washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Texas man killed when family violence call ends in shootout

RIESEL , Texas ( AP ) - Police killed a Central Texas man early Friday when a family violence report @ @ @ @ @ with deputies and a shootout .
William Earl Lane , 46 , was shot dead @ @ @ @ @ gunshots with sheriff ’ s deputies and troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety @ @ @ @ @ , spokesman for the McLennan County Sheriff ’ s Office .
The episode began shortly @ @ @ @ @ report of a domestic disturbance at Lane ’ s home just outside Riesel , a @ @ @ @ @ 14 miles ( 22.5 kilometers ) southeast of Waco .
Deputies found Lane in a @ @ @ @ @ After a standoff where Lane opened fire on police twice , officers responded with deadly @ @ @ @ @ , Armstrong said .
No other injuries were reported .
Riesel Police Chief Danny Krumnow @ @ @ @ @ officers for involvement in frequent disturbances and reports of weapons at his home .

RIESEL, Texas (AP) - Police killed a Central Texas man early Friday when a family violence report ended in a five-hour standoff with deputies and a shootout.
William Earl Lane, 46, was shot dead around daybreak Friday after exchanging gunshots with sheriff’s deputies and troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Maj. Ricky Armstrong, spokesman for the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office.
The episode began shortly before midnight Thursday with a report of a domestic disturbance at Lane’s home just outside Riesel, a town of about 1,000 residents 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) southeast of Waco.
Deputies found Lane in a field behind the house. After a standoff where Lane opened fire on police twice, officers responded with deadly gunfire around 5:30 a.m. Friday, Armstrong said. No other injuries were reported.
Riesel Police Chief Danny Krumnow said Lane was well-known to officers for involvement in frequent disturbances and reports of weapons at his home.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Trump downplays fundraising disadvantage at Georgia rally

President Donald Trump says he “ could be the world ’ s greatest fundraiser , ” but he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ the work or have to “ do things ” in return for his donors .
@ @ @ @ @ supporters at a rally Friday in Macon , Georgia , that he could easily get @ @ @ @ @ of Wall Street firms .
But he says he ’ d then have “ do @ @ @ @ @ return .
The president spoke after his campaign released new numbers suggesting he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ face a financial disadvantage in the modern era .
Trump ’ s campaign , the @ @ @ @ @ groups raised $ 247 million in September .
That ’ s well short of the @ @ @ @ @ opponent , Joe Biden , and the Democratic National Committee reported raising last month .
@ @ @ @ @ million in the bank , compared to Biden ’ s $ 432 million .

President Donald Trump says he “could be the world’s greatest fundraiser,” but he doesn’t want to put in the work or have to “do things” in return for his donors.
Trump claimed to thousands of supporters at a rally Friday in Macon, Georgia, that he could easily get multimillion-dollar donations from the heads of Wall Street firms.
But he says he’d then have “do things for them” in return.
The president spoke after his campaign released new numbers suggesting he’s likely the first president to face a financial disadvantage in the modern era.
Trump’s campaign, the Republican National Committee and associated groups raised $247 million in September. That’s well short of the $383 million his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, and the Democratic National Committee reported raising last month.
Trump reported having $251.4 million in the bank, compared to Biden’s $432 million.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Spaceport America board fires executive director

LAS CRUCES , N.M. ( AP ) - The CEO of New Mexico ’ s commercial spacecraft launch facility facing @ @ @ @ @ chief financial officer to circumvent internal financial controls was ousted Friday .
Dan Hicks was @ @ @ @ @ s executive director and CEO with little public discussion at a Friday virtual meeting , @ @ @ @ @ .
The governing board of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority met in a special session @ @ @ @ @ firing comes as Hicks has been on administrative leave since June while allegations of mismanagement @ @ @ @ @ been under investigation by the New Mexico State Auditor and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority @ @ @ @ @ firm , a forensic accounting firm based in Albuquerque , conducted an investigation , which @ @ @ @ @ state auditor .
State Economic Development Secretary Alicia Keyes informed a state legislative committee this @ @ @ @ @ criminal activity .
Meanwhile , an unrelated lawsuit by former spaceport space systems engineer Karen @ @ @ @ @ spaceport staff engaged in gender-based discrimination and retaliation against her .

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - The CEO of New Mexico’s commercial spacecraft launch facility facing accusation he pressured a former chief financial officer to circumvent internal financial controls was ousted Friday.
Dan Hicks was terminated as Spaceport America’s executive director and CEO with little public discussion at a Friday virtual meeting, the Las Cruces Sun-News reports.
The governing board of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority met in a special session via video conference. The firing comes as Hicks has been on administrative leave since June while allegations of mismanagement and abuse of authority have been under investigation by the New Mexico State Auditor and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority.
Hicks did not immediately return phone messages.
The McHard Accounting Consulting firm, a forensic accounting firm based in Albuquerque, conducted an investigation, which was then referred to the state auditor. State Economic Development Secretary Alicia Keyes informed a state legislative committee this summer the allegations included potential criminal activity.
Meanwhile, an unrelated lawsuit by former spaceport space systems engineer Karen Barker alleges Hicks and other spaceport staff engaged in gender-based discrimination and retaliation against her.
Dan Hicks was named Spaceport America CEO in 2016.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Texas allows social workers to deny LGBTQ, disabled clients

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) - Texas officials are facing backlash after deciding to allow social workers to turn away clients on the basis of their disability , sexual orientation or gender identity .
At the direction of the governor ’ s office , the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted unanimously to eliminate disability , sexual orientation and gender identity from the nondiscrimination clause of the code of conduct .
The board made the decision during a joint meeting Monday with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council , which oversees regulatory agencies for professions related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social Workers criticized the board ’ s decision to follow governor ’ s recommendation rather than seek public comment .
Will Francis , director of the association ’ s Texas chapter , told the board during public comments that their decision was “ incredibly disheartening.
” Abbott ’ s office said the change was made simply to align the rules with the state ’ s Occupations Code , which determines how and when the state may discipline social workers .
“ It ’ s not surprising that a board would align its rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Renae Eze , spokeswoman for Abbott ’ s office .
Francis said the board ’ s decision creates the impression that people with disabilities can be discriminated against despite federal rules that are in place to protect them .
“ It ’ s disturbing , even if it ’ s unintentional , ” Francis said .
“ They created space for people to get the impression that this is allowed now .
What the governor has done is put people with disabilities at risk for discrimination for no reason.
” Seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transgender Education Network of Texas and Texas Freedom Network , released a joint statement Thursday decrying the board ’ s move .
“ Pro-discrimination groups couldn ’ t get this passed into law , ” Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said in the release , “ but Gov .
Abbott has done their bidding by pushing it through administratively in an obscure meeting when he thought few people were watching.
” Gloria Canseco , presiding officer of the Behavioral Health Council , said topics related to gender and gender identity would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She did not indicate whether the decision to remove protections for people with disabilities would be revisited .

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas officials are facing backlash after deciding to allow social workers to turn away clients on the basis of their disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
At the direction of the governor’s office, the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted unanimously to eliminate disability, sexual orientation and gender identity from the nondiscrimination clause of the code of conduct. The board made the decision during a joint meeting Monday with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, which oversees regulatory agencies for professions related to mental health.
The National Association of Social Workers criticized the board’s decision to follow the governor’s recommendation rather than seek public comment.
Will Francis, director of the association’s Texas chapter, told the board during public comments that their decision was “incredibly disheartening.”
Abbott’s office said the change was made simply to align the rules with the state’s Occupations Code, which determines how and when the state may discipline social workers.
“It’s not surprising that a board would align its rules with statutes passed by the Legislature,” said Renae Eze, spokeswoman for Abbott’s office.
Francis said the board’s decision creates the impression that people with disabilities can be discriminated against despite federal rules that are in place to protect them.
“It’s disturbing, even if it’s unintentional,” Francis said. “They created space for people to get the impression that this is allowed now. What the governor has done is put people with disabilities at risk for discrimination for no reason.”
Seven advocacy groups, including Equality Texas, Transgender Education Network of Texas and Texas Freedom Network, released a joint statement Thursday decrying the board’s move.
“Pro-discrimination groups couldn’t get this passed into law,” Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said in the release, “but Gov. Abbott has done their bidding by pushing it through administratively in an obscure meeting when he thought few people were watching.”
Gloria Canseco, presiding officer of the Behavioral Health Council, said topics related to gender and gender identity would be revisited during a council meeting this month. She did not indicate whether the decision to remove protections for people with disabilities would be revisited.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Australian man faces life in prison over large cocaine haul

SYDNEY ( AP ) - A Sydney man is facing life in prison after Australian police intercepted cocaine worth 248 million Australian dollars ( $ 168 million ) concealed in frozen fruit products from Brazil .
The Australian Federal Police and Border Force officers seized 552 kilograms ( 1,214 pounds ) of the drug hidden in pallets of banana pulp and branded with koala pictures in Sydney on Friday .
They also arrested a 68-year-old man at Forestville in the city ’ s northwest following a tipoff from American authorities about the suspect shipment , which arrived in Australia on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mark De Hesselle , collected 139 boxes of the pulp and removed the drugs .
He has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and possessing a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border-controlled drugs .
Police Detective Superintendent Geoffrey Turner said COVID-19 border restrictions had not prevented criminal groups trying a range of methods to bring illicit drugs into Australia .
“ Organized crime groups and their associates are taking bigger risks and looking to move more illicit goods in bulk as a result of global lockdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
“ They think choosing everyday items such as fruit would be innocuous enough to thwart law enforcement detection.
” De Hesselle appeared before Sydney Central Local Court on Friday and has been remanded in custody .
He will next face court on Dec. 16 .

SYDNEY (AP) - A Sydney man is facing life in prison after Australian police intercepted cocaine worth 248 million Australian dollars ($168 million) concealed in frozen fruit products from Brazil.
The Australian Federal Police and Border Force officers seized 552 kilograms (1,214 pounds) of the drug hidden in pallets of banana pulp and branded with koala pictures in Sydney on Friday.
They also arrested a 68-year-old man at Forestville in the city’s northwest following a tipoff from American authorities about the suspect shipment, which arrived in Australia on Sept. 21.
Police allege the man, Mark De Hesselle, collected 139 boxes of the pulp and removed the drugs. He has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and possessing a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border-controlled drugs.
Both offenses carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Police Detective Superintendent Geoffrey Turner said COVID-19 border restrictions had not prevented criminal groups trying a range of methods to bring illicit drugs into Australia.
“Organized crime groups and their associates are taking bigger risks and looking to move more illicit goods in bulk as a result of global lockdowns,” he said in a statement Saturday. “They think choosing everyday items such as fruit would be innocuous enough to thwart law enforcement detection.”
De Hesselle appeared before Sydney Central Local Court on Friday and has been remanded in custody. He will next face court on Dec. 16.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--October rise in Nevada COVID positivity after 2-month drop

RENO , Nev. ( AP ) - Nevada ’ s test positivity rate for COVID-19 has continued to rise following a steady two-month decline after Gov .
Steve Sisolak raised the size limit for public gatherings .
The 14-day rolling average for the positivity rate - which measures community transmission of the virus - stood at 8.4 % on Thursday for the third consecutive day .
That ’ s the highest it ’ s been since 8.6 % on Sept. 5 , according to the weekly Nevada Health Response Situation Report released Friday .
The World Health Organization recommends a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rate Nevada hasn ’ t dropped below since mid-June .
The average positivity rate reached 14.3 % on Aug. 1 , the highest since the statewide peak of 14.6 % on April 21 .
But it had continued to drop throughout August and September - remaining below 7 % most of the last two weeks of September before inching up to 7.1 % on Sept. 30 and steadily climbing ever since .
Sisolak ’ s emergency directive adjusting statewide COVID-19 standards effective Oct. 1 raised the limitation on public and private gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 % of occupancy , whichever is less .
Since the pandemic began , Nevada ’ s positivity rate peaked at 14.6 % on April 21 before declining to less than 10 % from May 7 to a low of 2.7 % on May 25 .
It remained below 5 % until June 14 before rising again to above 10 % at the end of June .
The state has recorded 88,685 positive cases of the new coronavirus and 1,707 deaths since the first case confirmed in Nevada in March .
For most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .
However , the vast majority of people recover .

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Nevada’s test positivity rate for COVID-19 has continued to rise following a steady two-month decline after Gov. Steve Sisolak raised the size limit for public gatherings.
The 14-day rolling average for the positivity rate - which measures community transmission of the virus - stood at 8.4% on Thursday for the third consecutive day. That’s the highest it’s been since 8.6% on Sept. 5, according to the weekly Nevada Health Response Situation Report released Friday.
The World Health Organization recommends a rate of 5% or below, a rate Nevada hasn’t dropped below since mid-June.
The average positivity rate reached 14.3% on Aug. 1, the highest since the statewide peak of 14.6% on April 21. But it had continued to drop throughout August and September - remaining below 7% most of the last two weeks of September before inching up to 7.1% on Sept. 30 and steadily climbing ever since.
Sisolak’s emergency directive adjusting statewide COVID-19 standards effective Oct. 1 raised the limitation on public and private gatherings from 50 people to 250 people or 50% of occupancy, whichever is less.
Since the pandemic began, Nevada’s positivity rate peaked at 14.6% on April 21 before declining to less than 10% from May 7 to a low of 2.7% on May 25. It remained below 5% until June 14 before rising again to above 10% at the end of June.
The state has recorded 88,685 positive cases of the new coronavirus and 1,707 deaths since the first case confirmed in Nevada in March.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. However, the vast majority of people recover.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Statue of former governor removed after policies criticized

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - A statue of former California Gov .
Pete Wilson was removed from a San Diego park after critics said the governor supported laws and policies that hurt immigrants and LGBTQ community members , a newspaper reported .
The 13-year-old statue near Horton Plaza Park was removed by Horton Walk , the nonprofit that owns it , the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Thursday .
Horton Walk president Steve Williams wrote in an email that no decision had been made on whether it will eventually be returned .
“ All property … whether statues or real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote .
“ With this in mind , we have decided to secure and protect the statue in a place of safekeeping.
” On Monday , representatives of Latino and gay rights groups held a news conference in front of the life-sized bronze sculpture , saying Wilson supported laws and policies that hurt their communities .
Activist Enrique Morones , who spearheaded the removal effort , told the Union-Tribune he is glad the statue was taken down because it was not something the community wanted in the first place .
“ No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Pete Wilson , ” Morones said in an email .
“ His racist support of Proposition 187 back in 1994 unified Latino community and supporters of human rights , against him.
” In 1994 , voters approved the Wilson-supported Proposition 187 , which sought to limit illegal immigration by cutting off state services , including health care and public education , to undocumented immigrants in California .
A federal judge later ruled it unconstitutional .
Wilson could not be reached immediately for comment .
Sean Walsh , his law partner and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a recognition of the governor ’ s 50 years of public service .
“ It ’ s regrettable that intimidation tactics similar to those used in Seattle , Portland , Oakland and other cities across the country are causing individuals and businesses to protect themselves , ” he said .
“ Our country , our society can not be ruled by the threat of intimidation and violence.
” The property where the statue was located is owned and maintained by a private company , and the city was not involved in removing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portela said .
The move comes amid nationwide demands for the removal of statues and symbols of Confederate generals and those who owned enslaved people .
Wilson was mayor of San Diego from 1971 to 1983 .
He represented California in the U.S. Senate from 1983 to 1991 and served as governor from 1991 to 1999 .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A statue of former California Gov. Pete Wilson was removed from a San Diego park after critics said the governor supported laws and policies that hurt immigrants and LGBTQ community members, a newspaper reported.
The 13-year-old statue near Horton Plaza Park was removed by Horton Walk, the nonprofit that owns it, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Thursday.
Horton Walk president Steve Williams wrote in an email that no decision had been made on whether it will eventually be returned.
“All property … whether statues or real property … must be protected,” he wrote. “With this in mind, we have decided to secure and protect the statue in a place of safekeeping.”
On Monday, representatives of Latino and gay rights groups held a news conference in front of the life-sized bronze sculpture, saying Wilson supported laws and policies that hurt their communities.
Activist Enrique Morones, who spearheaded the removal effort, told the Union-Tribune he is glad the statue was taken down because it was not something the community wanted in the first place.
“No one has unified the Latino community more than Pete Wilson,” Morones said in an email. “His racist support of Proposition 187 back in 1994 unified Latino community and supporters of human rights, against him.”
In 1994, voters approved the Wilson-supported Proposition 187, which sought to limit illegal immigration by cutting off state services, including health care and public education, to undocumented immigrants in California. A federal judge later ruled it unconstitutional.
Wilson could not be reached immediately for comment. Sean Walsh, his law partner and former chief of staff, said the statue was a recognition of the governor’s 50 years of public service.
“It’s regrettable that intimidation tactics similar to those used in Seattle, Portland, Oakland and other cities across the country are causing individuals and businesses to protect themselves,” he said. “Our country, our society cannot be ruled by the threat of intimidation and violence.”
The property where the statue was located is owned and maintained by a private company, and the city was not involved in removing the statue, San Diego spokesman Gustavo Portela said.
The move comes amid nationwide demands for the removal of statues and symbols of Confederate generals and those who owned enslaved people.
Wilson was mayor of San Diego from 1971 to 1983. He represented California in the U.S. Senate from 1983 to 1991 and served as governor from 1991 to 1999.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Michigan 2-week absentee ballot extension blocked by court

DETROIT — Absentee ballots must arrive by Election Day to be counted , the Michigan Court of Appeals said Friday , blocking a 14-day extension that had been ordered by a lower court and embraced by key Democratic officials in a battleground state .
Any changes must rest with the Legislature , not the judiciary , the Republican-appointed appeals court judges said in a 3-0 opinion .
Absentee ballot extensions in Wisconsin and Indiana have also been overturned by higher courts .
Michigan ’ s ability to handle a flood of ballots will be closely watched in a state that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson last week said 2.7 million people had requested absentee ballots , a result of a change in law that makes them available to any voter .
Michigan law says absentee ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be valid .
But Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens had ordered that any ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 could be counted if they arrived within two weeks after the Nov. 3 election .
Stephens said there was “ unrefuted evidence ” about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
She said more than 6,400 ballots arrived too late to be counted in the August primary .
The appeals court , however , said the pandemic and any delivery woes “ are not attributable to the state.
” “ Although those factors may complicate plaintiffs ’ voting process , they do not automatically amount to a loss of the right to vote absentee , ” the court said , noting that hundreds of special boxes have been set up across Michigan .
The court also reversed another portion of Stephens ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-family member to deliver a completed ballot in the final days before the election if a voter consented .
“ The constitution is not suspended or transformed even in times of a pandemic , and judges do not somehow become authorized in a pandemic to rewrite statutes or to displace the decisions made by the policymaking branches of government , ” Judge Mark Boonstra said in a separate , 10-page concurring opinion .
Benson and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel , both Democrats , had declined to appeal Stephens ’ rulings , leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Happy to see this unanimous ruling to uphold the integrity of our elections process and reject judicial overreach , ” Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey tweeted .
“ Voters should not be punished for delays in the U.S .
Postal Service or for unexpected emergencies that could make it a challenge for them to get to the polls on Election Day , ” the party said .
The case was heard by appeals court judges Boonstra , Michael Gadola and Thomas Cameron .
All were appointed by Rick Snyder , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then subsequently elected .
The lawsuit was filed by a group called Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans .

DETROIT — Absentee ballots must arrive by Election Day to be counted, the Michigan Court of Appeals said Friday, blocking a 14-day extension that had been ordered by a lower court and embraced by key Democratic officials in a battleground state.
Any changes must rest with the Legislature, not the judiciary, the Republican-appointed appeals court judges said in a 3-0 opinion.
Absentee ballot extensions in Wisconsin and Indiana have also been overturned by higher courts.
Michigan’s ability to handle a flood of ballots will be closely watched in a state that was narrowly won by President Donald Trump in 2016. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson last week said 2.7 million people had requested absentee ballots, a result of a change in law that makes them available to any voter.
Michigan law says absentee ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be valid. But Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens had ordered that any ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 could be counted if they arrived within two weeks after the Nov. 3 election.
Stephens said there was “unrefuted evidence” about mail delivery problems because of the coronavirus pandemic. She said more than 6,400 ballots arrived too late to be counted in the August primary.
The appeals court, however, said the pandemic and any delivery woes “are not attributable to the state.”
“Although those factors may complicate plaintiffs’ voting process, they do not automatically amount to a loss of the right to vote absentee,” the court said, noting that hundreds of special boxes have been set up across Michigan.
The court also reversed another portion of Stephens’ decision, which would have allowed a non-family member to deliver a completed ballot in the final days before the election if a voter consented.
“The constitution is not suspended or transformed even in times of a pandemic, and judges do not somehow become authorized in a pandemic to rewrite statutes or to displace the decisions made by the policymaking branches of government,” Judge Mark Boonstra said in a separate, 10-page concurring opinion.
Benson and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats, had declined to appeal Stephens’ rulings, leaving it to the Republican-controlled Legislature to intervene.
“Happy to see this unanimous ruling to uphold the integrity of our elections process and reject judicial overreach,” Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey tweeted.
The Michigan Democratic Party was disappointed.
“Voters should not be punished for delays in the U.S. Postal Service or for unexpected emergencies that could make it a challenge for them to get to the polls on Election Day,” the party said.
The case was heard by appeals court judges Boonstra, Michael Gadola and Thomas Cameron. All were appointed by Rick Snyder, a Republican, when he was governor and then subsequently elected.
The lawsuit was filed by a group called Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans.
___
Follow Ed White at twitter.com/edwritez


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Charge dropped against deputy who pepper-sprayed teen

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. ( AP ) - A misdemeanor battery charge was dropped Friday against one of two Florida deputies who appear in a video that showed a black teen being pepper-sprayed and slammed to the ground during an arrest last year .
A Broward County judge ruled that Sgt .
Greg LaCerra , who pepper-prayed the teen , won ’ t face the charge because he was standing his ground , but former Deputy Christopher Krickovich , who jumped in and appeared to slam the teen ’ s head into the asphalt multiple times , will still face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sun Sentinel reported .
Prosecutors plan to appeal the ruling , according to a State Attorney ’ s Office statement .
In April 2019 , deputies responded to a large brawl involving roughly 200 students at a McDonald ’ s in Tamarac , which is northwest of Fort Lauderdale .
Cellphone video shows LaCerra pepper-spray then-15-year-old Delucca Rolle and throw him to the ground .
Krickovich is seen jumping on the teen , twice slamming his forehead into the ground and punching him .
A third deputy helps Krickovich pin the teen ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handcuffed as the video ends .
Krickovich previously said he feared the teen would try to run away or fight them and said they were outnumbered by the large group of students .
Rolle was charged with assaulting a police officer and obstruction without violence , but those charges were later dropped .
Besides the charges against LaCerra and Krickovich , Deputy Ralph Mackey was charged with falsifying records but was later acquitted .
The Professional Standards Committee recommended no discipline for Krickovich , but Sheriff Gregory Tony disagreed and fired the deputy @ @ @ @

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A misdemeanor battery charge was dropped Friday against one of two Florida deputies who appear in a video that showed a black teen being pepper-sprayed and slammed to the ground during an arrest last year.
A Broward County judge ruled that Sgt. Greg LaCerra, who pepper-prayed the teen, won’t face the charge because he was standing his ground, but former Deputy Christopher Krickovich, who jumped in and appeared to slam the teen’s head into the asphalt multiple times, will still face one misdemeanor count of battery, the Sun Sentinel reported.
Prosecutors plan to appeal the ruling, according to a State Attorney’s Office statement.
In April 2019, deputies responded to a large brawl involving roughly 200 students at a McDonald’s in Tamarac, which is northwest of Fort Lauderdale.
Cellphone video shows LaCerra pepper-spray then-15-year-old Delucca Rolle and throw him to the ground. Krickovich is seen jumping on the teen, twice slamming his forehead into the ground and punching him. A third deputy helps Krickovich pin the teen’s arms behind his back to be handcuffed as the video ends.
Krickovich previously said he feared the teen would try to run away or fight them and said they were outnumbered by the large group of students.
Rolle was charged with assaulting a police officer and obstruction without violence, but those charges were later dropped. Besides the charges against LaCerra and Krickovich, Deputy Ralph Mackey was charged with falsifying records but was later acquitted.
The Professional Standards Committee recommended no discipline for Krickovich, but Sheriff Gregory Tony disagreed and fired the deputy late last year.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Joe Kennedy III campaign improperly spent $1.5 million on failed Senate bid

BOSTON — U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III ’ s campaign improperly spent $ 1.5 million earmarked for the general election during the Massachusetts congressman ’ s failed bid to capture the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat , he said Friday .
Kennedy said in a statement to The Boston Globe that he did not know about the improper spending before the Sept. 1 primary election , and has since reimbursed the campaign with his $ 1.5 million of his own money .
He and his campaign self-reported the violation to the Federal Election Commission last week , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I believe it was an honest mistake by those involved , resulting from misinformation , not malintent , ” Kennedy told the newspaper .
“ But as the candidate , I take full responsibility for the error that occurred and have worked to rectify it as expeditiously as possible.
” The campaign dipped into the general election funds beginning in August , as incumbent U.S. Sen. Edward Markey closed the polling gap and out-fundraised Kennedy , the newspaper reported .
Markey ultimately won the Sept. 1 primary by a margin of nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandson of Robert F. Kennedy , became the first of his storied family to lose a Congressional election in Massachusetts .
Federal campaign finance rules do not allow candidates to spend money earmarked for the general election - typically given in advance from individual donors who have already hit the $ 2,800 limit for the primary , but can give up to $ 2,800 more for the general election campaign - during primary season .
The Kennedy campaign said two senior officials believed the rules allowed them to spend the general election money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributions after the primary .
The campaign argued it had no reason to willingly violate the rules , because Kennedy ’ s personal wealth meant he could have contributed the money if necessary .
FEC rules require losing campaigns to refund donations made for the general election within 60 days of the primary .
Kennedy said the campaign has already fully reimbursed donors , ahead of that deadline .
It ’ s unclear how the FEC will respond to the reported violation , as the agency hasn ’ t had enough commissioners to @ @ @ @

BOSTON — U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III’s campaign improperly spent $1.5 million earmarked for the general election during the Massachusetts congressman’s failed bid to capture the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, he said Friday.
Kennedy said in a statement to The Boston Globe that he did not know about the improper spending before the Sept. 1 primary election, and has since reimbursed the campaign with his $1.5 million of his own money. He and his campaign self-reported the violation to the Federal Election Commission last week, he said.
“After an internal review, I believe it was an honest mistake by those involved, resulting from misinformation, not malintent,” Kennedy told the newspaper. “But as the candidate, I take full responsibility for the error that occurred and have worked to rectify it as expeditiously as possible.”
The campaign dipped into the general election funds beginning in August, as incumbent U.S. Sen. Edward Markey closed the polling gap and out-fundraised Kennedy, the newspaper reported. Markey ultimately won the Sept. 1 primary by a margin of nearly 11 points, and Kennedy, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, became the first of his storied family to lose a Congressional election in Massachusetts.
Federal campaign finance rules do not allow candidates to spend money earmarked for the general election - typically given in advance from individual donors who have already hit the $2,800 limit for the primary, but can give up to $2,800 more for the general election campaign - during primary season.
The Kennedy campaign said two senior officials believed the rules allowed them to spend the general election money if it was paid back with additional contributions after the primary. The campaign argued it had no reason to willingly violate the rules, because Kennedy’s personal wealth meant he could have contributed the money if necessary.
FEC rules require losing campaigns to refund donations made for the general election within 60 days of the primary. Kennedy said the campaign has already fully reimbursed donors, ahead of that deadline.
It’s unclear how the FEC will respond to the reported violation, as the agency hasn’t had enough commissioners to meet since July.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Santos ends contract with Robinho after sponsor complaints

SAO PAULO ( AP ) - Brazilian soccer team Santos has suspended a newly-signed contract with international star Robinho after a sponsor made reference to the player ’ s past sexual assault case and cut its ties with the club .
“ Santos and Robinho have by mutual agreement resolved to suspend the contract signed on 10 October so that player can concentrate exclusively on his court defense in Italy , ” the club said in a statement posted on Twitter on Friday .
In 2017 , the former Manchester City forward was sentenced by an Italian court to nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rape of a 22-year-old woman at a nightclub in 2013 .
Robinho has appealed the ruling and the case is continuing .
The 36-year-old Robinho began his career at Santos before starring with Real Madrid , Manchester City and AC Milan , among other clubs .
This was to be his third stint with Santos .
Brazilian orthodontics franchise Orthopride announced this week it had ended its sponsorship deal with Santos “ out of respect for women ” after the club announced Robinho ’ s signing .
Orthopride chief operating officer Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have enormous respect for Santos ’ history .
But at this point , we have decided to terminate the sponsorship contract .
“ Our audience is mostly female and , out of respect for the women who buy our products , we had to make that decision .
We want to make it clear that we were not previously informed about the signing of Robinho , we were taken by surprise by the news over the weekend.
” Robinho posted a video on Twitter and which was retweeted on several media websites , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innocence .
”

SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazilian soccer team Santos has suspended a newly-signed contract with international star Robinho after a sponsor made reference to the player’s past sexual assault case and cut its ties with the club.
“Santos and Robinho have by mutual agreement resolved to suspend the contract signed on 10 October so that player can concentrate exclusively on his court defense in Italy,” the club said in a statement posted on Twitter on Friday.
In 2017, the former Manchester City forward was sentenced by an Italian court to nine years in prison for his involvement in the rape of a 22-year-old woman at a nightclub in 2013. Robinho has appealed the ruling and the case is continuing.
The 36-year-old Robinho began his career at Santos before starring with Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan, among other clubs. This was to be his third stint with Santos.
Brazilian orthodontics franchise Orthopride announced this week it had ended its sponsorship deal with Santos “out of respect for women” after the club announced Robinho’s signing.
Orthopride chief operating officer Richard Magrath told Globo Esporte: “We have enormous respect for Santos’ history. But at this point, we have decided to terminate the sponsorship contract.
“Our audience is mostly female and, out of respect for the women who buy our products, we had to make that decision. We want to make it clear that we were not previously informed about the signing of Robinho, we were taken by surprise by the news over the weekend.”
Robinho posted a video on Twitter and which was retweeted on several media websites, saying: “I will prove my innocence.”
___
More AP soccer https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Virginia lawmakers pass new budget amid coronavirus pandemic

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - Virginia lawmakers all but wrapped up a special legislative session Friday by approving a new state budget that gives bonuses to police , pays for a host of new criminal justice reforms , and extends moratoriums on evictions and utility shutoffs during the coronavirus pandemic .
The budget now goes to Gov .
Ralph Northam , who can propose changes before it is finalized .
Friday ’ s budget vote marked the unofficial end of a special legislative session unlike any the General Assembly has seen in its more than 400-year history .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ business .
The House of Delegates met remotely , often with technical problems .
The Senate abandoned the Capitol for a large conference room nearby .
What was initially to be a short session focused on the revenues and spending affected by the virus instead went on for two months and expanded to include police reform and other issues after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police .
Major new criminal justice reform bills passed , including a ban on no-knock search warrants , legislation that enables localities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and disciplinary authority , and changes that make it easier to decertify officers who commit misconduct .
On Friday , lawmakers gave final approval to a bill to establish community care teams around the state to respond to emergency calls involving people with mental health issues .
The teams would be led by mental health providers , with police as backup support .
The legislation is named after Marcus-David Peters , a teacher who was fatally shot after he charged at a Richmond police officer during a mental health crisis in 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to save people ’ s lives , I have no doubt , ” said Sen. Jeremy McPike , a Democrat .
Lawmakers also approved legislation that will end the practice of juries handing down sentences in criminal cases , turning that responsibility over to judges .
Virginia is currently one of only six states that allows juries to sentence defendants .
As for the budget , lawmakers took much longer in passing a spending plan than initially anticipated .
Part of the problem was a fight over whether to include budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new redistricting commission if voters approved a constitutional amendment this Election Day .
The proposed commission has divided Democrats .
The final compromise include letting Northam send down a budget amendment with the language after the election if the referendum passes .
“ Though it has take a number of weeks to get here , this is still a great budget for the people of the commonwealth , ” said Sen. Janet Howell , chairwoman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee .
The state has weathered the pandemic without need of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put off much new spending on things like teacher raises , a free community college program , and other priorities they approved earlier this year just before the pandemic hit .
The Northam administration announced in August that it was projecting $ 2.7 billion in lost revenues over the next two years because of the pandemic .
Virginia is relatively well off compared to other states , thanks largely to heavy federal defense spending .
Lawmakers also had a little bit more money to spend than what Northam initially suggested , thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes higher-than-expected profits at the state-owned liquor stores during the pandemic .
Here ’ s a look at notable measures in the budget , which still needs the governor ’ s approval .
Increasing pay for state employees and teachers has been a priority for the Democratic-led legislature , but the hit from the coronavirus has prevented them from going through with raises they approved earlier this year .
In this new budget , lawmakers approved $ 1,500 bonuses for state employees next September contingent on revenue projections holding steady .
The budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include raises for teachers in next year ’ s budget proposal if extra funds are available .
Lawmakers did find nearly $ 11 million to give law enforcement personnel a $ 500 bonus in December .
The legislation imposes moratoriums on evictions through the end of the year and puts new limits on evictions starting next year .
A moratorium on utility disconnections also has been extended and requires Dominion Energy to forgive $ 127 million of customer debt .
Also included is a provision dealing with the planned storage and removal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richmond .
Northam announced in June that the state-owned statue of the Confederate general would come down , but multiple lawsuits have tied up his plans in court .
Lawmakers agreed to a budget amendment that says it repeals an 1889 Joint Resolution of the General Assembly that plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit rely on in arguing that Northam doesn ’ t have the authority to remove the statue .
A trial is set for Monday .
Associated Press writer Sarah Rankin contributed to this report .

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia lawmakers all but wrapped up a special legislative session Friday by approving a new state budget that gives bonuses to police, pays for a host of new criminal justice reforms, and extends moratoriums on evictions and utility shutoffs during the coronavirus pandemic.
The budget now goes to Gov. Ralph Northam, who can propose changes before it is finalized. Friday’s budget vote marked the unofficial end of a special legislative session unlike any the General Assembly has seen in its more than 400-year history. The virus upended the regular course of business. The House of Delegates met remotely, often with technical problems. The Senate abandoned the Capitol for a large conference room nearby.
What was initially to be a short session focused on the revenues and spending affected by the virus instead went on for two months and expanded to include police reform and other issues after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Major new criminal justice reform bills passed, including a ban on no-knock search warrants, legislation that enables localities to establish civilian review boards with subpoena power and disciplinary authority, and changes that make it easier to decertify officers who commit misconduct.
On Friday, lawmakers gave final approval to a bill to establish community care teams around the state to respond to emergency calls involving people with mental health issues. The teams would be led by mental health providers, with police as backup support. The legislation is named after Marcus-David Peters, a teacher who was fatally shot after he charged at a Richmond police officer during a mental health crisis in 2018.
“This is a bill that’s going to save people’s lives, I have no doubt,” said Sen. Jeremy McPike, a Democrat.
Lawmakers also approved legislation that will end the practice of juries handing down sentences in criminal cases, turning that responsibility over to judges. Virginia is currently one of only six states that allows juries to sentence defendants.
As for the budget, lawmakers took much longer in passing a spending plan than initially anticipated. Part of the problem was a fight over whether to include budget language that would allow the implementation of a new redistricting commission if voters approved a constitutional amendment this Election Day. The proposed commission has divided Democrats. The final compromise include letting Northam send down a budget amendment with the language after the election if the referendum passes.
“Though it has take a number of weeks to get here, this is still a great budget for the people of the commonwealth,” said Sen. Janet Howell, chairwoman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
The state has weathered the pandemic without need of painful cuts, but lawmakers have had to put off much new spending on things like teacher raises, a free community college program, and other priorities they approved earlier this year just before the pandemic hit.
The Northam administration announced in August that it was projecting $2.7 billion in lost revenues over the next two years because of the pandemic.
Virginia is relatively well off compared to other states, thanks largely to heavy federal defense spending. Lawmakers also had a little bit more money to spend than what Northam initially suggested, thanks to new savings and revenues. That includes higher-than-expected profits at the state-owned liquor stores during the pandemic.
Here’s a look at notable measures in the budget, which still needs the governor’s approval.
PUBLIC SECTOR PAY
Increasing pay for state employees and teachers has been a priority for the Democratic-led legislature, but the hit from the coronavirus has prevented them from going through with raises they approved earlier this year.
In this new budget, lawmakers approved $1,500 bonuses for state employees next September contingent on revenue projections holding steady. The budget also includes language directing the governor to include raises for teachers in next year’s budget proposal if extra funds are available.
Lawmakers did find nearly $11 million to give law enforcement personnel a $500 bonus in December.
MORATORIUMS
The legislation imposes moratoriums on evictions through the end of the year and puts new limits on evictions starting next year. A moratorium on utility disconnections also has been extended and requires Dominion Energy to forgive $127 million of customer debt.
LEE STATUE
Also included is a provision dealing with the planned storage and removal of the historic Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond.
Northam announced in June that the state-owned statue of the Confederate general would come down, but multiple lawsuits have tied up his plans in court. Lawmakers agreed to a budget amendment that says it repeals an 1889 Joint Resolution of the General Assembly that plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit rely on in arguing that Northam doesn’t have the authority to remove the statue. A trial is set for Monday.
___
Associated Press writer Sarah Rankin contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Police: Murder charge for Louisiana man who shot toddler

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - A 2-year-old girl who was shot in a spree of violence in Louisiana ’ s capital city has died , and a man has been arrested and charged in her killing , authorities said .
Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul announced the toddler ’ s death at a news conference Friday .
He said Kendrick Myles , 41 , was taken into custody earlier in the day and charged with first-degree murder and several other offenses .
Paul said the crimes began around 8 p.m. Thursday when Myles kidnapped a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unharmed during Myles ‘ arrest .
Police spokesman Sgt .
L ’ Jean McKneely Jr. said the boy was Myles ‘ nephew , and had remained with Myles for the rest of the crime spree , The Advocate reported .
Paul said Myles , after the kidnapping , drove to another home , forced his way inside and shot a man in the hand .
The man identified Myles as the shooter and described him as a family member , according to the chief .
Myles then drove to a third residence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girl , Paul said .
The child was taken to the hospital and later died .
It was unclear whether the girl was related to Myles .
Shortly before 10 p.m. , Paul said , officers responded to a fourth incident in which Myles and another relative exchanged gunfire .
No one was hurt in that shooting .
The 9-year-old boy remained with Myles until he was arrested around 2:45 a.m. , and neither Myles nor responding officers fired their weapons when he was taken into custody , the newspaper reported .
Myles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , attempted second-degree murder , illegal use of a weapon , possession of a firearm by a convicted felon , home invasion and being a fugitive from the Baton Rouge Fire Department for an arson investigation .
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff ’ s Office said it is charging him with kidnapping .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear whether Myles has an attorney who could speak on his behalf .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 2-year-old girl who was shot in a spree of violence in Louisiana’s capital city has died, and a man has been arrested and charged in her killing, authorities said.
Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul announced the toddler’s death at a news conference Friday. He said Kendrick Myles, 41, was taken into custody earlier in the day and charged with first-degree murder and several other offenses.
Paul said the crimes began around 8 p.m. Thursday when Myles kidnapped a 9-year-old boy, who was later released unharmed during Myles’ arrest.
Police spokesman Sgt. L’Jean McKneely Jr. said the boy was Myles’ nephew, and had remained with Myles for the rest of the crime spree, The Advocate reported.
Paul said Myles, after the kidnapping, drove to another home, forced his way inside and shot a man in the hand. The man identified Myles as the shooter and described him as a family member, according to the chief.
Myles then drove to a third residence and fired multiple shots, striking the 2-year-old girl, Paul said. The child was taken to the hospital and later died. It was unclear whether the girl was related to Myles.
Shortly before 10 p.m., Paul said, officers responded to a fourth incident in which Myles and another relative exchanged gunfire. No one was hurt in that shooting.
The 9-year-old boy remained with Myles until he was arrested around 2:45 a.m., and neither Myles nor responding officers fired their weapons when he was taken into custody, the newspaper reported.
Myles is also charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, home invasion and being a fugitive from the Baton Rouge Fire Department for an arson investigation.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said it is charging him with kidnapping.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether Myles has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Torres Small keeps big money edge in key US House race

LAS CRUCES , N.M. ( AP ) - Democratic U.S. House Rep. Xochitl Torres Small has kept the money edge in a crucial House race in southern New Mexico that Republicans hope to flip , new campaign finance reports show .
Federal election reports show the Las Cruces Democrat pulled in $ 2,247,575 during that third quarter , which ended September 30 .
She now has $ 1,869,189 cash-on-hand going into the final weeks before the election .
Republican challenger Yvette Herrell saw a surge in fundraising during the same period and raised $ 1,013.687 - one of the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in state history .
The Alamogordo Republican reported having $ 514,096 cash-on-hand in a campaign that expected to draw more outside SuperPAC money .
In recent weeks , Herrell has brought in President Donald Trump and other big-name Republicans to campaign for her virtually .
Torres Small is seeking to hold her traditionally GOP-leaning seat against Herrell in a rematch of 2018 that will be decided by turnout .
In her first term , Torres Small has tried to portray herself as a moderate who bucks her party on certain issues , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lost to Torres Small by less than 4,000 votes , has worked to link Torres Small to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - Democratic U.S. House Rep. Xochitl Torres Small has kept the money edge in a crucial House race in southern New Mexico that Republicans hope to flip, new campaign finance reports show.
Federal election reports show the Las Cruces Democrat pulled in $2,247,575 during that third quarter, which ended September 30. She now has $1,869,189 cash-on-hand going into the final weeks before the election.
Republican challenger Yvette Herrell saw a surge in fundraising during the same period and raised $1,013.687 - one of the biggest fundraising quarters for a Republican congressional candidate in state history.
The Alamogordo Republican reported having $514,096 cash-on-hand in a campaign that expected to draw more outside SuperPAC money.
In recent weeks, Herrell has brought in President Donald Trump and other big-name Republicans to campaign for her virtually.
Torres Small is seeking to hold her traditionally GOP-leaning seat against Herrell in a rematch of 2018 that will be decided by turnout. In her first term, Torres Small has tried to portray herself as a moderate who bucks her party on certain issues, like fracking and gun control.
Herrell, who lost to Torres Small by less than 4,000 votes, has worked to link Torres Small to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--SF Zoo cites child for finding lemur, police arrest suspect

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Police said Friday they arrested a man suspected of stealing a ring-tailed lemur from the San Francisco Zoo , where officials rewarded a 5-year-old boy who helped recapture the endangered primate with a lifetime membership .
The theft of of Maki , an arthritic 21-year-old lemur , made the news Wednesday in San Francisco and beyond when zoo officials reported the animal missing and found evidence of forced entry at his enclosure .
Five-year-old James Trinh was unaware of the headlines when leaving his preschool Thursday in Daly City , about 5 miles from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s a lemur !
There ’ s a lemur !
” Cynthia Huang , director of the Hope Lutheran Day School , told the San Francisco Chronicle Friday .
Huang was skeptical at first .
“ I thought , Are you sure it ’ s not a racoon ?
” she said .
Maki scurried from the parking lot into the school ’ s playground and took refuge in a miniature play house , as the school called police who quickly alerted animal control and zoo officials .
The children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and coaxed the lemur into a transport cage , Huang said .
Also Thursday , police took 30-year-old Cory McGilloway into custody , San Francisco police Lt. Scott Ryan told reporters Friday .
McGilloway , whom investigators had identified as a suspect in the lemur ’ s abduction , was arrested Thursday evening by San Rafael police on unrelated charges .
He was expected to be transferred to San Francisco County Jail to be booked on charges of burglary , grand theft of an animal , looting and vandalism all related to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not provide other details , saying the investigation was still underway but credited a multi-agency effort and tips on a public tip line that led to the suspect ’ s capture .
San Francisco Zoo director Tanya Peterson said Maki was “ an aging wild animal who needed special care ” for ailments including arthritis .
“ He ’ s still agitated , dehydrated and hungry , ” she said , adding that veterinarian teams were working to get him back to health .
Due to his travels , she added , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his primate family ” but would hopefully join the other lemurs soon .
Authorities had offered a $ 2,100 reward for locating Maki , which the zoo will be giving to the church .
“ I understand there is a young boy there who witnessed this and also called in the tip , and we are giving his family a free membership to the zoo , ” said Tanya Peterson , director of the zoo , who thanked the boy and everyone who helped .
“ They literally saved a life .
”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Police said Friday they arrested a man suspected of stealing a ring-tailed lemur from the San Francisco Zoo, where officials rewarded a 5-year-old boy who helped recapture the endangered primate with a lifetime membership.
The theft of Maki, an arthritic 21-year-old lemur, made the news Wednesday in San Francisco and beyond when zoo officials reported the animal missing and found evidence of forced entry at his enclosure.
Five-year-old James Trinh was unaware of the headlines when leaving his preschool Thursday in Daly City, about 5 miles from the zoo, and exclaimed, “There’s a lemur! There’s a lemur!” Cynthia Huang, director of the Hope Lutheran Day School, told the San Francisco Chronicle Friday.
Huang was skeptical at first. “I thought, Are you sure it’s not a raccoon?” she said.
Maki scurried from the parking lot into the school’s playground and took refuge in a miniature play house, as the school called police who quickly alerted animal control and zoo officials. The children, parents and teachers watched as caretakers arrived and coaxed the lemur into a transport cage, Huang said.
Also Thursday, police took 30-year-old Cory McGilloway into custody, San Francisco police Lt. Scott Ryan told reporters Friday.
McGilloway, whom investigators had identified as a suspect in the lemur’s abduction, was arrested Thursday evening by San Rafael police on unrelated charges. He was expected to be transferred to San Francisco County Jail to be booked on charges of burglary, grand theft of an animal, looting and vandalism all related to the lemur theft, Ryan said.
Police did not provide other details, saying the investigation was still underway but credited a multi-agency effort and tips on a public tip line that led to the suspect’s capture.
San Francisco Zoo director Tanya Peterson said Maki was “an aging wild animal who needed special care” for ailments including arthritis. “He’s still agitated, dehydrated and hungry,” she said, adding that veterinarian teams were working to get him back to health. Due to his travels, she added, “He’s socially distancing from his primate family” but would hopefully join the other lemurs soon.
Authorities had offered a $2,100 reward for locating Maki, which the zoo will be giving to the church.
“I understand there is a young boy there who witnessed this and also called in the tip, and we are giving his family a free membership to the zoo,” said Peterson, who thanked the boy and everyone who helped. “They literally saved a life.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Justice Department schedules two executions for December

The Justice Department late Friday scheduled the execution of two convicted murderers , who , if put to death , could bring the total number of federal inmates killed this year to a record-setting 10 .
Lisa Montgomery , who murdered a pregnant woman , cut open her stomach and kidnapped her unborn baby in 2004 , will be put to death at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute , Indiana , on Dec. 8 .
If executed , Montgomery will be the first woman executed by the federal government since 1953 .
She is the only woman currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his accomplices were convicted of killing two youth ministers on a military reservation in 1999 .
He is set to be executed at the Terre Haute prison complex on Dec. 10 .
One of Bernard ’ s accomplices , Christopher Vialva , was executed for his role in the same crime on Sept. 22 , 2020 .
The Trump administration has been reinforcing its law-and-order message by resuming federal executions .
Attorney General William P. Barr earlier this year reinstated the federal death penalty after a 17-year hiatus .
So far this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on death row , the most in U.S. history .
An eighth execution is set for Nov. 19 .
The previous record for most government executions in one year was 1936 , when six people were put to death .
In 1953 , the government killed five people .
Montgomery killed Bobbie Jo Stinnett after the two developed a friendship in an online chatroom .
In 2004 , Montgomery strangled Stinnett at the victim ’ s home in Skidmore , Missouri .
She also cut open Stinnett ’ s stomach and cut the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested the next day and the baby was returned to the care of her father .
She was sentenced to death in October 2007 .
Kelley Henry , an attorney for Montgomery , said her client suffered mental abuse as a sex trafficking victim .
She said the abuses Montgomery endured triggered a genetic predisposition to mental illness , including post-traumatic stress disorder .
“ Lisa Montgomery has long accepted full responsibility for her crime , and she will never leave prison .
But her severe mental illness and the devastating impacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a profound injustice , ” Ms. Henry said .
Bernard and Vialva were sentenced to death for the brutal murders of Iowa pastor Todd Bagley and his wife , Stacie , at Fort Hood , Texas .
Bernard was sentenced to death for Stacie ’ s death , while Vialva was sentenced to death for the murder of Todd Bagley .
Robert C. Owen , an attorney for Bernard , said his client has worked to redeem himself during his time in prison .
“ Now 40 , Mr. Bernard has spent more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where his conduct has been exemplary , ” Mr. Owen said .
“ He has not committed a single disciplinary infraction .
He has worked whenever possible at one of the few jobs available to death row prisoners .
He is known as a peaceable man who maintains close and loving relationships with his family and friends , and who spends his time reading , learning to play guitar , and crocheting .
”

The Justice Department late Friday scheduled the execution of two convicted murderers, who, if put to death, could bring the total number of federal inmates killed this year to a record-setting 10.
Lisa Montgomery, who murdered a pregnant woman, cut open her stomach and kidnapped her unborn baby in 2004, will be put to death at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Dec. 8.
If executed, Montgomery will be the first woman executed by the federal government since 1953. She is the only woman currently on death row.
Brandon Bernard and his accomplices were convicted of killing two youth ministers on a military reservation in 1999. He is set to be executed at the Terre Haute prison complex on Dec. 10.
One of Bernard’s accomplices, Christopher Vialva, was executed for his role in the same crime on Sept. 22, 2020.
The Trump administration has been reinforcing its law-and-order message by resuming federal executions. Attorney General William P. Barr earlier this year reinstated the federal death penalty after a 17-year hiatus.
So far this year, the government has killed seven inmates on death row, the most in U.S. history. An eighth execution is set for Nov. 19.
The previous record for most government executions in one year was 1936, when six people were put to death. In 1953, the government killed five people.
Montgomery killed Bobbie Jo Stinnett after the two developed a friendship in an online chatroom. In 2004, Montgomery strangled Stinnett at the victim’s home in Skidmore, Missouri. She also cut open Stinnett’s stomach and cut the premature infant from her womb.
Montgomery was arrested the next day and the baby was returned to the care of her father. She was sentenced to death in October 2007.
Kelley Henry, an attorney for Montgomery, said her client suffered mental abuse as a sex trafficking victim. She said the abuses Montgomery endured triggered a genetic predisposition to mental illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Lisa Montgomery has long accepted full responsibility for her crime, and she will never leave prison. But her severe mental illness and the devastating impacts of her childhood trauma make executing her a profound injustice,” Ms. Henry said.
Bernard and Vialva were sentenced to death for the brutal murders of Iowa pastor Todd Bagley and his wife, Stacie, at Fort Hood, Texas.
Bernard was sentenced to death for Stacie’s death, while Vialva was sentenced to death for the murder of Todd Bagley.
Robert C. Owen, an attorney for Bernard, said his client has worked to redeem himself during his time in prison.
“Now 40, Mr. Bernard has spent more than half his life in prison, where his conduct has been exemplary,” Mr. Owen said. “He has not committed a single disciplinary infraction. He has worked whenever possible at one of the few jobs available to death row prisoners. He is known as a peaceable man who maintains close and loving relationships with his family and friends, and who spends his time reading, learning to play guitar, and crocheting.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Arrest made in drive-by shooting that killed girl at party

SOUTH BEND , Ind .
( AP ) - Authorities announced an arrest Friday in the drive-by shooting of a 7-year-old girl who was killed while attending a birthday party in South Bend .
Chrisyah Stephens apparently was the victim of a shooting in August that was aimed at someone else , police said .
St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter said he met with Chrisyah ’ s parents before talking to reporters .
“ There was a lot of crying , ” Cotter said .
“ Both on their part and on our part.
” Jaheim Campbell , 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail on charges of murder and attempted murder , Cotter said .
He is scheduled to appear in court Monday .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if he has a lawyer who could comment .
When Campbell was informed that he had shot a child , according to police , he responded with a private social media message : “ I told everyone this is not a joke and I ’ m not satisfied yet.
” Commander Mike Grezgorek , head of a county homicide unit , “ commented that he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has had more outpouring of support from the community and more tips from members of the community , ” Cotter said .

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Authorities announced an arrest Friday in the drive-by shooting of a 7-year-old girl who was killed while attending a birthday party in South Bend.
Chrisyah Stephens apparently was the victim of a shooting in August that was aimed at someone else, police said.
St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter said he met with Chrisyah’s parents before talking to reporters.
“There was a lot of crying,” Cotter said. “Both on their part and on our part.”
Jaheim Campbell, 18, was being held in the county jail on charges of murder and attempted murder, Cotter said.
He is scheduled to appear in court Monday. It wasn’t immediately known if he has a lawyer who could comment.
When Campbell was informed that he had shot a child, according to police, he responded with a private social media message: “I told everyone this is not a joke and I’m not satisfied yet.”
Cotter thanked police and the public.
Commander Mike Grezgorek, head of a county homicide unit, “commented that he had not been associated with a case that has had more outpouring of support from the community and more tips from members of the community,” Cotter said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Shots fired at North Carolina police detective, FBI agent

GREENVILLE , N.C. ( AP ) - Shots were fired at a detective and an FBI agent in a North @ @ @ @ @ have taken suspects into custody , police said Friday .
The detective and the agent @ @ @ @ @ the vicinity of the Pitt Greenville Airport on Friday when they were fired upon from @ @ @ @ @ Greenville Police Department said in a news release .
According to police , neither person @ @ @ @ @ the car minutes later and all the occupants were taken into custody , the news @ @ @ @ @ a weapon was recovered .
The Pitt County Sheriff ’ s Office is investigating the @ @

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Shots were fired at a detective and an FBI agent in a North Carolina city, and officers have taken suspects into custody, police said Friday.
The detective and the agent were conducting an investigation in the vicinity of the Pitt Greenville Airport on Friday when they were fired upon from a passing car, the Greenville Police Department said in a news release. According to police, neither person was hurt.
Authorities stopped the car minutes later and all the occupants were taken into custody, the news release said. Police said a weapon was recovered.
The Pitt County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.


washingtontimes--2020-10-16--Bellevue district delays plans for in-classroom learning

BELLEVUE , Wash. ( AP ) - Because of rising numbers of coronavirus cases in King County , the Bellevue School District is delaying in-person learning until January .
The Seattle Times reports the district is abandoning earlier plans to bring its youngest students back into classrooms in a few weeks .
“ Considering the current level of transmission and the steady increase we have observed over the last week , we do not feel that we can successfully mitigate risks to health and safety if we are to bring larger numbers of students back into our school buildings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the district ’ s website .
Earlier this month , when the district initially announced it would restart some in-person learning , King County ’ s infection rate was 53 cases per 100,000 people , within the 25 to 75 cases per 100,000 range that state guidelines say would indicate it ’ s safe to start reintroducing elementary school students to school buildings .
On Thursday , the rate had spiked to 92 cases .
So far this fall , Bellevue , which enrolls 21,000 students , was the largest district in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving to in-person learning .
Issaquah had also planned to start educating kindergartners and first grade students starting Thursday , but last week it , too , reversed course .
Other large districts such as Seattle have avoided making statements in response to infection rates .
Seattle says it has no immediate plans to bring large groups of students back .

BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) - Because of rising numbers of coronavirus cases in King County, the Bellevue School District is delaying in-person learning until January.
The Seattle Times reports the district is abandoning earlier plans to bring its youngest students back into classrooms in a few weeks.
“Considering the current level of transmission and the steady increase we have observed over the last week, we do not feel that we can successfully mitigate risks to health and safety if we are to bring larger numbers of students back into our school buildings,” reads an announcement posted Thursday evening on the district’s website.
Earlier this month, when the district initially announced it would restart some in-person learning, King County’s infection rate was 53 cases per 100,000 people, within the 25 to 75 cases per 100,000 range that state guidelines say would indicate it’s safe to start reintroducing elementary school students to school buildings. On Thursday, the rate had spiked to 92 cases.
So far this fall, Bellevue, which enrolls 21,000 students, was the largest district in King County to set a date for moving to in-person learning. Issaquah had also planned to start educating kindergartners and first grade students starting Thursday, but last week it, too, reversed course.
Other large districts such as Seattle have avoided making statements in response to infection rates. Seattle says it has no immediate plans to bring large groups of students back.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--App aims to help Virginia city's businesses amid pandemic

BLACKSBURG , Va. ( AP ) - Anew app is aiming to help those who may not be able to come to Blacksburg this fall to support the businesses they know and love .
Localyte - an app that allows people to buy gift cards to local businesses with the money going directly to the business - was created by a group of local software developers from the Roanoke and New River valleys in an effort to help local businesses mitigate the costs of losing revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic , particularly those hit hardest by Virginia Tech football games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The impact is estimated to be $ 80 million of missing economic activity in Blacksburg and the surrounding area , according to app spokesman Kyle Thompson .
He said he received those figures from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce , which Executive Director Sharon Scott said she based from a study the university previously conducted .
Many local restaurants have had to at least shut down temporarily if not close entirely since the pandemic started to hit the U.S. in March .
“ We want alumni and people who come from out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help the businesses they know and love , ” Thompson said .
“ That way when they can come back next year those places are still here.
” He said he and the Localyte team are hoping this will keep businesses owners who are having cash flow problems up and running , while allowing them to also pay their employees .
“ I think it ’ s a wonderful idea and smart that he is trying to reach this particular market , ” Scott said .
Thompson also noted that a feature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downloaded from the Apple App Store and soon the Google store for Android users - will soon have the ability to send electronic gift cards to people as well , like for parents with kids attending Virginia Tech .
And while he said it wasn ’ t necessarily the genesis of the idea , local residents not wanting to go out right now can also support their favorite local joints using the app .
Purchases are stored on the app and available to use through a simple QR code that restaurants or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The former Hokie who moved back to the area a decade after graduating said the goal is to get more than 100,000 users on the platform in the coming months .
Though the initial goal was to help Blacksburg , he said there could be opportunities to expand to other college towns or markets facing similar problems as Blacksburg ’ s businesses .
“ We will see where it goes , ” he said .
“ Right now the main focus is on helping Blacksburg and the surrounding areas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenues for localities , which generate a sizeable amount of revenue from sales and food taxes.
” The app is free to download with a small service fee when making a purchase , Thompson said .

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Anew app is aiming to help those who may not be able to come to Blacksburg this fall to support the businesses they know and love.
Localyte - an app that allows people to buy gift cards to local businesses with the money going directly to the business - was created by a group of local software developers from the Roanoke and New River valleys in an effort to help local businesses mitigate the costs of losing revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those hit hardest by Virginia Tech football games not being open to the public.
The impact is estimated to be $80 million of missing economic activity in Blacksburg and the surrounding area, according to app spokesman Kyle Thompson. He said he received those figures from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, which Executive Director Sharon Scott said she based from a study the university previously conducted.
Many local restaurants have had to at least shut down temporarily if not close entirely since the pandemic started to hit the U.S. in March.
“We want alumni and people who come from out of the area to have the opportunity to help the businesses they know and love,” Thompson said. “That way when they can come back next year those places are still here.”
He said he and the Localyte team are hoping this will keep businesses owners who are having cash flow problems up and running, while allowing them to also pay their employees.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea and smart that he is trying to reach this particular market,” Scott said.
Thompson also noted that a feature on the app - that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and soon the Google store for Android users - will soon have the ability to send electronic gift cards to people as well, like for parents with kids attending Virginia Tech.
And while he said it wasn’t necessarily the genesis of the idea, local residents not wanting to go out right now can also support their favorite local joints using the app.
Purchases are stored on the app and available to use through a simple QR code that restaurants or other businesses can easily scan and accommodate, he said.
The former Hokie who moved back to the area a decade after graduating said the goal is to get more than 100,000 users on the platform in the coming months.
Though the initial goal was to help Blacksburg, he said there could be opportunities to expand to other college towns or markets facing similar problems as Blacksburg’s businesses.
“We will see where it goes,” he said. “Right now the main focus is on helping Blacksburg and the surrounding areas. The lack of business also affects tax revenues for localities, which generate a sizeable amount of revenue from sales and food taxes.”
The app is free to download with a small service fee when making a purchase, Thompson said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--W.Va. man partakes in program to improve wildlife habitat

IRELAND , W.Va. ( AP ) - At age 79 , John Cobb doesn ’ t have to spend six to eight hours a day working to improve wildlife habitat .
He does , though , because he wants to .
Like an ever-growing number of West Virginians , Cobb participates in a program that reimburses private landowners for turning patches of dense forest into places more attractive to migratory birds and other wildlife species .
“ It ’ s good for my mind , it ’ s good for my body , ” said Cobb , a Maryland native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mountain State countryside in 2006 and built a home there .
“ It allows me to be productive and to have a sense of purpose in my retirement.
” None of that was on Cobb ’ s mind when he bought the land .
His most immediate priority was to chainsaw a path through the forest to gain access to his future home site .
In fact , it didn ’ t occur to him to begin improving wildlife habitat until he had a random conversation with a worker at the U.S. Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2009 , I wanted to see if there were any aerial pictures of my property , ” Cobb recalled .
“ At the USDA office , they had some great big ones .
“ I got the pictures and , as I was leaving , the woman who was helping me said , ‘ Do you know you can get money to improve your land ?
’ I said , ‘ Really ?
What ’ s that about ?
’ ” Cobb , who retired from marketing , discovered that the USDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has a program that reimburses landowners who improve wildlife habitat on their properties .
The program meshed perfectly with Cobb ’ s goals for his property .
An avid hunter , Cobb wanted to maximize his land ’ s ability to grow deer , turkey , grouse and other wildlife species .
He learned he could be reimbursed for the time he spent cutting grapevines , eliminating holly thickets , creating wildlife clearings and more .
The programs required him , with the help of agency foresters and biologists , to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to either do the work or have it done .
After the work was completed , officials followed up to make sure the work had been done and to sign off on payment .
“ Right now , I have 11 or 12 contracts working , ” Cobb said .
“ They ’ re lined up through 2023 , but I want to add another one .
I want to plant ( blight-resistant ) American chestnuts and gobbler oak trees.
” American chestnuts were once the dominant tree species in the Eastern United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early 1900s killed almost all of them .
Cobb said geneticists have created a blight-resistant strain that shows great promise .
Cobb ’ s property has plenty of oak trees , but he wants to add to the mix some sawtooth oaks , popularly known as “ gobbler oaks ” for their ability to produce dense annual crops of small acorns .
Some of the contracts have paid quite well .
For example , he received a check for $ 7,960 from the NRCS for having loggers perform an 11-acre clear-cut on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I also made about $ 38,000 for the sale of the timber , based on the standard 60/40 contract , ” he said .
Two other contracts paid far less , but Cobb undertook them because he knew they would benefit the cerulean warbler , a migratory songbird whose population has declined 70 % in the past 40 years .
Ceruleans prefer to live in forest canopies riddled with small openings .
By selectively cutting trees on two small tracts - one 6 acres and the other 4 acres - Cobb dramatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The contracts for the cuts paid $ 1,803 and $ 1,205 , respectively , but Cobb said the larger reward came the year after the cuts were made .
“ Before the cuts , biology students from ( West Virginia University ) found just one family of ceruleans on the property , ” he said .
“ After the cuts , they found eight .
That ’ s an amazing change for one year.
” Cobb ’ s work hasn ’ t gone unnoticed .
In 2019 , he was named West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Year .
“ I didn ’ t even know there was such a designation , ” he said .
“ I didn ’ t really need the recognition , but I realized that , if I got that status , I could use it to promote the program , and that ’ s what I ’ ve done with it.
” For four years now , Cobb has made an annual pilgrimage to Washington , D.C. , to meet with members of West Virginia ’ s congressional delegation .
“ I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sen. ( Shelley Moore ) Capito and Rep. ( Alex ) Mooney to help try and get more Interior Department funding for the Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture , ” Cobb said .
“ We got an increase of $ 1.5 million .
Under the Joint Venture concept , there are corporate , educational and nongovernmental organizations that match each federal dollar with $ 31 .
Bottom line : That $ 1.5 million increase turned into $ 46.5 million of on-the-ground impact that will go to landowners who participate in the program.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wildlife Diversity section for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources , said the Joint Venture has allowed his agency to do work it otherwise wouldn ’ t have the funding to do .
“ We ’ ve done 3,700 acres in the last 5 years , a lot of it on 10- to 15-acre woodlots , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a win-win .
Landowners can benefit from it financially and get technical assistance .
A lot of landowners like to hunt , and the work they do carries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landowners who want to know more about the program should contact their local DNR office .
“ We ’ ll put them in touch with our Partner Program biologists , ” he added .
Matt Aberle , a Partner Program biologist who works out of the NRCS ’ s Summersville office , described how he handles landowners ’ questions about the initiative .
“ I ask them questions about their property , and what their goals are , ” Aberle said .
“ I get them into the USDA system , walk the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an idea of the work that needs to be done .
I help them come up with their conservation plans , and then monitor progress on the work.
” Cobb often urges fellow landowners to do similar work on their properties .
“ The majority of West Virginians that own property should be able to get into programs that help them improve their forests for wildlife , ” he said .
“ Every one of those I can get to sign up makes me feel really good .
I ’ m not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from my heart .
”

IRELAND, W.Va. (AP) - At age 79, John Cobb doesn’t have to spend six to eight hours a day working to improve wildlife habitat. He does, though, because he wants to.
Like an ever-growing number of West Virginians, Cobb participates in a program that reimburses private landowners for turning patches of dense forest into places more attractive to migratory birds and other wildlife species.
“It’s good for my mind, it’s good for my body,” said Cobb, a Maryland native who purchased 365 heavily forested acres of Mountain State countryside in 2006 and built a home there. “It allows me to be productive and to have a sense of purpose in my retirement.”
None of that was on Cobb’s mind when he bought the land. His most immediate priority was to chainsaw a path through the forest to gain access to his future home site. In fact, it didn’t occur to him to begin improving wildlife habitat until he had a random conversation with a worker at the U.S. Department of Agriculture office in Weston.
“In 2009, I wanted to see if there were any aerial pictures of my property,” Cobb recalled. “At the USDA office, they had some great big ones.
“I got the pictures and, as I was leaving, the woman who was helping me said, ‘Do you know you can get money to improve your land?’ I said, ‘Really? What’s that about?’ ”
Cobb, who retired from marketing, discovered that the USDA, through the National Resources Conservation Service, has a program that reimburses landowners who improve wildlife habitat on their properties. The program meshed perfectly with Cobb’s goals for his property.
An avid hunter, Cobb wanted to maximize his land’s ability to grow deer, turkey, grouse and other wildlife species. He learned he could be reimbursed for the time he spent cutting grapevines, eliminating holly thickets, creating wildlife clearings and more.
The programs required him, with the help of agency foresters and biologists, to create work plans and to sign contracts agreeing to either do the work or have it done. After the work was completed, officials followed up to make sure the work had been done and to sign off on payment.
“Right now, I have 11 or 12 contracts working,” Cobb said. “They’re lined up through 2023, but I want to add another one. I want to plant (blight-resistant) American chestnuts and gobbler oak trees.”
American chestnuts were once the dominant tree species in the Eastern United States, until the chestnut blight of the early 1900s killed almost all of them. Cobb said geneticists have created a blight-resistant strain that shows great promise.
Cobb’s property has plenty of oak trees, but he wants to add to the mix some sawtooth oaks, popularly known as “gobbler oaks” for their ability to produce dense annual crops of small acorns.
Some of the contracts have paid quite well. For example, he received a check for $7,960 from the NRCS for having loggers perform an 11-acre clear-cut on a hillside downslope from his house.
“I also made about $38,000 for the sale of the timber, based on the standard 60/40 contract,” he said.
Two other contracts paid far less, but Cobb undertook them because he knew they would benefit the cerulean warbler, a migratory songbird whose population has declined 70% in the past 40 years.
Ceruleans prefer to live in forest canopies riddled with small openings. By selectively cutting trees on two small tracts - one 6 acres and the other 4 acres - Cobb dramatically improved the cerulean habitat on his land. The contracts for the cuts paid $1,803 and $1,205, respectively, but Cobb said the larger reward came the year after the cuts were made.
“Before the cuts, biology students from (West Virginia University) found just one family of ceruleans on the property,” he said. “After the cuts, they found eight. That’s an amazing change for one year.”
Cobb’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2019, he was named West Virginia’s Tree Farmer of the Year.
“I didn’t even know there was such a designation,” he said. “I didn’t really need the recognition, but I realized that, if I got that status, I could use it to promote the program, and that’s what I’ve done with it.”
For four years now, Cobb has made an annual pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation.
“I’ve met with Sen. (Joe) Manchin, Sen. (Shelley Moore) Capito and Rep. (Alex) Mooney to help try and get more Interior Department funding for the Appalachian Mountain Joint Venture,” Cobb said.
“We got an increase of $1.5 million. Under the Joint Venture concept, there are corporate, educational and nongovernmental organizations that match each federal dollar with $31. Bottom line: That $1.5 million increase turned into $46.5 million of on-the-ground impact that will go to landowners who participate in the program.”
Scott Warner, who heads up the Wildlife Diversity section for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, said the Joint Venture has allowed his agency to do work it otherwise wouldn’t have the funding to do.
“We’ve done 3,700 acres in the last 5 years, a lot of it on 10- to 15-acre woodlots,” he said. “It’s a win-win. Landowners can benefit from it financially and get technical assistance. A lot of landowners like to hunt, and the work they do carries benefits for all wildlife.”
Warner said landowners who want to know more about the program should contact their local DNR office. “We’ll put them in touch with our Partner Program biologists,” he added.
Matt Aberle, a Partner Program biologist who works out of the NRCS’s Summersville office, described how he handles landowners’ questions about the initiative.
“I ask them questions about their property, and what their goals are,” Aberle said. “I get them into the USDA system, walk the land with a forester, and get an idea of the work that needs to be done. I help them come up with their conservation plans, and then monitor progress on the work.”
Cobb often urges fellow landowners to do similar work on their properties.
“The majority of West Virginians that own property should be able to get into programs that help them improve their forests for wildlife,” he said. “Every one of those I can get to sign up makes me feel really good. I’m not in to make money. I do it from my heart.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Delaware man tuns his story into activism

WILMINGTON , Del .
( AP ) - LaDaye “ Cooley ” Johnson doesn ’ t see himself as a boss .
Though he runs his own nonprofit , Cool Shoes Inc. , Johnson isn ’ t someone who lets others do the daily grind work .
Instead , he shows up and stays – to show kids in his East Side neighborhood the value of hard work and of giving back to a place that raised them .
Johnson grew up in a single-parent household , his mother doing the best she could .
But Johnson credits the older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him straight when he didn ’ t want to follow the right path .
That path eventually led him to attending college and becoming a community leader who now commands a local nonprofit that donates food , toys and other items to more than 1,000 families regularly throughout the year .
To the people in Wilmington ’ s East Side neighborhood though , Johnson is just “ Cooley , ” a man who refuses to give up on them and is determined to get his people the resources they need to thrive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ am , ” he said .
“ I ’ m not going to go nowhere else and get to know people that didn ’ t make you who you are.
” While the community centers of his youth are gone and some of the people gone too , Johnson knows the streets and sidewalks of Wilmington ’ s East Side neighborhood like the back of his hand .
When Johnson was 14 , he got caught in the middle of the drugs and violence his East Side neighborhood was known for and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It took him 90 days to recover from the shooting and afterward , he decided to drop out of high school .
His mentors never gave up on him though .
Johnson eventually went on to get a degree in criminal justice from Lincoln University in 2011 .
A year before he graduated college , he came back to his neighborhood and saw the state of things .
“ This young generation , they don ’ t know how to not separate themselves , ” Johnson said .
“ They think being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which it ’ s not .
They don ’ t know how to be different.
” He said he wanted to give back to his community by helping the people he felt were the most disadvantaged : the youth .
What started as one event in 2010 became an annual Easter egg hunt , a summer camp , Thanksgiving turkey giveaways , and book bag giveaways and toy drives that bring smiles to neighborhood children every year .
Johnson shares his story of redemption with area kids all the time .
Not as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but as both a warning and an inspiration .
But he also understands the limitations put on the youth in his neighborhood .
That ’ s why Johnson is working hard to get a community center opened up on the East Side .
If kids were given an outlet for their cries for attention , as well as guidance and support , there would be less violence and more opportunities for their lives , Johnson said .
He knows he will have to start small but is hoping to get support soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m gon na stay home and we ’ re gon na fight this battle , ” he said .

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - LaDaye “Cooley” Johnson doesn’t see himself as a boss.
Though he runs his own nonprofit, Cool Shoes Inc., Johnson isn’t someone who lets others do the daily grind work.
Instead, he shows up and stays – to show kids in his East Side neighborhood the value of hard work and of giving back to a place that raised them.
Johnson grew up in a single-parent household, his mother doing the best she could. But Johnson credits the older men around him in Wilmington who steered him straight when he didn’t want to follow the right path.
That path eventually led him to attending college and becoming a community leader who now commands a local nonprofit that donates food, toys and other items to more than 1,000 families regularly throughout the year.
To the people in Wilmington’s East Side neighborhood though, Johnson is just “Cooley,” a man who refuses to give up on them and is determined to get his people the resources they need to thrive.
“These people made me who I am,” he said. “I’m not going to go nowhere else and get to know people that didn’t make you who you are.”
While the community centers of his youth are gone and some of the people gone too, Johnson knows the streets and sidewalks of Wilmington’s East Side neighborhood like the back of his hand.
When Johnson was 14, he got caught in the middle of the drugs and violence his East Side neighborhood was known for and was shot on the other side of town. It took him 90 days to recover from the shooting and afterward, he decided to drop out of high school.
His mentors never gave up on him though. Johnson eventually went on to get a degree in criminal justice from Lincoln University in 2011.
A year before he graduated college, he came back to his neighborhood and saw the state of things.
“This young generation, they don’t know how to not separate themselves,” Johnson said. “They think being a follower is the best thing, which it’s not. They don’t know how to be different.”
He said he wanted to give back to his community by helping the people he felt were the most disadvantaged: the youth.
What started as one event in 2010 became an annual Easter egg hunt, a summer camp, Thanksgiving turkey giveaways, and book bag giveaways and toy drives that bring smiles to neighborhood children every year.
Johnson shares his story of redemption with area kids all the time. Not as a point of pride, he said, but as both a warning and an inspiration. But he also understands the limitations put on the youth in his neighborhood.
That’s why Johnson is working hard to get a community center opened up on the East Side.
If kids were given an outlet for their cries for attention, as well as guidance and support, there would be less violence and more opportunities for their lives, Johnson said.
He knows he will have to start small but is hoping to get support soon to start that project.
“I’m gonna stay home and we’re gonna fight this battle,” he said.