washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Finland's national carrier cuts over 10% of workforce

HELSINKI , Finland ( AP ) - Finland ’ s national carrier said Tuesday it will cut 700 jobs - over 10 % of its workforce - by the end of March next year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global travel .
Finnair , which is heavily focused on flights from Europe to Asia , said Tuesday that some 600 of the redundancies would be in Finland and another 100 outside the Nordic country .
Finnair CEO Topi Manner said in a statement that “ the corona pandemic has been completely unfair to our industry and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its financial implications personally.
” He said that the job cuts are “ necessary and inevitable .
Finnair ’ s re-build requires us to be competitive when aviation gradually starts to recover .
Therefore , in the future , we will have to do many things differently in order to succeed in the competitive market.
” The coronavirus pandemic has forced almost all global airlines to halt most of their flights .
Finnair has already temporarily laid off a large part of its 6,500 staff and its flight traffic was down 91 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The layoffs are the first permanent cuts it has announced so far .

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) - Finland’s national carrier said Tuesday it will cut 700 jobs - over 10% of its workforce - by the end of March next year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global travel.
Finnair, which is heavily focused on flights from Europe to Asia, said that some 600 of the redundancies would be in Finland and another 100 outside the Nordic country. Pilots and cabin crew would not be affected.
Finnair CEO Topi Manner said in a statement that “the corona pandemic has been completely unfair to our industry and unfortunately many Finnair employees now must experience its financial implications personally.”
He said that the job cuts and other planned changes at the carrier based in Helsinki are “necessary and inevitable.”
“Finnair’s re-build requires us to be competitive when aviation gradually starts to recover. Therefore, in the future, we will have to do many things differently in order to succeed in the competitive market,” Manner said.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced almost all global airlines to halt most of their flights. Finnair has already temporarily laid off a large part of its 6,500 staff and its flight traffic was down 91% in September from the previous year. The layoffs are the first permanent cuts it has announced so far.
Finnair is majority-owned by the Finnish state.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte: Hold me responsible for killings in drug crackdown

MANILA , Philippines ( AP ) — The Philippine president has said he accepts responsibility for the thousands of killings committed during police operations in his crackdown on drugs , adding that he was even ready to go to jail .
President Rodrigo Duterte ’ s televised remarks Monday night were typical of his bluster — and tempered by the fact that he has pulled his country out of the International Criminal Court , where a prosecutor is considering complaints related to the leader ’ s bloody campaign .
The remarks were also a clear acknowledgement that Duterte could face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6,000 killings of drug suspects have been reported by police since he took office in mid-2016 , but rights watchdogs suspect the death toll is far larger .
“ If there ’ s killing there , I ’ m saying I ’ m the one … you can hold me responsible for anything , any death that has occurred in the execution of the drug war , ” Duterte said .
“ If you get killed , it ’ s because I ’ m enraged by drugs , ” said the president known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If I serve my country by going to jail , gladly.
” He said , however , that drug killings that did not happen during police operations should not be blamed on him , alleging that those may have been committed by gangs .
Duterte has made a crackdown on drugs a centerpiece of his presidency .
At the height of the campaign — which has often targeted petty dealers and users along with a handful of the biggest druglords — images of suspects sprawled dead and bloodied in the streets were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ splashed on the front pages of newspapers .
Tens of thousands of arrests in the initial years of the crackdown worsened congestion in what were already among the world ’ s most overcrowded jails .
U.N. human rights experts and Western governments led by the United States have raised alarm over the killings , enraging Duterte , who once told former U.S. President Barack Obama to “ go to hell.
” There have been widespread suspicions that police engage in extrajudicial killings in the crackdown , allegations that they and Duterte deny .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers of murdering a 17-year-old student after witnesses and a security video disproved their claim that the suspect was shot after violently resisting , a common reason cited by police officers after drug suspects are killed .
At least two complaints for crimes against humanity and mass murder in connection with Duterte ’ s campaign are being examined by an ICC prosecutor , who will determine whether there is enough evidence to open a full-scale investigation .
When the complaints were made , Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the world tribunal two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights groups said was a major setback in the country ’ s battle against impunity .
The ICC prosecutor has said the examination into the drug killings would continue despite the Philippine withdrawal .
Duterte reiterated his defiance of the court ’ s probe Monday by asking , when did “ drugs become humanity ?
” Instead , he framed the drug menace as a national security threat , as he has in the past , comparing it to the communist insurgency that the government has tried to quell for more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go on and on and if no decisive action is taken against them , it will endanger the security of the state , ” said Duterte , a former government prosecutor .
“ When you save your country from the perdition of the people like the NPAs and drugs , you are doing a sacred duty , ” he said , referring to communist New People ’ s Army insurgents .
Police have reported at least 5,856 drug suspects have been killed in raids and more than 256,000 others arrested since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups have accused authorities of considerably under reporting the deaths .

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine president has said he accepts responsibility for the thousands of killings committed during police operations in his crackdown on drugs, adding that he was even ready to go to jail.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s televised remarks Monday night were typical of his bluster — and tempered by the fact that he has pulled his country out of the International Criminal Court, where a prosecutor is considering complaints related to the leader’s bloody campaign.
The remarks were also a clear acknowledgement that Duterte could face a deluge of criminal charges. Nearly 6,000 killings of drug suspects have been reported by police since he took office in mid-2016, but rights watchdogs suspect the death toll is far larger.
“If there’s killing there, I’m saying I’m the one … you can hold me responsible for anything, any death that has occurred in the execution of the drug war,” Duterte said.
“If you get killed, it’s because I’m enraged by drugs,” said the president known for his coarse and boastful rhetoric. “If I serve my country by going to jail, gladly.”
He said, however, that drug killings that did not happen during police operations should not be blamed on him, alleging that those may have been committed by gangs.
Duterte has made a crackdown on drugs a centerpiece of his presidency. At the height of the campaign — which has often targeted petty dealers and users along with a handful of the biggest druglords — images of suspects sprawled dead and bloodied in the streets were frequently broadcast in TV news reports and splashed on the front pages of newspapers. Tens of thousands of arrests in the initial years of the crackdown worsened congestion in what were already among the world’s most overcrowded jails.
U.N. human rights experts and Western governments led by the United States have raised alarm over the killings, enraging Duterte, who once told former U.S. President Barack Obama to “go to hell.”
There have been widespread suspicions that police engage in extrajudicial killings in the crackdown, allegations that they and Duterte deny. In 2018, a court convicted three police officers of murdering a 17-year-old student after witnesses and a security video disproved their claim that the suspect was shot after violently resisting, a common reason cited by police officers after drug suspects are killed.
At least two complaints for crimes against humanity and mass murder in connection with Duterte’s campaign are being examined by an ICC prosecutor, who will determine whether there is enough evidence to open a full-scale investigation.
When the complaints were made, Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the world tribunal two years ago in a move that human rights groups said was a major setback in the country’s battle against impunity. The ICC prosecutor has said the examination into the drug killings would continue despite the Philippine withdrawal.
Duterte reiterated his defiance of the court’s probe Monday by asking, when did “drugs become humanity?”
Instead, he framed the drug menace as a national security threat, as he has in the past, comparing it to the communist insurgency that the government has tried to quell for more than a half-century.
“If this is allowed to go on and on and if no decisive action is taken against them, it will endanger the security of the state,” said Duterte, a former government prosecutor.
“When you save your country from the perdition of the people like the NPAs and drugs, you are doing a sacred duty,” he said, referring to communist New People’s Army insurgents.
Police have reported at least 5,856 drug suspects have been killed in raids and more than 256,000 others arrested since the start of the crackdown. Human rights groups have accused authorities of considerably under reporting the deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Innocent bystander killed by stray bullet in Pennsylvania

CHESTER , Pa. ( AP ) - Police in an eastern Pennsylvania city on Tuesday were seeking a suspect after @ @ @ @ @ and killed by a stray bullet .
Gunfire erupted as Diana Davis , 62 , @ @ @ @ @ and Central Avenue on Monday afternoon .
Bullets struck her vehicle and Davis was shot @ @ @ @ @ said .
Her vehicle hit a utility pole and she was taken to Crozer Chester @ @ @ @ @ died .
Police said a nearby vehicle with two women and a child inside also @ @ @ @ @ but no one was injured .
No arrests have been made .
The shooting was @ @ @ @ @ the city this year compared to 18 during the same period last year .

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) - Police in an eastern Pennsylvania city on Tuesday were seeking a suspect after an innocent bystander was struck and killed by a stray bullet.
Gunfire erupted as Diana Davis, 62, was driving on 9th Street and Central Avenue on Monday afternoon.
Bullets struck her vehicle and Davis was shot at least once, police said. Her vehicle hit a utility pole and she was taken to Crozer Chester Medical Center, where she died.
Police said a nearby vehicle with two women and a child inside also was hit by gunfire, but no one was injured.
No arrests have been made.
The shooting was the 30th reported homicide in the city this year compared to 18 during the same period last year.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Indiana man rescued from northern Minnesota wilderness

ELY , Minn. ( AP ) - An Indiana man is safe and warm after rescuers found him cold , wet and alone in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota .
The St. Louis County Sheriff ’ s Office received a call Saturday night from an Ely-area outfitter that had dropped off Chori Rummel , 34 , of Elkhart , Indiana , earlier for his first trip into the wilderness .
The solo paddler used a handheld Garmin inReach device to send an SOS signal , and a message stating “ Help Wet and Cold.
” Capt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rescue squad said Monday that they had to cross Nina-Moose Lake , roughly 20 miles ( 32 kilometers ) north of Ely , in cold and snowy conditions .
“ It was as dark as I ’ ve ever seen it out there .
You couldn ’ t see anything .
It was snowing heavily , fog was moving in , and there was ice on the lake , ” Sean Williams , a Department of Natural Resources conservation officer , told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis .
“ We had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle of the lake , and when we made it to the middle , it was so dark we had to use a GPS to find the shore and his campsite.
” Rescuers found Rummel in a tent inside a lightweight sleeping bag , wearing his one remaining set of dry clothes .
He was experiencing hypothermia .
The rescue team lit a fire , warmed him up , then brought him to safety .
Rummel , who was only one day into what he intended to be a weeklong visit , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message once his hands became stiff from the wet and cold .
“ I made a poor choice of gloves ” Rummel said .
“ They said waterproof on the packaging , but they weren ’ t .
If it wouldn ’ t have been for my hands , I would have stayed out there longer , but you can ’ t work very good if you can ’ t use your hands .
It got so cold , my cellphone shut down on me.
” Slatten said Rummel is fortunate to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong enough to make it out on his own , the officer said , the ice had become so thick that Rummel would have had to carry out his canoe and gear , rather than paddle out .
Rummel said his experience has not dissuaded him from trying again , “ but not until June.
” The sheriff ’ s office said everyone who ventures into the BWCA should prepare for all conditions , not take unnecessary risks , leave a travel plan , and travel with a GPS or SOS device in @ @ @ @

ELY, Minn. (AP) - An Indiana man is safe and warm after rescuers found him cold, wet and alone in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office received a call Saturday night from an Ely-area outfitter that had dropped off Chori Rummel, 34, of Elkhart, Indiana, earlier for his first trip into the wilderness. The solo paddler used a handheld Garmin inReach device to send an SOS signal, and a message stating “Help Wet and Cold.”
Capt. Rick Slatten of the department’s rescue squad said Monday that they had to cross Nina-Moose Lake, roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Ely, in cold and snowy conditions.
“It was as dark as I’ve ever seen it out there. You couldn’t see anything. It was snowing heavily, fog was moving in, and there was ice on the lake,” Sean Williams, a Department of Natural Resources conservation officer, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. “We had to break through ice to get to the middle of the lake, and when we made it to the middle, it was so dark we had to use a GPS to find the shore and his campsite.”
Rescuers found Rummel in a tent inside a lightweight sleeping bag, wearing his one remaining set of dry clothes. He was experiencing hypothermia. The rescue team lit a fire, warmed him up, then brought him to safety.
Rummel, who was only one day into what he intended to be a weeklong visit, told the Star Tribune he sent his distress message once his hands became stiff from the wet and cold.
“I made a poor choice of gloves” Rummel said. “They said waterproof on the packaging, but they weren’t. If it wouldn’t have been for my hands, I would have stayed out there longer, but you can’t work very good if you can’t use your hands. It got so cold, my cellphone shut down on me.”
Slatten said Rummel is fortunate to be alive. Even if he had been strong enough to make it out on his own, the officer said, the ice had become so thick that Rummel would have had to carry out his canoe and gear, rather than paddle out.
Rummel said his experience has not dissuaded him from trying again, “but not until June.”
The sheriff’s office said everyone who ventures into the BWCA should prepare for all conditions, not take unnecessary risks, leave a travel plan, and travel with a GPS or SOS device in case of emergencies.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Man walking through grocery store with rifle arrested

ROYAL OAK TOWNSHIP , Mich. ( AP ) - A Detroit man has been arrested after customers in a suburban @ @ @ @ @ walked around inside the store with a rifle .
Touri Goodwin was arraigned Monday on @ @ @ @ @ being a felon in possession of a firearm and other charges , according to The @ @ @ @ @ were called Sunday afternoon to the store in Royal Oak Township , just north of @ @ @ @ @ man with a short-barreled rifle slung around his neck inside a vehicle outside the store @ @ @ @ @ he also had a handgun beneath his jacket .
Police seized the handgun and rifle @ @ @ @ @ ammunition .
Goodwin did not have a concealed pistol license , police said .
He @ @ @ @ @ Oakland County Jail on a $ 7,500 bond .

ROYAL OAK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A Detroit man has been arrested after customers in a suburban grocery told police he had walked around inside the store with a rifle.
Touri Goodwin was arraigned Monday on carrying a concealed weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and other charges, according to The Detroit News.
State police were called Sunday afternoon to the store in Royal Oak Township, just north of Detroit. They saw a man with a short-barreled rifle slung around his neck inside a vehicle outside the store.
The man told officers he also had a handgun beneath his jacket. Police seized the handgun and rifle. Both were loaded with ammunition.
Goodwin did not have a concealed pistol license, police said. He was being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $7,500 bond.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Chinese drugmaker setting up vaccine production lines

BEIJING ( AP ) - A state-owned Chinese drugmaker is setting up production lines to supply 1 billion doses of two possible coronavirus vaccines that are being tested on 50,000 people in 10 countries , the company chairman said Tuesday .
Testing by SinoPharm Group is “ in the last kilometer of a long march , ” chairman Liu Jingzhen said at a news conference .
He gave no indication when results are expected .
China ’ s fledgling drug industry is part of a global race to produce a vaccine and has four candidates in final stages of testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that even if China succeeds , stringent certification rules in the United States , Europe and Japan might mean its vaccine can be distributed only in other developing countries .
SinoPharm is testing two vaccines in countries including Egypt , Argentina , Jordan and Peru , Liu said .
Both are inactivated , meaning they use a non-infectious version of the coronavirus .
According to Liu , production lines for vaccines are being set up in Beijing and Wuhan , the city in central China where the outbreak began in December .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doses next year , ensuring sufficient safety , ” Liu said .
Chinese-developed vaccines have been tested on 60,000 people with “ only slight adverse effects , ” said Tian Baoguo , an official of the Ministry of Science and Technology .
Thousands of people in China including healthcare workers and others deemed to be at risk have been given the experimental vaccines .
Three city governments have announced plans to inoculate members of the public who need it .

BEIJING (AP) - A state-owned Chinese drugmaker is setting up production lines to supply 1 billion doses of two possible coronavirus vaccines that are being tested on 50,000 people in 10 countries, the company chairman said Tuesday.
Testing by SinoPharm Group is “in the last kilometer of a long march,” chairman Liu Jingzhen said at a news conference. He gave no indication when results are expected.
China’s fledgling drug industry is part of a global race to produce a vaccine and has four candidates in final stages of testing. Health experts say, however, that even if China succeeds, stringent certification rules in the United States, Europe and Japan might mean its vaccine can be distributed only in other developing countries.
SinoPharm is testing two vaccines in countries including Egypt, Argentina, Jordan and Peru, Liu said. Both are inactivated, meaning they use a non-infectious version of the coronavirus.
According to Liu, production lines for vaccines are being set up in Beijing and Wuhan, the city in central China where the outbreak began in December.
“The production capacity will reach 1 billion doses next year, ensuring sufficient safety,” Liu said.
Chinese-developed vaccines have been tested on 60,000 people with “only slight adverse effects,” said Tian Baoguo, an official of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Thousands of people in China including healthcare workers and others deemed to be at risk have been given the experimental vaccines. Three city governments have announced plans to inoculate members of the public who need it.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Iran breaks its record for most new virus cases in one day

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - Iran on Tuesday reported its highest single-day toll of new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic with more than 5,000 new infections , as the country struggles to cope with a surge in transmission .
Iran ’ s health ministry also reported that 322 people had died from the virus , pushing the death toll over 31,000 .
The new infection count on Tuesday eclipsed the previous high of 4,830 last week , shining a light on the nation ’ s floundering efforts to combat the virus .
Iran , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , has seen its worst wave of deaths from the illness in recent weeks .
Monday ’ s death toll shattered its previous single-day record , prompting state news outlets to declare it a “ black day.
” Hospitals in the hard-hit capital of Tehran are overflowing .
Last week , health officials announced that the city had run out of intensive care beds for virus patients .
Also on Tuesday , Hamidreza Azizi , deputy head of Iran ’ s nurses ’ organization , announced that 31,000 nurses have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 6,000 currently sick and staying home from work and 54 confirmed dead , according to state-run IRNA news agency .
He said the organization would deploy over 7,600 more nurses to compensate for dire staff shortages across the country ’ s hospitals .
Such official tolls are widely considered to understate the true dimensions of the outbreak among medical staff and nationwide .
The increase comes after Iranians packed cafes and restaurants at vacation spots during recent national holidays , and after schools reopened for in-person instruction last month .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it does not want to further weaken an economy already devastated by unprecedented U.S. sanctions .
The Trump administration re-imposed economic sanctions on Iran after withdrawing in 2018 from Tehran ’ s nuclear accord with world powers .
With the death toll skyrocketing , authorities are now starting to impose more restrictions .
The government closed museums , libraries , beauty salons , schools and universities in Tehran earlier this month , and imposed a mask mandate outdoors .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran on Tuesday reported its highest single-day toll of new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic with more than 5,000 new infections, as the country struggles to cope with a surge in transmission.
Iran’s health ministry also reported that 322 people had died from the virus, pushing the death toll over 31,000. The new infection count Tuesday eclipsed the previous high of 4,830 last week, shining a light on the nation’s floundering efforts to combat the virus.
Health minister Saeed Namaki made a dramatic appeal for people to follow health guidance measures, saying that without public help, “the pandemic in this country will not get better and we’ll have to collect the bodies,” the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.
“People, be aware, I, as the health minister, cannot fix this epidemic and the situation alone,” he said.
Iran, which emerged early on as an epicenter of the virus, has seen its worst wave of deaths from the illness in recent weeks. Monday’s death toll shattered its previous single-day record, prompting state news outlets to declare it a “black day.”
Hospitals in the hard-hit capital of Tehran are overflowing. Last week, health officials announced that the city had run out of intensive care beds for virus patients.
In a grim reminder of outbreak’s heavy toll on medical workers, Hamidreza Azizi, deputy head of Iran’s nurses’ organization, announced Tuesday that 31,000 nurses have been infected with the coronavirus in the country, with 6,000 currently sick and staying home from work and 54 confirmed dead, according to state-run IRNA news agency.
He said the organization would deploy over 7,600 more nurses to compensate for dire staff shortages across the country’s hospitals. Such official tolls are widely considered to understate the true dimensions of the outbreak among medical staff and nationwide.
The increase comes after Iranians packed cafes and restaurants at vacation spots during recent national holidays, and after schools reopened for in-person instruction last month.
The government has resisted a total lockdown because it does not want to further weaken an economy already devastated by unprecedented U.S. sanctions. The Trump administration re-imposed economic sanctions on Iran after withdrawing in 2018 from Tehran’s nuclear accord with world powers.
With the death toll skyrocketing, authorities are now starting to impose more restrictions. The government closed museums, libraries, beauty salons, schools and universities in Tehran earlier this month, and imposed a mask mandate outdoors.
Police have deployed to fine those caught without a mask, but enforcement remains a challenge in the sprawling city of 10 million. Months into the pandemic, fatigue and frustration have set in.
Namaki, the health minister, criticized authorities Tuesday for failing to implement new anti-virus measures, promoted on state-run media but frequently forgotten on Tehran’s bustling streets.
“We asked for fines to be collected from anyone who doesn’t wear a mask, but go and find out how many people were fined,” he said. “We said close roads, and yet how many did they close?”


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Danish sub killer recaptured after attempted prison escape

COPENHAGEN , Denmark ( AP ) — A Danish man convicted of torturing and murdering a Swedish journalist on his homemade submarine escaped the suburban Copenhagen jail where he is serving a life sentence but was recaptured nearby Tuesday .
The Ekstra Bladet tabloid posted a video of Peter Madsen sitting in the grass with his hands behind his back and police at distance .
According to the daily , Madsen “ had a belt-like object around the abdomen.
” On Twitter , police said “ a man has been arrested after attempted escape.
” Police spokesman Claus Buhr told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A witness , Frank Jensen , told the Ekstra Bladet that police suddenly surrounded a white van , opened the door and pulled Madsen out of it .
The scene occurred outside the Herstedvester prison in Albertslund , a Copenhagen suburb where Madsen is serving his sentence .
In 2018 , Madsen was sentenced in the Copenhagen City Court to life in prison for killing Kim Wall , a 30-year-old reporter from Sweden who he lured aboard his homemade submarine in 2017 with the promise of an interview .
He dismembered her body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost his appeal , shortly after apologizing to the victim ’ s family who were present in the appeals court .
The sensational case has gripped Scandinavia .
Madsen has denied murdering Wall .
He claims she died accidentally inside the submarine but he has confessed to throwing her body parts into the Baltic Sea .
Life sentences in Denmark usually mean 16 years in prison , but convicts are reassessed to determine whether they would pose a danger to society if released and can be kept longer .
A self-taught engineer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but never went to university .
In 2008 , he launched his homemade UC3 Nautilus submarine .
Wall had planned to interview Madsen for a story on a rocket program he founded in 2014 , with the goal of building a crowdfunded rocket to launch himself into space .
But by the time he finally texted her , his cash flow had dried up and he had canceled the planned test launch .

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A Danish man convicted of torturing and murdering a Swedish journalist on his homemade submarine escaped the suburban Copenhagen jail where he is serving a life sentence but was recaptured nearby Tuesday.
The Ekstra Bladet tabloid posted a video of Peter Madsen sitting in the grass with his hands behind his back and police at distance. According to the daily, Madsen “had a belt-like object around the abdomen.”
On Twitter, police said “a man has been arrested after attempted escape.” Police spokesman Claus Buhr told The Associated Press it was Madsen.
Details were sketchy.
A witness, Frank Jensen, told the Ekstra Bladet that police suddenly surrounded a white van, opened the door and pulled Madsen out of it. The scene occurred outside the Herstedvester prison in Albertslund, a Copenhagen suburb where Madsen is serving his sentence.
In 2018, Madsen was sentenced in the Copenhagen City Court to life in prison for killing Kim Wall, a 30-year-old reporter from Sweden who he lured aboard his homemade submarine in 2017 with the promise of an interview. He dismembered her body and dumped it at sea.
Madsen lost his appeal, shortly after apologizing to the victim’s family who were present in the appeals court. The sensational case has gripped Scandinavia.
Madsen has denied murdering Wall. He claims she died accidentally inside the submarine but he has confessed to throwing her body parts into the Baltic Sea.
Life sentences in Denmark usually mean 16 years in prison, but convicts are reassessed to determine whether they would pose a danger to society if released and can be kept longer.
A self-taught engineer, Madsen built rockets in his spare time but never went to university. In 2008, he launched his homemade UC3 Nautilus submarine.
Wall had planned to interview Madsen for a story on a rocket program he founded in 2014, with the goal of building a crowdfunded rocket to launch himself into space. But by the time he finally texted her, his cash flow had dried up and he had canceled the planned test launch.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--EU takes action against Malta, Cyprus for 'golden passports'

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - The European Commission launched infringements procedures Tuesday against Cyprus and Malta over their “ golden passport ” programs , in which wealthy people can acquire EU citizenship in exchange for an investment .
The EU ’ s executive said the lucrative schemes are in violation of EU law and undermine the “ essence of EU citizenship.
” Cyprus recently announced that it was ending its program amid allegations that a top state official and a veteran lawmaker were trying to bypass strict vetting rules .
Cyprus says it will end its program from Nov. 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country plans to continue processing current applications .
The Cypriot program was introduced in the wake of a 2013 financial crisis that brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy and forced it to accept a financial rescue program from creditors .
Like a similar program in Malta , it has attracted many foreigner investors because a passport from those EU countries automatically grants the holder access to the entire 27-nation European Union .
Around 4,000 Cypriot passports have been issued to investors under the program , generating more than 7 billion euros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The schemes remain in place for the time being , in both member states concerned and could be replaced by similar investment schemes ” said EU Commission spokesman Christian Wigand .
“ Malta has in fact informed the Commission that it envisages a prolongation of citizenship foreign investment.
” The commission set a two-month deadline for both countries to reply to letters of formal notice and can ultimately decide to refer the matter to the Court of Justice .
In a report last year , the commission also criticized Bulgaria for offering passports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any real connections to the country .
Wigand said the commission has also sent a letter to Bulgarian authorities asking them to phase out their citizenship scheme and provide detailed information about the program within a month .

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Commission launched infringements procedures Tuesday against Cyprus and Malta over their “golden passport” programs, in which wealthy people can acquire EU citizenship in exchange for an investment.
The EU’s executive said the lucrative schemes are in violation of EU law and undermine the “essence of EU citizenship.”
Cyprus recently announced that it was ending its program amid allegations that a top state official and a veteran lawmaker were trying to bypass strict vetting rules.
Cyprus says it will end its program from Nov. 1, though the Commission notes that the country plans to continue processing current applications.
The Cypriot program was introduced in the wake of a 2013 financial crisis that brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy and forced it to accept a financial rescue program from creditors. Like a similar program in Malta, it has attracted many foreigner investors because a passport from those EU countries automatically grants the holder access to the entire 27-nation European Union.
Around 4,000 Cypriot passports have been issued to investors under the program, generating more than 7 billion euros ($8.25 billion). In Malta, the program was among the topics investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia had reported on before she was blown up by a car bomb while driving in 2017.
“The schemes remain in place for the time being, in both member states concerned and could be replaced by similar investment schemes” said EU Commission spokesman Christian Wigand. “Malta has in fact informed the Commission that it envisages a prolongation of citizenship foreign investment.”
Malta responded in a statement that its program will soon be terminated and replaced by new residence regulations “which take into consideration the European Commission’s concerns and recommendations.”
Malta’s department of information said the agency in charge of running the program has stopped receiving applications since August. It however defended the scheme, insisting it helped “saving lives and jobs” during the coronavirus pandemic.
The new regulations will stipulate that candidates for Maltese citizenship need three years of residency, or one year “by exception through higher investment.”
The commission set a two-month deadline for both countries to reply to letters of formal notice and can ultimately decide to refer the matter to the Court of Justice.
Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International welcomed the commission’s decision, saying the scheme served “corrupt interests, not the common good.”
In a report last year, the commission also criticized Bulgaria for offering passports in exchange for money to investors without any real connections to the country.
Wigand said the commission has also sent a letter to Bulgarian authorities asking them to phase out their citizenship scheme and provide detailed information about the program within a month.
Transparency International asked the EU Commission to scrutinize other similar schemes across the bloc, mentioning Portugal and Austria in particular, to determine whether they are legal.
___
Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--More than 1,300 inmates escape from prison in eastern Congo

BENI , Congo ( AP ) - More than 1,300 inmates have escaped from the central prison of Beni in eastern Congo after an attack by rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces , the town ’ s mayor said Tuesday .
Mayor Modeste Bakwanamaha told The Associated Press that one inmate had died in the attack on Kangbayi prison .
“ We call on the population to report any suspicious person who may be an escaped prisoner , ” he said .
The mayor said that 20 of the escaped prisoners had already returned , preferring incarceration to life with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back say that they were taken by force .
They say they had to escape from their abductors , the ADF , because they did not want to live as enemies in the bush , ” said Bakwanamaha .
News of the Kangbayi jailbreak angered locals , who feared the mass escape could further exacerbate violence in the area .
“ It is a danger to the community of Beni , ” said resident Sadi Amundala .
“ We would like our government to improve the conditions of life in prisons and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent future escapes.
” The escape comes three years after another attack on the Kangbayi prison in which about 100 inmates had fled and dozens were killed .
The Allied Democratic Forces rebel group , known as the ADF , originated in Uganda and has long been a threat in eastern Congo .
The Islamic State group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the prison attack , in an announcement on its Amaq news agency .
The IS group has recently claimed some attacks carried out by ADF rebels but the exact relationship between @ @ @ @ @ @ @

BENI, Congo (AP) - More than 1,300 inmates have escaped from the central prison of Beni in eastern Congo after an attack by rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces, the town’s mayor said Tuesday.
Mayor Modeste Bakwanamaha told The Associated Press that one inmate had died in the attack on Kangbayi prison.
“We call on the population to report any suspicious person who may be an escaped prisoner,” he said.
The mayor said that 20 of the escaped prisoners had already returned, preferring incarceration to life with the rebels.
“Those who came back say that they were taken by force. They say they had to escape from their abductors, the ADF, because they did not want to live as enemies in the bush,” said Bakwanamaha.
News of the Kangbayi jailbreak angered locals, who feared the mass escape could further exacerbate violence in the area.
“It is a danger to the community of Beni,” said resident Sadi Amundala. “We would like our government to improve the conditions of life in prisons and also strengthen the police and military presence to prevent future escapes.”
The escape comes three years after another attack on the Kangbayi prison in which about 100 inmates had fled and dozens were killed.
The Allied Democratic Forces rebel group, known as the ADF, originated in Uganda and has long been a threat in eastern Congo. The Islamic State group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the prison attack, in an announcement on its Amaq news agency. The IS group has recently claimed some attacks carried out by ADF rebels but the exact relationship between the two groups is not clear.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Yom Kippur Zoom reunites Holocaust survivors 71 years later

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Holocaust survivors Ruth Brandspiegel and Israel “ Sasha ” Eisenberg call their reunion a miracle that began on the holiest day in Judaism , and it only happened thanks to a prayer service that was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Decades ago their families , who came from the same city in Poland , escaped the Nazis , crossed into the Soviet Union and were sent to different labor camps in Siberia , where Eisenberg was born .
They later met at a displaced persons camp in Austria , where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other there , in 1949 , before losing track of each other ’ s whereabouts .
More than 70 years later , Brandspiegel , now a Philadelphia resident , heard a familiar name being called out in a Yom Kippur service held in late September via Zoom by her son ’ s synagogue in East Brunswick , New Jersey .
“ I said to myself , Sasha ?
I know there ’ s a lot of Eisenbergs , but Sasha Eisenberg ?
How could that possibly be ?
” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cantor at the East Brunswick Jewish Center , and asked him to help her check .
“ He said , ‘ Oh mom , what are you talking about ?
’ ” she recalled .
“ I said … just take a look.
’ ” After some back-and-forth on the phone with the Eisenberg family , Larry called with the good news : It was indeed her beloved childhood friend .
She had heard his name during the service because his wife , Marsha , wanted to give him a shoutout after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I even didn ’ t know that Regina was in America !
” said Eisenberg , 79 , using Brandspiegel ’ s original name which she adapted to Ruth after moving to America .
“ It ’ s 70 years and I was a child .
… So I called it a miracle , because I don ’ t see any other way that humans can organize such an event and make everything come together.
” Brandspiegel was born in 1936 in Ciechanów .
Her family escaped after Hitler ’ s invasion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onset of World War II .
After some weeks in Ukraine , her family was sent to a labor camp in Siberia and later to the Ural Mountains , “ where it was a little warmer.
” After the war they briefly went back to Poland but left with the help of Jewish organizations to the Hallein Displaced Persons Camp in Austria , in 1946 , where they befriended a family that hailed from their same hometown .
The Eisenbergs had left Ciechanów in the late 1930s , fearful of the Nazis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Siberian camp and returned to Poland briefly after the war .
With many relatives dead and all their property gone , they then went to Hallein and found themselves in the same barracks as the Brandspiegels .
“ Of course , we were family already , ” said Brandspiegel , 83 .
“ Mishpacha , ” she added , using the Hebrew word for family .
Eisenberg ’ s father died in a car accident in 1948 , and he still remembers how Brandspiegel ’ s dad , “ a pious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his grief by reciting with him the Kaddish , the Jewish prayer for the dead .
“ A thing like this , you don ’ t forget , ” Eisenberg said .
“ So it was very emotional for me .
And even as I speak now , I kind of tremble a little bit about it.
” The following year his mother decided to take the family to Israel , where he lived in a kibbutz and served in the military before moving to Brooklyn in 1964 .
During the daytime he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor boy .
He improved his English at night school , and studied architecture and civil engineering at Pratt Institute .
He and his wife had two children : Alissa , a teacher , and Kevin , a lawyer .
Meanwhile Brandspiegel ’ s family had moved to Philadelphia in 1952 .
She attended high school and worked as a bookkeeper before marrying in 1957 at age 21 .
The couple opened a children ’ s clothing store and had three children : Flora , Debbie and Larry .
So for years the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 miles apart .
On Oct. 3 , they were finally reunited .
Brandspiegel ’ s son hosted a socially distanced gathering at his home in East Brunswick under a sukkah , a temporary shelter used to observe the seven days and nights of the Jewish fall holiday Sukkot .
For hours , they chatted , reminisced and looked at black-and-white photos from decades past .
Both families cried joyful tears .
“ It ’ s a shame that we weren ’ t able to hug under these circumstances , ” Brandspiegel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I never expected , and this was something that gave me so much pleasure that I ’ m just crying .
… Sasha , Never forget that moment.
” Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The AP is solely responsible for this content .

NEW YORK (AP) - Holocaust survivors Ruth Brandspiegel and Israel “Sasha” Eisenberg call their reunion a miracle that began on the holiest day in Judaism, and it only happened thanks to a prayer service that was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Decades ago their families, who came from the same city in Poland, escaped the Nazis, crossed into the Soviet Union and were sent to different labor camps in Siberia, where Eisenberg was born. They later met at a displaced persons camp in Austria, where they became close friends. They last saw each other there, in 1949, before losing track of each other’s whereabouts.
More than 70 years later, Brandspiegel, now a Philadelphia resident, heard a familiar name being called out in a Yom Kippur service held in late September via Zoom by her son’s synagogue in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
“I said to myself, Sasha? I know there’s a lot of Eisenbergs, but Sasha Eisenberg? How could that possibly be?” she said. So she called son Larry Brandspiegel, a cantor at the East Brunswick Jewish Center, and asked him to help her check.
“He said, ‘Oh mom, what are you talking about?’” she recalled. “I said … just take a look.’”
After some back-and-forth on the phone with the Eisenberg family, Larry called with the good news: It was indeed her beloved childhood friend. She had heard his name during the service because his wife, Marsha, wanted to give him a shoutout after being married for 53 years.
“I even didn’t know that Regina was in America!” said Eisenberg, 79, using Brandspiegel’s original name which she adapted to Ruth after moving to America. “It’s 70 years and I was a child. … So I called it a miracle, because I don’t see any other way that humans can organize such an event and make everything come together.”
Brandspiegel was born in 1936 in Ciechanów. Her family escaped after Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939, which marked the onset of World War II. After some weeks in Ukraine, her family was sent to a labor camp in Siberia and later to the Ural Mountains, “where it was a little warmer.” After the war they briefly went back to Poland but left with the help of Jewish organizations to the Hallein Displaced Persons Camp in Austria, in 1946, where they befriended a family that hailed from their same hometown.
The Eisenbergs had left Ciechanów in the late 1930s, fearful of the Nazis. They, too, ended up in a Siberian camp and returned to Poland briefly after the war. With many relatives dead and all their property gone, they then went to Hallein and found themselves in the same barracks as the Brandspiegels.
“Of course, we were family already,” said Brandspiegel, 83.
“Mishpacha,” she added, using the Hebrew word for family.
Eisenberg’s father died in a car accident in 1948, and he still remembers how Brandspiegel’s dad, “a pious, religious man,” helped him through his grief by reciting with him the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead.
“A thing like this, you don’t forget,” Eisenberg said. “So it was very emotional for me. And even as I speak now, I kind of tremble a little bit about it.”
The following year his mother decided to take the family to Israel, where he lived in a kibbutz and served in the military before moving to Brooklyn in 1964. During the daytime he worked at a sweater factory as a floor boy. He improved his English at night school, and studied architecture and civil engineering at Pratt Institute. He and his wife had two children: Alissa, a teacher, and Kevin, a lawyer.
Meanwhile Brandspiegel’s family had moved to Philadelphia in 1952. She attended high school and worked as a bookkeeper before marrying in 1957 at age 21. The couple opened a children’s clothing store and had three children: Flora, Debbie and Larry.
So for years the long-lost friends were unknowingly living less than 60 miles apart. On Oct. 3, they were finally reunited.
Brandspiegel’s son hosted a socially distanced gathering at his home in East Brunswick under a sukkah, a temporary shelter used to observe the seven days and nights of the Jewish fall holiday Sukkot.
For hours, they chatted, reminisced and looked at black-and-white photos from decades past. Both families cried joyful tears.
“It’s a shame that we weren’t able to hug under these circumstances,” Brandspiegel said. “But it was something that I never expected, and this was something that gave me so much pleasure that I’m just crying. … Sasha, Never forget that moment.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Postal carrier accused of stealing mail-in ballot in Miami

MIAMI ( AP ) - A U.S .
Postal Service carrier is accused of stealing a Miami-Dade County mail-in ballot , 10 gift cards and four prepaid debit cards earlier this month , federal authorities said .
A federal complaint filed by the U.S .
Postal Service Office of Inspector General said that between Oct. 5 and 16 , Crystal Nicole Myrie “ embezzled letters , postal cards and mail which came into her possession intended to be carried or delivered by her , ” the Miami Herald reported .
The mail-in ballot had been sent to a resident by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 6 , the complaint said .
Myrie made her first appearance in federal court on Monday .
An attorney for Myrie was not listed on the court docket , and it wasn ’ t immediately clear whether she entered a plea .
On Friday , two postal inspector agents questioned Myrie , who admitted to stealing several prepaid debit cards that were supposed to be delivered to a customer on her route and using them at retail stores , the newspaper reported .
After the interview , the investigators told Myrie she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identification , the Herald reported .
She told them the ID was in her car in the parking lot .
They asked if there was mail or any other items in her car and at first she told them no .
She then changed her answer to yes .
“ Upon approaching the vehicle , ( one agent ) observed , in plain view through a rear window , several postal service satchels containing white envelopes in the back seat of Myrie ’ s personal vehicle , ” according to the complaint .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail from her personal vehicle.
” The two postal inspector agents searched her car and found “ undelivered mail for the zip code serviced by Myrie ” in Miami Beach , the complaint said .
They also found 36 political flyers and 150 other pieces of mail in her vehicle , the newspaper reported .
“ By stealing ( the victim ’ s ) vote-by-mail ballot , Myrie deprived ( the victim ) of her right to vote , ” the complaint said .
Myrie “ admitted that she has been stealing mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost two years , ” the complaint said .

MIAMI (AP) - A U.S. Postal Service carrier is accused of stealing a Miami-Dade County mail-in ballot, 10 gift cards and four prepaid debit cards earlier this month, federal authorities said.
A federal complaint filed by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General said that between Oct. 5 and 16, Crystal Nicole Myrie “embezzled letters, postal cards and mail which came into her possession intended to be carried or delivered by her,” the Miami Herald reported.
The mail-in ballot had been sent to a resident by the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Office on Oct. 6, the complaint said.
Myrie made her first appearance in federal court on Monday. An attorney for Myrie was not listed on the court docket, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether she entered a plea.
On Friday, two postal inspector agents questioned Myrie, who admitted to stealing several prepaid debit cards that were supposed to be delivered to a customer on her route and using them at retail stores, the newspaper reported.
After the interview, the investigators told Myrie she would have to turn in her postal identification, the Herald reported. She told them the ID was in her car in the parking lot. They asked if there was mail or any other items in her car and at first she told them no. She then changed her answer to yes.
“Upon approaching the vehicle, (one agent) observed, in plain view through a rear window, several postal service satchels containing white envelopes in the back seat of Myrie’s personal vehicle,” according to the complaint. “Myrie is not authorized to deliver mail from her personal vehicle.”
The two postal inspector agents searched her car and found “undelivered mail for the zip code serviced by Myrie” in Miami Beach, the complaint said.
They also found 36 political flyers and 150 other pieces of mail in her vehicle, the newspaper reported.
“By stealing (the victim’s) vote-by-mail ballot, Myrie deprived (the victim) of her right to vote,” the complaint said.
Myrie “admitted that she has been stealing mail sporadically (on her route) for almost two years,” the complaint said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Deschutes County Sheriff's Office sued over shooting man

BEND , Ore. ( AP ) - The Deschutes County Sheriff ’ s Office is being sued by a man deputies shot in October 2018 at the Fun Farm north of Bend .
A lawsuit filed by Brandon Berrett this month in Deschutes County Circuit Court alleges Deputy Christopher Jones and fellow deputies were poorly trained and used excessive force after the shooting , The Bulletin reported .
District Attorney John Hummel has already determined Berrett drove at Jones , which justified Jones firing two shots at Berrett , striking him once .
Berrett is seeking $ 727,000 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and severe pain to all areas in which he sustained injuries , ” Berrett ’ s attorney , Janie Mogensen , wrote in the complaint .
Jones as well as Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson are named as defendants in the suit .
Jones died in a motorcycle crash last year .
The Fun Farm - long called the Funny Farm - was a roadside attraction featuring a costume shop and extensive collection of “ The Wizard of Oz ” memorabilia .
Upkeep lagged as the site ’ s surviving owner aged and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to documents related to the Berrett shooting .
At the time of the shooting , Berrett ’ s father was a caretaker who lived there in a trailer .
Berrett was inside the trailer when five officers arrived on Oct. 12 , 2018 , to take him into custody on an arrest warrant .
Berrett fled to an idling car and Jones fired twice into the driver side window as it passed him inches away , police said .
Berrett ’ s attorneys have said he was attempting to pass Jones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving slowly .
After Berrett was shot , deputies placed him on the ground , face-down , and cuffed his hands .
Berrett was shot in the upper back , causing a collapsed lung and other internal injuries , documents said .
He was hospitalized then transferred to jail and charged with seven felonies related to the incident .
Berrett pleaded no contest to reckless endangerment , escape and driving under the influence of intoxicants , and was sentenced to 60 days jail .
Since his release , he ’ s been arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff ’ s office spokesman said the sheriff ’ s office “ believes the plaintiff ’ s claims are without merit and intends to defend this matter vigorously .
”

BEND, Ore. (AP) - The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is being sued by a man deputies shot in October 2018 at the Fun Farm north of Bend.
A lawsuit filed by Brandon Berrett this month in Deschutes County Circuit Court alleges Deputy Christopher Jones and fellow deputies were poorly trained and used excessive force after the shooting, The Bulletin reported.
District Attorney John Hummel has already determined Berrett drove at Jones, which justified Jones firing two shots at Berrett, striking him once. Berrett is seeking $727,000.
“He continues to suffer persistent, constant and severe pain to all areas in which he sustained injuries,” Berrett’s attorney, Janie Mogensen, wrote in the complaint.
Jones as well as Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson are named as defendants in the suit. Jones died in a motorcycle crash last year.
The Fun Farm - long called the Funny Farm - was a roadside attraction featuring a costume shop and extensive collection of “The Wizard of Oz” memorabilia. Upkeep lagged as the site’s surviving owner aged and the site became host to criminal activity, according to documents related to the Berrett shooting.
At the time of the shooting, Berrett’s father was a caretaker who lived there in a trailer.
Berrett was inside the trailer when five officers arrived on Oct. 12, 2018, to take him into custody on an arrest warrant. Berrett fled to an idling car and Jones fired twice into the driver side window as it passed him inches away, police said.
Berrett’s attorneys have said he was attempting to pass Jones, not strike him, and was driving slowly.
After Berrett was shot, deputies placed him on the ground, face-down, and cuffed his hands.
Berrett was shot in the upper back, causing a collapsed lung and other internal injuries, documents said. He was hospitalized then transferred to jail and charged with seven felonies related to the incident.
Berrett pleaded no contest to reckless endangerment, escape and driving under the influence of intoxicants, and was sentenced to 60 days jail.
Since his release, he’s been arrested four times in Central Oregon.
A sheriff’s office spokesman said the sheriff’s office “believes the plaintiff’s claims are without merit and intends to defend this matter vigorously.”


Recent Missouri editorials

Our Opinion : Less talk , more action on domestic violence The Show-Me State has many things we can take pride in .
But one of our state ’ s blemishes , and something we don ’ t talk about enough , is our domestic violence problem .
The Show-Me State has many things we can take pride in .
But one of our state ’ s blemishes , and something we don ’ t talk about enough , is our domestic violence problem .
All states have their own problems with domestic violence , but Missouri ’ s is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miss The Latest Editorials And Columns About Local , State And National Events .
Missouri ranks second in the nation in the number of women murdered by men , according to a national study by the Violence Policy Center , KY3 in Springfield recently reported .
With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month , it ’ s a good time to bring the issue to the forefront .
Our state has seen a spike in domestic violence calls during the pandemic , and gun sales have surged .
According to Everytown for Gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by an intimate partner in Missouri from 2014-18 .
Nationally , women of color are victims of homicide at higher rates than white women , and more than 55 percent of these killings are committed by an intimate partner .
This past legislative session , lawmakers failed to schedule hearings on any of the five bills that would have protected Missouri communities , Everytown for Gun Safety said in a news release .
That was despite 400 members of Moms Demand Action who advocated for legislation to keep firearms out of the hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported in June that under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968 , it ’ s illegal to “ purchase , receive or possess ” a firearm if someone has been “ convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
” When it became legal to conceal and carry without a permit in Missouri , law enforcement lost a method of restricting guns based on background checks , which they would have done when issuing permits .
We ask lawmakers to correct this during the next legislative session , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected representatives to do so .
Meanwhile , if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence , you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 , available 24/7 , for confidential assistance from a trained advocate .
You can also chat online at thehotline.org .
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to extend the two-term restriction that currently applies to the governor and treasurer to the lieutenant governor , secretary of state , auditor and the attorney general ?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ yes ” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to impose a two-term restriction on all statewide elected officials , which currently only applies to the governor and treasurer .
A “ no ” vote will leave the terms that statewide elected officials may serve unchanged .
Term limits in general are popular , though how popular depends on the branch of government and the office under consideration .
Governors are term limited in 36 of the 50 states , including Missouri .
Amendment 1 on the Nov. 3 ballot would mean all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to no more than two four-year terms in office .
The governor and treasurer are already subject to term limits of two four-year terms .
The other officials are : lieutenant governor , secretary of state , state auditor , state treasurer and attorney general .
All the statewide elected officials serve four-year terms , but the auditor is elected in even-numbered , nonpresidential election years , out of cycle with the other offices .
In the Globe ’ s recent unscientific online poll , 87 % of readers who responded said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is representative of voter sentiment and the measure is likely to pass , but there are some things residents should know and consider before casting their ballots : • Incumbents have a huge advantage in elections through increased name recognition and the likelihood of raising more money than a challenger .
• Term limits already exist - we call them elections .
• Term limits take choices away from voters , preventing otherwise qualified candidates from seeking reelection .
• Term limits can increase polarization .
Relationships and experience tend to allow for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Term limits often are seen as a way to reduce the influence of lobbyists and special interest influence by reducing entrenched relationships with officials .
• Term limits mean officials are less experienced , making them more dependent on those with deeper institutional and policy knowledge - lobbyists , unelected staffers and policy wonks - to deal with complex issues .
This can put more public business into the hands of people we haven ’ t elected .
The drive for term limits is largely based on opposition to creating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office can make leaders distant from their constituents and the assumption that greater time in office will make political figures corrupt .
Public servants argue otherwise , and there are other effects to consider when casting your ballot .
All potential effects of the change should be weighed before you cast your ballot .
Missouri Governor Mike Parson should know how the criminal justice system works .
Parson is a former Polk County sheriff , yet he wants to pardon a St. Louis couple for crimes they have yet to be tried for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCloskey , who became a conservative cause célèbre after waving guns at protesters outside their home , were indicted last week by a grand jury for unlawful use of a weapon , a felony , and evidence tampering .
In June , Mark McCloskey pointed an AR-15 rifle at racial injustice protesters , prosecutors allege .
Pat McCloskey is accused of provoking fear of injury among the protesters by placing her finger on the trigger of a semiautomatic handgun .
The couple , who spoke at the Republican National Convention after being arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course should have their day in court .
But the McCloskeys ’ powerful Republican allies in Jefferson City and Washington , D.C. , don ’ t seem to think these gun-wielding criminal suspects should have to bother with the judicial system .
Parson has said he “ most certainly would ” pardon the McCloskeys if they ’ re convicted .
That ’ s a stunning statement from a governor who has been unwilling to act on a crushing backlog of petitions for clemency and pardons and has kept thousands of people behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor , Parson has shown little interest in exercising his power to pardon anyone for a criminal act - or to reduce individuals ’ sentences .
He has been unmoved by cases such as that of Bobby Bostic , who was 16 when he was tried as an adult and found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping .
Two shooting victims survived , but a judge sentenced Bostic to 241 years in prison , a penalty that civil rights advocates say is unconstitutional for a teenager who commits a crime other than homicide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now retired , joined an amicus brief in support of Bostic ’ s appeal .
But Parson has not ruled on a clemency request filed on Bostic ’ s behalf .
The case of convicted killer Ken Middleton also sits on the governor ’ s desk .
Middleton , of Blue Springs , is serving a life sentence for the shooting death of his wife .
Both evidence and ballistic experts have cast doubt on Middleton ’ s guilt .
Forensic analysts concluded the fatal shooting of Middleton ’ s wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Missouri Court of Appeals in Kansas City overturned a judge ’ s decision to vacate Middleton ’ s conviction .
Family and attorneys have petitioned Parson ’ s administration for clemency , but no decision has been made .
Women convicted of murdering their abusive husbands to protect themselves or their children have pleaded to Parson for mercy to no avail .
Parson also denied the commutation request of convicted killer Russell Bucklew , who was suffering from a rare disease that would cause excruciating pain during lethal injection .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t feel compelled to take action in cases that are worthy of his consideration .
Why is he prematurely wading into this one ?
A campaign spokesman for State Auditor Nicole Galloway , the Democratic nominee for governor , said Parson has inserted himself into a local matter for entirely political reasons .
Given Parson ’ s perpetual inaction on pardons , it ’ s hard to see any nonpolitical reason for singling out the McCloskeys ’ case - before it even goes to trial no less .
Missouri Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointee , has filed a motion to dismiss the case .
The legal salvo was Schmitt ’ s latest attempt to undermine St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner , a Democrat .
Mark McCloskey claims the couple is being “ persecuted ” for exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and defend their property .
Video of the encounter tells a different story , prosecutors say .
A grand jury agreed that there was probable cause the couple broke the law , and the McCloskeys ’ claim that protesters posed a threat has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those charged with crimes are afforded due process in the court of law .
A judge or jury determines , based on evidence presented in court , their guilt or innocence .
Regardless of Parson ’ s views , he should not put his thumb on the scale before the case goes to trial .
By signaling now that he plans to pardon the McCloskeys , he ’ s short-circuiting the legal process , sending the message to attorneys , jurors , the judge and anyone else involved that their work - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t matter because he ’ s decided to undo any outcome he doesn ’ t like .
Parson claims to be a “ law and order ” governor , but in this case , scoring political points is clearly a higher priority .

The Jefferson City News-Tribune, Oct. 18
Our Opinion: Less talk, more action on domestic violence
The Show-Me State has many things we can take pride in. But one of our state’s blemishes, and something we don’t talk about enough, is our domestic violence problem.
All states have their own problems with domestic violence, but Missouri’s is worse than most.
Missouri ranks second in the nation in the number of women murdered by men, according to a national study by the Violence Policy Center, KY3 in Springfield recently reported.
With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it’s a good time to bring the issue to the forefront.
Our state has seen a spike in domestic violence calls during the pandemic, and gun sales have surged.
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 99 women were fatally shot by an intimate partner in Missouri from 2014-18.
Nationally, women of color are victims of homicide at higher rates than white women, and more than 55 percent of these killings are committed by an intimate partner.
This past legislative session, lawmakers failed to schedule hearings on any of the five bills that would have protected Missouri communities, Everytown for Gun Safety said in a news release. That was despite 400 members of Moms Demand Action who advocated for legislation to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers.
The Columbia Missourian reported in June that under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968, it’s illegal to “purchase, receive or possess” a firearm if someone has been “convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.” When it became legal to conceal and carry without a permit in Missouri, law enforcement lost a method of restricting guns based on background checks, which they would have done when issuing permits.
We ask lawmakers to correct this during the next legislative session, and we urge the public to urge their elected representatives to do so.
Meanwhile, if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, available 24/7, for confidential assistance from a trained advocate. You can also chat online at thehotline.org.
_____
The Joplin Globe, Oct. 18
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to extend the two-term restriction that currently applies to the governor and treasurer to the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor and the attorney general? State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings from this proposal. A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to impose a two-term restriction on all statewide elected officials, which currently only applies to the governor and treasurer.
A “no” vote will leave the terms that statewide elected officials may serve unchanged.
Term limits in general are popular, though how popular depends on the branch of government and the office under consideration. Governors are term limited in 36 of the 50 states, including Missouri. Amendment 1 on the Nov. 3 ballot would mean all six statewide elected officials would be limited to no more than two four-year terms in office.
The governor and treasurer are already subject to term limits of two four-year terms. The other officials are: lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer and attorney general. All the statewide elected officials serve four-year terms, but the auditor is elected in even-numbered, nonpresidential election years, out of cycle with the other offices.
In the Globe’s recent unscientific online poll, 87% of readers who responded said they supported the measure. We suspect that is representative of voter sentiment and the measure is likely to pass, but there are some things residents should know and consider before casting their ballots:
• Term limits bring new people into elected offices.
• Incumbents have a huge advantage in elections through increased name recognition and the likelihood of raising more money than a challenger.
• Term limits already exist - we call them elections.
• Term limits take choices away from voters, preventing otherwise qualified candidates from seeking reelection.
• Term limits can increase polarization. Relationships and experience tend to allow for coalition building and compromise necessary for governing.
• Term limits often are seen as a way to reduce the influence of lobbyists and special interest influence by reducing entrenched relationships with officials.
• Term limits mean officials are less experienced, making them more dependent on those with deeper institutional and policy knowledge - lobbyists, unelected staffers and policy wonks - to deal with complex issues. This can put more public business into the hands of people we haven’t elected.
The drive for term limits is largely based on opposition to creating a governing class, concern that time in office can make leaders distant from their constituents and the assumption that greater time in office will make political figures corrupt. Public servants argue otherwise, and there are other effects to consider when casting your ballot.
All potential effects of the change should be weighed before you cast your ballot.
—-
The Kansas City Star, Oct. 13
Missouri Governor Mike Parson should know how the criminal justice system works.
Parson is a former Polk County sheriff, yet he wants to pardon a St. Louis couple for crimes they have yet to be tried for or convicted of.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who became a conservative cause célèbre after waving guns at protesters outside their home, were indicted last week by a grand jury for unlawful use of a weapon, a felony, and evidence tampering.
In June, Mark McCloskey pointed an AR-15 rifle at racial injustice protesters, prosecutors allege. Pat McCloskey is accused of provoking fear of injury among the protesters by placing her finger on the trigger of a semiautomatic handgun.
The couple, who spoke at the Republican National Convention after being arrested, is innocent until proven guilty and of course should have their day in court.
But the McCloskeys’ powerful Republican allies in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C., don’t seem to think these gun-wielding criminal suspects should have to bother with the judicial system.
Parson has said he “most certainly would” pardon the McCloskeys if they’re convicted.
That’s a stunning statement from a governor who has been unwilling to act on a crushing backlog of petitions for clemency and pardons and has kept thousands of people behind bars and in legal limbo.
As governor, Parson has shown little interest in exercising his power to pardon anyone for a criminal act - or to reduce individuals’ sentences. He has been unmoved by cases such as that of Bobby Bostic, who was 16 when he was tried as an adult and found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping.
Two shooting victims survived, but a judge sentenced Bostic to 241 years in prison, a penalty that civil rights advocates say is unconstitutional for a teenager who commits a crime other than homicide. The sentencing judge, Evelyn Baker, now retired, joined an amicus brief in support of Bostic’s appeal.
But Parson has not ruled on a clemency request filed on Bostic’s behalf.
The case of convicted killer Ken Middleton also sits on the governor’s desk. Middleton, of Blue Springs, is serving a life sentence for the shooting death of his wife. Both evidence and ballistic experts have cast doubt on Middleton’s guilt. Forensic analysts concluded the fatal shooting of Middleton’s wife, Kathy, was accidental.
In 2006, the Missouri Court of Appeals in Kansas City overturned a judge’s decision to vacate Middleton’s conviction. Family and attorneys have petitioned Parson’s administration for clemency, but no decision has been made.
Women convicted of murdering their abusive husbands to protect themselves or their children have pleaded to Parson for mercy to no avail.
Parson also denied the commutation request of convicted killer Russell Bucklew, who was suffering from a rare disease that would cause excruciating pain during lethal injection. He was put to death anyway.
Parson doesn’t feel compelled to take action in cases that are worthy of his consideration. Why is he prematurely wading into this one?
A campaign spokesman for State Auditor Nicole Galloway, the Democratic nominee for governor, said Parson has inserted himself into a local matter for entirely political reasons.
Given Parson’s perpetual inaction on pardons, it’s hard to see any nonpolitical reason for singling out the McCloskeys’ case - before it even goes to trial no less.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Parson’s hand-picked appointee, has filed a motion to dismiss the case. The legal salvo was Schmitt’s latest attempt to undermine St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat.
Mark McCloskey claims the couple is being “persecuted” for exercising their constitutional right to bear arms and defend their property. Video of the encounter tells a different story, prosecutors say.
A grand jury agreed that there was probable cause the couple broke the law, and the McCloskeys’ claim that protesters posed a threat has not been backed up by any evidence.
Those charged with crimes are afforded due process in the court of law. A judge or jury determines, based on evidence presented in court, their guilt or innocence.
Regardless of Parson’s views, he should not put his thumb on the scale before the case goes to trial. By signaling now that he plans to pardon the McCloskeys, he’s short-circuiting the legal process, sending the message to attorneys, jurors, the judge and anyone else involved that their work - and any new facts that emerge - won’t matter because he’s decided to undo any outcome he doesn’t like.
Parson claims to be a “law and order” governor, but in this case, scoring political points is clearly a higher priority.


Recent Kansas editorials

As we head into the fall and winter months , we should all make sure to avail ourselves of the prime COVID-19-fighting tool at our disposal .
Yep , masks are an incredibly valuable part of our arsenal , and we can ’ t lose sight of the fact .
The most valuable way to battle the virus is to have no contact with other people in our daily lives , but that ’ s difficult ( and painful ) to accomplish .
Coupling masks with social distancing when possible should be everyone ’ s goal .
First and most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection by you .
Masks prevent wearers from exhaling viruses or germs into the open air .
But how effective are masks at protecting from infection by others ?
Pretty darn effective , according to researchers .
According to the journal “ Nature ” this month : “ In a review of observational studies , an international research team estimates that surgical and comparable cloth masks are 67 % effective in protecting the wearer.
” No , that ’ s not 100 % .
But a two-thirds reduction in transmission is nothing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Nature ” says : “ The work also points to another potentially game-changing idea : ‘ Masking may not only protect you from infection but also from severe illness , ’ says Monica Gandhi , an infectious-disease physician at the University of California , San Francisco.
” The theory is fairly simple .
Masks can reduce the number of virus particles inhaled if someone infectious is nearby .
That could mean that wearers - even if infected - have much milder or asymptomatic cases .
Masks offer at least three levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected folks from spreading the virus .
They prevent uninfected folks from catching it .
And if a handful of people do become infected while wearing masks , the barriers could mean they have an easier course of infection .
Like most health measures , though , masks work best when used universally .
Protecting yourself is great .
But reducing and eliminating community spread is the goal .
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington ’ s School of Medicine has gamed out the next few months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universal mask wearing could save 855 lives by late February .
Wouldn ’ t you wear a mask to literally save the lives of your fellow Kansans ?
Much about this pandemic remains uncertain .
The months ahead have the potential to be difficult .
But we know more about the virus now than we did , and we know without question that masks are a vital tool for every single one of us .
We applaud Kansas State University ’ s efforts to spark discussion on important issues related to Native Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the university has marked Indigenous Peoples Day that way .
Here in Manhattan , we are , after all , on land once occupied by the Kansa tribe .
We also found the remarks of a keynote speaker at this year ’ s events instructive and valuable .
But we have to say there was also something she said that clanged a bit .
We ’ d like to critique that , not in the interests of undermining her other observations , but because we think there ’ s something important about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a member of a Native American tribe who is a professor at the University of Michigan .
As an aside , her title - University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Psychology - is enough to make a cynic roll her eyes and a reasonable person scratch his head .
Anyway , Dr. Fryberg ’ s speech was about Indian mascots , of which there is one right here in River City .
We ’ re going to set aside that issue for the moment .
What we want to ponder is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s report on her presentation , wherein she said that , to paraphrase , Indigenous Peoples Day and the discussion about these issues is about recognizing that activists continue to fight for progress “ and that we will force the world to see us the way we want to be seen.
” There ’ s something wrong with that view .
We might like to be seen as Albert Einstein .
We might like the world to see us as Mother Teresa .
We might want to force everybody to view us as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Socrates .
OK , so we can grant Dr. Fryberg the point that the underprivileged have to fight for everything , and have to sometimes be confrontational to make progress .
Fair enough .
We can accept that .
Martin Luther King , Jr. , was viewed at his time as something of a radical .
But if the whole thing is about forcing the rest of the world to see a group the way it wants to be seen , that ’ s simply impossible , and will lead to frustration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phrase it - and to think about it - is to structure the goal as helping society see Native Americans the way they actually are .
That includes the beauty , the culture , the history , the warts , the flaws , and the bumps and bruises .
Otherwise we ’ re further in the soup of imagery and illusion , and then it ’ s just a battle of paying for and controlling a public relations campaign .
This is why events like Indigenous Peoples Day are important .
They bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A university at the center of that sort of discussion is nothing but good .
We encourage a continuation of that discussion .
We simply want to encourage the discussion to be about reality , and about facts , and not just about an image that somebody wants to portray .
The United States Constitution has not been amended since 1992 .
Perhaps you have forgotten the hoopla surrounding the 27th Amendment .
Granted , it was a long time in building .
The amendment - clarifying issues of pay raises for members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after it was formally proposed by James Madison and others .
It also ought to dream of another constitutional amendment .
It is clear that the Supreme Court is at risk of falling prey to Congress ’ reverse Midas touch .
Nothing Congress touches turns to gold these days , and heaven help us if we still had to pay debts created by Congress in that metal .
The recent confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court has become the most recent reminder of how little Congress cares about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America .
To be certain , politics have always been a part of the Supreme Court and the selection of justices .
But it is abundantly clear that the two parties no longer have any agreed-upon rules for the confirmation of justices , and there certainly is reason to believe that , if Democrats end up controlling the White House and both houses of Congress , legislation will be approved to enlarge the Supreme Court ’ s membership .
By itself , the expansion of the court is not problematic .
The country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court in its past .
The problem would be what happens next .
If Democrats add seats to the court , then Republicans will look for a chance to add more or to make other changes aimed solely at creating an advantage for their party and philosophies .
Politics is a game of payback .
That ’ s been true forever , and it unlikely to ever change .
In America , the Constitution has been the device that has kept the game from spiraling out of control .
That ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set of rules for the Supreme Court .
Ideally , an amendment would spell out five things : 1 .
Set the number of justices the Supreme Court has .
3 .
Create a maximum number of years a justice can spend on the court .
4 .
Proscribe a formal code of ethics that Supreme Court justices must adhere to .
5 .
Clarify how long a nomination to the court can sit without a vote from the full Senate .
Can such an amendment be passed in today ’ s political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What can pass with two-thirds of a vote of Congress these days ?
( Notably , though , a president has no role in the Constitutional amendment process .
So , if one party can gain significant control of both houses , if wouldn ’ t need to win the signature of a president . )
An amendment , though , would require approval of two-thirds of the states ( 34 , currently . )
That process would ensure messiness .
Perhaps the most disconcerting chart in America is a color-coded map @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America .
Democrats control the masses of population .
Republicans control the masses of geography .
The Founding Fathers ensured that both would matter .
They did not ensure both would get along .
But we should try to accomplish this .
Likely , the best we could hope for is an amendment that would set term limits - some polls show 60 % of the population approves of such an idea - and creates some basic eligibility requirements .
Why does it make sense to have basic age and residency requirements for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet no requirements of any sort for a Supreme Court justice ?
The common sense of the populace would prevail on those ideas , if they simply could escape the Congressional chambers that devour common sense .
The amendment would not solve all problems facing the standing of the court .
But the term limit idea - say a 20-year term - would lower the temperature somewhat on the Supreme Court confirmation process .
The stakes still would be high , but finite .
Citizens of America in 2223 surely would appreciate the @ @ @

The Topeka Capital-Journal, Oct. 17
As we head into the fall and winter months, we should all make sure to avail ourselves of the prime COVID-19-fighting tool at our disposal.
Masks.
Yep, masks are an incredibly valuable part of our arsenal, and we can’t lose sight of the fact. The most valuable way to battle the virus is to have no contact with other people in our daily lives, but that’s difficult (and painful) to accomplish. Coupling masks with social distancing when possible should be everyone’s goal.
First and most clearly, they protect others from possible infection by you. Masks prevent wearers from exhaling viruses or germs into the open air. But how effective are masks at protecting from infection by others? Pretty darn effective, according to researchers. According to the journal “Nature” this month: “In a review of observational studies, an international research team estimates that surgical and comparable cloth masks are 67% effective in protecting the wearer.”
No, that’s not 100%. But a two-thirds reduction in transmission is nothing to sneeze at.
What’s more, “Nature” says: “The work also points to another potentially game-changing idea: ‘Masking may not only protect you from infection but also from severe illness,’ says Monica Gandhi, an infectious-disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco.”
The theory is fairly simple. Masks can reduce the number of virus particles inhaled if someone infectious is nearby. That could mean that wearers - even if infected - have much milder or asymptomatic cases.
Masks offer at least three levels of protection, then. They prevent infected folks from spreading the virus. They prevent uninfected folks from catching it. And if a handful of people do become infected while wearing masks, the barriers could mean they have an easier course of infection.
Like most health measures, though, masks work best when used universally. Protecting yourself is great. But reducing and eliminating community spread is the goal.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine has gamed out the next few months. Its projections for Kansas show that universal mask wearing could save 855 lives by late February. Wouldn’t you wear a mask to literally save the lives of your fellow Kansans?
Much about this pandemic remains uncertain. The months ahead have the potential to be difficult. But we know more about the virus now than we did, and we know without question that masks are a vital tool for every single one of us.
______
The Manhattan Mercury, Oct. 16
We applaud Kansas State University’s efforts to spark discussion on important issues related to Native Americans. For the past few years, the university has marked Indigenous Peoples Day that way. Here in Manhattan, we are, after all, on land once occupied by the Kansa tribe.
We also found the remarks of a keynote speaker at this year’s events instructive and valuable. But we have to say there was also something she said that clanged a bit. We’d like to critique that, not in the interests of undermining her other observations, but because we think there’s something important about the critique.
The speaker was Stephanie Fryberg, a member of a Native American tribe who is a professor at the University of Michigan. As an aside, her title - University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor of Psychology - is enough to make a cynic roll her eyes and a reasonable person scratch his head.
Anyway, Dr. Fryberg’s speech was about Indian mascots, of which there is one right here in River City. We’re going to set aside that issue for the moment.
What we want to ponder is the closing sentence of the Mercury’s report on her presentation, wherein she said that, to paraphrase, Indigenous Peoples Day and the discussion about these issues is about recognizing that activists continue to fight for progress “and that we will force the world to see us the way we want to be seen.”
There’s something wrong with that view.
We might like to be seen as Albert Einstein. We might like the world to see us as Mother Teresa. We might want to force everybody to view us as the second coming of George Washington, or Socrates.
That just won’t work.
OK, so we can grant Dr. Fryberg the point that the underprivileged have to fight for everything, and have to sometimes be confrontational to make progress. Fair enough. We can accept that. Martin Luther King, Jr., was viewed at his time as something of a radical.
But if the whole thing is about forcing the rest of the world to see a group the way it wants to be seen, that’s simply impossible, and will lead to frustration and misunderstanding.
A better way to phrase it - and to think about it - is to structure the goal as helping society see Native Americans the way they actually are. That includes the beauty, the culture, the history, the warts, the flaws, and the bumps and bruises. Otherwise we’re further in the soup of imagery and illusion, and then it’s just a battle of paying for and controlling a public relations campaign.
This is why events like Indigenous Peoples Day are important. They bring to the surface issues like this. A university at the center of that sort of discussion is nothing but good. We encourage a continuation of that discussion. We simply want to encourage the discussion to be about reality, and about facts, and not just about an image that somebody wants to portray.
_____
The Lawrence Journal-World, Oct. 18
The United States Constitution has not been amended since 1992. Perhaps you have forgotten the hoopla surrounding the 27th Amendment. Granted, it was a long time in building. The amendment - clarifying issues of pay raises for members of Congress - was approved 203 years after it was formally proposed by James Madison and others.
Today’s Congress dreams of such efficiency.
It also ought to dream of another constitutional amendment. It is clear that the Supreme Court is at risk of falling prey to Congress’ reverse Midas touch. Nothing Congress touches turns to gold these days, and heaven help us if we still had to pay debts created by Congress in that metal.
The recent confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court has become the most recent reminder of how little Congress cares about protecting the court’s standing in America.
To be certain, politics have always been a part of the Supreme Court and the selection of justices. But it is abundantly clear that the two parties no longer have any agreed-upon rules for the confirmation of justices, and there certainly is reason to believe that, if Democrats end up controlling the White House and both houses of Congress, legislation will be approved to enlarge the Supreme Court’s membership.
By itself, the expansion of the court is not problematic. The country has functioned fine with a larger Supreme Court in its past. The problem would be what happens next. If Democrats add seats to the court, then Republicans will look for a chance to add more or to make other changes aimed solely at creating an advantage for their party and philosophies.
Politics is a game of payback. That’s been true forever, and it unlikely to ever change. In America, the Constitution has been the device that has kept the game from spiraling out of control.
That’s why America needs a Constitutional amendment creating a set of rules for the Supreme Court. Ideally, an amendment would spell out five things:
1. Set the number of justices the Supreme Court has.
2. Create basic eligibility requirements for justices.
3. Create a maximum number of years a justice can spend on the court.
4. Proscribe a formal code of ethics that Supreme Court justices must adhere to.
5. Clarify how long a nomination to the court can sit without a vote from the full Senate.
Can such an amendment be passed in today’s political climate? Well, of course not. What can pass with two-thirds of a vote of Congress these days? (Notably, though, a president has no role in the Constitutional amendment process. So, if one party can gain significant control of both houses, if wouldn’t need to win the signature of a president.)
An amendment, though, would require approval of two-thirds of the states (34, currently.) That process would ensure messiness. Perhaps the most disconcerting chart in America is a color-coded map showing the red and blue domains of America. Democrats control the masses of population. Republicans control the masses of geography. The Founding Fathers ensured that both would matter. They did not ensure both would get along.
But we should try to accomplish this. Likely, the best we could hope for is an amendment that would set term limits - some polls show 60% of the population approves of such an idea - and creates some basic eligibility requirements. Why does it make sense to have basic age and residency requirements for the president and members of Congress, yet no requirements of any sort for a Supreme Court justice? The common sense of the populace would prevail on those ideas, if they simply could escape the Congressional chambers that devour common sense.
The amendment would not solve all problems facing the standing of the court. But the term limit idea - say a 20-year term - would lower the temperature somewhat on the Supreme Court confirmation process. The stakes still would be high, but finite.
Citizens of America in 2223 surely would appreciate the lower temperature.