washingtontimes--2020-09-13--WVa siblings endure winding road to become teachers

WHEELING , W.Va. ( AP ) - They ’ re brother and sister , local educators who returned home to Wheeling to be close to their family .
Then this summer , both were granted doctoral degrees from the same university within days of each other .
Wheeling Park High School teacher Michael Romick , and his younger sister , Deborah Romick-Glynn , a teacher at Bridgeport Middle School , achieved their doctoral degrees in curriculum instruction from Liberty University in Lynchburg , Va. , last month .
They participated in an intensive online doctoral program - which they admit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They leaned on each other for support during personal journeys that included medical and personal hardships , and had overcome these obstacles along the way .
Romick said it took him four years to complete the program , though he needed “ to be involved in something ” following the death of his wife in 2016 .
Romick-Glynn is a cancer survivor , and currently is Title 1 reading program teacher to students in grades 5-8 at Bridgeport Middle School .
It took her seven years to receive her doctorate .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register before going into teaching .
She has taught at the former Mt .
DeChantal Visitation Academy in Wheeling , and in school districts in Cincinnati and London , Ohio .
Romick-Glynn said she once served as an educational administrator overseeing a gifted program , and was paid a “ good salary.
” “ But that ’ s not why you do it , ” she said .
“ Anyone you know that is in education will tell you , if I wanted to make money I wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be something more.
” Being a teacher gives someone the opportunity to make a difference in someone ’ s life , according to Romick-Glynn .
She said she has had many former students tell her years after they were in her classroom that she affected them in a positive way .
The Romicks said they heard the same words often said to their mother Alice , who has retired after more than 30 years teaching in Ohio County Schools .
They say it was Alice Romick , and their late father , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the importance of education to them .
Romick-Glynn , a mother of two grown children , now shares a home with her mother in Wheeling .
Michael Romick teaches college composition and English 11 at WPHS .
He didn ’ t start his adult life as a teacher either , but first had a successful career in sales and marketing for 18 years - rising to the ranks of a vice president at a major retail chain while living in St. Louis .
Then he left the corporate world to go into teaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School in St. Louis before moving on to Albemarle High School in Charlottesville , Va .
Following the death of his wife , he returned to Wheeling with his five children to be closer to family , and took a job at WPHS .
“ When I go to my death bed , what am I going to tell my kids that I ’ m the most proud of - selling jeans or personal care products , and that ’ s what I did with my life ?
” he asked .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student at a time .
“ I can always look back at the teachers who influenced me , and I would like to be that person.
” Romick-Glynn remembers teaching in the inner-city of Cincinnati City Schools , and personally witnessing the hardships they faced .
“ I had kids that were homeless , ” she said .
“ I would walk in the classroom , and see the roaches crawling off of them .
The only kind word they might get that day was from me .
If I have a kid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they don ’ t get love or attention or even a hug , how am I going to teach him about the Civil War ?
I am not teaching him anything.
” Michael Romick was very complimentary of Ohio County Schools and its efforts to help students in need .
“ They take care of their kids , ” he said .
“ When we were closed down for COVID , they continued to provide meals for kids every single week .
It was insane .
I have nothing but respect for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kind of people you want to work for .
That ’ s why I became a teacher , so I ’ m good .
”

WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) - They’re brother and sister, local educators who returned home to Wheeling to be close to their family.
Then this summer, both were granted doctoral degrees from the same university within days of each other.
Wheeling Park High School teacher Michael Romick, and his younger sister, Deborah Romick-Glynn, a teacher at Bridgeport Middle School, achieved their doctoral degrees in curriculum instruction from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., last month.
They participated in an intensive online doctoral program - which they admit, at times, could be difficult.
They leaned on each other for support during personal journeys that included medical and personal hardships, and had overcome these obstacles along the way.
Romick said it took him four years to complete the program, though he needed “to be involved in something” following the death of his wife in 2016.
Romick-Glynn is a cancer survivor, and currently is Title 1 reading program teacher to students in grades 5-8 at Bridgeport Middle School. It took her seven years to receive her doctorate.
She started her career as a reporter for The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register before going into teaching.
She has taught at the former Mt. DeChantal Visitation Academy in Wheeling, and in school districts in Cincinnati and London, Ohio.
Romick-Glynn said she once served as an educational administrator overseeing a gifted program, and was paid a “good salary.”
“But that’s not why you do it,” she said. “Anyone you know that is in education will tell you, if I wanted to make money I wouldn’t be teaching. There has to be something more.”
Being a teacher gives someone the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, according to Romick-Glynn. She said she has had many former students tell her years after they were in her classroom that she affected them in a positive way.
The Romicks said they heard the same words often said to their mother Alice, who has retired after more than 30 years teaching in Ohio County Schools.
They say it was Alice Romick, and their late father, the Rev. Robert Romick, who stressed the importance of education to them.
Romick-Glynn, a mother of two grown children, now shares a home with her mother in Wheeling.
Michael Romick teaches college composition and English 11 at WPHS. He didn’t start his adult life as a teacher either, but first had a successful career in sales and marketing for 18 years - rising to the ranks of a vice president at a major retail chain while living in St. Louis.
Then he left the corporate world to go into teaching, and first taught at Hermann High School in St. Louis before moving on to Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Va. Following the death of his wife, he returned to Wheeling with his five children to be closer to family, and took a job at WPHS.
“When I go to my death bed, what am I going to tell my kids that I’m the most proud of - selling jeans or personal care products, and that’s what I did with my life?” he asked. “I want to make a difference one student at a time.
“I can always look back at the teachers who influenced me, and I would like to be that person.”
Romick-Glynn remembers teaching in the inner-city of Cincinnati City Schools, and personally witnessing the hardships they faced.
“I had kids that were homeless,” she said. “I would walk in the classroom, and see the roaches crawling off of them. The only kind word they might get that day was from me. If I have a kid in class who is so emotionally distraught because they don’t get love or attention or even a hug, how am I going to teach him about the Civil War? I am not teaching him anything.”
Michael Romick was very complimentary of Ohio County Schools and its efforts to help students in need.
“They take care of their kids,” he said. “When we were closed down for COVID, they continued to provide meals for kids every single week. It was insane. I have nothing but respect for my school district. They’re the kind of people you want to work for. That’s why I became a teacher, so I’m good.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Fewer people, more space at Baltimore theatre amid pandemic

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - On the first weekend in six months that a Baltimore movie theater was open to the public , the Senator Theatre ’ s massive marquee bellied over York Road , big black letters spelling out the greeting : “ Welcome back to the movies , Baltimore !
” The message was as much a question - or perhaps multiple questions - as a statement .
Would people come back to movie theaters ?
Would customers follow the rules ?
How would it feel ?
The movies have always been a communal experience .
A bunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch events unfold on a brightly lit , larger-than-life-size screen .
The murmured voices , creaking chairs and shuffling feet can weave together into a subliminal group conversation .
Would social distancing measures aimed at eliminating contact between strangers ruin the magic ?
A Sun reporter visited the Senator during its opening weekend to find some answers .
“ It ’ s exciting to open the theater again after we ’ ve been closed for so long , ” said Chris Lyon , whose wife , Kathleen , owns the Senator and Charles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buzz ” Cusack .
“ But getting going again also comes with anxiety .
We have spent the last six months working for this day .
We have done all the upgrades and updated all the systems , but until you open , you don ’ t know how things will go .
We just want people to feel safe.
” For now , the Senator seems to be the only movie theater inside the city limits offering in-person screenings .
The Parkway Theatre and the Landmark Theatre at Harbor East remain closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kathleen Lyon expects to resume live showings in a few weeks .
However , some theaters have reopened in surrounding communities ( including Towson and Pikesville ) , where capacity limits are less restrictive than in Baltimore .
“ Some theater owners would say that it ’ s not worth opening for 25 people , and that ’ s a valid financial argument , ” Kathleen Lyon said .
“ But we are doing it anyway , because we want to turn the lights back on.
” Evidence of COVID-19 precautions was evident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Displayed prominently in the lobby is a sign indicating that the Senator adheres to CinemaSafe guidelines , which were developed by a nationwide consortium of theater owners in consultation with epidemiologists to promote safe movie-going .
Even the first image viewers see once the house lights dim - the black-and-white “ Welcome to the Senator Theatre !
” screen written in old-timey script - has been altered to include a COVID-19 safety message .
The Senator ’ s capacity has been reduced from 736 before the pandemic to no more than 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two large auditoriums and 15 each in the two small theaters ) .
One result is a change most movie-goers will welcome : lines in front of the box office , concession stand and even in the under-sized women ’ s washroom ( the plague of female movie-lovers everywhere ) have disappeared .
Now customers purchase tickets in advance for specific seats .
After patrons arrive , employees behind plexiglass shields scan a bar code from either a paper ticket or mobile phone .
Chris Lyon acknowledged that he prefers to talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sheet of glass .
For him , the shield will require a mental adjustment .
“ It ’ s going to take me a while get used to it , ” he said .
Customers seduced by the familiar smell of popping corn - nutty , steamy , faintly sweet - can now march right up to the concession stand and place their order , no waiting required .
But now , a gloved server salts and butters the popcorn for them , minimizing how many surfaces moviegoers touch .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felicitous change , the elimination of low-cost drink refills .
( Passing a cup back and forth seems unsanitary , so the thirstiest patrons must cough up enough bucks to buy a second drink . )
With relatively few people in the audience for even sold-out screenings , the Senator seems vaster and more echo-ey .
But , people still whisper to one another during the coming attractions .
Audience members still sat spellbound while watching Christopher Nolan ’ s “ Tenet , ” a movie about the ancient human desire to undo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reverse time .
And yes - when they weren ’ t eating and drinking , the mostly twentysomething audience members wore face masks .
Dan Hunt , 28 , of Baltimore attended a screening with a close group of buddies : his brother , a cousin , friends .
He had missed the movies , and the risks inherent in seeing “ Tenet ” at the Senator seemed acceptably low .
“ I won ’ t hang out with people I don ’ t know .
I won ’ t walk around downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night .
But here people are wearing masks .
They ’ re following the rules .
As long as people are responsible , I think we ’ ll be O.K .
”

BALTIMORE (AP) - On the first weekend in six months that a Baltimore movie theater was open to the public, the Senator Theatre’s massive marquee bellied over York Road, big black letters spelling out the greeting: “Welcome back to the movies, Baltimore!”
The message was as much a question - or perhaps multiple questions - as a statement.
Would people come back to movie theaters? Would customers follow the rules? How would it feel?
The movies have always been a communal experience. A bunch of people sit in the dark and watch events unfold on a brightly lit, larger-than-life-size screen. The murmured voices, creaking chairs and shuffling feet can weave together into a subliminal group conversation. Would social distancing measures aimed at eliminating contact between strangers ruin the magic?
A Sun reporter visited the Senator during its opening weekend to find some answers.
“It’s exciting to open the theater again after we’ve been closed for so long,” said Chris Lyon, whose wife, Kathleen, owns the Senator and Charles theaters with her father, James “Buzz” Cusack.
“But getting going again also comes with anxiety. We have spent the last six months working for this day. We have done all the upgrades and updated all the systems, but until you open, you don’t know how things will go. We just want people to feel safe.”
For now, the Senator seems to be the only movie theater inside the city limits offering in-person screenings. The Parkway Theatre and the Landmark Theatre at Harbor East remain closed. So is the Charles, though Kathleen Lyon expects to resume live showings in a few weeks.
However, some theaters have reopened in surrounding communities (including Towson and Pikesville), where capacity limits are less restrictive than in Baltimore.
“Some theater owners would say that it’s not worth opening for 25 people, and that’s a valid financial argument,” Kathleen Lyon said. “But we are doing it anyway, because we want to turn the lights back on.”
Evidence of COVID-19 precautions was evident throughout the 1939 Art Deco movie palace. Displayed prominently in the lobby is a sign indicating that the Senator adheres to CinemaSafe guidelines, which were developed by a nationwide consortium of theater owners in consultation with epidemiologists to promote safe movie-going.
Even the first image viewers see once the house lights dim - the black-and-white “Welcome to the Senator Theatre!” screen written in old-timey script - has been altered to include a COVID-19 safety message.
The Senator’s capacity has been reduced from 736 before the pandemic to no more than 80 now (25 movie-goers apiece in the two large auditoriums and 15 each in the two small theaters).
One result is a change most movie-goers will welcome: lines in front of the box office, concession stand and even in the under-sized women’s washroom (the plague of female movie-lovers everywhere) have disappeared.
Now customers purchase tickets in advance for specific seats. After patrons arrive, employees behind plexiglass shields scan a bar code from either a paper ticket or mobile phone.
Chris Lyon acknowledged that he prefers to talk to customers face to face instead of behind a sheet of glass. For him, the shield will require a mental adjustment.
“It’s going to take me a while get used to it,” he said.
Customers seduced by the familiar smell of popping corn - nutty, steamy, faintly sweet - can now march right up to the concession stand and place their order, no waiting required. But now, a gloved server salts and butters the popcorn for them, minimizing how many surfaces moviegoers touch. That’s the same rationale behind a less felicitous change, the elimination of low-cost drink refills. (Passing a cup back and forth seems unsanitary, so the thirstiest patrons must cough up enough bucks to buy a second drink.)
With relatively few people in the audience for even sold-out screenings, the Senator seems vaster and more echo-ey. But, people still whisper to one another during the coming attractions. Audience members still sat spellbound while watching Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” a movie about the ancient human desire to undo present disaster by discovering a trick to reverse time. And yes - when they weren’t eating and drinking, the mostly twentysomething audience members wore face masks.
Dan Hunt, 28, of Baltimore attended a screening with a close group of buddies: his brother, a cousin, friends. He had missed the movies, and the risks inherent in seeing “Tenet” at the Senator seemed acceptably low.
“There are things I won’t do,” Hunt said.
“I won’t hang out with people I don’t know. I won’t walk around downtown Towson at 10 p.m. on a weekend night. But here people are wearing masks. They’re following the rules. As long as people are responsible, I think we’ll be O.K.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Virginia businesses aim to bring virtual programming to kids

LYNCHBURG , Va. ( AP ) - Two local entertainment businesses are teaming up with area children to create entertaining and educational digital content by kids , for kids , who may be spending more time at home .
Appomattox-based nonprofit Wolfbane Productions and Lend Me a Princess , a Lynchburg-based business providing character appearances at birthday parties and other events in the area portrayed by actors , are joining forces to make the most of an unconventional , pandemic-induced social situation .
They hope to help children and their parents find some fun and relief as numerous traditional life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs and school itself , have been disrupted , while expanding their own professional horizons by focusing on creating digital content .
“ I personally don ’ t have kids , but I can ’ t imagine the stresses parents are feeling right now , having to become parents and teachers , ” said Ken Arpino , executive director of Wolfbane Productions .
“ We want to be able to provide some kind of fun , educational content for their kids to watch as they ’ re stuck at home , and hopefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents.
” Since the pandemic , theaters around the world spent time shut down , and if re-opening must have limited audiences and follow public health guidelines such as mask-wearing , social distancing and increased sanitation procedures .
As a result of restrictions , some venues have tried getting creative with digital content .
With its 2020 season postponed until next year , Wolfbane Productions is one such venue going digital .
Ellee Evans , founder and owner of Lend Me a Princess , has also seen her business change through the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately fell in Evans ’ s lap during her senior year of high school when she was asked to appear as Cinderella at a local child ’ s birthday party .
Following her first character appearance at a birthday party , requests came steadily in .
Evans went with the flow , appearing at numerous parties or events as familiar Disney characters .
Over time , she expanded to include not only Disney , but also super heroes and original characters created by Evans .
As business grew , Evans , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help of volunteers - primarily from her alma mater , the University of Lynchburg , and sometimes high school theater participants - to bring characters to life .
Lend Me a Princess offers experience for both theater students , or those in the education realm , Evans said .
Those desiring experience with improvisation , acting , and costuming , or learning how to interact with children may find valuable hands-on opportunities through the business .
Through Lend Me a Princess , Evans focuses on bringing a “ magical ” experience to lower-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charitable community events .
Instead of in-person character appearances at social events , Evans has taken to making personal video messages or having live chats with clients during the pandemic , giving children a virtual meeting with a favorite character of theirs .
Lend Me a Princess ’ s first collaboration with Wolfbane was in 2017 , at Wolfbane ’ s “ Experience the Holidays ” event in Appomattox .
Lend Me a Princess provided character appearances in Santa ’ s Village , including Buddy the Elf , Elsa and Anna from Disney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Burton ’ s Nightmare Before Christmas and some of Santa ’ s elves .
The partnership worked well for both parties , Evans and Arpino said .
Together with their latest endeavor , they are hoping to reach a broader demographic .
“ Their ( Wolfbane ’ s ) audiences are more adult , and my audiences are definitely children , so us combining our worlds gives them the opportunity to reach a different demographic , ” Evans said .
For Wolfbane ’ s first jump into creating content specifically for children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Princess made the perfect partner .
“ Ellee Evans has got so much experience , and she ’ s got such a great imagination , ” he said .
“ She ’ s got a bunch of really great ideas , and we ’ re really excited to reach a newer , younger audience.
” “ We want to create opportunities for children right now to be able to still do theater , ” Evans said .
Wolfbane Productions put out a casting call for local children ages six through 12 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dozen children from diverse backgrounds and ages answered the call by submitting video auditions before the close of the casting period in mid-August .
“ We have seen some of the cutest kids send in videos .
Just so much imagination , ” Arpino said .
“ We had one kid doing impressions of Johnny Cash .
We had other kids reading their favorite story .
It was just amazing how creative and imaginative the kids in our area are , so we ’ re excited to get to work with them.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Wolfbane ” videos will feature familiar characters from worlds like Disney and Marvel , as well as some of Evans ’ s original characters .
Other videos will feature children as themselves , without character appearances .
With a mix of stand-alone videos and themed series planned , Evans and Arpino hope audiences will find something enjoyable for everyone .
Arpino said Wolfbane sees an opportunity within an obstacle : the prime chance for Wolfbane to focus on other types of production besides traditional theater .
“ Dustin Williams started Wolfbane in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Productions because he hoped that someday we would be more than just theater , ” Arpino said .
“ We wanted to reinvent art in our area .
I think that the world told us to kind of live up to our name.
” Filming for “ Lend Me a Wolfbane ” kids ’ programming , along with some of Wolfbane ’ s other digital content , began the weekend of Aug. 29 and 30 at Wolfbane ’ s Appomattox location .
Arpino said working with the children was a great experience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help as assistants behind-the-scenes .
Nine-year-old Aislynn Sandman was one of two children who took part in filming a video involving experimental doughnut recipes .
“ My favorite part was being able to have fun , and experiment and get messy , ” Aislynn said of filming , describing “ soupy ice cream ” and marshmallows as some of the ingredients .
“ I think for Aislynn , it was a really fantastic opportunity for her to show confidence , ” said Ashley Sandman , Aislynn ’ s mother and president on Wolfbane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Getting to see her gain that comfort level and gain some confidence while she was filming was very exciting.
” Aislynn has volunteered behind-the-scenes with Wolfbane since she was small , Ashley said , spending time on site , helping build and paint sets , make props , and do anything else she is able to do when not watching a show or spending time with staff and actors .
Ashley said the opportunity to safely interact with a few other people was a good social outlet for Aislynn , who is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids are going to make people ’ s day .
They ’ re going to make people smile .
They ’ re already making my day , and I can ’ t wait .
I hope that we make their day , too , ” Evans said .
All of Wolfbane Productions ’ digital content , including “ Lend Me a Wolfbane ” videos , will be streamed through Patreon , a subscription site online .
Content will start coming available this month .
“ If you ’ re going to turn any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s at least get some awesome art out of it , ” Arpino said .

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - Two local entertainment businesses are teaming up with area children to create entertaining and educational digital content by kids, for kids, who may be spending more time at home.
Appomattox-based nonprofit Wolfbane Productions and Lend Me a Princess, a Lynchburg-based business providing character appearances at birthday parties and other events in the area portrayed by actors, are joining forces to make the most of an unconventional, pandemic-induced social situation.
They hope to help children and their parents find some fun and relief as numerous traditional life events, such as camps, after-school programs and school itself, have been disrupted, while expanding their own professional horizons by focusing on creating digital content.
“I personally don’t have kids, but I can’t imagine the stresses parents are feeling right now, having to become parents and teachers,” said Ken Arpino, executive director of Wolfbane Productions. “We want to be able to provide some kind of fun, educational content for their kids to watch as they’re stuck at home, and hopefully relieve some of the burden from the parents.”
Since the pandemic, theaters around the world spent time shut down, and if re-opening must have limited audiences and follow public health guidelines such as mask-wearing, social distancing and increased sanitation procedures. As a result of restrictions, some venues have tried getting creative with digital content. With its 2020 season postponed until next year, Wolfbane Productions is one such venue going digital.
Ellee Evans, founder and owner of Lend Me a Princess, has also seen her business change through the pandemic.
Started in 2015, the business ultimately fell in Evans’s lap during her senior year of high school when she was asked to appear as Cinderella at a local child’s birthday party.
Following her first character appearance at a birthday party, requests came steadily in. Evans went with the flow, appearing at numerous parties or events as familiar Disney characters. Over time, she expanded to include not only Disney, but also super heroes and original characters created by Evans.
As business grew, Evans, who has a background in theater, enlisted the help of volunteers - primarily from her alma mater, the University of Lynchburg, and sometimes high school theater participants - to bring characters to life.
Lend Me a Princess offers experience for both theater students, or those in the education realm, Evans said. Those desiring experience with improvisation, acting, and costuming, or learning how to interact with children may find valuable hands-on opportunities through the business.
Through Lend Me a Princess, Evans focuses on bringing a “magical” experience to lower-income household birthday parties, as well as charitable community events.
Instead of in-person character appearances at social events, Evans has taken to making personal video messages or having live chats with clients during the pandemic, giving children a virtual meeting with a favorite character of theirs.
Lend Me a Princess’s first collaboration with Wolfbane was in 2017, at Wolfbane’s “Experience the Holidays” event in Appomattox. Lend Me a Princess provided character appearances in Santa’s Village, including Buddy the Elf, Elsa and Anna from Disney’s Frozen, Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas and some of Santa’s elves. The partnership worked well for both parties, Evans and Arpino said. Together with their latest endeavor, they are hoping to reach a broader demographic.
“Their (Wolfbane’s) audiences are more adult, and my audiences are definitely children, so us combining our worlds gives them the opportunity to reach a different demographic,” Evans said.
For Wolfbane’s first jump into creating content specifically for children, Arpino said Evans and Lend Me a Princess made the perfect partner.
“Ellee Evans has got so much experience, and she’s got such a great imagination,” he said. “She’s got a bunch of really great ideas, and we’re really excited to reach a newer, younger audience.”
“We want to create opportunities for children right now to be able to still do theater,” Evans said.
Wolfbane Productions put out a casting call for local children ages six through 12 at the beginning of August. More than a dozen children from diverse backgrounds and ages answered the call by submitting video auditions before the close of the casting period in mid-August.
“We have seen some of the cutest kids send in videos. Just so much imagination,” Arpino said. “We had one kid doing impressions of Johnny Cash. We had other kids reading their favorite story. It was just amazing how creative and imaginative the kids in our area are, so we’re excited to get to work with them.”
Many of the “Lend Me a Wolfbane” videos will feature familiar characters from worlds like Disney and Marvel, as well as some of Evans’s original characters. Other videos will feature children as themselves, without character appearances. With a mix of stand-alone videos and themed series planned, Evans and Arpino hope audiences will find something enjoyable for everyone.
Arpino said Wolfbane sees an opportunity within an obstacle: the prime chance for Wolfbane to focus on other types of production besides traditional theater.
“Dustin Williams started Wolfbane in 2008, and he called it Wolfbane Productions because he hoped that someday we would be more than just theater,” Arpino said. “We wanted to reinvent art in our area. I think that the world told us to kind of live up to our name.”
Filming for “Lend Me a Wolfbane” kids’ programming, along with some of Wolfbane’s other digital content, began the weekend of Aug. 29 and 30 at Wolfbane’s Appomattox location.
Arpino said working with the children was a great experience, from acting on camera to letting them help as assistants behind-the-scenes.
Nine-year-old Aislynn Sandman was one of two children who took part in filming a video involving experimental doughnut recipes.
“My favorite part was being able to have fun, and experiment and get messy,” Aislynn said of filming, describing “soupy ice cream” and marshmallows as some of the ingredients.
“I think for Aislynn, it was a really fantastic opportunity for her to show confidence,” said Ashley Sandman, Aislynn’s mother and president on Wolfbane’s board of directors. “Getting to see her gain that comfort level and gain some confidence while she was filming was very exciting.”
Aislynn has volunteered behind-the-scenes with Wolfbane since she was small, Ashley said, spending time on site, helping build and paint sets, make props, and do anything else she is able to do when not watching a show or spending time with staff and actors.
Ashley said the opportunity to safely interact with a few other people was a good social outlet for Aislynn, who is doing school virtually this year.
“These kids are going to make people’s day. They’re going to make people smile. They’re already making my day, and I can’t wait. I hope that we make their day, too,” Evans said.
All of Wolfbane Productions’ digital content, including “Lend Me a Wolfbane” videos, will be streamed through Patreon, a subscription site online. Content will start coming available this month.
“If you’re going to turn any of these lemons into lemonade, let’s at least get some awesome art out of it,” Arpino said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--A visit to Ellie's Garage: Virginia teen, father restore car

FREDERICKSBURG , Va. ( AP ) - When Ellie Dufilho , 15 , starts driving next year , it will be behind the wheel of her own custom-built vehicle .
Not only that , it will be a complete rebuild of a classic model-the 1965 Ford Falcon-that she and her dad , Matt , did themselves at their Spotsylvania County home .
The pair created a YouTube channel-Ellie ’ s Garage-to document their endeavor and it has led to opportunities for Ellie , a home-schooled sophomore , to write articles for vintage car magazines and national auto-parts dealers , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the next national meeting of the Falcon Club of America .
“ As an adult woman in the world , she ’ s going to be able to not only listen to a mechanic and know what they ’ re talking about , but be able to not have to take her car to a mechanic at all , ” said Ellie ’ s mom , Robin Dufilho .
“ I love that she ’ s being empowered and emboldened.
” Ellie has always been a maker .
She loves drawing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make it rise-and she and her dad built a fort in their backyard .
“ I ’ ve loved teaching myself how to do something on my own since I was real little , ” Ellie said .
She ’ s also always loved old cars from the ’ 50s and ’ 60s , with their giant chrome fenders and circular tail lights .
When Ellie was about 10 years old and riding in the car with her dad , she noticed a 1960s Ford Falcon parked in a driveway .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at that , ’ and we pulled over to stare at it , ” Matt Dufilho said .
As Ellie examined the Falcon that day , she thought , “ Wouldn ’ t it be fun to build one of these ?
” “ It became sort of a dream conversation , ” Dufilho said .
“ Just fun talks .
When we saw old cars , we ’ d stop and talk about them.
” But as Ellie got closer to being old enough to drive , Matt and Robin presented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy her a vintage car to restore , and she would pay for all the work and new parts that would need to go into it .
Ellie accepted the deal .
The family researched vintage cars and settled on the Falcon .
“ It ’ s about as good a starter car as you can get , ” Matt Dufilho said .
It was just a happy coincidence that the car that caught Ellie ’ s eye as a ten-year-old was also a Falcon .
They bought their Falcon on Ebay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and flew to Skokie , Ill. , in November to pick it up .
The car was in good enough shape that Matt and Ellie could drive it the 750 miles home .
During that drive , Ellie learned about all the things that have changed in vehicle design in the past 55 years .
She had never used a hand crank to open and close a window , or seen lap belts in the front seat instead of three-point seat belts .
“ Ellie had all these realizations about things , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Oh , it ’ s actually rolling , ’ ” Matt Dufilho said .
Once home , Matt and Ellie started rebuilding the car from the ground up .
“ We are basically going through the car step by step and redoing everything , ” Ellie said .
“ The first thing we started with was the engine .
We have completely overhauled the engine and the transmission .
We have cleaned out the engine bay and put in all new wiring .
We are just basically making it a brand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad are focused on the drive-ability of the car , Robin is safety monitor .
“ This is our infant that we ’ re letting drive around in a 55-year-old car , ” Robin Dufilho said .
“ I ’ m the one going , ‘ Three-point seat belts would be a great addition .
And how about a third brake light ?
Wouldn ’ t that be a fun project to install ?
’ ” Matt Dufilho said adding safety to a vintage look has been “ a challenge , but a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be able to do that Robin keeps asking about is install air bags .
Matt Dufilho said he always wanted to restore a car .
“ When we were first married and dirt poor , Robin ’ s dad taught me how to change oil .
I like learning that kind of stuff , ” he said .
“ I started changing our own oil and over the years , I started doing all the car maintenance as well.
” While he said he is the one who does the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restoration process , it is a true team effort .
“ I ’ m much more of a creative person and Ellie is much more like her mom , very logical , very smart , ” he said .
“ If you watch the videos , it ’ s not dad doing the work while Ellie ’ s holding something .
She actually makes really great observations and comes up with ideas of how to do things.
” Ellie estimates that she ’ s put about $ 2,500 into the car so far-money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Christmases and earned by dog-sitting and other odd jobs .
Companies learning about Ellie ’ s project have come on board to help .
Hughes , an Arizona-based company , offered to overhaul the Falcon ’ s transmission for her .
The family also started a Patreon fundraising account for the project .
Having taken care of the Falcon ’ s engine and wiring , Ellie and her dad have moved on to the body of the car .
Most recently , they fashioned a new toeboard out of 16 gauge steel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last , they ’ ll turn their attention to the interior .
They plan to install bucket seats with head rests in place of the original low-backed bench seats .
Finally , they ’ ll paint the custom Falcon in a “ dream color ” that Ellie is keeping secret until they reveal it on the YouTube channel .
Ellie said she and her dad are already talking about what car project they ’ ll take on next .
“ Mom always wanted an old Mustang , ” she said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Robin Dufilho said .
“ I figure they can figure that out !
” Ellie doesn ’ t plan to become a mechanic .
She wants to go to college to study either English or engineering .
But she ’ s glad to have all this automotive knowledge .
“ I didn ’ t know anything about cars , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not like I came into this having all this knowledge .
I ’ ve learned so many things about how the car works and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weld !
”

ADELE UPHAUS-CONNER, The Free Lance-Star

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) - When Ellie Dufilho, 15, starts driving next year, it will be behind the wheel of her own custom-built vehicle.
Not only that, it will be a complete rebuild of a classic model-the 1965 Ford Falcon-that she and her dad, Matt, did themselves at their Spotsylvania County home.
The pair created a YouTube channel-Ellie’s Garage-to document their endeavor and it has led to opportunities for Ellie, a home-schooled sophomore, to write articles for vintage car magazines and national auto-parts dealers, and an invitation to be the special guest at the next national meeting of the Falcon Club of America.
“As an adult woman in the world, she’s going to be able to not only listen to a mechanic and know what they’re talking about, but be able to not have to take her car to a mechanic at all,” said Ellie’s mom, Robin Dufilho. “I love that she’s being empowered and emboldened.”
Ellie has always been a maker. She loves drawing and baking-figuring out what goes into a cake to make it rise-and she and her dad built a fort in their backyard.
“I’ve loved teaching myself how to do something on my own since I was real little,” Ellie said.
She’s also always loved old cars from the ’50s and ’60s, with their giant chrome fenders and circular tail lights.
When Ellie was about 10 years old and riding in the car with her dad, she noticed a 1960s Ford Falcon parked in a driveway.
“She said, ‘Oh dad, look at that,’ and we pulled over to stare at it,” Matt Dufilho said.
As Ellie examined the Falcon that day, she thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to build one of these?”
“It became sort of a dream conversation,” Dufilho said. “Just fun talks. When we saw old cars, we’d stop and talk about them.”
But as Ellie got closer to being old enough to drive, Matt and Robin presented her with an option. They would buy her a vintage car to restore, and she would pay for all the work and new parts that would need to go into it.
Ellie accepted the deal. The family researched vintage cars and settled on the Falcon.
“It’s about as good a starter car as you can get,” Matt Dufilho said. It was just a happy coincidence that the car that caught Ellie’s eye as a ten-year-old was also a Falcon.
They bought their Falcon on Ebay, sight unseen, for about $2,000 and flew to Skokie, Ill., in November to pick it up.
The car was in good enough shape that Matt and Ellie could drive it the 750 miles home.
During that drive, Ellie learned about all the things that have changed in vehicle design in the past 55 years. She had never used a hand crank to open and close a window, or seen lap belts in the front seat instead of three-point seat belts.
“Ellie had all these realizations about things, like she looked at the odometer and said, ‘Oh, it’s actually rolling,’” Matt Dufilho said.
Once home, Matt and Ellie started rebuilding the car from the ground up.
“We are basically going through the car step by step and redoing everything,” Ellie said. “The first thing we started with was the engine. We have completely overhauled the engine and the transmission. We have cleaned out the engine bay and put in all new wiring. We are just basically making it a brand new car.”
While Ellie and her dad are focused on the drive-ability of the car, Robin is safety monitor.
“This is our infant that we’re letting drive around in a 55-year-old car,” Robin Dufilho said. “I’m the one going, ‘Three-point seat belts would be a great addition. And how about a third brake light? Wouldn’t that be a fun project to install?’”
Matt Dufilho said adding safety to a vintage look has been “a challenge, but a fun challenge.”
The one thing they won’t be able to do that Robin keeps asking about is install air bags.
Matt Dufilho said he always wanted to restore a car.
“When we were first married and dirt poor, Robin’s dad taught me how to change oil. I like learning that kind of stuff,” he said. “I started changing our own oil and over the years, I started doing all the car maintenance as well.”
While he said he is the one who does the research and brings the knowledge to the restoration process, it is a true team effort.
“I’m much more of a creative person and Ellie is much more like her mom, very logical, very smart,” he said. “If you watch the videos, it’s not dad doing the work while Ellie’s holding something. She actually makes really great observations and comes up with ideas of how to do things.”
Ellie estimates that she’s put about $2,500 into the car so far-money that she’s saved from birthdays and Christmases and earned by dog-sitting and other odd jobs.
Companies learning about Ellie’s project have come on board to help. Hughes, an Arizona-based company, offered to overhaul the Falcon’s transmission for her.
The family also started a Patreon fundraising account for the project.
Having taken care of the Falcon’s engine and wiring, Ellie and her dad have moved on to the body of the car. Most recently, they fashioned a new toeboard out of 16 gauge steel and took apart and repainted the dashboard.
Last, they’ll turn their attention to the interior. They plan to install bucket seats with head rests in place of the original low-backed bench seats.
Finally, they’ll paint the custom Falcon in a “dream color” that Ellie is keeping secret until they reveal it on the YouTube channel.
Ellie said she and her dad are already talking about what car project they’ll take on next.
“Mom always wanted an old Mustang,” she said.
“I want it to be electric,” Robin Dufilho said. “I figure they can figure that out!”
Ellie doesn’t plan to become a mechanic. She wants to go to college to study either English or engineering. But she’s glad to have all this automotive knowledge.
“I didn’t know anything about cars,” she said. “It’s not like I came into this having all this knowledge. I’ve learned so many things about how the car works and what the components are. And how to weld!”


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Couple aims to preserve the Old West at Delaware event

BRIDGEVILLE , Del .
( AP ) - They dress the part , portraying cowboys and cowgirls like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans , right down to the gun holsters , ammo belts and Western hats .
As members of the Single Action Shooting Society , Wyoming residents Dan and Kathy Watson share a common interest in preserving the history of the Old West and competitive shooting .
In reality , SASS is a “ fantasy ” shooting sport that , according to its website , requires members to dress in 1880s Old West costumes and “ to strap on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Autry and others make the western frontier safe for God-fearin ’ families.
” “ Anything from the Civil War up through ‘ The Rifleman ’ … and Gene Autry , ” says Ms. Watson .
“ Everybody has their own niche to what they like to do , ” said Mr. Watson .
“ Different strokes for different folks , as the saying goes .
That ’ s what makes the world go around.
” SASS , whose membership has reached 90,000 worldwide , also seeks to protect its members ’ Second Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owned by the Watsons and other SASS members were on display at Family Day at the Range , staged Aug. 29 at the Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club .
Mr. Watson , 73 , has been a member of SASS for 20 years .
He was introduced to the group through “ some friends of ours that know I like shooting .
I have been an old horseman , horses and cowboys basically all my life .
I got hooked .
The rest is history.
” Ms. Watson , 65 , joined the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have been shooting 19 years , ” she said .
“ Dan did it for a year , and I went down and watched and helped , and then started doing it , too .
About 20 % of the shooters are women.
” Locally , they compete at the Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club and at another club in Sudlersville , Maryland .
In competition , they have nicknames : Mr. Watson is “ Vaquero Dan , ” and Ms. Watson is “ Wyoming Schoolmarm.
” Their passion for competition and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ venues across the United States .
“ We have traveled as far south as Florida , as far north to New England and out to New Mexico , ” Mr. Watson said .
New Mexico is home to the Single Action Shooting Society ’ s premier cowboy action shooting range known as Founders Ranch , a rustic 480-acre facility in the rolling hills east of Albuquerque .
It is the stage for some of SASS ’ biggest events and educational programs .
Successful shooters don ’ t head home with huge monetary prizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pins , trophies - and of course , bragging rights - are rewards for top winners .
“ No money or no pink Cadillac , ” said Mr. Watson .
“ You pay an entry fee , mind you , but you don ’ t get any money back .
But it ’ s all for the fun.
” Three years ago , at the international event in New Mexico , the Wyoming couple made their mark among scores of competitors .
“ They had 700 competitors from all over the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I both in our respective categories placed in the Top 10 , ” said Mr. Watson .
“ Plus , I had what they call a ‘ clean match , ’ meaning I had no misses all three days of shooting.
” Competition is based on time .
There are steel targets and different scenarios .
“ When you go ‘ bang , ’ you want to hear a ‘ clang ’ on the other end , ” said Mr. Watson .
“ If not , your spotter is going to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Each negative occurrence adds more time to the competitor ’ s raw time .
“ There are minor occurrences to major occurrences .
A miss is five seconds , minor safety procedural is 10 seconds , ” Mr. Watson said .
“ You may drop an unloaded firearm .
That is stage disqualification .
If you drop a loaded firearm , that is a match disqualification .
That has happened to competitors on the very first stage of the match to the very last stage .
They forfeited .
They can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and work and help the ‘ posse.
’ Groups are called posses , everything keeping in the Western theme .
You ’ ve got to dress the part.
” During a competition , shooters are grouped by age .
“ A lot of it is age-based .
So us so-called young whippersnappers aren ’ t shooting against the real young whippersnappers , with possibly better eyesight and faster reflexes , ” said Mr. Watson .
“ But some of us old geezers can hang in there with them.
” “ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , heat .
They only time we don ’ t shoot is if there is lightning .
In 20 years that we have done this , we ’ ve only had to stop one time because of lightning , ” said Mr. Watson .
“ And we travel , ” said Ms. Watson .
“ We have a good time .
”

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. (AP) - They dress the part, portraying cowboys and cowgirls like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, right down to the gun holsters, ammo belts and Western hats.
As members of the Single Action Shooting Society, Wyoming residents Dan and Kathy Watson share a common interest in preserving the history of the Old West and competitive shooting.
In reality, SASS is a “fantasy” shooting sport that, according to its website, requires members to dress in 1880s Old West costumes and “to strap on six-guns to help Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and others make the western frontier safe for God-fearin’ families.”
“Anything from the Civil War up through ‘The Rifleman’ … and Gene Autry,” says Ms. Watson.
“Everybody has their own niche to what they like to do,” said Mr. Watson. “Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes. That’s what makes the world go around.”
SASS, whose membership has reached 90,000 worldwide, also seeks to protect its members’ Second Amendment rights.
Collection samples of single-action weaponry owned by the Watsons and other SASS members were on display at Family Day at the Range, staged Aug. 29 at the Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club.
Mr. Watson, 73, has been a member of SASS for 20 years. He was introduced to the group through “some friends of ours that know I like shooting. I have been an old horseman, horses and cowboys basically all my life. I got hooked. The rest is history.”
Ms. Watson, 65, joined the SASS circle the year after.
“I have been shooting 19 years,” she said. “Dan did it for a year, and I went down and watched and helped, and then started doing it, too. About 20% of the shooters are women.”
Locally, they compete at the Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club and at another club in Sudlersville, Maryland. In competition, they have nicknames: Mr. Watson is “Vaquero Dan,” and Ms. Watson is “Wyoming Schoolmarm.”
Their passion for competition and camaraderie has taken them to major shooting venues across the United States.
“We have traveled as far south as Florida, as far north to New England and out to New Mexico,” Mr. Watson said.
New Mexico is home to the Single Action Shooting Society’s premier cowboy action shooting range known as Founders Ranch, a rustic 480-acre facility in the rolling hills east of Albuquerque. It is the stage for some of SASS’ biggest events and educational programs.
Successful shooters don’t head home with huge monetary prizes. Instead, treasured belt buckles, pins, trophies - and of course, bragging rights - are rewards for top winners.
“No money or no pink Cadillac,” said Mr. Watson. “You pay an entry fee, mind you, but you don’t get any money back. But it’s all for the fun.”
Three years ago, at the international event in New Mexico, the Wyoming couple made their mark among scores of competitors.
“They had 700 competitors from all over the world. We shot for three days. She and I both in our respective categories placed in the Top 10,” said Mr. Watson. “Plus, I had what they call a ‘clean match,’ meaning I had no misses all three days of shooting.”
Competition is based on time. There are steel targets and different scenarios.
“When you go ‘bang,’ you want to hear a ‘clang’ on the other end,” said Mr. Watson. “If not, your spotter is going to hold up a finger for a miss.”
Each negative occurrence adds more time to the competitor’s raw time.
“There are minor occurrences to major occurrences. A miss is five seconds, minor safety procedural is 10 seconds,” Mr. Watson said. “You may drop an unloaded firearm. That is stage disqualification. If you drop a loaded firearm, that is a match disqualification. That has happened to competitors on the very first stage of the match to the very last stage. They forfeited. They can’t shoot anymore, but you can stay and work and help the ‘posse.’ Groups are called posses, everything keeping in the Western theme. You’ve got to dress the part.”
During a competition, shooters are grouped by age.
“A lot of it is age-based. So us so-called young whippersnappers aren’t shooting against the real young whippersnappers, with possibly better eyesight and faster reflexes,” said Mr. Watson. “But some of us old geezers can hang in there with them.”
Foul weather doesn’t deter them either.
“We’ve shot in snow, rain, wind, heat. They only time we don’t shoot is if there is lightning. In 20 years that we have done this, we’ve only had to stop one time because of lightning,” said Mr. Watson.
“And we travel,” said Ms. Watson. “We have a good time.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Mali opposition opposes junta proposal on transition period

BAMAKO , Mali ( AP ) - Divisions deepened between Mali ’ s military coup leaders and the country ’ s political opposition movement on Sunday after the ruling junta announced a plan that would allow a military leader to oversee an 18-month transitional period .
While the two sides initially were united in wanting the departure of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , their paths have increasingly diverged since he was deposed in an Aug. 18 coup after months of street demonstrations by the opposition .
On Sunday , the opposition coalition known as M5-RFP publicly objected to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced Saturday after three days of talks on Mali ’ s political future .
“ The final document read at the closing ceremony was not consistent with the deliberations of the various groups , including the majority choice of a transition led by a civilian , ” the M5-RFP statement said .
The junta proposed that the transition be led by either a military or civilian leader , which leaves open the possibility that the military officers who seized power could remain at the helm for another 18 months until elections are organized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as ECOWAS has warned that by Tuesday the junta must designate a civilian leader to head a one-year transition period or else the country could face further sanctions .
ECOWAS has already stopped financial transfers into the country and has closed its borders with Mali .
Junta leader Col. Assimi Goita said he hoped for the support of the international community after the military leaders agreed to reduce the transition period to 18 months after initially proposing three years .

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) - Divisions deepened between Mali’s military coup leaders and the country’s political opposition movement on Sunday after the ruling junta announced a plan that would allow a military leader to oversee an 18-month transitional period.
While the two sides initially were united in wanting the departure of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, their paths have increasingly diverged since he was deposed in an Aug. 18 coup after months of street demonstrations by the opposition.
On Sunday, the opposition coalition known as M5-RFP publicly objected to the junta’s plan, which was announced Saturday after three days of talks on Mali’s political future.
“The final document read at the closing ceremony was not consistent with the deliberations of the various groups, including the majority choice of a transition led by a civilian,” the M5-RFP statement said.
The junta proposed that the transition be led by either a military or civilian leader, which leaves open the possibility that the military officers who seized power could remain at the helm for another 18 months until elections are organized.
The 15-nation West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has warned that by Tuesday the junta must designate a civilian leader to head a one-year transition period or else the country could face further sanctions. ECOWAS has already stopped financial transfers into the country and has closed its borders with Mali.
Junta leader Col. Assimi Goita said he hoped for the support of the international community after the military leaders agreed to reduce the transition period to 18 months after initially proposing three years.


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--'Close to home': Firefighter walks arena steps to mark 9/11

An Upper Peninsula firefighter marched the steps of a college ice arena for more than two hours to honor the @ @ @ @ @ 9/11 .
Cory Lightfoot typically goes to Lambeau Field , the home of the Green @ @ @ @ @ the stairs in an annual 9/11 anniversary event .
But the event was canceled because @ @ @ @ @ , a Houghton firefighter , took 1,980 steps Friday at MacInnes Ice Arena at Michigan @ @ @ @ @ Mining Gazette reported .
It ’ s equal to walking the 110 stories of the @ @ @ @ @ York .
“ It hits close to home , because you realize that morning they @ @ @ @ @ like we all do , and expected to make it through that day , and @ @ @ @ @ ” Lightfoot said .
“ It reminds you of the dangers of the job , @ @ @ @ @ proud to be a firefighter that does that for the community .
”

An Upper Peninsula firefighter marched the steps of a college ice arena for more than two hours to honor the first responders who died on 9/11.
Cory Lightfoot typically goes to Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers, to hit the stairs in an annual 9/11 anniversary event. But the event was canceled because of the coronavirus.
Lightfoot, a Houghton firefighter, took 1,980 steps Friday at MacInnes Ice Arena at Michigan Tech University, The Daily Mining Gazette reported. It’s equal to walking the 110 stories of the World Trade Center in New York.
“It hits close to home, because you realize that morning they put their gear on, like we all do, and expected to make it through that day, and they didn’t,” Lightfoot said. “It reminds you of the dangers of the job, but it also makes you proud to be a firefighter that does that for the community.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Iraq's top Shiite cleric backs early parliamentary elections

BAGHDAD ( AP ) - Iraq ’ s top Shiite cleric on Sunday threw his support behind the prime minister ’ s announcement to hold parliamentary elections ahead of schedule next year , saying the timing should not serve the interests of political groups .
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani ’ s comments came in a statement released by his office after a meeting with U.N. envoy to Iraq , Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert .
A photo released by al-Sistani ’ s office showed the black-turbaned cleric meeting with the U.N. envoy and an interpreter .
Sunday ’ s meeting was the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official since the spread of coronavirus in Iraq earlier this year .
The country is one of the hardest-hit by the virus in the region , with nearly 300,000 confirmed cases and more than 7,900 deaths .
It is also the first such meeting since al-Sistani , 90 , underwent surgery for a fractured bone in January .
In August , Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said parliamentary elections would be held in June , nearly a year before they had been scheduled to take place .
Early elections have been a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding mass demonstrations since October demanding change in the country where corruption is widespread .
A new government will be formed by the politician who secures the most support from parliamentary blocs after the elections .
“ Parliamentary elections scheduled for next year are very important , ” the Iran-born al-Sistani , who enjoys wide influence in Iraq and among Shiite Muslims worldwide , said .
He said the vote should be held under fair conditions that give them credibility so that people are encouraged to participate .
Al-Sistani said early elections are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to getting out of the current host of political , economic , security and health problems Iraq faces .
The cleric warned that delays in holding the elections in a free and fair manner “ will lead to deepening the country ’ s problems and reaching , God forbid , a point that would threaten its unity and the future of its people.
” Al-Sistani also called on the government to investigate major cases of corruption in the country and to “ to seriously work to reveal all those who committed criminal acts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces.
” According to the prime minister ’ s office , some 560 protesters have been killed mostly by gunfire from Iraqi security forces .
Al-Kadhimi has vowed to investigate their deaths .

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq’s top Shiite cleric on Sunday threw his support behind the prime minister’s announcement that parliamentary elections will be held ahead of schedule next year, saying the timing should not serve the interests of political groups.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s comments came in a statement released by his office after a meeting with the U.N. envoy to Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. A photo released by al-Sistani’s office showed the black-turbaned cleric meeting with the U.N. envoy and an interpreter.
Sunday’s meeting was the first public face-to-face between al-Sistani and a foreign official since the spread of coronavirus in Iraq earlier this year. The country is one of the hardest-hit by the virus in the region, with nearly 300,000 confirmed cases and more than 7,900 deaths.
It is also the first such meeting since al-Sistani, 90, underwent surgery for a fractured bone in January.
In August, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said parliamentary elections would be held in June, nearly a year before they had been scheduled to take place. Early elections have been a key demand of protesters, who have been holding mass demonstrations since October demanding change in the country, where corruption is widespread.
A new government will be formed by the politician who secures the most support from parliamentary blocs after the elections.
“Parliamentary elections scheduled for next year are very important,” said the Iran-born al-Sistani, who enjoys wide influence in Iraq and among Shiite Muslims worldwide. He said the vote should be held under fair conditions that give them credibility so that people are encouraged to participate.
Al-Sistani said early elections are “the right and peaceful” path to getting out of the current host of political, economic, security and health problems Iraq faces.
The cleric warned that delays in holding the elections in a free and fair manner “will lead to deepening the country’s problems and reaching, God forbid, a point that would threaten its unity and the future of its people.”
Al-Sistani also called on the government to investigate major cases of corruption in the country and “to seriously work to reveal all those who committed criminal acts that killed and wounded protesters and security forces.”
According to the prime minister’s office, some 560 protesters have been killed mostly by gunfire from Iraqi security forces. Al-Kadhimi has vowed to investigate their deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--UConn may go beyond patches in support of BLM

STORRS , Conn. ( AP ) - University of Connecticut officials have discussed creating helmet stickers , warm-up T-shirts and altering athletic uniforms in other ways to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement .
The school last month committed to joining others in the Big East conference in adding BLM patches to basketball jerseys .
But emails obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information request show discussions dating back to June and involving all sports at the school .
Those talks accelerated after the the NCAA ’ s Rules Oversight Panel on July 30 approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear social justice messages on their uniforms .
“ My plan is to ask the Administration if we will allow teams to participate , ” Daniel Glinski , the school ’ s assistant athletic director for equipment services , wrote to other members of the department that afternoon .
“ My guess would be yes .
If so , then I ’ ll confirm if we ’ re going to have one patch or allow each team to have one.
” Chris Stasaitis , the equipment manager for the basketball program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent than a uniform patch .
“ I would strongly recommend something secondary or replaceable such as a shooting/warm up/deck/bench shirt , a helmet decal , or something like that , if I were asked , ” he wrote .
“ Also , a unified message , if at all possible .
Patches sound good in theory , but finding room for them might be difficult and patches also tend to ruin jerseys and become a permanent part of them .
We also would be talking about hundreds of jerseys , so do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” The emails show Glinski also expressed some concerns about a social justice patch .
“ Will all student athletes be required to wear the patch , or is this an individual choice ?
” he wrote .
” There will need to be an understanding that if we put a patch on the uniform , that will not be taken off , once applied.
” The Big East announce on Aug. 20 that UConn and other members schools would wear a BLM patch on its jerseys .
That came as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Action , a group of assistant basketball coaches that includes Kimani Young , the associate head coach of UConn ’ s men ’ s team .
A department spokesman could not say what will happen with other athletic teams or whether students can opt out of wearing a patch .
He also did not have information on how much the school estimates it would cost to augment uniforms to show support for the social justice initiative .
“ We are still in the process of working towards all those decisions and trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition for all our sports , ” spokesman Patrick McKenna said in an email .
“ Once we have some clarity on those decisions we should have some answers to your questions.
” The UConn women ’ s basketball team was one of the first collegiate sports programs to issue a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd in May .
Since then , basketball players have hinted on several occasions that they are planning something beyond just uniform patches when and if the season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we have this platform , especially here , we have a platform and a voice and we should use it , especially on topics like this that have been going on for hundreds of years , ” center Olivia Nelson-Ododa said last month .
“ And so the ability to speak out about it and advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement is very important to me , and I know for the rest of my team as well .
”

STORRS, Conn. (AP) - University of Connecticut officials have discussed creating helmet stickers, warm-up T-shirts and altering athletic uniforms in other ways to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The school last month committed to joining others in the Big East conference in adding BLM patches to basketball jerseys.
But emails obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information request show discussions dating back to June and involving all sports at the school.
Those talks accelerated after the the NCAA’s Rules Oversight Panel on July 30 approved rules to allow student-athletes in all sports to wear social justice messages on their uniforms.
“My plan is to ask the Administration if we will allow teams to participate,” Daniel Glinski, the school’s assistant athletic director for equipment services, wrote to other members of the department that afternoon. “My guess would be yes. If so, then I’ll confirm if we’re going to have one patch or allow each team to have one.”
Chris Stasaitis, the equipment manager for the basketball program, wrote that he would prefer something less permanent than a uniform patch.
“I would strongly recommend something secondary or replaceable such as a shooting/warm up/deck/bench shirt, a helmet decal, or something like that, if I were asked,” he wrote. “Also, a unified message, if at all possible. Patches sound good in theory, but finding room for them might be difficult and patches also tend to ruin jerseys and become a permanent part of them. We also would be talking about hundreds of jerseys, so do we really want to go that route?”
The emails show Glinski also expressed some concerns about a social justice patch.
“Will all student athletes be required to wear the patch, or is this an individual choice?” he wrote. ”There will need to be an understanding that if we put a patch on the uniform, that will not be taken off, once applied.”
The Big East announce on Aug. 20 that UConn and other members schools would wear a BLM patch on its jerseys.
That came as a result of a push by Coaches for Action, a group of assistant basketball coaches that includes Kimani Young, the associate head coach of UConn’s men’s team.
A department spokesman could not say what will happen with other athletic teams or whether students can opt out of wearing a patch. He also did not have information on how much the school estimates it would cost to augment uniforms to show support for the social justice initiative.
“We are still in the process of working towards all those decisions and trying to gain clarity on a start date for competition for all our sports,” spokesman Patrick McKenna said in an email. “Once we have some clarity on those decisions we should have some answers to your questions.”
The UConn women’s basketball team was one of the first collegiate sports programs to issue a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd in May.
Since then, basketball players have hinted on several occasions that they are planning something beyond just uniform patches when and if the season begins.
“I believe as athletes that we have this platform, especially here, we have a platform and a voice and we should use it, especially on topics like this that have been going on for hundreds of years,” center Olivia Nelson-Ododa said last month. “And so the ability to speak out about it and advocating for the Black Lives Matter movement is very important to me, and I know for the rest of my team as well.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Pope recalls visit to Lesbos refugee camp, urges solidarity

VATICAN CITY ( AP ) - Pope Francis expressed solidarity Sunday with the thousands of migrants who were left homeless by fires that wrecked a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos and called for them to receive a “ human and dignified ” welcome wherever they relocate .
Francis recalled visiting the Moria camp during an emotional April 16 , 2016 day trip to Lesbos that ended with Francis bringing 12 Syrian refugees back with him to Rome aboard the papal plane .
“ I express solidarity and proximity to all the victims of these dramatic events , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out for the humane treatment of migrants , said during his noontime blessing in Vatican City .
Fires on Tuesday and Wednesday nights gutted Moria , Greece ’ s largest refugee camp .
Authorities have said residents protesting a lockdown imposed after a coronavirus outbreak deliberately set the blazes .
Greek authorities said Sunday some 12,000 migrants would be moved to an army-built tent city in the coming days .
Francis ’ 2016 visit to Moria , though brief , was one of the most memorable foreign trips so far of his seven-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spiritual leader of the world ’ s Orthodox Christians , Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I , and the head of the Church of Greece .
He met would-be asylum-seekers who wept at his feet .
The church leaders issued a joint statement urging the world to respond to the latest migration crisis with urgent , practical resources .
Francis said Sunday that the memory of that visit were still alive as well as the appeal “ for a human and dignified welcome to men and women migrants , to refugees and those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , the Islamic State group was targeting Christian minorities in Iraq , Syrian refugees were fleeing the civil war and the European Union was implementing a plan to deport the refugees in Lesbos back to Turkey .
“ The tragedy of forced migration and displacement affects millions , and is fundamentally a crisis of humanity , calling for a response of solidarity , compassion , generosity and an immediate practical commitment of resources , ” the trio ’ s appeal said .
Francis later revealed that in its own concrete response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading up to the Lesbos trip for the papal plane to carry back with him three Syrian families .
The pope said the 12 people were selected because their papers were in order and that they would receive help finding housing , work and schools in Rome..
Asked about the gesture during his in-flight press conference , Francis cited Mother Teresa , the nun who spent her life caring for the poor and destitute of India .
At one point she said her work was but a “ drop of water in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water the sea will not be the same.
” “ That is how I would respond , ” Francis told reporters .
“ It is a small gesture .
But one of those small gestures that we must make , everyone , men and women , to reach out to those in need .
”

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis expressed solidarity Sunday with the thousands of migrants who were left homeless by fires that wrecked a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos and called for them to receive a “human and dignified” welcome wherever they relocate.
Francis recalled visiting the Moria camp during an emotional April 16, 2016 day trip to Lesbos that ended with Francis bringing 12 Syrian refugees back with him to Rome aboard the papal plane.
“I express solidarity and proximity to all the victims of these dramatic events,” Francis, who has frequently spoken out for the humane treatment of migrants, said during his noontime blessing in Vatican City.
Fires on Tuesday and Wednesday nights gutted Moria, Greece’s largest refugee camp. Authorities have said residents protesting a lockdown imposed after a coronavirus outbreak deliberately set the blazes. Greek authorities said Sunday some 12,000 migrants would be moved to an army-built tent city in the coming days.
Francis’ 2016 visit to Moria, though brief, was one of the most memorable foreign trips so far of his seven-year papacy.
He toured the camp with the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, and the head of the Church of Greece. He met would-be asylum-seekers who wept at his feet.
The church leaders issued a joint statement urging the world to respond to the latest migration crisis with urgent, practical resources. Francis said Sunday that the memory of that visit were still alive as well as the appeal “for a human and dignified welcome to men and women migrants, to refugees and those who seek asylum in Europe.”
At the time, the Islamic State group was targeting Christian minorities in Iraq, Syrian refugees were fleeing the civil war and the European Union was implementing a plan to deport the refugees in Lesbos back to Turkey.
“The tragedy of forced migration and displacement affects millions, and is fundamentally a crisis of humanity, calling for a response of solidarity, compassion, generosity and an immediate practical commitment of resources,” the trio’s appeal said.
Francis later revealed that in its own concrete response, the Vatican had negotiated in the days leading up to the Lesbos trip for the papal plane to carry back with him three Syrian families. The pope said the 12 people were selected because their papers were in order and that they would receive help finding housing, work and schools in Rome..
Asked about the gesture during his in-flight press conference, Francis cited Mother Teresa, the nun who spent her life caring for the poor and destitute of India. At one point she said her work was but a “drop of water in the sea. But after this drop of water the sea will not be the same.”
“That is how I would respond,” Francis told reporters. “It is a small gesture. But one of those small gestures that we must make, everyone, men and women, to reach out to those in need.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Grandson of Harding and lover wants president's body exhumed

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - The grandson of U.S. President Warren G. Harding and his lover , Nan Britton , went to court in an effort to get the Republican ’ s remains exhumed from the presidential memorial where they have lain since 1927 .
James Blaesing told an Ohio court that he is seeking Harding ’ s disinterment as a way “ to establish with scientific certainty ” that he is the 29th president ’ s blood relation .
The dispute looms as benefactors prepare to mark the centennial of Harding ’ s 1920 election with site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marion , the Ohio city near which he was born in 1865 .
Blaesing says he deserves to “ have his story , his mother ’ s story and his grandmother ’ s story included within the hallowed halls and museums in this town.
” A branch of the Harding family has pushed back against the suit filed in May - not because they dispute Blaesing ’ s ancestry , but because they don ’ t .
They argue they already have accepted as fact DNA evidence that Blaesing ’ s mother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Harding and Britton and that she is set to be acknowledged in the museum .
Harding had no other children .
“ Sadly , widespread , public recognition and acceptance by the descendants , historians , and biographers ( and Mr. Blaesing himself ) that Mr. Blaesing is President Harding ’ s grandson is not enough for him , ” relatives said in a court filing .
They called the lawsuit a ploy for attention .
In 2015 , a match between James Blaesing ’ s DNA and that of two Harding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ancestry.com , to declare his link to the president official .
At the time , Blaesing told The Associated Press he was delighted .
Five years later , he tells the AP his mother ’ s legacy as the daughter of a U.S. president is shaping up to be little more than a footnote in the new museum .
He has not been approached to provide details of her life or even a photograph for the coming display , he said .
“ I did the test and we brought it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s now 2020 and no one has asked me one thing , ” he said in a telephone interview .
“ I ’ m not a part of anything .
Nothing .
My brothers , myself , no one .
We ’ re invisible .
They ’ re treating us just like they treated my grandmother.
” Blaesing said he is hopeful that a match directly to the president ’ s own DNA would change that .
Ironically , it was a pair of Harding ’ s known relatives - grandnephew Peter Harding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached out to the Blaesing family in 2011 to end speculation about Harding having a child out of wedlock .
Before that , “ doubt and mystery shrouded the paternal lineage of Elizabeth Blaesing for almost 100 years , ” family members , not including Peter and Abigail Harding , explained to the court .
According to court filings , Peter Harding ’ s interest was sparked by reading “ The President ’ s Daughter , ” Britton ’ s 1927 book , “ and concluding that the man described in its pages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Ms. Carrie Phillips.
” The Library of Congress opened those letters between Harding and Phillips , another lover , to the public in 2014 .
Ohio History Connection , which manages the Harding home and memorial , takes no position on the family dispute .
Spokesperson Emmy Beach said the nonprofit accepts the 2015 DNA results “ as fact ” and plans a section of the new museum “ on Harding ’ s relationship with Nan Britton and their daughter , Elizabeth Ann Blaesing.
” However , Ohio History Connection has told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of issues before disrupting the Harding Memorial ’ s sealed sarcophagus .
The crypt also holds the remains of first lady Florence Kling Harding in another sarcophagus , and the nonprofit argues her relatives deserve a say .
Further , to protect the site , the nonprofit said it will have to employ experts to assure the president ’ s body could be disinterred and reinterred without damaging the tomb , a striking white marble temple encircled with Doric columns .
The openings of the renovated historic sites in Marion and of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indefinitely delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic , Beach said .
She said the disinterment request has not affected the timetable .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The grandson of U.S. President Warren G. Harding and his lover, Nan Britton, went to court in an effort to get the Republican’s remains exhumed from the presidential memorial where they have lain since 1927.
James Blaesing told an Ohio court that he is seeking Harding’s disinterment as a way “to establish with scientific certainty” that he is the 29th president’s blood relation.
The dispute looms as benefactors prepare to mark the centennial of Harding’s 1920 election with site upgrades and a new presidential center in Marion, the Ohio city near which he was born in 1865. Blaesing says he deserves to “have his story, his mother’s story and his grandmother’s story included within the hallowed halls and museums in this town.”
A branch of the Harding family has pushed back against the suit filed in May - not because they dispute Blaesing’s ancestry, but because they don’t.
They argue they already have accepted as fact DNA evidence that Blaesing’s mother, Elizabeth Ann Blaesing, was the daughter of Harding and Britton and that she is set to be acknowledged in the museum. Harding had no other children.
“Sadly, widespread, public recognition and acceptance by the descendants, historians, and biographers (and Mr. Blaesing himself) that Mr. Blaesing is President Harding’s grandson is not enough for him,” relatives said in a court filing. They called the lawsuit a ploy for attention.
In 2015, a match between James Blaesing’s DNA and that of two Harding descendants prompted AncestryDNA, a DNA-testing division of Ancestry.com, to declare his link to the president official.
At the time, Blaesing told The Associated Press he was delighted. Five years later, he tells the AP his mother’s legacy as the daughter of a U.S. president is shaping up to be little more than a footnote in the new museum. He has not been approached to provide details of her life or even a photograph for the coming display, he said.
“I did the test and we brought it to the public in 2015. It’s now 2020 and no one has asked me one thing,” he said in a telephone interview. “I’m not a part of anything. Nothing. My brothers, myself, no one. We’re invisible. They’re treating us just like they treated my grandmother.”
Blaesing said he is hopeful that a match directly to the president’s own DNA would change that.
Ironically, it was a pair of Harding’s known relatives - grandnephew Peter Harding and grandniece Abigail Harding - who first reached out to the Blaesing family in 2011 to end speculation about Harding having a child out of wedlock.
Before that, “doubt and mystery shrouded the paternal lineage of Elizabeth Blaesing for almost 100 years,” family members, not including Peter and Abigail Harding, explained to the court.
According to court filings, Peter Harding’s interest was sparked by reading “The President’s Daughter,” Britton’s 1927 book, “and concluding that the man described in its pages resembled the author of love letters written to Ms. Carrie Phillips.” The Library of Congress opened those letters between Harding and Phillips, another lover, to the public in 2014.
Ohio History Connection, which manages the Harding home and memorial, takes no position on the family dispute. Spokesperson Emmy Beach said the nonprofit accepts the 2015 DNA results “as fact” and plans a section of the new museum “on Harding’s relationship with Nan Britton and their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Blaesing.”
However, Ohio History Connection has told the court it must consider a host of issues before disrupting the Harding Memorial’s sealed sarcophagus.
The crypt also holds the remains of first lady Florence Kling Harding in another sarcophagus, and the nonprofit argues her relatives deserve a say. Further, to protect the site, the nonprofit said it will have to employ experts to assure the president’s body could be disinterred and reinterred without damaging the tomb, a striking white marble temple encircled with Doric columns.
The openings of the renovated historic sites in Marion and of the Warren G. Harding Presidential Center have been indefinitely delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Beach said. She said the disinterment request has not affected the timetable.


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Officials: Egyptian policemen detained over detainee's death

CAIRO ( AP ) - Egyptian prosecutors ordered four policemen to be detained pending an investigation into the death of a young man while in detention , two judicial officials said on Sunday .
Prosecutors also ordered the release of another police officer on bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ( $ 310 ) in the case that touched off a rare burst of street protests last week , the officials said .
The four policemen are to be held in custody initially for four days .
The 26-year-old man was arrested earlier this month following clashes stemming from a financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Interior Ministry said .
The man was pronounced dead of heart failure at a hospital a day after his arrest , according to the ministry that oversees police .
The ministry claimed the man had been wounded in the clashes .
Residents said the young man , identified by the nickname Islam el-Australy , clashed with police after they tried to dismantle his street stall .
The family of the man have accused the police of killing him , according to prosecutors who ordered forensic experts to determine the cause of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body .
The judicial officials said closed-circuit video footage showed the man entered the police station alive before he was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital the next day .
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media .
Following the young man ’ s death , dozens of people protested outside the local police station until security forces dispersed them and sealed off the area .
The protest was a rare outburst of public anger in Egypt , which has banned all unauthorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweeping crackdown on dissent .
An Egyptian journalist who reported on the “ repercussions ” of the man ’ s death was arrested last week and ordered detained for 15 days on charges of broadcasting fake news , his employer said .
Anger at widespread police brutality and the alleged beating to death of a young man by police helped spark the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak .
Rights groups say mistreatment and torture are still widespread in Egyptian prisons , allegations denied by the government .

CAIRO (AP) - Egyptian prosecutors ordered four policemen to be detained pending an investigation into the death of a young man while in detention, two judicial officials said on Sunday.
Prosecutors also ordered the release of another police officer on bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($310) in the case that touched off a rare burst of street protests last week, the officials said. The four policemen are to be held in custody initially for four days.
The 26-year-old man was arrested earlier this month following clashes stemming from a financial dispute in Cairo’s Moneib district, the Interior Ministry said.
The man was pronounced dead of heart failure at a hospital a day after his arrest, according to the ministry that oversees police. The ministry claimed the man had been wounded in the clashes.
Residents said the young man, identified by the nickname Islam el-Australy, clashed with police after they tried to dismantle his street stall.
The family of the man have accused the police of killing him, according to prosecutors who ordered forensic experts to determine the cause of death after they found abrasions on his body.
The judicial officials said closed-circuit video footage showed the man entered the police station alive before he was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital the next day. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Following the young man’s death, dozens of people protested outside the local police station until security forces dispersed them and sealed off the area. The protest was a rare outburst of public anger in Egypt, which has banned all unauthorized protests since 2013 as part of a sweeping crackdown on dissent.
An Egyptian journalist who reported on the “repercussions” of the man’s death was arrested last week and ordered detained for 15 days on charges of broadcasting fake news, his employer said.
Anger at widespread police brutality and the alleged beating to death of a young man by police helped spark the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Rights groups say mistreatment and torture are still widespread in Egyptian prisons, allegations denied by the government.


washingtontimes--2020-09-13--Hunters reminded to watch for chronic wasting disease

MISSOULA , Mont .
( AP ) - As hunters brace for a 2020 field season in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic , they ’ ve still got to deal with a more persistent wildlife disease problem : chronic wasting disease .
“ It still isn ’ t going away , ” Montana Fish , Wildlife & Parks Region 1 spokesperson Dillon Tabish told the Missoulian newspaper .
“ Hunters have been really invested in helping us with this - they know what ’ s at stake .
We don ’ t want these concerns to stop people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not as if there weren ’ t enough disease issues in the world now.
” Chronic wasting disease , or CWD , is a neurological disease contagious to deer , elk and moose .
Infected animals show poor body condition , drooling , drooping heads and disoriented behavior .
The disease is related to bovine spongiform encephalitis , or Mad Cow Disease , although CWD has not been shown to be transferable to humans like Mad Cow Disease .
Nevertheless , FWP strongly recommends not eating meat from an animal infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing concern to wildlife managers in Wyoming , North Dakota and South Dakota , as well as the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta .
In many parts of the United States and Canada , CWD appears related to the presence of captive game farms .
In the past two years Montana authorities detected an alarming rise in CWD-infected mule deer .
The first outbreaks occurred in south-central Montana near the Wyoming border .
That prompted more extensive testing which found the disease in northeastern Montana along the Hi-Line near the Canadian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Libby area of northwest Montana .
“ The fact it jumped to northwest Montana , where there ’ s not neighboring states and provinces with infections , was a concern , ” said Region 1 wildlife manager Neil Anderson .
“ It ’ s also concerning for north Idaho and British Columbia , which don ’ t have it yet .
We ’ re trying to keep the spread to a minimum.
” That said , Montana officials have changed and simplified the regulations for sampling and tracing possibly infected animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transportation Management Zones , which prohibited hunters from moving deer carcasses outside priority surveillance areas .
Tabish said the rapidly changing lists of new detections made it difficult to keep the public informed of the boundaries .
“ The most important thing is proper disposal of the carcass , ” Tabish said .
“ We can ’ t have people dumping carcasses out in the woods , which has been a long-time practice for some people .
So this year , you can transport your animal , bring it back home , bone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that carcass just needs to end up at a landfill.
” Carcasses can also be boned out and left at the kill site .
FWP is recommending that the bones , hide and head of any animal butchered by hunters at home be dumped only at Class II landfills .
A list of appropriate landfills can be found online .
CWD has shown the ability to leave infectious material in the dirt where a sick animal has died or been lying .
Proper disposal , especially of the head and backbone , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to other herds .
Hunters handling their animals in the field are advised to use gloves and eye protection , and to avoid contact with the brain and spinal tissue .
Anderson said hunters who like to make their own European mount trophy skulls should be especially careful .
European mounts use insects to clean off the soft tissue , leaving bright skulls .
“ If you ’ re just throwing it in the ant pile , you could potentially move those prions , ” Anderson said , referring to the infectious particles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beetles , that ’ s fine , but their waste should go in a dumpster.
” Hunters are still asked to submit samples from their animals for testing , which FWP will pay to have processed .
However , testing assistance won ’ t be available in most parts of the state until the general big game season starts on Oct. 24 .
So archers and those hunting in special early season districts can find sampling directions online at the FWP ’ s CWD web page .
Testing sites will be available at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bozeman , Great Falls , Billings , Miles City and Glasgow , as well as remote sites in Libby , Thompson Falls , Olney , Ennis , Dillon , Butte , Havre , Hysham , Ashland/Broadus and Mosby/Flowing Wells .
Montana hunters are prohibited from using lures or scents derived from deer and elk glands as part of the effort to prevent the spread of CWD .
FWP will be posting testing technicians at many game check stations in priority surveillance areas to gather more samples .
Hunters will be asked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anyone seeing a sick-looking deer , elk or moose is asked to report it to the local FWP office , and avoid handling it .

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - As hunters brace for a 2020 field season in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve still got to deal with a more persistent wildlife disease problem: chronic wasting disease.
“It still isn’t going away,” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 1 spokesperson Dillon Tabish told the Missoulian newspaper. “Hunters have been really invested in helping us with this - they know what’s at stake. We don’t want these concerns to stop people from enjoying hunting season, though. It’s not as if there weren’t enough disease issues in the world now.”
Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a neurological disease contagious to deer, elk and moose. Infected animals show poor body condition, drooling, drooping heads and disoriented behavior. The disease is related to bovine spongiform encephalitis, or Mad Cow Disease, although CWD has not been shown to be transferable to humans like Mad Cow Disease. Nevertheless, FWP strongly recommends not eating meat from an animal infected with CWD.
The disease has been a growing concern to wildlife managers in Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota, as well as the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. In many parts of the United States and Canada, CWD appears related to the presence of captive game farms.
In the past two years Montana authorities detected an alarming rise in CWD-infected mule deer. The first outbreaks occurred in south-central Montana near the Wyoming border. That prompted more extensive testing which found the disease in northeastern Montana along the Hi-Line near the Canadian border. Other cases then turned up in the Libby area of northwest Montana.
“The fact it jumped to northwest Montana, where there’s not neighboring states and provinces with infections, was a concern,” said Region 1 wildlife manager Neil Anderson. “It’s also concerning for north Idaho and British Columbia, which don’t have it yet. We’re trying to keep the spread to a minimum.”
That said, Montana officials have changed and simplified the regulations for sampling and tracing possibly infected animals for 2020. FWP has dropped its Transportation Management Zones, which prohibited hunters from moving deer carcasses outside priority surveillance areas. Tabish said the rapidly changing lists of new detections made it difficult to keep the public informed of the boundaries.
“The most important thing is proper disposal of the carcass,” Tabish said. “We can’t have people dumping carcasses out in the woods, which has been a long-time practice for some people. So this year, you can transport your animal, bring it back home, bone it out, get it processed - that carcass just needs to end up at a landfill.”
Carcasses can also be boned out and left at the kill site. FWP is recommending that the bones, hide and head of any animal butchered by hunters at home be dumped only at Class II landfills. A list of appropriate landfills can be found online.
CWD has shown the ability to leave infectious material in the dirt where a sick animal has died or been lying. Proper disposal, especially of the head and backbone, is essential to keep the disease from spreading to other herds. Hunters handling their animals in the field are advised to use gloves and eye protection, and to avoid contact with the brain and spinal tissue.
Anderson said hunters who like to make their own European mount trophy skulls should be especially careful. European mounts use insects to clean off the soft tissue, leaving bright skulls.
“If you’re just throwing it in the ant pile, you could potentially move those prions,” Anderson said, referring to the infectious particles. “If you have your own beetles, that’s fine, but their waste should go in a dumpster.”
Hunters are still asked to submit samples from their animals for testing, which FWP will pay to have processed. However, testing assistance won’t be available in most parts of the state until the general big game season starts on Oct. 24. So archers and those hunting in special early season districts can find sampling directions online at the FWP’s CWD web page.
Testing sites will be available at FWP regional headquarters in Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, Billings, Miles City and Glasgow, as well as remote sites in Libby, Thompson Falls, Olney, Ennis, Dillon, Butte, Havre, Hysham, Ashland/Broadus and Mosby/Flowing Wells.
Montana hunters are prohibited from using lures or scents derived from deer and elk glands as part of the effort to prevent the spread of CWD.
FWP will be posting testing technicians at many game check stations in priority surveillance areas to gather more samples. Hunters will be asked to voluntarily submit their animals for sampling. Anyone seeing a sick-looking deer, elk or moose is asked to report it to the local FWP office, and avoid handling it.