washingtontimes--2020-05-22--Wisconsin inmates fear overcrowded prisons during pandemic

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) - Mia White , an inmate at the Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center , has numerous health problems including an enlarged heart , which makes it hard to breathe .
But when her doctor recommended , she leave the prison to get medical care , White refused - fearful of being placed into quarantine and unable to contact her family , and afraid of “ dying alone ” if she contracts COVID-19 , which she calls “ the invisible enemy.
” With a year left on her sentence for misdemeanor battery , White prays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the correctional officers without masks , or the women who sit close by during meals , or her cellmate who sleeps less than 6 feet from her .
Life inside the walls of Wisconsin ’ s prisons has transformed as officials and inmates try to slow the spread of the virus .
Inmates say there are more frequent cleanings , and they have been issued cloth masks .
The nonprofit news outlet Wisconsin Watch provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News .
New admissions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but limited admissions are planned to resume June 1 , Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr told WPR on a recent Wednesday .
Visitation and transfers have ceased , and library and recreation access have been reduced .
Some prisons are on modified lockdowns , keeping inmates in their cells most of the day except for showers and phone calls .
The state DOC has reduced the number of inmates by nearly 1,600 .
The bulk of this reduction - 1,447 - were nonviolent misdemeanants facing return to prison for allegedly violating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county jails and at the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility .
Overall , the DOC population has shrunk to 22,104 since the beginning of Wisconsin ’ s health emergency in mid-March .
Nevertheless , inmates say overcrowding regularly leaves them too close to their peers and staff as the Wisconsin prison system remains 25 % above design capacity .
And few prisoners have been tested .
“ DOC is working to balance keeping operations as normal as possible , while taking the necessary steps to mitigate the risk of having the COVID-19 virus enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman Anna Neal said .
Admissions will start at Dodge and Taycheedah correctional institutions with an initial cap on the number of intakes per week , although that number may slowly increase in the coming months , Neal wrote in an email to the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch .
ACLU-Wisconsin staff attorney Tim Muth said resuming admissions will increase the risk of a serious outbreak .
“ Suspending admissions has been one of the few measures that has actually shrunk the prison population amid the COVID-19 pandemic , ” Muth wrote in an email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incarcerated individuals say they still lack key protections from a virus that has ripped through prisons and jails in other states .
Seven of the 10 largest U.S. outbreaks have occurred in these settings , according to a running tally by the New York Times .
Nationally , as of May 13 , there were at least 6,779 correctional officers and 25,239 prisoners with COVID-19 , according to The Marshall Project , which tracks prison outbreaks .
At least 373 prisoners and 28 employees had died from the disease nationwide .
In Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive for COVID-19 as of May 19 .
Another 1,047 inmates were in quarantine because of potential exposure to the virus , and 24 were in isolation after showing symptoms of the disease , DOC figures show .
No deaths have been reported .
The Cap Times and Wisconsin Watch interviewed nearly two dozen inmates , surveyed jail officials , analyzed data and talked with experts to gauge how Wisconsin had responded to the pandemic in its prisons and jails .
Outside of Dane , Kenosha and Milwaukee counties , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing few , if any , inmates .
The picture is the same in state prisons .
As of May 19 , the state DOC tested just 405 inmates - although the agency says it plans to eventually test all of them .
Wisconsin ’ s overcrowded prisons lag far behind county jails in reducing inmate populations .
On average , jails surveyed by the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch housed 37 % fewer inmates in May than they did before the pandemic struck .
The prison population decreased by just 5 % .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said key protections are still missing , including correctional officers who go against CDC guidelines by routinely working without masks , and crowded conditions during meals and in common areas .
The ACLU filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court in April , asking the court to order Gov .
Tony Evers and state corrections officials to reduce the prison population enough to make social distancing possible .
Evers , a Democrat , campaigned on a promise to cut the state prison population by 50 % , but his administration opposed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ releases because of the pandemic .
The court dismissed that lawsuit , and officials are declining to use mechanisms that ACLU-Wisconsin legal director Larry Dupuis said could quickly reduce prison populations , including sentence commutations and pardons - which Evers has the power to do single-handedly - and compassionate release of ill or elderly inmates .
Evers ’ office did not respond to multiple requests for comment .
The Rev .
Willie Briscoe of the Milwaukee-based prisoner-advocacy group Wisdom said in a statement that the group is “ deeply disappointed ” in Evers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release inmates who are old , sick or close to finishing their sentences .
Said Dupuis : “ There just doesn ’ t seem to be a lot of urgency to get people out.
” Testing is an essential tool to prevent outbreaks , especially since a significant number of people “ who look perfectly healthy ” can spread COVID-19 , said Lorraine Malcoe , an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee .
“ So the only way to tell , ” Malcoe said , “ is to test.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and COVID Tracking Project data , Wisconsin ranked low - 32 out of 39 states with reliable data - for testing people housed in state prisons as of May 13 .
Wisconsin DOC figures show seven prisons have not tested a single inmate as of May 18 .
That story holds true in most of the state ’ s jails , run by county sheriff ’ s departments .
The exceptions are Dane , Kenosha and Milwaukee counties , which have tested all inmates and staff with help from the Wisconsin National Guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch that provided testing data , just 19 of 2,546 inmates were tested since the pandemic struck .
None tested positive .
Mass-testing has shown the virus is spreading behind bars in Wisconsin .
For example , at the House of Corrections in Milwaukee , 103 of 623 inmates tested positive as of April 22 .
Physical distancing of at least 6 feet is the “ only effective means of slowing the rate of infection , ” according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services .
But inmates at 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch said maintaining that distance is impossible .
Under state law , cells holding two inmates can be no smaller than 70 square feet - or the equivalent of 7 feet by 10 feet making a 6-foot buffer between inmates virtually impossible .
At Oakhill Correctional , an inmate who wished to remain anonymous said curbing access to the library and recreation proved futile because of the prison ’ s broader overcrowding - the worst in the system , operating at more than twice its 344-inmate designed capacity .
The inmate said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mealtime , and he sleeps within 2 feet of his cellmate , who uses a CPAP machine to draw oxygen when he sleeps .
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that people who use them sleep alone during the pandemic because the machines could scatter the virus into the air .
Some prisons and jails also house inmates in dormitory or barracks-style settings .
Inmate James Holloway said Oshkosh Correctional has stopped day room and outside recreation time , but inmates in his dorm still sleep within 3 feet of each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ placed in quarantine due to suspected COVID-19 , he said .
Ron Schilling , an inmate at Kettle Moraine , said in an email that DOC ’ s attempts to control COVID-19 are “ patently ridiculous.
” Staff took out every other computer keyboard from the law library to allow for social distancing , Schilling said , yet everywhere else “ we have to sit elbow to elbow.
” “ Systemic overcrowding and understaffing is going to be the final nails in our coffins , ” said Schilling , 68 , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system and respiratory issues .
In Wisconsin , jails surveyed by the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch have reduced populations by releasing work-release inmates on electronic monitoring ; working with local courts to delay sentencing ; expediting bail hearings ; and working with police to limit arrests .
The DOC also contributed significantly to these reductions by cutting the number of probation and parole holds on inmates housed in county jails by 1,229 .
Among the 38 jails answering the survey or which had inmate populations reported by New York University ’ s Public Safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest percentage decreases , reducing their populations by 65 % each .
The Chippewa County Jail normally holds about 120 inmates .
It now has just 42 thanks to the reductions , said Capt .
Curt Dutton , the jail ’ s administrator .
Among the strategies Dutton used : sending 53 inmates eligible for work-release to serve their sentences on home detention .
Despite campaign promises to slash populations , Evers has yet to order the release of a single inmate during this pandemic .
Evers told the Wisconsin State Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use his powers to release inmates at that time .
Whether parole would achieve those goals is an open question .
Since March 1 , the Parole Commission authorized the release of 44 inmates .
During that same period last year , 32 were authorized for release , according to the commission .
Wisconsin Parole Commission Chairman-designee John Tate II said in a brief in the ACLU case that he has a list of about 270 people who may be suitable for expedited release due to age , medical condition and progress in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to meet all previous expectations to qualify for release .
“ While I understand the gravity and urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Wisconsin prisons , ” he wrote , “ I can not release persons-in-custody on a mass-scale.
” White , the Ellsworth inmate , petitioned for a shortened sentence due to her compromised health .
The request was denied .
“ It honestly scares me on a regular basis because I have two small kids at home that depend on me , ” White said , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like my kids deserve to be able to have a chance to have a mother .
”

PARKER SCHORR of The Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Mia White, an inmate at the Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center, has numerous health problems including an enlarged heart, which makes it hard to breathe.
But when her doctor recommended, she leave the prison to get medical care, White refused - fearful of being placed into quarantine and unable to contact her family, and afraid of “dying alone” if she contracts COVID-19, which she calls “the invisible enemy.”
With a year left on her sentence for misdemeanor battery, White prays she won’t be infected by the correctional officers without masks, or the women who sit close by during meals, or her cellmate who sleeps less than 6 feet from her.
Life inside the walls of Wisconsin’s prisons has transformed as officials and inmates try to slow the spread of the virus. Inmates say there are more frequent cleanings, and they have been issued cloth masks.
___
The nonprofit news outlet Wisconsin Watch provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News.
___
New admissions to the state’s prisons were halted, but limited admissions are planned to resume June 1, Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr told WPR on a recent Wednesday. Visitation and transfers have ceased, and library and recreation access have been reduced. Some prisons are on modified lockdowns, keeping inmates in their cells most of the day except for showers and phone calls.
The state DOC has reduced the number of inmates by nearly 1,600. The bulk of this reduction - 1,447 - were nonviolent misdemeanants facing return to prison for allegedly violating terms of their release being held in county jails and at the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility.
Overall, the DOC population has shrunk to 22,104 since the beginning of Wisconsin’s health emergency in mid-March. Nevertheless, inmates say overcrowding regularly leaves them too close to their peers and staff as the Wisconsin prison system remains 25% above design capacity. And few prisoners have been tested.
“DOC is working to balance keeping operations as normal as possible, while taking the necessary steps to mitigate the risk of having the COVID-19 virus enter our institutions and spread,” DOC spokeswoman Anna Neal said.
Admissions will start at Dodge and Taycheedah correctional institutions with an initial cap on the number of intakes per week, although that number may slowly increase in the coming months, Neal wrote in an email to the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch.
ACLU-Wisconsin staff attorney Tim Muth said resuming admissions will increase the risk of a serious outbreak.
“Suspending admissions has been one of the few measures that has actually shrunk the prison population amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Muth wrote in an email to the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch.
And incarcerated individuals say they still lack key protections from a virus that has ripped through prisons and jails in other states. Seven of the 10 largest U.S. outbreaks have occurred in these settings, according to a running tally by the New York Times.
Nationally, as of May 13, there were at least 6,779 correctional officers and 25,239 prisoners with COVID-19, according to The Marshall Project, which tracks prison outbreaks. At least 373 prisoners and 28 employees had died from the disease nationwide.
In Wisconsin, 34 prisoners and 32 prison employees have tested positive for COVID-19 as of May 19. Another 1,047 inmates were in quarantine because of potential exposure to the virus, and 24 were in isolation after showing symptoms of the disease, DOC figures show. No deaths have been reported.
The Cap Times and Wisconsin Watch interviewed nearly two dozen inmates, surveyed jail officials, analyzed data and talked with experts to gauge how Wisconsin had responded to the pandemic in its prisons and jails.
Outside of Dane, Kenosha and Milwaukee counties, which conducted mass-testing, most jails surveyed reported testing few, if any, inmates. The picture is the same in state prisons. As of May 19, the state DOC tested just 405 inmates - although the agency says it plans to eventually test all of them.
Wisconsin’s overcrowded prisons lag far behind county jails in reducing inmate populations. On average, jails surveyed by the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch housed 37% fewer inmates in May than they did before the pandemic struck. The prison population decreased by just 5%.
In interviews, emails and letters, inmates said key protections are still missing, including correctional officers who go against CDC guidelines by routinely working without masks, and crowded conditions during meals and in common areas.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court in April, asking the court to order Gov. Tony Evers and state corrections officials to reduce the prison population enough to make social distancing possible. Evers, a Democrat, campaigned on a promise to cut the state prison population by 50%, but his administration opposed the ACLU’s attempt to force inmate releases because of the pandemic.
The court dismissed that lawsuit, and officials are declining to use mechanisms that ACLU-Wisconsin legal director Larry Dupuis said could quickly reduce prison populations, including sentence commutations and pardons - which Evers has the power to do single-handedly - and compassionate release of ill or elderly inmates. Evers’ office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The Rev. Willie Briscoe of the Milwaukee-based prisoner-advocacy group Wisdom said in a statement that the group is “deeply disappointed” in Evers for failing to use his powers to release inmates who are old, sick or close to finishing their sentences.
Said Dupuis: “There just doesn’t seem to be a lot of urgency to get people out.”
Testing is an essential tool to prevent outbreaks, especially since a significant number of people “who look perfectly healthy” can spread COVID-19, said Lorraine Malcoe, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“So the only way to tell,” Malcoe said, “is to test.”
According to an analysis of Marshall Project and COVID Tracking Project data, Wisconsin ranked low - 32 out of 39 states with reliable data - for testing people housed in state prisons as of May 13. Wisconsin DOC figures show seven prisons have not tested a single inmate as of May 18.
That story holds true in most of the state’s jails, run by county sheriff’s departments. The exceptions are Dane, Kenosha and Milwaukee counties, which have tested all inmates and staff with help from the Wisconsin National Guard. Out of 31 counties surveyed by the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch that provided testing data, just 19 of 2,546 inmates were tested since the pandemic struck. None tested positive.
Mass-testing has shown the virus is spreading behind bars in Wisconsin. For example, at the House of Corrections in Milwaukee, 103 of 623 inmates tested positive as of April 22.
Physical distancing of at least 6 feet is the “only effective means of slowing the rate of infection,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. But inmates at 10 Wisconsin prisons interviewed by the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch said maintaining that distance is impossible.
Under state law, cells holding two inmates can be no smaller than 70 square feet - or the equivalent of 7 feet by 10 feet making a 6-foot buffer between inmates virtually impossible.
At Oakhill Correctional, an inmate who wished to remain anonymous said curbing access to the library and recreation proved futile because of the prison’s broader overcrowding - the worst in the system, operating at more than twice its 344-inmate designed capacity.
The inmate said he has “no elbow room” at mealtime, and he sleeps within 2 feet of his cellmate, who uses a CPAP machine to draw oxygen when he sleeps. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that people who use them sleep alone during the pandemic because the machines could scatter the virus into the air.
Some prisons and jails also house inmates in dormitory or barracks-style settings. Inmate James Holloway said Oshkosh Correctional has stopped day room and outside recreation time, but inmates in his dorm still sleep within 3 feet of each other. Two inmates from his dorm were placed in quarantine due to suspected COVID-19, he said.
Ron Schilling, an inmate at Kettle Moraine, said in an email that DOC’s attempts to control COVID-19 are “patently ridiculous.” Staff took out every other computer keyboard from the law library to allow for social distancing, Schilling said, yet everywhere else “we have to sit elbow to elbow.”
“Systemic overcrowding and understaffing is going to be the final nails in our coffins,” said Schilling, 68, who has requested clemency, citing his compromised immune system and respiratory issues.
In Wisconsin, jails surveyed by the Cap Times/Wisconsin Watch have reduced populations by releasing work-release inmates on electronic monitoring; working with local courts to delay sentencing; expediting bail hearings; and working with police to limit arrests. The DOC also contributed significantly to these reductions by cutting the number of probation and parole holds on inmates housed in county jails by 1,229.
Among the 38 jails answering the survey or which had inmate populations reported by New York University’s Public Safety Lab, Green and Chippewa counties saw the largest percentage decreases, reducing their populations by 65% each.
The Chippewa County Jail normally holds about 120 inmates. It now has just 42 thanks to the reductions, said Capt. Curt Dutton, the jail’s administrator. Among the strategies Dutton used: sending 53 inmates eligible for work-release to serve their sentences on home detention.
Despite campaign promises to slash populations, Evers has yet to order the release of a single inmate during this pandemic. Evers told the Wisconsin State Journal in late April that he would not use his powers to release inmates at that time.
Whether parole would achieve those goals is an open question. Since March 1, the Parole Commission authorized the release of 44 inmates. During that same period last year, 32 were authorized for release, according to the commission.
Wisconsin Parole Commission Chairman-designee John Tate II said in a brief in the ACLU case that he has a list of about 270 people who may be suitable for expedited release due to age, medical condition and progress in the parole process, but they would have to meet all previous expectations to qualify for release.
“While I understand the gravity and urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Wisconsin prisons,” he wrote, “I cannot release persons-in-custody on a mass-scale.”
White, the Ellsworth inmate, petitioned for a shortened sentence due to her compromised health. The request was denied.
“It honestly scares me on a regular basis because I have two small kids at home that depend on me,” White said, her voice cracking. “I just feel like my kids deserve to be able to have a chance to have a mother.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-22--California rushes to aid virus-stricken border region

EL CENTRO , Calif. ( AP ) - California Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Friday that the state is building a “ field medical station ” with up to 125 beds to aid a farming region along the Mexican border that has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases .
As many parts of the state eased restrictions , Newsom said Imperial County , with a population of 175,000 people in the state ’ s southeastern corner , “ continues to be of concern.
” Newsom said such deployments may happen elsewhere in the state “ if we start to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be contained , particularly in communities that don ’ t necessarily have the resources of other communities.
” “ It ’ s an expression of this : Expression of faith and devotion to this cause as well of your public health and the virulence of this disease , ” he said .
The Imperial Valley , which provides many of the vegetables in U.S. supermarkets during winter , lies across the border from Mexicali , a sprawling industrial city of 1 million people that has enormous influence on its economy and culture .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in coronavirus patients .
But Adolphe Edward , chief executive officer of El Centro Regional Medical Center , is among those who believe that U.S. citizens who live in Mexicali , Mexico , play a major part .
Edward told the El Centro City Council Friday that the temporary facility at the Imperial Valley College gymnasium was expected to open Monday to receive transfers from local hospitals , with state and federal support .
“ I ’ m so happy that it ’ s here because it ’ s a safety net , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had dropped to 60 on Friday from 74 on Tuesday , according to the Imperial County Health Department website .
But patients have been to other hospitals in Southern California .
The region ’ s two hospitals sent 16 patients outside the region on Monday and Tuesday alone .
El Centro Regional Medical Center , the largest in the Imperial Valley , had 52 coronavirus patients Friday , down from 65 earlier this week , said Edward , who declared himself “ at ease ” but expressed concern that socializing over Memorial Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angulo , Imperial County ’ s public health director , said Thursday that the temporary facility at Imperial Valley College would house 80 beds and accommodate less ill patients who are transferred from local hospitals .
Angulo said U.S. citizens in Mexicali may be affecting the count but that it was difficult to quantify .
The region has many dual citizens who live in Mexicali .
“ We are a binational community , ” she said .
“ There ’ s a lot of interaction both northbound and southbound every day in our @ @ @ @

EL CENTRO, Calif. (AP) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday that the state is building a “field medical station” with up to 125 beds to aid a farming region along the Mexican border that has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases.
As many parts of the state eased restrictions, Newsom said Imperial County, with a population of 175,000 people in the state’s southeastern corner, “continues to be of concern.”
Newsom said such deployments may happen elsewhere in the state “if we start to see some incidences of spread that cannot be contained, particularly in communities that don’t necessarily have the resources of other communities.”
“It’s an expression of this: Expression of faith and devotion to this cause as well of your public health and the virulence of this disease,” he said.
The Imperial Valley, which provides many of the vegetables in U.S. supermarkets during winter, lies across the border from Mexicali, a sprawling industrial city of 1 million people that has enormous influence on its economy and culture.
It is unclear what caused the surge in coronavirus patients. But Adolphe Edward, chief executive officer of El Centro Regional Medical Center, is among those who believe that U.S. citizens who live in Mexicali, Mexico, play a major part.
Edward told the El Centro City Council Friday that the temporary facility at the Imperial Valley College gymnasium was expected to open Monday to receive transfers from local hospitals, with state and federal support.
“I’m so happy that it’s here because it’s a safety net,” Edward said.
Hospitalizations from COVID-19 had dropped to 60 on Friday from 74 on Tuesday, according to the Imperial County Health Department website. But patients have been to other hospitals in Southern California. The region’s two hospitals sent 16 patients outside the region on Monday and Tuesday alone.
El Centro Regional Medical Center, the largest in the Imperial Valley, had 52 coronavirus patients Friday, down from 65 earlier this week, said Edward, who declared himself “at ease” but expressed concern that socializing over Memorial Day weekend could produce more cases.
Janette Angulo, Imperial County’s public health director, said Thursday that the temporary facility at Imperial Valley College would house 80 beds and accommodate less ill patients who are transferred from local hospitals.
Angulo said U.S. citizens in Mexicali may be affecting the count but that it was difficult to quantify. The region has many dual citizens who live in Mexicali.
“We are a binational community,” she said. “There’s a lot of interaction both northbound and southbound every day in our regular lives.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-22--Gov. requests disaster declaration for North Dakota floods

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - Gov .
Doug Burgum asked President Donald Trump on Friday to issue a disaster declaration for widespread spring flooding in North Dakota .
Burgum ’ s office said flooding has caused an estimated $ 40 million-plus in damage in roads and other public infrastructure in North Dakota .
The request follows Burgum ’ s executive order in April declaring a statewide flood emergency .
In a letter , Burgum asked Trump to declare a major disaster for March 2 to April 25 , when the Red River dropped below major flood stage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The governor says river and overland flooding this spring caused significant damage to roads , bridges and culverts in North Dakota counties already burdened by recovery costs from spring and fall flooding last year .
If granted , a presidential declaration would unlock Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance to help cities , counties and townships pay for the costs of repairing roads and other infrastructure damaged by flooding .
Trump and FEMA granted Burgum ’ s request for a presidential disaster declaration last June in response to 2019 spring flooding in @ @ @ @ @

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Gov. Doug Burgum asked President Donald Trump on Friday to issue a disaster declaration for widespread spring flooding in North Dakota.
Burgum’s office said flooding has caused an estimated $40 million-plus in damage in roads and other public infrastructure in North Dakota. The request follows Burgum’s executive order in April declaring a statewide flood emergency.
In a letter, Burgum asked Trump to declare a major disaster for March 2 to April 25, when the Red River dropped below major flood stage in Pembina. The request includes 21 counties.
The governor says river and overland flooding this spring caused significant damage to roads, bridges and culverts in North Dakota counties already burdened by recovery costs from spring and fall flooding last year.
If granted, a presidential declaration would unlock Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance to help cities, counties and townships pay for the costs of repairing roads and other infrastructure damaged by flooding.
Trump and FEMA granted Burgum’s request for a presidential disaster declaration last June in response to 2019 spring flooding in 19 North Dakota counties.


washingtontimes--2020-05-22--Beshear: COVID-19 cases on decline in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE , Ky. ( AP ) - Gov .
Andy Beshear said COVID-19 cases in Kentucky are on the decline as the state opened restaurants to in-person dining Friday .
“ We now think that we have not just plateaued but we are actually in a decline in overall number of cases , especially when you look at the amount of testing we are doing , ” Beshear said at his daily news briefing .
“ And that is really good news.
” The state reported 141 new cases of coronavirus and five deaths on Friday .
Gatherings of 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
Beshear urged Kentuckians to continue using caution , social distancing and hand-washing heading into the holiday weekend .
Restaurants were allowed to begin welcoming diners indoors Friday at 33 % capacity .
Outside dining is also allowed .
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams announced at the briefing that a web portal at www.govoteky.com is open now to voters to apply for absentee ballots .
The primary election was postponed to June 23 and state officials have encouraged all residents to vote by mail .
For most people , the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as fever and cough that clear up within weeks .
For some , especially older adults and those with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , even death .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Gov. Andy Beshear said COVID-19 cases in Kentucky are on the decline as the state opened restaurants to in-person dining Friday.
“We now think that we have not just plateaued but we are actually in a decline in overall number of cases, especially when you look at the amount of testing we are doing,” Beshear said at his daily news briefing. “And that is really good news.”
The state reported 141 new cases of coronavirus and five deaths on Friday.
Gatherings of 10 or fewer people were also allowed beginning Friday.
Beshear urged Kentuckians to continue using caution, social distancing and hand-washing heading into the holiday weekend. Restaurants were allowed to begin welcoming diners indoors Friday at 33% capacity. Outside dining is also allowed.
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams announced at the briefing that a web portal at www.govoteky.com is open now to voters to apply for absentee ballots. The primary election was postponed to June 23 and state officials have encouraged all residents to vote by mail.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up within weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, even death.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-22--Minnesota National Guard offers free testing at 6 armories

ST. PAUL , Minn. ( AP ) - The Minnesota National Guard is offering free coronavirus testing at six armories @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
Guard members will have the capacity to collect roughly 2,000 samples per day @ @ @ @ @ for a total of roughly 6,000 tests over the three-day weekend .
The six armories @ @ @ @ @ , northeast Minneapolis , Moorhead , Duluth , Faribault and St. James .
They ’ @ @ @ @ @ testing from Saturday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily , or until @ @ @ @ @ Minnesotan can get tested , though officials especially encourage those who are ill or who @ @ @ @ @ someone known to have tested positive for the coronavirus .
No appointment is necessary .
@ @ @ @ @ Minnesotans will not be asked for insurance cards or ID .
Results will be provided @ @ @ @ @ hours .
Social distancing and masking will be enforced at the testing locations .
Anyone @ @ @ @ @ and after their test until they receive their results .

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota National Guard is offering free coronavirus testing at six armories across the state this holiday weekend.
Guard members will have the capacity to collect roughly 2,000 samples per day across the six sites, for a total of roughly 6,000 tests over the three-day weekend.
The six armories are in east St. Paul, northeast Minneapolis, Moorhead, Duluth, Faribault and St. James. They’ll be open to conduct testing from Saturday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, or until supplies are exhausted.
Any Minnesotan can get tested, though officials especially encourage those who are ill or who have been directly exposed to someone known to have tested positive for the coronavirus. No appointment is necessary. There is no charge and Minnesotans will not be asked for insurance cards or ID. Results will be provided by phone within about 48 hours.
Social distancing and masking will be enforced at the testing locations. Anyone experiencing symptoms should self-quarantine before and after their test until they receive their results.


washingtontimes--2020-05-22--State officials eye piece of county coronavirus relief funds

DOVER , Del .
( AP ) - Delaware officials have received more than $ 927 million in federal coronavirus relief fund assistance , but they are also looking to get a slice of the roughly $ 323 million going directly to the state ’ s largest county .
Gov .
John Carney noted Friday that the cost of the state ’ s coronavirus response efforts could easily exceed its federal coronavirus aid .
Administration officials indicated that they believe the state should get a portion of the money going to New Castle County .
Under the coronavirus relief package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceeding 500,000 can apply directly for a portion of a state ’ s allocation .
Delaware was approved for a total of $ 1.25 billion , but the county is eligible to directly receive $ 322.8 million of that total .
Carney ’ s budget director , Michael Jackson , said the amount going to the county is roughly equal to its entire general operating budget , plus its water and sewer budgets .
Meanwhile , according to Jackson , the additional financial burden to the state ’ s unemployment insurance fund because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high as $ 400 million .
Direct response costs , including testing and contact tracing , could exceed $ 500 million , while assistance for essential child care providers could cost up to $ 180 million .
Rent and utility assistance programs , along with a hospital emergency loan program , could cost up to $ 55 million , Jackson said .
“ We do need to engage with New Castle County with respect to the shared costs , ” Carney said .
New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer said in a prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with state officials .
“ We are committed to working with the state to ensure our economy and health system remains strong as we address the pandemic , ” Meyer said .
“ We continue to work collectively to help those most impacted and hurt by this unprecedented event.
” State Health Officer Dr. Karyl Rattay said testing of staff at Delaware ’ s long-term care facilities will become mandatory on June 1 , and that staff testing will be done weekly .
Carney earlier this month had announced a universal testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term care facilities , but the program was voluntary .
Many facilities initially balked at the idea , with Rattay noting earlier this week that only about 15 % had started testing , a response she described as “ disappointing.
” As of Thursday , state officials said 8,529 had tested positive for COVID-19 , and that 322 had died .
Residents of long-term care facilities accounted for 607 COVID-19 cases , roughly 7 % of the total , but 208 deaths , almost two-thirds of fatalities .
Most people infected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as cough and fever , that clear up in two or three weeks .
But for some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , the virus can cause more severe illness , or death .
In Delaware , people 65 and older account for 19 % of COVID-19 cases , but 79 % of COVID-related deaths .
Meanwhile , a federal judge on Friday scheduled a May 28 hearing in lawsuit filed against Carney by a well-known Wilmington pastor and community activist .
The Rev .
Dr. Christopher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship services are unconstitutional and discriminatory .
Bullock is seeking an injunction opening up worship services effective May 31 .
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday , one day after Carney announced that churches , which he had limited to services involving no more than 10 staff and participants , would be allowed to hold services with crowds limited to no more than 30 % of stated fire occupancy .
But Carney also imposed a host of conditions and restrictions , including limiting services to no more than one hour , banning choirs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communal receptacles for congregants to bless themselves with holy water .
Carney on Friday said religious leaders with whom he has spoken have agreed that protecting the physical health of congregants is as important as protecting their spiritual health .
“ We ’ ve always considered place of worship essential .
We just think folks ought to do it safely , ” he said .
At the same time , Carney appeared to express misgivings about the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington ’ s decision to allow parishes in Delaware to resume daily Mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 7 .
Carney said that while the resumption of daily Mass will make his mother happy , “ I ’ m not going to really encourage her to do that quite yet.
” Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware officials have received more than $927 million in federal coronavirus relief fund assistance, but they are also looking to get a slice of the roughly $323 million going directly to the state’s largest county.
Gov. John Carney noted Friday that the cost of the state’s coronavirus response efforts could easily exceed its federal coronavirus aid.
Administration officials indicated that they believe the state should get a portion of the money going to New Castle County. Under the coronavirus relief package, any local government with a population exceeding 500,000 can apply directly for a portion of a state’s allocation. Delaware was approved for a total of $1.25 billion, but the county is eligible to directly receive $322.8 million of that total.
Carney’s budget director, Michael Jackson, said the amount going to the county is roughly equal to its entire general operating budget, plus its water and sewer budgets.
Meanwhile, according to Jackson, the additional financial burden to the state’s unemployment insurance fund because of virus-related job losses could range as high as $400 million. Direct response costs, including testing and contact tracing, could exceed $500 million, while assistance for essential child care providers could cost up to $180 million. Rent and utility assistance programs, along with a hospital emergency loan program, could cost up to $55 million, Jackson said.
“We do need to engage with New Castle County with respect to the shared costs,” Carney said.
New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer said in a prepared statement only that he is willing to work with state officials.
“We are committed to working with the state to ensure our economy and health system remains strong as we address the pandemic,” Meyer said. “We continue to work collectively to help those most impacted and hurt by this unprecedented event.”
State Health Officer Dr. Karyl Rattay said testing of staff at Delaware’s long-term care facilities will become mandatory on June 1, and that staff testing will be done weekly.
Carney earlier this month had announced a universal testing program for all residents and staff in long-term care facilities, but the program was voluntary. Many facilities initially balked at the idea, with Rattay noting earlier this week that only about 15% had started testing, a response she described as “disappointing.”
As of Thursday, state officials said 8,529 had tested positive for COVID-19, and that 322 had died. Residents of long-term care facilities accounted for 607 COVID-19 cases, roughly 7% of the total, but 208 deaths, almost two-thirds of fatalities.
Most people infected by the coronavirus have mild or moderate symptoms, such as cough and fever, that clear up in two or three weeks. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, or death. In Delaware, people 65 and older account for 19% of COVID-19 cases, but 79% of COVID-related deaths.
Meanwhile, a federal judge on Friday scheduled a May 28 hearing in lawsuit filed against Carney by a well-known Wilmington pastor and community activist.
The Rev. Dr. Christopher Allan Bullock claims that Carney restrictions on worship services are unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Bullock is seeking an injunction opening up worship services effective May 31.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday, one day after Carney announced that churches, which he had limited to services involving no more than 10 staff and participants, would be allowed to hold services with crowds limited to no more than 30% of stated fire occupancy. But Carney also imposed a host of conditions and restrictions, including limiting services to no more than one hour, banning choirs, prohibiting person-to-person administration of Communion and banning communal receptacles for congregants to bless themselves with holy water.
Carney on Friday said religious leaders with whom he has spoken have agreed that protecting the physical health of congregants is as important as protecting their spiritual health.
“We’ve always considered place of worship essential. We just think folks ought to do it safely,” he said.
At the same time, Carney appeared to express misgivings about the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington’s decision to allow parishes in Delaware to resume daily Mass on June 1 and Sunday Mass on June 7.
Carney said that while the resumption of daily Mass will make his mother happy, “I’m not going to really encourage her to do that quite yet.”
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-22--San Francisco university to pay $2.5M over fraud allegations

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - The University of San Francisco has agreed to pay $ 2.5 million to settle @ @ @ @ @ information to get AmeriCorps service grant money , the Justice Department announced Friday .
The @ @ @ @ @ for California ’ s Eastern District says the private Jesuit university obtained $ 1.7 million @ @ @ @ @ , which grants money for tuition and living costs to students who volunteer at high-needs @ @ @ @ @ The justice department said that the director of the program falsified more than 1,500 time @ @ @ @ @ to get the education awards administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service .
@ @ @ @ @ applauded the university for cooperating with investigators .
A whistleblower complaint prompted the investigation .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s vice president for marketing communications , said in a statement they were pleased @ @ @ @ @ that has been ongoing for nearly four years .

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The University of San Francisco has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle allegations that it submitted fraudulent information to get AmeriCorps service grant money, the Justice Department announced Friday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for California’s Eastern District says the private Jesuit university obtained $1.7 million for its teacher residency program, which grants money for tuition and living costs to students who volunteer at high-needs San Francisco public schools.
The justice department said that the director of the program falsified more than 1,500 time sheets from 2014 to 2016 to get the education awards administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott applauded the university for cooperating with investigators. A whistleblower complaint prompted the investigation.
Ellen Ryder, the university’s vice president for marketing communications, said in a statement they were pleased to resolve a legal case that has been ongoing for nearly four years.


washingtontimes--2020-05-22--Bail set at $1M for suspect in activist's grandson slaying

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Bail was set at $ 1 million Friday for a 23-year-old man charged in the fatal shooting of the grandson of a prominent Minneapolis civil rights activist .
Dontae White appeared in Hennepin County court on charges of second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm .
White is charged in the death of 27-year-old Kevin Beasley on April 18 at a house party in north Minneapolis .
The Star Tribune reports Beasley was the grandson of civil rights leader Spike Moss .
According to the criminal complaint , Beasley was shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being at the party .
Prosecutors said a hat in a jacket that surveillance video showed White throwing onto a garage roof after the shooting had hair matching his DNA .
Police found a semi-automatic handgun under a fence that had a hair also matching DNA from the hat , the complaint said .
Testing of the gun found that it fired the 9 mm discharged cartridges found around Beasley ’ s body .
White was arrested in Chicago and extradited to Minnesota late last week .
He remained in the Hennepin County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court date set for June 17 .
His attorney did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on his behalf .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Bail was set at $1 million Friday for a 23-year-old man charged in the fatal shooting of the grandson of a prominent Minneapolis civil rights activist.
Dontae White appeared in Hennepin County court on charges of second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. White is charged in the death of 27-year-old Kevin Beasley on April 18 at a house party in north Minneapolis. The Star Tribune reports Beasley was the grandson of civil rights leader Spike Moss.
According to the criminal complaint, Beasley was shot after confronting White’s brother about being at the party. Prosecutors said a hat in a jacket that surveillance video showed White throwing onto a garage roof after the shooting had hair matching his DNA. Police found a semi-automatic handgun under a fence that had a hair also matching DNA from the hat, the complaint said. Testing of the gun found that it fired the 9 mm discharged cartridges found around Beasley’s body.
White was arrested in Chicago and extradited to Minnesota late last week. He remained in the Hennepin County Jail on Friday, with his next court date set for June 17. His attorney did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-05-22--Tucson woman killed in apartment; no arrests made

TUCSON , Ariz. ( AP ) - Tucson police are investigating the killing of a 28-year-old woman who was found @ @ @ @ @ died while her three children were in the apartment .
Police say they haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ death of Monique Leon on Thursday .
They said Leon ’ s boyfriend called 911 @ @ @ @ @ .
There were no signs of a break-in .
The three children were unharmed .

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Tucson police are investigating the killing of a 28-year-old woman who was found with severely injured and who died while her three children were in the apartment.
Police say they haven’t arrested anyone in the death of Monique Leon on Thursday.
They said Leon’s boyfriend called 911 after returning home from work. There were no signs of a break-in.
The three children were unharmed.


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--AP Exchange: Virus makes Nevadans trip to Peru a wild ride

RENO , Nev. ( AP ) - When Barbara Land and Tia Flores ventured into Peru ’ s Amazon rainforest on March 13 , they had grand plans to help the people living in the little remote river village of Ayacucho .
Land , founder and executive director of the Nevada Building Hope Foundation , and her team of volunteers recently helped to finish constructing the village ’ s first high school .
The school was supposed to open in March .
“ I wanted to be there when those kids walked into school for the very first time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Land said .
“ I had to be there for that.
” She also wanted to visit with all the families in the village , including her two friends suffering from cancer .
She even packed stuffed toys , blankets , clothing , shoes , backpacks , and other school supplies to give to the children .
Meanwhile , Flores , program director for the Sierra Arts Foundation , hoped to teach the local women craft making , so they could have a new source of income .
She said Land had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peru .
“ The arts have always been my North Star , ” Flores said .
“ The arts play a significant role , not only in our lives but also in our economy .
That ’ s why I was there.
” But then things changed as a new strain of coronavirus permeated the world , and their plans were derailed .
The disease was quickly spreading , eventually infecting more than 4 million and killing over 200,000 people .
Several countries were already banning travel and shutting down businesses .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Peru , they learned President Martín Vizcarra had shut down the country -leaving Flores and Land stranded in the jungle .
The two women could not travel by boat , plane or on land .
The next several weeks became a harrowing journey to get home , eventually involving the help of both Peruvian and Nevadan politicians as well as family members and friends in Reno .
On March 13 , they landed in Lima and then traveled to Iquitos , a small town in the center of Peru .
The next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journey into the jungle on a riverboat .
“ We left thinking everything was going to be fine , and it was , ” Flores said .
“ Everything was normal , a few people were wearing face masks.
” Then on March 19 , they learned the U.S. Department of State had issued a travel warning .
“ At that point , now we were concerned , ” Flores said , adding her return flight was also canceled .
“ That ’ s when I called my family and made them aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to get out of the jungle first .
At one point , the women headed to Iquitos on a riverboat but were turned back because they didn ’ t have printed versions of the proper paperwork .
“ To get out of the jungle , we had to get permission from the government to be able to travel , ” Flores said , adding they needed a travel document from the U.S. Embassy .
“ That was being orchestrated by a lot of the people we were working with in Peru.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convinced the country ’ s minister of tourism to safely accompany them back to Iquitos .
So , on March 27 , the two women again hopped on a riverboat to the nearby port town of San Joaquín .
There , they were greeted by the minister of tourism , the lieutenant of the national police , and an entire military brigade .
“ When I say port town , I mean it ’ s just a beach , ” Flores said .
“ It ’ s really primitive.
” They then drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel .
“ As we went on along the way , it was a much different scene than when we first left because there were barricades everywhere , ” Flores said .
“ There were armed military police everywhere .
Everybody you saw in Peru was wearing masks.
” At the hotel , Flores said she met several tourists who were in the same situation .
“ Everybody had the same goal - to get to their home country , ” she said .
Friends , family members , and even colleagues called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eventually , they started getting calls and emails back from U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto ’ s office .
Land said she knew Cortez Masto would get her home .
So , while she waited for instructions , she spent her time visiting with the villagers and playing with the children .
She even took foot measurements then so she could come back next time with a supply of new shoes .
A former professor at the University of Nevada , Reno , Land had devoted 13 years of her life to helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was down there to do a job , ” Land said .
“ I wasn ’ t down there as a vacationer .
So , I did my job .
In the midst of this crisis , I got everything done I needed to do.
” At the end of the day after her work , Land was usually either at a local bodega or sitting on the steps of someone ’ s hut drinking a cold beer and watching the villagers play soccer .
“ There ’ s nothing like having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Land said .
“ I ’ d sit there in the middle of the jungle drinking beer , it ’ s awesome.
” Still , Land was worried that if the virus spread into the jungle , she would die .
“ At that point , when this was beginning , you weren ’ t hearing about the people who were surviving this , ” she said , adding the medical care in the U.S. is significantly better .
“ You were hearing about the people that were dying.
” Land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the country was through repatriation flights and that the last one was scheduled to leave on April 5 .
They were screened for any sign of infection and then boarded the plane .
Flores said they both had to sign a whole harmless-agreement that they wouldn ’ t hold the government responsible if they contracted the virus .
They also signed a promissory note agreeing to pay back the government for travel expenses .
Later that afternoon , they arrived in Lima where they boarded a plane to Dulles International Airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an “ emotional rollercoaster.
” But despite the ups and downs , she said she realized how dependent she was on other people ’ s good graces .
Flores said several people kept asking her why she would risk going back home when the U.S. was emerging as the epicenter of the virus .
But for the native Nevadan , Reno was her home .
When Land arrived at her home , she was greeted by her husband and four children .
Both women had to self-isolate for two weeks .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shared it with her friends and neighbors .
She said she left packaged meals outside on her porch for pickup .
“ As happy as I was to leave that country , I was equally sad , ” Land said .
“ That ’ s how I am every time I go and come .
A part of my heart is there.
” It took three more flights to get to Reno .
They landed late in the afternoon on April 7 .
Meanwhile , Flores was greeted by her friends and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her safe return .
She said the warm welcome only validated why she needed to be home and in the state and community that she loves .
She hopes her story will remind people to embrace human kindness .
“ This epidemic is not just local , ” Flores said .
“ It ’ s a crisis that ’ s around the world .
Everybody is dealing with this .
”

RENO, Nev. (AP) - When Barbara Land and Tia Flores ventured into Peru’s Amazon rainforest on March 13, they had grand plans to help the people living in the little remote river village of Ayacucho.
Land, founder and executive director of the Nevada Building Hope Foundation, and her team of volunteers recently helped to finish constructing the village’s first high school. The school was supposed to open in March.
“I wanted to be there when those kids walked into school for the very first time with their new uniforms and their backpacks,” Land said. “I had to be there for that.”
She also wanted to visit with all the families in the village, including her two friends suffering from cancer. She even packed stuffed toys, blankets, clothing, shoes, backpacks, and other school supplies to give to the children.
Meanwhile, Flores, program director for the Sierra Arts Foundation, hoped to teach the local women craft making, so they could have a new source of income. She said Land had invited her to travel with her to Peru.
“The arts have always been my North Star,” Flores said. “The arts play a significant role, not only in our lives but also in our economy. That’s why I was there.”
But then things changed as a new strain of coronavirus permeated the world, and their plans were derailed.
The disease was quickly spreading, eventually infecting more than 4 million and killing over 200,000 people. Several countries were already banning travel and shutting down businesses.
By the time they arrived at their destination in Peru, they learned President Martín Vizcarra had shut down the country -leaving Flores and Land stranded in the jungle. The two women could not travel by boat, plane or on land.
The next several weeks became a harrowing journey to get home, eventually involving the help of both Peruvian and Nevadan politicians as well as family members and friends in Reno.
On March 13, they landed in Lima and then traveled to Iquitos, a small town in the center of Peru. The next day, they embarked on their three-hour journey into the jungle on a riverboat.
“We left thinking everything was going to be fine, and it was,” Flores said. “Everything was normal, a few people were wearing face masks.”
Then on March 19, they learned the U.S. Department of State had issued a travel warning.
“At that point, now we were concerned,” Flores said, adding her return flight was also canceled. “That’s when I called my family and made them aware of the situation.”
Flores knew she had to get out of the jungle first. At one point, the women headed to Iquitos on a riverboat but were turned back because they didn’t have printed versions of the proper paperwork.
“To get out of the jungle, we had to get permission from the government to be able to travel,” Flores said, adding they needed a travel document from the U.S. Embassy. “That was being orchestrated by a lot of the people we were working with in Peru.”
Land said the owners of both lodges convinced the country’s minister of tourism to safely accompany them back to Iquitos.
So, on March 27, the two women again hopped on a riverboat to the nearby port town of San Joaquín. There, they were greeted by the minister of tourism, the lieutenant of the national police, and an entire military brigade.
“When I say port town, I mean it’s just a beach,” Flores said. “It’s really primitive.”
They then drove to Iquitos and stayed at a five-star hotel.
“As we went on along the way, it was a much different scene than when we first left because there were barricades everywhere,” Flores said. “There were armed military police everywhere. Everybody you saw in Peru was wearing masks.”
At the hotel, Flores said she met several tourists who were in the same situation.
“Everybody had the same goal - to get to their home country,” she said.
Friends, family members, and even colleagues called every elected official they could reach. Eventually, they started getting calls and emails back from U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s office.
Land said she knew Cortez Masto would get her home. So, while she waited for instructions, she spent her time visiting with the villagers and playing with the children.
She even took foot measurements then so she could come back next time with a supply of new shoes.
A former professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, Land had devoted 13 years of her life to helping families in remote jungle villages.
“I was down there to do a job,” Land said. “I wasn’t down there as a vacationer. So, I did my job. In the midst of this crisis, I got everything done I needed to do.”
At the end of the day after her work, Land was usually either at a local bodega or sitting on the steps of someone’s hut drinking a cold beer and watching the villagers play soccer.
“There’s nothing like having a cold beer in the Amazon rainforest,” Land said. “I’d sit there in the middle of the jungle drinking beer, it’s awesome.”
Still, Land was worried that if the virus spread into the jungle, she would die.
“At that point, when this was beginning, you weren’t hearing about the people who were surviving this,” she said, adding the medical care in the U.S. is significantly better. “You were hearing about the people that were dying.”
Land and Flores soon learned the only way out of the country was through repatriation flights and that the last one was scheduled to leave on April 5. They were screened for any sign of infection and then boarded the plane. Flores said they both had to sign a whole harmless-agreement that they wouldn’t hold the government responsible if they contracted the virus. They also signed a promissory note agreeing to pay back the government for travel expenses.
Later that afternoon, they arrived in Lima where they boarded a plane to Dulles International Airport in Washington D.C.
Flores described her journey as an “emotional rollercoaster.” But despite the ups and downs, she said she realized how dependent she was on other people’s good graces.
Flores said several people kept asking her why she would risk going back home when the U.S. was emerging as the epicenter of the virus. But for the native Nevadan, Reno was her home.
When Land arrived at her home, she was greeted by her husband and four children. Both women had to self-isolate for two weeks. Still, Land prepared her traditional Easter dinner and shared it with her friends and neighbors. She said she left packaged meals outside on her porch for pickup.
“As happy as I was to leave that country, I was equally sad,” Land said. “That’s how I am every time I go and come. A part of my heart is there.”
It took three more flights to get to Reno. They landed late in the afternoon on April 7.
Meanwhile, Flores was greeted by her friends and neighbors who had gathered around to applaud her safe return.
She said the warm welcome only validated why she needed to be home and in the state and community that she loves. She hopes her story will remind people to embrace human kindness.
“This epidemic is not just local,” Flores said. “It’s a crisis that’s around the world. Everybody is dealing with this.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Esports find broader embrace during pandemic shutdown

PENSACOLA , Fla. ( AP ) - It was little surprise and ultimately hard to miss the boost in prominence esports , i.e .
competitive video games , during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown .
After years building massive online audiences , esports has broadened its place in the modern mainstream during the days of social distancing , filling the prime-time void on ESPN and other prominent sports networks .
In Pensacola , video games have even briefly replaced some youth sports and recreation .
Locally , the Navy is hosting esports tournaments in Madden 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hub was recently founded at the OWA entertainment complex in Foley , Alabama .
Pensacola-based event management company Snap Soccer , which is affiliated with Perdido Bay FC , has hosted virtual soccer league and tournament play with FIFA on Xbox and Playstation consoles .
Players represent their full-time soccer club with logos while league organizers produce content like brackets , standings and individual honors such as “ Player of the Month.
” With sponsorship from Puma and Soccer.com , even local players can compete for more than just bragging rights .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soccer and video games weren ’ t so mainstream online , ” said 27-year-old Parker McIntosh , Snap Soccer ’ s eGaming director .
“ Major League Gaming was something that I remember and it was a pretty big deal .
Now it ’ s kind of like the market is flooded .
“ The access to technology today with all these kids , they know it better than we do.
” If the pandemic provided a platform for esports in the mainstream , it ’ s only because the activity had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent McKinsey report estimated esports ’ U.S. audience to be just over 20 million fans , with over 80 % male and younger than 35 .
Among U.S. men younger than 25 , about 38 % consider themselves esports fans , according to the same report .
That interest was built largely through streaming platforms like Twitch , which allows players to watch or broadcast other people playing video games .
Twitch saw a record 1.4 million concurrent viewers and a 33 % increase in unique channels last quarter , according to Forbes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ esports ’ jump to mainstream cable and broadcast television .
ESPN drew NBA stars like Kevin Durant , Donovan Mitchell , Trae Young and Devin Booker for an NBA 2K basketball tournament while raising $ 100,000 in coronavirus relief funds .
On Fox , tournaments in Madden 20 and Formula 1 racing competitions found prime-time slots in broadcast and cable .
Racing broadcasts dominated television ratings on the major networks .
iRacing claimed the top nine broadcasts and averaged 845,000 viewers .
For contrast , ESPN ’ s 2K tournament final broadcast featuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appealing to its traditional sports viewers , the choice to broadcast sports simulation games didn ’ t necessarily chase the biggest audiences in esports .
Multiplayer online battle arena titles such as League of Legends and DOTA 2 , as well as battle royale games such as Fortnite , dominate the streaming space online , recording hours watched figures in the hundreds of millions each year .
Viewers on Couch Cup tournament streams number only in the few dozens , but interest in the competition still drew advertising from an international brand like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time it seemed like the only way to access soccer with the kids at home , ” McIntosh said .
“ … After we got Puma and Soccer.com as sponsors , there was definitely a buzz to compete on Xbox especially .
“ A lot of kids see the prizes and we affiliate you with your club , so doing well earns your club a shoutout as well.
” On top of making inroads with mainstream media and traditional sports businesses , video games may well have risen in esteem for some families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve had multiple parents tell me that all their kid looks forward to is Tuesday at 4 p.m. when the tournaments kick off , ” McIntosh said .
“ That ’ s something where I certainly enjoy providing that outlet .
”

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - It was little surprise and ultimately hard to miss the boost in prominence esports, i.e. competitive video games, during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
After years building massive online audiences, esports has broadened its place in the modern mainstream during the days of social distancing, filling the prime-time void on ESPN and other prominent sports networks.
In Pensacola, video games have even briefly replaced some youth sports and recreation.
Locally, the Navy is hosting esports tournaments in Madden 20 for service members and a new esports hub was recently founded at the OWA entertainment complex in Foley, Alabama.
Pensacola-based event management company Snap Soccer, which is affiliated with Perdido Bay FC, has hosted virtual soccer league and tournament play with FIFA on Xbox and Playstation consoles.
Players represent their full-time soccer club with logos while league organizers produce content like brackets, standings and individual honors such as “Player of the Month.”
With sponsorship from Puma and Soccer.com, even local players can compete for more than just bragging rights.
“Even when I was coming up, soccer and video games weren’t so mainstream online,” said 27-year-old Parker McIntosh, Snap Soccer’s eGaming director. “Major League Gaming was something that I remember and it was a pretty big deal. Now it’s kind of like the market is flooded.
“The access to technology today with all these kids, they know it better than we do.”
If the pandemic provided a platform for esports in the mainstream, it’s only because the activity had already built substantial foundational interest online.
A recent McKinsey report estimated esports’ U.S. audience to be just over 20 million fans, with over 80% male and younger than 35. Among U.S. men younger than 25, about 38% consider themselves esports fans, according to the same report.
That interest was built largely through streaming platforms like Twitch, which allows players to watch or broadcast other people playing video games. Twitch saw a record 1.4 million concurrent viewers and a 33% increase in unique channels last quarter, according to Forbes.
The pandemic provided an opening for esports’ jump to mainstream cable and broadcast television.
ESPN drew NBA stars like Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young and Devin Booker for an NBA 2K basketball tournament while raising $100,000 in coronavirus relief funds. On Fox, tournaments in Madden 20 and Formula 1 racing competitions found prime-time slots in broadcast and cable.
Racing broadcasts dominated television ratings on the major networks. iRacing claimed the top nine broadcasts and averaged 845,000 viewers. For contrast, ESPN’s 2K tournament final broadcast featuring Devin Booker drew 201,000 viewers.
While appealing to its traditional sports viewers, the choice to broadcast sports simulation games didn’t necessarily chase the biggest audiences in esports.
Multiplayer online battle arena titles such as League of Legends and DOTA 2, as well as battle royale games such as Fortnite, dominate the streaming space online, recording hours watched figures in the hundreds of millions each year.
Viewers on Couch Cup tournament streams number only in the few dozens, but interest in the competition still drew advertising from an international brand like Puma.
“At that point in time it seemed like the only way to access soccer with the kids at home,” McIntosh said. “… After we got Puma and Soccer.com as sponsors, there was definitely a buzz to compete on Xbox especially.
“A lot of kids see the prizes and we affiliate you with your club, so doing well earns your club a shoutout as well.”
On top of making inroads with mainstream media and traditional sports businesses, video games may well have risen in esteem for some families during the pandemic.
“I’ve had multiple parents tell me that all their kid looks forward to is Tuesday at 4 p.m. when the tournaments kick off,” McIntosh said. “That’s something where I certainly enjoy providing that outlet.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Treasure hunter tricked by war hero scientist con man

TAMPA , Fla. ( AP ) - At a bar near Melbourne Beach , the underwater treasure hunter met the Army Ranger who was also a cryptocurrency millionaire and adjunct professor at one of America ’ s most prestigious universities .
The conversation turned to the 300-year-old Spanish galleon wrecked on the ocean floor just off the coast , and more importantly , the motherlode of gold and silver that went down with it .
It was right there , the treasure hunter said , waiting to be salvaged .
The decorated veteran and professor , it turned out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ d developed satellite communications and avionics for military contractors at renowned laboratories .
Some of that work was classified , he said , but maybe he could use his expertise to help create a technology to scan the ocean for the elusive gold ?
In October 2018 , Tampa-based treasure-hunting company Seafarer Exploration announced it had hired “ Dr .
Michael Torres , ” a brilliant “ wounded war veteran receiving a Purple Heart with Oak Cluster ” to do just that – help them find treasure with tech .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ front page of Florida Today and appeared on FOX 35 Orlando wearing an Indiana Jones-esque hat and announcing he ’ d discovered an ancient Peruvian burial mask washed up on Melbourne Beach .
It was all fake , Kyle Kennedy , CEO of Seafarer Exploration told the Tampa Bay Times .
“ This guy can spout this stuff off like no tomorrow , ” he said .
“ Absolutely none of it was true , but unless you ’ re an engineer , you ’ d never know that.
” Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding Torres pay back $ 96,583 in wages plus $ 6,986 charged to a company expense account .
They also want him to return his more than 61 million shares of Seafarer stock worth around $ 520,000 .
The lawsuit accuses Torres , 37 , of presenting a fraudulent resume that included two tours of duty in Afghanistan , a long list of medals and multiple degrees including a bachelor ’ s in electrical engineering from the Citadel and a doctorate in aeronautical engineering from Duke University .
The lawsuit contends Torres flunked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GPA , and Duke does not even offer a degree in aeronautical engineering .
It also says that Torres lied about being an adjunct professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
Contacted by the Times , Torres said it was his boss Kennedy who ’ d padded Torres ’ resume to make Seafarer look good , but that he ’ d gone along with it .
He said he never claimed to be an Army veteran or have a doctorate and was simply an engineer hired to do a job , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it .
“ They want to discredit me because it somehow serves whatever scam they ’ re pulling , ” Torres said , adding that he ’ d soon file his own countersuit against Seafarer .
Torres said he did earn a degree from the Citadel and served in the Air Force .
Contacted by the Times , the Citadel said Torres left in 2003 without graduating .
Military records show he was forced out of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps that same year for poor academics .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kennedy and a diver for Seafarer named Michael Ware both described a late night spent with Torres on the front porch of Seafarer ’ s dive house .
Torres told stories of rescuing his sergeant in Afghanistan by shooting an enemy .
“ He ’ s telling us about how the guy had a grenade in his hand , ” Kennedy said .
“ But then the guy went into a spasm and wouldn ’ t let go of the grenade.
” Ware said : “ He talked about having to call in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was thinking , how unkind is it to burden others with a story like that ?
” Kennedy said his team criticized him for hiring Torres , but that the scientific jargon and heroics the man spouted off sounded true and wildly impressive .
Ware said he gave Torres the benefit of the doubt when he claimed to also have been a blockchain coder worth millions in bitcoin .
Torres was exposed , Ware and Kennedy said , by scientists Seafarer hired to develop its Sea Search technology .
“ There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Torres ) is up there writing on a whiteboard all this stuff and he ’ s shouting like , ‘ Oh !
Oh !
I have it !
’ It looked like something from Big Bang Theory , ” Ware said .
“ I ’ m sitting there thinking , wow , this guy ’ s a genius .
Then the real geniuses pull us aside privately afterward and tell us that wasn ’ t an equation , it was gibberish.
” Kennedy said by the time “ Dr .
Michael Torres ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing off his Peruvian mask discovery , the company had become suspicious .
Even though the stories mentioned “ a team of archaeologists from Seafarer , ” Kennedy said Seafarer had always disavowed the mask and never owned it or announced it .
The suit says Seafarer cut ties with Torres five months after that .
In October , Torres showed off the mask on an episode of Discovery channel ’ s Destination Unknown , which also featured divers from Seafarer finding a piece of wood said to be from the galleon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be cut from the episode before it aired , but he was not .
Torres said the mask is authentic , and that professors from Harvard and Columbia had authenticated it .
He shared emails from those professors , in which they said the mask appeared to be Peruvian .
But both professors told the Times that they had not authenticated anything , and would not do so without seeing the mask in person .
They said they were only commenting on the style of the artifact in the photos Torres sent them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seafarer ’ s website as one of the company ’ s research archaeologists , told Florida Today in January 2019 he examined the mask and believed it was authentic and could have come from the wrecked galleon .
De Bry this week said he has changed his mind , and believes the mask could be a modern souvenir made in Peru .
Torres said he was glad to be done with Seafarer and happy to no longer be “ paraded around ” in a charade .
“ I have all my own evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will all come out in court.
” Ware said he ’ s worried Torres is starting his con all over again .
Last month , a man introduced as “ Dr .
Michael Torres , PH .
D ” appeared on ABC News 4 in Charleston , S.C. touting a “ major discovery ” of coins , cannon balls and other Civil War artifacts in Charleston Harbor .
“ If he says Kyle made him say he was a doctor , ” Ware said , “ then why is he still going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kennedy said Seafarer has continued to work on developing Sea Search technology to detect treasure at targeted sites off Melbourne and Juno beaches .
Kennedy believes there are shipwrecks from the Spanish “ Plate Fleet ” that sank in a hurricane in 1715 while sailing to Spain with full loads of gold and silver from South America .

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - At a bar near Melbourne Beach, the underwater treasure hunter met the Army Ranger who was also a cryptocurrency millionaire and adjunct professor at one of America’s most prestigious universities.
The conversation turned to the 300-year-old Spanish galleon wrecked on the ocean floor just off the coast, and more importantly, the motherlode of gold and silver that went down with it. It was right there, the treasure hunter said, waiting to be salvaged.
The decorated veteran and professor, it turned out, was also a systems engineer and coder. He’d developed satellite communications and avionics for military contractors at renowned laboratories. Some of that work was classified, he said, but maybe he could use his expertise to help create a technology to scan the ocean for the elusive gold?
In October 2018, Tampa-based treasure-hunting company Seafarer Exploration announced it had hired “Dr. Michael Torres,” a brilliant “wounded war veteran receiving a Purple Heart with Oak Cluster” to do just that – help them find treasure with tech.
In January 2019, Torres made the front page of Florida Today and appeared on FOX 35 Orlando wearing an Indiana Jones-esque hat and announcing he’d discovered an ancient Peruvian burial mask washed up on Melbourne Beach.
It was all fake, Kyle Kennedy, CEO of Seafarer Exploration told the Tampa Bay Times. “This guy can spout this stuff off like no tomorrow,” he said. “Absolutely none of it was true, but unless you’re an engineer, you’d never know that.”
Last week, Seafarer filed a lawsuit in Hillsborough County demanding Torres pay back $96,583 in wages plus $6,986 charged to a company expense account. They also want him to return his more than 61 million shares of Seafarer stock worth around $520,000.
The lawsuit accuses Torres, 37, of presenting a fraudulent resume that included two tours of duty in Afghanistan, a long list of medals and multiple degrees including a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the Citadel and a doctorate in aeronautical engineering from Duke University.
The lawsuit contends Torres flunked out of the Citadel with a 1.3 GPA, and Duke does not even offer a degree in aeronautical engineering. It also says that Torres lied about being an adjunct professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Contacted by the Times, Torres said it was his boss Kennedy who’d padded Torres’ resume to make Seafarer look good, but that he’d gone along with it. He said he never claimed to be an Army veteran or have a doctorate and was simply an engineer hired to do a job, but was not given the proper resources to do it.
“They want to discredit me because it somehow serves whatever scam they’re pulling,” Torres said, adding that he’d soon file his own countersuit against Seafarer.
Torres said he did earn a degree from the Citadel and served in the Air Force. Contacted by the Times, the Citadel said Torres left in 2003 without graduating. Military records show he was forced out of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps that same year for poor academics. There is no record of Torres attending Duke.
Kennedy and a diver for Seafarer named Michael Ware both described a late night spent with Torres on the front porch of Seafarer’s dive house. Torres told stories of rescuing his sergeant in Afghanistan by shooting an enemy. “He’s telling us about how the guy had a grenade in his hand,” Kennedy said. “But then the guy went into a spasm and wouldn’t let go of the grenade.”
Ware said: “He talked about having to call in an airstrike on an entire village. I was thinking, how unkind is it to burden others with a story like that?”
Kennedy said his team criticized him for hiring Torres, but that the scientific jargon and heroics the man spouted off sounded true and wildly impressive. Ware said he gave Torres the benefit of the doubt when he claimed to also have been a blockchain coder worth millions in bitcoin.
Torres was exposed, Ware and Kennedy said, by scientists Seafarer hired to develop its Sea Search technology.
“There’s this meeting, and Mike (Torres) is up there writing on a whiteboard all this stuff and he’s shouting like, ‘Oh! Oh! I have it!’ It looked like something from Big Bang Theory,” Ware said. “I’m sitting there thinking, wow, this guy’s a genius. Then the real geniuses pull us aside privately afterward and tell us that wasn’t an equation, it was gibberish.”
Kennedy said by the time “Dr. Michael Torres” appeared in half a dozen news stories showing off his Peruvian mask discovery, the company had become suspicious. Even though the stories mentioned “a team of archaeologists from Seafarer,” Kennedy said Seafarer had always disavowed the mask and never owned it or announced it. The suit says Seafarer cut ties with Torres five months after that.
In October, Torres showed off the mask on an episode of Discovery channel’s Destination Unknown, which also featured divers from Seafarer finding a piece of wood said to be from the galleon. Kennedy said he’d demanded Torres be cut from the episode before it aired, but he was not.
Torres said the mask is authentic, and that professors from Harvard and Columbia had authenticated it. He shared emails from those professors, in which they said the mask appeared to be Peruvian.
But both professors told the Times that they had not authenticated anything, and would not do so without seeing the mask in person. They said they were only commenting on the style of the artifact in the photos Torres sent them.
John De Bry, listed on Seafarer’s website as one of the company’s research archaeologists, told Florida Today in January 2019 he examined the mask and believed it was authentic and could have come from the wrecked galleon. De Bry this week said he has changed his mind, and believes the mask could be a modern souvenir made in Peru.
Torres said he was glad to be done with Seafarer and happy to no longer be “paraded around” in a charade. “I have all my own evidence,” he said. “It will all come out in court.”
Ware said he’s worried Torres is starting his con all over again.
Last month, a man introduced as “Dr. Michael Torres, PH. D” appeared on ABC News 4 in Charleston, S.C. touting a “major discovery” of coins, cannon balls and other Civil War artifacts in Charleston Harbor.
“If he says Kyle made him say he was a doctor,” Ware said, “then why is he still going on the news calling himself doctor?”
Kennedy said Seafarer has continued to work on developing Sea Search technology to detect treasure at targeted sites off Melbourne and Juno beaches.
Kennedy believes there are shipwrecks from the Spanish “Plate Fleet” that sank in a hurricane in 1715 while sailing to Spain with full loads of gold and silver from South America.


washingtontimes--2020-05-23--Men indicted on charges of using explosions to rob ATMs

TAMPA , Fla. ( AP ) - Two men have been indicted on charges using small explosions to rob ATMs in Florida .
A federal grand jury in Tampa returned indictments Wednesday charging Mawdo Malick Sallah , 33 , of Clearwater , Florida , and Kirk Douglas Johnson , 34 , of Anderson , South Carolina , with eight counts each , according to court records .
The charges include one count of conspiring to commit arson , three counts of arson , two counts of using a fire or explosive to commit a federal felony and two counts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life sentences in federal prison if convicted .
Sallah and Johnson took nearly $ 70,000 from several Tampa Bay area ATMs between November and January and vandalized others without taking any cash , according to a criminal complaint .
Investigators believe the men injected some type of flammable fuel into the machines and used a spark to ignite it .
The men were arrested in March after setting off an explosion at an ATM in Watkinsville , Georgia , prosecutors said .
That ATM was damaged , but Sallah and Johnson were unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both men have pleaded not guilty .
Johnson ’ s attorney said in an email that Johnson is a non-violent man , a good father and has no prior criminal record .

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Two men have been indicted on charges using small explosions to rob ATMs in Florida.
A federal grand jury in Tampa returned indictments Wednesday charging Mawdo Malick Sallah, 33, of Clearwater, Florida, and Kirk Douglas Johnson, 34, of Anderson, South Carolina, with eight counts each, according to court records. The charges include one count of conspiring to commit arson, three counts of arson, two counts of using a fire or explosive to commit a federal felony and two counts of bank larceny. They each face possible life sentences in federal prison if convicted.
Sallah and Johnson took nearly $70,000 from several Tampa Bay area ATMs between November and January and vandalized others without taking any cash, according to a criminal complaint. Investigators believe the men injected some type of flammable fuel into the machines and used a spark to ignite it. The men were arrested in March after setting off an explosion at an ATM in Watkinsville, Georgia, prosecutors said. That ATM was damaged, but Sallah and Johnson were unable to retrieve any cash, authorities said.
Both men have pleaded not guilty.
Johnson’s attorney said in an email that Johnson is a non-violent man, a good father and has no prior criminal record.
Sallah’s attorney didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.