mercurynews--2020-07-31--Hanson: Our summer of cultural suicide

Hanson: Our summer of cultural suicide

Cultural suicide used to be a popular diagnosis of why things suddenly just quit .
Historians such as Oswald Spengler and Arnold Toynbee cited social cannibalism to explain why once-successful states , institutions and cultures simply died off .
Their common explanation was that the arrogance of success ensures lethal consequences .
Once elites became pampered and arrogant , they feel exempt from their ancestors ’ respect for moral and spiritual laws like thrift , moderation and transcendence .
Take professional sports .
Over the last century , professional football , basketball and baseball were racially integrated and adopted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three leagues offered fans a pleasant respite from daily barroom politics .
As a result , by the 21st century , the NFL , NBA and MLB had become global multibillion-dollar enterprises .
The owners , coaches and players weren ’ t always racially diverse .
But that inconvenient truth did not stop the leagues from hectoring their fans about social activism — even as they no longer honored common patriotic rituals .
All three leagues have suffered terribly during the viral lockdown , as American life mysteriously went on without them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t fully recover when the quarantine ends .
Many of their often-pampered multimillionaire players refuse to honor the national anthem .
In the NFL they now will broadcast their politics on their helmets .
They will virtue-signal their moral superiority to increasingly turned-off fans — as if to ensure that their sources of support flee .
Lots of American universities became virtual global brands in the 21st century .
Sky-high tuition , rich foreign students , guaranteed student loans and Club Med-like facilities convinced administrators and faculty that higher education was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful American had to have a bachelor ’ s degree , as if the higher-education monopoly deserved guaranteed customers .
But soon , $ 1.6 trillion in aggregate student-loan debt , lightweight and trendy curricula , ideological hectoring , administrative bloat , reduced teaching loads , poor placement of graduates , and the suspension of the Bill of Rights on campus began turning off both students and the public .
If students can Zoom or Skype their classes from home this fall , why pay $ 70,000 a year for the campus “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rioters this summer incoherently toppled or damaged the statues of everyone from Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant to Frederick Douglass and Miguel de Cervantes .
So the public might begin to wonder how the nation ’ s multitrillion-dollar investment in higher education actually served the country .
Soon , popular fury will beget more dangerous questions for American universities .
Maybe the country should subsidize the training of more essential electricians , plumbers , contractors and masons instead of unemployable environmental and ethnic studies majors .
If a university president wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroy his university , he could not have come up with a better one than what has happened on campus in recent decades .
Hollywood should have been ecstatic over 21st century globalization , which should have made filmmakers and stars even richer and more popular , with a potential audience of more than 7 billion .
But the quarantine has shut down most theaters .
Amazon , Netflix and Facebook , along with cable TV , have sent theater revenues diving for years .
Silicon Valley can create filmmakers who have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In response , Hollywood counts on bringing comic books to the big screen , or on making poor remakes of old classics .
When directors try to make a serious new movie , the result is often the monotony and boredom of thinly veiled woke propaganda .
Viewers can take only so many heroic green crusaders , diverse superhumans and beautiful feminists — and only so many villainous cardboard-cutout Russian oligarchs , toothless and twangy Southern Neanderthals and corporate yes-men .
The hypocrisy gets worse when the Chinese government often adjudicates movie content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market with more than a billion potential customers .
But viewers do seek out theaters for more lectures from beautiful multimillionaires on their racist , sexist , homophobic country .
Professional sports , universities and the motion picture industry all know that what they are doing is bad for business .
But they still believe they are rich and powerful , and thus invulnerable .
They also are ignorant of history and can not be persuaded that they are destroying themselves .
At this late date , all that matters is that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and heals itself .
If the U.S. is not to become an extinct Easter Island , it must rediscover a respect for its past , honor for the dead who gave us so much , the desire to invest rather than spend , and a need for some sense of transcendence .
If we do not believe that what we do today has consequences for our children after we are gone , there are ancient existential forces in the world that will intervene .
And it won ’ t be nice .

Cultural suicide used to be a popular diagnosis of why things suddenly just quit.
Historians such as Oswald Spengler and Arnold Toynbee cited social cannibalism to explain why once-successful states, institutions and cultures simply died off.
Their common explanation was that the arrogance of success ensures lethal consequences. Once elites became pampered and arrogant, they feel exempt from their ancestors’ respect for moral and spiritual laws like thrift, moderation and transcendence.
Take professional sports. Over the last century, professional football, basketball and baseball were racially integrated and adopted a uniform code of patriotic observance. The three leagues offered fans a pleasant respite from daily barroom politics. As a result, by the 21st century, the NFL, NBA and MLB had become global multibillion-dollar enterprises.
Then hubris ensued.
The owners, coaches and players weren’t always racially diverse. But that inconvenient truth did not stop the leagues from hectoring their fans about social activism — even as they no longer honored common patriotic rituals.
All three leagues have suffered terribly during the viral lockdown, as American life mysteriously went on without them. And they have almost ensured that they won’t fully recover when the quarantine ends. Many of their often-pampered multimillionaire players refuse to honor the national anthem. In the NFL they now will broadcast their politics on their helmets. They will virtue-signal their moral superiority to increasingly turned-off fans — as if to ensure that their sources of support flee.
Lots of American universities became virtual global brands in the 21st century. Sky-high tuition, rich foreign students, guaranteed student loans and Club Med-like facilities convinced administrators and faculty that higher education was sacrosanct. The universities preached that every successful American had to have a bachelor’s degree, as if the higher-education monopoly deserved guaranteed customers.
But soon, $1.6 trillion in aggregate student-loan debt, lightweight and trendy curricula, ideological hectoring, administrative bloat, reduced teaching loads, poor placement of graduates, and the suspension of the Bill of Rights on campus began turning off both students and the public.
If students can Zoom or Skype their classes from home this fall, why pay $70,000 a year for the campus “experience”?
Supposedly woke and informed rioters this summer incoherently toppled or damaged the statues of everyone from Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant to Frederick Douglass and Miguel de Cervantes. So the public might begin to wonder how the nation’s multitrillion-dollar investment in higher education actually served the country.
Soon, popular fury will beget more dangerous questions for American universities. Maybe the country should subsidize the training of more essential electricians, plumbers, contractors and masons instead of unemployable environmental and ethnic studies majors.
If a university president wanted to devise a plan for how to destroy his university, he could not have come up with a better one than what has happened on campus in recent decades.
Hollywood should have been ecstatic over 21st century globalization, which should have made filmmakers and stars even richer and more popular, with a potential audience of more than 7 billion. But the quarantine has shut down most theaters.
Amazon, Netflix and Facebook, along with cable TV, have sent theater revenues diving for years. Silicon Valley can create filmmakers who have no need to get near Southern California.
In response, Hollywood counts on bringing comic books to the big screen, or on making poor remakes of old classics. When directors try to make a serious new movie, the result is often the monotony and boredom of thinly veiled woke propaganda.
Viewers can take only so many heroic green crusaders, diverse superhumans and beautiful feminists — and only so many villainous cardboard-cutout Russian oligarchs, toothless and twangy Southern Neanderthals and corporate yes-men.
The hypocrisy gets worse when the Chinese government often adjudicates movie content as the price of entering a Chinese market with more than a billion potential customers.
But viewers do seek out theaters for more lectures from beautiful multimillionaires on their racist, sexist, homophobic country.
Professional sports, universities and the motion picture industry all know that what they are doing is bad for business. But they still believe they are rich and powerful, and thus invulnerable. They also are ignorant of history and cannot be persuaded that they are destroying themselves.
At this late date, all that matters is that the country itself learns from these suicidal examples and heals itself. If the U.S. is not to become an extinct Easter Island, it must rediscover a respect for its past, honor for the dead who gave us so much, the desire to invest rather than spend, and a need for some sense of transcendence.
If we do not believe that what we do today has consequences for our children after we are gone, there are ancient existential forces in the world that will intervene.
And it won’t be nice.
Victor Davis Hanson is a syndicated columnist. (C) 2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-07-31--Review: Documenting the ACLU in the time of Trump

“ The Fight , ” Elyse Steinberg , Josh Kriegman and Eli Despress ’ documentary about the American Civil Liberties Union , opens with the inauguration of Donald Trump .
His oath rings out like an opening salvo .
In just seven days , protests will be amassed at JFK Airport in New York where ACLU attorneys rush to counter the Trump ’ s administration ’ s travel ban from seven Muslim-majority nations .
“ The Fight , ” which debuts on-demand Friday , works from that moment forward , trying to keep pace with the ACLU in a ceaseless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a perpetual and frantic struggle , with workaholic lawyers always racing to court and seeking injunctions on the fly .
“ The Fight ” zeroes in on four prominent Trump-era cases for the ACLU .
The directors last made the 2016 Anthony Weiner documentary “ Weiner.
” That film began as a fly-on-the-wall portrait of an up-and-coming New York politician , only to turn into a front-row seat to political disaster as Weiner ’ s career self-immolated in a sexting scandal .
“ The Fight , ” timed to the 100th anniversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arc .
It begins with a warm impression of the ACLU and concludes with one .
It is , some would say , a glossy advertisement for the historic nonprofit organization , even if the film , like its characters , doesn ’ t shy away from the divisive role that the ACLU plays in American life for some .
Their attorneys dutifully read their own hate mail .
“ Obviously most of you are pedophiles , ” says one caller .
But just as in “ Weiner , ” the filmmakers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-pressure political environments .
Our characters here include the perpetually rumpled Lee Gelernt , who ’ s representing an immigrant woman separated for months from her young daughter ; Brigitte Amiri , who ’ s defending a teenage immigrant woman who , after being raped , is barred from an abortion in Texas ; Dale Ho , a fastidious lawyer arguing against a citizenship question on the U.S. census ; and Josh Block and Chase Strangio , who oppose the Trump administration ’ s ban on transgender soldiers serving in the military .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ The Fight ” burrows into life at the ACLU .
In a guided tour of their New York offices , Ho acknowledges it ’ s a unique culture .
“ There are probably more tattoos and piercings here at the ACLU than there are at the DOJ , ” he says .
Part of the film ’ s pleasure is in how the directors juxtapose the weighty , righteous causes of its attorneys with their humbler , eminently human lives .
A win in the abortion case is celebrated by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclaims , of “ Train wine !
” In the midst of a dramatic turn in the family separation case , Gelernt is helplessly unable to charge his phone .
When a younger colleague hands him a charger and directs him to his computer ’ s USB port , she might as well be giving him instructions on how to reach Neptune .
Still , the stakes are always present .
While “ The Fight ” concentrates on the ACLU ’ s legal crusaders , the few glimpses it affords to those the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could use more of people outside the courtroom .
But the few scenes , for example , of immigrant parents talking about their children being taken away from them are devastating .
Sometimes , “ The Fight ” could pry more closely .
When the ACLU supported the First Amendment rights of white supremacist marchers in Charlottesville , Virginia , it prompted soul-searching throughout the ACLU .
Here , legal director David Cole makes the case : “ It ’ s not a right for people you agree with .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Fight ” would be a better documentary if it had captured the dialogue within the ACLU as it happened .
What most vividly comes across in “ The Fight ” is the never-ending nature of freedom and democracy .
No case is ever really over ; there are always more challenges to come , more legal battles to fight .
A right earned requires endless vigilance , or it will slip away .
And as tempting , in a summer without superheroes , to think of the courtroom warriors of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not a role they embrace .
They can do only so much to plug all the holes in a vessel always springing leaks .
“ It ’ s not going to be lawyers in courts , ” says Ho .
“ It ’ s going to be people who turn this ship around.
” Rating : PG-13 ( for strong language , thematic material and brief violence )

By Jake Coyle | Associated Press
“The Fight,” Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman and Eli Despress’ documentary about the American Civil Liberties Union, opens with the inauguration of Donald Trump. His oath rings out like an opening salvo. In just seven days, protests will be amassed at JFK Airport in New York where ACLU attorneys rush to counter the Trump’s administration’s travel ban from seven Muslim-majority nations.
“The Fight,” which debuts on-demand Friday, works from that moment forward, trying to keep pace with the ACLU in a ceaseless battle over civil rights. It’s a perpetual and frantic struggle, with workaholic lawyers always racing to court and seeking injunctions on the fly. “The Fight” zeroes in on four prominent Trump-era cases for the ACLU.
The directors last made the 2016 Anthony Weiner documentary “Weiner.” That film began as a fly-on-the-wall portrait of an up-and-coming New York politician, only to turn into a front-row seat to political disaster as Weiner’s career self-immolated in a sexting scandal.
“The Fight,” timed to the 100th anniversary of the ACLU, bears no such arc. It begins with a warm impression of the ACLU and concludes with one. It is, some would say, a glossy advertisement for the historic nonprofit organization, even if the film, like its characters, doesn’t shy away from the divisive role that the ACLU plays in American life for some. Their attorneys dutifully read their own hate mail. “Obviously most of you are pedophiles,” says one caller.
But just as in “Weiner,” the filmmakers have a gift for capturing colorful personalities in high-pressure political environments. Our characters here include the perpetually rumpled Lee Gelernt, who’s representing an immigrant woman separated for months from her young daughter; Brigitte Amiri, who’s defending a teenage immigrant woman who, after being raped, is barred from an abortion in Texas; Dale Ho, a fastidious lawyer arguing against a citizenship question on the U.S. census; and Josh Block and Chase Strangio, who oppose the Trump administration’s ban on transgender soldiers serving in the military.
Tracking these cases for nearly three years, “The Fight” burrows into life at the ACLU. In a guided tour of their New York offices, Ho acknowledges it’s a unique culture. “There are probably more tattoos and piercings here at the ACLU than there are at the DOJ,” he says.
Part of the film’s pleasure is in how the directors juxtapose the weighty, righteous causes of its attorneys with their humbler, eminently human lives. A win in the abortion case is celebrated by the commuting Amiri with a glass, she exclaims, of “Train wine!” In the midst of a dramatic turn in the family separation case, Gelernt is helplessly unable to charge his phone. When a younger colleague hands him a charger and directs him to his computer’s USB port, she might as well be giving him instructions on how to reach Neptune.
Still, the stakes are always present. While “The Fight” concentrates on the ACLU’s legal crusaders, the few glimpses it affords to those the attorneys are representing are powerful. Perhaps it could use more of people outside the courtroom. But the few scenes, for example, of immigrant parents talking about their children being taken away from them are devastating.
Sometimes, “The Fight” could pry more closely. When the ACLU supported the First Amendment rights of white supremacist marchers in Charlottesville, Virginia, it prompted soul-searching throughout the ACLU. Here, legal director David Cole makes the case: “It’s not a right for people you agree with. It’s a right for everybody.” But “The Fight” would be a better documentary if it had captured the dialogue within the ACLU as it happened.
What most vividly comes across in “The Fight” is the never-ending nature of freedom and democracy. No case is ever really over; there are always more challenges to come, more legal battles to fight. A right earned requires endless vigilance, or it will slip away. And as tempting, in a summer without superheroes, to think of the courtroom warriors of “The Fight” as saviors, it’s not a role they embrace. They can do only so much to plug all the holes in a vessel always springing leaks. “It’s not going to be lawyers in courts,” says Ho. “It’s going to be people who turn this ship around.”
“The Fight”
3 1/2 stars out of 4
Rating: PG-13 (for strong language, thematic material and brief violence)
Running time: 96 minutes


mercurynews--2020-07-31--California mayor’s ex-girlfriend wants $12 million for post-breakup firing from her $342,000 city jo

California mayor’s ex-girlfriend wants $12 million for post-breakup firing from her $342,000 city job

The ex-girlfriend of Mayor James T. Butts Jr. is demanding $ 12 million from the city for an alleged wrongful termination in late 2019 , according to a claim for damages filed last month .
Inglewood released the claim through a public records request Wednesday , the day after the Inglewood City Council voted to reject it .
The claimant must file a lawsuit within six months of the claim ’ s rejection and the attorneys for Melanie McDade , the mayor ’ s former executive assistant , have signaled they fully intend to do so .
In the claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retaliated against her for ending their eight-year relationship by removing assignments that had upped her pay and by excluding her from executive meetings .
He later had her terminated when she declined to get back together , the claim states .
McDade further alleges Butts berated her in front of other employees and stalked her following the breakup , showing up so frequently that she suspected the former Santa Monica police chief had placed a tracking device on her vehicle .
Other employees shunned McDade whenever she fell out of the mayor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The mayor increased his harassment of her at work whenever his jealous rage caused him to suspect Ms. McDade ’ s interest in another man , or if she denied him the sexual attention he demanded , ” wrote her attorney , Carl Douglas , who was on the defense team that represented O.J .
Simpson in his murder case .
Mira Hashmall , an attorney representing the city , said Inglewood “ emphatically rejects the allegations ” from McDade .
The former assistant has never denied the charges that led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so , Hashmall said .
“ None of these allegations have ever been substantiated , they ’ re completely unfounded , ” Hashmall said .
“ Ms .
McDade herself has never come forward with anything but empty rhetoric to support these allegations .
What the actual evidence shows is corrupt behavior on her part.
” McDade alleges her relationship started with the mayor in 2010 while she was working on his campaign for mayor .
She was hired as his executive assistant after he took office in 2011 .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDade and the city say she took on additional responsibilities , similar to an assistant city manager , in subsequent years .
Her total pay and benefits jumped from $ 132,000 in 2014 to $ 342,000 in 2018 , according to public pay databases .
McDade was placed on administrative leave in July 2019 and fired at the end of the year .
Inglewood ’ s termination letter accused her of violating city policies for using employees for personal tasks , including to help her fill out a home loan .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make herself appear more financially stable to the lender .
City Manager Artie Fields , who made the decision to fire McDade , previously called the allegations against the mayor “ libelous ” and described them as “ venomous , vitrolic and off-colored statements ” that had no relevance to McDade ’ s termination .
He said there was no evidence of “ anything but a consensual relationship ” and noted McDade did not file any complaints against the mayor until after she was placed on leave .
A July 29 letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDade began with an employee complaint .
“ Specifically , Ms. McDade was found to have abused her authority and attempted to pressure her subordinates to participate in her attempt to manipulate financial documents and falsify City records , ” states the letter signed by City Clerk Yvonne Horton .
“ The investigation also revealed that Ms. McDade hatched a scheme to misappropriate city funds , counseled an individual to falsify City payroll records and violated city contracting rules.
” The city ’ s letter alleges “ McDade has never denied engaging in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities ” to refute the allegations .
In an interview , McDade ’ s attorney said he plans to dismantle the city ’ s justification for firing McDade in court and let a jury determine the full extent of the mayor ’ s sexual harassment.. “ All they can do is try to drag this great woman through the mud , ” he said .
“ We expect that , we ’ re ready for that and when all of the dragging is done , we ’ ll see how it ends.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor spearheaded the “ false allegations against her and accused her of doing things he and other City employees had been doing for years without anyone batting an eye.
” The city “ ratified and condoned ” Butts ’ sexual harassment , abuse , retaliation and defamation by firing her and then defending the mayor , he wrote .
The firing ruined McDade ’ s reputation and she has been unable to find employment since her termination , the claim states .
The claim demands $ 259,401 for lost earnings , $ 4.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to $ 2 million in attorney fees and $ 5 million in punitive damages .
In an interview , Douglas suggested their future litigation may include allegations from other employees as well .
He said he brought employment attorney Maryann Gallagher onto the case as his co-counsel in preparation for an all-out battle .
“ As I continue my investigation into the administration , I am learning disturbing information nearly every day about the corruption and the nepotism and the way in which mayor ’ s administration has wrecked havoc over that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Inglewood , ” Douglas said .
“ When all of the facts of this , and other instances , come out , a change in leadership will become apparent.
” He declined to elaborate on the other instances .
The claim alleges Butts “ has a history of engaging in sexual harassment with female subordinate employees , ” but the city ’ s leadership failed to investigate it or other abuses of power .
McDade ’ s claim alleges Butts directed her to “ give preferences to his friends and associates with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as engage in other questionable activities involving the misuse of City funds.
” Hashmall said no other employees have filed claims against Butts , and she accused Douglas of trying to talk up his case without providing supporting evidence .
“ That is a far cry from the facts , in my opinion , ” she said .
• Here ’ s why a California city fired the mayor ’ s $ 342,000-a-year assistant and ex-girlfriend • Southern California mayor accused of stalking $ 342K-a-year assistant after she ended relationship Last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit accusing Butts of tricking Madison Square Garden executives into giving up land that is now slated for a Los Angeles Clippers arena .
In depositions , McDade originally said she knew nothing about the alleged scheme .
But after she was placed on leave , she recanted and corrected more than 100 answers , indicating she was willing to provide damaging evidence against her boss .
She never got a chance to testify in court , however .
MSG and the Clippers settled the case after the basketball team ’ s owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The ex-girlfriend of Mayor James T. Butts Jr. is demanding $12 million from the city for an alleged wrongful termination in late 2019, according to a claim for damages filed last month.
Inglewood released the claim through a public records request Wednesday, the day after the Inglewood City Council voted to reject it. The claimant must file a lawsuit within six months of the claim’s rejection and the attorneys for Melanie McDade, the mayor’s former executive assistant, have signaled they fully intend to do so.
In the claim, McDade’s attorneys allege Butts retaliated against her for ending their eight-year relationship by removing assignments that had upped her pay and by excluding her from executive meetings. He later had her terminated when she declined to get back together, the claim states.
McDade further alleges Butts berated her in front of other employees and stalked her following the breakup, showing up so frequently that she suspected the former Santa Monica police chief had placed a tracking device on her vehicle. Other employees shunned McDade whenever she fell out of the mayor’s graces, according to the claim.
“The mayor increased his harassment of her at work whenever his jealous rage caused him to suspect Ms. McDade’s interest in another man, or if she denied him the sexual attention he demanded,” wrote her attorney, Carl Douglas, who was on the defense team that represented O.J. Simpson in his murder case.
City disputes allegations
Mira Hashmall, an attorney representing the city, said Inglewood “emphatically rejects the allegations” from McDade. The former assistant has never denied the charges that led to her termination, despite having opportunities to do so, Hashmall said.
“None of these allegations have ever been substantiated, they’re completely unfounded,” Hashmall said. “Ms. McDade herself has never come forward with anything but empty rhetoric to support these allegations. What the actual evidence shows is corrupt behavior on her part.”
McDade alleges her relationship started with the mayor in 2010 while she was working on his campaign for mayor. She was hired as his executive assistant after he took office in 2011. Though her title never reflected it, both McDade and the city say she took on additional responsibilities, similar to an assistant city manager, in subsequent years. Her total pay and benefits jumped from $132,000 in 2014 to $342,000 in 2018, according to public pay databases.
McDade was placed on administrative leave in July 2019 and fired at the end of the year. Inglewood’s termination letter accused her of violating city policies for using employees for personal tasks, including to help her fill out a home loan. It also alleges she fraudulently forged a bonus check to make herself appear more financially stable to the lender.
‘Venomous, vitrolic’ accusations
City Manager Artie Fields, who made the decision to fire McDade, previously called the allegations against the mayor “libelous” and described them as “venomous, vitrolic and off-colored statements” that had no relevance to McDade’s termination. He said there was no evidence of “anything but a consensual relationship” and noted McDade did not file any complaints against the mayor until after she was placed on leave.
A July 29 letter rejecting the claim states the investigation into McDade began with an employee complaint.
“Specifically, Ms. McDade was found to have abused her authority and attempted to pressure her subordinates to participate in her attempt to manipulate financial documents and falsify City records,” states the letter signed by City Clerk Yvonne Horton. “The investigation also revealed that Ms. McDade hatched a scheme to misappropriate city funds, counseled an individual to falsify City payroll records and violated city contracting rules.”
The city’s letter alleges “McDade has never denied engaging in the improper conduct” despite “multiple opportunities” to refute the allegations.
Dragging woman ‘through the mud’
In an interview, McDade’s attorney said he plans to dismantle the city’s justification for firing McDade in court and let a jury determine the full extent of the mayor’s sexual harassment..
“All they can do is try to drag this great woman through the mud,” he said. “We expect that, we’re ready for that and when all of the dragging is done, we’ll see how it ends.”
In the claim, Douglas alleges the mayor spearheaded the “false allegations against her and accused her of doing things he and other City employees had been doing for years without anyone batting an eye.” The city “ratified and condoned” Butts’ sexual harassment, abuse, retaliation and defamation by firing her and then defending the mayor, he wrote.
The firing ruined McDade’s reputation and she has been unable to find employment since her termination, the claim states. The claim demands $259,401 for lost earnings, $4.5 million in general damages, $1.5 million to $2 million in attorney fees and $5 million in punitive damages.
In an interview, Douglas suggested their future litigation may include allegations from other employees as well. He said he brought employment attorney Maryann Gallagher onto the case as his co-counsel in preparation for an all-out battle.
“As I continue my investigation into the administration, I am learning disturbing information nearly every day about the corruption and the nepotism and the way in which mayor’s administration has wrecked havoc over that entire building, impacting the good people of Inglewood,” Douglas said. “When all of the facts of this, and other instances, come out, a change in leadership will become apparent.”
He declined to elaborate on the other instances.
History of sexual harassment alleged
The claim alleges Butts “has a history of engaging in sexual harassment with female subordinate employees,” but the city’s leadership failed to investigate it or other abuses of power. McDade’s claim alleges Butts directed her to “give preferences to his friends and associates with City jobs and benefits, as well as engage in other questionable activities involving the misuse of City funds.”
Hashmall said no other employees have filed claims against Butts, and she accused Douglas of trying to talk up his case without providing supporting evidence.
“That is a far cry from the facts, in my opinion,” she said.
Related Articles Politics | Here’s why a California city fired the mayor’s $342,000-a-year assistant and ex-girlfriend
Here’s why a California city fired the mayor’s $342,000-a-year assistant and ex-girlfriend Politics | California city fires mayor’s $342,000-a-year assistant and alleged ex-girlfriend
California city fires mayor’s $342,000-a-year assistant and alleged ex-girlfriend Politics | Southern California mayor accused of stalking $342K-a-year assistant after she ended relationship Last year, McDade significantly changed her testimony in a lawsuit accusing Butts of tricking Madison Square Garden executives into giving up land that is now slated for a Los Angeles Clippers arena. In depositions, McDade originally said she knew nothing about the alleged scheme. But after she was placed on leave, she recanted and corrected more than 100 answers, indicating she was willing to provide damaging evidence against her boss.
She never got a chance to testify in court, however. MSG and the Clippers settled the case after the basketball team’s owners bought The Forum for $400 million.


mercurynews--2020-07-31--California prosecutors refile child rape charges against leader of Mexican megachurch

By ROBERT JABLON | The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — California on Wednesday charged the leader of a Mexican megachurch with child rape and human trafficking , months after a court dismissed the previous allegations because of prosecution errors .
Naasón Joaquín García , the self-proclaimed apostle of La Luz del Mundo , was charged with three dozen felony counts .
Also charged were Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo .
Prosecutors contend the three committed sex crimes and also produced child pornography involving five women and girls who were church group members .
The crimes took place between 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities said .
García is the spiritual leader of La Luz del Mundo , which is Spanish for “ The Light Of The World.
” The Guadalajara , Mexico-based evangelical Christian church was founded by his grandfather and claims 5 million followers worldwide .
García and Ocampo already were being held in custody in Los Angeles County while prosecutors decided whether to refile charges .
He was rebooked on $ 50 million bail and Ocampo was booked on $ 25 million bail , while Oaxaca remained free on bail , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Messages to their attorneys seeking comment weren ’ t immediately returned but García has previously denied wrongdoing .
In April , an appeals court ordered Los Angeles Superior Court to dismiss charges against García , ruling that his preliminary hearing was not held in a timely manner and he did not waive his right to one .
His hearing was postponed several times — in some instances , because prosecutors had not turned over evidence to the defense .
The refiled charges accuse García and Ocampo of committing a lewd act on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his office , authorities said .
The two also are accused of raping and committing forced oral copulation with a second girl .
All three defendants are accused of committing forced oral copulation with a third girl .
García was charged with raping two others .
Ocampo took part in one rape , authorities said .
Oaxaca is charged with two counts of committing forced and illegal copulation on a minor .
Among other allegations , Ocampo is accused of having some church group members send explicit photos or pose for explicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In one case , prosecutors allege Ocampo told a group of underage girls to take off their clothes and touch each other sexually in order to send photographs to García .
The girls were told that if they “ if they went against any desires or wishes of ’ the Apostle′ … that they were going against ” God , according to the indictment .
The charges also include human trafficking by procuring a child to engage in a lewd act , conspiracy to commit human trafficking for production of child pornography , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victims and unlawful sexual intercourse .
A fourth defendant , Azalea Rangel Melendez , previously was charged with rape and forcible oral copulation and is a fugitive .
In February , a Southern California woman filed a federal lawsuit against the church and García .
In it , she said García , 50 , and his father sexually abused her for 18 years starting when she was 12 , manipulating Bible passages to convince her the mistreatment actually was a gift from God .
Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this @ @

By ROBERT JABLON | The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — California on Wednesday charged the leader of a Mexican megachurch with child rape and human trafficking, months after a court dismissed the previous allegations because of prosecution errors.
Naasón Joaquín García, the self-proclaimed apostle of La Luz del Mundo, was charged with three dozen felony counts.
Also charged were Susana Medina Oaxaca and Alondra Ocampo.
Prosecutors contend the three committed sex crimes and also produced child pornography involving five women and girls who were church group members. The crimes took place between 2015 and 2018 in Los Angeles County, authorities said.
García is the spiritual leader of La Luz del Mundo, which is Spanish for “The Light Of The World.” The Guadalajara, Mexico-based evangelical Christian church was founded by his grandfather and claims 5 million followers worldwide.
García and Ocampo already were being held in custody in Los Angeles County while prosecutors decided whether to refile charges. He was rebooked on $50 million bail and Ocampo was booked on $25 million bail, while Oaxaca remained free on bail, according to the California attorney general’s office.
Messages to their attorneys seeking comment weren’t immediately returned but García has previously denied wrongdoing.
In April, an appeals court ordered Los Angeles Superior Court to dismiss charges against García, ruling that his preliminary hearing was not held in a timely manner and he did not waive his right to one.
His hearing was postponed several times — in some instances, because prosecutors had not turned over evidence to the defense.
The refiled charges accuse García and Ocampo of committing a lewd act on a 15-year-old girl. García fondled the girl in his office, authorities said.
The two also are accused of raping and committing forced oral copulation with a second girl. All three defendants are accused of committing forced oral copulation with a third girl.
García was charged with raping two others. Ocampo took part in one rape, authorities said.
Oaxaca is charged with two counts of committing forced and illegal copulation on a minor.
Among other allegations, Ocampo is accused of having some church group members send explicit photos or pose for explicit photos that were intended for Garcia. In one case, prosecutors allege Ocampo told a group of underage girls to take off their clothes and touch each other sexually in order to send photographs to García.
The girls were told that if they “if they went against any desires or wishes of ’the Apostle′ … that they were going against” God, according to the indictment.
The charges also include human trafficking by procuring a child to engage in a lewd act, conspiracy to commit human trafficking for production of child pornography, production of child pornography, extortion of the victims and unlawful sexual intercourse.
A fourth defendant, Azalea Rangel Melendez, previously was charged with rape and forcible oral copulation and is a fugitive.
In February, a Southern California woman filed a federal lawsuit against the church and García. In it, she said García, 50, and his father sexually abused her for 18 years starting when she was 12, manipulating Bible passages to convince her the mistreatment actually was a gift from God.
___
Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-07-31--Raiders hope Henry Ruggs III can repeat the Josh Jacobs Alabama magic

If the career arc of Henry Ruggs III is anything like that of Josh Jacobs , we ’ re about six weeks away from finding out if the Raiders pulled a fast one with their second straight first-round selection out of Alabama .
Jacobs , the second of three first-round picks in 2019 , looked the part of a feature back in a season-opening win over the Denver Broncos with 23 carries for 85 yards .
He went on to rush for 1,150 yards despite missing the last two games due to a broken shoulder sustained in Week 7 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the first round , will be given every chance in a condensed training camp to be a Week 1 factor when the Raiders visit the Carolina Panthers to open the 2020 season on Sept. 13 .
During his first week on the job , general manager Mike Mayock scouted Jacobs personally before the NCAA championship game against Clemson and immediately informed Jon Gruden he ’ d just seen one of their first-round draft picks .
Never mind that Jacobs carried the ball just 120 times for 650 yards and actually finished third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Damien Harris ( 876 yards ) and Antioch ’ s Najee Harris ( 783 yards ) .
And here comes Ruggs , who checked in at Alabama behind teammate and Denver first-round pick Jerry Jeudy statistically .
Jeudy caught 77 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns , Ruggs had 40 catches for 746 yards and seven scores .
“ We drafted Josh Jacobs out of Alabama , he wasn ’ t their feature back , ” coach Jon Gruden said Thursday by teleconference as the Raiders officially opened training camp in Henderson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he wasn ’ t their feature receiver .
We have to prove that we made the right pick and to do it today is not really responsible on my behalf.
” Clearly , though , Gruden likes Ruggs ’ chances — and not simply because the 21-year-old clocked a 4.27 time in the 40-yard dash and has the kind of speed the Raiders have long coveted since the days when Al Davis took over the franchise in the 1960s .
But in order to add explosive capability on Day 1 , Ruggs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late May while helping a friend move ( his leg was pinned against a trailer ) would not remove him from a fast-track to the 2020 season .
After some immediate concern , Ruggs said Thursday he ’ s good to go .
“ When it happened , of course you think of the worst , ” Ruggs said .
“ After I went and saw the doctors , they told me what was going on .
They pretty much told me I ’ d be back to 100 percent in no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I tried to do more than the doctors said I could , and that sped up the process .
I ’ m back feeling 100 percent .
I feel like I ’ m behind in no way.
” Being behind is unfamiliar territory for a player the Raiders hope to deploy the way the Kansas City Chiefs use Tyreek Hill .
Ruggs , at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds , is adept at going downfield for the long strike or turning a bubble screen or reverse into a big gain .
The fear of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others breaking free , tight end Darren Waller and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow in particular .
Also similar to Jacobs , Ruggs arrives with a humble attitude and promises to work his way into a prominent role .
“ I ’ m here to do a job and that ’ s to help the 11 guys on the field get a win , ” Ruggs said .
“ Whatever my job is , whether it ’ s to catch a a screen pass , block for a screen pass or if it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so somebody can look at me , that ’ s what I ’ m going to do.
” Ruggs watched closely as Jacobs excelled as a rookie and the two have communicated often since they became teammates with the Raiders .
“ That was my boy from the time I got there .
He just kept it real with me always , told me what I needed to do and the mindset to have , ” Ruggs said .
“ He pretty much just said come in with the same mindset .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he knows that .
He said just come in with that same mindset , keep your head down and just work.
” • Raiders ’ Gruden on coronavirus precautions : ‘ One mistake can bring us all down ’ • Raiders camp preview : Five things to keep an eye on • White House seeks advice of Berkeley Law professor and author of ‘ torture memos ’ on presidential powers Ruggs arrives with a reputation for more than flying feet .
According to one statistical service , Ruggs dropped only five passes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s known for attacking balls in flight and having a large catch radius , meaning he can pull in an errant throw .
“ We didn ’ t take him in the first round to block , ” Gruden said .
“ That wasn ’ t going to be his primary role , but it is an ingredient that he has .
His toughness , his every-down competitiveness gives him a chance to make him a great player in this league .
”

If the career arc of Henry Ruggs III is anything like that of Josh Jacobs, we’re about six weeks away from finding out if the Raiders pulled a fast one with their second straight first-round selection out of Alabama.
Jacobs, the second of three first-round picks in 2019, looked the part of a feature back in a season-opening win over the Denver Broncos with 23 carries for 85 yards. He went on to rush for 1,150 yards despite missing the last two games due to a broken shoulder sustained in Week 7.
Ruggs, taken with the 12th pick of the first round, will be given every chance in a condensed training camp to be a Week 1 factor when the Raiders visit the Carolina Panthers to open the 2020 season on Sept. 13.
During his first week on the job, general manager Mike Mayock scouted Jacobs personally before the NCAA championship game against Clemson and immediately informed Jon Gruden he’d just seen one of their first-round draft picks.
Never mind that Jacobs carried the ball just 120 times for 650 yards and actually finished third in rushing for the Crimson Tide behind Damien Harris (876 yards) and Antioch’s Najee Harris (783 yards).
And here comes Ruggs, who checked in at Alabama behind teammate and Denver first-round pick Jerry Jeudy statistically. Jeudy caught 77 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns, Ruggs had 40 catches for 746 yards and seven scores.
“We drafted Josh Jacobs out of Alabama, he wasn’t their feature back,” coach Jon Gruden said Thursday by teleconference as the Raiders officially opened training camp in Henderson, Nevada. “We drafted Ruggs, he wasn’t their feature receiver. We have to prove that we made the right pick and to do it today is not really responsible on my behalf.”
Clearly, though, Gruden likes Ruggs’ chances — and not simply because the 21-year-old clocked a 4.27 time in the 40-yard dash and has the kind of speed the Raiders have long coveted since the days when Al Davis took over the franchise in the 1960s.
But in order to add explosive capability on Day 1, Ruggs needed to prove a thigh injury sustained in late May while helping a friend move (his leg was pinned against a trailer) would not remove him from a fast-track to the 2020 season.
After some immediate concern, Ruggs said Thursday he’s good to go.
“When it happened, of course you think of the worst,” Ruggs said. “After I went and saw the doctors, they told me what was going on. They pretty much told me I’d be back to 100 percent in no time. Being a hard head, I tried to do more than the doctors said I could, and that sped up the process. I’m back feeling 100 percent. I feel like I’m behind in no way.”
Being behind is unfamiliar territory for a player the Raiders hope to deploy the way the Kansas City Chiefs use Tyreek Hill. Ruggs, at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, is adept at going downfield for the long strike or turning a bubble screen or reverse into a big gain. The fear of Ruggs can only enhance the possibility of others breaking free, tight end Darren Waller and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow in particular.
Also similar to Jacobs, Ruggs arrives with a humble attitude and promises to work his way into a prominent role.
“I’m here to do a job and that’s to help the 11 guys on the field get a win,” Ruggs said. “Whatever my job is, whether it’s to catch a a screen pass, block for a screen pass or if it’s just to run down the field so somebody can look at me, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Ruggs watched closely as Jacobs excelled as a rookie and the two have communicated often since they became teammates with the Raiders.
“That was my boy from the time I got there. He just kept it real with me always, told me what I needed to do and the mindset to have,” Ruggs said. “He pretty much just said come in with the same mindset. You know the things that I can do and he knows that. He said just come in with that same mindset, keep your head down and just work.”
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49ers-Raiders practice: ‘Bang-bang’ defense takes out Davante Adams Raiders | Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers get sentimental at Vegas reunion — to an extent Ruggs arrives with a reputation for more than flying feet. According to one statistical service, Ruggs dropped only five passes in three college seasons and he’s known for attacking balls in flight and having a large catch radius, meaning he can pull in an errant throw.
“We didn’t take him in the first round to block,” Gruden said. “That wasn’t going to be his primary role, but it is an ingredient that he has. His toughness, his every-down competitiveness gives him a chance to make him a great player in this league.”


mercurynews--2020-07-31--SF Giants Gameday podcast: Kapler’s big gaffe, stories of Felipe Alou and covering baseball in a pan

SF Giants Gameday podcast: Kapler’s big gaffe, stories of Felipe Alou and covering baseball in a pandemic

SAN FRANCISCO — It ’ s too soon to know how long Giants fans will hold Gabe Kapler ’ s 10th-inning gaffe against the team ’ s first-year manager .
If history is any indication , Kapler ’ s self-proclaimed “ screw-up ” will be difficult to live down .
In his seventh game as the Giants ’ manager , Kapler went to the mound in a disastrous 10th inning in an attempt to remove reliever Tyler Rogers .
It took a few seconds , but umpires finally informed Kapler he was unable to do so because pitching coach Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Padres catcher Austin Hedges ’ at-bat .
After returning to the dugout , Rogers was summoned back to the mound to finish his at-bat against Hedges .
The Padres catcher ended up reaching on a fielder ’ s choice on a play that took place when the game had already been decided , but Giants fans won ’ t forget Kapler ’ s early mix-up , particularly because he ’ s succeeding a managerial legend in Bruce Bochy .
Following a quick discussion of the mistake , our SF Giants Gameday podcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this episode of the podcast , Bay Area News Group Giants beat reporter Kerry Crowley chats with longtime San Francisco Chronicle Giants beat writer Henry Schulman who shares stories from his 30-plus seasons covering baseball .
Schulman explains why he thinks MLB has already lost the integrity of the 2020 season and also shares stories from covering other famous stoppages in the game ’ s history .
Some of the best untold stories in baseball take place on the road and Schulman details his experiences driving across the United States and covering unique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City ’ s 2003 blackouts following a Giants-Mets series to racing to a Chicago airport to escape Hurricane Sandy in Detroit following the 2012 World Series , Schulman describes the thrills and challenges that come with navigating around unexpected obstacles on the road .
Schulman and Crowley also discuss their early impressions of Giants manager Gabe Kapler , comparing him to the four other managers Schulman has covered during his time on the beat .
Kapler ’ s desire to advocate for his players through the media differs from the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with beat reporters and Schulman shared some of his favorite memories of covering the Giants during the Alou era .
SF Giants Gameday : Listen to the Bay Area News Group ’ s daily San Francisco Giants podcast , hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley .
We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season .

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s too soon to know how long Giants fans will hold Gabe Kapler’s 10th-inning gaffe against the team’s first-year manager.
If history is any indication, Kapler’s self-proclaimed “screw-up” will be difficult to live down.
In his seventh game as the Giants’ manager, Kapler went to the mound in a disastrous 10th inning in an attempt to remove reliever Tyler Rogers. It took a few seconds, but umpires finally informed Kapler he was unable to do so because pitching coach Andrew Bailey had also made a mound visit during Padres catcher Austin Hedges’ at-bat.
After returning to the dugout, Rogers was summoned back to the mound to finish his at-bat against Hedges. The Padres catcher ended up reaching on a fielder’s choice on a play that took place when the game had already been decided, but Giants fans won’t forget Kapler’s early mix-up, particularly because he’s succeeding a managerial legend in Bruce Bochy.
Following a quick discussion of the mistake, our SF Giants Gameday podcast welcomes in its first-ever guest.
In this episode of the podcast, Bay Area News Group Giants beat reporter Kerry Crowley chats with longtime San Francisco Chronicle Giants beat writer Henry Schulman who shares stories from his 30-plus seasons covering baseball.
Schulman explains why he thinks MLB has already lost the integrity of the 2020 season and also shares stories from covering other famous stoppages in the game’s history. Some of the best untold stories in baseball take place on the road and Schulman details his experiences driving across the United States and covering unique stories.
From interviewing local residents during New York City’s 2003 blackouts following a Giants-Mets series to racing to a Chicago airport to escape Hurricane Sandy in Detroit following the 2012 World Series, Schulman describes the thrills and challenges that come with navigating around unexpected obstacles on the road.
Schulman and Crowley also discuss their early impressions of Giants manager Gabe Kapler, comparing him to the four other managers Schulman has covered during his time on the beat. Kapler’s desire to advocate for his players through the media differs from the way legendary manager Felipe Alou handled his interviews with beat reporters and Schulman shared some of his favorite memories of covering the Giants during the Alou era.
SF Giants Gameday: Listen to the Bay Area News Group’s daily San Francisco Giants podcast, hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley. We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season.


mercurynews--2020-07-31--Review: Familiar ‘Summerland’ is comforting and lovely

“ Summerland ” might look like something you ’ ve seen before : A scenic story about a schoolchild who must leave London during the war and take up shelter with a reluctant caregiver .
But while it is comfortingly familiar in many ways , and a little cliche and overwrought in others , it also has a modern edge and bite to it that keeps it novel enough to sustain interest .
That modernity is credit to writer-director Jessica Swale , a British theater director and playwright , who with “ Summerland ” makes a noteworthy entry into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a surprising scope , the story feels like it ’ s been adapted from a novel ( a compliment ) .
And along with cinematographer Laurie Rose , “ Summerland ” captures three eras in a small seaside town with breathtaking beauty .
The film opens in the 1970s on Alice Lamb ( Penelope Wilton ) , scolding some local children for interrupting her work .
Alice has not just aged into a person who is unsympathetic to children , though .
“ Summerland ” quickly cuts back some 30 years to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same house , at the same typewriter and still yelling at children who disturb the quiet .
A few scenes later , she even takes some candy away from a local kid .
( Technically she buys it when the child and her mother don ’ t have enough , but the comically heartless act leaves the mother and storekeeper shocked and the child in tears . )
Suffice it to say , it comes as a shock when a young schoolboy , Frank ( Lucas Bond ) , shows up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evacuated from London .
Alice demands that different accommodations are made for the boy , whose father is fighting and whose mother remains in London .
It will come as no surprise that the two start to develop a bond soon enough , over his model planes and her academic work in mythology .
Alice , it turns out , is a bit like a child herself , dreamy and naively selfish , making her a perfect companion to Frank .
The viciousness displayed at the beginning dissipates pretty quickly , which might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the story does start to reveal why children annoy her so .
“ Summerland ” occasionally ( and somewhat clunkily ) cuts back a few years before the war , to show that Alice wasn ’ t always a loner .
In fact , she had a very picturesque romance with a woman , Vera ( Gugu Mbatha-Raw ) , who breaks Alice ’ s heart when she leaves to have children .
The flashbacks allow the production design and hair and makeup team to dabble in some jollier looks than wartime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially fabulous in their flapper wares .
The director ’ s affection for the pair is clear : Both actors starred in the title role in Swale ’ s play “ Nell Gwynn.
” Here , Alice naturally gets more to do — it ’ s her story — but you do come away wishing for more Mbatha-Raw as well .
That ’ s all very nice , but what ’ s it got to do with Alice in the war and in the 70s ?
Well , fair warning , the threads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the charms of “ Summerland ” aren ’ t in its plot .
They ’ re in the sentiment , which is too good-hearted to be cynical about , and the characters .
Tom Courtenay gets a lovely role as the school ’ s headmaster and the tiny Dixie Egerickx steals scenes as Frank ’ s spirited friend Edie .
“ Summerland ” even felt a little resonant in the current moment .
Quarantine doesn ’ t compare to wartime sacrifices in the least , of course , and yet there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopeful and kind film like “ Summerland ” right now .

By Lindsey Bahr | Associated Press
“Summerland” might look like something you’ve seen before: A scenic story about a schoolchild who must leave London during the war and take up shelter with a reluctant caregiver. But while it is comfortingly familiar in many ways, and a little cliche and overwrought in others, it also has a modern edge and bite to it that keeps it novel enough to sustain interest.
That modernity is credit to writer-director Jessica Swale, a British theater director and playwright, who with “Summerland” makes a noteworthy entry into the world of film. With well-drawn characters and a surprising scope, the story feels like it’s been adapted from a novel (a compliment). And along with cinematographer Laurie Rose, “Summerland” captures three eras in a small seaside town with breathtaking beauty.
The film opens in the 1970s on Alice Lamb (Penelope Wilton), scolding some local children for interrupting her work. Alice has not just aged into a person who is unsympathetic to children, though. “Summerland” quickly cuts back some 30 years to Alice (now Gemma Arterton), in the same house, at the same typewriter and still yelling at children who disturb the quiet. A few scenes later, she even takes some candy away from a local kid. (Technically she buys it when the child and her mother don’t have enough, but the comically heartless act leaves the mother and storekeeper shocked and the child in tears.)
Suffice it to say, it comes as a shock when a young schoolboy, Frank (Lucas Bond), shows up at her steps expecting shelter after being evacuated from London. Alice demands that different accommodations are made for the boy, whose father is fighting and whose mother remains in London. It will come as no surprise that the two start to develop a bond soon enough, over his model planes and her academic work in mythology. Alice, it turns out, is a bit like a child herself, dreamy and naively selfish, making her a perfect companion to Frank. The viciousness displayed at the beginning dissipates pretty quickly, which might come across as inauthentic to some, but the story does start to reveal why children annoy her so.
“Summerland” occasionally (and somewhat clunkily) cuts back a few years before the war, to show that Alice wasn’t always a loner. In fact, she had a very picturesque romance with a woman, Vera (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), who breaks Alice’s heart when she leaves to have children. The flashbacks allow the production design and hair and makeup team to dabble in some jollier looks than wartime invites, and Arterton and Mbatha-Raw look especially fabulous in their flapper wares. The director’s affection for the pair is clear: Both actors starred in the title role in Swale’s play “Nell Gwynn.” Here, Alice naturally gets more to do — it’s her story — but you do come away wishing for more Mbatha-Raw as well.
That’s all very nice, but what’s it got to do with Alice in the war and in the 70s? Well, fair warning, the threads do come together and far too neatly. But the charms of “Summerland” aren’t in its plot. They’re in the sentiment, which is too good-hearted to be cynical about, and the characters. Tom Courtenay gets a lovely role as the school’s headmaster and the tiny Dixie Egerickx steals scenes as Frank’s spirited friend Edie.
“Summerland” even felt a little resonant in the current moment. Quarantine doesn’t compare to wartime sacrifices in the least, of course, and yet there is something undeniably moving about watching a hopeful and kind film like “Summerland” right now.
“Summerland”
3 stars out of 4
Unrated
Running time: 100 minutes


mercurynews--2020-07-31--1 Marine dead, 2 injured, 8 missing after vehicle accident off California coast

CAMP PENDLETON — One Marine has died , two injured and eight others were missing after an amphibious assault vehicle @ @ @ @ @ southern California , the Marines said early Friday .
The accident happened Thursday and search @ @ @ @ @ Friday morning with support from the Navy and Coast Guard , the Marines said in @ @ @ @ @ the Marines involved were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit .
• US to @ @ @ @ @ Germany in move that will cost billions and take years • Portland mayor to Trump @ @ @ @ @ of the city “ We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident .
I ask @ @ @ @ @ , Sailors , and their families in your prayers as we continue our search , @ @ @ @ @ the unit ’ s commanding officer , said in another tweet from the Marines .
@ @ @ @ @ the Marine Corps ’ main warfighting organization .
There are three such groups which are @ @ @ @ @ air and logistics forces .

CAMP PENDLETON — One Marine has died, two injured and eight others were missing after an amphibious assault vehicle accident off the coast of southern California, the Marines said early Friday.
The accident happened Thursday and search and rescue efforts were underway Friday morning with support from the Navy and Coast Guard, the Marines said in a tweet. All of the Marines involved were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
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The Marine Expeditionary Force is the Marine Corps’ main warfighting organization. There are three such groups which are made up of ground, air and logistics forces.


mercurynews--2020-08-01--Sabrina Ionescu injured in WNBA game

Sabrina Ionescu injured in WNBA game

First overall WNBA pick Sabrina Ionescu was helped off the court with an ankle injury on Friday during the New York Liberty ’ s matchup against the Atlanta Dream , casting a shadow on the highly touted rookie ’ s debut season .
The Liberty guard rolled her ankle , suffering a sprain , the New York team said , in her third game of the shortened WNBA season , which is being held without fans in a “ bubble ” setting in Bradenton , Florida , amid the coronavirus outbreak .
She had 10 points up to that point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shorthanded New York Liberty 84-78 .
Jazmine Jones came off the bench to pace New York ( 0-3 ) with 20 points , while former Cal player Layshia Clarendon scored 16 points and dished out five assists .
Jocelyn Willoughby hit for 14 points .
Dismayed fans responded to the injury on social media .
“ Ouch !
!
” tweeted three-time NBA champion LeBron James in response .
“ @ sabrina_i20 Get healthy as soon as possible !
Health is wealth.
” Ionescu was coming off a 33-point effort in the Liberty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wings .

New York top draft pick Sabrina Ionescu injured her ankle in the second quarter against Atlanta and did not return to action in the Liberty’s 84-78 loss to the Dream on Friday night.
Ionescu, the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, was bringing the ball up court and rolled her left ankle when she got tangled up with Atlanta’s Betnijah Laney with about five minutes left in the opening half. She finished with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
According to NBA TV, Ionescu sprained her ankle and underwent X-rays. After the game, Liberty coach Walt Hopkins said Ionescu was still being evaluated.
Ionescu, the former Miramonte High-Orinda star who won AP All-American honors three times at Oregon, shattered the NCAA career triple-double mark (for both men and women) with 26 and became the first player in college history to have 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists.
She helped the Ducks win the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles as a senior while averaging 17.5 points, 9.1 assists and 8.6 rebounds. She was named the conference’s most outstanding player of the tournament and of the regular season.
The 5-foot-11 guard was also named AP Player of the Year and won the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy and Wade Trophy.
Ionescu was coming off a 33-point effort in the Liberty’s loss Wednesday to the Dallas Wings.


mercurynews--2020-08-01--‘Grindstone’ update introduces daily grind mode and 50 new levels

One of the best titles on Apple Arcade got even better this week as Capybara added a massive update to its addictive puzzle game “ Grindstone.
” Now players can take the warrior Jorj through 50 new “ cave ” levels that can be found throughout the campaign .
It also features five new gold item blueprints , a new pickaxe and a Gold Rush Garb .
Those type upgrades have become expected for “ Grindstone ” over the past few months , but the big upgrade is a Daily Grind Mode that nudges players to score their highest and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always wanted to do a daily mode for some time , ” said Dan Vader , designer/director at Capy .
“ It ’ s been a plan from the beginning.
” He said it was the studio ’ s first attempt at the feature , and one that was meant to encourage frequent interaction as players try to top each on the leaderboard .
In addition , the team designed the updated content so that it isn ’ t locked away in the end game .
Vader said , “ We didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we sprinkled levels ” through the campaign .
Players have to find them and get the gear .
That exploration is also tied to the type of gear being introduced with the update .
As mentioned before , Jorj will have a pickaxe this time around , and he will use it to mine for the new gold resource .
Gold is used to get favorite items “ goldified ” ( Vader ’ s words not mine ) .
Gold items are more durable and can be used more frequently .
The desire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels , ” according to Vader , and sheds a new light on them .
Now , players may want to mine for gold instead of other resources .
Interestingly enough , Capy ’ s biggest update to “ Grindstone ” was built entirely during the coronavirus pandemic , when the office had to close and developers worked from home .
“ Right when we vacated the studio , we knew we had work to do , ” Vader said .
The update “ helped us keep our head down .
It made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life raft.
” What surprised the studio about the process is how well it worked .
Vader said working from home made the team more organized and it was better than what he was expecting .
That sentiment was also expressed by Striking Distance Studios chief Glen Schofield .
Gaming itself has become a respite for many amid the constant coronavirus news .
Players have found mental relief through games such as “ Grindstone ” as they abide by shelter-in-place orders .
Vader says it ’ s gratifying to hear how the projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said friends text him about how “ Grindstone ” is a welcome distraction from the day , and with the daily grind mode , players have more reasons to pick up the game and play .

One of the best titles on Apple Arcade got even better this week as Capybara added a massive update to its addictive puzzle game “Grindstone.” Now players can take the warrior Jorj through 50 new “cave” levels that can be found throughout the campaign. It also features five new gold item blueprints, a new pickaxe and a Gold Rush Garb.
Those type upgrades have become expected for “Grindstone” over the past few months, but the big upgrade is a Daily Grind Mode that nudges players to score their highest and get on a leaderboard.
“We always wanted to do a daily mode for some time,” said Dan Vader, designer/director at Capy. “It’s been a plan from the beginning.”
He said it was the studio’s first attempt at the feature, and one that was meant to encourage frequent interaction as players try to top each on the leaderboard. In addition, the team designed the updated content so that it isn’t locked away in the end game. Vader said, “We didn’t want to restrict players, so we sprinkled levels” through the campaign. Players have to find them and get the gear.
That exploration is also tied to the type of gear being introduced with the update. As mentioned before, Jorj will have a pickaxe this time around, and he will use it to mine for the new gold resource. Gold is used to get favorite items “goldified” (Vader’s words not mine). Gold items are more durable and can be used more frequently.
The desire for gold “pivots the challenge to levels,” according to Vader, and sheds a new light on them. Now, players may want to mine for gold instead of other resources.
Interestingly enough, Capy’s biggest update to “Grindstone” was built entirely during the coronavirus pandemic, when the office had to close and developers worked from home.
“Right when we vacated the studio, we knew we had work to do,” Vader said. The update “helped us keep our head down. It made us feel normal. It was a life raft.”
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What to play: ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ will keep gamers busy during August Entertainment | ‘First Descendant’ crossplay beta delayed until September but will be open to all What surprised the studio about the process is how well it worked. Vader said working from home made the team more organized and it was better than what he was expecting. That sentiment was also expressed by Striking Distance Studios chief Glen Schofield.
Gaming itself has become a respite for many amid the constant coronavirus news. Players have found mental relief through games such as “Grindstone” as they abide by shelter-in-place orders. Vader says it’s gratifying to hear how the projects his studio produces helps people. He said friends text him about how “Grindstone” is a welcome distraction from the day, and with the daily grind mode, players have more reasons to pick up the game and play.


mercurynews--2020-08-01--Indiana student tests positive for COVID-19 on 1st day back

As an Indiana school district welcomed students to the 2020-21 academic year , one of their students tested positive for COVID-19 on the first day of class , according to a letter sent to parents .
The Hancock County Health Department notified Greenfield-Central Junior High School Thursday afternoon that one of their students , who had attended part of the school day , tested positive for Covid-19 , Superintendent Harold Olin said in a letter .
Olin said the school enacted its “ Positive COVID-19 Test Protocol ” once school officials became aware of the positive result .
School officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s clinic , and they examined the student ’ s schedule , including transportation and extracurricular activities , to determine who had come in close contact .
As part of the district ’ s return to in-person learning , “ all areas of all schools ” are already being disinfected professionally each evening , according to Olin ’ s letter .
But the superintendent noted that special attention would be given to areas and classrooms that the infected student had visited .
• Campbell restaurants can now offer street dining with closure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus vaccine will get to Americans in 2021 “ We understand that this information will cause concern for some of you .
It was very evident today that nearly all of our families and students were prepared to properly follow the safety protocols we have established , ” Olin said .
“ Adhering to these protocols is essential for maintaining a safe environment for all students and staff .
”

By Rebekah Riess | CNN
As an Indiana school district welcomed students to the 2020-21 academic year, one of their students tested positive for COVID-19 on the first day of class, according to a letter sent to parents.
The Hancock County Health Department notified Greenfield-Central Junior High School Thursday afternoon that one of their students, who had attended part of the school day, tested positive for Covid-19, Superintendent Harold Olin said in a letter.
Olin said the school enacted its “Positive COVID-19 Test Protocol” once school officials became aware of the positive result.
School officials immediately isolated the student within the school’s clinic, and they examined the student’s schedule, including transportation and extracurricular activities, to determine who had come in close contact.
As part of the district’s return to in-person learning, “all areas of all schools” are already being disinfected professionally each evening, according to Olin’s letter. But the superintendent noted that special attention would be given to areas and classrooms that the infected student had visited.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Education | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge “We understand that this information will cause concern for some of you. It was very evident today that nearly all of our families and students were prepared to properly follow the safety protocols we have established,” Olin said. “Adhering to these protocols is essential for maintaining a safe environment for all students and staff.”
Related video:
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mercurynews--2020-08-01--6 teams idle: Manfred, union talk as MLB grapples with virus

MIAMI ( AP ) — With six teams idled Friday by the COVID-19 pandemic , Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to union leader Tony Clark about the importance of players following the sport ’ s coronavirus protocols .
Manfred and Clark talked about what needs to be done to finish the season , a person familiar with the conversation said .
The person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation .
“ Every player in this league better take a hard look at what you ’ re doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do affects , more than just you and your team , ” Chicago Cubs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. tweeted , hours after the St. Louis-Milwaukee game was called off .
“ Your decisions off the field will put all of our seasons in jeopardy this year.
” The conversation between Manfred and Clark , first reported by ESPN , comes amid growing evidence that the spread of infection threatens to overtake efforts to play ball .
“ Some things aren ’ t looking too good right now , but we have to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing what can happen , ” Houston manager Dusty Baker said .
“ The rest now is up to us and the virus , ” he said .
Concerns have been expressed about lax behavior by players on the field — such as spitting or high-fives — and off .
The scrambled schedule has also heightened doubts about whether the owners ’ desire to play is realistic .
“ Obviously , we saw the message .
They sent a memo .
Just be more diligent , wear a mask in the dugout when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve thought to be the rules all along , ” Arizona catcher Stephen Vogt said .
“ So it ’ s just like every other rule that MLB has for players — now it ’ s going to be enforced , so to speak .
Just strongly encouraging.
” “ Everything gets a little bit lax when you get in the game because the habits of what we ’ ve been doing our whole life takes over .
When one of your teammates gets a big hit , you want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way you ’ ve always done , ” he said .
“ And the last thing I want to do when I ’ m trying to play and do my job is be worried about COVID , but that ’ s the times were in right now.
” The latest game to be postponed was Milwaukee ’ s home opener against St. Louis , scrapped hours before the first pitch after two Cardinals players tested positive for COVID-19 .
“ TV Show suggestions please , ” tweeted Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who found themselves with unexpected free time as the postponements mounted .
The Cardinals said in a statement they learned Thursday night about positive tests from samples collected Wednesday .
Players and staff were instructed to isolate in their hotel rooms .
“ The team is currently conducting rapid testing of the entire traveling party , has implemented contact tracing , and will continue to self-isolate , ” the Cardinals said .
The Cardinals and Brewers still hoped to play Saturday night , and to make up Friday ’ s game with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly approved MLB plan for doubleheaders .
Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said baseball is braced for curveballs , especially this year .
“ We ’ re all committed , I believe – and I ’ ve talked to a number of players today – to finishing the season , ” Attanasio said .
“ Insofar as we can continue to provide some enjoyment for our fans , I think that ’ s something we ’ re all committed to doing .
… If we ’ re not smart and safe , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re doing everything we can not to fail.
’ Two weekend series — Nationals at Marlins , and Blue Jays at Phillies — were called off earlier .
The Marlins were hit with a virus outbreak in Philadelphia that infected at least 20 members of their traveling party , and both Miami and the Phillies are sidelined for at least a week .
The schedules of the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles have also been scrambled a week into a season that had already been delayed and curtailed because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jeopardy .
Cleveland players and staff talked about postponing Friday night ’ s game at Minnesota .
The Cardinals had played at Target Field on Wednesday , a day before the Indians arrived .
“ We just visited with everybody and just asked them to kind of visit amongst themselves and we would have more information as the day progressed .
We met again at 3:30 , I think , and it was a go , ” Indians manager Terry Francona said .
Teams all around the majors are keeping tabs on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concern of mine , ” said Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon , who was out with the virus earlier .
“ I speak for the entire Rockies team — we want to go out and play .
… Anything that pops up negatively , in terms of this virus situation , could hinder that .
So yeah , I ’ m concerned .
I would rather not see any more positive cases.
” The six idled teams Friday represented 20 % of MLB .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be seamless , ” Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said .
“ We are being as safe as we possibly can , but we also understand that this virus is very strong and doesn ’ t have borders.
” For the week ending Thursday , MLB said there were 29 positive tests , a rate of 0.2 % .
Aside from the Marlins , there were eight positive tests for the 29 other teams , only two involved major league players .
The Marlins received another positive test result , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and at least 18 of their players have been infected .
The person , who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made , said none of the Marlins has shown serious symptoms .
But officials were concerned that the latest positive test result came five days after the team was last together and played its most recent game .
The person said the infected Marlins left Philadelphia in sleeper buses Friday for an 18-hour trip to Miami , where they will remain together in quarantine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend in isolation in Philadelphia , where the Marlins have been stranded since their outbreak began .
It ’ s uncertain when or where they will next play .
The Phillies have also been idle since Sunday .
One Phils coach and two clubhouse workers tested positive this week , but the team received no positive results Friday .
Fans rooted for baseball to keep going , as did some businesses .
In Milwaukee , J & B ’ s Blue Ribbon Bar and Grill was hoping for one of its biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers watching the home opener as it was played down the street .
Co-owner Jon Bliesner took news of the postponement hard .
AP Sports Writers Jay Cohen in Chicago , Pat Graham in Denver , Ian Harrison in Toronto , Steve Megargee in Milwaukee , David Brandt in Phoenix , Joe Reedy in Anaheim , California , and Jake Seiner in New York , and AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker in New York contributed to this report .

By STEVEN WINE
MIAMI (AP) — With six teams idled Friday by the COVID-19 pandemic, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to union leader Tony Clark about the importance of players following the sport’s coronavirus protocols.
Manfred and Clark talked about what needs to be done to finish the season, a person familiar with the conversation said. The person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
“Every player in this league better take a hard look at what you’re doing off the field, because what you do affects, more than just you and your team,” Chicago Cubs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. tweeted, hours after the St. Louis-Milwaukee game was called off. “Your decisions off the field will put all of our seasons in jeopardy this year.”
The conversation between Manfred and Clark, first reported by ESPN, comes amid growing evidence that the spread of infection threatens to overtake efforts to play ball.
“Some things aren’t looking too good right now, but we have to play up to that point. Players are seeing what can happen,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said.
“The rest now is up to us and the virus,” he said.
Concerns have been expressed about lax behavior by players on the field — such as spitting or high-fives — and off. The scrambled schedule has also heightened doubts about whether the owners’ desire to play is realistic.
“Obviously, we saw the message. They sent a memo. Just be more diligent, wear a mask in the dugout when you’re not playing, what we’ve thought to be the rules all along,” Arizona catcher Stephen Vogt said. “So it’s just like every other rule that MLB has for players — now it’s going to be enforced, so to speak. Just strongly encouraging.”
“Everything gets a little bit lax when you get in the game because the habits of what we’ve been doing our whole life takes over. When one of your teammates gets a big hit, you want to high-five them. You want to celebrate the way you’ve always done,” he said. “And the last thing I want to do when I’m trying to play and do my job is be worried about COVID, but that’s the times were in right now.”
The latest game to be postponed was Milwaukee’s home opener against St. Louis, scrapped hours before the first pitch after two Cardinals players tested positive for COVID-19.
“TV Show suggestions please,” tweeted Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty, one of an increasing number of players who found themselves with unexpected free time as the postponements mounted.
The Cardinals said in a statement they learned Thursday night about positive tests from samples collected Wednesday. Players and staff were instructed to isolate in their hotel rooms.
“The team is currently conducting rapid testing of the entire traveling party, has implemented contact tracing, and will continue to self-isolate,” the Cardinals said.
The Cardinals and Brewers still hoped to play Saturday night, and to make up Friday’s game with a pair of seven-inning games Sunday under a newly approved MLB plan for doubleheaders.
Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said baseball is braced for curveballs, especially this year.
“We’re all committed, I believe – and I’ve talked to a number of players today – to finishing the season,” Attanasio said. “Insofar as we can continue to provide some enjoyment for our fans, I think that’s something we’re all committed to doing. … If we’re not smart and safe, then we’ll fail. But we’re doing everything we can not to fail.’
Two weekend series — Nationals at Marlins, and Blue Jays at Phillies — were called off earlier. The Marlins were hit with a virus outbreak in Philadelphia that infected at least 20 members of their traveling party, and both Miami and the Phillies are sidelined for at least a week.
The schedules of the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles have also been scrambled a week into a season that had already been delayed and curtailed because of the pandemic, and now may be in jeopardy.
Cleveland players and staff talked about postponing Friday night’s game at Minnesota. The Cardinals had played at Target Field on Wednesday, a day before the Indians arrived.
“We just visited with everybody and just asked them to kind of visit amongst themselves and we would have more information as the day progressed. We met again at 3:30, I think, and it was a go,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Teams all around the majors are keeping tabs on the daily developments.
“That’s a concern of mine,” said Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who was out with the virus earlier. “I speak for the entire Rockies team — we want to go out and play. … Anything that pops up negatively, in terms of this virus situation, could hinder that. So yeah, I’m concerned. I would rather not see any more positive cases.”
The six idled teams Friday represented 20% of MLB.
“I don’t think there’s a person that thought that this would be seamless,” Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said. “We are being as safe as we possibly can, but we also understand that this virus is very strong and doesn’t have borders.”
For the week ending Thursday, MLB said there were 29 positive tests, a rate of 0.2%. Aside from the Marlins, there were eight positive tests for the 29 other teams, only two involved major league players.
The Marlins received another positive test result, a person familiar with the situation said, and at least 18 of their players have been infected.
The person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made, said none of the Marlins has shown serious symptoms. But officials were concerned that the latest positive test result came five days after the team was last together and played its most recent game.
The person said the infected Marlins left Philadelphia in sleeper buses Friday for an 18-hour trip to Miami, where they will remain together in quarantine.
The rest of the team will spend the weekend in isolation in Philadelphia, where the Marlins have been stranded since their outbreak began. It’s uncertain when or where they will next play.
The Phillies have also been idle since Sunday. One Phils coach and two clubhouse workers tested positive this week, but the team received no positive results Friday.
Fans rooted for baseball to keep going, as did some businesses. In Milwaukee, J&B’s Blue Ribbon Bar and Grill was hoping for one of its biggest crowds since the pandemic began, with customers watching the home opener as it was played down the street.
Co-owner Jon Bliesner took news of the postponement hard.
“Really depressing,” Bliesner said. “Not happy at all.”
___
AP Sports Writers Jay Cohen in Chicago, Pat Graham in Denver, Ian Harrison in Toronto, Steve Megargee in Milwaukee, David Brandt in Phoenix, Joe Reedy in Anaheim, California, and Jake Seiner in New York, and AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker in New York contributed to this report.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports