mercurynews--2020-07-29--Oakland’s Nyum Bai reopens with new menu for takeout, delivery

After a three-month closure , chef-owner Nite Yun of James Beard Award-nominated restaurant Nyum Bai reopened the beloved Cambodian restaurant today for curbside take-out and delivery .
Yun has remade the Fruitvale restaurant ’ s menu with a grab-and-go ethos in mind .
Look for new snacks , noodle dishes , salads and rice plates , like Twa Ko , or fermented Khmer-style beef sausage with toasted rice and herbs ; Nom Krouk , coconut- and scallion-filled dumpling cakes with sweet lime dressing ; and Ban Chao Salad , a coconut-turmeric crepe with seasonal veggies , fresh herbs , bean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protein .
There are a total of nine savory dishes — don ’ t worry , the Dry Rub Fried Chicken with citrus salt and Kampot peppercorn remains — and nothing is over $ 18 .
Ordering is via the website and delivery is only available within five miles of Nyum Bai .
Back in April , Yun first told the The Mercury News that she was closing to re-imagine the popular sit-down restaurant as a fast-casual eatery , with “ less family-style food and more Cambodian street snacks , noodle dishes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has changed so much so quickly , and this is a secondary concept that I ’ ve always had in mind , ” Yun said .
The Nyum Bai opening today is not the complete makeover .
As Yun explained in April , her plans included converting the covered “ garage ” section of Nyum Bai ’ s outdoor patio into the the main counter where customers would put in their orders .
Yun imagined a display of grab-and-go food options along with a pastry case stocked with marinades and hot sauce available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on those details .
Nyum Bai ’ s new hours are dinner only , from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at 3340 E. 12th St. , Suite 11 , Oakland .
For more information , visit www.nyumbai.com .

After a three-month closure, chef-owner Nite Yun of James Beard Award-nominated restaurant Nyum Bai reopened the beloved Cambodian restaurant today for curbside take-out and delivery.
Yun has remade the Fruitvale restaurant’s menu with a grab-and-go ethos in mind. Look for new snacks, noodle dishes, salads and rice plates, like Twa Ko, or fermented Khmer-style beef sausage with toasted rice and herbs; Nom Krouk, coconut- and scallion-filled dumpling cakes with sweet lime dressing; and Ban Chao Salad, a coconut-turmeric crepe with seasonal veggies, fresh herbs, bean sprouts and sweet lime dressing with choice of protein.
There are a total of nine savory dishes — don’t worry, the Dry Rub Fried Chicken with citrus salt and Kampot peppercorn remains — and nothing is over $18. Ordering is via the website and delivery is only available within five miles of Nyum Bai.
Back in April, Yun first told the The Mercury News that she was closing to re-imagine the popular sit-down restaurant as a fast-casual eatery, with “less family-style food and more Cambodian street snacks, noodle dishes and rice plates.”
“The world has changed so much so quickly, and this is a secondary concept that I’ve always had in mind,” Yun said.
The Nyum Bai opening today is not the complete makeover. As Yun explained in April, her plans included converting the covered “garage” section of Nyum Bai’s outdoor patio into the the main counter where customers would put in their orders. Yun imagined a display of grab-and-go food options along with a pastry case stocked with marinades and hot sauce available for purchase.
Check back for progress on those details.
Nyum Bai’s new hours are dinner only, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday at 3340 E. 12th St., Suite 11, Oakland. For more information, visit www.nyumbai.com.
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mercurynews--2020-07-28--Police: Hells Angel sparked Minneapolis riots after Floyd’s death

MINNEAPOLIS — Police say a man captured on surveillance video breaking windows at a south Minneapolis auto parts store in the days after George Floyd ’ s death is a Hell ’ s Angels member who was bent on stirring up social unrest .
Dubbed “ Umbrella Man ” for an all-black getup that included hood , gas mask and black umbrella , police say the man ’ s actions soon led to an arson fire that was the first of several that transformed peaceful protests into chaos .
“ This was the first fire that set off a string @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the rest of the city , ” Minneapolis police arson investigator Erika Christensen wrote in a search warrant affidavit this week , the Star Tribune reported .
Police identified the 32-year-old suspect through an emailed tip last week , Christensen said .
Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the investigation remains open and active and that he could not confirm the name of the person involved .
The riots spread to other parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul and caused an estimated $ 500 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — one a man who was fatally shot at a Minneapolis pawnshop and another whose burned body was found in the ruins of another pawnshop .
Floyd , a handcuffed Black man , died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd ’ s neck for nearly eight minutes .
A livestreamed video two days later , on May 27 , showed “ Umbrella Man ” walking along the front of an AutoZone store and breaking out the windows with a sledgehammer .
Some protesters confronted the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , the man , who was carrying a black umbrella , spray painted “ free ( expletive ) for everyone zone ” on the front doors , police said .
The AutoZone fire was the first that firefighters responded to during the civil unrest , Assistant Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner said Tuesday .
In the affidavit , Christensen wrote that she watched “ innumerable hours ” of videos on social media platforms trying to identify the suspect with no luck .
Finally a tipster emailed the Minneapolis Police Department identifying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Angels biker gang who “ wanted to sow discord and racial unrest by breaking out the windows and writing what he did on the double red doors , ” according to the affidavit .
An investigation found that the man was also an associate of the Aryan Cowboy Brotherhood , a white supremacist prison and street gang based mainly in Minnesota and Kentucky .
Several of its members were present in Stillwater , in eastern Minnesota , late last month when a Muslim woman was confronted by a group of men @ @ @ @ @

MINNEAPOLIS — Police say a man captured on surveillance video breaking windows at a south Minneapolis auto parts store in the days after George Floyd’s death is a Hell’s Angels member who was bent on stirring up social unrest.
Dubbed “Umbrella Man” for an all-black getup that included hood, gas mask and black umbrella, police say the man’s actions soon led to an arson fire that was the first of several that transformed peaceful protests into chaos.
“This was the first fire that set off a string of fires and looting throughout the precinct and the rest of the city,” Minneapolis police arson investigator Erika Christensen wrote in a search warrant affidavit this week, the Star Tribune reported.
Police identified the 32-year-old suspect through an emailed tip last week, Christensen said.
Got tons of messages at the protests to find this "protester." Turns out “Umbrella Man,” is suspected to be a member of the Hell’s Angels biker gang seeking to incite racial tension in a demonstration that until then was peaceful, per police. #GeorgeFloydhttps://t.co/79Pz5SfxEy — Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) July 28, 2020
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | ‘Umbrella man,’ seen on viral video breaking windows in Minneapolis, is suspected by police to be white supremacist Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the investigation remains open and active and that he could not confirm the name of the person involved.
The riots spread to other parts of Minneapolis and St. Paul and caused an estimated $500 million in damage. At least two people died — one a man who was fatally shot at a Minneapolis pawnshop and another whose burned body was found in the ruins of another pawnshop.
Floyd, a handcuffed Black man, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes. A livestreamed video two days later, on May 27, showed “Umbrella Man” walking along the front of an AutoZone store and breaking out the windows with a sledgehammer. Some protesters confronted the man and asked him to stop.
Before that, the man, who was carrying a black umbrella, spray painted “free (expletive) for everyone zone” on the front doors, police said. The AutoZone fire was the first that firefighters responded to during the civil unrest, Assistant Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner said Tuesday.
In the affidavit, Christensen wrote that she watched “innumerable hours” of videos on social media platforms trying to identify the suspect with no luck. Finally a tipster emailed the Minneapolis Police Department identifying the man as a member of the Hell’s Angels biker gang who “wanted to sow discord and racial unrest by breaking out the windows and writing what he did on the double red doors,” according to the affidavit.
An investigation found that the man was also an associate of the Aryan Cowboy Brotherhood, a white supremacist prison and street gang based mainly in Minnesota and Kentucky. Several of its members were present in Stillwater, in eastern Minnesota, late last month when a Muslim woman was confronted by a group of men wearing white supremacist garb.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--Arrest made in hit-and-run death of Santa Cruz Mountains pedestrian

A man has been arrested on suspicion of a hit-and-run that killed a 73-year-old Boulder Creek woman walking along a Santa Cruz Mountains road .
She was missing for two days before her body was found down an embankment .
Arrested Tuesday was Cody McGhee , 31 , of Boulder Creek .
The California Highway Patrol said anonymous tips helped officers find the man .
They released a video clip of him being taken into custody near Stevens Creek Boulevard and Bascom Avenue , west of downtown San Jose .
Sara Youhas went missing July 14 while taking her daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-lane road with no sidewalk .
Two days later , her body was found down an embankment two blocks east of Highway 9 .
The CHP alleges McGhee was driving a 1999 Mercedes C230 eastbound on Bear Creek Road east of View Drive when he veered onto the shoulder of the roadway and struck Youhas .
McGhee was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter , fleeing the scene and probation violations .
• Toddler gets out of California home unnoticed , is struck and killed by pickup truck Copyright 2020 by Bay City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News , Inc. is prohibited .

A man has been arrested on suspicion of a hit-and-run that killed a 73-year-old Boulder Creek woman walking along a Santa Cruz Mountains road. She was missing for two days before her body was found down an embankment.
Arrested Tuesday was Cody McGhee, 31, of Boulder Creek. The California Highway Patrol said anonymous tips helped officers find the man. They released a video clip of him being taken into custody near Stevens Creek Boulevard and Bascom Avenue, west of downtown San Jose.
Sara Youhas went missing July 14 while taking her daily walk along Bear Creek Road, a two-lane road with no sidewalk. Two days later, her body was found down an embankment two blocks east of Highway 9.
The CHP alleges McGhee was driving a 1999 Mercedes C230 eastbound on Bear Creek Road east of View Drive when he veered onto the shoulder of the roadway and struck Youhas.
McGhee was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, fleeing the scene and probation violations.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--Photos: Virgin Galactic shows off passenger spaceship cabin interior

By JOHN ANTCZAK | The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Passengers flying Virgin Galactic on suborbital trips into space will be able to see themselves floating weightless against the backdrop of the Earth below while 16 cameras document the adventures , the company said Tuesday .
Highly detailed amenities to enhance the customer flight experience were shown in an online event revealing the cabin of the company ’ s rocket plane , a type called SpaceShipTwo , which is undergoing testing in preparation for commercial service .
There are a dozen windows for viewing , seats that will be customized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and capable of adjusting for G forces , and , naturally , mood lighting .
Yet designer Jeremy Brown said the passengers ’ most lasting impression may come from a large mirror at the rear of the cabin .
“ We think that there ’ s a real memory burn that customers are going to have when they see that analog reflection of themselves in the back of the cabin , seeing themselves floating freely in space … that very personal interaction that they ’ ll have with the experience , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British billionaire Richard Branson after the prize-winning flights of the experimental SpaceShipOne in 2004 .
Branson plans to be the first passenger when commercial flights begin .
Like its predecessor , SpaceShipTwo is a rocket plane that is slung beneath a special jet airplane and released at high altitude .
After a moment of free fall , the two pilots ignite the rocket and the craft pitches up and accelerates vertically at supersonic speed .
The rocket shuts down but momentum carries the craft into the lower reaches of space where it flips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roof of the cabin give a view of the Earth far below .
The passengers , clad in space suits designed by the Under Armour company , will be able to leave their seats and float about the cabin , using handholds tested by chief astronaut trainer Beth Moses during Virgin Galactic ’ s second flight into space last year .
The test was aimed at helping finalize the design and at learning how to train passenger astronauts for what they will experience as they become weightless and reach the top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apogee , before the descent begins .
Moses said she tested different ways of getting in and out of the seats , moved around the cabin and waved at the mirror , concluding that it was not disorienting .
“ I also purposely went to a point in the cabin to most dramatically try to enjoy apogee and a view of Earth from the stillness of space , ” she said .
The passengers will need to return to their seats after a few minutes as the craft reorients and begins to interact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then glides to an unpowered landing .
SpaceShipTwo was developed at Virgin Galactic facilities in Mojave , California , and will operate commercially from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico , where passengers will undergo several days of training before their flights .
George Whitesides , the former longtime company CEO who is now its chief space officer , said upcoming test flights will include four crew members playing the role of passengers .
• NASA to launch football stadium-sized balloon to study the stars • Photos : Where to catch a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Area Whitesides , who will now focus on future technology , recently handed the CEO role to Michael Colglazier , a former president and managing director of Disney Parks International .
The company has yet to set a date for flights with paying passengers .
The company has said more than 600 people have put down deposits .
The initial seats were sold at $ 250,000 apiece .
Whitesides said the cost may increase for a while but the long-term goal is to make the adventure more accessible , possibly at a lower @ @

By JOHN ANTCZAK | The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Passengers flying Virgin Galactic on suborbital trips into space will be able to see themselves floating weightless against the backdrop of the Earth below while 16 cameras document the adventures, the company said Tuesday.
Highly detailed amenities to enhance the customer flight experience were shown in an online event revealing the cabin of the company’s rocket plane, a type called SpaceShipTwo, which is undergoing testing in preparation for commercial service.
There are a dozen windows for viewing, seats that will be customized for each flight’s six passengers and capable of adjusting for G forces, and, naturally, mood lighting.
Yet designer Jeremy Brown said the passengers’ most lasting impression may come from a large mirror at the rear of the cabin.
“We think that there’s a real memory burn that customers are going to have when they see that analog reflection of themselves in the back of the cabin, seeing themselves floating freely in space … that very personal interaction that they’ll have with the experience,” he said.
Virgin Galactic was founded by British billionaire Richard Branson after the prize-winning flights of the experimental SpaceShipOne in 2004. Branson plans to be the first passenger when commercial flights begin.
Like its predecessor, SpaceShipTwo is a rocket plane that is slung beneath a special jet airplane and released at high altitude.
After a moment of free fall, the two pilots ignite the rocket and the craft pitches up and accelerates vertically at supersonic speed.
The rocket shuts down but momentum carries the craft into the lower reaches of space where it flips upside down so that the windows on the roof of the cabin give a view of the Earth far below.
The passengers, clad in space suits designed by the Under Armour company, will be able to leave their seats and float about the cabin, using handholds tested by chief astronaut trainer Beth Moses during Virgin Galactic’s second flight into space last year.
The test was aimed at helping finalize the design and at learning how to train passenger astronauts for what they will experience as they become weightless and reach the top of the flight profile, known as its apogee, before the descent begins.
Moses said she tested different ways of getting in and out of the seats, moved around the cabin and waved at the mirror, concluding that it was not disorienting.
“I also purposely went to a point in the cabin to most dramatically try to enjoy apogee and a view of Earth from the stillness of space,” she said.
The passengers will need to return to their seats after a few minutes as the craft reorients and begins to interact with the increasing density of the atmosphere and then glides to an unpowered landing.
SpaceShipTwo was developed at Virgin Galactic facilities in Mojave, California, and will operate commercially from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico, where passengers will undergo several days of training before their flights.
George Whitesides, the former longtime company CEO who is now its chief space officer, said upcoming test flights will include four crew members playing the role of passengers.
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The company has yet to set a date for flights with paying passengers.
The company has said more than 600 people have put down deposits. The initial seats were sold at $250,000 apiece. Whitesides said the cost may increase for a while but the long-term goal is to make the adventure more accessible, possibly at a lower cost.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--‘Brushing scam’: U.S. warns against planting unsolicited seeds from China

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning Americans not to plant unsolicited packages of seeds that appear to be arriving from China .
States stretching from Washington to Virginia have also told residents not to put the seeds in the ground , after they arrived in the mailboxes of people who did not order them .
Officials said the seeds could grow invasive species that threaten crops or livestock .
The USDA said on Tuesday it was collecting the seeds and would test them to determine if they were a concern to agriculture or the environment .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Homeland Security ’ s Customs and Border Protection to investigate the packages , according to a statement .
The USDA said it had no evidence the shipments are something other than a “ brushing scam , ” in which people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales .
The packages “ appear to be coming from China , ” according to the USDA .
On Monday , the agency said it was “ aware that people across the country have received unsolicited packages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington and Beijing have deteriorated this year to what experts say is their lowest level in decades over issues ranging from trade and technology to the coronavirus pandemic .
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday China ’ s postal service strictly abides by restrictions on sending seeds .
• Letters : PC craziness | Going too far | Experts , speak out | Dishonoring Native Americans | Boost SNAP | Federalist No .
70 in action • NASA prepares to send its most-advanced rover to Mars • Hurricane Douglas has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service : No plan to change Muir Woods name Records on the packages appear to have been falsified , according to checks by China ’ s postal service , which has asked for them to be sent to China for investigation , he said at a daily news briefing .
U.S. states , including Washington and Alabama , labeled the shipments as “ agricultural smuggling.
” Photos distributed by state agriculture departments show seeds of different sizes , shapes and colors in white or yellow envelopes .
State officials said some packages were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese writing .
They asked recipients to keep the seeds in sealed plastic bags until authorities collect them .

By Tom Polansek | Reuters
CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning Americans not to plant unsolicited packages of seeds that appear to be arriving from China.
States stretching from Washington to Virginia have also told residents not to put the seeds in the ground, after they arrived in the mailboxes of people who did not order them. Officials said the seeds could grow invasive species that threaten crops or livestock.
The USDA said on Tuesday it was collecting the seeds and would test them to determine if they were a concern to agriculture or the environment. The agency is working with states and the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection to investigate the packages, according to a statement.
The USDA said it had no evidence the shipments are something other than a “brushing scam,” in which people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales.
The packages “appear to be coming from China,” according to the USDA. On Monday, the agency said it was “aware that people across the country have received unsolicited packages of seed from China.”
Relations between Washington and Beijing have deteriorated this year to what experts say is their lowest level in decades over issues ranging from trade and technology to the coronavirus pandemic.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday China’s postal service strictly abides by restrictions on sending seeds.
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U.S. states, including Washington and Alabama, labeled the shipments as “agricultural smuggling.” Photos distributed by state agriculture departments show seeds of different sizes, shapes and colors in white or yellow envelopes.
State officials said some packages were labeled as jewelry and may have contained Chinese writing. They asked recipients to keep the seeds in sealed plastic bags until authorities collect them.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--Feldman: Democrats couldn’t stop a third Trump Supreme Court nominee

The news that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is being treated for a recurrence of cancer is striking terror in the hearts of liberals .
As long as she is physically able , the resolute , gutsy Ginsburg will stay on the Supreme Court until there is a Democratic president and a Democratic majority in the Senate .
But what if , in the worst-case scenario , Ginsburg ’ s health forces her out before President Donald Trump ’ s term in office is over ?
Worried liberals have been asking me if there ’ s anything Senate Democrats can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court pick in his four years in office .
I can ’ t give them a very comforting answer .
If Ginsburg should leave while Trump is still president , it seems overwhelmingly likely that Trump would nominate a replacement more or less immediately — and that the replacement would be a staunch conservative .
And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would likely act quickly to get that person confirmed .
Once the president nominates a justice , it falls to the Senate to confirm the nominee according to its own discretionary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell exercised that discretion on behalf of his caucus by refusing to hold hearings for a vote when President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill Justice Antonin Scalia ’ s vacancy after his sudden death .
As a result , Trump got to fill that seat .
Now , one would expect McConnell to go to the opposite extreme and push for a rapid confirmation of Trump ’ s nominee .
We are accustomed , in our current era , to somewhat lengthy confirmation hearings for Supreme Court justices .
But these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution , which merely says the Senate has the power to advise and consent on Supreme Court nominees .
Formal hearings weren ’ t even conducted until the nomination of Louis Brandeis in 1916 .
And no nominee appeared before the Senate in person until Felix Frankfurter in 1939 , who chose to appear to fight anti-immigrant slurs against his character .
To give you a sense of how quickly things used to go , President Franklin Delano Roosevelt nominated then-Senator Hugo Black on a Friday .
He was confirmed just a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that over the weekend , rumors of his membership in the Ku Klux Klan were beginning to fly around Washington .
( Those rumors turned out to be accurate , but by the time this was publicly confirmed , Black had been appointed to his lifetime position . )
If we do see a vacancy on the court in the next few months , Senate Democrats would be sure to pull out every procedural barrier they can dream up .
The trouble is that , with a Senate majority , McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filibuster .
The only question would be whether 51 senators would be prepared to get on board with a rushed confirmation .
The usual handful of “ moderate ” Republicans would be called on by Democrats to exercise discretion and good judgment .
It seems unlikely that such begging would succeed .
If any Supreme Court vacancy should occur after the November election , and should Trump lose that vote , the Democrats could argue that to allow him to name a new justice would go against the will of the people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ political , not legal .
The president remains the president until the next president is sworn into office .
Lame duck Senators are still Senators in the eyes of the law .
The only silver lining for worried liberals is that , short of impeachment , there is no constitutional mechanism for removing any justice from office without her consent .
Whether Ginsburg is able to perform her duties is a matter that the Constitution gives squarely to Ginsburg , and her attitude toward quitting seems to mirror that of Justice Thurgood Marshall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twelve years of the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations and supposedly joked to his law clerks that if he should happen to die , they should “ stuff me , prop me up , and keep on voting.
” In the past , unwritten norms of behavior guided both political parties .
For the most part , the majority party respected the prerogatives of the minority party .
The most prominent example of the Senate ’ s mutual courtesy play was the filibuster .
This was not idealism .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would want to be extended this courtesy when they were in the minority .
That world is now gone , replaced by pure power politics in the realm of judicial nomination confirmation .
You can guess my takeaway : Pray for the health of RBG _ and of the republic .
Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and law professor at Harvard University .
© 2020 , Bloomberg News .
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency .

The news that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is being treated for a recurrence of cancer is striking terror in the hearts of liberals. As long as she is physically able, the resolute, gutsy Ginsburg will stay on the Supreme Court until there is a Democratic president and a Democratic majority in the Senate. But what if, in the worst-case scenario, Ginsburg’s health forces her out before President Donald Trump’s term in office is over? Worried liberals have been asking me if there’s anything Senate Democrats can do to prevent Trump from getting a third Supreme Court pick in his four years in office.
I can’t give them a very comforting answer. If Ginsburg should leave while Trump is still president, it seems overwhelmingly likely that Trump would nominate a replacement more or less immediately — and that the replacement would be a staunch conservative. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would likely act quickly to get that person confirmed.
Once the president nominates a justice, it falls to the Senate to confirm the nominee according to its own discretionary timetable. As we all know, McConnell exercised that discretion on behalf of his caucus by refusing to hold hearings for a vote when President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill Justice Antonin Scalia’s vacancy after his sudden death. As a result, Trump got to fill that seat.
Now, one would expect McConnell to go to the opposite extreme and push for a rapid confirmation of Trump’s nominee.
We are accustomed, in our current era, to somewhat lengthy confirmation hearings for Supreme Court justices. But these are in no way required by the Constitution, which merely says the Senate has the power to advise and consent on Supreme Court nominees. Formal hearings weren’t even conducted until the nomination of Louis Brandeis in 1916. And no nominee appeared before the Senate in person until Felix Frankfurter in 1939, who chose to appear to fight anti-immigrant slurs against his character.
To give you a sense of how quickly things used to go, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt nominated then-Senator Hugo Black on a Friday. He was confirmed just a few days later, on Wednesday — despite the fact that over the weekend, rumors of his membership in the Ku Klux Klan were beginning to fly around Washington. (Those rumors turned out to be accurate, but by the time this was publicly confirmed, Black had been appointed to his lifetime position.)
If we do see a vacancy on the court in the next few months, Senate Democrats would be sure to pull out every procedural barrier they can dream up. The trouble is that, with a Senate majority, McConnell could block any maneuver, including a filibuster. The only question would be whether 51 senators would be prepared to get on board with a rushed confirmation. The usual handful of “moderate” Republicans would be called on by Democrats to exercise discretion and good judgment. It seems unlikely that such begging would succeed.
If any Supreme Court vacancy should occur after the November election, and should Trump lose that vote, the Democrats could argue that to allow him to name a new justice would go against the will of the people. But that argument would be moral and political, not legal. The president remains the president until the next president is sworn into office. Lame duck Senators are still Senators in the eyes of the law.
The only silver lining for worried liberals is that, short of impeachment, there is no constitutional mechanism for removing any justice from office without her consent. Whether Ginsburg is able to perform her duties is a matter that the Constitution gives squarely to Ginsburg, and her attitude toward quitting seems to mirror that of Justice Thurgood Marshall. He began to ail during the twelve years of the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations and supposedly joked to his law clerks that if he should happen to die, they should “stuff me, prop me up, and keep on voting.”
In the past, unwritten norms of behavior guided both political parties. For the most part, the majority party respected the prerogatives of the minority party. The most prominent example of the Senate’s mutual courtesy play was the filibuster. This was not idealism. Both parties were operating on the understanding that they would want to be extended this courtesy when they were in the minority.
That world is now gone, replaced by pure power politics in the realm of judicial nomination confirmation. You can guess my takeaway: Pray for the health of RBG _ and of the republic.
Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and law professor at Harvard University. © 2020, Bloomberg News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--The Deets: Nick Bosa is going to be the NFL’s first $200 million defender

The Bosa family became dramatically richer on Wednesday , as Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa agreed to the largest contract for a defender in the NFL history , a deal that ’ s worth a reported $ 135 million with more than $ 100 million of that guaranteed .
It ’ s hard to argue that Bosa , who has 40 career sacks , isn ’ t worth that kind of cheddar .
But if Joey is worth $ 135 million , what ’ s his younger brother , 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa , worth ?
The issue isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has three years and a team option remaining on his contract — but by the time the bill comes due for the 49ers , my bet is that he becomes the NFL ’ s first $ 200 million defender .
What ’ s stopping that from happening ?
The elder Bosa is an All-Pro level player and was paid accordingly but the younger Bosa was arguably the best defender in the league as a rookie , registering nine sacks in his age-22 season , transforming the 49ers into arguably the NFL ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bosa be at with a few more years of experience and savvy ?
The notion of a $ 200 million defensive player is , of course , a bet on the NFL getting back to its ways of printing money and contract inflation , especially at a premium position like defensive end .
It ’ s , in a larger sense , a bet that COVID-19 is not a permanent condition that will keep fans out of the stands for years to come .
It shocks me that such a prediction needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of doomsayers in the media game right now ( it seems like my peers are the only people in the world who don ’ t want sports to be played ) , I felt it necessary to go on the record .
For what it ’ s worth , Nick is already being paid well by the 49ers .
That ’ s a perk of being the No .
2 overall pick .
But when it ’ s time to negotiate a new deal in 2023 or 2024 , he ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price , and , barring unforeseen or unfair circumstance , he ’ s going to command nothing shy of everything and perhaps a bit more .
And given the trajectory I think we all see for the younger Bosa , the 49ers will pay him every penny with a smile on their face .
Giants 3 , Padres 5 : Ahh , so that ’ s the reason Gabe Kapler skipped over Jeff Samardzija in the rotation multiple times .
The Shark was without teeth on Tuesday night , with a fastball that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control that was not befitting the soft-tosser he was… Wil Myers ( they got ta acquire that guy , he rakes at Oracle Park ) and Fernando Tatis Jr. ( the Giants need to develop their own version of him , he ’ s going to destroy them for years ) , backed up a nice start by Zach Davies with homers , while # ForeverGiant Drew Pomeranz picked up the save… Hunter Pence is now hitless in 14 plate appearances this season , and his pop-out on the first pitch he saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the corners and one out in the sixth of a 5-1 game was emblematic of his struggles .
Might his days be numbered ?
… Bright spots ?
Well , besides the Padres ’ uniforms , Sam Coonrod and Connor Menez looked strong in relief for San Francisco .
A ’ s 3 , Rockies 8 : Just one of those games for the A ’ s where little went right on the mound or at the dish… The big concern is Khris Davis , like Pence , is hitless this season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that , paired with the fact that he ’ s the only A ’ s player on a respectable Major League contract — yes , the A ’ s actually paid a guy once upon a time — is a big problem .
He might be this team ’ s Achilles heel .
Former 49er Marquise Goodwin opts out of season : The Niners are yet to have any players announce that they ’ re opting out of the season , though there ’ s still time for players to pass .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re a fan of both Bay Area baseball teams , you were rooting for full-team suspensions for breaking physical distancing guidelines .
For a breakdown of what happened , may I recommend this fantastic ( though explicit ) Jomboy production : The Marlins ’ week is canceled : They now have 17 cases of COVID-19 and won ’ t play until next Monday at the earliest .
The good news is that no one else in baseball seems to have any cases .
The worse news is that Major League Baseball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone to everyday testing… And what was at the heart of this outbreak that nearly shut down the baseball season ?
Per USA Today ’ s Bob Nightengale , in an interview with 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh , Marlins players decided to have a night on the town in Atlanta .
Then the team flew to Philadelphia and the rest is inglorious history .
A ’ s – Rockies – 12:40 p.m. • NBC Sports California , ESPN • Oakland looks to split the two-game series .
The tremendous Frankie Montas is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s , with the possibility that Jesus Luzardo backs him up .
Giants – Padres – 6:45 • NBC Sports Bay Area • The Giants aim to land their first home win of the year with Johnny Cueto in the mound .
The problem — they ’ re going up against Padres ace Chris Paddack , who threw six scoreless innings in his first start of the year .
The Giants showed plenty of gumption in their series against the Dodgers — they ’ ll need some more of that against San Diego @

The Big Thing
The Bosa family became dramatically richer on Wednesday, as Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa agreed to the largest contract for a defender in the NFL history, a deal that’s worth a reported $135 million with more than $100 million of that guaranteed.
It’s hard to argue that Bosa, who has 40 career sacks, isn’t worth that kind of cheddar.
But if Joey is worth $135 million, what’s his younger brother, 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, worth?
The issue isn’t pressing — Nick Bosa still has three years and a team option remaining on his contract — but by the time the bill comes due for the 49ers, my bet is that he becomes the NFL’s first $200 million defender.
What’s stopping that from happening? The elder Bosa is an All-Pro level player and was paid accordingly but the younger Bosa was arguably the best defender in the league as a rookie, registering nine sacks in his age-22 season, transforming the 49ers into arguably the NFL’s best defense.
What level will Nick Bosa be at with a few more years of experience and savvy?
The notion of a $200 million defensive player is, of course, a bet on the NFL getting back to its ways of printing money and contract inflation, especially at a premium position like defensive end. It’s, in a larger sense, a bet that COVID-19 is not a permanent condition that will keep fans out of the stands for years to come. It shocks me that such a prediction needs to be made, but given the proliferation of doomsayers in the media game right now (it seems like my peers are the only people in the world who don’t want sports to be played), I felt it necessary to go on the record.
For what it’s worth, Nick is already being paid well by the 49ers. That’s a perk of being the No. 2 overall pick.
But when it’s time to negotiate a new deal in 2023 or 2024, he’s going to be able to set his own price, and, barring unforeseen or unfair circumstance, he’s going to command nothing shy of everything and perhaps a bit more.
And given the trajectory I think we all see for the younger Bosa, the 49ers will pay him every penny with a smile on their face.
What We Learned
Giants 3, Padres 5: Ahh, so that’s the reason Gabe Kapler skipped over Jeff Samardzija in the rotation multiple times. The Shark was without teeth on Tuesday night, with a fastball that barely reached 90 miles per hour and control that was not befitting the soft-tosser he was… Wil Myers (they gotta acquire that guy, he rakes at Oracle Park) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (the Giants need to develop their own version of him, he’s going to destroy them for years), backed up a nice start by Zach Davies with homers, while #ForeverGiant Drew Pomeranz picked up the save… Hunter Pence is now hitless in 14 plate appearances this season, and his pop-out on the first pitch he saw as a pinch hitter with runners on the corners and one out in the sixth of a 5-1 game was emblematic of his struggles. Might his days be numbered?… Bright spots? Well, besides the Padres’ uniforms, Sam Coonrod and Connor Menez looked strong in relief for San Francisco.
A’s 3, Rockies 8: Just one of those games for the A’s where little went right on the mound or at the dish… The big concern is Khris Davis, like Pence, is hitless this season. Davis has lacked mojo since 2018, and that, paired with the fact that he’s the only A’s player on a respectable Major League contract — yes, the A’s actually paid a guy once upon a time — is a big problem. He might be this team’s Achilles heel.
Former 49er Marquise Goodwin opts out of season: The Niners are yet to have any players announce that they’re opting out of the season, though there’s still time for players to pass.
Astros – Dodgers empty benches: If you’re a fan of both Bay Area baseball teams, you were rooting for full-team suspensions for breaking physical distancing guidelines. For a breakdown of what happened, may I recommend this fantastic (though explicit) Jomboy production:
Joe Kelly throws at Bregman and mocks Correa, a breakdown pic.twitter.com/jAwjXhCuLG — Jomboy (@Jomboy_) July 29, 2020
The Marlins’ week is canceled: They now have 17 cases of COVID-19 and won’t play until next Monday at the earliest. The good news is that no one else in baseball seems to have any cases. The worse news is that Major League Baseball has not done the logical thing and gone to everyday testing… And what was at the heart of this outbreak that nearly shut down the baseball season? Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, in an interview with 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, Marlins players decided to have a night on the town in Atlanta. Then the team flew to Philadelphia and the rest is inglorious history.
Looking Forward
A’s-Rockies – 12:40 p.m. • NBC Sports California, ESPN • Oakland looks to split the two-game series. The tremendous Frankie Montas is on the mound for the A’s, with the possibility that Jesus Luzardo backs him up.
Giants-Padres – 6:45 • NBC Sports Bay Area • The Giants aim to land their first home win of the year with Johnny Cueto on the mound. The problem — they’re going up against Padres ace Chris Paddack, who threw six scoreless innings in his first start of the year. The Giants showed plenty of gumption in their series against the Dodgers — they’ll need some more of that against San Diego.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--SF Giants Gameday Podcast: A Drew Pomeranz sighting, a scoreboard that won’t work, and other problem

SF Giants Gameday Podcast: A Drew Pomeranz sighting, a scoreboard that won’t work, and other problems

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants ’ $ 10 million scoreboard was malfunctioning , but no one needed a hi-definition video board to see that left-hander Drew Pomeranz looked untouchable on Tuesday evening at Oracle Park .
That ’ s a trade-off the Giants would have taken in 2019 , but the scoreboard was installed more than a year ago and Pomeranz now pitches for a different National League West team .
Not exactly an ideal home opener .
The Giants entered the bottom of the ninth inning in Tuesday ’ s game against the San Diego Padres trailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance against Pomeranz , who struck out the side with ease .
San Francisco traded Pomeranz to Milwaukee last summer for Mauricio Dubón , who started at second base and played center field in Tuesday ’ s 5-3 loss .
Dubón has the potential to be a solid contributor for the team ’ s next core , but they ’ ll need to find more players who can help the team close talent gaps with at least three of their NL West foes .
Dubón brings energy to the park on a nightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Giants lacked in the first regular season game without fans in Oracle Park history .
Veteran Jeff Samardzija ’ s fastball velocity was down , the bats were quiet and the Giants didn ’ t do themselves any favors with opportunities to cut into the Padres ’ lead in the seventh and eighth innings .
The club will return to action Wednesday at Oracle Park , where Johnny Cueto will attempt to build off a strong Opening Night effort in Los Angeles against Chris Paddack , a young Padres right-hander who boats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madison Bumgarner .
SF Giants Gameday : Listen to the Bay Area News Group ’ s first daily San Francisco Giants podcast , hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley .
We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season .

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants’ $10 million scoreboard was malfunctioning, but no one needed a hi-definition video board to see that left-hander Drew Pomeranz looked untouchable on Tuesday evening at Oracle Park.
That’s a trade-off the Giants would have taken in 2019, but the scoreboard was installed more than a year ago and Pomeranz now pitches for a different National League West team.
Not exactly an ideal home opener.
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San Francisco traded Pomeranz to Milwaukee last summer for Mauricio Dubón, who started at second base and played center field in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss. Dubón has the potential to be a solid contributor for the team’s next core, but they’ll need to find more players who can help the team close talent gaps with at least three of their NL West foes.
Dubón brings energy to the park on a nightly basis, but energy is exactly what the Giants lacked in the first regular season game without fans in Oracle Park history. Veteran Jeff Samardzija’s fastball velocity was down, the bats were quiet and the Giants didn’t do themselves any favors with opportunities to cut into the Padres’ lead in the seventh and eighth innings.
The club will return to action Wednesday at Oracle Park, where Johnny Cueto will attempt to build off a strong Opening Night effort in Los Angeles against Chris Paddack, a young Padres right-hander who boats a similar confidence to former Giants ace Madison Bumgarner.
SF Giants Gameday: Listen to the Bay Area News Group’s daily San Francisco Giants podcast, hosted by our beat reporter Kerry Crowley. We give you an all-access look at the 2020 regular season with soundbites from manager Gabe Kapler and your favorite Giants players plus the latest analysis on every move during an unprecedented season.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--‘Umbrella man,’ seen on viral video breaking windows in Minneapolis, is suspected by police to be wh

‘Umbrella man,’ seen on viral video breaking windows in Minneapolis, is suspected by police to be white supremacist

Investigators suspect the “ Umbrella man ” seen in video phone footage smashing out windows at an Auto Zone store on Minneapolis ’ East Lake Street in the days following George Floyd ’ s death is a 32-year-old white supremacist who sought to “ incite violence , ” according to a search warrant affidavit .
In the search warrant affidavit filed Monday in Hennepin County District Court , arson investigator Erika Christensen of the Minneapolis Police Department wrote that an anonymous tip received by police indicates the man to be the person on video seen breaking windows .
The man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Angels motorcycle gang and a “ known associate of the Aryan Cowboys , ” according to Christensen .
The affidavit describes the Aryan Cowboys as a “ known prison gang out of Minnesota and Kentucky.
” As of Tuesday , the man had not been arrested or charged in connection with the incident .
In the video footage captured of the incident , a man dressed all in black — in black gloves , a black mask and carrying a black umbrella — is seen using a hammer to break the windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 27 .
Floyd died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25 .
In the video footage , the so-called “ Umbrella man ” is approached by several people .
While it ’ s unclear what was said , body language of those involved suggests they were trying to stop his conduct , the affidavit said .
It was later determined that the same man spray-painted the words , “ free ( expletive ) for everyone zone ” on the store ’ s front doors , according to the affidavit .
‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ The store was looted and set ablaze shortly thereafter , marking the incident as a turning point in the unrest that followed the officer-involved fatality , Christensen wrote .
“ This was the first fire that set off a string of fires and looting throughout the precinct and the rest of the city .
Until the actions of the … ‘ Umbrella man , ’ the protests had been relatively peaceful .
The actions of this person created an atmosphere of hostility and tension , ” Christensen wrote .
“ ( I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s sole aim was to incite violence.
” Christensen said she spent “ innumerable hours ” combing social media trying to determine the “ Umbrella man ’ s ” identity but was unsuccessful .
She also spent about two weeks working on the case with the federal Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives ’ National Response Team .
The effort stalled until about a week ago , when Minneapolis police received a tip via email that suggested the 32-year-old was the suspect , the affidavit said .
Christensen researched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sender .
The sender stated that she had learned of his involvement from another person who wanted to stay anonymous because the individual feared him , the affidavit said .
The person reported that the man is a member of Hell ’ s Angels who wanted to “ sow discord and racial unrest ” by breaking the store ’ s windows and writing on the doors .
Christensen later learned that the man was involved in a racially-motivated incident that took place in Stillwater on June 27 , according to the affidavit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was reportedly “ racially harassed by a group of motorcycle club members wearing Aryan Cowboy leather vests , ” the affidavit said .
The man was reportedly photographed with the group .
After looking at his driver ’ s license photo and several booking photos , and comparing them to the “ Umbrella man , ” Christensen said she observed a “ striking resemblance in the eye , nose , bridge and brow area ” between the two .
She also noted that both appear to have a “ slight variation in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears roughly the same .
• Oakland City Council OKs task force — with goal of defunding police by 50 % • San Jose : Video of cop kicking and dragging woman prompts fresh calls for police reforms .
But some worry it won ’ t be enough • Oakland officials move to keep out Trump ’ s federal troops In the days of the riots in Minneapolis , a social media rumor — proven untrue — claimed the “ Umbrella man ” was a St. Paul police officer .
St. Paul police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in St. Paul at the time of the incident at Auto Zone on East Lake Street .
“ This type of disinformation can jeopardize the officer ’ s reputation and safety and chip away at the trust this police department has worked so hard to build with its community , ” St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell said in a statement at the time .
Christensen filed the search warrant to request the man ’ s cellphone records from Sprint , including “ subscriber information and cell tower locations where the phone might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 27 , 2020 to further ascertain the identity of ‘ Umbrella man.
’ ” The man ’ s criminal record includes gross-misdemeanor-level domestic assault and terroristic threats and misdemeanor-level fifth-degree assault .

Investigators suspect the “Umbrella man” seen in video phone footage smashing out windows at an Auto Zone store on Minneapolis’ East Lake Street in the days following George Floyd’s death is a 32-year-old white supremacist who sought to “incite violence,” according to a search warrant affidavit.
In the search warrant affidavit filed Monday in Hennepin County District Court, arson investigator Erika Christensen of the Minneapolis Police Department wrote that an anonymous tip received by police indicates the man to be the person on video seen breaking windows.
The man is a member of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang and a “known associate of the Aryan Cowboys,” according to Christensen.
The affidavit describes the Aryan Cowboys as a “known prison gang out of Minnesota and Kentucky.”
As of Tuesday, the man had not been arrested or charged in connection with the incident.
UMBRELLA MAN
In the video footage captured of the incident, a man dressed all in black — in black gloves, a black mask and carrying a black umbrella — is seen using a hammer to break the windows of Auto Zone’s storefront on May 27. Floyd died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.
In the video footage, the so-called “Umbrella man” is approached by several people. While it’s unclear what was said, body language of those involved suggests they were trying to stop his conduct, the affidavit said.
It was later determined that the same man spray-painted the words, “free (expletive) for everyone zone” on the store’s front doors, according to the affidavit.
‘CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE OF HOSTILITY AND TENSION’
The store was looted and set ablaze shortly thereafter, marking the incident as a turning point in the unrest that followed the officer-involved fatality, Christensen wrote.
“This was the first fire that set off a string of fires and looting throughout the precinct and the rest of the city. Until the actions of the … ‘Umbrella man,’ the protests had been relatively peaceful. The actions of this person created an atmosphere of hostility and tension,” Christensen wrote. “(I) … believe … this individual’s sole aim was to incite violence.”
Christensen said she spent “innumerable hours” combing social media trying to determine the “Umbrella man’s” identity but was unsuccessful.
She also spent about two weeks working on the case with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Response Team.
EMAIL TIP
The effort stalled until about a week ago, when Minneapolis police received a tip via email that suggested the 32-year-old was the suspect, the affidavit said.
Christensen researched the email and was able to contact the sender. The sender stated that she had learned of his involvement from another person who wanted to stay anonymous because the individual feared him, the affidavit said.
The person reported that the man is a member of Hell’s Angels who wanted to “sow discord and racial unrest” by breaking the store’s windows and writing on the doors.
SUSPECTED INVOLVEMENT IN STILLWATER INCIDENT
Christensen later learned that the man was involved in a racially-motivated incident that took place in Stillwater on June 27, according to the affidavit.
In that case, a Muslim woman was reportedly “racially harassed by a group of motorcycle club members wearing Aryan Cowboy leather vests,” the affidavit said.
The man was reportedly photographed with the group.
After looking at his driver’s license photo and several booking photos, and comparing them to the “Umbrella man,” Christensen said she observed a “striking resemblance in the eye, nose, bridge and brow area” between the two. She also noted that both appear to have a “slight variation in their left eyebrow” and that their height appears roughly the same.
RUMOR ABOUT ‘UMBRELLA MAN’ PROVEN UNTRUE
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Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing Crime and Public Safety | San Jose: Federal excessive force lawsuit from George Floyd protests is greenlit for trial In the days of the riots in Minneapolis, a social media rumor — proven untrue — claimed the “Umbrella man” was a St. Paul police officer.
St. Paul police later released evidence that the officer was in St. Paul at the time of the incident at Auto Zone on East Lake Street.
“This type of disinformation can jeopardize the officer’s reputation and safety and chip away at the trust this police department has worked so hard to build with its community,” St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell said in a statement at the time.
SEARCH WARRANT
Christensen filed the search warrant to request the man’s cellphone records from Sprint, including “subscriber information and cell tower locations where the phone might be pinging off for the date of May 27, 2020 to further ascertain the identity of ‘Umbrella man.’ ”
The man’s criminal record includes gross-misdemeanor-level domestic assault and terroristic threats and misdemeanor-level fifth-degree assault.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--Coronavirus: California has had 130,042 new cases in the past 14 days

California had at least 10,644 new cases of the coronavirus and 152 new deaths reported as of Tuesday , July 28 , according to unofficial counts from county websites .
Several counties did not report their numbers Tuesday .
• Health care workers may be less , not more , susceptible to COVID-19 , study suggests • McCovey Cove ghost town : Just the SF Giants diehards show for coronavirus-altered home opener • One of the pandemic ’ s possible victims ?
Space Camp • Theranos : Deadlines set after Elizabeth Holmes claims coronavirus changes may have violated her rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with new menu for takeout , delivery That raises the state ’ s total cases to 470,350 since reporting began , and 8,683 people have died .
The California Department of Public Health ’ s dashboard showed there were 8,317 people hospitalized with 2,198 in ICUs in the last 14 days .
The state ’ s dashboard also shows that 1,431 people died in the last 14 days and there have been 130,042 new cases .
*NOTE : Several counties have claimed the California Department of Public Health is experiencing an issue processing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a result of the delay in receiving these reports , fewer tests and cases have been reported .
Not all counties reported on Monday .
Figures are subject to change .
Counties on state ’ s monitoring list for three days are in gold :

California had at least 10,644 new cases of the coronavirus and 152 new deaths reported as of Tuesday, July 28, according to unofficial counts from county websites. Several counties did not report their numbers Tuesday.
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The California Department of Public Health’s dashboard showed there were 8,317 people hospitalized with 2,198 in ICUs in the last 14 days.
The state’s dashboard also shows that 1,431 people died in the last 14 days and there have been 130,042 new cases.
*NOTE: Several counties have claimed the California Department of Public Health is experiencing an issue processing electronic laboratory reports from some labs. As a result of the delay in receiving these reports, fewer tests and cases have been reported. Not all counties reported on Monday. Figures are subject to change.
Counties on state’s monitoring list for three days are in gold:


mercurynews--2020-07-29--19 arrested after panga boat lands on California beach

Border agents arrested 19 people Tuesday after a panga boat landed at Calafia Beach near San Clemente , federal authorities @ @ @ @ @ am agents with Border Patrol agents spotted a panga boat with 17 people onboard , @ @ @ @ @ Border Protection .
Pangas are compact fishing vessels often used by smugglers .
Once reaching @ @ @ @ @ their way to a sedan that was waiting nearby , driven by a Guatemalan citizen @ @ @ @ @ authorities did not give details about where exactly the car was .
The boat passengers @ @ @ @ @ sedan driver were arrested , the agency said in a statement .
A few hours @ @ @ @ @ was also arrested in connection with the smuggling event , authorities said , though they @ @ @ @ @ where that person was found .
The Guatemalan and Salvadorian citizens , both in the @ @ @ @ @ to be charged with felony smuggling of illegal immigrants , authorities said .

Border agents arrested 19 people Tuesday after a panga boat landed at Calafia Beach near San Clemente, federal authorities said.
At around 4:45 am agents with Border Patrol agents spotted a panga boat with 17 people onboard, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Pangas are compact fishing vessels often used by smugglers.
Once reaching land, the group made their way to a sedan that was waiting nearby, driven by a Guatemalan citizen, officials said. Federal authorities did not give details about where exactly the car was.
The boat passengers, all Mexican, and sedan driver were arrested, the agency said in a statement. A few hours later, a Salvadorian citizen was also arrested in connection with the smuggling event, authorities said, though they did not give details about where that person was found.
The Guatemalan and Salvadorian citizens, both in the U.S. illegally, were set to be charged with felony smuggling of illegal immigrants, authorities said.


mercurynews--2020-07-29--Health care workers may be less, not more, susceptible to COVID-19, study suggests

Health care workers may be less susceptible to COVID-19 infection than people in the communities they serve , according to surprising early data from an ongoing study at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian .
Of some 3,000 workers tested in May and June , only 1 % had antibodies to the novel coronavirus in their blood , despite the fact that the Newport Beach hospital has cared for hundreds of COVID-19 patients .
That 1 % is far lower than what has been found in wider communities .
Some 4-6 % of residents in Los Angeles , Santa Clara and Riverside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was done there over recent weeks and months .
“ This is what surprises some people , ” said Dr. Michael Brant-Zawadzki , principal investigator .
“ Despite the headlines you see saying health care workers are at higher risk of contracting the disease , we haven ’ t seen that .
In fact , we ’ re seeing the reverse of that .
The question is , why ?
” The rigorous precautions and worker education common at Hoag and other hospitals — masking , gloves , gowns , disinfection , distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in preventing the spread of disease , and hospital workers are likely to bring that level of vigilance home and apply it to the rest of their lives , he said .
“ The second possibility — fueled by speculation and emerging science — is that antibodies are not the be-all and end-all of immunity against this virus , ” Brant-Zawadzki said .
“ There ’ s another type of immunity that protects you.
” The Diamond Princess cruise liner was an early COVID-19 experiment , with more than 3,700 passengers and crew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tore through the ship , infecting more than 700 .
But only 700 .
Less than 20 % , after everyone was tested .
“ How does it square with this highly , highly infectious organism , when only 1 of 5 people were infected ?
” Brant-Zawadzki said .
“ We are all biologically different , and we have learned that there ’ s another type of immunity other than what ’ s acquired through infection.
” Health care workers may actually have a “ greater presence of cross-reactive adaptive T cell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
Translated , that means that , because they ’ re exposed to a wide range of sick people and their attendant bacteria and viruses , health care workers may have a more robust repertoire of T cells that can kick into action to fight infection .
“ T cells have memory , ” Brant-Zawadzki said .
“ But how can they remember a novel virus they ’ ve never seen before ?
“ The corona family of viruses share certain genetic aspects , ” he explained .
“ New research shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they may be similar enough that the T cells remember enough to cross-react and confer some degree of immunity .
Maybe in concert with antibodies , maybe by themselves .
We can speculate that hospital workers may have some innate immunity that ’ s stronger than people in the greater community.
” That might also help explain why young children — a veritable cesspool of viruses — seem to be far less likely to get sick from COVID than adults , as several studies have found .
T cells are robust in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age , Brant-Zawadzki said .
Conducted by Hoag ’ s Center for Research and Education in partnership with the Orange County Health Care Agency , the study is one of the first of its kind , a Hoag statement said .
It recruited participants from the entire hospital workforce , from those cleaning rooms to emergency room staff .
Researchers plan to test a total of 6,000 health care workers before the study wraps up .
• Coronavirus : California has had 130,042 new cases in the past 14 days • McCovey Cove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diehards show for coronavirus-altered home opener • One of the pandemic ’ s possible victims ?
Space Camp • Theranos : Deadlines set after Elizabeth Holmes claims coronavirus changes may have violated her rights • Oakland ’ s Nyum Bai reopens with new menu for takeout , delivery One of the disease ’ s many mysteries is how long after infection antibody-conferred immunity might last .
Hoag found a hopeful sign : Two months out , the workers who tested positive maintained their antibody levels , rather than seeing them drop , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom line is that not having antibodies doesn ’ t necessarily mean you ’ re totally susceptible and not immune , ” Brant-Zawadzki said .

Health care workers may be less susceptible to COVID-19 infection than people in the communities they serve, according to surprising early data from an ongoing study at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.
Of some 3,000 workers tested in May and June, only 1% had antibodies to the novel coronavirus in their blood, despite the fact that the Newport Beach hospital has cared for hundreds of COVID-19 patients.
That 1% is far lower than what has been found in wider communities. Some 4-6% of residents in Los Angeles, Santa Clara and Riverside counties had COVID antibodies when surveillance testing was done there over recent weeks and months.
“This is what surprises some people,” said Dr. Michael Brant-Zawadzki, principal investigator. “Despite the headlines you see saying health care workers are at higher risk of contracting the disease, we haven’t seen that. In fact, we’re seeing the reverse of that. The question is, why?”
The rigorous precautions and worker education common at Hoag and other hospitals — masking, gloves, gowns, disinfection, distancing and such — surely play a role in preventing the spread of disease, and hospital workers are likely to bring that level of vigilance home and apply it to the rest of their lives, he said.
“The second possibility — fueled by speculation and emerging science — is that antibodies are not the be-all and end-all of immunity against this virus,” Brant-Zawadzki said. “There’s another type of immunity that protects you.”
Diamond Princess
The Diamond Princess cruise liner was an early COVID-19 experiment, with more than 3,700 passengers and crew on board in February. The virus tore through the ship, infecting more than 700.
But only 700. Less than 20%, after everyone was tested.
“How does it square with this highly, highly infectious organism, when only 1 of 5 people were infected?” Brant-Zawadzki said. “We are all biologically different, and we have learned that there’s another type of immunity other than what’s acquired through infection.”
Health care workers may actually have a “greater presence of cross-reactive adaptive T cell mediated immunity” than those in the community. Translated, that means that, because they’re exposed to a wide range of sick people and their attendant bacteria and viruses, health care workers may have a more robust repertoire of T cells that can kick into action to fight infection.
“T cells have memory,” Brant-Zawadzki said. “But how can they remember a novel virus they’ve never seen before?
“The corona family of viruses share certain genetic aspects,” he explained. “New research shows they’re not identical, but they may be similar enough that the T cells remember enough to cross-react and confer some degree of immunity. Maybe in concert with antibodies, maybe by themselves. We can speculate that hospital workers may have some innate immunity that’s stronger than people in the greater community.”
That might also help explain why young children — a veritable cesspool of viruses — seem to be far less likely to get sick from COVID than adults, as several studies have found. T cells are robust in the young, and drop off as people age, Brant-Zawadzki said.
More work
Conducted by Hoag’s Center for Research and Education in partnership with the Orange County Health Care Agency, the study is one of the first of its kind, a Hoag statement said. It recruited participants from the entire hospital workforce, from those cleaning rooms to emergency room staff. Researchers plan to test a total of 6,000 health care workers before the study wraps up.
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“The bottom line is that not having antibodies doesn’t necessarily mean you’re totally susceptible and not immune,” Brant-Zawadzki said.


mercurynews--2020-07-30--John McNamara, manager of ill-fated 1986 Boston Red Sox, dies at 88

BOSTON — John McNamara , who managed the Boston Red Sox to within one strike of a World Series victory in 1986 before an unprecedented collapse on the field extended the team ’ s championship drought into the new millennium , has died .
He was 88 .
McNamara died Tuesday at his home in Tennessee , his wife , Ellen , told The Associated Press .
The death was unexpected and the cause was not yet known , she said .
A weak-hitting catcher from Sacramento who first signed with the St. Louis Cardinals but never made it past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and lose — more than 1,000 games while managing six major league teams .
He took over in Boston , his fifth , in 1985 and guided the Red Sox to the AL pennant the next year .
With a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven World Series against the New York Mets , the Red Sox went ahead 5-3 in the 10th inning of Game 6 at Shea Stadium before a tumultuous series of mistakes allowed the NL champions to tie the score and then win it when Mookie Wilson ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buckner ’ s legs .
The Mets won Game 7 , leaving Boston without a championship until they finally won it all in 2004 .
The Boston Globe first reported McNamara ’ s death on Wednesday — a day the Red Sox were also in New York to play the Mets .
McNamara stayed with the Red Sox into the 1988 season , when he was fired at the All-Star break with a 43-42 record ; third base coach Joe Morgan replaced him and won 19 of his first 20 games — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — to lead the team to an AL East title .
McNamara started his managerial career with the Oakland Athletics and spent two years there ( 1969-70 ) .
He also managed the San Diego Padres , Cincinnati Reds , California Angels and Cleveland Indians .
He also served as the interim Angels manager for 28 games in 1996 .
In all , McNamara was 1,167–1,242 over parts of 19 seasons , also winning the NL West title with the Reds in 1979 and leading Cincinnati to the best record in baseball in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not make the playoffs .
He was the 1986 AL Manager of the Year .
Current Cleveland manager Terry Francona , who was the Red Sox skipper when they ended their title drought , said he first met McNamara in Oakland in 1969-70 .
Francona ’ s father , Tito , was playing for the A ’ s .
“ I think my dad was actually a year older than him when he was managing in Oakland , so it was kind of funny , ” Francona said Wednesday .
“ Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indians held a moment of silence for McNamara before their home game against the Chicago White Sox .
As a player , McNamara spent 14 seasons in the Kansas City A ’ s farm system , including nine years as player-manager .
He finished with a .239 batting average , seven homers and 373 RBIs in 1,120 games .

BOSTON — John McNamara, who managed the Boston Red Sox to within one strike of a World Series victory in 1986 before an unprecedented collapse on the field extended the team’s championship drought into the new millennium, has died. He was 88.
McNamara died Tuesday at his home in Tennessee, his wife, Ellen, told The Associated Press. The death was unexpected and the cause was not yet known, she said.
A weak-hitting catcher from Sacramento who first signed with the St. Louis Cardinals but never made it past Triple-A, McNamara went on to win — and lose — more than 1,000 games while managing six major league teams. He took over in Boston, his fifth, in 1985 and guided the Red Sox to the AL pennant the next year.
With a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven World Series against the New York Mets, the Red Sox went ahead 5-3 in the 10th inning of Game 6 at Shea Stadium before a tumultuous series of mistakes allowed the NL champions to tie the score and then win it when Mookie Wilson’s ground ball rolled through first baseman Bill Buckner’s legs. The Mets won Game 7, leaving Boston without a championship until they finally won it all in 2004.
The Boston Globe first reported McNamara’s death on Wednesday — a day the Red Sox were also in New York to play the Mets.
McNamara stayed with the Red Sox into the 1988 season, when he was fired at the All-Star break with a 43-42 record; third base coach Joe Morgan replaced him and won 19 of his first 20 games — a string known as “Morgan Magic” — to lead the team to an AL East title.
McNamara started his managerial career with the Oakland Athletics and spent two years there (1969-70). He also managed the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, California Angels and Cleveland Indians. He also served as the interim Angels manager for 28 games in 1996.
In all, McNamara was 1,167–1,242 over parts of 19 seasons, also winning the NL West title with the Reds in 1979 and leading Cincinnati to the best record in baseball in the strike-shortened 1981 season, when they did not make the playoffs. He was the 1986 AL Manager of the Year.
Current Cleveland manager Terry Francona, who was the Red Sox skipper when they ended their title drought, said he first met McNamara in Oakland in 1969-70. Francona’s father, Tito, was playing for the A’s.
“I think my dad was actually a year older than him when he was managing in Oakland, so it was kind of funny,” Francona said Wednesday. “Just a sweet, sweet man.”
The Indians held a moment of silence for McNamara before their home game against the Chicago White Sox.
As a player, McNamara spent 14 seasons in the Kansas City A’s farm system, including nine years as player-manager. He finished with a .239 batting average, seven homers and 373 RBIs in 1,120 games.


mercurynews--2020-07-30--Suspect charged with murder in Antioch 7-Eleven shooting

MARTINEZ — A 25-year-old man has been charged in connection with a July 27 shooting in Antioch in which a woman was killed and a man was injured , court records show .
Ramello D. Randle was charged Wednesday with murdering 24-year-old Jonaye Lahkel Bridges and injuring a 27-year-old man .
The shooting occurred 12:35 a.m Monday at the 7-Eleven at 2301 Buchanan Road in Antioch .
According to police , Bridges was shot inside of her car , parked at the convenience store .
Police discovered the man inside the store suffering from two gunshot wounds .
• Man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body discovered by relative • Hells Angels murder plot revealed : Feds allege victim was lured to clubhouse , shot , and illegally cremated Officers investigating the incident were told several people were in the parking lot outside the store when a male suspect fired shots at a parked vehicle before leaving on foot , police said .
Randle was charged with murder , attempted murder , and two counts of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle .
He is currently detained at the county jail in Martinez and is not eligible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records .

MARTINEZ — A 25-year-old man has been charged with murdering the mother of his child and attempting to kill a man she was with in an early Monday morning shooting outside of an Antioch convenience store.
Oakland resident Ramello D. Randle was charged Wednesday with murdering 24-year-old Jonaye Lahkel Bridges and injuring a 27-year-old man. The shooting occurred 12:35 a.m Monday at the 7-Eleven at 2301 Buchanan Road in Antioch.
According to police, Randle and Bridges had a child together but were estranged and going through “child custody issues.” When Randle spotted her and the man in a car parked outside the store, he allegedly opened fire at them.
Bridges was shot inside of her car, parked at the convenience store. Police discovered the man inside the store suffering from two gunshot wounds, police said.
Randle was arrested Tuesday when officers served a search warrant at a home on the 4500 block of Bond Street in Oakland. More than 20 guns, including assault weapons, were seized in the raid, police said.
Randle was charged with murder, attempted murder, and two counts of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle. He is currently detained at the county jail in Martinez in lieu of $6 million bail, police said.


mercurynews--2020-07-30--Rockies 5, Athletics 1: Despite loss, an encouraging outing from Luzardo

OAKLAND — A ’ s left-hander Jesús Luzardo was in disbelief .
He had stopped a hard ground ball from Charlie Blackmon and had plenty of time to throw to first base to get the out .
But after an almost half-hearted throw over to Matt Olson , Blackmon was called safe , and two runners came around to score in the ninth inning to pad the Colorado Rockies ’ lead .
Luzardo , almost wide-eyed , put his hands on top of his head in incredulity .
“ I thought I had more time than I actually did , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 5-1 loss .
“ That was my fault.
” It was a tough moment in an otherwise encouraging outing from Luzardo , who , after a 67-pitch outing , is now on track to possibly make his first start of the season Monday in Seattle at the end of the A ’ s upcoming four-game series with the Mariners .
Luzardo threw 3 2/3 innings , allowing three hits and three runs with five strikeouts .
His fastball was overpowering at times , touching 98 mph at one point , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a changeup he could throw for strikes .
“ I think my arm ’ s ready ( to start ) , ” Luzardo said .
“ Especially after this time , getting my pitch count even higher than it was before .
I think I ’ m ready in terms of arm strength and how I feel.
” All of it less than four weeks after it was disclosed that he had contracted the coronavirus .
“ You see a lot of bad swings off of him , ” A ’ s manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s there , the breaking ball ’ s there .
Throwing 2-0 changeups to lefties .
His stuff ’ s great , and to have it in this fashion after missing a significant period of time in summer camp is impressive.
” Luzardo ’ s only appearance came July 25 , when he allowed one hit and one walk in three innings of relief .
Now adequately stretched out , he ’ ll be a welcome addition to an A ’ s starting staff that had some uneven moments during a 3-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday will be the first of 30 in a 31-game stretch .
Misery at the plate continues : Matt Chapman ’ s solo home run in the first inning was all of the offense the A ’ s could muster , as they finished with five hits , went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base .
Rockies starter German Marquez allowed four hits , including the Chapman homer , and struck out eight .
“ We took some bad swings off of him today in some decent counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s just about getting the big hit when the opportunity was there.
” Trailing by two , the A ’ s had runners on first and second with no outs in the eight inning .
But after Matt Canha was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs , Rockies reliever Jairo Diaz struck out Robbie Grossman to end the threat .
The A ’ s were 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position the two games against Colorado after they went 6-for-19 in the season-opening four-game series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sat Khris Davis on Wednesday and made Ramón Laureano the designated hitter .
Made sense , since Davis is off to an 0-for-15 start this season with seven strikeouts and Laureano was 7-for-17 in five games .
But Laureano struck out three times .
Progress from Montas : Montas took the loss on Wednesday — his first loss since April 29 , 2019 at Boston — but became the first A ’ s starter this season to pitch five complete innings .
Montas wiggled out of a couple jams as he allowed two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first start on Opening Night on July 24 , Montas went four innings , struck out five and walked three in 81 pitches .
“ He got better as he went along actually , so that ’ s a good sign , ” Melvin said .
“ He got command of his breaking ball , he had a better ( splitter ) .
All the way around , just pitched really well.
” No replay luck : Umpires took another look at the eighth inning play where Blackmon beat out the throw from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , but the safe call stood .
In the fourth inning , though , it looked like the A ’ s had a legitimate gripe when Olson was called out by home plate umpire Jim Reynolds after he slid into home plate — which would have tied the game 2-2 .
• The Deets : Nick Bosa is going to be the NFL ’ s first $ 200 million defender Stephen Piscotty grounded a Marquez pitch to third base with two outs and Nolan Arenado — a seven-time Gold Glove winner — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not first base .
Olson , running home from third , was called out but appeared safe on replay .
The call was upheld after a video review .
“ Over the years we feel we ’ ve had a tough time with the close calls on replays , ” Melvin said .
“ It didn ’ t decide the game , but it can be frustrating .
”

OAKLAND — A’s left-hander Jesús Luzardo was in disbelief. He had stopped a hard ground ball from Charlie Blackmon and had plenty of time to throw to first base to get the out.
But after an almost half-hearted throw over to Matt Olson, Blackmon was called safe, and two runners came around to score in the ninth inning to pad the Colorado Rockies’ lead. Luzardo, almost wide-eyed, put his hands on top of his head in incredulity.
“I thought I had more time than I actually did,” Luzardo said after the A’s 5-1 loss. “That was my fault.”
It was a tough moment in an otherwise encouraging outing from Luzardo, who, after a 67-pitch outing, is now on track to possibly make his first start of the season Monday in Seattle at the end of the A’s upcoming four-game series with the Mariners.
Luzardo threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and three runs with five strikeouts. His fastball was overpowering at times, touching 98 mph at one point, but he also mixed in an effective slider and a changeup he could throw for strikes.
“I think my arm’s ready (to start),” Luzardo said. “Especially after this time, getting my pitch count even higher than it was before. I think I’m ready in terms of arm strength and how I feel.”
All of it less than four weeks after it was disclosed that he had contracted the coronavirus.
“You see a lot of bad swings off of him,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “The velocity’s there, the breaking ball’s there. Throwing 2-0 changeups to lefties. His stuff’s great, and to have it in this fashion after missing a significant period of time in summer camp is impressive.”
Luzardo’s only appearance came July 25, when he allowed one hit and one walk in three innings of relief. Now adequately stretched out, he’ll be a welcome addition to an A’s starting staff that had some uneven moments during a 3-3 homestand.
The A’s game Friday will be the first of 30 in a 31-game stretch.
Other takeaways from Wednesday.
Misery at the plate continues: Matt Chapman’s solo home run in the first inning was all of the offense the A’s could muster, as they finished with five hits, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.
Rockies starter German Marquez allowed four hits, including the Chapman homer, and struck out eight.
“We took some bad swings off of him today in some decent counts,” Melvin said of Marquez. “It’s just about getting the big hit when the opportunity was there.”
Trailing by two, the A’s had runners on first and second with no outs in the eight inning. But after Matt Canha was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs, Rockies reliever Jairo Diaz struck out Robbie Grossman to end the threat.
The A’s were 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position the two games against Colorado after they went 6-for-19 in the season-opening four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Melvin sat Khris Davis on Wednesday and made Ramón Laureano the designated hitter. Made sense, since Davis is off to an 0-for-15 start this season with seven strikeouts and Laureano was 7-for-17 in five games.
But Laureano struck out three times.
Progress from Montas: Montas took the loss on Wednesday — his first loss since April 29, 2019 at Boston — but became the first A’s starter this season to pitch five complete innings.
Montas wiggled out of a couple jams as he allowed two runs and five hits. In his first start on Opening Night on July 24, Montas went four innings, struck out five and walked three in 81 pitches.
“He got better as he went along actually, so that’s a good sign,” Melvin said. “He got command of his breaking ball, he had a better (splitter). All the way around, just pitched really well.”
No replay luck: Umpires took another look at the eighth inning play where Blackmon beat out the throw from Luzardo. It could have gone either way, but the safe call stood.
In the fourth inning, though, it looked like the A’s had a legitimate gripe when Olson was called out by home plate umpire Jim Reynolds after he slid into home plate — which would have tied the game 2-2.
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“Over the years we feel we’ve had a tough time with the close calls on replays,” Melvin said. “It didn’t decide the game, but it can be frustrating.”


mercurynews--2020-07-30--Banksy paintings sell at auction, raise $2.9M for Palestinian hospital

Three Banksy paintings have been sold at auction for $ 2.9 million , with proceeds earmarked for a Palestinian hospital .
The lot , titled “ Mediterranean Sea View 2017 , ” comprises three reworked oil paintings depicting romantic seascapes , to which the anonymous street artist and political activist added life jackets and lifebuoys to highlight the European migrant crisis .
The “ visual amendment…evokes mass death at sea , ” according to Sotheby ’ s , which auctioned the paintings on Tuesday in London .
“ Though posing as eighteenth or nineteenth-century paintings of the ‘ Natural Sublime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subverts the viewer ’ s expectations to broach a difficult contemporary issue , ” the auction house added .
The 2010s were marked by countless refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea on boats and makeshift rafts to escape armed conflict or social unrest .
While many arrived in countries like Italy and Greece , thousands died at sea .
The migrant crisis was declared over in March 2019 , but refugees still attempt the perilous journey .
Banksy ’ s paintings , which fetched far more than the expected price of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were previously displayed in the lobby of the Walled Off Hotel , which the artist opened in Bethlehem in 2017 to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
The paintings were donated to ABCD Bethlehem , a nonprofit group that supports Palestinian children with disabilities .
The proceeds from the auction will go toward building an acute stroke unit and purchasing children ’ s rehabilitation equipment for Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation ( BASR ) , a provider of medical , surgical and rehabilitation services in the Palestinian Territories .
The England-based artist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works , including a 2016 portrait of Apple ’ s late founder and CEO Steve Jobs holding an original Apple computer in one hand and a black sack thrown over his shoulder in the other .
The painting appeared in Calais refugee camp in France .
Banksy said at the time that the portrait was meant to dispel misconceptions about migrants .
“ We ’ re often led to believe migration is a drain on the country ’ s resources but Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian migrant , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world ’ s most profitable company , it pays over $ 7bn ( £4.6bn ) a year in taxes — and it only exists because they allowed in a young man from Homs .
”

By Nadeem Muaddi | CNN
Three Banksy paintings have been sold at auction for $2.9 million, with proceeds earmarked for a Palestinian hospital.
The lot, titled “Mediterranean Sea View 2017,” comprises three reworked oil paintings depicting romantic seascapes, to which the anonymous street artist and political activist added life jackets and lifebuoys to highlight the European migrant crisis.
The “visual amendment…evokes mass death at sea,” according to Sotheby’s, which auctioned the paintings on Tuesday in London.
“Though posing as eighteenth or nineteenth-century paintings of the ‘Natural Sublime’, the present work undermines and subverts the viewer’s expectations to broach a difficult contemporary issue,” the auction house added.
The 2010s were marked by countless refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea on boats and makeshift rafts to escape armed conflict or social unrest. While many arrived in countries like Italy and Greece, thousands died at sea. The migrant crisis was declared over in March 2019, but refugees still attempt the perilous journey.
Banksy’s paintings, which fetched far more than the expected price of $1 million to $1.5 million, were previously displayed in the lobby of the Walled Off Hotel, which the artist opened in Bethlehem in 2017 to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The paintings were donated to ABCD Bethlehem, a nonprofit group that supports Palestinian children with disabilities. The proceeds from the auction will go toward building an acute stroke unit and purchasing children’s rehabilitation equipment for Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation (BASR), a provider of medical, surgical and rehabilitation services in the Palestinian Territories.
The England-based artist has addressed the migrant crisis in numerous works, including a 2016 portrait of Apple’s late founder and CEO Steve Jobs holding an original Apple computer in one hand and a black sack thrown over his shoulder in the other. The painting appeared in Calais refugee camp in France.
Banksy said at the time that the portrait was meant to dispel misconceptions about migrants. “We’re often led to believe migration is a drain on the country’s resources but Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian migrant,” the artist said. “Apple is the world’s most profitable company, it pays over $7bn (£4.6bn) a year in taxes — and it only exists because they allowed in a young man from Homs.”


mercurynews--2020-07-30--Murder charges filed over Antioch dice game shooting

MARTINEZ — A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with shooting a Vallejo resident during a dice game in @ @ @ @ @ .
Alfonzo Blake was charged Wednesday with murdering 37-year-old Kenneth McClain Jr. , of Vallejo @ @ @ @ @ May .
Blake has also been charged with robbing and shooting a 23-year-old who survived @ @ @ @ @ around 1:30 a.m. May 18 , on the 1100 block of James Donlon Boulevard .
@ @ @ @ @ shooting craps for money when a dispute arose , leading to the shooting , authorities @ @ @ @ @ McClain was fatally struck by gunfire , and the 23-year-old man was injured .
Blake @ @ @ @ @ county jail in lieu of $ 1 million bail , according to jail records .
@ @ @ @ @ arraigned Thursday morning in front of Judge Laurel Brady .

MARTINEZ — A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with shooting a Vallejo resident during a dice game in Antioch, authorities said Wednesday.
Vallejo resident Alfonzo Blake was charged Wednesday with murdering 37-year-old Kenneth McClain Jr., of Vallejo, in a shooting last May. Blake has also been charged with shooting and robbing a 23-year-old who survived.
McClain was fatally shot around 1:30 a.m. May 18, on the 1100 block of James Donlon Boulevard. McClain and several others were shooting craps for money when a dispute arose between him and Blake, leading to the shooting, authorities said. McClain was fatally struck by gunfire, and the 23-year-old man was injured.
Before fleeing the area, Blake robbed a man of his gold chain, police said.
Blake was arrested Monday in Vallejo, at a home on the 200 block of Cypress Avenue, police said.
Blake is being held at the county jail in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail records. He is set to be arraigned Thursday morning in front of Judge Laurel Brady.