monitoring the COVID-19 issues impacting the Raiders. “They’ve played a lot of different guys this year, they can swing guys around. We’ve just got to be ready to play our game.”
The league, which this month shuffled its schedule amid multiple COVID-19 predicaments, is determined to stage Raiders’ game against the Buccaneers this weekend – albeit by moving the matchup out of the "Sunday Night Football" slot. The Bucs-Raiders matchup was switched to 4:05 p.m. EDT, while the Seattle Seahawks-Arizona Cardinals game was moved to prime time.
The NFL, concerned that issues with the Raiders could escalate before Sunday and wary of having to reschedule the game, made the switch to Seahawks-Cardinals to ensure that a game is available for the slot that consistently attracts the most viewers (averaging 17.5 million this season) for any prime-time TV program each week.
So, the league may have mitigated one risk by taking the Raiders-Bucs off prime time.
Yet other risks always seem to lurk when it comes to the Raiders.
Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.


usatoday--2020-10-23--'He was really an easy pet': Florida woman shares story of her family's discovery of a rare two-head

Florida resident Kay Rogers says her cat brings in `` presents '' all the time from the outdoors .
The cat 's latest find was unlike any other : A rare two-headed snake .
`` This day , my daughter sent me a message : 'Mom , she brought in a snake and it has two heads , ' '' Rogers told WFTS Tampa Bay .
`` I think this tops it , but she 's an adventurous cat , for sure . ''
Rogers and her daughter put the snake in a plastic container while reptile specialists guided Rogers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday confirmed it is now monitoring the southern black racer .
Two-headed snakes are the product of an uncommon `` phenomenon '' called bicephaly , which happens when two monozygotic twins fail to separate during embryo development and leave the heads conjoined , FWC said .
`` Two-headed snakes are unlikely to survive in the wild as the two brains make different decisions that inhibit the ability to feed or escape from predators , '' the agency wrote on Facebook .
The two heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in different directions , FWC said .
Flying snakes undulate in midair while gliding from trees : Virginia Tech researchers used motion-capture cameras to find out why .
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History , southern black racers are popular in Florida .
They are nonvenomous but will bite to defend themselves .
The reptiles are `` opportunistic predators whose diet is as varied as their choice of habitat , '' according to the museum 's website .
In Florida , southern black racers usually eat frogs , lizards and small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the snake was `` very uncoordinated '' when she tried to feed it , with one head going toward the food while the other pulled in the opposite direction .
But she still enjoyed housing the snake .
`` He was really an easy pet .
I really just wanted to kind of see him thrive and have people that would take care of him and give him the best chance .
I know captivity was the best hope for him , '' she told the station .

'He was really an easy pet': Florida woman shares story of her family's discovery of a rare two-headed snake
Show Caption Hide Caption Flying snakes: Researchers have concluded they undulate in the air The mystery behind flying snakes has been solved by a team of researchers from Virginia Tech. USA TODAY
Florida resident Kay Rogers says her cat brings in "presents" all the time from the outdoors.
The cat's latest find was unlike any other: A rare two-headed snake.
"This day, my daughter sent me a message: 'Mom, she brought in a snake and it has two heads,'" Rogers told WFTS Tampa Bay. "I think this tops it, but she's an adventurous cat, for sure."
Rogers and her daughter put the snake in a plastic container while reptile specialists guided Rogers on how to take care of it.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on Wednesday confirmed it is now monitoring the southern black racer.
Two-headed snakes are the product of an uncommon "phenomenon" called bicephaly, which happens when two monozygotic twins fail to separate during embryo development and leave the heads conjoined, FWC said.
"Two-headed snakes are unlikely to survive in the wild as the two brains make different decisions that inhibit the ability to feed or escape from predators," the agency wrote on Facebook.
The two heads flick their tongues and react to movement in different directions, FWC said.
Flying snakes undulate in midair while gliding from trees: Virginia Tech researchers used motion-capture cameras to find out why.
According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, southern black racers are popular in Florida. They are nonvenomous but will bite to defend themselves. The reptiles are "opportunistic predators whose diet is as varied as their choice of habitat," according to the museum's website.
In Florida, southern black racers usually eat frogs, lizards and small snakes.
Rogers told the TV station the snake was "very uncoordinated" when she tried to feed it, with one head going toward the food while the other pulled in the opposite direction.
But she still enjoyed housing the snake.
"He was really an easy pet. I really just wanted to kind of see him thrive and have people that would take care of him and give him the best chance. I know captivity was the best hope for him," she told the station.


usatoday--2020-10-22--Why these Latinos are voting for Trump, despite his anti-immigrant attacks

Marcos Marte supported Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016 .
But after the bitter Democratic primary that left Hillary Clinton as the party ’ s presidential nominee , the son of Dominican immigrants cast his ballot for Green Party candidate Jill Stein .
This year , Marte , 27 , of Union City , New Jersey , will complete an even longer political journey : He 's voting for President Donald Trump , attracted by the Republican Party 's `` Judeo-Christian '' values and the president 's economic record before the coronavirus hit .
He says he also likes Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restricting illegal immigration .
“ We have to elevate ourselves and I think Donald Trump is the only president that I ’ ve seen in my adult life that is putting America ’ s citizens ' values front forward , '' said Marte , who works in the banking industry .
`` No matter what , we can still get out of where we are and empower ourselves to make our lives better ...
He is putting that right in front of us.
” Marte is a member of what may be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latinos who say they 're backing Trump despite four years of restrictive immigration policies and what many call racist invective aimed toward Hispanic people .
From the start of his presidential campaign in 2015 , Trump warned of rapists and drug dealers streaming over the border from Mexico .
In the White House , he 's moved to curb both legal and illegal immigration and questioned why the U.S. should take in people from `` s -- -hole countries '' like El Salvador and Haiti .
Yet Trump received between 20 to 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to various exit polls , and he 's poised to get around the same in 2020 .
One Quinnipiac University poll last month had Trump leading Joe Biden among Latinos in the battleground state of Florida by 45 % to 43 % , though the difference was within the margin of error .
“ I haven ’ t seen any data to suggest that his numbers among Latinos are better than in 2016 , but what surprises me is that they are not worse , ’ ’ said Adrian Pantoja , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Decisions and professor of political and Chicano studies at Pitzer College in California .
'We 'll protect their right to vote ' : How election officials are preparing for voter intimidation tactics Mail voting : We mailed 64 letters , packages in battleground states to check on mail delays .
Here ’ s what we found Latinos are not monolithic , of course .
A 2018 national survey from the Pew Research Center found that voters of Puerto Rican and Mexican backgrounds were more likely to be Democrats , while those of Cuban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communist dictatorship , leaned Republican .
In interviews , Latinos who back Trump cite the president 's business background and the record employment numbers for Black and Hispanic Americans before the pandemic .
They like the take-no-prisoners `` energy '' he brings to the office , even if that combative style has turned off other voters .
Fernando Alonso , an attorney from Oradell , New Jersey , whose parents emigrated from Cuba decades ago , said the violence that 's broken out at some racial justice protests has also turned off voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent regimes in their home countries .
Trump has blamed the unrest on Democrats .
`` Safety is really important to them , '' said Alonso , who leads the Bergen County ( New Jersey ) Hispanic Republican Association .
`` When they see those things on television , the riots , it ’ s not something they came to the United States to be part of.
” Latinos make up the largest minority voting group in the country , with 32 million projected to be eligible to vote in next month ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily win a majority of Hispanic voters nationwide .
A Pew survey released earlier this month found him leading among registered Hispanic voters 63 % to 29 % .
Still , the president has supporters like Kennith Gonzalez , 19 , whose father escaped Cuba on a raft he built in 1994 .
Gonzalez , a product of the Cuban American community that 's flourished in and around Union City , will vote in his first presidential election next month and cast his ballot for Trump .
A political science student at Seton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaks to often cite the economy as their main issue , and he points to the improved jobless rate as well as gains in the stock market during Trump 's first term .
Unemployment for Hispanics in the U.S. fell to a record low 3.9 % in September 2019 .
That soared to 18.9 % in July and stood at 10.3 % last month , as the economic crisis sparked by the pandemic hit Black and Latino communities particularly hard .
But Gonzalez said Trump should n't be blamed for that fallout : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for better economic opportunity and that is what they have received under Trump . ''
Fact check : 'Living under minority rule ' post contains 6 true facts on Trump , Barrett Gonzalez said he 's in favor of immigration reform that would make it easier for people to come to the United States lawfully , acknowledging that the country ’ s current system forces many to wait years before they can become legal residents .
But Trump wasn ’ t entirely wrong when he spoke of some undocumented immigrants being criminals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Republican Committee .
Even undocumented immigrants he knows are frustrated with the lawbreakers in their community , he said .
“ If you go and speak to somebody who is not here legally , who works and pays taxes and really loves America and really loves what we stand for , they are very angry at the reputation that illegal immigrants have here in America , '' he said .
“ We need people in here that are going to help America thrive and not hold America down.
” Investigation : We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee ballot fraud : It 's not a 2020 election threat Denise Gonzalez ( no relation to Kennith ) said most of her life she was a “ closeted Republican , ’ ’ hiding her allegiance from Puerto Rican relatives who usually vote Democratic .
The retired Marine from Sicklerville , in Camden County , New Jersey , said she has always been in tune with the Republican platforms of smaller government and describes herself as a staunch constitutionalist .
She voted for Trump in 2016 and will back him this year as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president for bills passed this spring to give businesses and families $ 2 trillion in coronavirus relief , money that helped keep millions of employees on payrolls nationwide .
“ He has done more for people of color and for Americans in general , ’ ’ she said .
Trump may not be an “ eloquent orator , ’ ’ Gonzalez said , but she defended him against critics who call him racist .
That 's partly based on her experience more than 20 years ago , when she worked as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casinos in Atlantic City .
“ I ’ ve met him personally and many of his executives were extremely diverse , ’ ’ she said .
“ Trump used to show up on his properties and would ask people at the bottom of the totem pole what can we do for you , how can we help you , how can we make your job easier ?
He cares.
” Marte said he was more interested four years ago in how he would pay for college .
That led him to Sanders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates and free tuition for state colleges and universities .
Now , other issues have become important to him .
He supports Trump ’ s plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to stop sex trafficking and drug smuggling .
Even under Trump ’ s stricter immigration policies , he said , members of his extended family have been able to move to the United States legally .
“ All of them are working , all of them have their apartments , all of them have provided for themselves , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dream is gone , it ’ s sad to say , because I ’ ve witnessed people who have immigrated to this country , ’ ’ he said .
Monsy Alvarado is the immigration reporter for NorthJersey.com .
Email : alvarado @ northjersey.com Twitter : @ monsyalvarado

Why these Latinos are voting for Trump, despite his anti-immigrant attacks
Show Caption Hide Caption Marcos Marte says Trump is good for the economy and the Latino community Marcos Marte likes Trump's record on the economy and thinks some of his immigration policies have been better for the United States. Anne-Marie Caruso, NorthJersey
Marcos Marte supported Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016. But after the bitter Democratic primary that left Hillary Clinton as the party’s presidential nominee, the son of Dominican immigrants cast his ballot for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
This year, Marte, 27, of Union City, New Jersey, will complete an even longer political journey: He's voting for President Donald Trump, attracted by the Republican Party's "Judeo-Christian" values and the president's economic record before the coronavirus hit. He says he also likes Trump's plans for securing the southern border and restricting illegal immigration.
“We have to elevate ourselves and I think Donald Trump is the only president that I’ve seen in my adult life that is putting America’s citizens' values front forward," said Marte, who works in the banking industry. "No matter what, we can still get out of where we are and empower ourselves to make our lives better ... He is putting that right in front of us.”
Marte is a member of what may be the most surprising voting bloc in 2020: Latinos who say they're backing Trump despite four years of restrictive immigration policies and what many call racist invective aimed toward Hispanic people. From the start of his presidential campaign in 2015, Trump warned of rapists and drug dealers streaming over the border from Mexico. In the White House, he's moved to curb both legal and illegal immigration and questioned why the U.S. should take in people from "s---hole countries" like El Salvador and Haiti.
Yet Trump received between 20 to 28% of the Latino vote in 2016, according to various exit polls, and he's poised to get around the same in 2020. One Quinnipiac University poll last month had Trump leading Joe Biden among Latinos in the battleground state of Florida by 45% to 43%, though the difference was within the margin of error.
“I haven’t seen any data to suggest that his numbers among Latinos are better than in 2016, but what surprises me is that they are not worse,’’ said Adrian Pantoja, a senior analyst for polling firm Latino Decisions and professor of political and Chicano studies at Pitzer College in California.
'We'll protect their right to vote': How election officials are preparing for voter intimidation tactics
Mail voting: We mailed 64 letters, packages in battleground states to check on mail delays. Here’s what we found
Latinos are not monolithic, of course. A 2018 national survey from the Pew Research Center found that voters of Puerto Rican and Mexican backgrounds were more likely to be Democrats, while those of Cuban descent, who fled Fidel Castro's communist dictatorship, leaned Republican.
In interviews, Latinos who back Trump cite the president's business background and the record employment numbers for Black and Hispanic Americans before the pandemic. They like the take-no-prisoners "energy" he brings to the office, even if that combative style has turned off other voters.
Fernando Alonso, an attorney from Oradell, New Jersey, whose parents emigrated from Cuba decades ago, said the violence that's broken out at some racial justice protests has also turned off voters who may have memories of unstable, violent regimes in their home countries. Trump has blamed the unrest on Democrats.
"Safety is really important to them," said Alonso, who leads the Bergen County (New Jersey) Hispanic Republican Association. "When they see those things on television, the riots, it’s not something they came to the United States to be part of.”
Economy is a big issue
Latinos make up the largest minority voting group in the country, with 32 million projected to be eligible to vote in next month’s election.
Biden is expected to easily win a majority of Hispanic voters nationwide. A Pew survey released earlier this month found him leading among registered Hispanic voters 63% to 29%.
Still, the president has supporters like Kennith Gonzalez, 19, whose father escaped Cuba on a raft he built in 1994. Gonzalez, a product of the Cuban American community that's flourished in and around Union City, will vote in his first presidential election next month and cast his ballot for Trump.
A political science student at Seton Hall University, Gonzalez said Latinos he speaks to often cite the economy as their main issue, and he points to the improved jobless rate as well as gains in the stock market during Trump's first term.
Unemployment for Hispanics in the U.S. fell to a record low 3.9% in September 2019. That soared to 18.9% in July and stood at 10.3% last month, as the economic crisis sparked by the pandemic hit Black and Latino communities particularly hard.
But Gonzalez said Trump shouldn't be blamed for that fallout: "A majority of Hispanics come here for better economic opportunity and that is what they have received under Trump."
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Gonzalez said he's in favor of immigration reform that would make it easier for people to come to the United States lawfully, acknowledging that the country’s current system forces many to wait years before they can become legal residents.
But Trump wasn’t entirely wrong when he spoke of some undocumented immigrants being criminals, said Gonzalez, who chairs Union City's Republican Committee. Even undocumented immigrants he knows are frustrated with the lawbreakers in their community, he said.
“If you go and speak to somebody who is not here legally, who works and pays taxes and really loves America and really loves what we stand for, they are very angry at the reputation that illegal immigrants have here in America," he said. “We need people in here that are going to help America thrive and not hold America down.”
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Denise Gonzalez (no relation to Kennith) said most of her life she was a “closeted Republican,’’ hiding her allegiance from Puerto Rican relatives who usually vote Democratic. The retired Marine from Sicklerville, in Camden County, New Jersey, said she has always been in tune with the Republican platforms of smaller government and describes herself as a staunch constitutionalist. She voted for Trump in 2016 and will back him this year as well.
The mortgage loan officer credits the president for bills passed this spring to give businesses and families $2 trillion in coronavirus relief, money that helped keep millions of employees on payrolls nationwide.
“He has done more for people of color and for Americans in general,’’ she said.
Trump may not be an “eloquent orator,’’ Gonzalez said, but she defended him against critics who call him racist. That's partly based on her experience more than 20 years ago, when she worked as a bartender at one of Trump’s casinos in Atlantic City.
“I’ve met him personally and many of his executives were extremely diverse,’’ she said. “Trump used to show up on his properties and would ask people at the bottom of the totem pole what can we do for you, how can we help you, how can we make your job easier? He cares.”
Marte said he was more interested four years ago in how he would pay for college. That led him to Sanders, who ran on lowering student loan interest rates and free tuition for state colleges and universities.
Now, other issues have become important to him. He supports Trump’s plan to build a wall along the Mexican border to stop sex trafficking and drug smuggling. Even under Trump’s stricter immigration policies, he said, members of his extended family have been able to move to the United States legally.
“All of them are working, all of them have their apartments, all of them have provided for themselves, so for anyone to say that the American dream is gone, it’s sad to say, because I’ve witnessed people who have immigrated to this country,’’ he said.
Monsy Alvarado is the immigration reporter for NorthJersey.com. Email: alvarado@northjersey.com Twitter: @monsyalvarado


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