mercurynews--2020-10-15--California methamphetamine bust is largest ever by DEA in U.S.

Piled 10 feet high and resting against a large truck , hundreds of packages containing methamphetamine , heroin and cocaine were put on display Wednesday , Oct. 14 , as Drug Enforcement Administration officials announced a pair of their biggest busts ever .
A pair of recent investigations led to the seizure of more than 5,200 pounds of methamphetamine , believed to be tied to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico , said Timothy Shea , acting administrator for the DEA .
The first bust netted more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine , 893 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a stash house in Perris and another in Moreno Valley on Oct. 2 .
The drugs were on the floor of the two homes , Shea said during a press conference in Montebello , home to one of the federal agency ’ s facilities .
In Moreno Valley , investigators found methamphetamine , cocaine and heroin in 25 duffel bags in the garage , officials said , but the bulk of the seized drugs were found at the stash house in Perris .
The drugs found have a wholesale value of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It was the DEA ’ s largest methamphetamine haul inside the United States .
In the second bust , on Oct. 9 , officials confiscated more than 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine , 29 kilograms of heroin , 13 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on the Mexican border , southeast of downtown San Diego , Shea said .
Officials said that was the DEA ’ s second-largest find of meth at the border , with all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated total value of $ 7.2 million .
“ These two seizures are more than enough to provide a dose of meth for every man , woman and child in the United States and Mexico , ” the special agent said .
“ It ’ s a massive amount .
“ These seizures are significant , not just because of the shear volume , but because it ’ s a sign of a deeply concerning trend , ” Shea continued .
“ Meth is pouring into the United States through our southern border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more importantly , too many lives.
” A tip from an informant led agents to identify a man who was acting as a courier and stash house manager at a home in Moreno Valley , said Bill Bodner , special agent in charge of the DEA ’ s Los Angeles Field Division .
Fontana police investigators conducted surveillance and detained him after he was spotted with an associate handing two duffel bags to a third individual at a Sam ’ s Club parking lot in Moreno Valley , Oct. 2 .
Agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , Bodner said .
Shea declined to comment on how high up the chain of command the suspect was within the cartel , but said the quantity of drugs was significant .
“ Someone with this amount is someone who is very , very trusted by the cartel , ” he said .
“ These are high-level individuals and there will be more arrests as these investigations continue.
” A week later , U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers screened a tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and found “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” officials said in a statement .
The shipment was manifested as medical supplies and the 47-year-old driver from Mexico was arrested , officials said .
That seizure was a DEA-led effort , Shea said , as the agency provided information .
Had authorities not seized those drugs , they would have made it to Los Angeles within a day , Bodner said , adding that Los Angeles is a shipment hub for Mexican cartel drugs .
“ Nearly all the meth distributed within the United States is produced in huge quantities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shea said .
“ We must reduce the availability of meth .
It ’ s one way to drive down the addiction and overdose rates .
”

Piled 10 feet high and resting against a large truck, hundreds of packages containing methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine were put on display Wednesday, Oct. 14, as Drug Enforcement Administration officials announced a pair of their biggest busts ever.
A pair of recent investigations led to the seizure of more than 5,200 pounds of methamphetamine, believed to be tied to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, said Timothy Shea, acting administrator for the DEA.
The first bust netted more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine, 893 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of heroin – found, authorities said, in a stash house in Perris and another in Moreno Valley on Oct. 2.
The drugs were on the floor of the two homes, Shea said during a press conference in Montebello, home to one of the federal agency’s facilities.
In Moreno Valley, investigators found methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin in 25 duffel bags in the garage, officials said, but the bulk of the seized drugs were found at the stash house in Perris.
The drugs found have a wholesale value of $18 million, DEA spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said. It was the DEA’s largest methamphetamine haul inside the United States.
In the second bust, on Oct. 9, officials confiscated more than 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine, 29 kilograms of heroin, 13 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on the Mexican border, southeast of downtown San Diego, Shea said.
Officials said that was the DEA’s second-largest find of meth at the border, with all of the drugs in this seizure having an estimated total value of $7.2 million.
“These two seizures are more than enough to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman and child in the United States and Mexico,” the special agent said. “It’s a massive amount.
“These seizures are significant, not just because of the shear volume, but because it’s a sign of a deeply concerning trend,” Shea continued. “Meth is pouring into the United States through our southern border and is destroying too many communities and, more importantly, too many lives.”
A tip from an informant led agents to identify a man who was acting as a courier and stash house manager at a home in Moreno Valley, said Bill Bodner, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division.
Fontana police investigators conducted surveillance and detained him after he was spotted with an associate handing two duffel bags to a third individual at a Sam’s Club parking lot in Moreno Valley, Oct. 2. Agents then got search warrants for the two homes, Bodner said.
Shea declined to comment on how high up the chain of command the suspect was within the cartel, but said the quantity of drugs was significant.
“Someone with this amount is someone who is very, very trusted by the cartel,” he said. “These are high-level individuals and there will be more arrests as these investigations continue.”
A week later, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers screened a tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and found “anomalies with the rear of the trailer,” officials said in a statement.
The shipment was manifested as medical supplies and the 47-year-old driver from Mexico was arrested, officials said. That seizure was a DEA-led effort, Shea said, as the agency provided information.
Had authorities not seized those drugs, they would have made it to Los Angeles within a day, Bodner said, adding that Los Angeles is a shipment hub for Mexican cartel drugs.
“Nearly all the meth distributed within the United States is produced in huge quantities in industrial labs in Mexico,” Shea said. “We must reduce the availability of meth. It’s one way to drive down the addiction and overdose rates.”


mercurynews--2020-10-15--Jet-pack powered person spotted flying again in skies near LAX

A person was spotted flying a jet pack at 6,000 feet near Los Angeles World Airports on Wednesday afternoon , Oct. 14 , the Federal Aviation Administration said .
At around 1:45 p.m. , China Airlines crew reported seeing someone flying the jet pack about seven miles northwest of the airport , the FAA said in statement .
The federal agency contacted local law enforcement , and will look into the report , the statement said .
The sighting on Wednesday comes after a man was spotted flying a jet pack at 3,000 feet near the airport on Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
While the FAA does not issue pilot licenses for jet packs , they can be flown with certain restrictions , agency spokesman Ian Gregor said in an email .
They can be operated if they are considered “ ultralight , ” which means they can accommodate only the pilot , weigh less than 254 pounds empty , have a fuel capacity of five gallons or less , and a maximum speed of 55 knots , he said .
“ They can only be flown during the day , they must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hazard to any other aircraft , they can not be flown over densely populated areas and they can not be flown in controlled airspace without FAA authorization , ” Gregor said .
Other aircraft that don ’ t meet that definition are considered experimental airworthiness under exhibition , which the FAA does issue certificates for , under specific circumstances such as for airshows , according to Gregor .

A person was spotted flying a jet pack at 6,000 feet near Los Angeles World Airports on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 14, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
At around 1:45 p.m., China Airlines crew reported seeing someone flying the jet pack about seven miles northwest of the airport, the FAA said in statement. The federal agency contacted local law enforcement, and will look into the report, the statement said.
The sighting on Wednesday comes after a man was spotted flying a jet pack at 3,000 feet near the airport on Sunday, Aug. 30, officials said at the time.
While the FAA does not issue pilot licenses for jet packs, they can be flown with certain restrictions, agency spokesman Ian Gregor said in an email. They can be operated if they are considered “ultralight,” which means they can accommodate only the pilot, weigh less than 254 pounds empty, have a fuel capacity of five gallons or less, and a maximum speed of 55 knots, he said.
“They can only be flown during the day, they must be flown so they don’t pose a hazard to any other aircraft, they cannot be flown over densely populated areas and they cannot be flown in controlled airspace without FAA authorization,” Gregor said.
Other aircraft that don’t meet that definition are considered experimental airworthiness under exhibition, which the FAA does issue certificates for, under specific circumstances such as for airshows, according to Gregor.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Report: White House was warned about Giuliani being used

The White House was warned in 2019 that President Donald Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani was “ was being used to feed Russian misinformation ” to the President , The Washington Post reported Thursday .
Citing conversations with four former officials familiar with the matter , the Post said that US intelligence agencies warned the White House that Giuliani “ was the target of an influence operation by Russian intelligence ” in which Trump was the intended recipient of the misinformation .
The paper said the warnings were “ based on multiple sources , including intercepted communications , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tied to Russian intelligence during a December 2019 trip to Ukraine , where he was gathering information that he thought would expose corrupt acts by former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
” One of the former officials told the Post that the warnings caused national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien to privately warn Trump that “ any information Giuliani brought back from Ukraine should be considered contaminated by Russia.
” “ Do what you want to do , but your friend Rudy has been worked by Russian assets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post , summarizing O ’ Brien ’ s warning to Trump .
The paper said officials wanted to keep Trump from “ saying something stupid , ” especially given the fact that he was in the middle of an impeachment process led by Democrats in the House .
But the official said Trump had “ shrugged his shoulders ” at O ’ Brien ’ s warning , dismissing concerns about Giuliani by saying , “ That ’ s Rudy , ” according to the Post , which noted that the lawyer visited the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Judiciary Committee approved the articles of impeachment , and then met with Trump days later in Florida .
The Post reported that the former officials said Giuliani was not the subject of US intelligence while he was in Ukraine but that some of his communications were captured because he was interacting with “ suspected Russian assets ” who were being surveilled .
• Trump , Biden square off , in a way , in dueling town halls • Rapper Kanye West is on your ballot .
How did that happen ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoids fraud , evades hackers and gets counted Giuliani , while trying to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden , was so determined to gather information “ that everybody [ in the intelligence community who knew about it ] was talking about how hard it was going to be to try to get him to stop , to take seriously the idea that he was being used as a conduit for misinformation , ” one former official told the paper .
The Post said a number of senior administration officials knew Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians , including Attorney General William Barr , FBI Director Christopher Wray and White counsel Pat Cipollone .

By Devan Cole | CNN
The White House was warned in 2019 that President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani was “was being used to feed Russian misinformation” to the President, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Citing conversations with four former officials familiar with the matter, the Post said that US intelligence agencies warned the White House that Giuliani “was the target of an influence operation by Russian intelligence” in which Trump was the intended recipient of the misinformation.
The paper said the warnings were “based on multiple sources, including intercepted communications, that showed Giuliani was interacting with people tied to Russian intelligence during a December 2019 trip to Ukraine, where he was gathering information that he thought would expose corrupt acts by former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter.”
[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/10/16/rudy-giuliani-russian-intelligence-operation-trump-washington-post-harris-intv-ac360-vpx.cnn”]
Video: Washington Post report says WH was warned Giuliani was target of Russian misinformation
One of the former officials told the Post that the warnings caused national security adviser Robert O’Brien to privately warn Trump that “any information Giuliani brought back from Ukraine should be considered contaminated by Russia.”
“Do what you want to do, but your friend Rudy has been worked by Russian assets in Ukraine,” this source told the Post, summarizing O’Brien’s warning to Trump.
The paper said officials wanted to keep Trump from “saying something stupid,” especially given the fact that he was in the middle of an impeachment process led by Democrats in the House.
But the official said Trump had “shrugged his shoulders” at O’Brien’s warning, dismissing concerns about Giuliani by saying, “That’s Rudy,” according to the Post, which noted that the lawyer visited the White House in mid-December, just after the House Judiciary Committee approved the articles of impeachment, and then met with Trump days later in Florida.
The Post reported that the former officials said Giuliani was not the subject of US intelligence while he was in Ukraine but that some of his communications were captured because he was interacting with “suspected Russian assets” who were being surveilled.
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The Post said a number of senior administration officials knew Trump’s lawyer was being targeted by the Russians, including Attorney General William Barr, FBI Director Christopher Wray and White counsel Pat Cipollone.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Trump, Biden go at it — from a distance — in town halls

By JONATHAN LEMIRE , WILL WEISSERT and DARLENE SUPERVILLE WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President Donald Trump was evasive Thursday night when pressed if he took a COVID-19 test before his first debate with Democrat Joe Biden as the two men squared off again , in a way , after their scuttled second showdown was replaced by dueling televised town halls several channels apart .
Biden , appearing nearly 1,200 miles away , denounced the White House ’ s handling of the virus that has claimed more than 215,000 American lives , declaring that it was at fault for closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration .
Trump , meanwhile , was defensive and insisted that the nation was turning the corner on the virus , even as his own battle with the disease took center stage .
Trump , less than two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19 , dodged directly answering whether he took a test the day of the Sept. 29 debate , only saying “ possibly I did , possibly I didn ’ t. ” Debate rules required that each candidate , using the honor system , had tested negative prior to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circles when asked when he last tested negative .
It was his positive test two days later that created Thursday ’ s odd spectacle , which deprived most viewers of a simultaneous look at the candidates just 19 days before Election Day .
The moment seemed fitting for a race unlike any other , as yet another campaign ritual was changed by the pandemic that has rewritten the norms of society .
The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks : Trump on NBC from Miami , Biden on ABC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following Trump ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis .
The town halls offered a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters , after the pair held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month .
The difference in the men ’ s tone was immediate and striking .
Trump was Trump .
He was loud and argumentative , fighting with the host , Savannah Guthrie , refusing to outright condemn the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would denounce white supremacy but complaining about the questioning — and eventually saying for the first time that he would honor the results of a fair election , but only after casting an extraordinary amount doubt on the likeliness of fairness .
“ And then they talk ’ Will you accept a peaceful transfer , ’ ” Trump said .
“ And the answer is , ‘ Yes , I will.
’ But I want it to be an honest election , and so does everybody else.
” Biden meanwhile , took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audience questions .
The former vice president , who struggled growing up with a stutter , stuttered slightly at the start of the show and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words .
At times his answers droned on .
Dressed in a blue suit and holding a white cloth mask in one hand , the Democratic nominee also brought a small card of notes on stage and referred to it while promising to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ let me see… $ 92 billion.
” The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next week in Nashville .
But the cancellation of Thursday ’ s debate still reverberated for both campaigns .
Trump and Biden battled on Sept. 29 in Cleveland in a debate defined both by the president ’ s constant hectoring of his opponent , which sent his support lower , and by its place on the calendar : just two days before Trump announced he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized for three days , and while he later convalesced at the White House the debate commission moved to make their second debate remote — which the president immediately rejected .
Earlier Thursday , Trump appeared at a rally in North Carolina , underscoring the challenge confronting him in the final weeks as multiple polls have shown him trailing Biden nationally and in many swing states .
Trump has spent much of the week on defense , campaigning in states he won in 2016 , such as North Carolina and Iowa , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling , Trump predicted a “ big , beautiful red wave ” on Election Night , before referencing another one of his major challenges : A cash disadvantage to the Biden campaign , which just announced raising a record-breaking $ 383 million in September .
Lemire reported from New York .
Additional reporting by Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Wilmington , Delaware , and Zeke Miller and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington .

By JONATHAN LEMIRE, WILL WEISSERT and DARLENE SUPERVILLE
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden squared off, in a way, Thursday night in dueling televised town halls that showcased striking differences in temperament, views on racial justice and approaches to a pandemic that has reshaped the nation.
Coming just two and a half weeks before Election Day, the night offered crystalizing contrasts and a national, if divided, audience. But it seemed unlikely to have produced a needed moment for a president running out of time or opportunities to appeal beyond his core base.
He was defensive about his administration’s handling of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 215,000 American lives, and evasive when pressed about whether he took a required COVID-19 test before his first debate with Biden. Angry and combative, Trump refused to denounce the QAnon conspiracy group — and only testily did so regarding white supremacists.
The president also appeared to acknowledge revelations from a recent New York Times report that he was in debt and left open the possibility that some of it was owed to a foreign bank. But he insisted that he didn’t owe any money to Russia or any “sinister people” and suggested that $400 million in debt was a “very, very small percentage” compared to his overall assets.
Biden denounced the White House’s handling of the virus, declaring that it was at fault for closing a pandemic response office established by the Obama administration in which he served. Though vague at times, he suggested he will offer clarity on his position on expanding the Supreme Court if Trump’s nominee to the bench is seated before Election Day.
After Biden’s 90-minute town hall event formally concluded, the candidate spent another half-hour taking questions from those in the audience who didn’t get an opportunity during the televised program.
Trump and Biden were supposed to spend Thursday night on the same debate stage in Miami. But that faceoff was scuttled after Trump’s coronavirus infection, which jolted the race and threatened the health of the American president.
Trump wouldn’t say whether he had tested negative on the day of his first debate with Biden on Sept. 29, allowing only, “Possibly I did, possibly I didn’t.” Debate rules required that each candidate, using the honor system, had tested negative prior to the Cleveland event, but Trump spoke in circles when asked when he last tested negative.
The presidential rivals took questions in different cities on different networks: Trump on NBC from Miami, Biden on ABC from Philadelphia. Trump backed out of plans for the presidential faceoff originally scheduled for the evening after debate organizers said it would be held virtually following his COVID-19 diagnosis.
The town halls offered a different format for the two candidates to present themselves to voters, after the pair held a chaotic and combative first debate late last month. The difference in the men’s tone was immediate and striking.
Trump was Trump. He was loud and argumentative, rebuking his FBI director, fighting with the host, Savannah Guthrie, complaining about the questioning — and eventually saying for the first time that he would honor the results of a fair election, but only after casting an extraordinary amount of doubt on the likeliness of fairness.
“And then they talk, ’Will you accept a peaceful transfer?’” Trump said. “And the answer is, ‘Yes, I will.’ But I want it to be an honest election, and so does everybody else.”
He again sought to minimize revelations from a New York Times investigation that he has more than $400 million in debt and suggested that reports are wrong that he paid little or no federal income taxes in most years over the past two decades.
Biden, meanwhile, took a far different, softer approach with audience questions. The former vice president, who struggled growing up with a stutter, stuttered slightly at the start of the program and at one point squeezed his eyes shut and slowed down his response to clearly enunciate his words. At times his answers droned on.
Holding a white cloth mask in one hand, the Democratic nominee brought a small card of notes onstage and referred to it while promising to roll back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He said doing so would save, as he consulted his notes, “let me see … $92 billion.”
Biden vowed to say before Election Day whether he will support expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court if Democrats win the presidency and the Senate and hold the House after November.
He has for weeks refused to answer the question but went further Thursday night. He said, “I’m still not a fan” of expanding the court, but said his ultimate decision depended on how the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court “is handled” and “how much they rush this.”
Biden also blasted Trump’s foreign policy, declaring that “’America first’ has made ‘America alone’” and “This president embraces all the thugs in the world.” He turned introspective when asked what it would say if he lost.
“It could say that I’m a lousy candidate, that I didn’t do a good job,” Biden said. “But I think, I hope that it doesn’t say that we’re as racially, ethnically and religiously at odds as it appears the president wants us to be.”
Biden said he plans to participate in next week’s debate but he would ask Trump to take a COVID-19 test before arriving. “It’s just decency” for everyone around him, including non-candidates like camera operators, Biden said.
The two men are still scheduled to occupy the same space for a debate for a second and final time next week in Nashville.
___
Lemire reported from New York. Additional reporting by Associated Press writers Bill Barrow in Wilmington, Delaware, and Zeke Miller and Alexandra Jaffe in Washington.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Sen. Feinstein draws criticism after hugging Sen. Graham

WASHINGTON — It was the hug that may define — or doom — a long Senate career .
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California embraced Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham at the close of confirmation hearings Thursday for President Donald Trump ’ s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett , publicly thanking the chairman for a job well done .
“ This has been one of the best set of hearings that I ’ ve participated in , ” Feinstein said at the Senate Judiciary Committee .
Calls for her ouster from Democratic leadership were swift , unequivocal and relentless .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feinstein to step down from her leadership position on the Senate Judiciary Committee , ” said Brian Fallon , the executive director of Demand Justice , which opposes conservative nominees to the courts .
“ If she won ’ t , her colleagues need to intervene.
” Eli Zupnick , the spokesman for Fix Our Senate , said : “ Senator Feinstein is absolutely wrong about what is happening in the Senate and in her Committee.
” He said in his statement that Republicans are trying to “ jam ” Barrett ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not be treated as a legitimate confirmation process.
” The response was not a knee-jerk reaction to an off-the-cuff moment between two longtime senators , but a slow-burning frustration among leading liberal advocates that the panel ’ s top Democrat is no longer the right fit for the job .
Supreme Court confirmation battles have gone from bipartisan Senate fare to bare-knuckle brawls as Republicans led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell mounted an aggressive Trump-era campaign to transform the judiciary with conservative judges .
Trump has been able to install more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is now poised to seat his third justice on the Supreme Court .
Barrett is being rushed to confirmation before the Nov. 3 election to replace the late liberal icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , a shift locking in a 6-3 conservative court majority for years to come .
Rulings on abortion , gay marriage , health care and others are in sight .
Fallon said in a statement that Democrats can no longer be led on the Judiciary panel by someone who treats “ the Republican theft of a Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87 , has been taking it from all sides during Barrett ’ s nomination process .
Republicans attacked the senator for questioning Barrett ’ s Catholic faith three years ago when the then-Notre Dame Law School professor was undergoing confirmation proceedings for the 7th District U.S. Court of Appeals .
At the time , Feinstein said Barrett ’ s opposition to abortion must be rooted in her religion and questioned if it would influence her rulings on the bench , saying the “ dogma lives loudly in you.
” It became a rallying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s faith , so much so that Graham praised the judge as an “ unashamedly pro-life ” nominee who could be a role model to other conservative women .
Feinstein avoided the trap and was careful during her questioning of Barrett not to probe her faith .
Democrats were determined to avoid a repeat of the 2017 hearing .
But as other Democratic senators seized the spotlight , utilizing the four days of hearings to lob attacks against Trump and his court nominee , Feinstein often took a more diplomatic approach .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressed ” with Barrett ’ s handling of questions .
Eyes rolled .
Still , despite the complaints , Democrats have Feinstein to thank for a few key moments during the process .
It was Feinstein who drew a notable non-answer from Barrett when asked if she agreed with the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia , her mentor , that the Voting Rights Act “ perpetuated racial entitlement.
” And Barrett gave Feinstein a similar no comment when asked if she agreed with other conservatives who argue that Medicare , the senior health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kristof : At the polls , will we choose the right side of history ?
• Barrett keeps Democrats , Trump at bay in Senate hearing Feinstein ’ s office declined further comment , but pointed to the senator ’ s statement .
“ Judiciary Committee Democrats had one goal this week : to show what ’ s at stake under a 6-3 conservative Supreme Court — and we did that , ” Feinstein said .
“ We showed that Judge Barrett has a long history of opposing the Affordable Care Act and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overturn both.
” But those moments may be forgotten for the one that is now being remembered — all the more notable because it happened during the COVID-19 crisis , with neither senator wearing a mask .
It was the hug .
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Matthew Daly contributed to this report .

By Lisa Mascaro | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — It was the hug that may define — or doom — a long Senate career.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California embraced Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham at the close of confirmation hearings Thursday for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, publicly thanking the chairman for a job well done.
“This has been one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in,” Feinstein said at the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Calls for her ouster from Democratic leadership were swift, unequivocal and relentless.
“It’s time for Sen. Feinstein to step down from her leadership position on the Senate Judiciary Committee,” said Brian Fallon, the executive director of Demand Justice, which opposes conservative nominees to the courts. “If she won’t, her colleagues need to intervene.”
Eli Zupnick, the spokesman for Fix Our Senate, said: “Senator Feinstein is absolutely wrong about what is happening in the Senate and in her Committee.”
He said in his statement that Republicans are trying to “jam” Barrett’s nomination through the Senate and it “should not be treated as a legitimate confirmation process.”
The response was not a knee-jerk reaction to an off-the-cuff moment between two longtime senators, but a slow-burning frustration among leading liberal advocates that the panel’s top Democrat is no longer the right fit for the job.
Supreme Court confirmation battles have gone from bipartisan Senate fare to bare-knuckle brawls as Republicans led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell mounted an aggressive Trump-era campaign to transform the judiciary with conservative judges.
Trump has been able to install more than 200 judges on the federal bench and is now poised to seat his third justice on the Supreme Court.
Barrett is being rushed to confirmation before the Nov. 3 election to replace the late liberal icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a shift locking in a 6-3 conservative court majority for years to come. Rulings on abortion, gay marriage, health care and others are in sight.
Fallon said in a statement that Democrats can no longer be led on the Judiciary panel by someone who treats “the Republican theft of a Supreme Court seat with kid gloves.”
Feinstein, 87, has been taking it from all sides during Barrett’s nomination process.
Republicans attacked the senator for questioning Barrett’s Catholic faith three years ago when the then-Notre Dame Law School professor was undergoing confirmation proceedings for the 7th District U.S. Court of Appeals.
At the time, Feinstein said Barrett’s opposition to abortion must be rooted in her religion and questioned if it would influence her rulings on the bench, saying the “dogma lives loudly in you.”
It became a rallying point this week for Republicans defending Barrett’s faith, so much so that Graham praised the judge as an “unashamedly pro-life” nominee who could be a role model to other conservative women.
Feinstein avoided the trap and was careful during her questioning of Barrett not to probe her faith. Democrats were determined to avoid a repeat of the 2017 hearing.
But as other Democratic senators seized the spotlight, utilizing the four days of hearings to lob attacks against Trump and his court nominee, Feinstein often took a more diplomatic approach. At one point she declared herself “impressed” with Barrett’s handling of questions. Eyes rolled.
Still, despite the complaints, Democrats have Feinstein to thank for a few key moments during the process.
It was Feinstein who drew a notable non-answer from Barrett when asked if she agreed with the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, her mentor, that the Voting Rights Act “perpetuated racial entitlement.”
And Barrett gave Feinstein a similar no comment when asked if she agreed with other conservatives who argue that Medicare, the senior health care program, is unconstitutional.
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“Judiciary Committee Democrats had one goal this week: to show what’s at stake under a 6-3 conservative Supreme Court — and we did that,” Feinstein said. “We showed that Judge Barrett has a long history of opposing the Affordable Care Act and Roe v. Wade and represents the vote to overturn both.”
But those moments may be forgotten for the one that is now being remembered — all the more notable because it happened during the COVID-19 crisis, with neither senator wearing a mask. It was the hug.
Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Oakland joins Portland in suing Trump Administration over use of federal agents at protests

OAKLAND — Oakland and Portland , Ore. are suing the Trump administration , alleging that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department are violating the constitution by deploying federal agents to control protests in those cities .
The cities , represented in part by the Public Rights Project , filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in San Francisco , alleging that the federal agencies have overstepped their authority by deploying federal officers and by deputizing local police as federal agents against the wishes of city officials .
A new policy from the Trump administration authorizing federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a shift in policy and one that vastly overreaches its authority and threatens local law enforcement , the lawsuit says , citing a constitutional doctrine that gives states ’ autonomy to regulate their own affairs .
While the focus of the lawsuit is largely over what happened during protests this summer in Portland , where theTrump administration sent U.S. agents to guard a federal courthouse and clashed with protesters , Oakland joined the lawsuit because Trump has repeatedly threatened to send in federal authorities here and to other cities .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Oakland and other progressive cities must protect our residents ’ constitutional rights from unlawful and unconstitutional federal overreach , ” said Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker in a written statement .
“ During the 1960s civil rights movement , the federal government sought to protect constitutional rights to peacefully protest segregated businesses and public facilities , and to attend desegregated public schools when local and state governments failed to do so .
But the Trump Administration ’ s new policy does the opposite , which is why we had to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleges that Oakland has suffered economic harm from the President ’ s vague threats to send in federal police , including time spent engaging in “ new outreach ” through its emergency operations center and in preparation for the possibility of federal intervention .
The city claims that federal interference could impact its mutual aid agreements with other cities that it relies on for help in policing .
Its mutual aid agreements do not cover what would happen in the case of a federal law enforcement intervention .
And such intervention would threaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their communities , the lawsuit alleges .
Protests over racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd — a Black man killed by police in Minneapolis — rocked Oakland and Portland over the summer .
In response , the Trump administration under the new policy sent federal agents to Portland without the city ’ s knowedge , and the agents “ significantly escalated ” violence and reduced public trust in public safety , the lawsuit states .
While the stated aim was protecting federal property , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bounds of federal property in Oregon .
And last month , after the city agreed to have some police officers deputized as federal agents in advance of a planned right-wing rally , the federal government has refused to end the agreement .
City leaders say they thought that deputization would be over after that weekend , but federal leaders — including from the Marshals Service – have refused to cancel the deputization .
U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams and Russ Burger , U.S .
Marshal for Oregon , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusal to cancel it is partly because of “ federal deputation supports front line law enforcement officers and their families in a way that they have not seen from City Hall.
” In a statement Thursday about the lawsuit , Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said “ federal forces physically harmed peaceful protestors and made local police work more dangerous by reducing public trust during a time of unprecedented racial reckoning , ” adding that “ we need support from the federal government , not violence .
”

OAKLAND — Oakland and Portland are suing the Trump administration for having deployed federal agents to quell anti-police brutality protests in Portland and having threatened to do the same in Oakland.
In a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in San Francisco, the cities contend the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice violated the Constitution.
The cities, represented in part by the Public Rights Project,, allege that the federal agencies overstepped their authority by deploying federal officers and by deputizing local police as federal agents against the wishes of city officials.
A directive from the Trump administration authorizing federal officers to enter cities to quash protests is a shift in policy that vastly overreaches its authority and threatens local law enforcement, the lawsuit says, citing a constitutional doctrine that gives states autonomy to regulate their own affairs.
While the lawsuit mainly focuses on the deployment of U.S. agents to Portland this summer to guard a federal courthouse, resulting in a clash with protesters, Oakland joined the lawsuit because Trump has repeatedly threatened to send federal authorities there too, although he hasn’t done so to date.
“It is a sad day for this nation when Oakland and other progressive cities must protect our residents’ constitutional rights from unlawful and unconstitutional federal overreach,” Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker said in a written statement. “During the 1960s civil rights movement, the federal government sought to protect constitutional rights to peacefully protest segregated businesses and public facilities, and to attend desegregated public schools when local and state governments failed to do so. But the Trump administration’s new policy does the opposite, which is why we had to go to court to challenge it.”
The lawsuit alleges that Oakland has suffered economic harm from the president’s vague threats to send in federal police, including time spent engaging in “new outreach” through its emergency operations center and in preparation for the possibility of federal intervention. The city maintains that federal interference could impact its mutual aid agreements with other cities it relies on for help in policing. Its mutual aid agreements do not cover what would happen in a federal law enforcement intervention.
Such intervention also would threaten the relationships local law enforcement departments have with their communities, the lawsuit alleges.
In an email, a Department of Homeland Security representative said the agency has acted “entirely lawfully,” and called the claim a “meritless lawsuit” that was ginned up by “dangerous politicians and fringe special interest groups.”
“They aim to harm President Trump and distract from his law and order agenda,” Homeland Security spokesman, Matt Boggs said.
Protests over racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, rocked Oakland and Portland over the summer.
In response, the Trump administration under the new policy sent federal agents to Portland without the city’s knowledge, and the agents “significantly escalated” violence and reduced public trust in public safety, according to the lawsuit.
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Israel’s Netanyahu released from hospital ahead of key vote on legal overhaul Crime and Public Safety | Protesters try to storm Baghdad’s Green Zone over the burning of Quran and Iraqi flag in Denmark While the stated aim was to protect federal property, the agents patrolled and detained people well beyond the bounds of federal property in Oregon. And last month, after Portland agreed to have some police officers deputized as federal agents in advance of a planned right-wing rally, the federal government refused to end the agreement. City leaders say they thought that deputization would be over after that weekend, but federal leaders, including from the Marshals Service, have refused to cancel the deputization.
U.S. Attorney for Oregon Billy Williams and Russ Burger, U.S. marshal for Oregon, said in a joint press release last month that the refusal to cancel it is partly because “federal deputation supports front line law enforcement officers and their families in a way that they have not seen from City Hall.”
In a statement Thursday about the lawsuit, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said, “Federal forces physically harmed peaceful protestors and made local police work more dangerous by reducing public trust during a time of unprecedented racial reckoning,” adding that “we need support from the federal government, not violence.”


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Appeals court throws out Oakland rape case over prosecutor’s failure to turn over key police report

A California appeals court has overturned the convictions of a man who was sentenced to 13 years in prison for raping a girl he knew , writing in their decisions that prosecutors failed to turn over a key police report that could have led to a different verdict , and the courts failed to correct the error .
Brandon Stewart was convicted of raping a girl in her mid-teens , a crime that alleged took place when he was 19 .
In 2018 , a jury found him guilty of forcible sexual penetration of a minor 14 or older , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 or older , but acquitted him of sodomy .
The 43-page appeals court decision , issued this month , says Alameda prosecutors failed to alert defense attorneys to the existence of a police report that contained material the defense could have used to discredit an important witness .
The prosecution alerted defense attorneys to the existence of the report , but did not go far enough , the First District Appellate Court ruled .
“ Because the People were aware of the contents of the police report and its potential value to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have disclosed that the report in fact contained potential impeachment material , ” the decision says .
“ Without that information , the defense could not assess the usefulness of the police report.
” During trial , prosecutors relied on testimony from two girls , known as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 .
Stewart was convicted of raping Doe 1 , but the testimony of Doe 2 was “ crucial ” in affirming Doe 1 ’ s credibility to the jury , the appeals court decision says .
The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s allegations that Stewart had committed similar sexual assaults against her .
• Six years after girl killed in West Oakland crash , DA charges alleged driver with DUI manslaughter • Grandfather pleads guilty in death of toddler on cruise ship • Bolsonaro ally caught with cash between his buttcheeks The appeals court also ruled that an Alameda judge erred by failing to grant a new trial for Stewart over the failed disclosure , and that a juvenile judge was wrong to prevent the defense from accessing the report .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and CPS reports had been available to the defense , there was a reasonable chance the jury would have reached a different result , ” the appeals court judges wrote in their decision .
A spokeswoman with the Alameda County District Attorney declined to comment on the decision , nor did she say whether prosecutors have decided to re-try Stewart .

A California appeals court has overturned the convictions of a man who was sentenced to 13 years in prison for raping a girl he knew, writing in their decisions that prosecutors failed to turn over a key police report that could have led to a different verdict, and the courts failed to correct the error.
Brandon Stewart was convicted of raping a girl in her mid-teens, a crime that alleged took place when he was 19. In 2018, a jury found him guilty of forcible sexual penetration of a minor 14 or older, guilty of forcible rape of a minor 14 or older, but acquitted him of sodomy.
The 43-page appeals court decision, issued this month, says Alameda prosecutors failed to alert defense attorneys to the existence of a police report that contained material the defense could have used to discredit an important witness. The prosecution alerted defense attorneys to the existence of the report, but did not go far enough, the First District Appellate Court ruled.
“Because the People were aware of the contents of the police report and its potential value to impeach a key prosecution witness, they should have disclosed that the report in fact contained potential impeachment material,” the decision says. “Without that information, the defense could not assess the usefulness of the police report.”
During trial, prosecutors relied on testimony from two girls, known as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. Stewart was convicted of raping Doe 1, but the testimony of Doe 2 was “crucial” in affirming Doe 1’s credibility to the jury, the appeals court decision says. The report contained information that could have contradicted Doe’s allegations that Stewart had committed similar sexual assaults against her.
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“We have concluded that if the OPD report and CPS reports had been available to the defense, there was a reasonable chance the jury would have reached a different result,” the appeals court judges wrote in their decision.
A spokeswoman with the Alameda County District Attorney declined to comment on the decision, nor did she say whether prosecutors have decided to re-try Stewart.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--$1 billion: Landmark Bay Area office complex is bought

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — In a mega-deal , a big investor has bought a landmark office center that features two prominent office towers in South San Francisco near Oyster Point , paying $ 1 billion for the trophy property .
Ventas , a real estate investment trust , through one of its subsidiary funds , has bought the Genesis South San Francisco office campus , which consists of two big office buildings , including a tower , and an amenities center , the buyer said Thursday .
“ We are pleased to further expand our growing research and innovation footprint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science cluster with the acquisition of this outstanding portfolio , ” said Debra Cafaro , chief executive officer with Ventas .
The seller was an affiliate headed by Boston-base Bain Capital and San Diego-based Phase 3 Real Estate Partners , San Mateo County property documents show .
The deal includes the 21-story North Tower that totals 375,000 square feet , the 12-story South Tower that totals 340,000 square feet , which are on the west side of U.S. Highway 101 ; and a four-story office building that totals 72,000 square feet on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shoreline Ct. “ Strong and growing capital flows into the life science sector are accelerating innovation and discovery , ” Cafaro said .
“ These flows support the demand for first-class lab space in dynamic markets like South San Francisco.
” The deal indicates that big-time investors continue to hunger for top commercial properties , despite the economic uncertainties that the coronavirus has unleashed and a spate of government-ordered business shutdowns .
The Class A trophy portfolio is strategically positioned at the entrance to the South San Francisco life science cluster , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mammoth price tag of $ 1 billion , Ventas believes it can harvest plenty of upside from the three office buildings .
The two towers were customized to suit the needs of biotech , life sciences , and tech firms .
Nearly half of the tenant base consists of public companies averaging over $ 10 billion in market cap , according to Ventas .
The buyer described the remaining tenants as early-stage and mid-stage life sciences companies backed by robust venture capital and private equity firms .
“ The South San Francisco market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life science clusters in the world , ” Ventas said .

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — In a mega-deal, a big investor has bought a landmark office center that features two prominent office towers in South San Francisco near Oyster Point, paying $1 billion for the trophy property.
Ventas, a real estate investment trust, through one of its subsidiary funds, has bought the Genesis South San Francisco office campus, which consists of two big office buildings, including a tower and an amenities center, the buyer said Thursday.
“We are pleased to further expand our growing research and innovation footprint into the premier South San Francisco life science cluster with the acquisition of this outstanding portfolio,” said Debra Cafaro, chief executive officer with Ventas.
The seller was an affiliate headed by Boston-based Bain Capital and San Diego-based Phase 3 Real Estate Partners, San Mateo County property documents show.
The deal includes the 21-story North Tower, which totals 375,000 square feet, and the 12-story South Tower, which are on the west side of U.S. Highway 101; and a four-story, 72,000-square-foot office building on the east side of the freeway on Shoreline Court.
“Strong and growing capital flows into the life science sector are accelerating innovation and discovery,” Cafaro said. “These flows support the demand for first-class lab space in dynamic markets like South San Francisco.”
The deal indicates that big-time investors remain hungry for top commercial properties, despite the economic uncertainties that the coronavirus has unleashed.
Even with a mammoth price tag of $1 billion, Ventas believes it can harvest plenty of upside from the three office buildings. The two towers were customized to suit the needs of biotech, life sciences, and tech firms.
Nearly half of the tenant base consists of public companies averaging over $10 billion in market cap, according to Ventas. The buyer described the remaining tenants as early-stage and mid-stage life sciences companies backed by robust venture capital and private equity firms.
“The South San Francisco market consistently ranks as one of the elite life science clusters in the world,” Ventas said.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--GOP senator trashes Trump in call to constituents

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse criticized President Donald Trump earlier this week during a phone call with constituents , saying a number of unflattering things about the President , including that he ’ s “ flirted with White supremacists ” and “ kisses dictators ’ butts , ” his office confirmed to CNN .
“ The way he kisses dictators ’ butts .
I mean , the way he ignores that the Uyghurs are in literal concentration camps in Xinjiang right now .
He hasn ’ t lifted a finger on behalf of the Hong Kongers , ” Sasse said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about his relationship with Trump and his past criticisms of the President .
“ The United States now regularly sells out our allies under his leadership .
The way he treats women and spends like a drunken sailor .
The ways I criticized President ( Barack ) Obama for that kind of spending I ’ ve criticized President Trump for as well .
He mocks evangelicals behind closed doors .
His family has treated the presidency like a business opportunity .
He ’ s flirted with White supremacists , ” the Nebraska Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Washington Examiner , which obtained audio of the call .
Sasse ’ s office confirmed to CNN on Thursday that the senator made the comments during a “ campaign telephone town hall call that went to about 17,000 Nebraskans.
” Despite Sasse ’ s reputation as a periodic critic of the President , he ’ s been a reliable Republican vote for Trump administration nominees and GOP policies .
The Sasse spokesman did not respond to an inquiry about whether the Nebraska Republican supports Trump ’ s reelection .
Republican lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took office nearly four years ago , but the rare pointed criticism from Sasse comes just several weeks before an election in which the party is at risk of losing both the White House and the Senate , which the senator emphasized in his answer .
Complaining about Trump ’ s “ stupid political obsessions , ” Sasse stressed during the call the possibility that the President ’ s political brand could alienate women and young voters in the future .
“ If young people become permanent Democrats because they ’ ve just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our politics , or if women who were willing to still vote with the Republican Party in 2016 decide that they need to turn away from this party permanently in the future , the debate is not going to be , you know , ‘ Ben Sasse , why were you so mean to Donald Trump ?
’ ” he said .
“ It ’ s going to be ‘ What the heck were any of us thinking that selling a TV-obsessed narcissistic individual to the American people was a good idea ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The senator also criticized Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , saying he doesn ’ t think the President ’ s leadership during the crisis has been “ reasonable or responsible.
” “ The reality is that he careened from curb to curb .
First , he ignored Covid .
And then he went into full economic shutdown mode .
He was the one who said 10 to 14 days of shutdown would fix this , and that was always wrong , ” he said .
“ So I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s led through Covid has been reasonable or responsible or right.
” Sasse ’ s spokesman , James Wegmann , pointed to the senator ’ s concerns about Republican control of the Senate in a statement to CNN on Thursday .
“ I don ’ t know how many more times we can shout this : Even though the Beltway is obsessing exclusively about the presidential race , control of the Senate is ten times more important , ” he said .
“ The fragile Senate seats that will determine whether Democrats nuke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about , the races he ’ s working on , and the only races he ’ s talking about.
” Sasse ’ s criticism comes the same week that Trump was also lambasted by another member of his party — Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah — who pointed to the President ’ s rhetoric as helping to cause the “ vile , vituperative , hate-filled morass ” that he said is the current tone of American politics .
• Oakland joins Portland in suing Trump Administration over use of federal agents at protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on QAnon content Sasse noted in the call that he hadn ’ t supported Trump during his 2016 campaign .
“ This has been my fear for five years , ” he said on the call .
“ It ’ s why I campaigned for everybody not named Trump in 2016 .
”

By Devan Cole and Manu Raju | CNN
Republican Sen. Ben Sasse criticized President Donald Trump earlier this week during a phone call with constituents, saying a number of unflattering things about the President, including that he’s “flirted with White supremacists” and “kisses dictators’ butts,” his office confirmed to CNN.
“The way he kisses dictators’ butts. I mean, the way he ignores that the Uyghurs are in literal concentration camps in Xinjiang right now. He hasn’t lifted a finger on behalf of the Hong Kongers,” Sasse said in response to a constituent’s question about his relationship with Trump and his past criticisms of the President.
“The United States now regularly sells out our allies under his leadership. The way he treats women and spends like a drunken sailor. The ways I criticized President (Barack) Obama for that kind of spending I’ve criticized President Trump for as well. He mocks evangelicals behind closed doors. His family has treated the presidency like a business opportunity. He’s flirted with White supremacists,” the Nebraska Republican said.
The comments were first reported by The Washington Examiner, which obtained audio of the call. Sasse’s office confirmed to CNN on Thursday that the senator made the comments during a “campaign telephone town hall call that went to about 17,000 Nebraskans.”
Despite Sasse’s reputation as a periodic critic of the President, he’s been a reliable Republican vote for Trump administration nominees and GOP policies. The Sasse spokesman did not respond to an inquiry about whether the Nebraska Republican supports Trump’s reelection.
Republican lawmakers have largely avoided attacking Trump since he took office nearly four years ago, but the rare pointed criticism from Sasse comes just several weeks before an election in which the party is at risk of losing both the White House and the Senate, which the senator emphasized in his answer.
Complaining about Trump’s “stupid political obsessions,” Sasse stressed during the call the possibility that the President’s political brand could alienate women and young voters in the future.
“If young people become permanent Democrats because they’ve just been repulsed by the obsessive nature of our politics, or if women who were willing to still vote with the Republican Party in 2016 decide that they need to turn away from this party permanently in the future, the debate is not going to be, you know, ‘Ben Sasse, why were you so mean to Donald Trump?’ ” he said. “It’s going to be ‘What the heck were any of us thinking that selling a TV-obsessed narcissistic individual to the American people was a good idea?’ It is not a good idea.”
The senator also criticized Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying he doesn’t think the President’s leadership during the crisis has been “reasonable or responsible.”
“The reality is that he careened from curb to curb. First, he ignored Covid. And then he went into full economic shutdown mode. He was the one who said 10 to 14 days of shutdown would fix this, and that was always wrong,” he said. “So I don’t think the way he’s led through Covid has been reasonable or responsible or right.”
Sasse’s spokesman, James Wegmann, pointed to the senator’s concerns about Republican control of the Senate in a statement to CNN on Thursday.
“I don’t know how many more times we can shout this: Even though the Beltway is obsessing exclusively about the presidential race, control of the Senate is ten times more important,” he said. “The fragile Senate seats that will determine whether Democrats nuke the Senate are the races Ben cares about, the races he’s working on, and the only races he’s talking about.”
Sasse’s criticism comes the same week that Trump was also lambasted by another member of his party — Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah — who pointed to the President’s rhetoric as helping to cause the “vile, vituperative, hate-filled morass” that he said is the current tone of American politics.
Sasse noted in the call that he hadn’t supported Trump during his 2016 campaign.
“This has been my fear for five years,” he said on the call. “It’s why I campaigned for everybody not named Trump in 2016.”


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Twitter suffers widespread outage Thursday afternoon

Twitter , already under fire from lawmakers and regulators , appeared to go down altogether on Thursday .
An unknown number of users were unable to access the social network ’ s website and mobile apps , with tracking website Downdetector recording more than 57,000 reports by 3 p.m. A Twitter spokesperson said the company was aware of the issue and was working to fix it .
“ We have no evidence of a security breach or hack , and we ’ re currently investigating internal causes , ” the spokesperson said .
The disruption comes a few months after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s biggest accounts , including those belonging to Barack Obama , Joe Biden , Jeff Bezos and Kim Kardashian West , which regulators in New York this week said originated in a tech support scam .
Twitter , Facebook and other social media platforms are under increased pressure to prevent their platforms from being compromised ahead of the November 3 US election , while also clamping down on disinformation and conspiracy theories .
The companies are also being pressed to do more to regulate content that appears on their platforms , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gearing up to draft regulations intended for social media companies following a petition earlier this year by the Trump administration .

By Rishi Iyengar | CNN
Twitter, already under fire from lawmakers and regulators, appeared to go down altogether on Thursday.
An unknown number of users were unable to access the social network’s website and mobile apps, with tracking website Downdetector recording more than 57,000 reports by 3 p.m.
A Twitter spokesperson said the company was aware of the issue and was working to fix it.
“We have no evidence of a security breach or hack, and we’re currently investigating internal causes,” the spokesperson said.
[vemba-video id=”business/2020/10/14/fake-black-trump-supporter-twitter-accounts-osullivan-sot-ctn-vpx.cnn”]
Video: Twitter suspends fake accounts pretending to be Black Trump supporters
The disruption comes a few months after a massive hack of some of Twitter’s biggest accounts, including those belonging to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Jeff Bezos and Kim Kardashian West, which regulators in New York this week said originated in a tech support scam.
Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms are under increased pressure to prevent their platforms from being compromised ahead of the November 3 US election, while also clamping down on disinformation and conspiracy theories. The companies are also being pressed to do more to regulate content that appears on their platforms, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gearing up to draft regulations intended for social media companies following a petition earlier this year by the Trump administration.


mercurynews--2020-10-15--Contra Costa DA charges man with shooting 4-year-old in ‘road rage’ incident

MARTINEZ — A 47-year-old man has been charged with shooting a 4-year-old in what Pittsburg police described as a “ road rage ” incident , court records show .
Urbicio Legaspi-Flores was charged Thursday with shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and child abuse .
The charging records allege the young boy suffered “ great bodily injury ” in the shooting , but doesn ’ t further describe his condition .
Pittsburg police said in a news release Wednesday that Legaspi-Flores wounded the boy in an Aug. 21 shooting that was over a dispute between drivers .
He was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and later identified as a suspect in the shooting .
The police news release says the car was “ full of kids ” when Legaspi-Flores allegedly opened fire at it , but doesn ’ t say where or what time of day the shooting took place .
Police did not immediately respond to requests for further details .
Similarly , police have not said how Legaspi-Flores was linked to the shooting .
Legaspi-Flores is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility in lieu of $ 1.47 million bail , prosecutors said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AF Bray Courthouse in Martinez .

MARTINEZ — A 47-year-old man has been charged with shooting a 4-year-old in what Pittsburg police described as a “road rage” incident, court records show.
Urbicio Legaspi-Flores was charged Thursday with shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and child abuse. The charging records allege the young boy suffered “great bodily injury” in the shooting, but doesn’t further describe his condition.
Pittsburg police said in a news release Wednesday that Legaspi-Flores wounded the boy in an Aug. 21 shooting that was over a dispute between drivers. He was arrested Wednesday on an unrelated gun possession charge and later identified as a suspect in the shooting.
The police news release says the car was “full of kids” when Legaspi-Flores allegedly opened fire at it, but doesn’t say where or what time of day the shooting took place. Police did not immediately respond to requests for further details.
Similarly, police have not said how Legaspi-Flores was linked to the shooting.
Legaspi-Flores is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility in lieu of $1.47 million bail, prosecutors said. He is due in court Friday morning at the AF Bray Courthouse in Martinez.
Staff writer Harry Harris contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-10-15--GM to remove human backup from SF autonomous cars

DETROIT — General Motors ’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit says it will pull the human backup drivers from its vehicles in San Francisco by the end of the year .
Cruise CEO Dan Ammann said in a statement that the company got a permit Thursday from California ’ s Department of Motor Vehicles to let the cars travel on their own .
The move follows last week ’ s announcement from Waymo that it would open its autonomous ride-hailing service to the public in the Phoenix area in vehicles without human drivers .
Waymo , a unit of Google parent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expand the service into California , where it already has a permit to run without human backups .
Cruise has reached the point where it ’ s confident that it can safely operate without humans in the cars , spokesman Ray Wert said .
There ’ s no date for starting a ride service , which would require further government permission , he said .
Cruise will go neighborhood-by-neighborhood in San Francisco and launch the driverless vehicles slowly before spreading to the entire city , he said .
It will hold neighborhood meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ We understand that this is a trust race as much as it is a technology race , ” Wert said .
“ This is absolutely about making sure that we ’ re doing this with San Francisco.
” The moves by Waymo and Cruise , which are considered among the leaders in autonomous vehicle technology , are important steps in the march toward proliferation of self-driving cars .
Progress toward autonomous vehicles slowed markedly after an Uber autonomous test SUV ran down a pedestrian in Tempe , Arizona , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research engineer at the University of California , Berkeley , who has studied autonomous driving for 40 years , said the moves are the next logical steps by both companies in a gradual progression .
“ I don ’ t see them as revolutionary steps , but they ’ re part of this step-by-step progress toward getting the technology to be able to work under a wider range of conditions , ” he said .
Both Cruise and Waymo program their vehicles to drive more conservatively than humans , but still need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that Cruise will tackle easier areas in San Francisco first before venturing into more complex traffic situations .

By Tom Krisher | Associated Press
DETROIT — General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit says it will pull the human backup drivers from its vehicles in San Francisco by the end of the year.
Cruise CEO Dan Ammann said in a statement that the company got a permit Thursday from California’s Department of Motor Vehicles to let the cars travel on their own.
The move follows last week’s announcement from Waymo that it would open its autonomous ride-hailing service to the public in the Phoenix area in vehicles without human drivers.
Waymo, a unit of Google parent Alphabet Inc., is hoping to eventually expand the service into California, where it already has a permit to run without human backups.
Cruise has reached the point where it’s confident that it can safely operate without humans in the cars, spokesman Ray Wert said. There’s no date for starting a ride service, which would require further government permission, he said.
Cruise will go neighborhood-by-neighborhood in San Francisco and launch the driverless vehicles slowly before spreading to the entire city, he said. It will hold neighborhood meetings to answer people’s questions, he said.
“We understand that this is a trust race as much as it is a technology race,” Wert said. “This is absolutely about making sure that we’re doing this with San Francisco.”
The moves by Waymo and Cruise, which are considered among the leaders in autonomous vehicle technology, are important steps in the march toward proliferation of self-driving cars.
Progress toward autonomous vehicles slowed markedly after an Uber autonomous test SUV ran down a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona, in 2018.
Steven Shladover, a research engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied autonomous driving for 40 years, said the moves are the next logical steps by both companies in a gradual progression.
“I don’t see them as revolutionary steps, but they’re part of this step-by-step progress toward getting the technology to be able to work under a wider range of conditions,” he said.
Both Cruise and Waymo program their vehicles to drive more conservatively than humans, but still need to progress safely, Shladover said. He noted that Cruise will tackle easier areas in San Francisco first before venturing into more complex traffic situations.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Review: Aaron Sorkin tackles the Chicago Seven trial

If anyone was born to make a film about the infamous federal trial surrounding the protests outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention , it ’ s Aaron Sorkin .
The grandstanding of the celebrity revolutionaries Abbie Hoffman and Tom Hayden , the clash of disparate personalities and protest styles , the earnestness of the anti-war cause and the general chaos of the trial itself are all perfectly suited to his brand of storytelling .
That he actually got to do it and release it in a year when police and protesters and riots are once again in the news , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even a Sorkin joint .
But sometimes things just fall into place perfectly and “ The Trial of the Chicago 7 , ” which Sorkin wrote and directed , is like a little gift in this very complicated year — relevant , smart and very entertaining .
And seeing it only requires a Netflix subscription .
As he did in “ Molly ’ s Game , ” Sorkin starts his film in a sprint , energetically introducing the audience to key players getting ready to go to Chicago : “ Yippies ” Hoffman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Jeremy Strong ) , Students for a Democratic Society members Hayden ( Eddie Redmayne ) and Rennie Davis ( Alex Sharp ) , the conscientious objector David Dellinger ( John Carroll Lynch ) and Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale ( Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ) .
But instead of taking us with them to the protests , the film skips ahead to 1969 when Richard Nixon ’ s Attorney General , John N. Mitchell ( John Doman ) decides he wants to charge the anti-war all-stars , or “ the schoolboys ” as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross state lines to incite violence .
It ’ s some masterful exposition ( both funny and informative ) that sets up a trial that not even the lead prosecutor Richard Schultz ( Joseph Gordon-Levitt ) believes is winnable or right .
Schultz will later try to convince the jury that the eight people on trial are just the “ radical left in different costumes.
” Sorkin does a fine job of bringing to life the circus of the trial , with Judge Julius Hoffman ( Frank Langella ) dolling out contempt of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cracking jokes ( mainly Hoffman and Rubin ) .
Mark Rylance as the defense attorney William Kunstler has the perfect combination of affability and gravitas to bring balance to a trial that was on one hand ridiculous and on another gravely serious .
Seale was there without representation and the judge couldn ’ t have been less interested in that fact .
The script assumes at least a little bit of knowledge about the players but also tells you everything you need to know to stay engaged .
And it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of roles ( and accents ) .
Strong has fun going full stoner and Redmayne is effortless as the more buttoned-up American .
Baron-Cohen perhaps is the most exciting as Hoffman , the activist/showman who even his fellow activists seemed to underestimate .
But the whole production is stacked with brilliant actors in both big and small roles .
Kelvin Harrison Jr. appears too briefly as the Illinois Black Panther head Fred Hampton , as does the always wonderful Caitlin FitzGerald as an undercover cop , to name a few .
As in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three lines of dialogue that might make your eyes roll into the back of your head and your body produce an involuntary groan so extended that you will likely have to rewind .
But it just goes to show how good the rest of it is that a few clunkers could stick out that much .
Rating : R ( for drug use , bloody images , language throughout and some violence )

By Lindsey Bahr | Associated Press
If anyone was born to make a film about the infamous federal trial surrounding the protests outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention, it’s Aaron Sorkin.
The grandstanding of the celebrity revolutionaries Abbie Hoffman and Tom Hayden, the clash of disparate personalities and protest styles, the earnestness of the anti-war cause and the general chaos of the trial itself are all perfectly suited to his brand of storytelling. That he actually got to do it and release it in a year when police and protesters and riots are once again in the news, is almost too on the nose for even a Sorkin joint.
But sometimes things just fall into place perfectly and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” which Sorkin wrote and directed, is like a little gift in this very complicated year — relevant, smart and very entertaining. And seeing it only requires a Netflix subscription.
As he did in “Molly’s Game,” Sorkin starts his film in a sprint, energetically introducing the audience to key players getting ready to go to Chicago: “Yippies” Hoffman (Sacha Baron-Cohen) and Jerry Rubin (Jeremy Strong), Students for a Democratic Society members Hayden (Eddie Redmayne) and Rennie Davis (Alex Sharp), the conscientious objector David Dellinger (John Carroll Lynch) and Black Panther co-founder Bobby Seale (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II).
But instead of taking us with them to the protests, the film skips ahead to 1969 when Richard Nixon’s Attorney General, John N. Mitchell (John Doman) decides he wants to charge the anti-war all-stars, or “the schoolboys” as he calls them, with conspiracy to cross state lines to incite violence. It’s some masterful exposition (both funny and informative) that sets up a trial that not even the lead prosecutor Richard Schultz (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) believes is winnable or right. Schultz will later try to convince the jury that the eight people on trial are just the “radical left in different costumes.”
Sorkin does a fine job of bringing to life the circus of the trial, with Judge Julius Hoffman (Frank Langella) dolling out contempt of court charges and defendants talking back and cracking jokes (mainly Hoffman and Rubin).
Mark Rylance as the defense attorney William Kunstler has the perfect combination of affability and gravitas to bring balance to a trial that was on one hand ridiculous and on another gravely serious. Seale was there without representation and the judge couldn’t have been less interested in that fact.
The script assumes at least a little bit of knowledge about the players but also tells you everything you need to know to stay engaged. And it’s a joy watching actors stretch with different types of roles (and accents). Strong has fun going full stoner and Redmayne is effortless as the more buttoned-up American. Baron-Cohen perhaps is the most exciting as Hoffman, the activist/showman who even his fellow activists seemed to underestimate.
But the whole production is stacked with brilliant actors in both big and small roles. Kelvin Harrison Jr. appears too briefly as the Illinois Black Panther head Fred Hampton, as does the always wonderful Caitlin FitzGerald as an undercover cop, to name a few.
As in any Sorkin joint there are at least three lines of dialogue that might make your eyes roll into the back of your head and your body produce an involuntary groan so extended that you will likely have to rewind. But it just goes to show how good the rest of it is that a few clunkers could stick out that much.
“The Trial of the Chicago 7”
3 1/2 stars out of 4
Rating: R (for drug use, bloody images, language throughout and some violence)
Running time: 129 minutes


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Editorial: Clean up dysfunctional Peralta district, elect Heyman

Click here for a complete list of our election recommendations .
Few public agencies are as dysfunctional as the Peralta Community College District .
Few are as desperately in need of change .
Unfortunately , only one of the four board members whose terms are ending this year faces a reelection challenge .
The good news is that trustee is Bill Withrow , one of the more problematic board members .
This is an opportunity for voters in Area 1 , which includes Alameda and a sliver of Oakland along the estuary , to get rid of Withrow , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , until this year , hadn ’ t had an opponent when he sought reelection .
Voters should replace him with Jeff Heyman , the former spokesman for the district who understands the depths of the district ’ s problems .
The district — which includes Berkeley City College , the College of Alameda , Laney College and Merritt College — has been plagued by scandals for more than a decade , dating back to the reign of Chancellor Elihu Harris , the former Oakland mayor and state assemblyman who was never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He awarded contracts to his business partner , handed out salary raises to his friends and ran up extravagant charges on his district credit card — all while the district ’ s financial system deteriorated .
Meanwhile , other big fiscal problems were taking root .
One was an irresponsible bond borrowing scheme launched before the Great Recession to cover the cost of workers ’ retirement health benefits .
The resulting debt , $ 235 million as of two years ago , is more than was originally borrowed and has left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments that will eat up education funds .
More recently , a 2019 financial analysis of the district found it was at high risk of insolvency , with bloated administration , a culture of favoritism , lack of accountability and employees questioning the ethics of district leadership .
Soon after the report came out , the district hired a new chancellor , Regina Stanback Stroud , who quit after nine months , penning a scathing critique of the board on her way out .
The district is about to launch a nationwide search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board of ineffective governance , hostile conduct toward others and each other , violations of closed session confidentiality and the state ’ s open-meeting law , interference in investigations of complaints against board members , collusion with the unions against the interest of the district and undermining the collective bargaining negotiation process .
And that ’ s just half of it .
But to hear Withrow tell it , things are just fine at Peralta .
He even tried to censure another board member who said otherwise , claiming he lacked free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Withrow has been on the board and in the thick of all the poor financial decisions for more than 15 years .
It ’ s time for him to go .
Fortunately , his opponent understands things are not hunky dory .
It ’ s time for change .
Vote for Heyman .

Click here for a complete list of our election recommendations.
Few public agencies are as dysfunctional as the Peralta Community College District. Few are as desperately in need of change.
Unfortunately, only one of the four board members whose terms are ending this year faces a reelection challenge. The good news is that trustee is Bill Withrow, one of the more problematic board members.
This is an opportunity for voters in Area 1, which includes Alameda and a sliver of Oakland along the estuary, to get rid of Withrow, who has been on the board since 2004 and, until this year, hadn’t had an opponent when he sought reelection. Voters should replace him with Jeff Heyman, the former spokesman for the district who understands the depths of the district’s problems.
The district — which includes Berkeley City College, the College of Alameda, Laney College and Merritt College — has been plagued by scandals for more than a decade, dating back to the reign of Chancellor Elihu Harris, the former Oakland mayor and state assemblyman who was never qualified to lead a community college district.
He awarded contracts to his business partner, handed out salary raises to his friends and ran up extravagant charges on his district credit card — all while the district’s financial system deteriorated. Meanwhile, other big fiscal problems were taking root. One was an irresponsible bond borrowing scheme launched before the Great Recession to cover the cost of workers’ retirement health benefits. The resulting debt, $235 million as of two years ago, is more than was originally borrowed and has left the district with future decades of rising loan payments that will eat up education funds.
More recently, a 2019 financial analysis of the district found it was at high risk of insolvency, with bloated administration, a culture of favoritism, lack of accountability and employees questioning the ethics of district leadership.
Soon after the report came out, the district hired a new chancellor, Regina Stanback Stroud, who quit after nine months, penning a scathing critique of the board on her way out. The district is about to launch a nationwide search for her replacement.
The critique accused the board of ineffective governance, hostile conduct toward others and each other, violations of closed session confidentiality and the state’s open-meeting law, interference in investigations of complaints against board members, collusion with the unions against the interest of the district and undermining the collective bargaining negotiation process. And that’s just half of it.
But to hear Withrow tell it, things are just fine at Peralta. He even tried to censure another board member who said otherwise, claiming he lacked free speech rights to criticize the district. Withrow has been on the board and in the thick of all the poor financial decisions for more than 15 years. It’s time for him to go.
Fortunately, his opponent understands things are not hunky dory. It’s time for change. Vote for Heyman.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Editorial: Reelect Alleyne and Chavez to Contra Costa education board

Click here for a complete list of our election recommendations .
The Contra Costa Board of Education oversees the policies and curriculum for county-run schools and educational programs .
It ’ s an important task .
We ’ re talking about occupational training and special education programs , and schools for incarcerated juveniles and adults .
The board also hears appeals of student expulsions , inter-district transfers and charter school applications .
It ’ s that last issue — charter schools — that unfortunately drives the politics of campaigns for the board .
The teachers ’ unions dislike charter schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an open mind and apply state law when considering applications .
That ’ s why this year they ’ re targeting two incumbent board members — Fatima Alleyne in Area 1 in West County and Vikki Chavez in Area 3 in northern Central County .
Alleyne and Chavez deserve reelection .
They ’ ve been part of a board that has had to make tough budgetary cuts in part because of declining enrollment in the county education programs .
And , on charter schools , they recognize that some provide innovative alternatives to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are poorly run and don ’ t deserve permission to operate .
Neither trustee has been a rubber stamp for charter schools .
Alleyne voted to approve five of the 11 charter applications that came before the county board in the last four years .
Chavez backed nine of the 11 .
Alleyne has taken her concerns about some charters a step further , pushing to standardize the approval agreements with charters to ensure transparency , training on open meeting laws and an appeals process for students facing expulsion — to ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Alleyne , a mother of four with a doctorate in materials science and engineering , is thoughtful and substantive .
She is currently director of community engagement and inclusive practices for UC Berkeley ’ s College of Engineering .
And , when it comes to her work on the county board , she puts a high priority on smart fiscal management with adequate reserves to prepare for economic downturns like the current one .
Meanwhile , Chavez feels that the singular focus on charters misses critical work and issues the county board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown students in the county office ’ s jail schooling program , she says , drives home the point that we ’ re failing children of color , failing to provide them quality education at an early age so they don ’ t wind up incarcerated .
Chavez teaches cosmetology part-time and , prior to the pandemic , operated her own salon in Concord .
And what about their opponents ?
Consuelo Lara , a West Contra Costa school district trustee , running in Area 1 , and former Martinez Councilwoman Anamarie Avila @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to participate in our endorsement interviews .
The choices are clear .
Elect Alleyne in Area 1 and Chavez in Area 3 .

Click here for a complete list of our election recommendations.
The Contra Costa Board of Education oversees the policies and curriculum for county-run schools and educational programs. It’s an important task. We’re talking about occupational training and special education programs, and schools for incarcerated juveniles and adults.
The board also hears appeals of student expulsions, inter-district transfers and charter school applications. It’s that last issue — charter schools — that unfortunately drives the politics of campaigns for the board.
The teachers’ unions dislike charter schools and candidates who are willing to keep an open mind and apply state law when considering applications. That’s why this year they’re targeting two incumbent board members — Fatima Alleyne in Area 1 in West County and Vikki Chavez in Area 3 in northern Central County.
Alleyne and Chavez deserve reelection. They’ve been part of a board that has had to make tough budgetary cuts in part because of declining enrollment in the county education programs. And, on charter schools, they recognize that some provide innovative alternatives to poor-performing traditional schools and that other charters are poorly run and don’t deserve permission to operate.
Neither trustee has been a rubber stamp for charter schools. Alleyne voted to approve five of the 11 charter applications that came before the county board in the last four years. Chavez backed nine of the 11.
Alleyne has taken her concerns about some charters a step further, pushing to standardize the approval agreements with charters to ensure transparency, training on open meeting laws and an appeals process for students facing expulsion — to ensure that charters face requirements imposed on traditional schools.
Alleyne, a mother of four with a doctorate in materials science and engineering, is thoughtful and substantive. She is currently director of community engagement and inclusive practices for UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering. And, when it comes to her work on the county board, she puts a high priority on smart fiscal management with adequate reserves to prepare for economic downturns like the current one.
Meanwhile, Chavez feels that the singular focus on charters misses critical work and issues the county board faces. Seeing the predominantly Black and Brown students in the county office’s jail schooling program, she says, drives home the point that we’re failing children of color, failing to provide them quality education at an early age so they don’t wind up incarcerated.
Chavez teaches cosmetology part-time and, prior to the pandemic, operated her own salon in Concord.
And what about their opponents? Consuelo Lara, a West Contra Costa school district trustee, running in Area 1, and former Martinez Councilwoman Anamarie Avila Farias, running in Area 3, refused to participate in our endorsement interviews.
The choices are clear. Elect Alleyne in Area 1 and Chavez in Area 3.


mercurynews--2020-10-16--Leg found at California lake matched to woman reported missing in 2017

BAKERSFIELD — A leg that washed ashore at a California lake was matched to the body of a missing woman @ @ @ @ @ , authorities said .
The Kern County Sheriff ’ s Office said 64-year-old Shirley Mae @ @ @ @ @ Santa Ana in 2017 , KGET-TV reports .
• Barefoot hiker who went missing is @ @ @ @ @ • Mexican authorities believe missing California firefighter could have been shot during kidnapping attempt • @ @ @ @ @ goes missing in Mexico • Missing Berkeley woman ’ s car found in forest with @ @ @ @ @ ’ s body was pulled from a car July 12 , 2018 , while the @ @ @ @ @ , 2018 , at Buena Vista Lake , about 30 miles ( 48 kilometers ) @ @ @ @ @ testing of the leg and body confirmed the woman ’ s identity , the sheriff @ @ @ @ @ The sheriff ’ s office closed its part of the investigation and said there was @ @ @ @ @ .
The Santa Ana Police Department continues to investigate the case .

BAKERSFIELD — A leg that washed ashore at a California lake was matched to the body of a missing woman found two years later, authorities said.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said 64-year-old Shirley Mae Cassel was reported missing from Santa Ana in 2017, KGET-TV reports.
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Missing California hiker found dead on Arizona path during extreme weather conditions Crime and Public Safety | Man who died on trail had been on a trip to scatter father’s ashes in Sierra Nevada The leg was discovered July 28, 2018, at Buena Vista Lake, 30 miles southwest of Bakersfield. Cassel’s body was pulled from a car in that same lake on July 12, 2020.
DNA testing of the leg and body confirmed the woman’s identity, the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office closed its part of the investigation and said there was no suspicion of foul play.
The Santa Ana Police Department continues to investigate the case.
Correction: This article initially reported incorrectly that Cassel’s body was found in July 2018.