washingtontimes--2020-09-23--DOJ: Silk Road insider pleads guilty to lying to FBI about defunct online drug bazaar

A computer programmer associated with the infamous Silk Road website faces up to five years in prison for lying about his ties with the long-shuttered online drug bazaar , the Department of Justice said Monday .
Michael R. Weigand , 56 , of Kirkland , Ohio , surrendered to authorities and pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to a federal agent , the Justice Department announced in a news release afterward .
Weigand lied about his involvement with Silk Road , which shuttered in October 2013 , when federal agents questioned him about the site more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Justice Department .
Prosecutors announced the plea and made public a single-count information charging Weigand in Manhattan federal court and said he is set to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III on Dec. 17 .
Additional details about the case , including the contact information for any lawyer defending Weigand who might be reached for comment , could not be found in public court records as of Wednesday afternoon .
Silk Road launched on the darknet in early 2011 and was among the first major sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people to buy and sell illicit goods using the digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin .
The site facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars worth of drug deals and other illicit transactions before it was dismantled , according to the FBI .
Many related criminal cases have since run their course .
Weigand , known online by usernames such as “ Shabang , ” repeatedly lied to FBI and IRS agents who questioned him about Silk Road in January 2019 , according to the Justice Department .
Despite originally telling authorities otherwise , the Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people convicted of charges related to running Silk Road : Ross William Ulbricht and Roger Thomas Clark .
Weigand had actually communicated with Ulbricht ’ s pseudonym , “ Dread Pirate Roberts , and was working for Clark , or “ Variety Jones , ” while each of them was still running Silk Road , according to prosecutors .
In addition to offering technical advice to Silk Road ’ s convicted operators , Weigand traveled to London to remove evidence from Clark ’ s residence in late 2013 , the government announced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others used their skills and savvy to create a secret online enclave for criminals to trade in illegal drugs and illicit goods and services , ” FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said in a statement .
“ When Weigand was confronted , he lied about his involvement – once again thinking we weren ’ t smart enough to catch him.
” Ulbricht , a Texan , was arrested on Oct. 1 , 2013 .
Silk Road was dismantled within days , and Ulbricht was ultimately convicted of several crimes related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imprisonment .
Clark , a Canadian , was arrested in Thailand in 2015 , extradited to the U.S. in 2018 and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics .
He has not yet been sentenced .

A computer programmer associated with the infamous Silk Road website faces up to five years in prison for lying about his ties with the long-shuttered online drug bazaar, the Department of Justice said Monday.
Michael R. Weigand, 56, of Kirkland, Ohio, surrendered to authorities and pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to a federal agent, the Justice Department announced in a news release afterward.
Weigand lied about his involvement with Silk Road, which shuttered in October 2013, when federal agents questioned him about the site more than five years later in early 2019, according to the Justice Department.
Prosecutors announced the plea and made public a single-count information charging Weigand in Manhattan federal court and said he is set to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III on Dec. 17.
Additional details about the case, including the contact information for any lawyer defending Weigand who might be reached for comment, could not be found in public court records as of Wednesday afternoon.
Silk Road launched on the darknet in early 2011 and was among the first major sites of its kind to provide a platform for people to buy and sell illicit goods using the digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
The site facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars worth of drug deals and other illicit transactions before it was dismantled, according to the FBI. Many related criminal cases have since run their course.
Weigand, known online by usernames such as “Shabang,” repeatedly lied to FBI and IRS agents who questioned him about Silk Road in January 2019, according to the Justice Department.
Despite originally telling authorities otherwise, the Justice Department said Weigand was in touch with people convicted of charges related to running Silk Road: Ross William Ulbricht and Roger Thomas Clark.
Weigand had actually communicated with Ulbricht’s pseudonym, “Dread Pirate Roberts, and was working for Clark, or “Variety Jones,” while each of them was still running Silk Road, according to prosecutors.
In addition to offering technical advice to Silk Road’s convicted operators, Weigand traveled to London to remove evidence from Clark’s residence in late 2013, the government announced in the news release.
“Weigand and others used their skills and savvy to create a secret online enclave for criminals to trade in illegal drugs and illicit goods and services,” FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said in a statement. “When Weigand was confronted, he lied about his involvement – once again thinking we weren’t smart enough to catch him.”
Ulbricht, a Texan, was arrested on Oct. 1, 2013. Silk Road was dismantled within days, and Ulbricht was ultimately convicted of several crimes related to running the site and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Clark, a Canadian, was arrested in Thailand in 2015, extradited to the U.S. in 2018 and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. He has not yet been sentenced.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--UK government defends new virus strategy; experts skeptical

LONDON ( AP ) - The British government on Wednesday defended its strategy for combatting a second wave of COVID-19 cases amid criticism that its new slate of restrictions will not be enough to stop an exponential spread of the coronavirus .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled the new rules - including a 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants , increased use of face masks and once again encouraging people to work from home - in a televised address on Tuesday night .
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC that the government ’ s approach was proportionate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus as long as everyone complies with the rules .
“ I think that it ’ s a balanced approach , it ’ s a targeted approach and , actually , one that can make sure that we preserve the health gains that we ’ ve made , prevent the virus expanding exponentially , but also keep businesses , livelihoods and society open , ” Raab said .
Many health experts said they did not think the government ’ s plan would be sufficient to stop the rapid rise in new COVID-19 infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical advisers warned earlier this week that new cases were doubling every seven days and could lead to 200 deaths a day by early November if nothing was done to slow transmission of the virus .
The dean of epidemiology and population health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , John Edmunds , compared the new restrictions to the nationwide lockdown imposed in March .
The lockdown was actually a series of individual measures that closed most businesses and forced most people to stay home .
In contrast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and won ’ t be enough to get the virus back under control , Edmunds said .
“ We will have let the epidemic double and double and double again ” until we take those broader measures , ” Edmunds told the BBC .
“ And then we ’ ll have the worst of both worlds because then to slow the epidemic and bring it back down again … will mean putting the breaks on the epidemic for a very long time , very hard.
” The other nations of the U.K. - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also tightened restrictions Tuesday , going further than England in some cases .
The new curbs were announced as the U.K. recorded 4,926 new confirmed coronavirus cases in 24 hours , the highest daily total since early May and four times the figure of a month ago .
Many scientists see echoes of the outbreak ’ s path earlier in the year , when the virus spread swiftly through the country and led to Europe ’ s deadliest outbreak .
The U.K. has reported a total of 41,825 people dying within 28 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think we haven ’ t learned from our mistake back then and we ’ re , unfortunately , about to repeat it , ” Edmunds said .

LONDON (AP) - The British government on Wednesday defended its strategy for combating a second wave of COVID-19 cases amid criticism that its new slate of restrictions will not be enough to stop coronavirus from spreading exponentially.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled the new rules - including a 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants, increased use of face masks and once again encouraging people to work from home - in a televised address Tuesday night.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC that the government’s approach was proportionate and enough to slow the spread of the virus as long as everyone complies with the rules.
“I think that it’s a balanced approach, it’s a targeted approach and, actually, one that can make sure that we preserve the health gains that we’ve made, prevent the virus expanding exponentially, but also keep businesses, livelihoods and society open,” Raab said.
Yet many health experts said they did not think the government’s plan would be sufficient to stop the country’s rapid rise in new COVID-19 infections. The government’s top medical advisers warned this week that new cases were doubling every seven days. They said that could lead to nearly 50,000 new cases a day by mid-October and 200 deaths a day by early November if nothing was done to slow transmission of the virus.
John Edmunds, the dean of epidemiology and population health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the measures announced Tuesday are very limited and won’t be enough to get the virus back under control. He compared it to the nationwide lockdown imposed in March that closed most businesses and forced most people to stay home.
“We will have let the epidemic double and double and double again” until we take those broader measures, Edmunds told the BBC. “And then we’ll have the worst of both worlds, because then to slow the epidemic and bring it back down again … will mean putting the breaks on the epidemic for a very long time, very hard.”
The other nations in the U.K. - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - also tightened restrictions Tuesday, going further than England in some cases.
The new restrictions touched off further worry about the fate of Britain’s economy, as previous furlough measures meant to protect jobs are due to expire. The prime minister told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the government will introduce “further creative and imaginative schemes to keep our economy moving.”
Treasury chief Rishi Sunak plans to update lawmakers Thursday on plans “to continue protecting jobs through the winter.”
Case numbers continued to climb. The U.K. government said Wednesday it had recorded 6,178 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, one of the highest daily totals since the pandemic began.
“We are testing much more than we were earlier on in the outbreak and our local health protection teams are working with local councils and directors of public health to manage the increase,” said Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England.
Many scientists fear another round of the outbreak’s earlier path, when the virus spread swiftly through the country, hitting nursing homes hard. The U.K. has reported 41,825 people dying within 28 days of testing positive, Europe’s highest death toll, but experts say all such numbers undercount the true impact of the pandemic due to limited testing and missed cases.
“I think we haven’t learned from our mistake back then and we’re, unfortunately, about to repeat it,” Edmunds said.
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Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--GOP-led Senate committees issue report on Bidens, Ukraine

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - Two Republican-led Senate committees issued a politically charged report Wednesday alleging that the work Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s son did in Ukraine constituted a conflict of interest for the Obama administration at a time when Biden was engaged in Ukraine policy as vice president .
But the report said it was ultimately “ unclear ” what impact Hunter Biden ’ s position on the board of a Ukrainian gas company had on Obama administration policy with regard to Ukraine .
And it offered no evidence to support one of President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor as a way to protect his son .
Biden ’ s campaign immediately panned the report , released six weeks before the election , as an effort by an ally of Trump to damage his election opponent .
Trump has repeatedly drawn attention to Hunter Biden ’ s work in Ukraine even as his own administration has warned of a concerted Russian effort to denigrate Joe Biden and asserted that a Ukrainian lawmaker who is involved in spreading anti-Biden claims is an “ active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is one of the two panels that released the 87-page report , had acknowledged in interviews his goal of making the document public before the election , telling The Associated Press last month that the “ American people deserve the truth ” about his probe .
The investigation produced stark political divisions , with Democrats accusing Johnson of a politically motivated initiative at a time when they said the Homeland Security Committee should be focused on the coronavirus pandemic response and other , less partisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released , the Biden campaign issued a detailed statement aiming to rebut point-by-point allegations that it said had long been debunked by media organizations as well as by U.S. and Ukrainian officials .
The Senate report examines Hunter Biden ’ s dealings in Ukraine , where he held a paid seat on the board of gas company Burisma , and alleges that work posed a conflict of interest because Biden was vice president at the time and dealing with Ukraine policy .
It references a 2016 email from George Kent , the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyiv embassy , that described the presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board as “ very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine.
” Kent testified about his concerns during the impeachment proceedings against Trump last year .
Another State Department official , Amos Hochstein , is described in the report as having raised concerns directly to Biden because he was concerned that Russians were using his son ’ s role with the company to sow disinformation .
The report says that even though State Department officials regarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zlokevsky , as corrupt , Biden did not confront him .
“ What the Chairmen discovered during the course of this investigation is that the Obama administration knew that Hunter Biden ’ s position on Burisma ’ s board was problematic and did interfere in the efficient execution of policy with respect to Ukraine , ” the report says .
“ Moreover , this investigation has illustrated the extent to which officials within the Obama administration ignored the glaring warning signs when the vice president ’ s son joined the board of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” it adds .
Even so , the Republican senators acknowledge that the extent to which Hunter Biden ’ s role on the board affected Ukraine policy is “ unclear , ” and the report does not describe how , if at all , specific policy decisions were influenced by Biden ’ s position .
Notably , the report makes limited mention of the claim by Trump and some supporters that Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor , Viktor Shokin , as a way to stymie an investigation into Burisma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central to the impeachment case against Trump after he asked Ukraine ’ s president in a telephone call last year to investigate the Bidens .
The report includes only six references , including in footnotes , to Shokin and does not expose new information about any role Biden may have had in his ouster .
The Biden campaign pointed to news reports and public statements showing there was no active investigation into Burisma at the time of Shokin ’ s ouster in 2016 , and that the firing of Shokin was broadly sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the official Obama administration policy .
There is no evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens , and Hunter Biden has denied using his influence with his father to aid Burisma .
But Republicans who came to Trump ’ s defense in this year ’ s impeachment trial asked for further investigations of his activities .
Johnson , a close ally of Trump , took the lead .
“ As the coronavirus death toll climbs and Wisconsinites struggle with joblessness , Ron Johnson has wasted months diverting the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catastrophically botched federal response to the pandemic , a threat Sen. Johnson has dismissed by saying that ‘ death is an unavoidable part of life , ’ ” Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement .

WASHINGTON (AP) - Two Republican-led Senate committees issued a politically charged report Wednesday alleging that the work Joe Biden’s son did in Ukraine constituted a conflict of interest for the Obama administration at a time when Biden was engaged in Ukraine policy as vice president. But the report also offered no support for President Donald Trump’s claim that the Democratic presidential nominee had improperly pressed for the firing of the country’s top prosecutor to protect his son.
The report did not implicate Biden in wrongdoing, focusing instead on his son Hunter, who it said “cashed in” on his father’s position by joining the board of a Ukrainian gas company. The document says that work created conflict-of-interest concerns, including among two Obama administration officials, but acknowledged that it was ultimately “not clear” what impact Hunter Biden’s paid board position had on policy with Ukraine.
Biden’s campaign immediately panned the report, released six weeks before the election, as an effort by an ally of Trump’s to damage his election opponent. The campaign said the investigation was founded on “a long-disproven, hardcore rightwing conspiracy theory” and, even before the report was released, issued a detailed statement aiming to rebut point-by-point allegations that it said had long been debunked by media organizations as well as by U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
Hunter Biden’s work in Ukraine remains a prominent line of attack in conservative circles heading into the election. Trump himself has repeatedly drawn attention to the issue, with his request for Ukraine to investigate the Bidens spurring an impeachment case against him. He’s continued to trumpet the claims even as his own administration has warned of a concerted Russian effort to denigrate Joe Biden and has asserted that a Ukrainian lawmaker who is involved in spreading an “unsubstantiated” anti-Biden narrative has been an “active Russian agent” for over a decade.
The investigation, from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee, produced stark political divisions. Democrats have accused Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, the Homeland Security chair, of a politically motivated initiative at a time when they say the committee should be focused on the pandemic response and other, less partisan issues.
Johnson has acknowledged in interviews that he hoped to complete the report before the election, telling The Associated Press last month that the “American people deserve the truth” about his probe. But he has also been on the defensive over Democratic accusations that his investigation was serving to amplify Russian disinformation. He has denied receiving information from Andrii Derkach, the Ukrainian lawmaker singled out by intelligence officials.
After the report was released Wednesday, Johnson defended the probe to reporters as “a good investigation” by two committees with jurisdiction over corruption and conflicts of interest.
“There was nothing political about this,” he added.
In scrutinizing Hunter Biden’s financial dealings, the report details extensive payments to business interests from entities in Ukraine, Russia, and China that its authors say raise counterintelligence and extortion concerns.
But the crux of the document is that Hunter Biden’s lucrative involvement with the gas company Burisma posed a conflict of interest because Biden was vice president at the time and dealing with Ukraine policy.
It cites concerns from two officials, including one, George Kent, who was among the witnesses at impeachment proceedings against Trump last year. In one 2016 email, Kent, the former acting deputy chief of mission at the Kyiv embassy, described Hunter Biden’s presence on the Burisma board as “very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine.”
But the report also quotes Kent as telling lawmakers that there was never an occasion in which the embassy made a decision “where we took the presence of a private citizen on the board into account.”
Another State Department official, Amos Hochstein, is described in the report as having raised concerns directly to Biden because he was concerned Russians were using his son’s role with the company to sow disinformation. Biden did not take action, the report says.
The report says that though State Department officials regarded the head of the company, Mykola Zlochevsky, as corrupt, Biden did not confront him or link him to corruption.
“What the chairmen discovered during the course of this investigation is that the Obama administration knew that Hunter Biden’s position on Burisma’s board was problematic and did interfere in the efficient execution of policy with respect to Ukraine,” the report says.
Even so, the report acknowledges that the extent to which Hunter Biden’s board position affected Ukraine policy is “not clear.” It does not establish that specific policy decisions were influenced by Biden’s position.
Notably, the report makes limited mention of the claim by Trump and some supporters that Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, as a way to stymie an investigation into Burisma’s owner. The allegations were central to the impeachment case after Trump asked Ukraine’s president in a telephone call last year to investigate the Bidens.
The report includes only six references, including in footnotes, to Shokin and does not expose new information about any role Biden may have had in his ouster.
The Biden campaign pointed to news reports and public statements showing there was no active investigation into Burisma at the time of Shokin’s ouster in 2016, and that the firing of Shokin was broadly sought by U.S. and European officials, and reflected official Obama administration policy.
Both Bidens have denied wrongdoing, and Hunter Biden has denied using his influence with his father to aid Burisma. But Republicans who came to Trump’s defense in the impeachment trial asked for further investigations. Johnson, a close Trump ally, took the lead.
“As the coronavirus death toll climbs and Wisconsinites struggle with joblessness, Ron Johnson has wasted months diverting the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee away from any oversight of the catastrophically botched federal response to the pandemic, a threat Sen. Johnson has dismissed by saying that ‘death is an unavoidable part of life,’” Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement.
___
Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Baltimore City Schools to lay off 450 employees, halt hiring

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - Baltimore City Schools plans to lay off about 450 temporary employees and halt hiring systemwide as it tries to make up for a $ 21 million budget shortfall incurred during the coronavirus pandemic , according to school officials .
The layoffs , affecting many full-time employees , including some teachers and teacher ’ s assistants , are expected to save about $ 3.7 million in spending by the end of the fiscal year next summer , The Baltimore Sun reported .
Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises said the budget gap was caused by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic combined with the added costs to provide about 55,000 laptops and 15,000 internet hotspots to students learning remotely , among other factors .
The $ 21 million figure represents a small fraction of the system ’ s $ 1.1 billion budget , but Santelises said expenses could rise as the system moves to implement a hybrid model with students both in classrooms and online .
Baltimore City Schools could rehire some of the laid-off workers if Congress provides additional aid to governments or school districts , Santelises added .
Follow AP coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore City Schools plans to lay off about 450 temporary employees and halt hiring systemwide as it tries to make up for a $21 million budget shortfall incurred during the coronavirus pandemic, according to school officials.
The layoffs, affecting many full-time employees, including some teachers and teacher’s assistants, are expected to save about $3.7 million in spending by the end of the fiscal year next summer, The Baltimore Sun reported.
Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises said the budget gap was caused by a reduction in some federal reimbursements during the pandemic combined with the added costs to provide about 55,000 laptops and 15,000 internet hotspots to students learning remotely, among other factors.
The $21 million figure represents a small fraction of the system’s $1.1 billion budget, but Santelises said expenses could rise as the system moves to implement a hybrid model with students both in classrooms and online.
Baltimore City Schools could rehire some of the laid-off workers if Congress provides additional aid to governments or school districts, Santelises added.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Congress expands computer hacking law to cover federal election systems

President Trump faces pressure to sign his name to a bipartisan election security bill known as the Defending the Integrity of Voting Systems Act after Congress gave the legislation its final go-ahead Monday .
The House of Representatives easily passed the proposal by voice vote held on the heels of fellow lawmakers across Capitol Hill in the Senate having similarly approved the effort roughly two months earlier .
Passed with weeks left in the White House race , the bill would update the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act — the government ’ s main anti-hacking statute — to clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While existing law already prohibits accessing protected computers without authorization , the president ’ s signature would ensure it covers voting machines and related federal election infrastructure .
“ We are on the verge of a significant , historic and really life-or-death presidential or federal elections , ” Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee , California Democratic , said on the House floor before the vote was held .
Calling it “ an important legislative initiative , ” Ms. Lee said the bill would expand the existing law , known as the CFAA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring charges when voting systems are hacked .
“ This bill will protect our nation ’ s sacred most democratic process by making it a federal crime to hack any voting system used in a federal election , ” said Rep. Kelly Armstrong , North Dakota Republican .
“ Protecting our nation ’ s election process from bad actors must be a top priority of Congress , ” Mr. Armstrong said in support of the bill .
“ It ’ s narrow and it does what we need it to do.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Richard Blumenthal , Connecticut Democrat , and it was followed by companion legislation offered in the House by then-Rep. John Ratcliffe , Texas Republican .
Mr. Blumenthal reacted to the House vote Monday by urging Mr. Trump to sign the bill into law so the Department of Justice can “ vigorously prosecute ” and stop malicious hackers meddling in the race .
The White House did not immediately return a message requesting comment .
Millions of Americans are expected to cast ballots this fall in the White House race primarily between Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R. Biden before Election Day ends Nov. 3 .
The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence — led by Mr. Ratcliffe since May — assessed hackers targeted election infrastructure during the last presidential race and will do the same this fall .
Foreign hackers may try to compromise election infrastructure for a range of possible purposes , the ODNI warned last month , such as interfering with the voting process or stealing sensitive data , among others .
“ However , it would be difficult for our adversaries to interfere with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the ODNI warned last month .

President Trump faces pressure to sign his name to a bipartisan election security bill known as the Defending the Integrity of Voting Systems Act after Congress gave the legislation its final go-ahead Monday.
The House of Representatives easily passed the proposal by voice vote held on the heels of fellow lawmakers across Capitol Hill in the Senate having similarly approved the effort roughly two months earlier.
Passed with weeks left in the White House race, the bill would update the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act — the government’s main anti-hacking statute — to clearly apply to systems used in federal elections.
While existing law already prohibits accessing protected computers without authorization, the president’s signature would ensure it covers voting machines and related federal election infrastructure.
“We are on the verge of a significant, historic and really life-or-death presidential or federal elections,” Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, California Democratic, said on the House floor before the vote was held.
Calling it “an important legislative initiative,” Ms. Lee said the bill would expand the existing law, known as the CFAA, to enhance the ability for authorities to bring charges when voting systems are hacked.
“This bill will protect our nation’s sacred most democratic process by making it a federal crime to hack any voting system used in a federal election,” said Rep. Kelly Armstrong, North Dakota Republican.
“Protecting our nation’s election process from bad actors must be a top priority of Congress,” Mr. Armstrong said in support of the bill. “It’s narrow and it does what we need it to do.”
The bill was originally introduced last year by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, and it was followed by companion legislation offered in the House by then-Rep. John Ratcliffe, Texas Republican.
Mr. Blumenthal reacted to the House vote Monday by urging Mr. Trump to sign the bill into law so the Department of Justice can “vigorously prosecute” and stop malicious hackers meddling in the race.
The White House did not immediately return a message requesting comment.
Millions of Americans are expected to cast ballots this fall in the White House race primarily between Republican incumbent Mr. Trump and Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden before Election Day ends Nov. 3.
The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence — led by Mr. Ratcliffe since May — assessed hackers targeted election infrastructure during the last presidential race and will do the same this fall.
Foreign hackers may try to compromise election infrastructure for a range of possible purposes, the ODNI warned last month, such as interfering with the voting process or stealing sensitive data, among others.
“However, it would be difficult for our adversaries to interfere with or manipulate voting results at scale,” the ODNI warned last month.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--UN labor agency: Growing rich-poor gap amid COVID pandemic

GENEVA ( AP ) - The U.N. labor agency warned Wednesday that the coronavirus pandemic has led to a massive drop in income for workers around the world and of rising inequality between rich countries that have injected government cash into their economies and poorer countries that can ’ t .
In a report about the effects of the pandemic on the world of work , the International Labor Organization estimated that global labor income plunged by $ 3.5 trillion in the first nine months of 2020 , a near-11 % drop from a year ago - though that excludes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lower-income countries and those in the Americas were particularly hit .
The ILO said the fiscal stimulus packages have been concentrated in richer countries , and that developing countries have “ limited capacity to finance such measures.
” It added that developing countries would need nearly $ 1 trillion in stimulus just to maintain the pre-pandemic gap with richer countries .
ILO Director-General Guy Ryder called signs of such a fiscal stimulus gap an “ extremely worrying observation ” and “ the polar opposite of the better world that we want to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He warned of higher unemployment , poverty and inequality , as well as increased “ social frustration and political anger ” after the outbreak and suggested wealthier nations and international institutions could help ease the impact for developing countries by acting now .
Ryder said a “ relatively small effort ” by rich nations could make an “ extraordinary difference in countries that are least able to mobilize resources.
” He lamented as “ distressing ” how a new call for global unity in the face of the pandemic by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of it ” among countries at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday .

GENEVA (AP) - The U.N. labor agency warned Wednesday that the coronavirus pandemic has led to a massive drop in income for workers around the world and of rising inequality between rich countries that have injected government cash into their economies and poorer countries that can’t.
In a report about the effects of the pandemic on the world of work, the International Labor Organization estimated that global labor income plunged by $3.5 trillion in the first nine months of 2020, a near-11% drop from a year ago - though that excludes income support provided by some governments. Lower-income countries and those in the Americas were particularly hit.
The ILO said the fiscal stimulus packages have been concentrated in richer countries, and that developing countries have “limited capacity to finance such measures.” It added that developing countries would need nearly $1 trillion in stimulus just to maintain the pre-pandemic gap with richer countries.
ILO Director-General Guy Ryder called signs of such a fiscal stimulus gap an “extremely worrying observation” and “the polar opposite of the better world that we want to build back” once the pandemic eases.
He warned of higher unemployment, poverty and inequality, as well as increased “social frustration and political anger” after the outbreak and suggested wealthier nations and international institutions could help ease the impact for developing countries by acting now.
Ryder said a “relatively small effort” by rich nations could make an “extraordinary difference in countries that are least able to mobilize resources.”
He lamented as “distressing” how a new call for global unity in the face of the pandemic by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was met by a relative “lack of it” among countries at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Johnson & Johnson launches massive human trial of COVID-19 vaccine

Johnson & Johnson launched a massive human trial of its coronavirus vaccine Wednesday , paving the way for another option as the U.S. preps an immunization campaign to defeat the pandemic .
The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of J & J said it plans to enroll up to 60,000 adults at nearly 215 clinical research sites in the U.S. and abroad .
The Trump administration , through its “ Operation Warp Speed , ” is offering unprecedented support to private drugmakers as it tries to lock down a successful vaccine before the end of the year .
Three companies — AstraZeneca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase 3 trials weeks ago and expect to receive data on whether their candidates are effective as soon as late October .
“ Four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in Phase 3 clinical testing in the United States just over eight months after [ the virus ] was identified .
This is an unprecedented feat for the scientific community made possible by decades of progress in vaccine technology and a coordinated , strategic approach across government , industry and academia , ” said Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine as the most critical tool in getting life back to normal .
The coronavirus pandemic that began in Wuhan , China , in December , has devastated economies and killed nearly 1 million worldwide , including 200,000 in the U.S. J & J is starting its trials roughly two to three months later than competitors , though it says there are advantages to its version .
While other vaccines require two does , “ this a potent vaccine in a single dose , ” said Paul Stoffels , chief scientific officer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also an adenovirus serotype 26 ( Ad26 ) vector-based vaccine that is stored at 2-to-8 degrees Celsius , offering a simpler “ cold-chain ” than messenger-RNA candidates that must be stored at minus-80 degrees .
The White House is outlining distribution plans for the vaccines that emerge from trials , even though the Food and Drug Administration hasn ’ t approved any of the candidates to date .
Officials plan to have 100 million doses ready by the end of the year and shots available to every American who wants one by April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine in Phase 3 trials less than a year after a virus was first reported would be a remarkable accomplishment ; to have four candidates at that stage is extraordinary , ” Health Secretary Alex Azar said .
“ By building a portfolio of candidate vaccines , Operation Warp Speed is maximizing the chances that we will have substantial supplies of a safe and effective vaccine—and maybe multiple vaccine options — by January 2021 .
”

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson started a massive human trial of its coronavirus vaccine Wednesday, lining up another option as federal officials told Congress they will resist political pressure ahead of an unprecedented push to inoculate the country.
The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of J&J said it plans to enroll up to 60,000 adults at nearly 215 clinical research sites in the U.S. and abroad. The company said its vaccine candidate offers twin advantages over some of its competitors — it can be delivered in a single dose and doesn’t require unusually cold storage temperatures.
The Trump administration, through “Operation Warp Speed,” is supporting private drugmakers as it tries to lock down a successful vaccine before the end of the year.
Three companies — AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna — began their phase 3 trials weeks ago and expect to receive data on whether their candidates are effective as soon as late October.
President Trump said he’s encouraged by the record pace of development.
“We encourage Americans to enroll in the vaccine trial,” Mr. Trump said of J&J. “It is not only interesting, it will be a terrific thing for our country.”
Mr. Trump also said he’s distributed $200 million in CARES Act so that states can distribute an eventual vaccine immediately.
“We want to do that the instant it is approved,” Mr. Trump said.
Many view a vaccine as the most critical tool in getting life back to normal. The coronavirus pandemic that began in Wuhan, China, in December, has devastated economies and killed nearly 1 million worldwide, including more than 200,000 in the U.S.
Critics of the Trump administration fear the president will force the Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine for emergency use before Election Day, before it is fully vetted.
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn rejected those claims in Senate testimony Wednesday.
“In the end, FDA will not authorize or approve a vaccine that we would not feel comfortable giving to our families,” he told the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
He said science will guide the agency’s decisions and the “FDA will not permit any pressure from anyone to change that.”
Later Wednesday, the president chafed at reports the FDA might beef up its standard for approving a vaccine for emergency authorization use, or EUA, to make sure the public has confidence in its review.
“That sounds like a political move,” Mr. Trump said. “I’m saying why would they have to be adding great length to the process?”
The president said he trusts companies to do rigorous testing in conjunction with government support.
“I don’t see any reason why it should be delayed further,” Mr. Trump said.
Senators heard from top officials one day after the U.S. death toll reached 200,000, meaning the country accounts for roughly 4% of the world’s population but a fifth of global deaths from the disease.
More than 90% of the American population remains susceptible to the coronavirus, based on antibody testing, though it varies widely from place to place, Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the committee.
But a White House adviser, Scott Atlas, undercut the director hours later, saying the share is likely higher than 90%.
He said some people might have cross-immunity from other infections and “T-cell immunity” and boosts the number, marking another instance in which administration officials were unable to agree as Americans seek reliable information on the pandemic.
“You’re supposed to believe the science and I’m telling you the science,” Mr. Atlas said.
Mr. Trump said it will be important for Americans to get their flu shot to avoid a troublesome fall, when doctors will have to distinguish between influenza and COVID-19.
“It’s going to be a very interesting time,” he said.
As the nation scrambles to mitigate the pandemic, federal officials are banking on a pharmaceutical path to widespread immunity.
The White House is outlining distribution plans for the vaccines that emerge from trials, even though the FDA hasn’t approved any of the candidates.
Officials plan to have 100 million doses ready by the end of the year and shots available to every American who wants one by April.
J&J is starting its phase 3 trial roughly two to three months after its competitors. Yet while other vaccines require two doses, “this a potent vaccine in a single dose,” said Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at J&J.
It’s also an adenovirus serotype 26 (Ad26) vector-based vaccine that is stored at 2-to-8 degrees Celsius, offering a simpler “cold-chain” than messenger-RNA candidates that must be stored at -80 degrees.
Federal officials told Congress they will ensure the cold chain is operable for whichever vaccines make it to market.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Germany sets up fund for victims of 1980 Oktoberfest bombing

BERLIN ( AP ) - The German government is setting up a 1.2 million-euro ( $ 1.4 million ) fund to help survivors of a deadly far-right attack on Munich ’ s Oktoberfest in 1980 , in what the justice minister described Wednesday as a belated but important signal of solidarity .
Thirteen people were killed , including three children , and more than 200 wounded when a bomb exploded at the Oktoberfest on the evening of Sept. 26 , 1980 .
The dead included the attacker , student Gundolf Koehler , a supporter of a banned far-right group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to which the federal and Bavarian state governments as well as the city of Munich will contribute , will be open to those “ immediately affected ” by the attack .
It is part of the 2021 budget which was approved by the Cabinet Wednesday and will now go to parliament .
An initial investigation of the attack , in which Koehler was found to have acted alone , was closed in 1982 .
But in 2014 , federal prosecutors said they were looking at the matter again after a previously unknown witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the witness ’ indications that there may have been co-conspirators hadn ’ t been corroborated , and closed the new probe .
The investigation also didn ’ t support the idea that members of any far-right groups were involved in any criminally relevant way in the attack .
There is no question mark over Koehler ’ s own far-right motivation , prosecutors said .
Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht said the suffering of victims was worsened by “ many years of uncertainty ” and the lack of earlier official recognition that it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to send a late , but nevertheless important signal of solidarity.
” “ We want to support people who are still suffering today from the consequences of the attack , ” Lambrecht said in a statement .
“ The state must stand up more for those affected by right-wing extremism , racism and hatred .
”

BERLIN (AP) - The German government is setting up a 1.2 million-euro ($1.4 million) fund to help survivors of a deadly far-right attack on Munich’s Oktoberfest in 1980, in what the justice minister described Wednesday as a belated but important signal of solidarity.
Thirteen people were killed, including three children, and more than 200 wounded when a bomb exploded at the Oktoberfest on the evening of Sept. 26, 1980. The dead included the attacker, student Gundolf Koehler, a supporter of a banned far-right group.
The justice ministry said the fund, to which the federal and Bavarian state governments as well as the city of Munich will contribute, will be open to those “immediately affected” by the attack. It is part of the 2021 budget which was approved by the Cabinet Wednesday and will now go to parliament.
An initial investigation of the attack, in which Koehler was found to have acted alone, was closed in 1982. But in 2014, federal prosecutors said they were looking at the matter again after a previously unknown witness surfaced.
In July, prosecutors said the witness’ indications that there may have been co-conspirators hadn’t been corroborated, and closed the new probe.
The investigation also didn’t support the idea that members of any far-right groups were involved in any criminally relevant way in the attack. There is no question mark over Koehler’s own far-right motivation, prosecutors said.
Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht said the suffering of victims was worsened by “many years of uncertainty” and the lack of earlier official recognition that it was a far-right attack. She said authorities “want to send a late, but nevertheless important signal of solidarity.”
“We want to support people who are still suffering today from the consequences of the attack,” Lambrecht said in a statement. “The state must stand up more for those affected by right-wing extremism, racism and hatred.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Late-stage study of first single-shot vaccine begins in US

Johnson & Johnson is beginning a huge final study to try to prove if a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine can protect against the virus .
The study starting Wednesday will be one of the world ’ s largest coronavirus vaccine studies so far , testing the shot in 60,000 volunteers in the U.S. , South Africa , Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Colombia , Mexico and Peru .
A handful of other vaccines in the U.S. - including shots made by Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc. - and others in other countries are already in final-stage testing .
Hopes are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate being tested in the U.S. could come by year ’ s end , maybe sooner .
U.S. health officials insist the race for a vaccine isn ’ t cutting corners .
“ We want to do everything we can without sacrificing safety or efficacy - we ’ re not going to do that - to make sure that we end up with vaccines that are going to save lives , ” Dr. Francis Collins , director of the National Institutes of Health , told reporters .
But many vaccine specialists question whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to that goal under intense pressure from the Trump administration .
President Donald Trump has consistently presented a faster timeline for a new vaccine than experts say is adequate to fully test the candidates .
Trump on Wednesday tweeted the link to a news report about the Johnson & Johnson study and said the FDA “ must move quickly !
” Meanwhile , testing of still another experimental vaccine , made by AstraZeneca , remains on hold in the U.S. as officials examine a safety question , even though studies have resumed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Mike Pence urged state governors to “ do your part to build public confidence that it will be a safe and effective vaccine.
” And Dr. Anthony Fauci , the top U.S. infectious disease expert , added in the call to governors that he is confident in “ a tried and true process ” that has checks and balances built in , including an independent board evaluating the progress of each vaccine trial , as well as “ the integrity of the FDA.
” A recording of the call was provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled to question FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn , Fauci and other administration officials later Wednesday about the pandemic response .
Even if the FDA were to allow emergency use of a vaccine by year ’ s end , supplies would be limited and given first to vulnerable groups such as health workers .
Most Americans aren ’ t likely to receive a vaccine until sometime next year .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants states to get ready now to roll out vaccinations , which will present enormous logistical challenges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ announce distribution of $ 200 million in congressionally approved funds to help begin setting up operations .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the COVID-19 vaccine campaign will build on longstanding cooperation between the federal government and the states on immunizations .
J & J ; ’ s vaccine is made with slightly different technology than others in late-stage testing , modeled on an Ebola vaccine the company created .
Unlike the other three vaccines that started late-stage testing in the U.S. , it requires only one shot , not two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than some of its competitors , Dr. Paul Stoffels , J & J ; ’ s chief scientific officer , told reporters that the study was large enough to yield answers possibly by early next year .
Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

WASHINGTON (AP) - A huge international study of a COVID-19 vaccine that aims to work with just one dose is getting underway as top U.S. health officials sought Wednesday to assure a skeptical Congress and public that they can trust any shots the government ultimately approves.
Hopes are high that answers about at least one of several candidates being tested in the U.S. could come by year’s end, maybe sooner.
“We feel cautiously optimistic that we will be able to have a safe and effective vaccine, although there is never a guarantee of that,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, told a Senate committee.
President Donald Trump is pushing for a faster timeline, which many experts say is risky and may not allow for adequate testing. On Wednesday he tweeted a link to news about the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine study and said the Food and Drug Administration “must move quickly!”
“President Trump is still trying to sabotage the work of our scientists and public health experts for his own political ends,” Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state, said before ticking off examples of pressure on the FDA.
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn pledged that career scientists, not politicians, will decide whether any coronavirus vaccine meets clearly stated standards that it works and is safe. Vaccine development usually takes years but scientists have been racing to shorten that time, in part by manufacturing doses that will have to be thrown away if studies find they don’t work.
“Science will guide our decisions. FDA will not permit any pressure from anyone to change that,” Hahn said. “I will put the interest of the American people above anything else.”
FDA has faced criticism for allowing emergency use of some COVID-19 treatments backed by little evidence, but Hahn said if vaccine makers want that faster path to market, additional standards will be coming soon. Vaccines, unlike therapies, are given to healthy people and thus usually require more proof.
But Trump made clear at a Wednesday evening White House news conference that he was skeptical of any regulatory changes that might delay a vaccine’s authorization, even if those changes are aimed at increasing public trust. Asked about the FDA considering stricter guidelines for emergency approval, Trump suggested the effort was politically-motivated.
“I think that was a political move more than anything else,” he said, arguing that that the companies testing the vaccines, such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna, are capable of determining whether they work. “I have tremendous trust in these massive companies,” he said.
A handful of vaccines already are in final testing in the U.S. and other countries. In one of the largest studies yet, Johnson & Johnson aims to enroll 60,000 volunteers to test its single-dose approach in the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Other candidates in the U.S. require two shots.
J&J’s vaccine is made with slightly different technology than others in late-stage testing, modeled on an Ebola vaccine the company created.
Final-stage testing of one experimental vaccine, made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, remains on hold in the U.S. as officials examine whether it poses a safety risk.
As for the testing of vaccine candidates, Fauci added: “There is no cutting corners.”
Beyond vaccines, Trump regularly undercuts confidence in his own public health agencies, such as falsely tweeting about a ”deep state, or whoever at FDA” - and in recent weeks, some political appointees were forced out after allegations they interfered with scientific advice.
Conspiracy theories are sapping the morale of disease fighters working 24/7 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, its director, told the Senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions.
“It’s offensive to me when I hear this type of comment,” said Redfield, noting that CDC, like the military, strives to be nonpartisan.
Yet Redfield struggled to defend against criticism that CDC bowed to political pressure with guidelines that discouraged testing of people without COVID-19 symptoms. Asymptomatic people do spread the virus and CDC, under fire, later changed the guidelines’ wording. Redfield insisted it all amounted to misinterpretation and stressed Wednesday: “More tests will actually lead to less cases.”
More than 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 so far this year, and in many states, infections still are climbing. The U.S. is confirming an average of 41,968 new daily cases, up 13% compared with the average two weeks ago.
Fauci was blunt: More lives could have been saved if everyone in the country better followed recommendations to wear masks, avoid crowds and keep 6 feet apart.
“We know some states did a good job. Some states did not so good a job. Some states tried to do a good job but people didn’t listen,” he said, singling out mask-less crowds in bars. Going forward, “we need uniformity throughout the country.”
In a testy exchange, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky insisted public health officials were wrong that a lockdown could change the course of the pandemic. A visibly angry Fauci accused the Republican of repeatedly misconstruing his statements.
“I don’t regret saying that the only way we could have really stopped the explosion of infection was by essentially - I want to say shutting down,” he said.
Fauci dismissed Paul’s contention that hard-hit New York has become largely immune because so many people were infected: “If you believe 22% is herd immunity, I believe you’re alone in that.”
Fauci also called attention to so-called “long-haulers,” COVID-19 survivors who continue to struggle with a range of symptoms such as pain, fatigue, even heart damage. He warned much remains unknown about the long-term effects of the virus.
Democrats warned those survivors are at risk of being denied insurance if the Trump administration succeeds in overturning an Obama-era health law that forbids companies from turning down people with pre-existing health problems or charging them more. The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg means there are no longer five justices on the Supreme Court who have upheld the Affordable Care Act.
“We will see rates skyrocket for anybody who has had COVID,” predicted Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
A vaccine “will go a giant step” in controlling infection, but Fauci warned people still will need to take those precautions for a while after the first vaccine arrives because it won’t change conditions overnight.
Why? It’s unusual for a vaccine to be 100% effective. There won’t be enough at first for everyone, and even once there is, it will take months to get the shots into the arms of every American who wants one - an effort CDC’s Redfield sees stretching into June or July.
Because of the enormous logistical challenges, CDC wants states to get ready now and on Wednesday, announced they would get $200 million to help begin setting up those operations.
“We want to do that the instant it is approved. Not the following day but the following moment,” Trump said.
___
Neergaard reported from Alexandria, Virginia. AP Writer Linda Johnson contributed from Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Duterte gets rare praise for raising sea feud ruling at UN

MANILA , Philippines ( AP ) - The Philippine president got rare praises Wednesday from his key critics for invoking before the United Nations a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China ’ s vast territorial claims in the South China Sea , in a surprise move that will likely pique Beijing .
President Rodrigo Duterte made one of his strongest defenses of the Philippine victory in the arbitration case in his first address before the annual U.N. General Assembly where world leaders spoke mostly in prerecorded videos due to the pandemic .
China has long refused to bring the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has nurtured close ties with China since taking office in mid-2016 , has long been criticized for refusing to immediately and forcefully demand Chinese compliance with the ruling by a U.N.-backed tribunal .
It found China ’ s claims on virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds inconsistent with international maritime law .
China refused to take part in the arbitration , which was initiated by Duterte ’ s predecessor , and has dismissed the ruling as a “ sham.
” Beijing prefers direct negotiations with each of its rival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the long-raging disputes internationalized for fears the United States and its allies would find a way to intervene .
Duterte welcomed the increasing number of countries that have expressed support for the ruling , which he said stood for “ the triumph of reason over rashness , of law over disorder , of amity over ambition.
” “ The award is now part of international law , beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute , diminish or abandon , ” Duterte said , without naming China .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Chinese officials did not immediately issue any reaction .
Albert del Rosario , a former Philippine foreign secretary who brought the disputes with China to international arbitration , said he was heartened by Duterte ’ s move .
By underscoring the decision before the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders , Duterte “ has acted more faithfully to our constitution , which mandates him and our military to secure our country ’ s sovereignty and protect our lands and seas , ” del Rosario said .
He urged the Duterte administration to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling could be raised more emphatically in next year ’ s U.N. General Assembly .
Antonio Carpio , a retired Philippine Supreme Court justice who helped in the arbitration case , commended Duterte and hoped that “ this is the policy that the Duterte administration will implement across all levels ” in protecting Philippine maritime rights and seeking international support to enforce the ruling .
“ Mr .
Rodrigo Duterte ’ s 360-degree turn … is a big victory for international law and Philippine sovereignty against his own defeatist policy on China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosales said , adding the president succumbed to pressure for him to uphold international law .
Duterte also defended his deadly anti-drug crackdown and played down criticism from human rights advocates in his speech .
He has previously harshly criticized the U.N. for raising alarm over his campaign against illegal drugs and threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the world body , which he says his government now values for its role in fighting the global coronavirus pandemic .

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippine president got rare praises Wednesday from his key critics for invoking before the United Nations a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, in a surprise move that will likely pique Beijing.
President Rodrigo Duterte made one of his strongest defenses of the Philippine victory in the arbitration case in his first address before the annual U.N. General Assembly where world leaders spoke mostly in prerecorded videos due to the pandemic. China has long refused to bring the issue to any international arena.
Duterte, who has nurtured close ties with China since taking office in mid-2016, has long been criticized for refusing to immediately and forcefully demand Chinese compliance with the ruling by a U.N.-backed tribunal. It found China’s claims on virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds inconsistent with international maritime law.
China refused to take part in the arbitration, which was initiated by Duterte’s predecessor, and has dismissed the ruling as a “sham.” Beijing prefers direct negotiations with each of its rival claimant states and has vehemently refused to have the long-raging disputes internationalized for fears the United States and its allies would find a way to intervene.
Duterte welcomed the increasing number of countries that have expressed support for the ruling, which he said stood for “the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition.”
“The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon,” Duterte said, without naming China. “We firmly reject attempts to undermine it.”
Chinese officials did not immediately issue any reaction.
Albert del Rosario, a former Philippine foreign secretary who brought the disputes with China to international arbitration, said he was heartened by Duterte’s move. By underscoring the decision before the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders, Duterte “has acted more faithfully to our constitution, which mandates him and our military to secure our country’s sovereignty and protect our lands and seas,” del Rosario said.
He urged the Duterte administration to secure the backing of more countries so the ruling could be raised more emphatically in next year’s U.N. General Assembly.
Antonio Carpio, a retired Philippine Supreme Court justice who helped in the arbitration case, commended Duterte and hoped that “this is the policy that the Duterte administration will implement across all levels” in protecting Philippine maritime rights and seeking international support to enforce the ruling.
“Mr. Rodrigo Duterte’s 360-degree turn … is a big victory for international law and Philippine sovereignty against his own defeatist policy on China,” former human rights chief Etta Rosales said, adding the president succumbed to pressure for him to uphold international law.
Duterte also defended his deadly anti-drug crackdown and played down criticism from human rights advocates in his speech. He has previously harshly criticized the U.N. for raising alarm over his campaign against illegal drugs and threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the world body, which he says his government now values for its role in fighting the global coronavirus pandemic.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Data breach at software provider to local governments

DALLAS ( AP ) - A major provider of software services to local governments and schools across the United States , Tyler Technologies , told customers Wednesday that an unknown intruder broke into its phone and information technology systems .
It could not immediately be determined whether ransomware may have been involved .
The Plano , Texas-based company , whose website was offline , said in an email sent to customers that it discovered the breach Wednesday morning , contacted law enforcement and enlisted outside cybersecurity help .
Tyler customers include Des Moines , Hartford and St. Louis , County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its website on the Internet Archive .
The archived website said its company software is “ the perfect fit ” for everything from small towns to counties serving more than 2 million people .
Tyler did not immediately respond to phone calls and emails Wednesday .
On Twitter , it said “ a network issue ” was affecting its phone and web site and that “ we ’ re working to resolve as quickly as possible.
” The company ’ s home page said it was temporarily unavailable but provided no additional information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the evidence available to us to-date , all indications are that the impact of this incident is limited to our internal network and phone systems , ” said the email sent to customers and obtained by The Associated Press .
“ We currently have no reason to believe that any client data , client servers or hosted systems are affected.
” An FBI spokeswoman in Dallas could not immediately say whether the agency is involved in any way .
A cybersecurity expert assisting municipalities that are customers of Tyler ’ s Munis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security , said he was particularly concerned that hackers may have obtained access to the passwords of customers stored on its network and could penetrate their systems .
Hamilton , a former Seattle chief information security officer , said Tyler should be notifying customers to immediately reset all their passwords as a precaution .
“ It ’ s completely possible that bad guys have been in there for a good amount of time , ” he said .
Munis manages core business functions for government agencies and schools , from payroll to human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks , criminals are increasingly breaking into company and government networks and siphoning out data before scrambling them with encrypted programs and demanding payouts .
They threaten to make the stolen data public if the victim doesn ’ t pay up .
Texas has seen a series of these attacks over the last two years .
The victims have included parts of the state court system and the state transportation department this year , and more than 20 local governments last summer .
The Texas Department of Information Resources did not immediately respond @ @ @ @ @ @

DALLAS (AP) - A major provider of software services to state, county and local governments, including the online publishing of election results, told customers Wednesday that an unknown intruder broke into its phone and information technology systems.
Tyler Technologies, a Plano, Texas-based S&P 500 company, said in an email to customers that it discovered the breach Wednesday morning, contacted law enforcement and enlisted outside cybersecurity help. It did not say whether ransomware may have been involved.
Tyler provides software services for everything from jail and court management systems to payroll, human resources, tax and bill collection and land records. It also serves schools.
County governments in the Seattle, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Nashville areas have used the Tyler’s software Socrata to share election data in the past, although it was not immediately clear whether they still do or how central the platform is to their election operations.
Department of Homeland Security officials have warned that election results reporting systems could be attractive targets for hackers seeking to interfere in the Nov. 3 presidential election. They could also be inadvertently targeted by profit-seeking ransomware purveyors.
Tyler did not immediately respond to phone calls and emails. On Twitter, it said “a network issue” was affecting its phones and website that it was “working to resolve as quickly as possible.”
“At this time and based on the evidence available to us to-date, all indications are that the impact of this incident is limited to our internal network and phone systems,” said an email sent to customers and obtained by The Associated Press. “We currently have no reason to believe that any client data, client servers or hosted systems are affected.”
An FBI spokeswoman in Dallas could not immediately say whether the agency is involved in any way. The Texas Department of Information Resources did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tyler’s customers include Des Moines, Hartford and St. Louis County, according to a 2019 copy of its website on the Internet Archive. In a June earnings report, Tyler said it had 5,500 employees and 26,000 installations in all 50 states, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia and other locations.
A cybersecurity expert assisting municipalities that are Tyler customers, Mike Hamilton of CI Security, voice concern that hackers may have obtained access to the passwords of customers stored on its network and could penetrate their systems.
Hamilton, a former chief information security officer for Seattle, said Tyler should be notifying customers to immediately reset all their passwords as a precaution.
“It’s completely possible that bad guys have been in there for a good amount of time,” he said.
In ransomware attacks, criminals often break into company and government networks and siphon out data before scrambling them and demanding payouts. They threaten to make the stolen data public if the victim doesn’t pay up.
Texas has seen a series of these attacks over the last two years. The victims have included parts of the state court system and the state transportation department this year, and more than 20 local governments last summer. Brett Callow, an analyst with the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, said Tyler may have been hit with the same ransomware that struck the Texas Department of Transportation, based on an encrypted file uploaded to the Google-owned malware identification service VirusTotal in June that included ‘tylertech’ in the file name.
Data breaches often are not discovered until months after the fact.
___
Bajak reported from Boston.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Former union head sentenced for ordering assault on workers

HAMMOND , Ind .
( AP ) - A former Indiana union leader was sentenced Wednesday to 42 months in prison for his role in an assault on a group of non-union ironworkers at a church .
Jeffery Veach , of Portage , pleaded guilty in January to extortion conspiracy for attacking non-union workers who refused to join a local union group .
Under the plea agreement , 57 year-old Veach admitted that on Jan. 7 , 2016 , he threatened and attacked non-union workers in a failed attempt to obtain contracts for Iron Workers Local 395 ” from general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , two Illinois-based companies .
The non-union iron workers were constructing a school affiliated with Dyer Baptist Church .
Veach- who was president of Local 395 union of International Association of Bridge , Structural , Ornamental , and Reinforcing Iron Workers- was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Theresa Springmann .
He resigned his union position and salary as required by his guilty plea Jan. 24 to organizing the violent attack on workers who opposed joining Local 395 .
Thomas Williamson , 68 , of Schererville also pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Springmann on Dec. 15 .
Prosecutors alleged that Veach and Williamson visited the construction site in Dyer in order to persuade the D5 workers to sign up with the union or stop work on the site .
When they were rebuffed , Veach brought rank-and-file members of Local 395 to the construction site later that day .
At Veach ’ s direction , the union members attacked the D5 workers , who were beaten with fists and pieces of hardwood .
One worker sustained a broken jaw that required several surgeries and hospitalization @ @ @ @ @

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - A former Indiana union leader was sentenced Wednesday to 42 months in prison for his role in an assault on a group of non-union ironworkers at a church.
Jeffery Veach, of Portage, pleaded guilty in January to extortion conspiracy for attacking non-union workers who refused to join a local union group.
Under the plea agreement, 57 year-old Veach admitted that on Jan. 7, 2016, he threatened and attacked non-union workers in a failed attempt to obtain contracts for Iron Workers Local 395” from general contractor Lagestee-Mulder and from D5 Iron Works, two Illinois-based companies.
The non-union iron workers were constructing a school affiliated with Dyer Baptist Church.
Veach- who was president of Local 395 union of International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers- was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Theresa Springmann. He resigned his union position and salary as required by his guilty plea Jan. 24 to organizing the violent attack on workers who opposed joining Local 395.
Thomas Williamson, 68, of Schererville also pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Springmann on Dec. 15.
Prosecutors alleged that Veach and Williamson visited the construction site in Dyer in order to persuade the D5 workers to sign up with the union or stop work on the site. When they were rebuffed, Veach brought rank-and-file members of Local 395 to the construction site later that day.
At Veach’s direction, the union members attacked the D5 workers, who were beaten with fists and pieces of hardwood. One worker sustained a broken jaw that required several surgeries and hospitalization, according to prosecutors.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Texas Rep. Ron Wright out of hospital after cancer treatment

DALLAS ( AP ) - U.S. Rep. Ron Wright is out of the hospital following treatment for lung cancer complications @ @ @ @ @ s campaign staff announced Wednesday .
The freshman Republican from the 6th Congressional District in @ @ @ @ @ released Monday from Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas after a weeklong hospitalization , his @ @ @ @ @ .
His physicians have directed him to recover at home from a bout with pneumonia @ @ @ @ @ his campaign for reelection while continuing treatment for his cancer .
Wright , 67 , @ @ @ @ @ a second House term .
In an earlier statement , his campaign staff had said @ @ @ @ @ “ tough battle ” with cancer this year and was admitted to the National Institutes @ @ @ @ @ treatment earlier this month before returning home .
Last year , Wright wrote on Facebook @ @ @ @ @ treatment for lung cancer .

DALLAS (AP) - U.S. Rep. Ron Wright is out of the hospital following treatment for lung cancer complications, the Texas Republican’s campaign staff announced Wednesday.
The freshman Republican from the 6th Congressional District in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs was released Monday from Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas after a weeklong hospitalization, his staff said in a statement. His physicians have directed him to recover at home from a bout with pneumonia before returning to work and his campaign for reelection while continuing treatment for his cancer.
Wright, 67, of Arlington, is seeking a second House term. In an earlier statement, his campaign staff had said Wright has been in a “tough battle” with cancer this year and was admitted to the National Institutes of Health in Maryland for treatment earlier this month before returning home. Last year, Wright wrote on Facebook that he was again undergoing treatment for lung cancer.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Mining county asks lawmakers for open meetings law exemption

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Officials in a rural Nevada county with significant mining assets wants state lawmakers to carve out an exemption in the state ’ s Open Meeting Law to allow them to discuss environmental assessments before the reports are released to the public .
Members of the Legislature ’ s Public Lands Committee voted 7-1 on Tuesday to draft a bill that would provide the exemption that could affect massive mining projects under environmental review .
The bill would allow local officials to hold closed meetings with federal agencies during the “ pre-decisional ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required by the National Environmental Policy Act .
Eureka County Natural Resource Manager Jake Tibbitts said the proposal would give local governments representing their constituents ’ interests more power to participate in the review process .
Environmentalists and open government advocates found the argument questionable .
Federal law allows agencies to deliberate over draft documents away from the public eye to facilitate frank discussions before they ’ re released .
Agencies like the Bureau of Land Management that oversee public land in Eureka County require local governments to sign non-disclosure agreements if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The non-disclosure agreements conflict with Nevada ’ s Open Meeting Law , Tibbitts said .
The law requires state and local government bodies to allow the public to observe most government decision-making and to post notices of meetings at least three days in advance .
However , the non-disclosure agreements prevent local governments from holding public meetings while assessments are being drafted .
By doing so , Tibbitts said , they limit local officials ’ ability to relay the concerns of constituents and be get them involved in a key decision-making phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ allow local officials the flexibility to do the job they were elected to do , which is represent local interests , ” Tibbitts said .
“ Once the documents are drafted , it ’ s hard to affect any real change , ” he added .
Open government advocates and environmentalists who often worry about the political power of the state ’ s mining industry testified against the proposal and said it would subvert the purpose of the Open Meeting Law , which is to ensure the public can participate in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press Association Executive Director Richard Karpel said it was essential for the public to be able to observe and participate in the pre-decision phase of any government action .
“ If this passes , it ’ s just going to be people from the federal government and people from Nevada governments discussing issues with the citizens of the state having no idea what they ’ re talking about , ” he said .
Members of the Great Basin Resource Watch , a Nevada-based environmental nonprofit , have frequently fought the expansion of mining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re currently opposing the Mount Hope Molybdenum Mine , which they allege will use excessive amounts of groundwater and damage the surrounding environment .
The organization ’ s Executive Director John Hadder said he was unconditionally supportive of transparency but also understood why Eureka County felt stuck between Nevada ’ s Open Meeting Law and federal non-disclosure agreements .
“ Under the current law , they wouldn ’ t even have a meeting at all , ” he said .
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Officials in a rural Nevada county with significant mining assets want state lawmakers to carve out an exemption in the state’s Open Meeting Law to allow them to discuss environmental assessments before the reports are released to the public.
Members of the Legislature’s Public Lands Committee voted 7-1 on Tuesday to draft a bill that would provide the exemption, which could affect the federal process that has authorized mines, grazing and the nearby naval base.
The bill would allow local officials to hold closed meetings with federal agencies during the “pre-decisional” phase of projects undergoing environmental impact reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act.
Eureka County Natural Resource Manager Jake Tibbitts said the proposal would give local governments representing their constituents’ interests more power to participate in the review process. Environmentalists and open government advocates found the argument questionable.
Federal law allows agencies to deliberate over draft documents away from the public eye to facilitate frank discussions before they’re released. Agencies like the Bureau of Land Management that oversee public land in Eureka County require local governments to sign non-disclosure agreements if they want to participate in drafting environmental reviews.
The non-disclosure agreements conflict with Nevada’s Open Meeting Law, Tibbitts said. The law requires state and local government bodies to allow the public to observe most government decision-making and to post notices of meetings at least three days in advance.
However, the non-disclosure agreements prevent local governments from holding public meetings while assessments are being drafted. By doing so, Tibbitts said, they limit local officials’ ability to relay the concerns of constituents and be involved in a key decision-making phase of the reviews.
An exemption would “allow local officials the flexibility to do the job they were elected to do, which is represent local interests,” Tibbitts said.
“Once the documents are drafted, it’s hard to affect any real change,” he added.
Open government advocates and environmentalists who often worry about the political power of the state’s mining industry testified against the proposal and said it would subvert the purpose of the Open Meeting Law, which is to ensure the public can participate in their government’s decision-making process.
Nevada Press Association Executive Director Richard Karpel said it was essential for the public to be able to observe and participate in the pre-decision phase of any government action.
“If this passes, it’s just going to be people from the federal government and people from Nevada governments discussing issues with the citizens of the state having no idea what they’re talking about,” he said.
Members of the Great Basin Resource Watch, a Nevada-based environmental nonprofit, have frequently fought the expansion of mining operations in rural Nevada. They’re currently opposing the Mount Hope Molybdenum Mine, which they allege will use excessive amounts of groundwater and damage the surrounding environment.
The organization’s Executive Director John Hadder said he was unconditionally supportive of transparency but also understood why Eureka County felt stuck between Nevada’s Open Meeting Law and federal non-disclosure agreements.
“Under the current law, they wouldn’t even have a meeting at all,” he said.
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--General becomes 1st Black head of U.S. Air Force Academy

COLORADO SPRINGS , Colo. ( AP ) - The U.S. Air Force Academy installed a new superintendent who will be the first Black officer to lead the military institution .
Lt. Gen. Richard Clark also became the first former commandant of cadets to return to the top position at the academy near Colorado Springs , The Gazette reports .
Clark accepted the post Wednesday during a ceremony inside Falcon Stadium that allowed social-distancing among a small audience wearing masks due to the pandemic .
Clark becomes the first Black superintendent in the school ’ s 66-year history following a position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Air Force ’ s nuclear weapons program .
“ I am honored and privileged for the opportunity to give something back , ” said Clark , who called the superintendent post his “ dream job.
” Clark attended the academy beginning in 1982 , when he was a linebacker on the school ’ s football team .
Since then his academic accomplishments include four master ’ s degrees and a fellowship at Harvard University .
Clark ’ s service experience includes 400 hours in combat zones in B-1 bomber and EC-135 aircraft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academy as the cadet commandant from 2010 to 2012 .
Air Force Chief of Staff C.Q .
Brown and Air Force Secretary Barbara Barret praised Clark during Wednesday ’ s ceremony .
“ You are the perfect leader , ” Brown said .
“ In fact , I can not think of a leader more custom-made for this job.
” Clark replaced Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria , who retired after 35 years in the military .

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - The U.S. Air Force Academy installed a new superintendent who will be the first Black officer to lead the military institution.
Lt. Gen. Richard Clark also became the first former commandant of cadets to return to the top position at the academy near Colorado Springs, The Gazette reports.
Clark accepted the post Wednesday during a ceremony inside Falcon Stadium that allowed social-distancing among a small audience wearing masks due to the pandemic.
Clark becomes the first Black superintendent in the school’s 66-year history following a position at the Pentagon, where he oversaw the Air Force’s nuclear weapons program.
“I am honored and privileged for the opportunity to give something back,” said Clark, who called the superintendent post his “dream job.”
Clark attended the academy beginning in 1982, when he was a linebacker on the school’s football team. Since then his academic accomplishments include four master’s degrees and a fellowship at Harvard University.
Clark’s service experience includes 400 hours in combat zones in B-1 bomber and EC-135 aircraft.
Clark oversaw military training at the academy as the cadet commandant from 2010 to 2012.
Air Force Chief of Staff C.Q. Brown and Air Force Secretary Barbara Barret praised Clark during Wednesday’s ceremony.
“You are the perfect leader,” Brown said. “In fact, I cannot think of a leader more custom-made for this job.”
Clark replaced Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, who retired after 35 years in the military.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--La. secretary of state apologizes for voter portal shutdown

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin apologized Wednesday for routine scheduled maintenance that shut down the state ’ s voter registration website on the evening of National Voter Registration Day .
The routine maintenance had been scheduled long ago to take place Tuesday and was an oversight , Ardoin said in a statement Wednesday , adding that it was “ an unfortunate error for which I take full responsibility.
” The website was down from 8 p.m. to about 11:30 p.m. , according to the secretary of state ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of 7 a.m. Wednesday , The Advocate reported .
“ Just last week , we sent registration information to over 100,000 identified eligible but unregistered citizens , ” Ardoin said in the statement .
“ This is beyond reprehensible , ” tweeted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell Tuesday night .
“ Absolute dereliction of duty , at such a critical time for our City and our nation .
The LA SoS owes more to the people he serves.
” Rep. Royce Duplessis , a New Orleans Democrat and vice chair of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took to Twitter to condemn the timing of the site ’ s shutdown , calling it a disgrace .
National Voter Registration Day , held annually on the fourth Tuesday of September , registered 800,000 voters in 2018 ahead of midterm elections .
It began in 2012 for election boards and community organizations to make a big push to get people registered to vote .
Unlike most events recently , the Registration Day is supported by both Democrats and Republicans .
In addition to selecting the president Nov. 3 , Louisiana voters also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all six representatives , two public service commissioners and two Louisiana Supreme Court justices .
Ardoin , a Republican , noted that voter registration is ongoing - about 90 % of eligible Louisiana residents have signed up to participate - and anyone who wants to register or change their registration has until Oct. 5 , if done by mail , or Oct. 13 , if done online .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin apologized Wednesday for routine scheduled maintenance that shut down the state’s voter registration website on the evening of National Voter Registration Day.
The routine maintenance had been scheduled long ago to take place Tuesday and was an oversight, Ardoin said in a statement Wednesday, adding that it was “an unfortunate error for which I take full responsibility.”
The website was down from 8 p.m. to about 11:30 p.m., according to the secretary of state’s office. It was back up and running as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, The Advocate reported.
“Just last week, we sent registration information to over 100,000 identified eligible but unregistered citizens,” Ardoin said in the statement.
“This is beyond reprehensible,” tweeted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell Tuesday night. “Absolute dereliction of duty, at such a critical time for our City and our nation. The LA SoS owes more to the people he serves.”
Rep. Royce Duplessis, a New Orleans Democrat and vice chair of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee, also took to Twitter to condemn the timing of the site’s shutdown, calling it a disgrace.
National Voter Registration Day, held annually on the fourth Tuesday of September, registered 800,000 voters in 2018 ahead of midterm elections. It began in 2012 for election boards and community organizations to make a big push to get people registered to vote.
Unlike most events recently, the Registration Day is supported by both Democrats and Republicans.
In addition to selecting the president Nov. 3, Louisiana voters also will be choosing a U.S. senator, all six representatives, two public service commissioners and two Louisiana Supreme Court justices.
Ardoin, a Republican, noted that voter registration is ongoing - about 90% of eligible Louisiana residents have signed up to participate - and anyone who wants to register or change their registration has until Oct. 5, if done by mail, or Oct. 13, if done online.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Crews clean up historic Black cemetery vandalized in Austin

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) - Austin city crews and some community members united Wednesday to remove graffiti from more than a dozen headstones at a historic cemetery for Black residents .
Vandals defaced nearly 15 headstones earlier this week at the Evergreen Cemetery in East Austin , the city ’ s first major municipal cemetery for Black people , according to Austin police .
About 12,000 people have been buried in Evergreen Cemetery , including some from the African American community and civic leaders .
Black residents had been laid to rest in shared sites before the cemetery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a co-founder of the local organization Black Austin Coalition , told the Austin American-Statesmen that she was heartbroken and furious after finding out one of her family ’ s headstones was damaged .
“ We were taking initiative to clean up the cemetery , and it was like a slap in the face , ” Arnold said , noting that her group had been coming to Evergreen since August to help maintain the cemetery .
Arnold said she appreciates Austin Mayor Steve Adler and other people across the city who have expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Recreation Department spearheaded the cleaning efforts at the cemetery as dozens of residents also passed by to show solidarity .
Since it ’ s on city property , only city staffers can assist in the cleaning process that ’ s expected to be completed in phases over the next few weeks .
Others including De ’ Nerick Taylor , whose great-grandparents ’ headstones were among those reported vandalized on Monday , were permitted to help .
“ I would love to help to just ease the pain , so that I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor said .
Tonja Walls-Davis , division manager for the Parks and Recreation Department , also came out to help clean the headstones .
She said the city is not equipped with security cameras that monitor the grave sites at city-managed cemetery grounds , noting that Austin has cameras for some of the on-site administrative facilities .
Alan Garcia , a curator of a virtual ATX Barrio Archive who also works for the George Washington Carver Museum , said he wants pay homage to the memory of the people whose headstones were vandalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he discovered funeral programs for six of them and received permission from the city to post the programs as part of the independent virtual archive project .
“ I think this was just an important way to celebrate their legacy , ” Garcia said .

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Austin city crews and some community members united Wednesday to remove graffiti from more than a dozen headstones at a historic cemetery for Black residents.
Vandals defaced nearly 15 headstones earlier this week at the Evergreen Cemetery in East Austin, the city’s first major municipal cemetery for Black people, according to Austin police.
About 12,000 people have been buried in Evergreen Cemetery, including some from the African American community and civic leaders. Black residents had been laid to rest in shared sites before the cemetery was created in 1926.
Nyeka Arnold, a co-founder of the local organization Black Austin Coalition, told the Austin American-Statesmen that she was heartbroken and furious after finding out one of her family’s headstones was damaged.
“We were taking initiative to clean up the cemetery, and it was like a slap in the face,” Arnold said, noting that her group had been coming to Evergreen since August to help maintain the cemetery.
Arnold said she appreciates Austin Mayor Steve Adler and other people across the city who have expressed their support.
Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department spearheaded the cleaning efforts at the cemetery as dozens of residents also passed by to show solidarity. Since it’s on city property, only city staffers can assist in the cleaning process that’s expected to be completed in phases over the next few weeks.
Others including De’Nerick Taylor, whose great-grandparents’ headstones were among those reported vandalized on Monday, were permitted to help.
“I would love to help to just ease the pain, so that I know that I did my part,” Taylor said.
Tonja Walls-Davis, division manager for the Parks and Recreation Department, also came out to help clean the headstones. She said the city is not equipped with security cameras that monitor the grave sites at city-managed cemetery grounds, noting that Austin has cameras for some of the on-site administrative facilities.
Alan Garcia, a curator of a virtual ATX Barrio Archive who also works for the George Washington Carver Museum, said he wants pay homage to the memory of the people whose headstones were vandalized and share their stories. Garcia said he discovered funeral programs for six of them and received permission from the city to post the programs as part of the independent virtual archive project.
“I think this was just an important way to celebrate their legacy,” Garcia said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Man killed during struggle with Orange County deputies

SAN CLEMENTE , Calif. ( AP ) - A man was shot and killed Wednesday during a struggle with Orange @ @ @ @ @ outside of a San Clemente hotel , authorities said .
The shooting took place shortly @ @ @ @ @ deputies with the city ’ s homeless outreach team tried to contact the man near @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Sgt .
Dennis Breckner said .
Breckner said that ’ s when a @ @ @ @ @ on video .
“ You can see his arms around the deputy ’ s waist @ @ @ @ @ reaching for a deputy ’ s weapon , ” Breckner said .
Two shots were @ @ @ @ @ at the scene .
His name wasn ’ t immediately released .
Chloe Miller , @ @ @ @ @ being tackled by deputies and heard what appeared to be gunfire “ after he was @ @ @ @ @ she told the Orange County Register .

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (AP) - A man was shot and killed Wednesday during a struggle with Orange County sheriff’s deputies outside of a San Clemente hotel, authorities said.
The shooting took place shortly after 1 p.m. when two deputies with the city’s homeless outreach team tried to contact the man near the Hotel Miramar, sheriff’s Sgt. Dennis Breckner said.
Breckner said that’s when a struggle began that was caught on video.
“You can see his arms around the deputy’s waist. It appears he was reaching for a deputy’s weapon,” Breckner said.
Two shots were fired and the man died at the scene. His name wasn’t immediately released.
Chloe Miller, 23, saw the man being tackled by deputies and heard what appeared to be gunfire “after he was on the ground,” she told the Orange County Register.