washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Washington health officials report 576 new COVID-19 cases

OLYMPIA , Wash. ( AP ) - The Washington State Department of Health on Sunday reported 576 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths .
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington , with 17,623 cases and 694 deaths .
Yakima County is second , with 10,625 cases and 221 deaths .
Pierce is third with cases at 6,150 .
The Olympian reports Pierce County reported 55 new cases and no new deaths on Saturday .
Pierce County had a total of 132 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Saturday , according to the Tacoma-Pierce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 67,461 cases and 1,781 deaths , up from 66,885 cases and 1,766 deaths on Friday .
Thirty-seven people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Aug. 8 , the most recent date with complete data .
Late March had two days with 88 people admitted , the highest numbers to date during the pandemic .
The total number of tests conducted is temporarily unavailable , according to the DOH .
On Aug. 8 , 6,394 specimens were collected statewide , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive test rate for the seven days prior was 7 % .
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) tests , which are given to patients while the virus is presumably still active in the body .
All counties in Washington have cases .
Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of fewer than 10 .

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The Washington State Department of Health on Sunday reported 576 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths.
King County continues to have the highest numbers in Washington, with 17,623 cases and 694 deaths. Yakima County is second, with 10,625 cases and 221 deaths. Pierce is third with cases at 6,150.
The Olympian reports Pierce County reported 55 new cases and no new deaths on Saturday. Pierce County had a total of 132 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Saturday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are at 67,461 cases and 1,781 deaths, up from 66,885 cases and 1,766 deaths on Friday.
Thirty-seven people with confirmed COVID-19 cases were admitted to Washington state hospitals on Aug. 8, the most recent date with complete data. Late March had two days with 88 people admitted, the highest numbers to date during the pandemic.
The total number of tests conducted is temporarily unavailable, according to the DOH. On Aug. 8, 6,394 specimens were collected statewide, with 5.4% testing positive. The average positive test rate for the seven days prior was 7%.
The test numbers reflect only polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which are given to patients while the virus is presumably still active in the body.
All counties in Washington have cases. Garfield and Wahkiakum have case counts of fewer than 10.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Mauritius copes with split Japanese ship that spilled oil

JOHANNESBURG ( AP ) - Work began Monday to remove the two pieces of a grounded Japanese ship that leaked tons of oil into the protected coast of the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius and broke apart .
Tug boats will pull the bow - the smaller part of the shipwrecked MV Wakashio - out to sea and allow it to sink , according to environmental experts on the island .
The larger part of the ship will be dragged off the coral reef where it ran aground and towed away , possibly to India for salvage .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was further leakage of oil , but it appears most of that fuel was on the other side of the coral reef and was in the high seas , ” Sunil Dowarkasing , an environmental consultant and former parliament member in Mauritius .
“ With the sea currents , we don ’ t know if the new leakage will stay outside the lagoon or not.
” Oil barriers were in place and a skimmer ship to scoop up the fuel was nearby .
The Mauritius government has closed off the coastal area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where thousands of civilian volunteers worked for days to try to minimize damage to the Mahebourg lagoon and protected marine wetlands polluted by the spilled fuel .
Only officials and hired workers are permitted to work in the coastal area and the waters surrounding the grounded ship .
Experts from France , Japan and the United Nations are also involved in the clean-up work .
“ Now , we must rely on the government as our only source of information about the situation , so we are only getting one side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We know that the damage to the area is substantial , ” he told The Associated Press .
“ The mangroves are heavily impacted by the fuel .
The extent of the damage to the coral reefs will only be known much later , but it is expected to be serious.
” The Wakasio ran aground a coral reef on July 25 .
After being pounded by heavy waves , the vessel cracked and it starting leaking oil on August 6 .
The damaged ship spilled more than 1,000 tons of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the turquoise waters of the Mahebourg Lagoon , one of the island ’ s most pristine coastal areas .
Most of the remaining 3,000 tons of fuel had been pumped off the ship in the past week as environmental groups warned that the damage to coral reefs could be irreversible .
The Mauritius government is under pressure to explain why immediate action wasn ’ t taken to empty the ship of its fuel before it began to leak .
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth earlier blamed bad weather for the slow response .
Owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounts of fuel remained on the ship after pumping .
It is investigating why the ship went off course .
The ship was meant to stay at least 10 miles ( 16 kilometers ) from shore .
The company has sent experts to help clean up the damage .
The Mauritius government is seeking compensation from the company .
After the government declared an environmental emergency , thousands of volunteers rushed to the shore to create makeshift oil barriers from tunnels of fabric stuffed with sugar cane leaves and even human hair , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep them afloat .
The island nation of some 1.3 million people relies heavily on tourism and already had taken a severe hit due to travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic .

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Work began Monday to remove the two pieces of a grounded Japanese ship that leaked tons of oil into the protected coast of the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius and broke apart.
Tug boats will pull the bow - the smaller part of the shipwrecked MV Wakashio - out to sea and allow it to sink, according to environmental experts on the island. The larger part of the ship will be dragged off the coral reef where it ran aground and towed away, possibly to India for salvage.
“When the ship split in two, there was further leakage of oil, but it appears most of that fuel was on the other side of the coral reef and was in the high seas,” Sunil Dowarkasing, an environmental consultant and former parliament member in Mauritius. “With the sea currents, we don’t know if the new leakage will stay outside the lagoon or not.”
Oil barriers were in place and a skimmer ship to scoop up the fuel was nearby.
The Mauritius government has closed off the coastal area of the eastern part of the island, where thousands of civilian volunteers worked for days to try to minimize damage to the Mahebourg lagoon and protected marine wetlands polluted by the spilled fuel.
Only officials and hired workers are permitted to work in the coastal area and the waters surrounding the grounded ship.
Experts from France, Japan and the United Nations are also involved in the clean-up work.
“Now, we must rely on the government as our only source of information about the situation, so we are only getting one side of the story,” Dowarkasing said.
“We know that the damage to the area is substantial,” he told The Associated Press. “The mangroves are heavily impacted by the fuel. The extent of the damage to the coral reefs will only be known much later, but it is expected to be serious.”
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the U.N. Development Program has allocated $200,000 to address the immediate impact of the spill.
The International Maritime Organization, the U.N. Environment Program and the U.N. humanitarian office have deployed an oil spill expert to support the government, Dujarric said. And U.N. agencies are also supporting the public health response, assessing the risks to communities, providing forensic investigation and legal support, and using U.N. satellite imagery and analysis to help with remote mapping.
The Wakasio ran aground a coral reef on July 25. After being pounded by heavy waves, the vessel cracked and it starting leaking oil on August 6. The damaged ship spilled more than 1,000 tons of its cargo of 4,000 tons of fuel into the turquoise waters of the Mahebourg Lagoon, one of the island’s most pristine coastal areas.
Most of the remaining 3,000 tons of fuel had been pumped off the ship in the past week as environmental groups warned that the damage to coral reefs could be irreversible.
The Mauritius government is under pressure to explain why immediate action wasn’t taken to empty the ship of its fuel before it began to leak. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth earlier blamed bad weather for the slow response.
Owner Nagashiki Shipping has said “residual” amounts of fuel remained on the ship after pumping. It is investigating why the ship went off course. The ship was meant to stay at least 10 miles (16 kilometers) from shore. The company has sent experts to help clean up the damage.
The Mauritius government is seeking compensation from the company.
After the government declared an environmental emergency, thousands of volunteers rushed to the shore to create makeshift oil barriers from tunnels of fabric stuffed with sugar cane leaves and even human hair, with empty plastic bottles tucked in to keep them afloat.
The island nation of some 1.3 million people relies heavily on tourism and already had taken a severe hit due to travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Egyptian envoys in Gaza in bid to ease tensions with Israel

GAZA CITY , Gaza Strip ( AP ) - Egyptian mediators were in the Gaza Strip on Monday in an effort to reduce tensions and prevent a new cross-border conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas .
The militant group , which seized control of Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007 , said the three Egyptian general intelligence envoys headed straight for meetings with Hamas officials after entering the territory .
The urgent visit came as hostilities broke out along the Gaza-Israel frontier after months of calm due in part to leaders from both sides being occupied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , Palestinian youth groups affiliated with Hamas have fired incendiary balloons toward Israel , setting swaths of farmland on fire .
Israel , which holds Hamas responsible for violence emanating from the territory , responded with airstrikes on Hamas military sites , banned Gaza ’ s fishermen from taking to the sea and shut the main commercial crossing into the territory .
On Tuesday , the lone power plant in Gaza is scheduled to shut down because the closure of Kerem Shalom crossing has cut fuel supplies , exacerbating the power crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents with about four hours of electricity a day .
Hamas says Israel did not honor previous understandings reached with the help of Egypt and Qatar , in which Israel should ease the blockade it has imposed on Gaza since Hamas ’ takeover and allow for large-scale projects to help rescue the collapsing economy .

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Egyptian mediators were in the Gaza Strip on Monday in an effort to reduce tensions and prevent a new cross-border conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, but departed without appearing to have secured a resolution.
Mediators typically announce any agreements before leaving the territory. But after a day of meetings with officials from Hamas, the three Egyptian general intelligence envoys left for Israel, according to Adel Abdelrahman, a Gaza-based advisor to the Egyptian mediators. They made no declaration before departing.
The urgent visit came as hostilities broke out along the Gaza-Israel frontier after months of calm due in part to leaders from both sides being occupied by the coronavirus crisis.
For the past week, Palestinian youth groups affiliated with Hamas, a militant group that seized control of Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, have fired incendiary balloons toward Israel, setting swaths of farmland on fire. Israel, which holds Hamas responsible for violence emanating from the territory, responded with airstrikes on Hamas military sites, banned Gaza’s fishermen from taking to the sea and shut the main commercial crossing into the territory.
On Tuesday, the lone power plant in Gaza is scheduled to shut down because the closure of Kerem Shalom crossing has cut fuel supplies, exacerbating the power crisis and leaving Gaza’s 2 million residents with about four hours of electricity a day.
Hamas says Israel did not honor previous understandings reached with the help of Egypt and Qatar, in which Israel should ease the blockade it has imposed on Gaza since Hamas’ takeover and allow for large-scale projects to help rescue the collapsing economy.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Trump administration places new restrictions on Huawei

The Trump administration said Monday it ’ s tightening restrictions on the Chinese telecom company Huawei , or as President Trump calls it — “ SpyWei.
” The administration will block Huawei from using alternative chip production to circumvent U.S. law and intends to do so by by expanding its foreign direct product rule authority under export control law .
“ We don ’ t want their equipment in the United States because they spy on us , ” Mr. Trump told “ Fox & Friends.
” “ And any country that uses it , we ’ re not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence .
Absolutely , Huawei is a disaster.
” Alongside expanding the foreign direct product rule , the Commerce Department has also added 38 Huawei affiliates to its list of foreign entities prevented from getting certain technologies .
“ As we have restricted its access to U.S. technology , Huawei and its affiliates have worked through third parties to harness U.S. technology in a manner that undermines U.S. national security and foreign policy interests , ” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement on Monday .
“ This multi-pronged action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ability to do so.
” The Commerce Department is leading the new crackdown against Huawei with the backing of the State Department .
“ We will not tolerate efforts by the [ Chinese Communist Party ] to undermine the privacy of our citizens , our business ’ intellectual property , or the integrity of next generation networks worldwide , ” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Monday .

The Trump administration said Monday it’s tightening restrictions on the Chinese telecom company Huawei, or as President Trump calls it — “SpyWei.”
The administration will block Huawei from using alternative chip production to circumvent U.S. law and intends to do so by by expanding its foreign direct product rule authority under export control law.
A previous decision in May was specifically aimed at Huawei-made chips, but Monday’s decision affects chips that come into Huawei’s possession from U.S. manufacturers or chips that use U.S.-developed software, according to a Commerce Department official.
“We don’t want their equipment in the United States because they spy on us,” Mr. Trump told “Fox & Friends.” “And any country that uses it, we’re not going to do anything in terms of sharing intelligence. Absolutely, Huawei is a disaster.”
Alongside expanding the foreign direct product rule, the Commerce Department has also added 38 Huawei affiliates to its list of foreign entities prevented from getting certain technologies.
“As we have restricted its access to U.S. technology, Huawei and its affiliates have worked through third parties to harness U.S. technology in a manner that undermines U.S. national security and foreign policy interests,” U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement on Monday. “This multi-pronged action demonstrates our continuing commitment to impede Huawei’s ability to do so.”
The Commerce Department is leading the new crackdown against Huawei with the backing of the State Department.
“We will not tolerate efforts by the [Chinese Communist Party] to undermine the privacy of our citizens, our business’ intellectual property, or the integrity of next generation networks worldwide,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Monday.
Former Rep. Mike Rogers, Michigan Republican and chairman of advocacy group 5G Action Now, said the Trump administration’s newest actions shut down a vulnerability that Huawei could exploit at the behest of China and was evidence of “steady, continued progress” by the administration.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Ayanna Pressley calls for 'unrest in the streets' ahead of election

Rep. Ayanna Pressley called for “ unrest in the streets ” while discussing the upcoming election on MSNBC Saturday .
“ There needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there ’ s unrest in our lives , and unfortunately , there ’ s plenty to go around , ” the Massachusetts Democrat and member of the so-called “ Squad ” told MSNBC ’ s Tiffany Cross .
“ This is as much about public outcry and organizing and mobilizing and applying pressure so that this GOP-led Senate and these governors that continue to carry water for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in harm ’ s way , turning a deaf ear to the needs of our families and our communities , hold them accountable .
Make the phone calls , send the emails , show up , ” she said .
Ms. Pressley ’ s comments followed months of protests and rioting in cities across the country sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd .
The congresswoman joined fellow Democrats in calling for Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , whom the Postal Service Board of Governors appointed in May , to testify before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost-cutting measures could negatively impact mail-in voting .
“ Donald Trump knows that his failings are on the ballot , that we have lost hundreds of thousands of American lives that were preventable and that ’ s just the most egregious of his criminal negligence and sluggish response and science denials and his failures of leadership , ” Ms. Pressley said .
“ He knows those failures are on the ballot , that the occupant of the White House is on the way to being a temporary one .
“ As Dan Rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheat , ” she continued .
“ So the only way that he thinks that he can be even remotely successful is to suppress and to undermine our democracy , beginning with the United States Postal Service , which again is a war on them and the livelihood of those essential workers and their families and those who rely upon the critical services that the postal service provides .
So we have to continue to hold this administration accountable .
At every turn , they have sought to obstruct , to stonewall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But I do think that DeJoy should resign and at minimum he should be subpoenaed to come before the Oversight Committee .
”

Rep. Ayanna Pressley called for “unrest in the streets” while discussing the upcoming election on MSNBC Saturday.
“There needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there’s unrest in our lives, and unfortunately, there’s plenty to go around,” the Massachusetts Democrat and member of the so-called “Squad” told MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross.
“This is as much about public outcry and organizing and mobilizing and applying pressure so that this GOP-led Senate and these governors that continue to carry water for this administration, putting the American people in harm’s way, turning a deaf ear to the needs of our families and our communities, hold them accountable. Make the phone calls, send the emails, show up,” she said.
Ms. Pressley’s comments followed months of protests and rioting in cities across the country sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd.
The congresswoman joined fellow Democrats in calling for Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, whom the Postal Service Board of Governors appointed in May, to testify before the House Oversight Committee over concerns that cost-cutting measures could negatively impact mail-in voting.
“Donald Trump knows that his failings are on the ballot, that we have lost hundreds of thousands of American lives that were preventable and that’s just the most egregious of his criminal negligence and sluggish response and science denials and his failures of leadership,” Ms. Pressley said. “He knows those failures are on the ballot, that the occupant of the White House is on the way to being a temporary one.
“As Dan Rather reminds us, cheaters are going to cheat,” she continued. “So the only way that he thinks that he can be even remotely successful is to suppress and to undermine our democracy, beginning with the United States Postal Service, which again is a war on them and the livelihood of those essential workers and their families and those who rely upon the critical services that the postal service provides. So we have to continue to hold this administration accountable. At every turn, they have sought to obstruct, to stonewall, and to evade justice and accountability. But I do think that DeJoy should resign and at minimum he should be subpoenaed to come before the Oversight Committee.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Coast Guard rescues 6 after boat overturns in Atlantic

VIRGINIA BEACH , Va. ( AP ) - The US .
Coast Guard has rescued six people after a boat overturned off the coast of Virginia .
The Coast Guard said in a news release late Sunday that the vessel overturned in the Atlantic Ocean about 16 miles from Virginia Beach .
Watchstanders had received an alert from a personal locator beacon .
But the boat ’ s owner could not be reached .
People who knew the owner told the coast guard that the owner went fishing with a group of people .
They provided a description of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispatched a helicopter aircrew that had been training nearby .
A boat crew was also launched in the rescue .
The helicopter crew found four people on the hull of an overturned 24-foot fishing boat .
Two people were on the Chesapeake Light Tower , which is nearby .
All six individuals were hoisted into the helicopter .
No injuries were reported .
James Cifers , civilian watchstander at the Fifth District Command Center , praised the owner ’ s use of a personal locator beacon .
“ This case could have turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not bought and registered his device , ” he said .

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - The US. Coast Guard has rescued six people after a boat overturned off the coast of Virginia.
The Coast Guard said in a news release late Sunday that the vessel overturned in the Atlantic Ocean about 16 miles from Virginia Beach.
Watchstanders had received an alert from a personal locator beacon. But the boat’s owner could not be reached.
People who knew the owner told the coast guard that the owner went fishing with a group of people. They provided a description of the boat.
The Fifth District Command Center dispatched a helicopter aircrew that had been training nearby. A boat crew was also launched in the rescue.
The helicopter crew found four people on the hull of an overturned 24-foot fishing boat. Two people were on the Chesapeake Light Tower, which is nearby.
All six individuals were hoisted into the helicopter. No injuries were reported.
James Cifers, civilian watchstander at the Fifth District Command Center, praised the owner’s use of a personal locator beacon.
“This case could have turned out quite different if the owner had not bought and registered his device,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Crowd protests outside US Postmaster's North Carolina home

GREENSBORO , N.C. ( AP ) - More than 100 demonstrators converged outside the North Carolina mansion of the postmaster general , protesting the cutbacks , delays and other changes to the U.S .
Postal Service that have created fears for mail-in voting ahead of the November presidential election .
Protesters gathered for about two hours Sunday along the streets below Louis DeJoy ’ s gated property , which overlooks the Greensboro Country Club golf course .
They chanted and held signs that read : “ Sabotage of the USPS is un-American ” and “ Save USPS , ” among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeJoy , a Republican fundraiser and major political donor named to lead the Postal Service in May , has sparked a nationwide outcry over postal delays and cutbacks just as millions of Americans prepare to vote by mail to avoid polling places during the coronavirus pandemic .
The protest follows President Donald Trump ’ s acknowledgement in an interview on Fox Business Network that he has been starving the Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots , which he worries could cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned states last week that it could not guarantee all ballots cast by mail would arrive in time to be counted , even if mailed by deadlines .
Protestors also gathered outside DeJoy ’ s apartment building in Washington early Saturday morning in a similar protest , The Washington Post reported .
It was unclear whether DeJoy was at either home during the demonstrations .
The Postal Service did not immediately respond to news outlets ’ requests for comment .

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - More than 100 demonstrators converged outside the North Carolina mansion of the postmaster general, protesting the cutbacks, delays and other changes to the U.S. Postal Service that have created fears for mail-in voting ahead of the November presidential election.
Protesters gathered for about two hours Sunday along the streets below Louis DeJoy’s gated property, which overlooks the Greensboro Country Club golf course. They chanted and held signs that read: “Sabotage of the USPS is un-American” and “Save USPS,” among other messages, news outlets said.
DeJoy, a Republican fundraiser and major political donor named to lead the Postal Service in May, has sparked a nationwide outcry over postal delays and cutbacks just as millions of Americans prepare to vote by mail to avoid polling places during the coronavirus pandemic.
The protest follows President Donald Trump’s acknowledgement in an interview on Fox Business Network that he has been starving the Postal Service of money in order to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots, which he worries could cost him the election.
The Postal Service warned states last week that it could not guarantee all ballots cast by mail would arrive in time to be counted, even if mailed by deadlines.
Protestors also gathered outside DeJoy’s apartment building in Washington early Saturday morning in a similar protest, The Washington Post reported.
It was unclear whether DeJoy was at either home during the demonstrations.
The Postal Service did not immediately respond to news outlets’ requests for comment.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--'BE 2.0': Business writer Jim Collins updates his first book

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Million-selling business author Jim Collins is updating his debut book for the 21st century @ @ @ @ @ “ Beyond Entrepreneurship : Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company ” will be @ @ @ @ @ announced Monday .
The new book is called “ BE 2.0 : Turning Your Business @ @ @ @ @ ” It will include four new chapters and five new essays .
The original work @ @ @ @ @ , came out in 1992 .
( Lazier died in 2005 ) .
“ ’ @ @ @ @ @ a singular reading experience , presenting a unified vision of company creation that will fascinate @ @ @ @ @ millions of dedicated readers worldwide , but also introduce a new generation to his remarkable @ @ @ @ @ Portfolio , an imprint of Penguin Random House .
Collins is best known for “ @ @ @ @ @ Some Companies Make the Leap … And Others Don ’ t , ” which came @ @ @ @ @ sold more than 2 million copies .

NEW YORK (AP) - Million-selling business author Jim Collins is updating his debut book for the 21st century.
The new edition of “Beyond Entrepreneurship: Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company” will be released Dec. 1, Portfolio announced Monday. The new book is called “BE 2.0: Turning Your Business into an Enduring Great Company.” It will include four new chapters and five new essays.
The original work, co-authored by Bill Lazier, came out in 1992. (Lazier died in 2005).
“’BE 2.0’ will provide a singular reading experience, presenting a unified vision of company creation that will fascinate not only Jim’s millions of dedicated readers worldwide, but also introduce a new generation to his remarkable work,” according to Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Collins is best known for “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … And Others Don’t,” which came out in 2001 and has sold more than 2 million copies.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Party official: FBI arrests Puerto Rico legislator, 3 others

SAN JUAN , Puerto Rico ( AP ) - FBI agents on Monday arrested Puerto Rico Rep. María Milagros Charbonier @ @ @ @ @ a spokesman for the pro-statehood New Progressive Party said .
Raúl Colón , a spokesman @ @ @ @ @ Rico ’ s House of Representatives , told The Associated Press that an adviser for @ @ @ @ @ the arrest .
No further details were immediately available .
FBI spokeswoman Limary Cruz told @ @ @ @ @ were arrested but said she could not immediately release more details .
The U.S. Attorney @ @ @ @ @ upcoming press conference about a public corruption case .
Charbonier recently said the FBI interviewed @ @ @ @ @ phone .
She is one of Puerto Rico ’ s most conservative and religious legislators @ @ @ @ @ representative since her election in 2012 but just lost in Sunday ’ s primaries .
@ @ @ @ @ secretary general for the New Progressive Party .

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - FBI agents on Monday arrested Puerto Rico Rep. María Milagros Charbonier after the legislator who once presided over the island’s House Ethics Committee was charged in a public corruption case that officials say also involved her son, husband and an assistant.
U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow said it was a simple scheme in which Charbonier allegedly received some $100,000 in bribes and kickbacks after increasing the pay of her assistant, Frances Acevedo, from $800 every two weeks to nearly $3,000, and then received between $1,000 to $1,500 in return for every paycheck.
“It wasn’t very complicated,” he said of the alleged scheme that lasted three years, adding that Acevedo on one occasion placed the cash promised to Charbonier in the legislator’s glove compartment at her request.
Muldrow also accused Charbonier of deleting phone messages related to the alleged corruption.
Charbonier, who earned $2,500 every two weeks as legislator, faces charges including theft, money laundering and obstruction of justice. She pleaded not guilty to all charges as a federal judge set bail at $25,000.
Charbonier is one of Puerto Rico’s most conservative and religious legislators and once sued in an attempt to ban same-sex marriage on the island. Charbonier has served as representative since her election in 2012 but just lost in Sunday’s primaries. Charbonier also previously served as secretary general for the pro-statehood New Progressive Party.
Also charged in the case is Charbonier’s husband, Orlando Montes Rivera, and her son, Orlando Gabriel Montes. A judge set the husband’s bail at $25,000, while he agreed to set the son’s bail at $10,000 unsecured at the request of his attorney, who said he is 23 years old and had just started work as a teacher.
“His parents are unable to assist because they have their own particular circumstances,” said Yasmín Irizarry of the public defender’s office.
Acevedo, who became Charbonier’s assistant in 2013, is being held on $10,000 bond.
The arrests come as Puerto Rico struggles through a 13-year economic and financial crisis that in part has been blamed on mismanagement and corruption.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Returning vacationers face new constraints as virus spikes

PARIS ( AP ) - Countries that had seen a summer respite from coronavirus outbreaks tracked swiftly rising numbers of new confirmed cases Monday , prompting fears among government leaders and health officials that months of hard-won progress would be lost in a matter of days as vacationers return home .
New restrictions on leisure activities accompanied the final weeks of summer break in Europe .
With one goal in mind , the Italian government closed discos , required masks from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. anywhere people might gather and began testing all arriving travelers from Spain , Greece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority must be the reopening of schools in September in full safety , ” Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said .
Italy ’ s schools have been closed nationwide since early March .
France ’ s two largest cities , Paris and Marseille , widened the areas where masks are required , and the French government sent riot police to the Marseille region to enforce the requirement .
The country ’ s labor minister is planning negotiations for Tuesday on making masks mandatory in all workplaces and other employee safety measures .
French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter of new virus clusters that emerged from May 9 to Aug. 11 were linked to workplaces .
“ We need a culture of masks , a culture of protective measures .
We failed to deliver this clear message in the first wave , ” Dr. Giles Pialoux , the head of infectious diseases at Tenon Hospital in Paris , told France Inter radio on Monday .
“ We need strong and coherent messages .
I think the strategy of fear does not work.
” In Greece , health officials attributed many new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing and other public health protective measures while on vacation .
Authorities began carrying out spot checks on ferry passengers returning to the mainland from the Greek islands amid growing concern of vacationers transporting the virus back to cities .
Three young Greeks reportedly broke quarantine on Sunday night while waiting for their virus test results on the island of Patmos and boarded a ferry to the port of Piraeus outside of Athens .
Two of the three tested positive , and all three were detained .
In the far grimmer case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surged after the devastating blast at the Beirut port earlier this month , prompting medical officials Monday to call for a two-week lockdown .
The blast overwhelmed the city ’ s hospitals and badly damaged two playing a key role in treating COVID-19 patients .
A new outbreak in New Zealand ’ s largest city , Auckland , prompted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to delay the country ’ s national election by four weeks .
She said it would be the only postponement in the vote .
In South Korea , a conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country ’ s president tested positive for the coronavirus , health authorities said Monday , two days after he participated in an anti-government protest in Seoul that drew thousands .
More than 300 virus cases have been linked to the Rev .
Jun Kwang-hun ’ s huge church in northern Seoul , which has emerged as a major cluster of infections amid growing fears of a massive outbreak in the greater capital region .
The resurgence of the virus in the Seoul region was a rude awakening for a country that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the virus .
In South Africa , which is five months into one of the world ’ s longest and strictest lockdowns , those restrictions finally were bringing signs of progress .
With the number of new cases declining and other indicators showing that South Africa has passed its first peak , the country on Tuesday will resume sales of liquor and cigarettes , and allow bars , restaurants , gyms , places of worship and other venues to reopen , all with distancing requirements .
Schools are set to reopen gradually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social and economic activity have been lifted .
With this comes increased risk of transmission , ” President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote Monday in his weekly missive to the nation .
“ We now need to manage this risk and ensure the gains we have made thus far in containing the pandemic ’ s spread are not reversed .
The greatest threat to the health of nation right now is complacency.
” South Africa has reported a total of 587,345 confirmed cases as of Monday accounting for more than half of the 1.1 @ @ @ @ @

PARIS (AP) - Countries that had seen a summer respite from coronavirus outbreaks tracked swiftly rising numbers of new confirmed cases Monday, prompting fears among government leaders and health officials that months of hard-won progress would be lost in just days as vacationers return home.
New restrictions accompanied the final weeks of summer break in Europe. Hours-long traffic jams formed at the Croatia-Slovenia border over the weekend as Austrians trying to beat a midnight quarantine deadline rushed home from a favored coastal vacation spot.
With one goal in mind, the Italian government closed discos, required masks from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. anywhere people might gather and began testing all arriving travelers from Spain, Greece, Malta and Croatia.
“Our priority must be the reopening of schools in September in full safety,” Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said. Italy’s schools have been closed nationwide since early March.
Several nursing homes around France closed their doors anew after reporting virus cases in recent days, families told The Associated Press. One nursing home in eastern France had 34 of its 135 residents and staff members test positive since Aug. 3, and nine residents with the virus die in the past week.
The local mayor in the town of Polnoy blamed the outbreak on waning vigilance by families amid the vacation season, and a sense among many in France this summer that the crisis was over.
France’s two largest cities, Paris and Marseille, widened the areas where masks are required, and the French government sent riot police to the Marseille region to enforce the requirement.
The country’s labor minister is planning negotiations for Tuesday on making masks mandatory in all workplaces and other employee safety measures. French government studies indicated that at least a quarter of new virus clusters that emerged from May 9 to Aug. 11 were linked to workplaces.
“We need a culture of masks, a culture of protective measures. We failed to deliver this clear message in the first wave,” Dr. Giles Pialoux, the head of infectious diseases at Tenon Hospital in Paris, told France Inter radio on Monday. “We need strong and coherent messages. I think the strategy of fear does not work.”
In Greece, health officials attributed many new infections to wedding receptions and people ignoring social distancing and other public health protective measures while on vacation. Authorities began carrying out spot checks on ferry passengers returning to the mainland from the Greek islands amid growing concern of vacationers transporting the virus back to cities.
Three young Greeks reportedly broke quarantine on Sunday night while waiting for their virus test results on the island of Patmos and boarded a ferry to the port of Piraeus outside of Athens. Two of the three tested positive, and all three were detained.
Despite the rise in cases, officials say schools will reopen as planned in Greece on Sept. 7.
Schools in northern regions of the Netherlands are reopening this week with most pupils expected back in classrooms by Wednesday without social distancing or face masks. Students returning from vacations in high-risk areas must quarantine at home for 14 days.
Education Minister Arie Slob insisted it is safe to return to high schools but told NOS Radio 1 news that “there is never a 100% guarantee that everything will go well.”
In the far grimmer case of Lebanon, reported coronavirus cases have surged after the devastating blast at the Beirut port earlier this month, prompting medical officials Monday to call for a two-week lockdown. The blast overwhelmed the city’s hospitals and badly damaged two playing a key role in treating COVID-19 patients.
A new outbreak in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, prompted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to delay the country’s national election by four weeks. She said it would be the only postponement in the vote.
In South Korea, a conservative pastor who has been a bitter critic of the country’s president tested positive for the coronavirus, health authorities said Monday, two days after he participated in an anti-government protest in Seoul that drew thousands.
More than 300 virus cases have been linked to the Rev. Jun Kwang-hun’s huge church in northern Seoul, which has emerged as a major cluster of infections amid growing fears of a massive outbreak in the greater capital region.
The resurgence of the virus in the Seoul region was a rude awakening for a country that had been eager to tout its gains against the virus.
In South Africa, which is five months into one of the world’s longest and strictest lockdowns, those restrictions finally were bringing signs of progress.
With the number of new cases declining and other indicators showing that South Africa has passed its first peak, the country on Tuesday will resume sales of liquor and cigarettes, and allow bars, restaurants, gyms, places of worship and other venues to reopen, all with distancing requirements. Schools are set to reopen gradually beginning next week.
“Many restrictions on social and economic activity have been lifted. With this comes increased risk of transmission,” President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote Monday in his weekly missive to the nation. “We now need to manage this risk and ensure the gains we have made thus far in containing the pandemic’s spread are not reversed. The greatest threat to the health of nation right now is complacency.”
South Africa has reported a total of 587,345 confirmed cases as of Monday accounting for more than half of the 1.1 million cases throughout Africa.
___
Meldrum reported from Johannesburg, South Africa.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Donald Trump rebukes Joe Biden for staying in Delaware as Democratic convention kicks off

President Trump chastised Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden for staying away from Wisconsin as the Democratic National Convention kicks off on Monday .
Milwaukee was scheduled to host the Democratic National Convention before the coronavirus outbreak prompted the convention to move its events to largely digital platforms .
Mr. Biden is expected to deliver his Thursday night speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination from Delaware , near where he lives .
Mr. Trump told Fox News ’ “ Fox & Friends ” he plans to visit Wisconsin while Mr. Biden “ doesn ’ t come out of his basement.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I can tell you that , ” Mr. Trump told Fox News on Monday .
“ And we ’ ll be doing a lot of interviews and a lot of , I guess I ’ m making a speech , and it ’ s a great place , and we won it last time .
I think we ’ re going to win it this time.
” Mr. Trump ’ s taking aim at Mr. Biden on Wisconsin comes as the two men polled nearly even across 15 battleground states in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Biden edged Mr. Trump 49 % to 48 % across the 15 states , which fell within the margin of error .
Nationwide , Mr. Trump gained sizable ground on Mr. Biden since June and narrowed Mr. Biden ’ s lead to 4 percentage points in August , 50-46 , from 14 percentage points in June , 55-41 .
The SSRS poll for CNN surveyed 1,108 respondents by telephone , both landlines and cellphones , including 987 registered voters with a 4 percentage point margin of error .
The poll surveyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states with a 5 percentage point margin of error .

President Trump chastised Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden for staying away from Wisconsin as the Democratic National Convention kicks off on Monday.
Milwaukee was scheduled to host the Democratic National Convention before the coronavirus outbreak prompted the convention to move its events to largely digital platforms. Mr. Biden is expected to deliver his Thursday night speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination from Delaware, near where he lives.
Mr. Trump told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” he plans to visit Wisconsin while Mr. Biden “doesn’t come out of his basement.”
“I’m going to Wisconsin, I can tell you that,” Mr. Trump told Fox News on Monday. “And we’ll be doing a lot of interviews and a lot of, I guess I’m making a speech, and it’s a great place, and we won it last time. I think we’re going to win it this time.”
Mr. Trump’s taking aim at Mr. Biden on Wisconsin comes as the two men polled nearly even across 15 battleground states in a new CNN survey published on Sunday night. Mr. Biden edged Mr. Trump 49% to 48% across the 15 states, which fell within the margin of error.
Nationwide, Mr. Trump gained sizable ground on Mr. Biden since June and narrowed Mr. Biden’s lead to 4 percentage points in August, 50-46, from 14 percentage points in June, 55-41.
The SSRS poll for CNN surveyed 1,108 respondents by telephone, both landlines and cellphones, including 987 registered voters with a 4 percentage point margin of error. The poll surveyed 636 registered voters in the 15 battleground states with a 5 percentage point margin of error.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Splintered militants rejoin Pakistani Taliban, vow holy war

PESHAWAR , Pakistan ( AP ) - A militant faction in Pakistan that split years ago from the Pakistani Taliban has returned and rejoined the insurgents , a Taliban spokesman said Monday .
In a statement , spokesman Mohammad Khurasani , says top leaders and fighters from the splinter faction - which later evolved into two separate militant groups - were welcomed at a recent ceremony after they decided to “ merge back ” with the Taliban .
The Pakistani Taliban , also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan , or TTP , are separate from the Afghan Taliban .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formed in 2014 by Umar Khalid Khurasani when it split from the TTP .
The other group , Hizbul Ahrar , was first established in Afghanistan ’ s eastern Nangarhar province .
The merger of the two militant groups , which have been blamed for several deadly attacks in Pakistan , was seen as a boost for the Pakistani Taliban .
The development comes after a recently released U.N. report suggested that more than 6,000 Pakistani insurgents were hiding in neighboring Afghanistan - most of them belonging to militant groups behind attacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for one of the most horrific attacks in the country - the 2014 attack on a military school in the city of Peshawar when 140 people were killed , mostly students at the school - some as young as 5 .

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - A militant faction in Pakistan that split years ago from the Pakistani Taliban has returned and rejoined the insurgents, a Taliban spokesman said Monday.
In a statement, spokesman Mohammad Khurasani, says top leaders and fighters from the splinter faction - which later evolved into two separate militant groups - were welcomed at a recent ceremony after they decided to “merge back” with the Taliban.
The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, are separate from the Afghan Taliban.
One of the militant groups, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, was formed in 2014 by Umar Khalid Khurasani when it split from the TTP. The other group, Hizbul Ahrar, was first established in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.
The merger of the two militant groups, which have been blamed for several deadly attacks in Pakistan, was seen as a boost for the Pakistani Taliban.
The development comes after a recently released U.N. report suggested that more than 6,000 Pakistani insurgents were hiding in neighboring Afghanistan - most of them belonging to militant groups behind attacks on Pakistani military and civilian targets.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for one of the most horrific attacks in the country - the 2014 attack on a military school in the city of Peshawar when 140 people were killed, mostly students at the school - some as young as 5.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--South Carolina man accused of trying to kidnap WWE star

TAMPA , Fla. ( AP ) - A South Carolina man who stalked a 26-year-old WWE star for years and spent eight months planning to kidnap her was arrested Sunday after breaking into her home near Tampa , sheriff ’ s officials said .
Phillip A. Thomas II , 24 , of Cordesville , South Carolina , was arrested early Sunday for attempting to carry out the plot , the Hillsborough County Sheriff ’ s Office said in a news release .
The sheriffs office did not identify the victim , but home where Thomas was arrested is owned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sonya Deville .
She performs for WWE and stars in the E !
cable channel reality TV series Total Divas .
She later tweeted a thank you message to the sheriff ’ s office .
Thomas faces charges of aggravated stalking , armed burglary of a dwelling , attempted armed kidnapping , and criminal mischief , and is expected to make a first appearance in court on Monday .
According to investigators , Thomas parked his car at a nearby church , walked to the home and cut a hole in a screen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where he stayed for three to four hours watching and listening through the windows .
Thomas went inside the home through a sliding glass door at 2:43 a.m. , after the homeowner had gone to bed , the release said .
The alarm activated .
Sheriff ’ s officials said the homeowner looked out a window and saw Thomas before she left with a guest in a car .
She also called 911 .
Thomas was still at the home when deputies arrived .
He had a knife , plastic zip ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items , and told deputies he was planning to take the homeowner hostage , the sheriff ’ s office said .
On jail records , Thomas is listed as an Applebee ’ s crew member .
He was being held without bail and records don ’ t list a lawyer for him .
“ Our deputies are unveiling the suspect ’ s disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met , but stalked on social media for years , ” said Sheriff Chad Chronister .
“ It ’ s frightening to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have played out had the home alarm not gone off and alerted the homeowner of an intruder .
”

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A South Carolina man who stalked a 26-year-old WWE star for years and spent eight months planning to kidnap her was arrested Sunday after breaking into her home near Tampa, sheriff’s officials said.
Phillip A. Thomas II, 24, of Cordesville, South Carolina, was arrested early Sunday for attempting to carry out the plot, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The sheriffs office did not identify the victim, but home where Thomas was arrested is owned by Daria Berenato, whose stage name is Sonya Deville. She performs for WWE and stars in the E! cable channel reality TV series Total Divas. She later tweeted a thank you message to the sheriff’s office.
Thomas faces charges of aggravated stalking, armed burglary of a dwelling, attempted armed kidnapping, and criminal mischief, and is expected to make a first appearance in court on Monday.
According to investigators, Thomas parked his car at a nearby church, walked to the home and cut a hole in a screen to enter the home’s patio, where he stayed for three to four hours watching and listening through the windows.
Thomas went inside the home through a sliding glass door at 2:43 a.m., after the homeowner had gone to bed, the release said. The alarm activated.
Sheriff’s officials said the homeowner looked out a window and saw Thomas before she left with a guest in a car. She also called 911. Thomas was still at the home when deputies arrived.
He had a knife, plastic zip ties, duct tape, mace and other items, and told deputies he was planning to take the homeowner hostage, the sheriff’s office said.
On jail records, Thomas is listed as an Applebee’s crew member. He was being held without bail and records don’t list a lawyer for him.
“Our deputies are unveiling the suspect’s disturbing obsession with this homeowner who he had never met, but stalked on social media for years,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “It’s frightening to think of all the ways this incident could have played out had the home alarm not gone off and alerted the homeowner of an intruder.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Whitmer touts Biden for auto rescue, rips Trump on virus

LANSING , Mich. ( AP ) - Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer - “ that woman from Michigan ” - touted Joe Biden ’ s work to rescue the auto industry and said he would rally the country to fight the coronavirus and not deny it like President Donald Trump has .
The first-term battleground governor , who a week ago was a finalist to be Biden ’ s running mate , spoke on the opening night of Democrats ’ virtual nominating convention Monday .
She addressed a national audience from a United Auto Workers hall whose members make Chevrolet Camaros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reminded viewers of the country ’ s last economic crisis - the Great Recession - and credited Biden , then the vice president , for joining with President Barack Obama to save the auto sector with a federal bailout .
Those workers , she said , have helped more than a decade later to make protective equipment for doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Over the past few moths , we learned what ’ s essential - rising to the challenge , not denying it .
We ’ ve learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor said , “ not the just the wealthiest among us .
Not a president who fights his fellow Americans rather than fight the virus that ’ s killing us and our economy .
It ’ s the people who put their own health at risk to care for the rest of us.
” Michigan was hit hard by the coronavirus in the spring but , after the governor imposed a strict stay-at-home order , has ranked in the bottom 10 states for new cases per capita this summer .
In her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration for its lack of a “ national strategy ” to combat COVID-19 , saying everyone who needs a test should get one for free and kids and educators should have adequate funding to safely return to school .
Biden and his running mate , California Sen. Kamala Harris , “ will lead by example , ” Whitmer said .
“ Science , not politics or ego , will drive their decisions .
They know the health of our people goes hand in hand with the strength of our economy.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak led him in March to say that he had told Vice President Donald Trump to not call “ the woman in Michigan.
” Whitmer has embraced the dismissive phrase .
She introduced herself to viewers as the governor and “ that woman from Michigan.
” In a pre-speech interview with The Associated Press , Whitmer said Biden ’ s message will resonate in Michigan because he and Obama “ had our backs when many others didn ’ t .
… We know him , and he knows us.
” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the auto recovery in the fall presidential race , she said .
She stopped short of saying Hillary Clinton missed an opportunity to highlight the issue in 2016 , saying a lot of factors contributed to lower Democratic turnout in a state Trump won by roughly two-tenths of a percentage point .
“ At the end of the day , in this moment , this candidate has a special relationship with the state .
He ’ s going to focus on it , and that ’ s why I want to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whitmer said .
Asked if there is a risk in highlighting the bailout that began nearly a dozen years ago and is not fresh on voters ’ minds , she said the public needs “ hope ” as economic strife has grown because the U.S. never controlled the virus .
“ It is an example and a part of our history that will give people hope we will get through this with the right person at the helm , ” she said .
Whitmer concluded her address by honoring Skylar Herbert , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complications from COVID-19 .
She said in the interview that people are spreading misinformation about whether kids can be infected .
“ To be a child of two public servants who put their health at risk to take care of other people I think is just a heart-wrenching example of the toll that COVID-19 has taken on the United States , ” Whitmer said .

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer - “that woman from Michigan” - touted Joe Biden’s work to rescue the auto industry and said he would rally the country to fight the coronavirus and not deny it like President Donald Trump has.
The first-term battleground governor, who a week ago was a finalist to be Biden’s running mate, spoke on the opening night of Democrats’ virtual nominating convention Monday. She addressed a national audience from a United Auto Workers hall whose members make Chevrolet Camaros and Cadillac sedans in Lansing.
Whitmer reminded viewers of the country’s last economic crisis - the Great Recession - and credited Biden, then the vice president, for joining with President Barack Obama to save the auto sector with a federal bailout. Those workers, she said, have helped more than a decade later to make protective equipment for doctors and nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over the past few months, we learned what’s essential - rising to the challenge, not denying it. We’ve learned who is essential, too,” the governor said, “not the just the wealthiest among us. Not a president who fights his fellow Americans rather than fight the virus that’s killing us and our economy. It’s the people who put their own health at risk to care for the rest of us.”
Michigan was hit hard by the coronavirus in the spring but, after the governor imposed a strict stay-at-home order, has ranked in the bottom 10 states for new cases per capita this summer. In her four-minute speech, she continued to criticize the Trump administration for its lack of a “national strategy” to combat COVID-19, saying everyone who needs a test should get one for free and kids and educators should have adequate funding to safely return to school.
Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, “will lead by example,” Whitmer said. “Science, not politics or ego, will drive their decisions. They know the health of our people goes hand in hand with the strength of our economy.”
Her critique of Trump’s handling of the outbreak led him in March to say that he had told Vice President Mike Pence to not call “the woman in Michigan.” Whitmer has embraced the dismissive phrase. She introduced herself to viewers as the governor and “that woman from Michigan.”
In a pre-speech interview with The Associated Press, Whitmer said Biden’s message will resonate in Michigan because he and Obama “had our backs when many others didn’t. … We know him, and he knows us.” Biden and Democrats will put a heavy focus on the auto recovery in the fall presidential race, she said.
She stopped short of saying Hillary Clinton missed an opportunity to highlight the issue in 2016, saying a lot of factors contributed to lower Democratic turnout in a state Trump won by roughly two-tenths of a percentage point.
“At the end of the day, in this moment, this candidate has a special relationship with the state. He’s going to focus on it, and that’s why I want to focus on it tonight, too,” Whitmer said.
Asked if there is a risk in highlighting the bailout that began nearly a dozen years ago and is not fresh on voters’ minds, she said the public needs “hope” as economic strife has grown because the U.S. never controlled the virus. “It is an example and a part of our history that will give people hope we will get through this with the right person at the helm,” she said.
Whitmer concluded her address by honoring Skylar Herbert, a 5-year-old girl who died in April of complications from COVID-19. She said in the interview that people are spreading misinformation about whether kids can be infected.
“To be a child of two public servants who put their health at risk to take care of other people I think is just a heart-wrenching example of the toll that COVID-19 has taken on the United States,” Whitmer said.
The Michigan Republican Party and Trump’s campaign criticized her handling of the pandemic, alleging that a “failed” nursing home policy has led to deaths. Party chair Laura Cox said Whitmer’s “partisan colors were on full display tonight,” and “she continues to pass the buck and blame others.”
___
Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00
___
This story has been updated to correct a reference to Vice President Mike Pence instead of to Donald Trump in the seventh paragraph.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Five takeaways from first night of the Democratic convention

In another profound way that the coronavirus pandemic has upended American life , the Democratic National Convention started Monday with no convening .
Instead , Democrats opted for the first virtual convention as the party begins the formal process of nominating Joe Biden as its candidate for president .
Here are five takeaways from the first night .
From former Republican Ohio Gov .
John Kasich to self-proclaimed democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders , the first night of the convention showcased how wide the Democratic party ’ s tent is - and , in contrast , how narrow a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Integral to Biden ’ s pitch is the idea that he can unite the country against President Donald Trump with a call to restore common decency .
And the Democrats showed how people on either ends of the ideological spectrum are joining that effort .
“ We can all see what ’ s going on in our country today and all the questions that are facing us , and no one person or party has all the answers , ” Kasich said in his convention message .
“ But what we do know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we ’ ve been seeing today , for sure.
” Sanders had a similar , if blunter , warning .
“ My friends , I say to you , and to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election : The future of our democracy is at stake , ” the Vermont senator said .
“ We must come together , defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden .
… The price of failure is just too great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats is an implicit contrast with Trump , who is notorious for slamming any Republican who publicly criticizes him and whose convention next week is not likely to feature as wide an ideological range .
It makes it harder to agree on a governing platform besides Don ’ t-Be-Trump .
But Democrats are gambling on that being sufficient to win .
One of the most urgent questions heading into a virtual convention was whether the format could generate enthusiasm .
The first impression , charitably , is that it remains a tall order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s programming , a combination of prerecorded and live material , from a studio .
On one hand , Longoria ’ s video interactions with everyday Americans - a farmer , a student , a small business owner , among others - offered a better look at their lives than having them on a traditional convention stage in front of thousands of delegates .
But there ’ s also something lost when the headliners - well-known politicians who are used to much different environs - can ’ t feed off the crowd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Trump or a wrenching personal biographical pitch about Biden , and it just won ’ t land the same way when delivered straight to a camera .
Democrats are clearly aware that they also lost the camera shots that at a normal convention would capture the party ’ s racial , ethnic and gender diversity - that much is assured by party rules on state delegations .
They tried to make up for it from the start , with an invocation delivered in Spanish and English and a national anthem sung by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , representing a range of races and ethnicities .
Conventions have long been derided in some circles as infomercials .
Now the evolution is complete .
Democrats showed out of the gate that they will continue to draw a sharp contrast with Trump and Republicans on the matter of racial justice - giving the issue emotional prominence on the opening night .
In the first half hour , Democrats showcased the family of George Floyd , the Black man whose killing by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25 spawned nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s history of systemic racism .
One of Floyd ’ s brothers spoke about him and named a litany of other Black Americans killed by police , followed by a moment of silence .
Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington , D.C. , introduced the Floyd family from Black Lives Matter Plaza , the stretch of 16th Street in Washington leading up to the White House that was repainted and renamed in the wake of Floyd ’ s death .
Bowser compared the history of peaceful protest in the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tearing agents so he could walk to a nearby church to be photographed with a Bible .
“ While we were peacefully protesting , Donald Trump was plotting , ” Bowser said .
“ I knew if he did this to D.C. , he would do it to your city or your town , and that ’ s when I said enough.
” Trump , meanwhile , confirmed two guests he has invited to participate at his convention next week : a white St. Louis couple who gained national headlines when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confront protesters who were in their neighborhood .
In traditional conventions , the nominee is mentioned relentlessly from the podium but goes unseen until the closing night , with the rare exception of cameos .
But in a virtual convention , all the rules go out the window .
Biden was featured Monday in several video snippets and even appeared in a roundtable segment where he talked to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and others about racial justice issues , from voting rights to changing policing practices .
That may cut down speaking time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convention .
But it also increases the odds that Biden will get maximum exposure to voters who may pop in and out of the broadcast or online stream over four nights .
There are few people in politics in a highly polarized country that have the popularity of former First Lady Michelle Obama .
Four years ago , she used her Democratic National Convention speaking slot to highlight a slogan that didn ’ t work , politically , for her party in 2016 : “ When they go low , we go high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another task - to lend some of her golden glow to the less luminescent Biden .
“ I know Joe , ” she said in excerpts released from her prerecorded video .
“ He is a fundamentally decent man , guided by faith.
” “ And he listens , ” Obama added , a Biden campaign sign over her shoulder .
“ He will tell the truth , and trust science.
” Her remarks were more overtly political than her other speeches , and now the larger question for Biden may be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fall .

In another profound way that the coronavirus pandemic has upended American life, the Democratic National Convention started Monday with no convening. Instead, Democrats opted for the first virtual convention as the party begins the formal process of nominating Joe Biden as its candidate for president.
Here are five takeaways from the first night.
MICHELLE OBAMA’S DOMINANT MOMENT
Michelle Obama, in an uncharacteristically pointed and political speech, said President Donald Trump is “simply in over his head,” as she forcefully made the case against his administration and tried to create a sense of urgency and energy for Joe Biden’s candidacy.
As one of the most popular women in the world, the former first lady’s words carried added weight and set a tone for a convention that will try to make the election a referendum on the president’s character as much as his record.
Four years ago, she used her Democratic National Convention speaking slot to highlight a slogan that didn’t work, politically, for her party in 2016: “When they go low, we go high!”
She insisted that was still the right path, but said that did not mean she wasn’t vigorously opposed to Trump. “Let’s be clear,” Obama said. “Going high does not mean putting on a smile and saying nice things when confronted by viciousness and cruelty.”
She then pivoted to a searing critique of Trump.
“Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country,” Obama said during her prerecorded 18-minute speech - more than twice as long as any other speaker had. “He has had more than enough time to prove he can do the job but he is simply in over his head.”
JOE BIDEN IS CASTING A WIDE NET
The first chunk of the convention’s primetime hour was dominated by a quartet of Republicans — part of Democrats’ effort to emphasize the breadth of their party’s coalition, and implicitly contrast it with the narrower one Trump has built.
The four prominent former Republican officials all slammed Trump and praised Biden, hoping to speak to what the Biden campaign believes is a big swath of the electorate that remains uncomfortable with the president. Biden’s ability to unite the country has been a centerpiece of his campaign, and on Monday night Democrats tried to show that by cramming as wide an ideological spectrum as possible into a single hour.
“This isn’t about Republican or Democrat. It’s about a person - a person decent enough, stable enough, strong enough to get our economy back on track,” former Environmental Protection Agency chief Christie Todd Whitman said. “Donald Trump isn’t that person. Joe Biden is.”
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he didn’t believe Biden would turn “sharp left.”
That open-door approach for Democrats is an implicit contrast with Trump, who is notorious for slamming any Republican who publicly criticizes him and whose convention next week is not likely to feature as wide an ideological range. It makes it harder to agree on a governing platform besides Don’t-Be-Trump. But Democrats are gambling on that being sufficient to win.
SANDERS, KLOBUCHAR LEAD DEMOCRATIC UNITY FRONT
Bernie Sanders spoke for the second time in four years as runner-up. But this one felt different.
In 2016, he led a surprising progressive insurgency. The palpable tensions between Sanders and nominee Hillary Clinton were on display even as Sanders nominated Clinton from the floor of the Philadelphia convention.
This time, Sanders delivered an unqualified endorsement of Joe Biden and a harsh indictment of Trump.
“At its most basic, this election is about preserving our democracy,” Sanders said, adding that “authoritarianism has taken root in this country” under Trump. “As long as I am here, I will work with progressives, with moderates and, yes, with conservatives to preserve this nation,” he said.
In another dig, Sanders said: “Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Trump golfs.”
He added a litany of policy examples of “how Joe will move us forward” to address the fundamental economic inequities that Sanders has railed against for decades.
As runner-up, Sanders got his own time slot Monday night. He followed a video montage of more than a dozen other Democratic primary contenders introduced by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. They all offered praise of Biden.
“Out of many, one,” Klobuchar said, translating the national motto “e pluribus unum.”
Together, it highlighted both Biden’s personal relationships in his own party and how much of a unifying force the desire to defeat Trump is for the Democratic Party in 2020.
VIRTUAL ENTHUSIASM ISN’T EASY
One of the most urgent questions heading into a virtual convention was whether the format could generate enthusiasm. The first impression, charitably, is that it remains a tall order.
Actress Eva Longoria emceed the night’s programming, a combination of prerecorded and live material, from a studio. On one hand, Longoria’s video interactions with everyday Americans - a farmer, a student, a small business owner, among others - offered a better look at their lives than having them on a traditional convention stage in front of thousands of delegates.
But there’s also something lost when the headliners - well-known politicians who are used to much different environs - can’t feed off the crowd. You can take the same zinger against Trump or a wrenching personal biographical pitch about Biden, and it just won’t land the same way when delivered straight to a camera.
Democrats are clearly aware that they also lost the camera shots that at a normal convention would capture the party’s racial, ethnic and gender diversity - that much is assured by party rules on state delegations. They tried to make up for it from the start, with an invocation delivered in Spanish and English and a national anthem sung by children and adults from all over the country, representing a range of races and ethnicities.
Conventions have long been derided in some circles as infomercials. Now the evolution is complete.
DEMS PUSH CONTRAST WITH TRUMP ON RACE
Democrats showed out of the gate that they will continue to draw a sharp contrast with Trump and Republicans on the matter of racial justice - giving the issue emotional prominence on the opening night.
In the first half-hour, Democrats showcased the family of George Floyd, the Black man whose killing by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25 spawned nationwide protests and intensified calls to address the nation’s history of systemic racism. One of Floyd’s brothers spoke about him and named a litany of other Black Americans killed by police, followed by a moment of silence.
Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., introduced the Floyd family from Black Lives Matter Plaza, the stretch of 16th Street in Washington leading up to the White House that was repainted and renamed in the wake of Floyd’s death.
Bowser compared the history of peaceful protest in the nation’s capital with Trump ordering Lafayette Square cleared with tearing agents so he could walk to a nearby church to be photographed with a Bible.
“While we were peacefully protesting, Donald Trump was plotting,” Bowser said. “I knew if he did this to D.C., he would do it to your city or your town, and that’s when I said enough.”
Trump, meanwhile, confirmed two guests he has invited to participate at his convention next week: a white St. Louis couple who gained national headlines when they emerged from their house wielding weapons to confront protesters who were in their neighborhood.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--James Clyburn: We need a president who understands 'profound loss,' how to 'bounce back'

House Majority Whip James Clyburn on Monday said the country needs a unifier-in-chief and someone who understands “ profound loss ” and what it takes to bounce back as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing racial strife .
“ We will need a president who sees unifying people as a requirement of the job , ” the South Carolina Democrat said on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention .
“ A president who understands the true meaning of community - and how to build it through trust and humility.
” “ And with so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost jobs , lost loved ones , and lost confidence in the president to keep us safe - we need a president who understands both profound loss and what it takes to bounce back , ” he said .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden lost his first wife and young daughter in a car crash in 1972 .
His son Beau died of cancer in 2015 .
Mr. Clyburn recalled the 2015 Charleston massacre where nine people were shot and killed at a black church and pointed out that earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John C. Calhoun , a staunch defender of slavery .
“ Much like the country as a whole , we are stepping out from the shadows of our past , ” he said .
He said Mr. Biden “ will always be an adopted son of South Carolina.
” Mr. Clyburn , the No .
3-ranking Democrat in the House , deserves more credit than perhaps any other elected official for helping turn Mr. Biden ’ s fortunes around after disappointing fourth and fifth-place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire , respectively .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South Carolina primary , preceding his convincing win in the Palmetto State and a Super Tuesday romp that saw the former vice president seize the momentum in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race from Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont .

House Majority Whip James Clyburn on Monday said the country needs a unifier-in-chief and someone who understands “profound loss” and what it takes to bounce back as the country deals with the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing racial strife.
“We will need a president who sees unifying people as a requirement of the job,” the South Carolina Democrat said on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. “A president who understands the true meaning of community - and how to build it through trust and humility.”
“And with so many families experiencing loss in this pandemic - lost jobs, lost loved ones, and lost confidence in the president to keep us safe - we need a president who understands both profound loss and what it takes to bounce back,” he said.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden lost his first wife and young daughter in a car crash in 1972. His son Beau died of cancer in 2015.
Mr. Clyburn recalled the 2015 Charleston massacre where nine people were shot and killed at a black church and pointed out that earlier this summer, Charleston removed a statue of John C. Calhoun, a staunch defender of slavery.
“Much like the country as a whole, we are stepping out from the shadows of our past,” he said.
He said Mr. Biden “will always be an adopted son of South Carolina.”
Mr. Clyburn, the No. 3-ranking Democrat in the House, deserves more credit than perhaps any other elected official for helping turn Mr. Biden’s fortunes around after disappointing fourth and fifth-place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, respectively.
Mr. Clyburn endorsed Mr. Biden ahead of the South Carolina primary, preceding his convincing win in the Palmetto State and a Super Tuesday romp that saw the former vice president seize the momentum in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race from Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Asia Today: Philippine capital's virus lockdown being eased

MANILA , Philippines ( AP ) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to ease a mild lockdown in the capital and four outlying provinces to further reopen the country ’ s battered economy despite having the most coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia .
Duterte would allow most businesses , including shopping malls and dine-in restaurants , and Roman Catholic church services to partially resume on Wednesday with restrictions , including masks and social distancing .
Duterte shifted metropolitan Manila and the nearby provinces of Bulacan , Cavite , Laguna and Rizal , a region of about 25 million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks ago after leading groups of doctors warned hospitals were being overwhelmed again by COVID-19 patients and pleaded for a “ time out.
” They also asked the government to recalibrate its response to the pandemic .
The Philippines has reported more than 164,000 virus cases , including 2,681 deaths .
Duterte ’ s administration has been under intense pressure to revive the economy , which fell into a recession in the second quarter as millions of people lost their jobs .
Duterte , 75 , used his televised appearance to deny rumors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flown out of the country over the weekend for treatment .
“ Stop this nonsense about me going to Singapore , ” he said .
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region : - South Korea reported 246 new cases as the virus continues to spread in the greater capital area where churches have emerged as major clusters .
South Korea ’ s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 959 cases have been reported in five days .
A northern Seoul church led by a bitter critic of South Korean President Moon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infections , with health workers detecting more than 300 infections linked to its members .
The pastor , Jun Kwang-hun , was hospitalized after testing positive on Monday .
KCDC director Jeong Eun-kyeong raised concern that the number of virus carriers could be higher because some church members and protesters were refusing to come forward for testing .
- Australia ’ s coronavirus hot spot Victoria state on Tuesday reported its lowest tally of new infections in a month .
Victoria ’ s Health Department reported 222 new cases , the lowest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 18 .
The state also reported 17 deaths following a daily record of 25 fatalities on Monday .
Infections have been trending down after a second lockdown came into force in the state capital Melbourne in early August that included a curfew and mandatory mask-wearing .

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to ease a mild coronavirus lockdown in the capital and four outlying provinces to further reopen the country’s battered economy despite having the most reported infections in Southeast Asia.
Most businesses, including shopping malls and dine-in restaurants, and church services will be allowed to partially resume on Wednesday with masks and social distancing required.
Duterte reimposed a mild lockdown two weeks ago in metropolitan Manila and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, a region of about 25 million people, after doctors’ groups warned that hospitals were being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients.
The Philippines has reported more than 164,000 cases, including 2,681 deaths.
Duterte’s administration has been under intense pressure to revive the economy, which fell into recession in the second quarter as millions of people lost their jobs.
Duterte, 75, used his televised appearance to deny rumors that he had fallen ill and was flown out of the country over the weekend for treatment. “Stop this nonsense about me going to Singapore,” he said.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
- South Korea will ban large public gatherings and shut churches and nightspots in the greater capital area following a surge in coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said tighter social distancing restrictions for the Seoul metropolitan area - home to around half of the country’s 51 million people - was inevitable because a failure to slow transmissions there could result in a major nationwide outbreak. The measures in Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province and the city of Incheon prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors. Nightclubs, karaoke rooms, buffet restaurants and computer gaming cafes will be shut, while churches must shift worship services online. South Korea reported 246 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, raising its total for the last five days to 959.
- India has reported another 55,079 new coronavirus cases. The Health Ministry on Tuesday also reported 826 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total fatalities to 51,797. India now has the fourth most fatalities behind the United States, Brazil and Mexico. Nevertheless, its deaths per million people stand at 34, far lower than what has been reported in some North American and European countries. India has been recording at least 50,000 new infections per day since mid-July. It has now reported 2.7 million infections.
- Australia’s coronavirus hot spot, Victoria state, reported its lowest number of new infections in a month. It reported 222 new cases Tuesday, its lowest since July 18. It also reported 17 deaths following a record 25 fatalities Monday. Infections have been trending down after a second lockdown was imposed in the state capital, Melbourne, in early August. An epidemiologist said 99% of the second wave of infections can be traced to returned travelers quarantined in two Melbourne hotels. Charles Alpren was testifying at a state government-appointed inquiry into failures in a quarantine system that required Australians returning from overseas to isolate in Melbourne hotels for two weeks.
- A maintenance worker at a New Zealand hotel where returning travelers are isolated has tested positive for the coronavirus, the second instance of community transmission in the country since last week. But health authorities say the man’s close contacts have so far tested negative, giving them hope the outbreak might be contained. Meanwhile, a cluster of virus cases discovered last week in Auckland that sent the nation’s largest city into a two-week lockdown has grown to 69 after authorities reported 13 new cases Tuesday. New Zealand now has 90 active cases, including returning travelers who are in quarantine. Before last week, it had gone 102 days without any community transmission.
- New Zealand’s leader has hit back at President Donald Trump’s claim that New Zealand is experiencing a big surge in coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday said Trump’s comments were “patently wrong.” “I think anyone who’s following COVID and its transmission globally will quite easily see that New Zealand’s nine cases in a day does not compare to the United States’ tens of thousands,” Ardern said. Trump on Monday said some countries held up as models for their virus response were now saying “whoops.” “You see what’s going on in New Zealand,” Trump said. “They beat it, they beat it. It was like front page, they beat it. Because they wanted to show me something. The problem is, big surge in New Zealand. So, you know, it’s terrible, we don’t want that.” The U.S., with a population of about 330 million, has reported more than 170,000 virus deaths. New Zealand, with a population of 5 million, has reported 22 deaths.
- The head of a major state-owned Chinese pharmaceutical company says its coronavirus vaccine will be commercially available by the end of the year. Liu Jingzhen, chairman of SinoPharm, told a Chinese Communist Party newspaper that the vaccine would cost less than 1,000 yuan ($140) and be given in two shots, 28 days apart. He said students and workers in major cities would need to get the vaccine, but not those living in sparsely populated rural areas. SinoPharm, which has two vaccines in trials, has an annual manufacturing capacity of 220 million doses, he said. Liu told the Guangming Daily that he had been injected with the vaccine. Reports that Chinese researchers and executives have received shots of their vaccines have raised ethical questions in some scientific circles.
- Japanese Emperor Naruhito, his wife Empress Masako and their daughter Aiko have canceled their annual trip to a summer resort, citing social distancing challenges amid the pandemic. Every year, the imperial family has taken a week or two off and gone to Nasu, an area with forested mountains and hot springs about 190 kilometers (110 miles) north of Tokyo. Last year, the family was seen relaxing and walking their pet dog. The getaway was canceled this year because a large crowd usually gathers to catch a glimpse of them, and travel involves a large staff and security, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday.


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--Idaho ban on transgender athletes in women's sports blocked by federal judge

BOISE , Idaho — A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary injunction to stop Idaho from enacting a law banning transgender girls and women from participating in women ’ s sports while a legal challenge moves forward .
The ruling means transgender athletes wanting to participate in sports that match their gender identity can do so this fall at the college and secondary school level , The Idaho Statesman reported .
U.S. District Judge David Nye in Idaho ruled that a preliminary injunction is warranted because the plaintiffs are likely to win in court as part of a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging the constitutionality of the law .
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Lindsay Hecox , a student at Boise State University who is transgender and had been planning to try out for the cross country team , and an unnamed Boise High School student who is cisgender and concerned about being subjected to the law ’ s invasive “ sex verification ” testing , according to the ACLU .
The law disallowing transgender athletes from playing on a team matching their gender identity contains a provision allowing anyone to challenge a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be incumbent upon the athletes to verify their gender through an exam or genetic testing .
Nye said the law ’ s ban on transgender athletes “ stands in stark contrast to the policies of elite athletic bodies that regulate sports both nationally and globally.
” “ I feel a major sense of relief , ” Hecox said Monday in a news release .
“ I ’ m a girl , and the right team for me is the girls ’ team .
It ’ s time courts recognize that and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ruling does.
” In March Idaho Gov .
Brad Little signed the measure , passed by Republicans during the 2020 state legislative session , into law despite warnings from legal experts that it wasn ’ t likely to survive court challenges .
Supporters said the law was needed because transgender female athletes have physical advantages .
“ Transgender people belong in Idaho , including on school sports teams , ” Ritchie Eppink , legal director for the ACLU of Idaho , said in a news release .
“ This is a welcome @ @ @ @

BOISE, Idaho — A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary injunction to stop Idaho from enacting a law banning transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports while a legal challenge moves forward.
The ruling means transgender athletes wanting to participate in sports that match their gender identity can do so this fall at the college and secondary school level, The Idaho Statesman reported.
U.S. District Judge David Nye in Idaho ruled that a preliminary injunction is warranted because the plaintiffs are likely to win in court as part of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging the constitutionality of the law.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Lindsay Hecox, a student at Boise State University who is transgender and had been planning to try out for the cross country team, and an unnamed Boise High School student who is cisgender and concerned about being subjected to the law’s invasive “sex verification” testing, according to the ACLU.
The law disallowing transgender athletes from playing on a team matching their gender identity contains a provision allowing anyone to challenge a person’s identity. It then would be incumbent upon the athletes to verify their gender through an exam or genetic testing.
Nye said the law’s ban on transgender athletes “stands in stark contrast to the policies of elite athletic bodies that regulate sports both nationally and globally.”
“I feel a major sense of relief,” Hecox said Monday in a news release. “I’m a girl, and the right team for me is the girls’ team. It’s time courts recognize that and I am so glad that the court’s ruling does.”
In March Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed the measure, passed by Republicans during the 2020 state legislative session, into law despite warnings from legal experts that it wasn’t likely to survive court challenges.
Supporters said the law was needed because transgender female athletes have physical advantages.
“Transgender people belong in Idaho, including on school sports teams,” Ritchie Eppink, legal director for the ACLU of Idaho, said in a news release. “This is a welcome first step.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-17--3 producers exit DeGeneres' show amid workplace complaints

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Three producers of “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show ” have exited amid allegations of a dysfunctional workplace that harbored misbehavior including sexual misconduct and racially insensitive remarks .
Executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman have “ parted ways ” with the long-running daytime series , a spokesperson for producer Warner Bros. said in a statement Monday .
An internal company investigation of claims about the show was prompted by a BuzzFeed News report in July based on 36 interviews with ex-staffers , who complained about or said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the allegations were tied to executive producers and senior managers , including Glavin , Leman and Norman , BuzzFeed News said .
The people making the claims against them were not identified .
A representative for Leman didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment Monday .
Representatives for Glavin and Norman couldn ’ t immediately be found .
In statements to BuzzFeed News after the July 30 story was published online , Leman denied “ any kind of sexual impropriety ” and Norman said he categorically denied the accusations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday in a video conference call , according to Variety , which first reported the development .
She said she found claims about the show ’ s environment to be “ heartbreaking , ” the trade publication said , citing unidentified sources .
The comedian and host had sent a memo to her staff after last month ’ s BuzzFeed article , recalling her early promise of ensuring a workplace where “ everyone would be treated with respect.
” Something changed , she said , “ and for that , I am sorry.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warner Bros. said parent company WarnerMedia ’ s investigation revealed what it called “ some flaws in the show ’ s daily management.
” Although not all of the allegations were corroborated , the studio said it was “ disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show ’ s day-to-day management.
” No details were specified at the time , and Warner Bros. had no further comment Monday beyond confirming the producers ’ departures .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Three producers of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” have exited amid allegations of a dysfunctional workplace that harbored misbehavior including sexual misconduct and racially insensitive remarks.
Executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman have “parted ways” with the long-running daytime series, a spokesperson for producer Warner Bros. said in a statement Monday.
An internal company investigation of claims about the show was prompted by a BuzzFeed News report in July based on 36 interviews with ex-staffers, who complained about or said they witnessed improper and unfair treatment.
Most of the allegations were tied to executive producers and senior managers, including Glavin, Leman and Norman, BuzzFeed News said. The people making the claims against them were not identified.
A representative for Leman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Representatives for Glavin and Norman couldn’t immediately be found.
In statements to BuzzFeed News after the July 30 story was published online, Leman denied “any kind of sexual impropriety” and Norman said he categorically denied the accusations.
DeGeneres informed staff of the shakeup Monday in a video conference call, according to Variety, which first reported the development. She said she found claims about the show’s environment to be “heartbreaking,” the trade publication said, citing unidentified sources.
The comedian and host had sent a memo to her staff after last month’s BuzzFeed article, recalling her early promise of ensuring a workplace where “everyone would be treated with respect.” Something changed, she said, “and for that, I am sorry.”
The show debuted in 2003.
In a separate July statement, Warner Bros. said parent company WarnerMedia’s investigation revealed what it called “some flaws in the show’s daily management.”
Although not all of the allegations were corroborated, the studio said it was “disappointed that the primary findings of the investigation indicated some deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management.”
No details were specified at the time, and Warner Bros. had no further comment Monday beyond confirming the producers’ departures.