washingtontimes--2020-05-28--Mississippi to drop charge of white ex-cop in man's death

COLUMBUS , Miss .
( AP ) - The Mississippi attorney general said Thursday that a manslaughter charge will be dropped against a white former police officer in the October 2015 shooting death of an African American man because her office reviewed the case and concluded the officer acted in self-defense .
The killing of Ricky Ball sparked protests in 2015 in Columbus , a mostly black city of 23,000 in northeast Mississippi .
Republican Lynn Fitch became attorney general in January .
Her office said in a statement Thursday to WCBI-TV that it reviewed thousands of documents in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prosecute the former officer , Canyon Boykin .
“ In fact , all evidence , including forensics and the sworn statements of four separate MBI investigators , points to necessary self-defense , ” said Fitch ’ s statement , which did not mention the race of Boykin or Ball .
MBI is the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation .
Boykin was working for Columbus Police Department when Ball was shot to death after a traffic stop .
Ball , 26 , was a passenger and ran from the vehicle after it was stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he fired his weapon while chasing Ball because Ball appeared to point a gun at him .
A handgun was found near Ball ’ s body .
Ball ’ s family disputed whether Boykin had cause to shoot .
District Attorney Scott Colom transferred the case to the attorney general ’ s office in 2016 .
The attorney general at the time , Democrat Jim Hood , presented the case to a grand jury that indicted Boykin on a manslaughter charge in 2016 , and Boykin soon pleaded not guilty .
Colom said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday to discuss Fitch ’ s decision not to prosecute the case .
Fitch was elected attorney general in November , when Hood ran unsuccessfully for governor .
Boykin ’ s attorney Jim Waide said in a statement Thursday : “ There was absolutely no evidence it was anything but self-defense .
It ’ s a tragedy when for anyone to die .
Canyon was doing what he was sent to do and had to defend himself.
” Columbus fired Boykin as he was trying to resign after the shooting , saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his body camera , by inviting his then-fiancee to ride along without permission and by making derogatory social media posts about African Americans , women and disabled people .
Boykin sued the city , claiming the city violated his First Amendment rights by firing him over social media posts , and violated his due process rights by subjecting him to a biased hearing and knuckling under to “ uninformed public pressure.
” The suit was settled in 2017 for an undisclosed amount .

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi attorney general said Thursday that a manslaughter charge will be dropped against a white former police officer in the October 2015 shooting death of an African American man because her office reviewed the case and concluded the officer acted in self-defense.
The killing of Ricky Ball sparked protests in 2015 in Columbus, a mostly black city of 23,000 in northeast Mississippi.
Republican Lynn Fitch became attorney general in January. Her office said in a statement Thursday to WCBI-TV that it reviewed thousands of documents in the case and concluded there was not evidence to prosecute the former officer, Canyon Boykin.
“In fact, all evidence, including forensics and the sworn statements of four separate MBI investigators, points to necessary self-defense,” said Fitch’s statement, which did not mention the race of Boykin or Ball.
MBI is the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Boykin was working for Columbus Police Department when Ball was shot to death after a traffic stop. Ball, 26, was a passenger and ran from the vehicle after it was stopped, Boykin said. The officer said he fired his weapon while chasing Ball because Ball appeared to point a gun at him. A handgun was found near Ball’s body.
Ball’s family disputed whether Boykin had cause to shoot.
District Attorney Scott Colom transferred the case to the attorney general’s office in 2016. The attorney general at the time, Democrat Jim Hood, presented the case to a grand jury that indicted Boykin on a manslaughter charge in 2016, and Boykin soon pleaded not guilty.
Colom said he planned to have a news conference Friday to discuss Fitch’s decision not to prosecute the case. Fitch was elected attorney general in November, when Hood ran unsuccessfully for governor.
Boykin’s attorney Jim Waide said in a statement Thursday: “There was absolutely no evidence it was anything but self-defense. It’s a tragedy when for anyone to die. Canyon was doing what he was sent to do and had to defend himself.”
Columbus fired Boykin as he was trying to resign after the shooting, saying he had broken department policy by not turning on his body camera, by inviting his then-fiancee to ride along without permission and by making derogatory social media posts about African Americans, women and disabled people.
Boykin sued the city, claiming the city violated his First Amendment rights by firing him over social media posts, and violated his due process rights by subjecting him to a biased hearing and knuckling under to “uninformed public pressure.” The suit was settled in 2017 for an undisclosed amount.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--Colorado sheriff's office uses DNA to solve 1970 murder case

BOULDER , Colo. ( AP ) - DNA evidence has identified a man believed to be the person responsible for the rape and murder of a Denver woman in 1970 , a Colorado sheriff ’ s office said The Boulder County Sheriff ’ s Office said DNA evidence found on the body of 23-year-old Betty Lee Jones matched the man believed to be the attacker , The Daily Camera reports .
Paul Leroy Martin died in June 2019 and his body was exhumed to make a positive DNA match .
Martin had no known link to Jones , but his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one Jones was seen getting into following an argument with her husband in March 1970 .
The mother of two had been bound , sexually assaulted , strangled , and shot when she was found the next day near the Boulder and Jefferson county border .
The case was reopened in 2006 and the DNA evidence was submitted to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation without finding any matches .
Private laboratory Bode Technologies received the DNA in 2019 and used genealogy to identify Martin .
A probable cause statement was submitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office May 26 and a murder charge would have been filed if Martin was alive , authorities said .

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - DNA evidence has identified a man believed to be the person responsible for the rape and murder of a Denver woman in 1970, a Colorado sheriff’s office said
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said DNA evidence found on the body of 23-year-old Betty Lee Jones matched the man believed to be the attacker, The Daily Camera reports.
Paul Leroy Martin died in June 2019 and his body was exhumed to make a positive DNA match.
Martin had no known link to Jones, but his family believed he drove a car similar to one Jones was seen getting into following an argument with her husband in March 1970.
The mother of two had been bound, sexually assaulted, strangled, and shot when she was found the next day near the Boulder and Jefferson county border.
The case was reopened in 2006 and the DNA evidence was submitted to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation without finding any matches.
Private laboratory Bode Technologies received the DNA in 2019 and used genealogy to identify Martin.
A probable cause statement was submitted to the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office May 26 and a murder charge would have been filed if Martin was alive, authorities said.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--Ethylene oxide plant crackdown creates medical sterilization chemical shortage

The battle over the sterilization agent ethylene oxide began like a sequel to “ Erin Brockovich ” — local activists shut down big chemical plants over cancer fears — and then the coronavirus hit .
Now the story has veered off script as the Food and Drug Administration , which warned repeatedly last year that the closures could lead to shortages of critical medical supplies , scrambles to reopen the plants amid a surge in demand for sterilized equipment to fight the pandemic .
“ I am quite concerned that the unscientific opposition to EO [ ethylene oxide ] is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide equipment needed to counter COVID-19 , ” said toxicologist Gail Charnley of HealthRisk Strategies .
Angela Logomasini , senior fellow at the free-market Competitive Enterprise Institute , said that “ misguided activist efforts to close plants meant that we were even less prepared for COVID-19 when the virus struck.
” She issued a policy memo last week challenging the “ unwarranted fearmongering ” over ethylene oxide , a gas used to sterilize more than 50 % of U.S. medical equipment , about 20 billion products annually , that “ may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not damage the device , ” according to the FDA .
“ FDA officials along with advisors from the medical community expressed grave concerns about shortages of sterile medical supplies back in November well before the COVID-19 crisis began , ” said Ms. Logomasini .
“ Fortunately , reopening of plants to address severe shortages helped mitigate the damage , but activists could create more problems in future if they are able to shut down plants again by peddling misinformation about EtO risks.
” Local activists who have fought to shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by a lack of equipment , not a bottleneck in the sterilization process , and that even the manufacturing giant 3M has advised against using the gas on its N95 masks over concerns about the lengthy post-contamination aeration process .
“ Frankly , this is all complete hogwash , ” said Lauren Kaeseberg , a leader of the Illinois-based advocacy group Stop Sterigenics .
“ You do not need to sterilize all this PPE [ personal protective equipment ] .
This is another tactic and a strategy by this lobbying effort and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money and trying to exploit a pandemic and a tragedy for their own monetary gain.
” Under pressure from the FDA , officials in Cobb County , Georgia , issued an emergency order in March to reopen temporarily a Sterigenics plant to sterilize masks , gowns and other personal protective equipment .
A Medline Industries facility in Waukegan , Illinois , also reopened in March after making $ 10 million in upgrades after the state raised its standards on ethylene oxide emissions , while a Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook , Illinois , remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Attorney General Kwame Raoul .
“ Illinois has already acted to significantly reduce ethylene oxide emissions , but there is an urgent need for the EPA to strengthen national EO standards to protect communities throughout the country , ” said Mr. Raoul in a February 2019 press release .
As far as the sterilizer ’ s defenders are concerned , however , the EPA was the problem .
Ethylene oxide has been used since 1938 in a wide variety of products , including shampoo , detergents , plastics and antifreeze , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed its standard in 2016 that the outcry began .
The Environmental Protection Agency ’ s Integrated Risk Information System ( IRIS ) program published its final finding on the cancer risks of ethylene oxide in December 2016 , shortly before President Trump took office , concluding that exposure to a concentration of 0.1 parts per trillion represented a safe level for those continuously exposed to the gas .
That ’ s far smaller than the 0.2 to 0.4 parts per billion found in suburban and urban air .
By contrast , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard for those exposed to the gas eight hours a day in a five-day work week is one part per million .
“ Ethylene oxide is suddenly getting attention because an office within the EPA changed the way it calculated the amount it considers safe to breathe .
No new science was used , just new math , ” said Ms. Charnley , who has a doctoral degree in toxicology from MIT .
She said the IRIS standard was “ nearly 20,000 times lower than the amount produced naturally in the human body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found in suburban air , ” and more than five million times more stringent than other U.S. and global regulatory limits .
“ The IRIS assessment for EO is scientifically flawed and significantly overestimates cancer risk , ” the Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Association said in a statement .
“ These grossly inflated risk factors , recently relied upon by EPA , have resulted in inaccurate results , caused undue concern , and are misleading the public.
” Even so , the EPA inspector general issued a report in March accusing the agency of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk , based on the IRIS assessment , which prompted a rebuke from EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler .
“ The tone and substance of this report indicates a disconnect in the US EPA IG ’ s office , ” said Mr. Wheeler in a March 31 statement .
“ Most surprising is that in our final meeting with the IG ’ s office on this matter they provided no indication that there would be any unresolved issues .
As a result , we are formally requesting the EPA IG rescind the report so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprisingly , lawsuits are on the upswing .
In December , five women who worked at a high school near the Willowbrook plant filed a lawsuit alleging that they developed cancer from exposure to the facility ’ s emissions .
Sterigenics has disputed the claim .
Shawn Collins of the Collins Law Firm in Naperville , Illinois , who represents the women , has developed a specialty in ethylene oxide litigation , advertising on his website that his firm is “ investigating and filing toxic tort lawsuits for people who developed cancer after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sterigenics plant.
” “ There has to be another way to clean medical equipment rather than poisoning the rest of us in the United States or wherever they ’ re doing it , ” plaintiff Peg Vahldieck , a former teacher , told CBS .
Other methods of sterilization are available , but experts say ethylene oxide gas is unique in being able to penetrate delicate , hard-to-reach surfaces without damaging equipment , raising fears that the crackdown may prove more perilous to public health than the gas itself .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we need to remain prepared for emergencies , ” said Ms. Logomasini .
“ Shutting down critical operations such as medical supply sterilization plants , without justification , is dangerous .
”

The battle over the sterilization agent ethylene oxide began like a sequel to “Erin Brockovich” — local activists shut down big chemical plants over cancer fears — and then the coronavirus hit.
Now the story has veered off script as the Food and Drug Administration, which warned repeatedly last year that the closures could lead to shortages of critical medical supplies, scrambles to reopen the plants amid a surge in demand for sterilized equipment to fight the pandemic.
“I am quite concerned that the unscientific opposition to [ethylene oxide] is imperiling public health by impeding our ability to provide equipment needed to counter COVID-19,” said toxicologist Gail Charnley of HealthRisk Strategies.
Angela Logomasini, senior fellow at the free market Competitive Enterprise Institute, said that “misguided activist efforts to close plants meant that we were even less prepared for COVID-19 when the virus struck.”
She issued a policy memo last week challenging the “unwarranted fearmongering” over ethylene oxide, a gas used to sterilize more than 50% of U.S. medical equipment, about 20 billion products annually, that “may be the only method that effectively sterilizes and does not damage the device,” according to the FDA.
“FDA officials along with advisers from the medical community expressed grave concerns about shortages of sterile medical supplies back in November well before the COVID-19 crisis began,” said Ms. Logomasini. “Fortunately, reopening of plants to address severe shortages helped mitigate the damage, but activists could create more problems in future if they are able to shut down plants again by peddling misinformation about EtO risks.”
Local activists who have fought to shut down the plants argue that the shortages were caused by a lack of equipment, not a bottleneck in the sterilization process, and that even the manufacturing giant 3M has advised against using the gas on its N95 masks over concerns about the lengthy post-contamination aeration process.
“Frankly, this is all complete hogwash,” said Lauren Kaeseberg, a leader of the Illinois-based advocacy group Stop Sterigenics. “You do not need to sterilize all this [personal protective equipment]. This is another tactic and a strategy by this lobbying effort and these companies who are trying to make money and trying to exploit a pandemic and a tragedy for their own monetary gain.”
Under pressure from the FDA, officials in Cobb County, Georgia, issued an emergency order in March to temporarily reopen a Sterigenics plant to sterilize masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment.
A Medline Industries facility in Waukegan, Illinois, reopened in March after making $10 million in upgrades after the state raised its standards on ethylene oxide emissions. A Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook, Illinois, remains closed after being shut down last year by Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
“Illinois has already acted to significantly reduce ethylene oxide emissions, but there is an urgent need for the EPA to strengthen national EO standards to protect communities throughout the country,” Mr. Raoul said in a February 2019 press release.
Using ‘new math’
As far as the sterilizer’s defenders are concerned, however, the EPA was the problem. Ethylene oxide has been used since 1938 in a wide variety of products, including shampoo, detergents, plastics and antifreeze, but it wasn’t until the agency changed its standard in 2016 that the outcry began.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Risk Information System program published its final finding on the cancer risks of ethylene oxide in December 2016, shortly before President Trump took office, concluding that exposure to a concentration of 0.1 parts per trillion represented a safe level for those continuously exposed to the gas.
That is far smaller than the 0.2 to 0.4 parts per billion found in suburban and urban air. By contrast, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s standard for those exposed to the gas eight hours a day in a five-day workweek is one part per million.
“Ethylene oxide is suddenly getting attention because an office within the EPA changed the way it calculated the amount it considers safe to breathe. No new science was used, just new math,” said Ms. Charnley, who has a doctoral degree in toxicology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
She said the Integrated Risk Information System standard was “nearly 20,000 times lower than the amount produced naturally in the human body, 5,000 times lower than levels normally found in suburban air” and more than five million times more stringent than other U.S. and global regulatory limits.
“The IRIS assessment for EO is scientifically flawed and significantly overestimates cancer risk,” the Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Association said in a statement. “These grossly inflated risk factors, recently relied upon by EPA, have resulted in inaccurate results, caused undue concern, and are misleading the public.”
Even so, the EPA inspector general issued a report in March accusing the agency of failing to warn communities of the cancer risk, based on the Integrated Risk Information System assessment, which prompted a rebuke from EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
“The tone and substance of this report indicates a disconnect in the US EPA IG’s office,” Mr. Wheeler said in a March 31 statement. “Most surprising is that in our final meeting with the IG’s office on this matter they provided no indication that there would be any unresolved issues. As a result, we are formally requesting the EPA IG rescind the report so it can be appropriately updated.”
Lawsuits are on the upswing. In December, five women who worked at a high school near the Willowbrook plant filed a lawsuit alleging that they developed cancer from exposure to the facility’s emissions. Sterigenics has disputed the claim.
Shawn Collins of the Collins Law Firm in Naperville, Illinois, who represents the women, has developed a specialty in ethylene oxide litigation. He advertises on his website that his firm is “investigating and filing toxic tort lawsuits for people who developed cancer after living or working within 3 miles of the Sterigenics plant.”
“There has to be another way to clean medical equipment rather than poisoning the rest of us in the United States or wherever they’re doing it,” plaintiff Peg Vahldieck, a former teacher, told CBS.
Other methods of sterilization are available, but experts say ethylene oxide gas is unique in being able to penetrate delicate, hard-to-reach surfaces without damaging equipment, raising fears that the crackdown may prove more perilous to public health than the gas itself.
“If COVID-19 teaches us anything, it is that we need to remain prepared for emergencies,” said Ms. Logomasini. “Shutting down critical operations such as medical supply sterilization plants, without justification, is dangerous.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--Man pleads to helping his brother charged in officer's death

GULFPORT , Miss .
( AP ) - A Mississippi man told a judge Thursday that he helped his brother try to evade investigators as his brother was being sought in the 2019 shooting death of a Biloxi police officer .
Davian Atkinson , 22 , pleaded guilty to a charge of accessory after the fact to capital murder , news outlets reported .
His brother , 20-year-old Darian Atkinson , is awaiting trial on a capital murder charge in the slaying of Officer Robert “ Mac ” McKeithen .
Davian Atkinson became the fifth person to plead to accessory-after-the-fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday in Harrison County Circuit Court that he gave his brother a ride to Wiggins during the early hours of May 6 , 2019 .
He also admitted knowing at that time that his brother was a suspect in the killing of a police officer , and that he was hoping to help his brother escape capture .
Circuit Judge Christopher Schmidt ruled last week that Darian Atkinson is mentally competent to stand trial .
Defense attorney Theressia Lyons plans to argue insanity during the trial that is set to begin Sept. 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental and emotional impairment that prevents him from fully understanding his actions the night McKeithen was shot .
Davian Atkinson and four other people who have pleaded guilty to accessory charges are set to be sentenced on Sept. 8 .
Davian Atkinson ’ s attorney , Michael Crosby , said he plans to submit letters to the judge from people attesting to his client ’ s character and lack of prior arrests .

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A Mississippi man told a judge Thursday that he helped his brother try to evade investigators as his brother was being sought in the 2019 shooting death of a Biloxi police officer.
Davian Atkinson, 22, pleaded guilty to a charge of accessory after the fact to capital murder, news outlets reported. His brother, 20-year-old Darian Atkinson, is awaiting trial on a capital murder charge in the slaying of Officer Robert “Mac” McKeithen.
Davian Atkinson became the fifth person to plead to accessory-after-the-fact charges in the case. He said Thursday in Harrison County Circuit Court that he gave his brother a ride to Wiggins during the early hours of May 6, 2019. He also admitted knowing at that time that his brother was a suspect in the killing of a police officer, and that he was hoping to help his brother escape capture.
Circuit Judge Christopher Schmidt ruled last week that Darian Atkinson is mentally competent to stand trial. Defense attorney Theressia Lyons plans to argue insanity during the trial that is set to begin Sept. 20. She said Darian Aktinson has a mental and emotional impairment that prevents him from fully understanding his actions the night McKeithen was shot.
Davian Atkinson and four other people who have pleaded guilty to accessory charges are set to be sentenced on Sept. 8. Davian Atkinson’s attorney, Michael Crosby, said he plans to submit letters to the judge from people attesting to his client’s character and lack of prior arrests.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--Reptile enthusiasts criticize Arkansas for banning pythons

LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
( AP ) - A new regulation in Arkansas that prohibits anyone from breeding , selling or importing any of five large python species without a permit has received backlash from critics who say the state went too far .
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission added Malayopython reticulatus , Python bivittatus , Python molurus , Python natalensis and Python sebae to the state ’ s list of prohibited captive wildlife last week .
The regulation includes 30 mammal species , eight reptile species and 123 amphibian species , the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be issued .
Keith Stephens , commission ’ s spokesman , said no one holds an active permit to import , breed or sell the pythons restricted by the regulation .
Therefore , the decision will close the door on any future breeding and selling of large pythons in the state .
“ Provided that one of these species was legally imported into Arkansas , a permit is not necessary to simply possess the animal , ” Stephens wrote in an email .
“ They can still be kept under Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( such as males and females must be kept separately so that they can not breed ) .
” Phil Goss , president of the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers , said his group thought the commission overstepped , “ especially considering some of the other species that are found on the unrestricted and permitted lists.
” Goss noted that large snakes are an issue in south Florida because of the climate , but the snakes can not survive a winter in places like Arkansas .
Anya Littlefield , who runs a reptile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benton with her husband Matt , said the move takes away the opportunity for people to own specific animals .
“ They ’ re regulating something that hasn ’ t been proven to be an issue , ” Littlefield added .
Robert Neal , a reptile enthusiast in Little Rock , spoke out about his disapproval of the rule change at the commission ’ s meeting .
“ When you straight-out prohibit something , you create a black market , ” Neal said Tuesday .
The regulations become effective 10 days after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s office , which should happen this week , according to Stephens .
The changes were first introduced through an online survey in March .

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A new regulation in Arkansas that prohibits anyone from breeding, selling or importing any of five large python species without a permit has received backlash from critics who say the state went too far.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission added Malayopython reticulatus, Python bivittatus, Python molurus, Python natalensis and Python sebae to the state’s list of prohibited captive wildlife last week.
The regulation includes 30 mammal species, eight reptile species and 123 amphibian species, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Thursday. As of May 21, new permits will not be issued.
Keith Stephens, commission’s spokesman, said no one holds an active permit to import, breed or sell the pythons restricted by the regulation. Therefore, the decision will close the door on any future breeding and selling of large pythons in the state.
“Provided that one of these species was legally imported into Arkansas, a permit is not necessary to simply possess the animal,” Stephens wrote in an email. “They can still be kept under Commission non-native pet regulations that have certain restrictions (such as males and females must be kept separately so that they cannot breed).”
Phil Goss, president of the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers, said his group thought the commission overstepped, “especially considering some of the other species that are found on the unrestricted and permitted lists.”
Goss noted that large snakes are an issue in south Florida because of the climate, but the snakes cannot survive a winter in places like Arkansas.
Anya Littlefield, who runs a reptile breeding operation called Snake Eyes Exotics in Benton with her husband Matt, said the move takes away the opportunity for people to own specific animals.
“They’re regulating something that hasn’t been proven to be an issue,” Littlefield added.
Robert Neal, a reptile enthusiast in Little Rock, spoke out about his disapproval of the rule change at the commission’s meeting.
“When you straight-out prohibit something, you create a black market,” Neal said Tuesday.
The regulations become effective 10 days after the commission files them with the secretary of state’s office, which should happen this week, according to Stephens. The changes were first introduced through an online survey in March.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--Federal judge weighs coronavirus restrictions on churches

DOVER , Del .
( AP ) - A federal judge is weighing whether to issue a restraining order to prohibit Delaware ’ s governor from imposing limitations on worship services because of the coronavirus .
After a telephone hearing lasting nearly hours Thursday , U.S. District Court Judge Colm Connolly indicated that he would issue a ruling Friday after receiving more information from state attorneys about Democratic Gov .
John Carney ’ s restrictions .
The Rev .
Dr. Christopher Allan Bullock , a well-known Wilmington pastor and community activist , claimed that Carney ’ s restrictions on worship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Bullock asked Connolly to allow Bullock to hold church services this Sunday , which is Pentecost Sunday in the Christian church , without the limitations mandated by the governor .
Carney in March ordered that worship services be limited to no more than 10 people , a restriction he did not impose at that time on more than 230 other business and industry entities deemed “ essential.
” Amid increasing criticism , Carney issued a revised emergency declaration last week allowing churches to choose between abiding by the 10-person limit or allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated fire occupancy - but only if they complied with several conditions dictating how worship services could be held .
Those conditions included requiring the use of face masks and gloves and banning person-to-person communion , physical contact during baptisms , and prohibiting the use of choirs , handheld microphones and holy water receptacles .
Churches also were told to deny entry to anyone 65 or older .
After Bullock filed his lawsuit last week , Carney withdrew some of the restrictions and revised others .
The current limitations include requiring worship leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shields when speaking or singing .
If they are unable to do so , the state suggests , they should turn their backs to the congregation .
“ I think the state ’ s saying that the mask has to be worn unless you turn 180 degrees around and turn your back to the people and preach to the wall , ” said Tom Neuberger , an attorney for Bullock .
Deputy attorney general Allison McCowan noted that a preacher who did not want to wear a face mask when delivering his sermon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance between himself and the congregation beyond the state ’ s six-foot rule .
Under questioning from Connolly , McCowan acknowledged that the state has issued specific guidance that applies only to communities of worship , but she noted that some of those guidelines also apply more generally to secular entities .
In addition to the wearing of masks by worship leaders , state officials have issued directives on the preparation and distribution of blessed food or drink .
They also say a pastor should not hold a candidate for baptism and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re talking about government interference in the actual design and operation of the worship service , ” Neuberger said , adding that such interference is clearly unconstitutional .
A restraining order is needed so that houses of worship do not continue to be treated differently from secular entities , he said .
While acknowledging that the case raises important issues that need to be addressed , the judge expressed frustration about being asked to rule with only a few days notice on a restraining order .
“ These are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both sides , ” Connolly said .
“ You ’ ve got one of the most fundamental rights embedded in our Constitution , the right of free exercise of a person ’ s religion .
You ’ ve also got an unprecedented pandemic that affects that health and welfare of every person in our state.
” “ The right to exercise religion and to prevent the state from establishing a religion are fundamental .
You don ’ t get any more fundamental , ” Connolly added .
“ They ’ re so important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to opine on them under hurried circumstances.
” Neuberger noted that he filed the lawsuit only after he sent a letter to Carney more than two weeks ago telling him his restrictions were unconstitutional and offering to help draft constitutional regulations .
“ We were just stiff-armed on that , ” he said , adding that Carney instead issued new regulations on worship services that led to the filing of the lawsuit .

DOVER, Del. (AP) - A federal judge is weighing whether to issue a restraining order to prohibit Delaware’s governor from imposing limitations on worship services because of the coronavirus.
After a telephone hearing lasting nearly hours Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Colm Connolly indicated that he would issue a ruling Friday after receiving more information from state attorneys about Democratic Gov. John Carney’s restrictions.
The Rev. Dr. Christopher Allan Bullock, a well-known Wilmington pastor and community activist, claimed that Carney’s restrictions on worship services are unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Attorneys for Bullock asked Connolly to allow Bullock to hold church services this Sunday, which is Pentecost Sunday in the Christian church, without the limitations mandated by the governor.
Carney in March ordered that worship services be limited to no more than 10 people, a restriction he did not impose at that time on more than 230 other business and industry entities deemed “essential.”
Amid increasing criticism, Carney issued a revised emergency declaration last week allowing churches to choose between abiding by the 10-person limit or allowing attendance of up to 30% of stated fire occupancy - but only if they complied with several conditions dictating how worship services could be held.
Those conditions included requiring the use of face masks and gloves and banning person-to-person communion, physical contact during baptisms, and prohibiting the use of choirs, handheld microphones and holy water receptacles. Churches also were told to deny entry to anyone 65 or older.
After Bullock filed his lawsuit last week, Carney withdrew some of the restrictions and revised others. The current limitations include requiring worship leaders and singers to wear masks or face shields when speaking or singing. If they are unable to do so, the state suggests, they should turn their backs to the congregation.
“I think the state’s saying that the mask has to be worn unless you turn 180 degrees around and turn your back to the people and preach to the wall,” said Tom Neuberger, an attorney for Bullock.
Deputy attorney general Allison McCowan noted that a preacher who did not want to wear a face mask when delivering his sermon also has the option of increasing the distance between himself and the congregation beyond the state’s six-foot rule.
Under questioning from Connolly, McCowan acknowledged that the state has issued specific guidance that applies only to communities of worship, but she noted that some of those guidelines also apply more generally to secular entities.
In addition to the wearing of masks by worship leaders, state officials have issued directives on the preparation and distribution of blessed food or drink. They also say a pastor should not hold a candidate for baptism and that ushers should not pass around collection plates.
“We’re talking about government interference in the actual design and operation of the worship service,” Neuberger said, adding that such interference is clearly unconstitutional. A restraining order is needed so that houses of worship do not continue to be treated differently from secular entities, he said.
While acknowledging that the case raises important issues that need to be addressed, the judge expressed frustration about being asked to rule with only a few days notice on a restraining order.
“These are weighty, weighty issues, and on both sides,” Connolly said. “You’ve got one of the most fundamental rights embedded in our Constitution, the right of free exercise of a person’s religion. You’ve also got an unprecedented pandemic that affects that health and welfare of every person in our state.”
“The right to exercise religion and to prevent the state from establishing a religion are fundamental. You don’t get any more fundamental,” Connolly added. “They’re so important that it concerns me that I have to opine on them under hurried circumstances.”
Neuberger noted that he filed the lawsuit only after he sent a letter to Carney more than two weeks ago telling him his restrictions were unconstitutional and offering to help draft constitutional regulations.
“We were just stiff-armed on that,” he said, adding that Carney instead issued new regulations on worship services that led to the filing of the lawsuit.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--4-time DUI offender gets 17-year sentence for deadly crash

ROCK HILL , S.C. ( AP ) - A South Carolina man convicted of driving under the influence for a fourth time was sentenced to 17 years in prison in connection with a crash last year that left a 66-year-old man dead .
Tyler James Cummings , 26 , pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony DUI with death , two counts of felony DUI with great bodily injury , and habitual traffic offender causing death when a license was revoked , The Rock Hill Herald reported .
In July 2019 , Cummings drove his vehicle across the center line of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car carrying five people , including an infant and a 3-year-old , authorities previously said .
Officials said Paul Kelly , 66 , died at the scene and two others were injured .
Cummings accepted a plea deal with sentencing ranging from eight years to 17 years , 16th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Willy Thompson said .
Prosecutors argued that Cummings should be sentenced to the maximum penalty and a judge agreed .
Cummings won ’ t be eligible for parole .
Cummings was convicted of DUI in 2015 and twice in 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s unclear if Cummings attorney was available to comment on the sentencing .

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) - A South Carolina man convicted of driving under the influence for a fourth time was sentenced to 17 years in prison in connection with a crash last year that left a 66-year-old man dead.
Tyler James Cummings, 26, pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony DUI with death, two counts of felony DUI with great bodily injury, and habitual traffic offender causing death when a license was revoked, The Rock Hill Herald reported.
In July 2019, Cummings drove his vehicle across the center line of a highway in McConnells and crashed into a car carrying five people, including an infant and a 3-year-old, authorities previously said. Officials said Paul Kelly, 66, died at the scene and two others were injured.
Cummings accepted a plea deal with sentencing ranging from eight years to 17 years, 16th Circuit Deputy Solicitor Willy Thompson said.
Prosecutors argued that Cummings should be sentenced to the maximum penalty and a judge agreed. Cummings won’t be eligible for parole.
Cummings was convicted of DUI in 2015 and twice in 2017, the newspaper reported citing court records.
It’s unclear if Cummings attorney was available to comment on the sentencing.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--Activists criticize new anti-violence campaign in Mexico

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Activists criticized a new Mexican government ad campaign on violence against women Thursday , saying it minimizes the problem and depicts women as aggressors , too .
A video included in the campaign urges men and women to “ count to ten ” before lashing out at people in their home , an approach used in a similar campaign in the 1980s .
But activists said that reduces a huge structural and cultural problem to a simple issue of anger management .
For example , the very first scene of the video shows a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man breaks some dishes .
The video says she should count to 10 and wave a symbolic white flag .
The video also shows a gay couple and a man with some children in similar situations .
Mexico recorded about 3,825 killings of women last year , and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has sometimes seemed to minimize the problem .
“ Shamefully , we ’ re seeing how federal authorities are mounting campaigns like ‘ Count to ten ’ that mirrors violence against women and puts the responsibility on the victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear just as simple emotional issues , ” the National Observatory on Feminicide said in a statement .
The Interior Department , which released the ad , said it had not yet been broadcast .
It said it would comment later on the issue .
One feminist group referred to the fact that Mexico sees an average of more than 10 women slain every day in what are deemed feminicides , defined in Mexican law as the killing of a woman because she is a woman .
“ Count to ten yourself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of feminicides there are every day in Mexico , ” the group Witches of the Sea wrote on its Twitter account .
The civic group National Shelter Network cited one 30-year-old abuse victim as saying that “ waving the white flag and counting to ten never worked for me , because it wasn ’ t about taking a deep breath , the blows just rained down instantly.
” In a message to the network , another woman wrote , “ You have to go out and get help , not stay at @ @ @ @ @ @ @

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Activists criticized a new Mexican government ad campaign on violence against women Thursday, saying it minimizes the problem and depicts women as aggressors, too.
A video included in the campaign urges men and women to “count to ten” before lashing out at people in their home, an approach used in a similar campaign in the 1980s. But activists said that reduces a huge structural and cultural problem to a simple issue of anger management.
For example, the very first scene of the video shows a woman slapping her forehead in anger when a man breaks some dishes. The video says she should count to 10 and wave a symbolic white flag. The video also shows a gay couple and a man with some children in similar situations.
Mexico recorded about 3,825 killings of women last year, and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has sometimes seemed to minimize the problem.
“Shamefully, we’re seeing how federal authorities are mounting campaigns like ‘Count to ten’ that mirrors violence against women and puts the responsibility on the victims and underplays the crimes, making them appear just as simple emotional issues,” the National Observatory on Feminicide said in a statement.
The Interior Department, which released the ad, said it had not yet been broadcast. It said it would comment later on the issue.
One feminist group referred to the fact that Mexico sees an average of more than 10 women slain every day in what are deemed feminicides, defined in Mexican law as the killing of a woman because she is a woman.
“Count to ten yourself, Interior Department, because that is the number of feminicides there are every day in Mexico,” the group Witches of the Sea wrote on its Twitter account.
The civic group National Shelter Network cited one 30-year-old abuse victim as saying that “waving the white flag and counting to ten never worked for me, because it wasn’t about taking a deep breath, the blows just rained down instantly.”
In a message to the network, another woman wrote, “You have to go out and get help, not stay at home and count to ten.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--Bill would block platforms from using microtargeted political ads

House Democrats have developed new proposals to block online political ads that use demographic or behavioral data to hone in on their intended audience .
A new bill by Rep. Anna Eshoo of California would dramatically alter the advertising on websites that collect information from at least 50 million people , including search engines and social media sites such as Facebook .
The legislation , called the Banning Microtargeted Political Ads Act , would prohibit online platforms from targeted political ads using demographic and behavioral data but it would allow the targeting of broad geographies and of users who give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fractures our open democratic debate into millions of private , unchecked silos , allowing for the spread of false promises , polarizing lies , disinformation , fake news , and voter suppression , ” Ms. Eshoo said .
“ With spending on digital ads in the 2020 election expected to exceed $ 1.3 billion , Congress must step in to protect our nation ’ s democratic process.
” Under the bill , violations of her legislation would be enforced by the Federal Election Commission .
Social media platforms and political advertisers likely have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it is not clear if the measure would withstand a court challenge .
Political speech is among the most protected speech by federal courts , which have previously shown that challengers must reach a high bar in demonstrating that tech platforms are capable of violating a user ’ s First Amendment rights .
The federal appeals court in D.C. this week rejected a complaint from right-wing activist Laura Loomer that Google , Twitter , Apple and Facebook had violated her First Amendment rights and suppressed conservative viewpoints .
Ms. Eshoo ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of liberal groups and advocates , particularly those focused on technology and privacy policy .
“ While there is more work to be done to bring transparency and accountability to digital political ads , the Banning Microtargeted Political Ads Act is a welcomed first step in updating our election laws to close a significant loophole and hold willful enablers accountable for their actions , ” said Noah Bookbinder , executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington .
Not everyone is sold on legislation as the best remedy to address concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the policy head at the Lincoln Network , a technology policy advocacy group .
Mr. Graves said he is not convinced banning microtargeting for political ads is smart or constitutional .
“ Instead , I think platforms should implement robust transparency/databases of such ads and maintain strong partnerships with relevant federal agencies to identify tax violations or national security issues ( e.g .
foreign interference ) , ” Mr. Graves said in an email to The Washington Times .
Some social media companies , such as Facebook , have already developed such databases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone to browse political ads that have run on the site and gain insight into the demographic and geographic data of who saw the ads .
Democratic opposition to microtargeted political ads can be traced to Facebook .
Rep. David N. Cicilline , Rhode Island Democrat , said last week he would introduce a proposal aimed at curbing microtargeting and pointed to tactics used by Russian intelligence agencies ahead of the 2016 presidential election as evidence for why reform is needed .
“ Microtargeting is a threat to our democracy , ” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and foreign actors can use this technology to manipulate voters with high volumes of misleading information that is virtually impossible to keep track of.
” The sharp-shooting ads are not limited to the political realm , but Ms. Eschoo isn ’ t going after the practice in the commercial sector .
The legislation is tailored to any “ electioneering communication ” and does not directly address how businesses and retailers develop and deploy ad technology .

House Democrats have developed new proposals to block online political ads that use demographic or behavioral data to hone in on their intended audience.
A new bill by Rep. Anna Eshoo of California would dramatically alter the advertising on websites that collect information from at least 50 million people, including search engines and social media sites such as Facebook.
The legislation, called the Banning Microtargeted Political Ads Act, would prohibit online platforms from targeted political ads using demographic and behavioral data but it would allow the targeting of broad geographies and of users who give their consent.
“Microtargeting political ads fractures our open democratic debate into millions of private, unchecked silos, allowing for the spread of false promises, polarizing lies, disinformation, fake news, and voter suppression,” Ms. Eshoo said. “With spending on digital ads in the 2020 election expected to exceed $1.3 billion, Congress must step in to protect our nation’s democratic process.”
Under the bill, violations of her legislation would be enforced by the Federal Election Commission.
Social media platforms and political advertisers likely have wide avenues to challenge the law, and it is not clear if the measure would withstand a court challenge.
Political speech is among the most protected speech by federal courts, which have previously shown that challengers must reach a high bar in demonstrating that tech platforms are capable of violating a user’s First Amendment rights.
The federal appeals court in D.C. this week rejected a complaint from right-wing activist Laura Loomer that Google, Twitter, Apple and Facebook had violated her First Amendment rights and suppressed conservative viewpoints.
Ms. Eshoo’s legislation has garnered support from a coalition of liberal groups and advocates, particularly those focused on technology and privacy policy.
“While there is more work to be done to bring transparency and accountability to digital political ads, the Banning Microtargeted Political Ads Act is a welcomed first step in updating our election laws to close a significant loophole and hold willful enablers accountable for their actions,” said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Not everyone is sold on legislation as the best remedy to address concerns with microtargeting, including Zach Graves, the policy head at the Lincoln Network, a technology policy advocacy group. Mr. Graves said he is not convinced banning microtargeting for political ads is smart or constitutional.
“Instead, I think platforms should implement robust transparency/databases of such ads and maintain strong partnerships with relevant federal agencies to identify tax violations or national security issues (e.g. foreign interference),” Mr. Graves said in an email to The Washington Times.
Some social media companies, such as Facebook, have already developed such databases. Facebook’s Ad Library allows anyone to browse political ads that have run on the site and gain insight into the demographic and geographic data of who saw the ads.
Democratic opposition to microtargeted political ads can be traced to Facebook. Rep. David N. Cicilline, Rhode Island Democrat, said last week he would introduce a proposal aimed at curbing microtargeting and pointed to tactics used by Russian intelligence agencies ahead of the 2016 presidential election as evidence for why reform is needed.
“Microtargeting is a threat to our democracy,” Mr. Cicilline said last week. “Campaigns and foreign actors can use this technology to manipulate voters with high volumes of misleading information that is virtually impossible to keep track of.”
The sharp-shooting ads are not limited to the political realm, but Ms. Eschoo isn’t going after the practice in the commercial sector. The legislation is tailored to any “electioneering communication” and does not directly address how businesses and retailers develop and deploy ad technology.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--New COVID-19 farm rules, broad nursing home tests for WA

SPOKANE , Wash. ( AP ) - Employers must provide agricultural workers with face masks , more hand-washing stations and more frequently disinfect work surfaces under new coronavirus rules established Thursday by Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee .
Also Thursday , Secretary of Health John Wiesman signed an order for all residents and staff in nursing homes to be tested for COVID-19 by June 12 , and all residents and staff in assisted living facilities with a memory care unit to be tested by June 26 .
The state will provide test kits and personal protective equipment for administering tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The nation ’ s first deadly coronavirus outbreak was at a Seattle-area nursing home where more than 40 people died .
In early May the state ’ s COVID-19 response team said at that time more than 60 % of the coronavirus deaths in Washington were linked to long-term care facilities and more than 250 such locations had reported at least one COVID-19 case .
The new agricultural rules are intended to protect the approximately 100,000 farmworkers in the state from getting the coronavirus , Inslee said .
“ ” Every time we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our sustenance , ” Inslee , a Democrat , said in Olympia .
The new rules would help protect both workers and farmers , he said .
Inslee issued the emergency proclamation as the harvest season moved into high gear , especially in the central Washington farm belt that grows many of the nation ’ s apples , cherries and other crops .
The new rules call for farm and produce warehouse laborers to be divided into groups of no more than 15 people who live together , are transported to fields together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staying in such groups will help curb the spread of COVID-19 , he said .
Specifically , the new rules require employers to provide free face masks and other personal protective equipment , Inslee said .
The rules require more hand-washing stations in fields and mandate when workers should wash their hands .
Workers must practice social distancing on the job and workplaces must be cleaned and sanitized at regular intervals .
Employers must also educate workers on how to stay safe .
“ ” It is critical that growers and agriculture workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of the state Department of Labor and Industries .
The agency has been conducting outreach programs on television , radio and social media to get the message out , Sacks said .
There are penalties of up to $ 7,000 for failure to comply , Sacks said .
But Inslee added that most employers are in favor of the new rules .
“ ” We have had some folks who need reminding , ” the governor said .
The plight of farm laborers during the coronavirus has come into focus lately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work in food processing plants in central Washington state have become ill. Yakima County , a major producer of farm products nationally , has the highest rate of coronavirus cases per capita in the state .
Some agricultural workers there are conducting wildcat strikes seeking safer working conditions and hazard pay .
Inslee previously released rules for employer-provided farmworker housing that allowed up to 15 people to share a dormitory-style room with bunk beds .
Some advocates for workers criticized those rules as too lenient .
For most people , the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Employers must provide agricultural workers with face masks, more hand-washing stations and more frequently disinfect work surfaces under new coronavirus rules established Thursday by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.
Also Thursday, Secretary of Health John Wiesman signed an order for all residents and staff in nursing homes to be tested for COVID-19 by June 12, and all residents and staff in assisted living facilities with a memory care unit to be tested by June 26. The state will provide test kits and personal protective equipment for administering tests to every facility at no cost.
The nation’s first deadly coronavirus outbreak was at a Seattle-area nursing home where more than 40 people died. In early May the state’s COVID-19 response team said at that time more than 60% of the coronavirus deaths in Washington were linked to long-term care facilities and more than 250 such locations had reported at least one COVID-19 case.
The new agricultural rules are intended to protect the approximately 100,000 farmworkers in the state from getting the coronavirus, Inslee said.
“”Every time we eat there was a hand that provided our sustenance,” Inslee, a Democrat, said in Olympia. The new rules would help protect both workers and farmers, he said.
Inslee issued the emergency proclamation as the harvest season moved into high gear, especially in the central Washington farm belt that grows many of the nation’s apples, cherries and other crops.
The new rules call for farm and produce warehouse laborers to be divided into groups of no more than 15 people who live together, are transported to fields together and work together, Inslee said. Staying in such groups will help curb the spread of COVID-19, he said.
Specifically, the new rules require employers to provide free face masks and other personal protective equipment, Inslee said.
The rules require more hand-washing stations in fields and mandate when workers should wash their hands. Workers must practice social distancing on the job and workplaces must be cleaned and sanitized at regular intervals.
Employers must also educate workers on how to stay safe.
“”It is critical that growers and agriculture workers work together,” said Joel Sacks, director of the state Department of Labor and Industries.
The agency has been conducting outreach programs on television, radio and social media to get the message out, Sacks said.
There are penalties of up to $7,000 for failure to comply, Sacks said.
But Inslee added that most employers are in favor of the new rules. “”We have had some folks who need reminding,” the governor said.
The plight of farm laborers during the coronavirus has come into focus lately as many field workers and people who work in food processing plants in central Washington state have become ill.
Yakima County, a major producer of farm products nationally, has the highest rate of coronavirus cases per capita in the state. Some agricultural workers there are conducting wildcat strikes seeking safer working conditions and hazard pay.
Inslee previously released rules for employer-provided farmworker housing that allowed up to 15 people to share a dormitory-style room with bunk beds. Some advocates for workers criticized those rules as too lenient.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-05-28--1 dead in helicopter crash near Roseburg

ROSEBURG , Ore. ( AP ) - A person was killed in a helicopter crash near Roseburg .
The crash @ @ @ @ @ on private property south of the Green district of Roseburg , the Douglas County Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ Local fire , EMS and police agencies responded and are coordinating with the Federal Aviation @ @ @ @ @ KATU-TV reported .
No further information was immediately released .
The county medical examiner will @ @ @ @

ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) - A person was killed in a helicopter crash near Roseburg.
The crash happened around 2:15 p.m. Thursday on private property south of the Green district of Roseburg, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said.
Local fire, EMS and police agencies responded and are coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration on an investigation, KATU-TV reported.
No further information was immediately released. The county medical examiner will investigate the death.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--CNN crew arrested while reporting on Minneapolis protests

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - The Minnesota State Patrol on Friday arrested a CNN television crew as they reported on violent protests in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd , a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck .
Atlanta-based CNN said that the crew , which included CNN reporter Omar Jimenez , was released later Friday morning .
While live on air , Jimenez was handcuffed and led away .
A producer and a photojournalist for CNN were also led away in handcuffs .
CNN ’ s communications team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested “ for doing their jobs , despite identifying themselves - a clear violation of their First Amendment rights.
” The Minnesota State Patrol said on Twitter that the journalists were among four people arrested as troopers were “ clearing the streets and restoring order.
” The patrol said they “ were released once they were confirmed to be members of the media.
” Late Thursday in Minneapolis , cheering protesters torched a police station that the department abandoned as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St. Paul and angry @ @ @ @ @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - Following the arrest of a CNN crew on live television by police on Friday, an apologetic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz promised that journalists would not be interfered with in reporting on violent protests following the death of George Floyd.
CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and two colleagues were released within an hour after network chief executive Jeff Zucker called Walz to demand answers about why they were led away and held in a police van.
“We have got to ensure that there is a safe spot for journalism to tell this story,” Walz said.
Jimenez and colleagues Bill Kirkos and Leonel Mendez were doing a live shot for CNN’s “New Day” shortly after 5 a.m. Central Time, describing a night of fire and anger in the wake of Floyd’s death after a Minneapolis police office knelt on his neck. Fired officer Derek Chauvin was charged with murder in that case later Friday.
When first approached by officers, Jimenez, who is black, told them, “put us back where you want us. We are getting out of your way.”
After being told he was being arrested and his hands were tied behind his back, Jimenez asked why he was being arrested. He did not get an answer.
The Minnesota State Patrol said on Twitter that the journalists were among four people arrested as troopers were “clearing the streets and restoring order” following the protests. The patrol said the CNN journalists “were released once they were confirmed to be members of the media.”
It’s not clear why they were confused: Jimenez was holding what appeared to be a laminated ID card before his hands were secured, and his fellow crew members told police that they were from CNN and showing the scene live on the air.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” CNN “New Day” co-anchor John Berman said.
After being released, Jimenez said that he was glad that his arrest was shown on the air.
“You don’t have to doubt my story,” he said. “It’s not filtered in any way. You saw it for your own eyes. That gave me a little bit of comfort. But it was definitely nerve-wracking.”
At a later news conference, Walz said that “I take full responsibility. There is absolutely no reason something like that should happen … This is a very public apology to that team.”
The arrest drew widespread condemnation across the news industry. CNN competitors MSNBC, CBS News and Fox News all issued statements in support of Jimenez, along with the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists.
CNN accepted Walz’s apology, saying the network appreciated the sincerity of his words.
Walz’s words in support of journalists have impact at a time when the news media is often under attack, said Jane E. Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law and director of the Silha Center at the University of Minnesota.
“It’s really important for the governor to make that kind of statement to emphasize to everyone, especially law enforcement, that the press has an important job to do … and they need to be respected,” said Kirtley, who lives blocks away from the protests and could still smell smoke from the fires on Friday.
Later Friday, the network was again thrust into the story when hundreds of protesters confronted police outside CNN’s downtown Atlanta headquarters. Activists spray-painted a large CNN logo outside the building, breaking a window and tagging doors. One protester climbed on top of the CNN sign and waved a “Black Lives Matter” flag to cheers from the crowd.
As anchor Chris Cuomo opened his prime-time show, he told viewers the network’s headquarters had been “swarmed and defaced.” Footage of the damage outside was mixed with scenes from other protests around the country.
Correspondent Nick Valencia reported from inside the building as protesters hurled objects at the building and police.
“This is our home, Chris, you know, this is where we come to work every day, journalists who are trying to tell the truth, trying to deliver information. … And these demonstrators have decided to come here today to take our their frustration and anger it seems not just on police but on our CNN center as well,” Valencia said.
Meanwhile, there were signs Friday that cable news networks, who were spending much of their time covering the story, have become sensitive to the impact of showing witness video of Floyd’s treatment by police.
News anchors on all three networks usually warned viewers of its graphic nature before showing the video.
“I must warn you that this is difficult to watch,” said CNN’s Brianna Keilar, “but it is important to remember.”
___
Associated Press writers Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee and Aaron Morrison in New York and Television Writer Lynn Elber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--N.C school board votes for in-person graduation amid virus

MONROE , N.C. ( AP ) - A school board in North Carolina has voted to hold an in-person graduation ceremony for all its high schools that would be a violation of the state ’ s coronavirus safety orders .
The Union County Public Schools Board decided in a 5-4 vote Thursday to hold the ceremonies in an outdoor stadium where students would maintain social distancing , news outlets reported .
But the ceremonies would still violate Gov .
Roy Cooper ’ s executive order limiting mass gatherings to 25 people in outdoor spaces .
“ Obviously we have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our state , ” Gary Sides , a school board member who issued the proposal , said .
“ We ’ re trying to fumble through and not deprive these kids of one of the most important events of their life.
” The board ’ s vote comes after students and parents held a protest outside Union County Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Houlihan ’ s home demanding an in-person ceremony .
“ You just want the best for your kid , ” April Good , a parent of a student in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not about being entitled to anything , it ’ s just about wanting something good for them.
” Others who voted against the motion pushed back against the decision .
“ I ’ m not willing to sit in jail to host a traditional graduation , ” Joseph Morreale , a school board member , told WBTV .
A violation of the state order is a misdemeanor , and can be published by nearly two months in jail and a $ 1,000 fine .
The fine would be about $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the school district go ahead with the ceremonies , Union County Public Schools Board Chairperson Melissa Merrell said .
Another board member , Christina Helms , regarded the governor ’ s order as “ ridiculous , ” but noted following the guidelines will be “ a good example for our students that you might not like the law but you need to obey it.
” Alternative graduation proposals included holding multiple ceremonies that fit under the restrictions in the governor ’ s order and moving the graduation ceremony to South Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrangements , including dates for the graduation ceremonies , will be discussed when the school board meets again on Tuesday .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

MONROE, N.C. (AP) - A school board in North Carolina has voted to hold an in-person graduation ceremony for all its high schools that would be a violation of the state’s coronavirus safety orders.
The Union County Public Schools Board decided in a 5-4 vote Thursday to hold the ceremonies in an outdoor stadium where students would maintain social distancing, news outlets reported. But the ceremonies would still violate Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order limiting mass gatherings to 25 people in outdoor spaces.
“Obviously we have a terrible lack of leadership from the governor of our state,” Gary Sides, a school board member who issued the proposal, said. “We’re trying to fumble through and not deprive these kids of one of the most important events of their life.”
The board’s vote comes after students and parents held a protest outside Union County Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Houlihan’s home demanding an in-person ceremony.
“You just want the best for your kid,” April Good, a parent of a student in the school district, told WCNC-TV. “It’s not about being entitled to anything, it’s just about wanting something good for them.”
Others who voted against the motion pushed back against the decision.
“I’m not willing to sit in jail to host a traditional graduation,” Joseph Morreale, a school board member, told WBTV.
A violation of the state order is a misdemeanor, and can be published by nearly two months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The fine would be about $11,000 if all the 11 high schools in the school district go ahead with the ceremonies, Union County Public Schools Board Chairperson Melissa Merrell said.
Another board member, Christina Helms, regarded the governor’s order as “ridiculous,” but noted following the guidelines will be “a good example for our students that you might not like the law but you need to obey it.”
Alternative graduation proposals included holding multiple ceremonies that fit under the restrictions in the governor’s order and moving the graduation ceremony to South Carolina, where larger groups are permitted. Specific arrangements, including dates for the graduation ceremonies, will be discussed when the school board meets again on Tuesday.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--New drugs make headway against lung, prostate, colon cancers

Doctors are reporting success with newer drugs that control certain types of cancer better , reduce the risk it will come back and make treatment simpler and easier to bear .
Gentler drugs would be a relief to patients like Jenn Carroll , a 57-year-old human resources director from New Hartford , Connecticut , who had traditional IV chemotherapy after lung cancer surgery in 2018 .
“ It was very strong .
I call it the ‘ blammo ’ method , ” she said .
Carroll jumped at the chance to help test a newer drug taken as a daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rather than chemo ’ s imprecise cell-killing approach , Tagrisso targets a specific gene mutation .
Its side effects are manageable enough that it can be used for several years to help prevent recurrence , doctors said .
A big drawback : It and other newer drugs are extremely expensive - $ 150,000 or more a year .
How much patients end up paying depends on insurance , income and other factors .
Here are highlights of that study and others from an American Society of Clinical Oncology conference being held online this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lung cancer kills more than 1.7 million people globally each year .
Dr. Roy Herbst of the Yale Cancer Center led a study of Tagrisso in 682 patients with the most common form of the disease .
All had operable tumors with a mutation in a gene called EGFR that ’ s found in 10 % to 35 % of cases , especially among Asians and non-smokers .
About half had standard chemo after surgery and then took Tagrisso or placebo pills .
Independent monitors stopped the study last month when the drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years on average , 89 % of patients on the drug were alive without a cancer recurrence versus 53 % on placebo .
Severe side effects were a little more common on Tagrisso - mostly diarrhea , fatigue and inflamed skin around nails or in the mouth .
Tagrisso is approved for treating advanced lung cancer , and “ the excitement now is moving this earlier ” before the disease has widely spread , said Herbst , who has consulted for the drug ’ s maker .
Men with advanced prostate cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male hormones that can help the cancer grow .
The drugs are given as shots every few months but take days or weeks to start working and can cause an initial flare of bone pain and urinary or other problems .
Researchers tested Myovant Sciences ’ s relugolix - a different type of hormone blocker and the first that ’ s a daily pill - versus leuprolide shots every three months in 930 men treated for nearly a year .
About 97 % on the experimental drug kept hormones suppressed throughout that time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after the start of treatment , 56 % of men on relugolix and none on leuprolide had hormones suppressed .
A heart attack , stroke or other serious heart problem occurred in 3 % of men on relugolix and in 6 % of men on leuprolide .
The difference was even greater among men with prior heart problems .
That could be important because heart disease is a frequent cause of death in men with prostate cancer , according to Dr. Celestia Higano of the University of Washington in Seattle .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in a commentary published with the results in the New England Journal of Medicine .
Myovant is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for the drug ; no cost estimate has been disclosed .
Merck & Co. ’ s blockbuster Keytruda , which helps the immune system find and fight cancer , proved better than standard chemo combinations as initial treatment for people with advanced colon cancer and tumors with gene defects that result in a high number of mutations , making them tough to treat .
The study involved 307 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 16 months on average before their cancer worsened compared with 8 months for those on chemo .
After a year , 55 % on Keytruda were alive without worsening cancer versus 37 % on chemo .
After two years , it was 48 % versus nearly 19 % .
About 22 % of people getting Keytruda had severe side effects versus 66 % on chemo .
About 5 % of colon cancers are like those in this study , said Dr. Howard Burris , president of the oncology society and head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashville .
“ If you ’ re one of that one in 20 , instead of taking that combination chemotherapy you can take a simpler immunotherapy once every two weeks ” with better results and fewer side effects , he said .
Marilynn Marchione can be followed on Twitter : @ MMarchioneAP The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

Doctors are reporting success with newer drugs that control certain types of cancer better, reduce the risk it will come back and make treatment simpler and easier to bear.
Gentler drugs would be a relief to patients like Jenn Carroll, a 57-year-old human resources director from New Hartford, Connecticut, who had traditional IV chemotherapy after lung cancer surgery in 2018.
“It was very strong. I call it the ‘blammo’ method,” she said.
Carroll jumped at the chance to help test a newer drug taken as a daily pill, AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso. Rather than chemo’s imprecise cell-killing approach, Tagrisso targets a specific gene mutation. Its side effects are manageable enough that it can be used for several years to help prevent recurrence, doctors said.
A big drawback: It and other newer drugs are extremely expensive - $150,000 or more a year. How much patients end up paying depends on insurance, income and other factors.
Here are highlights of that study and others from an American Society of Clinical Oncology conference being held online this weekend because of the coronavirus pandemic.
LUNG CANCER
Lung cancer kills more than 1.7 million people globally each year. Dr. Roy Herbst of the Yale Cancer Center led a study of Tagrisso in 682 patients with the most common form of the disease. All had operable tumors with a mutation in a gene called EGFR that’s found in 10% to 35% of cases, especially among Asians and non-smokers.
About half had standard chemo after surgery and then took Tagrisso or placebo pills. Independent monitors stopped the study last month when the drug’s benefit seemed clear.
After two years on average, 89% of patients on the drug were alive without a cancer recurrence versus 53% on placebo. Severe side effects were a little more common on Tagrisso - mostly diarrhea, fatigue and inflamed skin around nails or in the mouth.
Tagrisso is approved for treating advanced lung cancer, and “the excitement now is moving this earlier” before the disease has widely spread, said Herbst, who has consulted for the drug’s maker.
The drug costs about $15,000 a month.
PROSTATE CANCER
Men with advanced prostate cancer often are treated with medicines to suppress male hormones that can help the cancer grow. The drugs are given as shots every few months but take days or weeks to start working and can cause an initial flare of bone pain and urinary or other problems.
Researchers tested Myovant Sciences’s relugolix - a different type of hormone blocker and the first that’s a daily pill - versus leuprolide shots every three months in 930 men treated for nearly a year.
About 97% on the experimental drug kept hormones suppressed throughout that time versus 89% on leuprolide. Four days after the start of treatment, 56% of men on relugolix and none on leuprolide had hormones suppressed.
A heart attack, stroke or other serious heart problem occurred in 3% of men on relugolix and in 6% of men on leuprolide. The difference was even greater among men with prior heart problems.
That could be important because heart disease is a frequent cause of death in men with prostate cancer, according to Dr. Celestia Higano of the University of Washington in Seattle. She had no role in the study and wrote in a commentary published with the results in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Myovant is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for the drug; no cost estimate has been disclosed.
COLON CANCER
Merck & Co.’s blockbuster Keytruda, which helps the immune system find and fight cancer, proved better than standard chemo combinations as initial treatment for people with advanced colon cancer and tumors with gene defects that result in a high number of mutations, making them tough to treat.
The study involved 307 patients in France. Those given Keytruda went more than 16 months on average before their cancer worsened compared with 8 months for those on chemo. After a year, 55% on Keytruda were alive without worsening cancer versus 37% on chemo. After two years, it was 48% versus nearly 19%.
About 22% of people getting Keytruda had severe side effects versus 66% on chemo.
About 5% of colon cancers are like those in this study, said Dr. Howard Burris, president of the oncology society and head of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville.
“If you’re one of that one in 20, instead of taking that combination chemotherapy you can take a simpler immunotherapy once every two weeks” with better results and fewer side effects, he said.
Keytruda costs about $12,500 a month.
___
Marilynn Marchione can be followed on Twitter: @MMarchioneAP
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--Series of shootings in Philadelphia leave 2 dead, 9 wounded

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - A series of six apparently unrelated shootings over a short span in Philadelphia has left two people dead and nine wounded , authorities said .
The first shooting occurred around 10:45 p.m. Thursday , when two men approached a group gathered on the porch of a home and opened fire .
One man was killed , while a woman and two other men were being treated at the hospital for wounds that were not considered life-threatening .
Roughly 30 minutes later , police found a 37-year-old man slumped over in the drivers ’ seat of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parked vehicle .
He had been shot in the back of his neck and was taken to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead a short time later .
It appeared that more than a dozen shots had been fired at the man ’ s car , and at least four hit him or the vehicle , authorities said .
The next shooting occurred early Friday , when two men were shot in the legs on a city street .
A stray bullet from that shooting entered a home and struck a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The last two shootings occurred within minutes of each other , when a 14-year-old boy was shot in the chest and a man was shot eight times on a street .
Both were hospitalized in critical condition , although authorities said the teen was expected to survive .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A series of six apparently unrelated shootings over a short span in Philadelphia has left two people dead and nine wounded, authorities said.
The first shooting occurred around 10:45 p.m. Thursday, when two men approached a group gathered on the porch of a home and opened fire. One man was killed, while a woman and two other men were being treated at the hospital for wounds that were not considered life-threatening.
Roughly 30 minutes later, police found a 37-year-old man slumped over in the drivers’ seat of a car that had crashed into a parked vehicle. He had been shot in the back of his neck and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
It appeared that more than a dozen shots had been fired at the man’s car, and at least four hit him or the vehicle, authorities said.
The next shooting occurred early Friday, when two men were shot in the legs on a city street. A stray bullet from that shooting entered a home and struck a 52-year-old woman who was in her bedroom.
The last two shootings occurred within minutes of each other, when a 14-year-old boy was shot in the chest and a man was shot eight times on a street. Both were hospitalized in critical condition, although authorities said the teen was expected to survive.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--Fired Samsung worker ends tower protest following apology

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) - A former Samsung employee who spent nearly a year protesting his firing by living atop a 25-meter ( 82-foot ) traffic camera tower in South Korea ’ s capital was helped back down Friday after the business giant apologized over his plight .
Kim Yong-hee , 60 , waved a banner with a Samsung logo and a protest slogan while a rescue worker on a fire-truck ladder escorted him down from his perch along a street near a Samsung Electronics office in Seoul .
Kim was fired from the company in 1995 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to organize a labor union .
Kim ’ s decision to end his aerial protest after 354 days came weeks after billionaire Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong , currently on trial over corruption charges , vowed to end decades of union-busting practices at the group .
In its apology , Samsung said it should have done more to ease Kim ’ s “ pain and agony , ” which it said was caused by “ conflicts with the company amid the process of his labor movements following his dismissal.
” The company did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he lost his job at Samsung ’ s now-defunct aerospace unit because he tried to start a union .
Activists representing Kim said in a statement that Kim sees Samsung ’ s apology as redeeming his honor .
Neither Kim nor Samsung disclosed the details of their discussions and whether he would be financially compensated or reinstated the company .

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A former Samsung employee who spent nearly a year protesting his firing by living atop a 25-meter (82-foot) traffic camera tower in South Korea’s capital was helped back down Friday after the business giant apologized over his plight.
Kim Yong-hee, 60, waved a banner with a Samsung logo and a protest slogan while a rescue worker on a fire-truck ladder escorted him down from his perch along a street near a Samsung Electronics office in Seoul.
Kim was fired from the company in 1995 over what he says were his attempts to organize a labor union.
Kim’s decision to end his aerial protest after 354 days came weeks after billionaire Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, currently on trial over corruption charges, vowed to end decades of union-busting practices at the group.
In its apology, Samsung said it should have done more to ease Kim’s “pain and agony,” which it said was caused by “conflicts with the company amid the process of his labor movements following his dismissal.” The company did not clearly acknowledge Kim’s claim that he lost his job at Samsung’s now-defunct aerospace unit because he tried to start a union.
Activists representing Kim said in a statement that Kim sees Samsung’s apology as redeeming his honor.
Neither Kim nor Samsung disclosed the details of their discussions and whether he would be financially compensated or reinstated the company.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--Turkey reopens some mosques amid infection slowdown

ANKARA , Turkey ( AP ) - Worshippers in Turkey have held their first communal Friday prayers in 74 days after the government reopened some mosques as part of its plans to relax measures in place to fight the coronavirus outbreak .
Prayers were held in the courtyards of selected mosques , to minimize the risk of infection .
Authorities distributed masks at the entrance to the mosques , sprayed hand sanitizers , and checked temperatures .
Worshippers were asked to bring their own prayer rugs , but some mosques offered disposable paper rugs which were placed 1.5 meters ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the mosques follows a slowdown in the confirmed COVID-19 infections and deaths in the country .
Later on Friday , Islamic prayers will also be recited in Istanbul ’ s 6th-century Hagia Sophia - the main cathedral of the Byzantine Empire which was converted into a mosque with the Ottoman conquest of the city , then known as Constantinople , in 1453 .
The prayers are being held to mark the 567th anniversary of the conquest .
The Muslim prayers at the Hagia Sophia are highly controversial , hitting at the heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 1935 , Mustafa Kemal Ataturk , the Turkish republic ’ s founder , converted the building into a museum that attracts millions of tourists , but some Islamic groups want it reconverted into a mosque .
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , who leads an Islamic-oriented party and has himself recited prayers inside Hagia Sophia , has also spoken about the possibility of turning the domed complex back into a place of worship .
Greece has in the past protested the use of Hagia Sophia , the main seat of the Greek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heritage site , for religious purposes .
The celebrations marking the Muslim conquest of the city kicked off with Erdogan saluting from the balcony of a presidential summer residence , a flotilla of boats sailing past on the Bosporus waterway .
On Thursday , Erdogan announced plans to lift restrictions on movement between cities and reopen restaurants , cafes , sports centers , beaches and museums on June 1 .

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Worshipers in Turkey have held their first communal Friday prayers in 74 days after the government reopened some mosques under an easing of pandemic restrictions.
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated by video conference in events to mark the 567th anniversary of the Muslim conquest of Istanbul - then named Constantinople - by Ottoman Turks. The events included a controversial prayer recital inside the Hagia Sophia, built as a Byzantine cathedral in the 6th Century and now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Friday prayers were held in the courtyards of selected mosques across the country, to minimize the risk of infection. Authorities distributed masks at the entrance, sprayed hand sanitizers, and checked temperatures. Worshipers were asked to bring their own prayer rugs, but some mosques offered disposable paper rugs placed 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart.
The move follows a slowdown in confirmed COVID-19 infections and deaths.
Later on Friday, a Muslim cleric recited the “prayer of conquest” from the Quran inside the Hagia Sophia, which was converted into a mosque in 1453.
The Muslim prayers at the Hagia Sophia are highly controversial, hitting at the heart of the country’s religious-secular divide.
In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish republic’s founder, converted the building into a museum that attracts millions of tourists, but some Islamic groups want it reconverted into a mosque. Erdogan, who leads an Islamic-oriented party and has himself recited prayers inside Hagia Sophia, has also spoken about the possibility of turning the domed complex back into a mosque.
Greece has in the past protested the use of Hagia Sophia, the former seat of the Greek Orthodox church, for religious purposes.
On Friday, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas criticized the prayer recital, saying “Hagia Sophia is a global monument of cultural heritage” that was being used as “a tool to promote other aims.“
In a televised speech, Erdogan said it was important to mark the conquest with prayers inside Hagia Sophia.
The celebrations marking the conquest of the city kicked off with Erdogan saluting a flotilla of boats sailing past on the Bosporus waterway.
On Thursday, Erdogan announced plans to lift restrictions on movement between cities and reopen restaurants, cafes, sports centers, beaches and museums on June 1.
Turkey has reported more than 160,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and a total of 4,489 deaths. The country ranks tenth in an international tally by Johns Hopkins University for the number of cases. Experts believe infections globally could be much more than reported.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--EU says conditions needed in Lufthansa bailout, seeks deal

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - The EU competition chief said Friday that she is not “ creating extra hurdles ” for Lufthansa after the airline balked at accepting a 9 billion-euro German government rescue package because of what it said were tough EU conditions .
Margrethe Vestager said that EU rules require bailouts to include measures that would maintain a level playing field .
She said they are the same for every company getting more than 250 million euros ( $ 275 million ) in rescue capital .
“ It ’ s to be able to balance the situation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still working , ” Vestager told a news conference .
“ And there is very broad consensus about this.
” During the pandemic , the EU has relaxed some of its rules that seek to keep countries from rescuing homegrown companies and providing them with a competitive advantage against foreign ones .
Relaxing those rules was meant to help the 27 member countries weather the economic shock triggered by the health crisis .
But Vestager noted that they could not be completely disregarded either , particularly since Lufthansa has a lot of market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high risk that if you hold market power , that if you are a big impressive company , and that you get a lot of aid , that competition will be disturbed , ” she said .
Earlier this week , Lufthansa had said that the EU conditions attached to the bailout would lead to “ a weakening of the hub function at Lufthansa ’ s home airports , ” amid reports that the EU executive was trying to force the company to give up its prized landing slots at Munich and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a discussion about slots when it comes to airlines and competition , ” Vestager said .
“ That does not exclude other remedies.
” Vestager said the EU wants to find a solution in the Lufthansa case and that the EU Commission remained in close contact with German authorities .
Germany ’ s Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the aid package is a “ sustainable and reasonable ” solution to keep the company going .
Conditions include the airline not paying a dividend and restrictions on management pay .
The package conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of an unwanted takeover .
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told employees April 24 that the company was losing cash at the rate of a million euros ( $ 1.1 million ) per hour and that passenger numbers had fallen to 1 % of previous levels .

BRUSSELS (AP) - The EU competition chief said Friday that she is not “creating extra hurdles” for Lufthansa after the airline balked at accepting a 9 billion-euro German government rescue package because of what it said were tough EU conditions.
Margrethe Vestager said that EU rules require bailouts to include measures that would maintain a level playing field. She said they are the same for every company getting more than 250 million euros ($275 million) in rescue capital.
“It’s to be able to balance the situation and to make sure the single market is still working,” Vestager told a news conference. “And there is very broad consensus about this.”
During the pandemic, the EU has relaxed some of its rules that seek to keep countries from rescuing homegrown companies and providing them with a competitive advantage against foreign ones. Relaxing those rules was meant to help the 27 member countries weather the economic shock triggered by the health crisis.
But Vestager noted that they could not be completely disregarded either, particularly since Lufthansa has a lot of market power in Europe.
“There is a high risk that if you hold market power, that if you are a big impressive company, and that you get a lot of aid, that competition will be disturbed,” she said.
Earlier this week, Lufthansa had said that the EU conditions attached to the bailout would lead to “a weakening of the hub function at Lufthansa’s home airports,” amid reports that the EU executive was trying to force the company to give up its prized landing slots at Munich and Frankfurt airports.
“We very often have a discussion about slots when it comes to airlines and competition,” Vestager said. “That does not exclude other remedies.”
Vestager said the EU wants to find a solution in the Lufthansa case and that the EU Commission remained in close contact with German authorities.
Germany’s Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the aid package is a “sustainable and reasonable” solution to keep the company going. Conditions include the airline not paying a dividend and restrictions on management pay. The package conditions would also let the government block the possibility of an unwanted takeover.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told employees April 24 that the company was losing cash at the rate of a million euros ($1.1 million) per hour and that passenger numbers had fallen to 1% of previous levels.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--Highway patrol dispatcher helps woman stop her runaway SUV

CAMBRIDGE , Ohio ( AP ) - A wild ride on an interstate in central Ohio came to a safe end when a highway patrol dispatcher calmly instructed a driver how to stop her runaway SUV .
The 20-year-old driver , named Emma , called 911 on Sunday for help when her SUV would not slow down or stop on Interstate 77 due to a mechanical problem , the Ohio State Highway Patrol said .
State troopers tried to clear traffic away from the vehicle .
Police dashcam video posted on Facebook showed the vehicle weaving through traffic as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver to “ listen to me right now.
” The driver , who was crying , said nothing happened when she tapped her brakes .
The dispatcher remained calm .
“ Take ahold of your emergency brake and just gradually pull that a little bit and see if it slows you down at all , ” the dispatcher said .
“ Emma , does it slow you down at all ?
” The SUV began to slow down and came to a stop near the median .
After determining the vehicle was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver out and told her to “ relax.
” No one was injured .

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (AP) - A wild ride on an interstate in central Ohio came to a safe end when a highway patrol dispatcher calmly instructed a driver how to stop her runaway SUV.
The 20-year-old driver, named Emma, called 911 on Sunday for help when her SUV would not slow down or stop on Interstate 77 due to a mechanical problem, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
State troopers tried to clear traffic away from the vehicle. Police dashcam video posted on Facebook showed the vehicle weaving through traffic as the dispatcher, named Becky, told the driver to “listen to me right now.”
The driver, who was crying, said nothing happened when she tapped her brakes. The dispatcher remained calm.
“Take ahold of your emergency brake and just gradually pull that a little bit and see if it slows you down at all,” the dispatcher said. “Emma, does it slow you down at all?”
The SUV began to slow down and came to a stop near the median.
After determining the vehicle was in park, a state trooper helped the driver out and told her to “relax.”
No one was injured.


washingtontimes--2020-05-29--Police: Naked Florida man spent 24 hours vandalizing school

MIRAMAR , Fla. ( AP ) - A 21-year-old naked man broke into a South Florida high school and spent @ @ @ @ @ building , police said .
Security cameras caught Matthew Crandall on video trashing Miramar High @ @ @ @ @ a hat and headphones while smashing computers and televisions , Miramar police said in a @ @ @ @ @ Crandall broke into the school around 7 a.m. Monday .
He caused flooding in hallways @ @ @ @ @ and hallways throughout the school in Broward County , police said .
A school custodian @ @ @ @ @ was estimated at about $ 100,000 , police said .
Crandall is from North Fort @ @ @ @ @ known whether he had any ties to the school , police said .
Police said @ @ @ @ @ and criminal mischief .
A lawyer is not listed on jail records .

MIRAMAR, Fla. (AP) - A 21-year-old naked man broke into a South Florida high school and spent almost 24 hours vandalizing the building, police said.
Security cameras caught Matthew Crandall on video trashing Miramar High School. He wore only a hat and headphones while smashing computers and televisions, Miramar police said in a tweet.
The video showed Crandall broke into the school around 7 a.m. Monday. He caused flooding in hallways and vandalized classrooms, walls and hallways throughout the school in Broward County, police said.
A school custodian discovered the damage, which was estimated at about $100,000, police said.
Crandall is from North Fort Myers. It was not known whether he had any ties to the school, police said.
Police said Crandall is charged with burglary and criminal mischief. A lawyer is not listed on jail records.