mercurynews--2020-05-16--Miss Manners: I’m hurt that they rejected my movie of their broken marriage

DEAR MISS MANNERS : Twenty years ago , I introduced two of my dear friends to each other , and they immediately fell in love .
Within a year , they were married , all the while expressing their gratitude to me for bringing them together .
During their engagement and the early part of their marriage , we spent much happy time together .
Being an amateur videographer , I recorded a lot of this , resulting in a very detailed video record of the period .
Unfortunately , the good times did not last , and my friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
We have all drifted apart .
I have undertaken an ambitious project to convert my large number of old videotapes into updated formats , and consequently made DVD copies for my two old friends .
I felt that , whatever their current situations may be , the videos were part of their life histories and that they were entitled to them .
I also hoped that it might be a good way for me to reconnect with each of them .
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What happened ?
She wrote me a short note thanking me for thinking of her , but stated that she could not watch the DVD , while he returned his with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me .
Was I wrong to have shared these memories and dredged up the past ?
I had hoped to reignite my friendship with each of my old friends , but now feel that I ’ ve been solidly identified with a period of their lives that they ’ d both like to forget .
GENTLE READER : Yes .
The second one .
While your intentions might have been good , reaching out to the ex-couple with a bitter reminder of their past was not going to make them forget that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miss Manners understands that none of it was your fault .
If you had wanted to connect with them and also see if they were interested in the recordings , you could have said , “ I have been thinking of you and would love to get together .
I found some old videos that I thought you might be interested in , but perhaps you can tell me if you would like copies of them when I see you in person.
” DEAR MISS MANNERS : My husband and I have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a rural , white , homogenous community , and my family are immigrants from Southeast Asia .
I ’ m struggling with an issue with my in-laws : They still , after all these years , claim they can not remember or pronounce the names of my family members .
Every visit is peppered with , “ What ’ s your sister ’ s name again ?
” “ Help me with your dad ’ s name ?
” This is exhausting .
I already allow them to call me by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their convenience , and I fear losing my temper the next time they need help with a name in my small immediate family .
GENTLE READER : Send them a primer .
Before the next visit , Miss Manners suggests that you type out the names , as well as phonetic pronunciations , of your family members .
That way , the next time they ask , you may good-naturedly tell them , “ Now , Karleeygh , you know we went over this .
I sent you all of the names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much to us if you pronounced them correctly .
They ’ ve worked so hard on learning to pronounce yours.
” Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website , www.missmanners.com ; to her email , dearmissmanners @ gmail.com ; or through postal mail to Miss Manners , Andrews McMeel Syndication , 1130 Walnut St. , Kansas City , MO 64106 .

Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Twenty years ago, I introduced two of my dear friends to each other, and they immediately fell in love. Within a year, they were married, all the while expressing their gratitude to me for bringing them together.
During their engagement and the early part of their marriage, we spent much happy time together. Being an amateur videographer, I recorded a lot of this, resulting in a very detailed video record of the period.
Unfortunately, the good times did not last, and my friends went through a bitter divorce 10 years ago. We have all drifted apart.
I have undertaken an ambitious project to convert my large number of old videotapes into updated formats, and consequently made DVD copies for my two old friends. I felt that, whatever their current situations may be, the videos were part of their life histories and that they were entitled to them. I also hoped that it might be a good way for me to reconnect with each of them.
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Was I wrong to have shared these memories and dredged up the past? I had hoped to reignite my friendship with each of my old friends, but now feel that I’ve been solidly identified with a period of their lives that they’d both like to forget.
GENTLE READER: Yes. The second one. While your intentions might have been good, reaching out to the ex-couple with a bitter reminder of their past was not going to make them forget that you were part of it — even though Miss Manners understands that none of it was your fault.
If you had wanted to connect with them and also see if they were interested in the recordings, you could have said, “I have been thinking of you and would love to get together. I found some old videos that I thought you might be interested in, but perhaps you can tell me if you would like copies of them when I see you in person.”
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I have been married for seven years. He is from a rural, white, homogenous community, and my family are immigrants from Southeast Asia.
I’m struggling with an issue with my in-laws: They still, after all these years, claim they cannot remember or pronounce the names of my family members. Every visit is peppered with, “What’s your sister’s name again?” “Help me with your dad’s name?”
This is exhausting. I already allow them to call me by a shortened, anglicized version of my name for their convenience, and I fear losing my temper the next time they need help with a name in my small immediate family.
GENTLE READER: Send them a primer. Before the next visit, Miss Manners suggests that you type out the names, as well as phonetic pronunciations, of your family members.
That way, the next time they ask, you may good-naturedly tell them, “Now, Karleeygh, you know we went over this. I sent you all of the names before, remember? It would mean so much to us if you pronounced them correctly. They’ve worked so hard on learning to pronounce yours.”
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Dear Abby: My boyfriend’s behavior with his mom grosses me out

DEAR ABBY : I have been dating this guy for about a year .
We are both 30 .
He lives at home .
At first I thought it was to take care of his elderly father , but I soon realized it wasn ’ t the case .
His mom is sweet , yet overbearing .
She inserts herself into his life at every opportunity .
She talks to him like he ’ s the butler .
( “ Oh , perfect son of mine !
Won ’ t you clear off the dinner table/clean the kitchen/do EVERYTHING ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ night and attend church events together .
He ’ s in the choir with her because he said it “ pleases ” her .
I think those are things he should be doing with a significant other .
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I feel like I have to compete with her ( even though she tries to include me in everything ) .
I see how she manipulates him , and it tears me apart inside .
( She needs him so much . )
I view it as a hindrance to his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he could be doing for himself or his own family , but he ’ s stuck in this Mommy cycle .
He will receive a large inheritance when his parents die .
Could that be why he does it ?
He is a great lover and emotionally intelligent , but he depends on his mother too much for my comfort .
I caught them in a long embrace ( hug ) after she had been away all weekend with his father .
Then she came over to us while we were watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
It grossed me out .
Help !
DEAR DON ’ T : After reading your letter , it ’ s apparent that you are competing with his mother rather than she competing with you .
There ’ s a saying that if you want to know how a man will treat his wife , watch how he treats his mother .
Rather than feel manipulated , be glad she tries to include you in the family circle .
And keep in mind , if you want to enjoy the earthly rewards after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , she and her “ perfect son ” are a package deal .
DEAR ABBY : I purchased a beautiful Tiffany engagement ring , but my girlfriend rejected my proposal .
I will get only pennies on the dollar if I sell it .
Would it be acceptable to save it for a future engagement proposal ?
DEAR PRACTICAL : Your letter illustrates the impracticality of buying an engagement ring before proposing .
Whatever happened to the tradition of proposing and then , if the person says yes , selecting a ring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to social media — engagements have become more like invitations to a high school prom — elaborate and over-the-top .
I do not think you should compound your mistake by offering another woman that ring in an effort to save money .
If she were to find out , she would likely be both disappointed and hurt .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 @ @ @ @ @ @ @

DEAR ABBY: I have been dating this guy for about a year. We are both 30. He lives at home. At first I thought it was to take care of his elderly father, but I soon realized it wasn’t the case.
His mom is sweet, yet overbearing. She inserts herself into his life at every opportunity. She talks to him like he’s the butler. (“Oh, perfect son of mine! Won’t you clear off the dinner table/clean the kitchen/do EVERYTHING?!”)
They cook together every night and attend church events together. He’s in the choir with her because he said it “pleases” her. I think those are things he should be doing with a significant other.
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Dear Abby: Our teen’s messy breakup has had awkward repercussions for us Advice | Dear Abby: I was annoyed to discover why our friends picked this restaurant I don’t feel secure in this relationship because I don’t know my place. I feel like I have to compete with her (even though she tries to include me in everything). I see how she manipulates him, and it tears me apart inside. (She needs him so much.) I view it as a hindrance to his own life. He is doing for her what he could be doing for himself or his own family, but he’s stuck in this Mommy cycle.
He will receive a large inheritance when his parents die. Could that be why he does it?
He is a great lover and emotionally intelligent, but he depends on his mother too much for my comfort. I caught them in a long embrace (hug) after she had been away all weekend with his father. Then she came over to us while we were watching a movie and started kissing his head! It grossed me out. Help!
DON’T WANT THIS THREESOME
DEAR DON’T: After reading your letter, it’s apparent that you are competing with his mother rather than she competing with you.
There’s a saying that if you want to know how a man will treat his wife, watch how he treats his mother. Rather than feel manipulated, be glad she tries to include you in the family circle. And keep in mind, if you want to enjoy the earthly rewards after the woman goes on to her heavenly one, she and her “perfect son” are a package deal.
DEAR ABBY: I purchased a beautiful Tiffany engagement ring, but my girlfriend rejected my proposal. I will get only pennies on the dollar if I sell it. Would it be acceptable to save it for a future engagement proposal?
PRACTICAL IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR PRACTICAL: Your letter illustrates the impracticality of buying an engagement ring before proposing. Whatever happened to the tradition of proposing and then, if the person says yes, selecting a ring together?
In recent years — thanks to social media — engagements have become more like invitations to a high school prom — elaborate and over-the-top. I do not think you should compound your mistake by offering another woman that ring in an effort to save money. If she were to find out, she would likely be both disappointed and hurt.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Photos: A symphony of music honors hospital workers

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device .
Violinist Jennifer Cho and violist @ @ @ @ @ the California Symphony , played at the front entrance of the John Muir Health medical @ @ @ @ @ in honor of the hospital ’ s frontline care providers during the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ the 6 a.m. John Muir Health , Walnut Creek Medical Center ’ s shift change @ @ @ @ @ Center ’ s 6:30 p.m. shift change Friday .
As they walked to and from @ @ @ @ @ was treated to classical music from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Dmitri Shostakovich .
Staff members @ @ @ @ @ enjoy the music during the 45-minute performance .

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device.
Violinist Jennifer Cho and violist Marcel Gemperli, both with the California Symphony, played at the front entrance of the John Muir Health medical centers in Contra Costa County in honor of the hospital’s frontline care providers during the coronavirus pandemic. Cho and Gemperli performed at the 6 a.m. John Muir Health, Walnut Creek Medical Center’s shift change, and the Concord Medical Center’s 6:30 p.m. shift change Friday. As they walked to and from work, the medical staff was treated to classical music from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Dmitri Shostakovich. Staff members with the time lingered to enjoy the music during the 45-minute performance.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Democrats push new $3T coronavirus relief bill through House

By Andrew Taylor and Alan Fram | Associated Press WASHINGTON — Democrats have powered a massive $ 3 trillion coronavirus relief bill through the House , an election-year measure designed to brace a U.S. economy in free fall and a health care system struggling to contain a pandemic still pummeling the country .
Friday ’ s 208-199 vote , with all but one Republican opposed , advances what boils down to a campaign-season display of Democratic economic and health-care priorities .
It has no chance of becoming law as written , but will likely spark difficult negotiations with the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would probably be the last major COVID-19 response bill before November ’ s presidential and congressional elections .
The enormous Democratic measure would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined .
It would deliver almost $ 1 trillion for state and local governments , another round of $ 1,200 direct payments to individuals and help for the unemployed , renters and homeowners , college debt holders and the struggling Postal Service .
“ Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way , it is irresponsible because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” warned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. “ More in terms of lives , livelihood , cost to the budget , cost to our democracy.
” Republicans mocked the bill as a bloated Democratic wish-list that was dead on arrival in the GOP-led Senate and , for good measure , faced a White House veto threat .
Party leaders say they want to assess how $ 3 trillion approved earlier is working and see if some states ’ partial business reopenings would spark an economic revival that would ease the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also sorting through internal divisions and awaiting stronger signals from President Donald Trump about what he will support .
“ Phase Four is going to happen , ” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office , using Washington insider-speak for the measure .
“ But it ’ s going to happen in a much better way for the American people.
” Trump and top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , are insisting the next measure should protect reopening businesses from liability lawsuits .
The president is also demanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP leaders are not yet on board .
The daylong debate painted a Capitol scene that ’ s become common in the era of coronavirus , even as it remains disconcerting .
The sparsely populated House floor was dotted with lawmakers and aides wearing protective masks and even gloves , though some Republicans lacked them .
Many members looked shaggier and sported beards they had not worn weeks ago .
Roll call votes lasted over an hour each because lawmakers were voting in small groups to limit crowding .
To enhance the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their measure “ The Heroes Act ” for the payments it would provide front-line emergency workers .
With more than 86,000 Americans dead , 1.4 million confirmed infections and 36 million filing unemployment claims in a frozen economy , Democrats saw GOP opposition as an easy campaign-season target .
“ Are you kidding me ?
” said Rep. Tim Ryan , D-Ohio , of Republican assertions that it was time to stop spending more money .
“ Where do you guys live ?
Food lines at our food banks around the block ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Republicans saw the bill as a Democratic political blunder .
They said overly generous unemployment benefits discouraged people from returning to work and attacked language helping immigrants in the U.S. illegally get federal benefits .
They also singled out provisions helping states set up voting by mail and easing the marijuana industry ’ s access to banks .
“ It may help the cannabis industry , but it won ’ t help Main Street , ” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Bakersfield .
Pelosi pushed the measure through after overcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some moderate Democrats opposed the package for its price tag and politically fraught provisions like assisting marijuana businesses .
A few progressive Democrats were upset because it did not do more , such as guaranteeing workers ’ salaries and bolstering their health insurance coverage .
Fourteen Democrats voted against the measure .
Nearly all are centrists and number among the party ’ s most vulnerable lawmakers in November ’ s elections : freshmen from districts Trump won in 2016 .
Among them was Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa , who labeled the measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spanberger of Virginia , tweeted , “ This bill strays far beyond delivering relief or responding to an urgent crisis , & it has no chance at becoming law.
” Republicans were already planning to use the day ’ s votes against other moderate Democrats who backed Friday ’ s legislation and face competitive reelection races .
Clearly , the bipartisan consensus that produced four previous coronavirus bills was crumbling quickly .
Polls show GOP voters are satisfied with the federal response and aren ’ t agitating for more .
Self-branded deficit hawks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiraling $ 25 trillion national debt .
Some congressional aides said the Democratic bill ’ s real price tag could breach $ 3.5 trillion .
A partial estimate of tax provisions alone revealed eye-popping costs : $ 412 billion to renew $ 1,200 cash payments to individuals , more than $ 100 billion to pay health insurance premiums for the unemployed and $ 164 billion to make an “ employee retention ” tax credit for businesses more generous .
Republicans leaders faced disunity between conservatives who feel enough has been done and pragmatists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looming insolvency and delivering cash to revenue-starved state and local governments .
The huge price tag and a lack of consultation with Republicans by Pelosi cemented GOP opposition .
“ This bill is nothing more than the Democratic policy agenda masquerading as a response to the coronavirus crisis , ” said Rep. Tom Cole , R-Okla .
He said the bill is “ going nowhere , and is going nowhere fast.
” Liberal Rep. Pramila Jayapal , D-Wash. , also opposed the bill .
She told reporters that if constituents ask her if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pockets or preserve their health care , “ I can ’ t tell them yes.
” • TSMC is set to build a U.S. chip facility , a win for Trump • Changing subject amid a pandemic , Trump pushes a ‘ crime ’ with Obama at its center • Senator Burr steps aside as Senate intelligence chair as FBI investigates coronavirus insider-trading allegation The lone Republican backing the legislation was Rep. Peter King of New York , who is retiring .

By Andrew Taylor and Alan Fram | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Democrats have powered a massive $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill through the House, an election-year measure designed to brace a U.S. economy in free fall and a health care system struggling to contain a pandemic still pummeling the country.
Friday’s 208-199 vote, with all but one Republican opposed, advances what boils down to a campaign-season display of Democratic economic and health-care priorities. It has no chance of becoming law as written, but will likely spark difficult negotiations with the White House and Senate Republicans. Any product would probably be the last major COVID-19 response bill before November’s presidential and congressional elections.
The enormous Democratic measure would cost more than the prior four coronavirus bills combined. It would deliver almost $1 trillion for state and local governments, another round of $1,200 direct payments to individuals and help for the unemployed, renters and homeowners, college debt holders and the struggling Postal Service.
“Not to act now is not only irresponsible in a humanitarian way, it is irresponsible because it’s only going to cost more,” warned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “More in terms of lives, livelihood, cost to the budget, cost to our democracy.”
Republicans mocked the bill as a bloated Democratic wish-list that was dead on arrival in the GOP-led Senate and, for good measure, faced a White House veto threat. Party leaders say they want to assess how $3 trillion approved earlier is working and see if some states’ partial business reopenings would spark an economic revival that would ease the need for more safety net programs.
Republicans are also sorting through internal divisions and awaiting stronger signals from President Donald Trump about what he will support.
“Phase Four is going to happen,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, using Washington insider-speak for the measure. “But it’s going to happen in a much better way for the American people.”
Trump and top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are insisting the next measure should protect reopening businesses from liability lawsuits. The president is also demanding a cut to payroll taxes, but GOP leaders are not yet on board.
The daylong debate painted a Capitol scene that’s become common in the era of coronavirus, even as it remains disconcerting. The sparsely populated House floor was dotted with lawmakers and aides wearing protective masks and even gloves, though some Republicans lacked them.
Many members looked shaggier and sported beards they had not worn weeks ago. Roll call votes lasted over an hour each because lawmakers were voting in small groups to limit crowding.
To enhance the bill’s political impact, Democrats named their measure “The Heroes Act” for the payments it would provide front-line emergency workers. With more than 86,000 Americans dead, 1.4 million confirmed infections and 36 million filing unemployment claims in a frozen economy, Democrats saw GOP opposition as an easy campaign-season target.
“Are you kidding me?” said Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, of Republican assertions that it was time to stop spending more money. “Where do you guys live? Food lines at our food banks around the block? In the United States of America?”
Republicans saw the bill as a Democratic political blunder. They said overly generous unemployment benefits discouraged people from returning to work and attacked language helping immigrants in the U.S. illegally get federal benefits. They also singled out provisions helping states set up voting by mail and easing the marijuana industry’s access to banks.
“It may help the cannabis industry, but it won’t help Main Street,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.
[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/05/16/house-approves-coronavirus-aid-bill-raju-sot-cpt-vpx.cnn”]
Pelosi pushed the measure through after overcoming party divisions aggravated by election pressures. Some moderate Democrats opposed the package for its price tag and politically fraught provisions like assisting marijuana businesses. A few progressive Democrats were upset because it did not do more, such as guaranteeing workers’ salaries and bolstering their health insurance coverage.
Fourteen Democrats voted against the measure. Nearly all are centrists and number among the party’s most vulnerable lawmakers in November’s elections: freshmen from districts Trump won in 2016.
Among them was Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa, who labeled the measure “bloated.” Another, Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, tweeted, “This bill strays far beyond delivering relief or responding to an urgent crisis, & it has no chance at becoming law.”
Republicans were already planning to use the day’s votes against other moderate Democrats who backed Friday’s legislation and face competitive reelection races.
Clearly, the bipartisan consensus that produced four previous coronavirus bills was crumbling quickly. Polls show GOP voters are satisfied with the federal response and aren’t agitating for more. Self-branded deficit hawks are citing the massive increase in the spiraling $25 trillion national debt.
Some congressional aides said the Democratic bill’s real price tag could breach $3.5 trillion. A partial estimate of tax provisions alone revealed eye-popping costs: $412 billion to renew $1,200 cash payments to individuals, more than $100 billion to pay health insurance premiums for the unemployed and $164 billion to make an “employee retention” tax credit for businesses more generous.
Republicans leaders faced disunity between conservatives who feel enough has been done and pragmatists who back rescuing the Postal Service from looming insolvency and delivering cash to revenue-starved state and local governments. The huge price tag and a lack of consultation with Republicans by Pelosi cemented GOP opposition.
“This bill is nothing more than the Democratic policy agenda masquerading as a response to the coronavirus crisis,” said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla. He said the bill is “going nowhere, and is going nowhere fast.”
Liberal Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., also opposed the bill. She told reporters that if constituents ask her if the bill would put money in their pockets or preserve their health care, “I can’t tell them yes.”


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Trump fires State Dept. watchdog critical of admin moves

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has fired the State Department ’ s inspector general , an Obama administration appointee whose office was critical of alleged political bias in the agency ’ s management .
The ouster is the latest in a series of moves against independent executive branch watchdogs who have found fault with the Trump administration .
A senior department official said Trump removed Steve Linick from his job on Friday but gave no reason for his ouster .
In a letter to Congress , Trump said Linick , who had held the job since 2013 , no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removal would take effect in 30 days .
Trump did not mention Linick by name in his letter .
Democrats in Congress immediately cried foul , with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee suggesting that Linick was fired in part in retaliation for opening an unspecified investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
“ This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters , the secretary of state , from accountability , ” Eliot Engel , D-N.Y. , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo .
Mr. Linick ’ s firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation.
” Engel offered no details of the alleged investigation into Pompeo , but Linick ’ s office had issued several reports critical of the department ’ s handling of personnel matters , including accusing some of Trump ’ s appointees of retaliating against career officials .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned Linick ’ s ouster , saying he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty to protect the Constitution and our national security.
” “ The president must cease his pattern of reprisal and retaliation against the public servants who are working to keep Americans safe , particularly during this time of global emergency.
” Linick will be replaced by Stephen Akard , a former career foreign service officer who has close ties to Vice President Mike Pence , said the official , who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity .
Akard currently runs the department ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominated to be the director-general of the foreign service but withdrew after objections he wasn ’ t experienced enough .
Linick , a former assistant U.S. attorney in California and Virginia , had overseen inspector general reports that were highly critical of the department ’ s management policies during the Trump administration .
His office had criticized several Trump appointees for their treatment of career staff for apparently being insufficiently supportive of Trump and his policies .
Under Linick , the State Department ’ s inspector general office was also critical of former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiring freeze and attempts to streamline the agency by slashing its funding and personnel .
Trump has been taking aim lately at inspectors general .
In April , he fired Michael Atkinson , the inspector general for the intelligence community , for his role in the whistleblower complaint that led to Trump ’ s impeachment .
Then Trump removed Glenn Fine as acting inspector general at the Defense Department , a move that stripped him of his post as chairman of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee .
• TSMC is set to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump • Changing subject amid a pandemic , Trump pushes a ‘ crime ’ with Obama at its center • Senator Burr steps aside as Senate intelligence chair as FBI investigates coronavirus insider-trading allegation During a White House briefing on COVID-19 , Trump questioned the independence of an inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services over a report that said there was a shortage of supplies and testing at hospitals .
Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report .

By Matthew Lee | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has fired the State Department’s inspector general, an Obama administration appointee whose office was critical of alleged political bias in the agency’s management. The ouster is the latest in a series of moves against independent executive branch watchdogs who have found fault with the Trump administration.
A senior department official said Trump removed Steve Linick from his job on Friday but gave no reason for his ouster. In a letter to Congress, Trump said Linick, who had held the job since 2013, no longer had his full confidence and that his removal would take effect in 30 days. Trump did not mention Linick by name in his letter.
Democrats in Congress immediately cried foul, with the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee suggesting that Linick was fired in part in retaliation for opening an unspecified investigation into Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“This firing is the outrageous act of a president trying to protect one of his most loyal supporters, the secretary of state, from accountability,” Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said in a statement. “I have learned that the Office of the Inspector General had opened an investigation into Secretary Pompeo. Mr. Linick’s firing amid such a probe strongly suggests that this is an unlawful act of retaliation.”
Engel offered no details of the alleged investigation into Pompeo, but Linick’s office had issued several reports critical of the department’s handling of personnel matters, including accusing some of Trump’s appointees of retaliating against career officials.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also condemned Linick’s ouster, saying he had been “punished for honorably performing his duty to protect the Constitution and our national security.”
“The president must cease his pattern of reprisal and retaliation against the public servants who are working to keep Americans safe, particularly during this time of global emergency.”
Linick will be replaced by Stephen Akard, a former career foreign service officer who has close ties to Vice President Mike Pence, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Akard currently runs the department’s Office of Foreign Missions. He had been nominated to be the director-general of the foreign service but withdrew after objections he wasn’t experienced enough.
[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/05/16/state-department-inspector-general-fired-sot-vpx.cnn”]
Linick, a former assistant U.S. attorney in California and Virginia, had overseen inspector general reports that were highly critical of the department’s management policies during the Trump administration. His office had criticized several Trump appointees for their treatment of career staff for apparently being insufficiently supportive of Trump and his policies.
Under Linick, the State Department’s inspector general office was also critical of former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s hiring freeze and attempts to streamline the agency by slashing its funding and personnel.
Trump has been taking aim lately at inspectors general.
In April, he fired Michael Atkinson, the inspector general for the intelligence community, for his role in the whistleblower complaint that led to Trump’s impeachment.
Then Trump removed Glenn Fine as acting inspector general at the Defense Department, a move that stripped him of his post as chairman of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
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Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-05-17--Got $220? You can visit Healdsburg’s Jordan Winery using a COVID loophole

Jordan Winery & Vineyards has found a COVID-19 loophole that will allow it to start doing business again , beginning next week .
They may be the first winery in the state to do so .
The Healdsburg winery known for its velvety cabernet will begin offering educational nature hikes on the 1,200-acre Jordan estate using the Sonoma County park and trail reopening health order that went into effect May 13 , according to a Jordan press release .
The packages are for two people and include a picnic kit and wine to-go , keeping in compliance with the curbside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wine costs $ 220 plus tax and you can ’ t enjoy it after the 4-mile hike , which ends at the winery terrace .
You have to take it home .
The by-appointment nature hikes will be held at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays , Saturdays and Sundays from May 23 to June 7 .
The reason it is only offered to two people at a time and on select days is to ensure social distancing .
The picnic lunch includes one bottle each of 2018 Jordan Chardonnay and 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selections , two artisanal cheeses , salad greens from the Jordan Garden and accompaniments , such as estate mostarda .
And since Sonoma County just announced another health order update —botanical gardens can reopen Friday — the winery ’ s leadership is thinking about educational garden tours with a similar picnic to-go package .
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Jordan Winery & Vineyards has found a COVID-19 loophole that will allow it to start doing business again, beginning next week, albeit from a distance. They may be the first winery in the state to do so.
The Healdsburg winery known for its velvety cabernet will begin offering educational nature hikes on the 1,200-acre Jordan estate using the Sonoma County park and trail reopening health order that went into effect May 13, according to a Jordan press release.
The packages are for two people and include a picnic kit and wine to-go, keeping in compliance with the curbside pickup allowance of wineries. The picnic and wine costs $220 plus tax and you can’t enjoy it after the 4-mile hike, which ends at the winery terrace. You have to take it home.
The by-appointment nature hikes will be held at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from May 23 to June 7. The reason it is only offered to two people at a time and on select days is to ensure social distancing.
The picnic lunch includes one bottle each of 2018 Jordan Chardonnay and 2016 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, four Journeyman salumi selections, two artisanal cheeses, salad greens from the Jordan Garden and accompaniments, such as estate mostarda.
And since Sonoma County just announced another health order update — botanical gardens can reopen Friday — the winery’s leadership is thinking about educational garden tours with a similar picnic to-go package. Related Articles Restaurants, Food and Drink | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
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mercurynews--2020-05-17--The Latest: Atlanta zoo opens for 1st time since mid-March

By The Associated Press The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic .
The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness or death .
— 8 more sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt test positive again .
ATLANTA — Outdoor exhibits along a one-way flow for visitors at Zoo Atlanta opened Saturday for the first time since mid-March , but indoor habitats , rides , playgrounds and other attractions remain closed because of COVID-19 .
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors by requiring them to make reservations with specific times to enter the park .
Zoo employees had to answer a health survey and have their temperatures taken before returning to work .
Zoo Atlanta deputy director Hayley Murphy says disinfectant is used on the grounds every 60 to 90 minutes and every hour in restrooms .
BATON ROUGE , La .
— Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards ’ proposal to close a $ 1 billion budget gap caused by the coronavirus pandemic would avoid deep cuts to health care and education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in federal relief aid and a portion of the state ’ s “ rainy day ” fund .
Under the plan offered by Edwards , Louisiana would use nearly $ 1.2 billion in federal assistance approved by Congress to respond to the pandemic and about $ 90 million from the rainy day fund to fill most of the gaps in the state ’ s $ 30 billion-plus budget .
The recommendations would require only modest reductions in the financial year that begins July 1 .
The free college tuition program , K-12 schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spared cuts entirely , though college campuses and health programs would take hits .
The Edwards administration submitted its reworked budget proposal to legislative leaders Friday night .
WASHINGTON — Eight more sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive a second time for the new coronavirus , raising to 13 the number who appear to have become infected again while serving aboard the sidelined aircraft carrier .
All the sailors had previously tested positive and had gone through at least two weeks of isolation .
Before they were allowed to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to test negative twice in a row , with the tests separated by at least a day or two .
On Saturday , a Navy official confirmed eight additional sailors had tested positive again .
A day earlier the Navy had said in a statement that five had tested positive a second time .
The Navy official was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity .
SANTA FE , N.M. — The loosening of some restrictions imposed on nonessential businesses by New Mexico ’ s governor to slow the coronavirus outbreak ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a new edict that people wear masks in public under most circumstances .
State officials reported six additional deaths from the outbreak and 185 additional COVID-19 cases .
The loosening of restrictions applied to most of the state but not in the northwest region , where much of the outbreak is centered .
Retailers and many services , along with houses of worship , can reopen at limited capacity .
Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered that face masks be worn in public , except with exceptions that include eating , drinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deaths in Washington state because of the new coronavirus has reached 1,000 .
The Washington State Department of Health on Saturday added eight more deaths and listed the total number of confirmed cases at 18,288 .
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was in the state on Jan. 20 when a man tested positive .
He had been traveling in Wuhan , China , where the outbreak appears to have originated and had returned to the Seattle area five days earlier .
The Seattle area also saw the nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nursing home .
The Life Care Center of Kirkland was linked to more than 40 deaths .
GREENVILLE , N.C. — A federal judge on Saturday blocked the enforcement of restrictions that North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper ordered affecting indoor religious services during the coronavirus pandemic .
The order from Judge James C. Dever III came days after two Baptist churches , a minister and a Christian revival group filed a federal lawsuit seeking to immediately block enforcement of rules within the Democratic governor ’ s executive orders regarding religious services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who argued that the limits violate their right to worship freely and treat churches differently from retailers and other secular activities .
Cooper ’ s latest order still largely prevented most faith organizations from holding indoor services attended by more than 10 people .
His office had said the newest order stating permitted services may “ take place outdoors unless impossible ” carries only a narrow exception , such as when religious activities dictate they occur indoors with more people .
Cooper ’ s spokesman , Ford Porter , said the governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not appeal .
SAN FRANCISCO — More parks and hiking trails welcomed visitors again in California , and one city declared itself a “ sanctuary ” from the state ’ s stay-at-home order as diverse regions carved their own path toward reopening .
Officials in Atwater , a city of 30,000 in central California , unanimously agreed not to enforce a nearly 2-month-old order intended to slow the spread of the new coronavirus .
That means local authorities won ’ t interfere with any business or church that decides to reopen ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a symbolic gesture of defiance against Gov .
Gavin Newson ’ s order , and the city ’ s mayor cautioned that businesses were taking their own risks by reopening .
California is moving through the second phase of relaxing its restrictions .
Businesses deemed lower risk have been gradually allowed to reopen , with retailers offering curbside pickup .
ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. — The results of more than 35,000 COVID-19 tests ordered by a Florida-based health care system and performed by a third-party lab are unreliable , the company said Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care system , the situation has created “ unacceptable delays.
” AdventHealth didn ’ t name the third-party lab but said it had terminated its contract with the lab .
The tests were a mixture of positive and negative results , and some had been at the lab for a while .
About 25,000 of the unreliable tests were in the central Florida area .
AdventHealth president and CEO Terry Shaw said the company will notify patients who are impacted .
AdventHealth has 49 hospitals in nine states .
Company spokeswoman Melanie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint venture systems and were not affected by the unreliable testing .
CAIRO — Sudan ’ s Health Ministry has reported the country ’ s highest one-day tally of coronavirus infections , with 325 new COVID-19 patients and six deaths .
Saturday ’ s figures have taken the country ’ s tally to 2,289 confirmed cases , including 97 fatalities , the ministry said .
A total of 222 were discharged after recovering .
Most of the country ’ s COVID-19 patients were in the capital , Khartoum where authorities imposed round-the-clock curfew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Sudan ’ s health care system has been weakened by decades of war and sanctions .
The country is still reeling from last year ’ s uprising that toppled longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir .
ISTANBUL — Turkey ’ s health ministry says 41 more people have died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours , bringing the death toll to 4,096 .
The death rate is the lowest registered since the end of March .
Minister Fahrettin Koca also tweeted Saturday that 1,610 new infections were confirmed , which brings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fifteen provinces , including Istanbul , are on a four-day lockdown .
The country has instituted partial lockdowns to combat the novel coronavirus .
People under 20 and above 65 have been stuck at home for weeks , though they are now allowed to leave for a few hours on allotted days .
Other easing measures have gone into effect , including the opening of malls , barbershops and hair salons .
The number of provinces under lockdown on weekends and national holidays has dropped from 31 to 15 .
ROME — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the reopening of the Italian economy brings a risk of new outbreaks of the coronavirus but said ‘ ’ we must accept it.
’ Conte told reporters during a press conference that the nationwide lockdown that began in early March had brought ‘ ’ the expected results , ’ putting the country in a position to expand economic activity in the second phase of reopening .
Stores , bars , cafes , restaurants , hairdressers and museums are among the business and cultural activities that can resume starting Monday .
Gyms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Travel between regions and into Italy from abroad will be permitted starting June 3 .
Conte said the country must accept the risks and open before the availability of a vaccine .
But an extensive monitoring system is in place and the government would intervene to close areas if there are new outbreaks .
ALBANY , N.Y. — Several dozen protesters gathered in front of the New York state Capitol on Saturday holding American flags and signs demanding that businesses reopen .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo began to allow large swaths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening on Friday , permitting certain businesses such as construction to open their doors under safety guidelines .
But residents in downstate areas hard-hit by cases of COVID-19 remain under tight restrictions as their communities try to lower infection rates and amass enough testing and tracing to reopen in coming weeks .
New York ’ s ban on all non-essential gatherings remains in effect .
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans began taking its first steps Saturday toward loosening two months of restrictions on businesses , restaurants and houses of worship .
The city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity and requiring restaurants , nail salons and other businesses to only take customers by reservation .
Malls and retail stores can reopen , but casinos , video poker , live entertainment and bars are still closed .
Officials are still urging people to stay home as much as possible and requiring people to wear masks in public unless exercising .
The coronavirus struck New Orleans so quickly in March there were worries the pandemic would overwhelm the state health system .
Hospitalizations have been going down for nearly a month , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths could lead to putting restrictions back in place .
CINCINNATI — Just days after announcing it would end hazard “ hero ” pay to front-line workers , Kroger says it will give them extra “ thank you ” bonuses .
That ’ s according to the Cincinnati Enquirer .
The move comes after an outcry from the grocery store ’ s union , which said workers are still risking their lives by coming to work .
The bonus is $ 400 for full-time workers and $ 200 for part-time workers , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced .
Hazard pay was a $ 2-per-hour supplement .
The Cincinnati-based grocer estimates the new bonus will provide $ 130 million to its workers .
United Food and Commercial Workers International estimates that nationwide at least 65 grocery workers have died at Kroger and other retailers after contracting the coronavirus .
RIO DE JANEIRO — A small plane carrying a doctor sick with COVID-19 crashed in the Brazilian state of Ceara on Friday night , killing all four people on the aircraft , according to online news site G1 , citing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctor was being transferred to an intensive care unit in his home state of Piaui .
Two medical staffers treating him , as well as the pilot , were also on the plane .
The Ceara Fire Department and Sao Bernardo municipality , where the plane crashed , did not immediately respond to requests for information .
MILAN — Italy recorded the lowest number of deaths in a 24-hour period since early in its coronavirus lockdown at just 153 .
That brings the total in the epidemic to 31,763 , the civil protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time the death count was that low was March 9 , the day after the nationwide lockdown was announced .
The number of confirmed new infections rose by 875 for a total of 224,760 , while the number of currently infected dropped to just over 70,000 .
Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

By The Associated Press
The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
TOP OF THE HOUR:
— California resident who attended church on Mother’s Day tests positive for virus
— Venezuela sees its largest one-day virus increase
— Atlanta zoo opens outdoor exhibits.
— Louisiana governor releases proposal to close budget gap.
— 8 more sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt test positive again.
— Washington state death total reaches 1,000.
___
SEOUL, South Korea __ South Korea has reported 13 new cases of the coronavirus over a 24-hour period, raising hopes that a new outbreak linked to nightclubs in Seoul may be waning.
The additional figures released Sunday by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought the national tally to 11,050 with 262 deaths.
The agency says 9,888 of them have recovered and that 17,660 were under tests to determine whether they’ve contracted the virus.
After weeks of a slowdown of new cases, South Korea’s daily jump marked an average of about 30 for several days, mostly associated with nightclubs in Seoul’s Itaewon entertainment district. But the daily increase marked 19 on Saturday.
The disease control agency didn’t immediately say how many of the 13 new cases were linked to nightlife spots in Itaewon.
___
OROVILLE, Calif. — A person who attended a religious service on Mother’s Day has tested positive for the coronavirus, possibly exposing it to more than 180 members of a congregation.
The church in Butte County, north of Sacramento, chose to open its doors despite rules banning gatherings of any size, county public health officials said in a statement Friday.
“Moving too quickly through the reopening process cancause a major setback and could require us to revert back to more restrictive measures,” the statement said.
Most people with the virus experience fever and cough for up to three weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems can face severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. The vast majority recover.
___
SYDNEY — Opera singer Jane Ede will perform Monday for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of live shows, but in an unusual location.
Ede, Opera Australia’s principal soprano, will join several other musicians for about 450 guests who have spent two weeks in government-ordered hotel quarantine after returning from overseas locations.
The audience, on their last night in quarantine, will be able to watch the courtyard performance from their balconies, or on their in-room televisions or devices.
“It’s really just to sort of bring everyone together and it will be quite an uplifting concert to sort of have a moment of connection and celebration before they end their quarantine,” Ede said.
For the soprano, who has starred in productions of The Marriage of Figaro, La Boheme, Don Giovanni and Falstaff among many others, it will be her first live performance since March.
“It will be lovely just to have a really good sing again,” Ede said.
___
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela is reporting its biggest one-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic hit the South American nation.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said Saturday that the 45 new cases bring Venezuela’s total to 504 illnesses, with 10 resulting in death. Officials have reported a relatively low number of cases since the first were discovered in mid-March.
While Venezuela has reported relatively few cases so far, health experts say its hospitals are especially vulnerable to being overwhelmed. Venezuela is in a deep political and economic crisis that has left its health care system in a shamble.
President Nicolás Maduro ordered a nationwide lockdown shortly after the first cases, and he recently extended it until mid-June, hoping to contain the virus’ spread.
Officials say that 35 of Saturday’s cases involved people returning to Venezuela, including several on a flight from Peru.
___
BEIJING — China on Sunday reported five new cases of coronavirus, as the commercial hub of Shanghai announced the restart of classes for kindergarteners, first-, second- and third-graders from June 2.
Also, airlines say they have seen a revival of flights.
Of the new cases, two were imported and three were domestic infections in the northeastern province of Jilin that has seen a small spike in cases of unknown origin.
In Shanghai, students retain the option of continuing to follow classes online rather than facing virus testing and social distancing measures to be imposed at schools. As in Beijing and other cities, Shanghai has already re-started classes for middle and high school students preparing for exams.
No new deaths have been reported for the past month, but Jilin added one fatality retroactively, bringing China’s total to 4,634 out of 82,947 cases reported since the outbreak was first detected in the central city of Wuhan late last year. Just 86 people remain hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19 while another 519 people are in supervised isolation for showing signs of the virus or having tested positive without displaying symptoms.
China now has the capacity to perform 1.5 million nucleic acid tests per day, National Health Commission Guo Yanhong told reporters Saturday. The commission is placing a new emphasis on bio-safety, management of laboratories and training of personnel, Guo said.
Meanwhile, the number of domestic flights has returned to 60 percent of pre-outbreak levels, exceeding 10,000 per day for the first time since Feb. 1, the country’s civil aviation regulator reported. The number of flight hit 10,262 on Friday, up from a low of 3,931 flights on Feb. 13, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said. No passenger numbers were given.
With the summer holidays approaching, numerous tourist sites have re-opened, including Beijing’s storied Forbidden City palace complex and Shanghai’s Disneyland resort, although with strict social distancing measures still in place.
___
ATLANTA — Outdoor exhibits along a one-way flow for visitors at Zoo Atlanta opened Saturday for the first time since mid-March, but indoor habitats, rides, playgrounds and other attractions remain closed because of COVID-19.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the zoo is limiting the number of visitors by requiring them to make reservations with specific times to enter the park.
Zoo employees had to answer a health survey and have their temperatures taken before returning to work.
Zoo Atlanta deputy director Hayley Murphy says disinfectant is used on the grounds every 60 to 90 minutes and every hour in restrooms.
___
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ proposal to close a $1 billion budget gap caused by the coronavirus pandemic would avoid deep cuts to health care and education programs by relying on hundreds of millions in federal relief aid and a portion of the state’s “rainy day” fund.
Under the plan offered by Edwards, Louisiana would use nearly $1.2 billion in federal assistance approved by Congress to respond to the pandemic and about $90 million from the rainy day fund to fill most of the gaps in the state’s $30 billion-plus budget.
The recommendations would require only modest reductions in the financial year that begins July 1. The free college tuition program, K-12 schools and the social services department would be spared cuts entirely, though college campuses and health programs would take hits.
The Edwards administration submitted its reworked budget proposal to legislative leaders Friday night.
___
WASHINGTON — Eight more sailors aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive a second time for the new coronavirus, raising to 13 the number who appear to have become infected again while serving aboard the sidelined aircraft carrier.
All the sailors had previously tested positive and had gone through at least two weeks of isolation. Before they were allowed to go back to the ship, all had to test negative twice in a row, with the tests separated by at least a day or two.
On Saturday, a Navy official confirmed eight additional sailors had tested positive again. A day earlier the Navy had said in a statement that five had tested positive a second time. The Navy official was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.
___
SANTA FE, N.M. — The loosening of some restrictions imposed on nonessential businesses by New Mexico’s governor to slow the coronavirus outbreak’s spread took effect Saturday, along with a new edict that people wear masks in public under most circumstances.
State officials reported six additional deaths from the outbreak and 185 additional COVID-19 cases.
The loosening of restrictions applied to most of the state but not in the northwest region, where much of the outbreak is centered. Retailers and many services, along with houses of worship, can reopen at limited capacity.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered that face masks be worn in public, except with exceptions that include eating, drinking and exercising.
___
SEATTLE — The number of deaths in Washington state because of the new coronavirus has reached 1,000.
The Washington State Department of Health on Saturday added eight more deaths and listed the total number of confirmed cases at 18,288.
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was in the state on Jan. 20 when a man tested positive. He had been traveling in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak appears to have originated and had returned to the Seattle area five days earlier.
The Seattle area also saw the nation’s first deadly coronavirus cluster at a nursing home. The Life Care Center of Kirkland was linked to more than 40 deaths.
___
GREENVILLE, N.C. — A federal judge on Saturday blocked the enforcement of restrictions that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper ordered affecting indoor religious services during the coronavirus pandemic.
The order from Judge James C. Dever III came days after two Baptist churches, a minister and a Christian revival group filed a federal lawsuit seeking to immediately block enforcement of rules within the Democratic governor’s executive orders regarding religious services. Dever agreed with the plaintiffs, who argued that the limits violate their right to worship freely and treat churches differently from retailers and other secular activities.
Cooper’s latest order still largely prevented most faith organizations from holding indoor services attended by more than 10 people. His office had said the newest order stating permitted services may “take place outdoors unless impossible” carries only a narrow exception, such as when religious activities dictate they occur indoors with more people.
Cooper’s spokesman, Ford Porter, said the governor’s office disagrees with the decision but will not appeal.
___
SAN FRANCISCO — More parks and hiking trails welcomed visitors again in California, and one city declared itself a “sanctuary” from the state’s stay-at-home order as diverse regions carved their own path toward reopening.
Officials in Atwater, a city of 30,000 in central California, unanimously agreed not to enforce a nearly 2-month-old order intended to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. That means local authorities won’t interfere with any business or church that decides to reopen ahead of state restrictions.
The declaration was a symbolic gesture of defiance against Gov. Gavin Newson’s order, and the city’s mayor cautioned that businesses were taking their own risks by reopening.
California is moving through the second phase of relaxing its restrictions. Businesses deemed lower risk have been gradually allowed to reopen, with retailers offering curbside pickup.
___
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The results of more than 35,000 COVID-19 tests ordered by a Florida-based health care system and performed by a third-party lab are unreliable, the company said Saturday.
According to AdventHealth, a faith-based health care system, the situation has created “unacceptable delays.” AdventHealth didn’t name the third-party lab but said it had terminated its contract with the lab.
The tests were a mixture of positive and negative results, and some had been at the lab for a while. About 25,000 of the unreliable tests were in the central Florida area.
AdventHealth president and CEO Terry Shaw said the company will notify patients who are impacted.
AdventHealth has 49 hospitals in nine states. Company spokeswoman Melanie Lawhorn said two of those states are joint venture systems and were not affected by the unreliable testing.
___
CAIRO — Sudan’s Health Ministry has reported the country’s highest one-day tally of coronavirus infections, with 325 new COVID-19 patients and six deaths.
Saturday’s figures have taken the country’s tally to 2,289 confirmed cases, including 97 fatalities, the ministry said. A total of 222 were discharged after recovering.
Most of the country’s COVID-19 patients were in the capital, Khartoum where authorities imposed round-the-clock curfew in April to stem the spread of the virus.
Sudan’s health care system has been weakened by decades of war and sanctions. The country is still reeling from last year’s uprising that toppled longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir.
___
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s health ministry says 41 more people have died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 4,096.
The death rate is the lowest registered since the end of March.
Minister Fahrettin Koca also tweeted Saturday that 1,610 new infections were confirmed, which brings the total number of confirmed cases 148,067.
Fifteen provinces, including Istanbul, are on a four-day lockdown. The country has instituted partial lockdowns to combat the novel coronavirus. People under 20 and above 65 have been stuck at home for weeks, though they are now allowed to leave for a few hours on allotted days.
Other easing measures have gone into effect, including the opening of malls, barbershops and hair salons.
The number of provinces under lockdown on weekends and national holidays has dropped from 31 to 15.
___
ROME — Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte acknowledged on Saturday that the reopening of the Italian economy brings a risk of new outbreaks of the coronavirus but said ‘’we must accept it.’
Conte told reporters during a press conference that the nationwide lockdown that began in early March had brought ‘’the expected results,’ putting the country in a position to expand economic activity in the second phase of reopening.
Stores, bars, cafes, restaurants, hairdressers and museums are among the business and cultural activities that can resume starting Monday. Gyms and swimming pools can reopen a week after. Travel between regions and into Italy from abroad will be permitted starting June 3.
Conte said the country must accept the risks and open before the availability of a vaccine. But an extensive monitoring system is in place and the government would intervene to close areas if there are new outbreaks.
___
ALBANY, N.Y. — Several dozen protesters gathered in front of the New York state Capitol on Saturday holding American flags and signs demanding that businesses reopen.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo began to allow large swaths of northern and central New York to begin reopening on Friday, permitting certain businesses such as construction to open their doors under safety guidelines. But residents in downstate areas hard-hit by cases of COVID-19 remain under tight restrictions as their communities try to lower infection rates and amass enough testing and tracing to reopen in coming weeks.
New York’s ban on all non-essential gatherings remains in effect.
___
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans began taking its first steps Saturday toward loosening two months of restrictions on businesses, restaurants and houses of worship.
The city is restricting buildings to 25% of capacity and requiring restaurants, nail salons and other businesses to only take customers by reservation. Malls and retail stores can reopen, but casinos, video poker, live entertainment and bars are still closed.
Officials are still urging people to stay home as much as possible and requiring people to wear masks in public unless exercising.
The coronavirus struck New Orleans so quickly in March there were worries the pandemic would overwhelm the state health system. Hospitalizations have been going down for nearly a month, but officials warned a spike in cases or deaths could lead to putting restrictions back in place.
___
CINCINNATI — Just days after announcing it would end hazard “hero” pay to front-line workers, Kroger says it will give them extra “thank you” bonuses.
That’s according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The move comes after an outcry from the grocery store’s union, which said workers are still risking their lives by coming to work.
The bonus is $400 for full-time workers and $200 for part-time workers, to be paid in two installments, Kroger announced. Hazard pay was a $2-per-hour supplement.
The Cincinnati-based grocer estimates the new bonus will provide $130 million to its workers.
United Food and Commercial Workers International estimates that nationwide at least 65 grocery workers have died at Kroger and other retailers after contracting the coronavirus.
___
RIO DE JANEIRO — A small plane carrying a doctor sick with COVID-19 crashed in the Brazilian state of Ceara on Friday night, killing all four people on the aircraft, according to online news site G1, citing the state’s firefighters.
The sick doctor was being transferred to an intensive care unit in his home state of Piaui. Two medical staffers treating him, as well as the pilot, were also on the plane.
The Ceara Fire Department and Sao Bernardo municipality, where the plane crashed, did not immediately respond to requests for information.
___
MILAN — Italy recorded the lowest number of deaths in a 24-hour period since early in its coronavirus lockdown at just 153.
That brings the total in the epidemic to 31,763, the civil protection agency reported on Saturday. The last time the death count was that low was March 9, the day after the nationwide lockdown was announced.
The number of confirmed new infections rose by 875 for a total of 224,760, while the number of currently infected dropped to just over 70,000.
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Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Millbrae Caltrain Station fire, expect delays

A fire broke out on the tracks of the Millbrae Caltrain Station Saturday .
The fire was reported by Caltrain @ @ @ @ @ 3:40 p.m .
The tracks were cleared around 4:05 p.m. with a report of six-minute @ @ @ @ @ two other Saturday reports involving Caltrain , including a fatality when a Caltrain locomotive hit @ @ @ @ @ on the tracks just south of the Capitol Station in San Jose on Saturday morning @ @ @ @ @ Caltrain fatality of the year .
The other is a six-month closure of the Hillsdale @ @ @ @ @ overpass above 25th Avenue just north of the station in San Mateo .
• Will @ @ @ @ @ back after COVID-19 ?
It might if we ditch transit for cars • Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ VTA and others will get from $ 2 trillion coronavirus stimulus

A fire broke out on the tracks of the Millbrae Caltrain Station Saturday.
The fire was reported by Caltrain via its Twitter feed at 3:40 p.m. The tracks were cleared around 4:05 p.m. with a report of six-minute delays.
This was following two other Saturday reports involving Caltrain, including a fatality when a Caltrain locomotive hit and killed an unidentified person on the tracks just south of the Capitol Station in San Jose on Saturday morning. It marks the fourth Caltrain fatality of the year.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Man dies after being overcome by fumes in silo, son rescued

TURBOTVILLE , Pa. ( AP ) — Authorities say a man died after he was overcome by fumes in a silo on a central Pennsylvania farm .
The Montour County coroner ’ s office says 45-year-old Abraham Stoltzfus and his 16-year-old son entered the 60-foot grass silo Friday morning on the farm between Washingtonville and Jerseytown .
Coroner Scott Lynn said the youth ’ s 18-year-old brother heard his younger brother calling for help because he was unable to breathe due to gas in the silo .
The older brother climbed into the chute on the outside of the silo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then ran to a neighbor ’ s house to get help .
He and the neighbor pulled Abraham Stoltzfus from the chute , but he had no pulse and wasn ’ t breathing .
• Charges dropped against Florida pastor who held church services despite stay-at-home orders • Inside Rikers Island jails , ‘ the epicenter of the epicenter ’ of the coronavirus pandemic • Harvard epidemiologist : More research needed on antibodies that might prevent coronavirus reinfection The older brother was then able to reach his younger brother and pull him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Geisinger Medical Center .
Deputy Coroner Eamon Shoff declared Abraham Stoltzfus dead at the scene due to asphyxiation .

TURBOTVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say a man died after he was overcome by fumes in a silo on a central Pennsylvania farm.
The Montour County coroner’s office says 45-year-old Abraham Stoltzfus and his 16-year-old son entered the 60-foot grass silo Friday morning on the farm between Washingtonville and Jerseytown.
Coroner Scott Lynn said the youth’s 18-year-old brother heard his younger brother calling for help because he was unable to breathe due to gas in the silo.
The older brother climbed into the chute on the outside of the silo and found his father slumped inside, then ran to a neighbor’s house to get help. He and the neighbor pulled Abraham Stoltzfus from the chute, but he had no pulse and wasn’t breathing.
The older brother was then able to reach his younger brother and pull him to safety. He was treated and released at Geisinger Medical Center. Deputy Coroner Eamon Shoff declared Abraham Stoltzfus dead at the scene due to asphyxiation.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Graduation Day in the coronavirus era: ‘Anticlimactic’ but still an accomplishment at Cal

BERKELEY — Saturday almost looked like a typical graduation day at Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus .
Students donned caps , gowns and stoles over dresses , suits and ties .
They struck an endless series of poses for photographers , be they professional or parental .
They shared some final fun moments with roommates and friends as their time as college students wound down .
But then the graduates slipped their face masks back on between photo shoots and greeted their friends with air hugs .
It was clear the celebratory norms members of the Class of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their senior year would not happen .
Storefronts on Telegraph Avenue were barricaded , and Memorial Stadium , where commencement was supposed to take place , was closed and quiet .
“ It just feels anticlimactic , ” said Jenna Sylvia , who graduated with a degree in media studies and communications , as she took a break from snapping photos in front of the Campanile with roommates she has had since freshman year .
“ These last two months were probably going to be the most exciting , happiest months of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of those roommates .
“ We were going to do a bunch of things — we were going to graduate with all of our friends.
” “ I thought my hair was going to get done , ” Sylvia added wryly .
Instead , because of the coronavirus pandemic , those plans are all off the table .
The extended family members that were supposed to be in Berkeley cheering from the stands were staying home .
The friends would spend much of their graduation day packing up their apartment .
UC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joining college and high school graduates everywhere in shifting their plans now that their in-person commencement ceremonies have been canceled or postponed indefinitely .
On Friday evening , dozens of graduates , their loved ones and professors posed in front of webcams for a “ group photo ” to capture the Zoom-based commencement ceremony for the Mills College School of Education .
San Jose State is building commencement websites for each of its schools and departments , and will create slides recognizing each graduate .
Members of the class of 2020 will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the stage at “ a future live ceremony , ” the university says .
Stanford University has said it will hold a virtual graduation ceremony next month .
As for Cal , its virtual commencement took place on a custom-built online campus : Blockley University , a project of more than 100 students and alumni who painstakingly recreated the UC-Berkeley campus in the video game Minecraft .
Along with landmarks like Memorial Stadium and Sproul Plaza , the campus includes smaller details Cal students will recognize , like the falcon chicks nesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery robots that normally zip around campus .
More than 10,000 viewers watched a live stream Saturday afternoon of a graduation ceremony inside Blockley ’ s version of Memorial Stadium , complete with speeches and a stage on the field full of Minecraft ’ s cubist renderings of campus officials .
Chancellor Carol Christ began her charge by welcoming the “ remarkable and resilient graduating class of 2020 , ” which had gathered in front of her as avatars .
“ If you could transport yourself back in time just three months , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not think you could have imagined that you would celebrate this day at home — perhaps in your pajamas instead of your cap and gown , watching body avatars float across a computer screen.
” As they navigate this global pandemic , Christ called upon the graduates to cultivate “ courage , ingenuity , patience , resilience , grace and gratitude.
” Back at the real Memorial Stadium , graduate John Rider said he felt “ mostly happy and mostly relieved ” as he posed for photos with his parents and sisters outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Golden Bears .
A typical Cal “ slacker , ” Rider has deferred admission to Harvard Law School so he can first get his master ’ s degree from the London School of Economics .
There was something fitting about this atypical graduation , Rider said .
After all , much of Cal ’ s class of 2020 arrived on campus during the tumultuous fall of 2016 , and from there navigated violent campus protests , wildfires , smoke and power shutoffs , before ending with the coronavirus .
“ This is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Rider said .

em>Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device.
BERKELEY — Saturday almost looked like a typical graduation day at Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus. Students donned caps, gowns and stoles over dresses, suits and ties. They struck an endless series of poses for photographers, be they professional or parental. They shared some final fun moments with roommates and friends as their time as college students wound down.
But then the graduates slipped their face masks back on between photo shoots and greeted their friends with air hugs. It was clear the celebratory norms members of the Class of 2020 dreamed of at the beginning of their senior year would not happen. Storefronts on Telegraph Avenue were barricaded, and Memorial Stadium, where commencement was supposed to take place, was closed and quiet.
“It just feels anticlimactic,” said Jenna Sylvia, who graduated with a degree in media studies and communications, as she took a break from snapping photos in front of the Campanile with roommates she has had since freshman year.
“These last two months were probably going to be the most exciting, happiest months of our lives,” said Mavis Warner, one of those roommates. “We were going to do a bunch of things — we were going to graduate with all of our friends.”
“I thought my hair was going to get done,” Sylvia added wryly.
Instead, because of the coronavirus pandemic, those plans are all off the table. The extended family members that were supposed to be in Berkeley cheering from the stands were staying home. The friends would spend much of their graduation day packing up their apartment.
UC Berkeley’s newly minted alumni are joining college and high school graduates everywhere in shifting their plans now that their in-person commencement ceremonies have been canceled or postponed indefinitely.
On Friday evening, dozens of graduates, their loved ones and professors posed in front of webcams for a “group photo” to capture the Zoom-based commencement ceremony for the Mills College School of Education.
San Jose State is building commencement websites for each of its schools and departments, and will create slides recognizing each graduate. Members of the class of 2020 will be invited to do the traditional graduation walk across the stage at “a future live ceremony,” the university says.
Stanford University has said it will hold a virtual graduation ceremony next month.
As for Cal, its virtual commencement took place on a custom-built online campus: Blockley University, a project of more than 100 students and alumni who painstakingly recreated the UC-Berkeley campus in the video game Minecraft.
Along with landmarks like Memorial Stadium and Sproul Plaza, the campus includes smaller details Cal students will recognize, like the falcon chicks nesting atop the Campanile and the wheeled food delivery robots that normally zip around campus.
More than 10,000 viewers watched a live stream Saturday afternoon of a graduation ceremony inside Blockley’s version of Memorial Stadium, complete with speeches and a stage on the field full of Minecraft’s cubist renderings of campus officials.
Chancellor Carol Christ began her charge by welcoming the “remarkable and resilient graduating class of 2020,” which had gathered in front of her as avatars.
“If you could transport yourself back in time just three months,” Christ said, “I do not think you could have imagined that you would celebrate this day at home — perhaps in your pajamas instead of your cap and gown, watching body avatars float across a computer screen.”
As they navigate this global pandemic, Christ called upon the graduates to cultivate “courage, ingenuity, patience, resilience, grace and gratitude.”
Back at the real Memorial Stadium, graduate John Rider said he felt “mostly happy and mostly relieved” as he posed for photos with his parents and sisters outside the stadium where he cheered on the Golden Bears. A typical Cal “slacker,” Rider has deferred admission to Harvard Law School so he can first get his master’s degree from the London School of Economics.
There was something fitting about this atypical graduation, Rider said. After all, much of Cal’s class of 2020 arrived on campus during the tumultuous fall of 2016, and from there navigated violent campus protests, wildfires, smoke and power shutoffs, before ending with the coronavirus.
“This is the last little dose of Cal chaos,” Rider said.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Walnut Creek BART station closed due to person on tracks

The Walnut Creek BART station closed on Saturday afternoon while emergency crews responded to a person on the tracks , @ @ @ @ @ City News .
Trains are single tracking between Lafayette and Pleasant Hill The incident was @ @ @ @ @ The condition of the person on the tracks was not available but BART officials reported @ @ @ @ @ .
To help with delays , bus service was provided by County Connection Bus 311 @ @ @ @ @ , a BART spokesman said .
Passengers on stopped BART trains should expect delays .
@ @ @ @ @ for Bay Area transit .
A person on the Caltrain tracks in San Jose was @ @ @ @ @ , and a fire on the tracks closed the Millbrae station Saturday afternoon .

A person who died after being hit by a BART train on Saturday at the Walnut Creek station has been identified by authorities.
Stephen Mitchell, 61, of Walnut Creek, was pronounced dead at the scene Saturday after the train hit him around 2:40 p.m. The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office publicly identified Mitchell on Monday morning.
The fatality interrupted services on the Antioch line for more than two hours. Tracks between the Lafayette and Pleasant Hill stations were closed until around 4 p.m., when BART allowed trains to go through on a single track.
Both tracks reopened shortly after 5 p.m.
According to BART, Mitchell acted on his own to get onto the tracks.
The number one reason for suicide is untreated depression. Treatment is available, those in distress can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or 1-800-SUICIDE. They also can log onto Suicide.org.
The fatality was part of a bad day for Bay Area transit on Saturday. A person on the Caltrain tracks in San Jose was struck and killed Saturday morning, and a fire on the tracks closed the Millbrae station Saturday afternoon.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Photos: Carondelet graduates celebrated in a drive-thru parade

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device .
Cheers and music could be @ @ @ @ @ School hosted a drive-thru parade for their Class of 2020 in Concord .
The parade @ @ @ @ @ Costa Health Services , featured posters of all 200 graduates surrounding the parade route .
@ @ @ @ @ campus , each graduate received a decorated cookie and rose while a DJ broadcast a @ @ @ @ @ songs and words of wisdom from the Carondelet staff .
Photos and videos could be @ @ @ @ @ up for graduates and families .
Concord Police Department handled traffic control , with decorations @ @ @ @ @ businesses .

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device.
Cheers and music could be heard Saturday as Carondelet High School hosted a drive-thru parade for their Class of 2020 in Concord.
The parade, approved by the Contra Costa Health Services, featured posters of all 200 graduates surrounding the parade route. As the parade circled the campus, each graduate received a decorated cookie and rose while a DJ broadcast a mix of students’ favorite songs and words of wisdom from the Carondelet staff. Photos and videos could be taken at a booth set up for graduates and families.
Concord Police Department handled traffic control, with decorations donated or purchased from local businesses.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Top fugitive in Rwanda’s genocide arrested outside Paris

KIGALI , Rwanda — One of the most wanted fugitives in Rwanda ’ s 1994 genocide , a wealthy businessman accused of supplying machetes to killers and broadcasting propaganda urging mass slaughter , has been arrested outside Paris , authorities said Saturday .
Felicien Kabuga , who had a $ 5 million bounty on his head , had been accused of equipping militias in the genocide that killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus who tried to protect them .
The 84-year-old Kabuga was arrested as a result of a joint investigation with the International Residual Mechanism for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French authorities said .
He had been living in a town north of Paris , Asnieres-Sur-Seine , under an assumed name , the appeals court ’ s prosecutor ’ s office said .
The U.N. ’ s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda indicted Kabuga in 1997 on charges related to conspiracy to commit genocide , persecution and extermination .
Rwandan prosecutors have said financial documents found in the capital , Kigali , after the genocide indicated that Kabuga used his companies to import vast quantities of machetes that were used slaughter people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishing the station Radio Television Mille Collines that broadcast vicious propaganda against the ethnic Tutsi , as well as training and equipping the Interahamwe militia that led the killing spree .
“ An important step towards justice for hundreds of thousands of genocide victims , ” Mausi Segun , Africa director at Human Rights Watch , said of his arrest .
Kabuga was close to former President Juvenal Habyarimana , whose death when his plane was shot down over Kigali sparked the 100-day genocide .
Kabuga ’ s daughter married Habyarimana ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transferred to the custody of the U.N. mechanism , where he will stand trial .
It is based at The Hague .
“ The arrest of Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account , even 26 years after their crimes , ” the mechanism ’ s chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement .
Officials in Rwanda hailed the arrest and said the East African nation will continue to collaborate with the U.N. mechanism to ensure that justice is served .
• Who gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who you think • 2020 gets its first West Pacific typhoon of the season According to Rwandan prosecutors , other top fugitives still at large include Protais Mpiranya , the former commandant of the Presidential Guards , and former defense minister Augustin Bizimana .
Elaine Ganley in Paris and Mike Corder in Amsterdam contributed .

By Ignatius Ssuuna | Associated Press
KIGALI, Rwanda — One of the most wanted fugitives in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, a wealthy businessman accused of supplying machetes to killers and broadcasting propaganda urging mass slaughter, has been arrested outside Paris, authorities said Saturday.
Felicien Kabuga, who had a $5 million bounty on his head, had been accused of equipping militias in the genocide that killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus who tried to protect them.
The 84-year-old Kabuga was arrested as a result of a joint investigation with the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals office of the prosecutor, French authorities said.
He had been living in a town north of Paris, Asnieres-Sur-Seine, under an assumed name, the appeals court’s prosecutor’s office said.
The U.N.’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda indicted Kabuga in 1997 on charges related to conspiracy to commit genocide, persecution and extermination.
Rwandan prosecutors have said financial documents found in the capital, Kigali, after the genocide indicated that Kabuga used his companies to import vast quantities of machetes that were used slaughter people.
The wealthy businessman also was accused of establishing the station Radio Television Mille Collines that broadcast vicious propaganda against the ethnic Tutsi, as well as training and equipping the Interahamwe militia that led the killing spree.
“An important step towards justice for hundreds of thousands of genocide victims,” Mausi Segun, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said of his arrest.
Kabuga was close to former President Juvenal Habyarimana, whose death when his plane was shot down over Kigali sparked the 100-day genocide. Kabuga’s daughter married Habyarimana’s son.
Kabuga is expected to be transferred to the custody of the U.N. mechanism, where he will stand trial. It is based at The Hague.
“The arrest of Kabuga today is a reminder that those responsible for genocide can be brought to account, even 26 years after their crimes,” the mechanism’s chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said in a statement.
Officials in Rwanda hailed the arrest and said the East African nation will continue to collaborate with the U.N. mechanism to ensure that justice is served.
According to Rwandan prosecutors, other top fugitives still at large include Protais Mpiranya, the former commandant of the Presidential Guards, and former defense minister Augustin Bizimana.
Elaine Ganley in Paris and Mike Corder in Amsterdam contributed.


mercurynews--2020-05-16--Charges dropped against Florida pastor who held church services despite stay-at-home orders

Florida prosecutors have dropped charges against a megachurch pastor who defied stay-at-home orders and held large church services anyway , according to a statement from Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren ’ s office .
Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne of River at Tampa Bay Church in Tampa was arrested in March .
He was charged with unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules .
Warren said Howard-Browne ’ s arrest “ remains an appropriate step taken by law enforcement to immediately correct irresponsible behavior after repeated efforts to gain cooperation in other ways were not successful.
” “ Pastor Howard-Browne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s goal , which is compliance with the law , ” Warren said .
However , the pastor posed no ongoing threat to public health , so Warren said his office ’ s tendency “ will be not to prosecute the case beyond the arrest.
” Mat Staver , Howard-Browne ’ s attorney , said in a statement his client ’ s arrest was “ politically motivated.
” “ Neither the pastor nor The River at Tampa Bay Church did anything wrong , ” Staver ’ s statement read .
Howard-Browne was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River into a megachurch with 4,000 members .
• Graduation Day in the coronavirus era : ‘ Anticlimactic ’ but still an accomplishment at Cal • Coronavirus : Alameda County has most new cases in the Bay Area • Inside Rikers Island jails , ‘ the epicenter of the epicenter ’ of the coronavirus pandemic • Letter : Continuing the lockdown is all about defeating Trump He is a prominent evangelical who prayed in the Oval Office with Trump in 2017 .
The Pentecostal preacher has also made controversial remarks and floated conspiratorial @ @ @ @ @

Florida prosecutors have dropped charges against a megachurch pastor who defied stay-at-home orders and held large church services anyway, according to a statement from Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren’s office.
Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne of River at Tampa Bay Church in Tampa was arrested in March. He was charged with unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules.
Warren said Howard-Browne’s arrest “remains an appropriate step taken by law enforcement to immediately correct irresponsible behavior after repeated efforts to gain cooperation in other ways were not successful.”
“Pastor Howard-Browne’s arrest accomplished the safer-at-home order’s goal, which is compliance with the law,” Warren said.
However, the pastor posed no ongoing threat to public health, so Warren said his office’s tendency “will be not to prosecute the case beyond the arrest.”
Mat Staver, Howard-Browne’s attorney, said in a statement his client’s arrest was “politically motivated.”
“Neither the pastor nor The River at Tampa Bay Church did anything wrong,” Staver’s statement read.
Howard-Browne was born in South Africa and built the River into a megachurch with 4,000 members.
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