washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Pandemic driving children back to work, jeopardizing gains

JOTOLCHEN , Mexico ( AP ) - The coronavirus pandemic is threatening the future of a generation of the world ’ s children , depriving them of schooling and sending them to work .
Across the developing world , two decades of gains against child labor are eroding .
With classrooms shuttered and parents losing their jobs , children are trading their ABC ’ s for the D of drudgery : Reading , writing and times tables are giving way to sweat , blisters and fading hopes for a better life .
Instead of going to school , children in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tens of thousands of children in India have poured into farm fields and factories .
Across Latin America , kids are making bricks , building furniture and clearing brush , once after-school jobs that are now full-time work .
These children and adolescents are earning pennies or at best a few dollars a day to help put food on the table .
“ Child labor becomes a survival mechanism for many families.
” says Astrid Hollander , UNICEF ’ s head of education in Mexico .
Governments are still analyzing how many students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but with school closures affecting nearly 1.5 billion children around the world , UNICEF estimates the numbers could be in the millions .
Experts say the longer their education is put on hold , the less likely children will return to school .
The ramifications , especially for those already lagging , can be lifelong — narrowed job opportunities , lower potential earnings and greater likelihood of poverty and early pregnancy .
“ The repercussions could be felt in economies and societies for decades to come , ” Henrietta Fore , executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s agency , warned in August .
For at least 463 million children whose schools closed , there is no possibility of remote learning .
It is , she said , a “ global education emergency.
” The same week the UNICEF report was issued , a new school year started for nearly 30 million students in Mexico .
In remote places where distance learning is not feasible , teachers deliver workbooks to villages and then arrange to retrieve them later .
Joel Hernández , director of a school in Jotolchén , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said he went to pick up the workbooks recently and only about 20 % of students had completed the work .
Neither 11-year-old Andrés Gomez nor his siblings had done it .
Until March , when the school closed , Andrés spent his days there learning to speak , read and write Spanish — his native language is Tzotzil .
After the bell he would follow his dad into the amber mine for a couple of hours .
Now each morning he goes to work inside that a dark , hand-carved tunnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With a flashlight lashed to his head he whips a heavy hammer back and forth over his shoulder driving a steel spike into the rock .
He can ’ t stand up .
He crouches on the flakes of rock he chips away , each blow followed by a quiet grunt .
The hope is to find a piece of amber for which a middleman might pay him $ 1 to $ 5 .
The bit of petrified sap would likely end up sold as jewelry to tourists .
“ What I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says .
Andrés could take advantage of online or televised learning , but like many others he has no access to technology ; there is no computer or television in his family ’ s two-room home , just an old stereo .
“ If Dad is going to the fields , to the coffee grove , to the mine , the child is not going to stay at home with nothing to do , ” Hernández says .
“ For them , to sit around watching television , if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” There are seven children in Andrés ’ family , four of school age .
An 8-year-old sister helps her pregnant mother do laundry and cook food ; Andrés and an older brother work in the mine with their father Miners pay a monthly rent to the landowner to dig for amber , a payment that comes due whether they find any or not .
When Andrés is not mining he helps an uncle with livestock , cutting firewood and clearing brush .
In his spare time he reverts to the boy he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He misses school : “ I learned the vowels , the teacher taught , we copied and then I went to the mine , ” he says .
His school , a single room with posters of vocabulary and historical figures on the walls and messages still on the chalkboard , sits vacant .
Mexican law prohibits children younger than 14 from working .
Children under 16 can ’ t do hazardous or unhealthy work .
But children commonly work around school to help their families get by .
Mexican education officials recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year was down about 10 % , but teachers warn that many students enrolled out of habit , but aren ’ t participating .
“ Some kids will probably drop out , maybe not in elementary school , but those who finished sixth grade this year , ” Hernández says .
“ Those probably won ’ t continue on to middle school.
” In El Alto , a suburb perched above Bolivia ’ s capital of La Paz , five siblings between the ages of 6 and 14 years old are bundled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air as they and their parents work all in their family ’ s small carpentry workshop .
The youngest , 6-year-old Mariana Geovana , would have started kindergarten this year ; instead , she smooths miniature furniture with scraps of sandpaper .
Jonatan , 14 , the most experienced , uses the electric saw to cut lengths of wood for doll-size beds and full-size chests of drawers .
“ I ’ m frustrated not being able to go to school , ” he says .
“ You learn talking with your classmates and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cancel the school year in August because it said there was no way to provide an equitable education to the country ’ s nearly 3 million students .
In a country where informal employment makes up 70 % of the economy , the closure of schools immediately put more kids to work .
“ We have seen new children and adolescents selling in the street , ” says Patricia Velasco , manager of a municipal program for at-risk people in the capital La Paz .
“ They ’ ve been pushed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his other children at work — and sending the older kids out into the streets to sell their pieces — Hector Delgado , 54 , knows what is at stake .
“ For the students the closure of the school year is a catastrophe .
They ’ re not going to make up the time and I strive for them to be more than carpenters.
” But Delgado , head of the local Artisans Council in El Alto , said the family had burned through their savings and now didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on with its business .
He and his wife , María Luisa , are doing what they can to ensure their children don ’ t fall behind .
Under their mother ’ s watchful eye , the children work through schoolbooks they were given in February at the start of the school year .
Each morning in the workshop , she has them take time to study .
The family ’ s commitment to education is most apparent in an adjacent room .
There , eldest son Cristian , 21 , continues his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The dark earth bricks produced by the rustic brickyards of the small town of Tobatí , 43 miles ( 70 km ) from Asunción , are used to construct buildings across Paraguay .
Large open kilns made from those very same mud bricks stand next to almost every home ; row upon row of identical bricks dry in the open air .
With the help of his 10-year-old son , Hugo Godoy shovels mounds of clay and sandy earth , preparing to make the next day ’ s bricks .
As he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanders off to sit with two infants by the house — Godoy ’ s grandchildren .
His son does more than help at home ; since schools stopped operating in March , Godoy had also been sending him to work at a nearby larger factory .
“ I spoke to the owner and said that if he gave him light work - moving the raw materials and things like that - then I ’ d let him go , ” Godoy said , speaking in his native Guarani language .
“ There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Godoy ’ s sons , who is 15 , is working full time at the same factory , earning around $ 10 a day loading bricks onto tall trucks .
Before the pandemic he worked just part time .
“ I don ’ t put the older ones to work here at home : I tell them to go and find some way to help with our situation , ” Godoy said .
In Paraguay , children from 12 to 14 can carry out only “ light tasks ” in family enterprises , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold jobs that do not appear on a list of the 26 “ worst forms of child labor ” — as long as it does not interfere with their schooling .
Members of brickmaking families said school closures — scheduled to last at least until December — have led to many children and adolescents working longer hours .
And these new schedules have made it difficult to complete their virtual schoolwork .
Godoy said he had discovered that his son had missed exams , and “ After that , I told him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that he doesn ’ t have to go to work those days .
Whatever happens , we ’ ll find a way to manage and make ends meet , I told him.
” Paraguay ’ s government set up virtual classrooms for distance learning , but families cited a number of associated costs , including cell phone data plans as well as printing and copying for their children ’ s class work .
A UNICEF report said that 22 % of students were participating in the virtual classrooms while 52 % were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WhatsApp .
“ I know lots of cases of 15-year-olds who have been doing well at school but haven ’ t been able to afford the costs , ” said Godoy .
“ They stop studying and start working.
” At a quarry in Nairobi , Florence Mumbua works alongside her children , ages 7 , 10 and 12 .
Mumbua lost her cleaning job at a private school when the pandemic hit , and the family doesn ’ t have the resources for the children to learn online .
So together they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cents a day .
“ I have to work with them because they need to eat and yet I make little money .
When we work as a team , we can make enough money for our lunch , breakfast and dinner , ” Mumbua said .
Child labor is illegal in Kenya .
But so is child prostitution , and it too has thrived since school closed .
Mary Mugure , a former sex worker turned activist through her Night Nurse organization , says up to 1,000 schoolgirls have become sex workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since schools shut in March .
The youngest , she said , was 11 .
In India , Dhananjay Tingal fears that millions more children will “ fall back into trafficking , child labor and child marriage because the economic crisis is looming large.
” As executive director of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan — a children ’ s rights group whose founder , Kailash Satyarthi , won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 — Tingal has watched with horror as child labor grows in a country that already has one of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationwide lockdown imposed in March pummeled the Indian economy and pushed millions of people into poverty , forcing many poor families to put their children to work to make ends meet .
When the economy opened , tens of thousands of children took jobs in farms and factories .
“ This is a serious problem , ” he said .
Experts say in the past , most students who have missed class because of crises like the Ebola epidemic returned when schools reopened .
But the longer the crisis drags on , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yliana Merida , a researcher at the Autonomous University of Chiapas , Mexico , said that even more than before , the pandemic has turned education into a luxury .
“ Many parents opt for ‘ you ’ re going to work to help me at home because right now we really need it.
’ ” In Nuevo Yibeljoj , another community in the mountains of Chiapas , 12-year-old Samuel Vázquez watches closely as his father , Agustín , writes syllables on scraps of paper and sticks them to the wall .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother , using the bed as a desk as his father kneels between them .
They had just returned from working in the fields , something the brothers used to do only on weekends .
Since schools closed in March , they ’ ve worked weekdays , weeding and helping with the crops .
Samuel enjoys farm work and one day wants to grow coffee and fruit trees like his father , but he misses school .
He ’ s a good student and helps his younger siblings .
“ I like addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Samuel is fortunate that his father makes time to help them study , though he himself has only an elementary school education .
“ I try , but it ’ s not the same as a teacher , because I ’ m a farmer , ” says Agustín , 52 .
He has 12 children , four of whom are school age .
He was sick with COVID-19 and recovered .
What worries him is the future .
“ We aren ’ t afraid of the coronavirus , ” he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is education , which is being lost.
” Valdez reported from El Alto , Bolivia and Costa reported from Tobati , Paraguay .
AP writers Tom Odula in Nairobi , Kenya and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi , India and Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed to this report .

MARÍA VERZA, CARLOS VALDEZ and WILLIAM COSTA

JOTOLCHEN, Mexico (AP) - The coronavirus pandemic is threatening the future of a generation of the world’s children, depriving them of schooling and sending them to work. Across the developing world, two decades of gains against child labor are eroding.
With classrooms shuttered and parents losing their jobs, children are trading their ABC’s for the D of drudgery: Reading, writing and times tables are giving way to sweat, blisters and fading hopes for a better life.
Instead of going to school, children in Kenya are grinding rocks in quarries. Tens of thousands of children in India have poured into farm fields and factories. Across Latin America, kids are making bricks, building furniture and clearing brush, once after-school jobs that are now full-time work.
These children and adolescents are earning pennies or at best a few dollars a day to help put food on the table.
“Child labor becomes a survival mechanism for many families.” says Astrid Hollander, UNICEF’s head of education in Mexico.
Governments are still analyzing how many students have dropped out of their school systems, but with school closures affecting nearly 1.5 billion children around the world, UNICEF estimates the numbers could be in the millions.
Experts say the longer their education is put on hold, the less likely children will return to school. The ramifications, especially for those already lagging, can be lifelong — narrowed job opportunities, lower potential earnings and greater likelihood of poverty and early pregnancy.
“The repercussions could be felt in economies and societies for decades to come,” Henrietta Fore, executive director of UNICEF, the U.N. children’s agency, warned in August. For at least 463 million children whose schools closed, there is no possibility of remote learning.
It is, she said, a “global education emergency.”
___
The same week the UNICEF report was issued, a new school year started for nearly 30 million students in Mexico. In remote places where distance learning is not feasible, teachers deliver workbooks to villages and then arrange to retrieve them later.
Joel Hernández, director of a school in Jotolchén, in the mountains of central Chiapas state, said he went to pick up the workbooks recently and only about 20% of students had completed the work.
Neither 11-year-old Andrés Gomez nor his siblings had done it. Until March, when the school closed, Andrés spent his days there learning to speak, read and write Spanish — his native language is Tzotzil. After the bell he would follow his dad into the amber mine for a couple of hours.
Now each morning he goes to work inside that a dark, hand-carved tunnel which lacks supports or safety measures. With a flashlight lashed to his head he whips a heavy hammer back and forth over his shoulder driving a steel spike into the rock. He can’t stand up. He crouches on the flakes of rock he chips away, each blow followed by a quiet grunt.
The hope is to find a piece of amber for which a middleman might pay him $1 to $5. The bit of petrified sap would likely end up sold as jewelry to tourists.
“What I want to learn is to read and write,” he says.
Andrés could take advantage of online or televised learning, but like many others he has no access to technology; there is no computer or television in his family’s two-room home, just an old stereo.
“If Dad is going to the fields, to the coffee grove, to the mine, the child is not going to stay at home with nothing to do,” Hernández says. “For them, to sit around watching television, if they have it, is like wasting time.”
There are seven children in Andrés’ family, four of school age. An 8-year-old sister helps her pregnant mother do laundry and cook food; Andrés and an older brother work in the mine with their father
Miners pay a monthly rent to the landowner to dig for amber, a payment that comes due whether they find any or not. When Andrés is not mining he helps an uncle with livestock, cutting firewood and clearing brush. In his spare time he reverts to the boy he is, shooting marbles and laughing.
He misses school: “I learned the vowels, the teacher taught, we copied and then I went to the mine,” he says. His school, a single room with posters of vocabulary and historical figures on the walls and messages still on the chalkboard, sits vacant.
Mexican law prohibits children younger than 14 from working. Children under 16 can’t do hazardous or unhealthy work. But children commonly work around school to help their families get by.
Mexican education officials recently said that enrollment for the new school year was down about 10%, but teachers warn that many students enrolled out of habit, but aren’t participating.
“Some kids will probably drop out, maybe not in elementary school, but those who finished sixth grade this year,” Hernández says. “Those probably won’t continue on to middle school.”
___
In El Alto, a suburb perched above Bolivia’s capital of La Paz, five siblings between the ages of 6 and 14 years old are bundled in hats and coats against the chilly mountain air as they and their parents work all in their family’s small carpentry workshop.
The youngest, 6-year-old Mariana Geovana, would have started kindergarten this year; instead, she smooths miniature furniture with scraps of sandpaper. Jonatan, 14, the most experienced, uses the electric saw to cut lengths of wood for doll-size beds and full-size chests of drawers.
“I’m frustrated not being able to go to school,” he says. “You learn talking with your classmates and your teachers.”
The Bolivian government decided to cancel the school year in August because it said there was no way to provide an equitable education to the country’s nearly 3 million students. In a country where informal employment makes up 70% of the economy, the closure of schools immediately put more kids to work.
“We have seen new children and adolescents selling in the street,” says Patricia Velasco, manager of a municipal program for at-risk people in the capital La Paz. “They’ve been pushed to generate income.”
Watching Mariana, Jonatan and his other children at work — and sending the older kids out into the streets to sell their pieces — Hector Delgado, 54, knows what is at stake. “For the students the closure of the school year is a catastrophe. They’re not going to make up the time and I strive for them to be more than carpenters.”
But Delgado, head of the local Artisans Council in El Alto, said the family had burned through their savings and now didn’t have money to buy lumber to carry on with its business.
He and his wife, María Luisa, are doing what they can to ensure their children don’t fall behind. Under their mother’s watchful eye, the children work through schoolbooks they were given in February at the start of the school year. Each morning in the workshop, she has them take time to study.
The family’s commitment to education is most apparent in an adjacent room. There, eldest son Cristian, 21, continues his management classes online through a public university.
___
The dark earth bricks produced by the rustic brickyards of the small town of Tobatí, 43 miles (70 km) from Asunción, are used to construct buildings across Paraguay. Large open kilns made from those very same mud bricks stand next to almost every home; row upon row of identical bricks dry in the open air.
With the help of his 10-year-old son, Hugo Godoy shovels mounds of clay and sandy earth, preparing to make the next day’s bricks.
As he leans on his spade, his son wanders off to sit with two infants by the house — Godoy’s grandchildren. His son does more than help at home; since schools stopped operating in March, Godoy had also been sending him to work at a nearby larger factory.
“I spoke to the owner and said that if he gave him light work - moving the raw materials and things like that - then I’d let him go,” Godoy said, speaking in his native Guarani language. “There are lots of children working.”
Another of Godoy’s sons, who is 15, is working full time at the same factory, earning around $10 a day loading bricks onto tall trucks. Before the pandemic he worked just part time. “I don’t put the older ones to work here at home: I tell them to go and find some way to help with our situation,” Godoy said.
In Paraguay, children from 12 to 14 can carry out only “light tasks” in family enterprises, while adolescents of 15 to 17 can hold jobs that do not appear on a list of the 26 “worst forms of child labor” — as long as it does not interfere with their schooling.
Members of brickmaking families said school closures — scheduled to last at least until December — have led to many children and adolescents working longer hours. And these new schedules have made it difficult to complete their virtual schoolwork.
Godoy said he had discovered that his son had missed exams, and “After that, I told him to let me know when he has exams so that he doesn’t have to go to work those days. Whatever happens, we’ll find a way to manage and make ends meet, I told him.”
Paraguay’s government set up virtual classrooms for distance learning, but families cited a number of associated costs, including cell phone data plans as well as printing and copying for their children’s class work. A UNICEF report said that 22% of students were participating in the virtual classrooms while 52% were trying to keep up with assignments via WhatsApp.
“I know lots of cases of 15-year-olds who have been doing well at school but haven’t been able to afford the costs,” said Godoy. “They stop studying and start working.”
___
At a quarry in Nairobi, Florence Mumbua works alongside her children, ages 7, 10 and 12. Mumbua lost her cleaning job at a private school when the pandemic hit, and the family doesn’t have the resources for the children to learn online. So together they crush rock, each earning about 65 cents a day.
“I have to work with them because they need to eat and yet I make little money. When we work as a team, we can make enough money for our lunch, breakfast and dinner,” Mumbua said.
Child labor is illegal in Kenya. But so is child prostitution, and it too has thrived since school closed.
Mary Mugure, a former sex worker turned activist through her Night Nurse organization, says up to 1,000 schoolgirls have become sex workers in the three Nairobi neighborhoods she monitors since schools shut in March. The youngest, she said, was 11.
In India, Dhananjay Tingal fears that millions more children will “fall back into trafficking, child labor and child marriage because the economic crisis is looming large.”
As executive director of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan — a children’s rights group whose founder, Kailash Satyarthi, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 — Tingal has watched with horror as child labor grows in a country that already has one of the world’s worst records.
A harsh nationwide lockdown imposed in March pummeled the Indian economy and pushed millions of people into poverty, forcing many poor families to put their children to work to make ends meet. When the economy opened, tens of thousands of children took jobs in farms and factories.
“This is a serious problem,” he said.
___
Experts say in the past, most students who have missed class because of crises like the Ebola epidemic returned when schools reopened. But the longer the crisis drags on, the less likely they will go back.
Yliana Merida, a researcher at the Autonomous University of Chiapas, Mexico, said that even more than before, the pandemic has turned education into a luxury. “Many parents opt for ‘you’re going to work to help me at home because right now we really need it.’”
In Nuevo Yibeljoj, another community in the mountains of Chiapas, 12-year-old Samuel Vázquez watches closely as his father, Agustín, writes syllables on scraps of paper and sticks them to the wall. He sits in a small chair beside his brother, using the bed as a desk as his father kneels between them.
They had just returned from working in the fields, something the brothers used to do only on weekends. Since schools closed in March, they’ve worked weekdays, weeding and helping with the crops.
Samuel enjoys farm work and one day wants to grow coffee and fruit trees like his father, but he misses school. He’s a good student and helps his younger siblings. “I like addition a lot and reading,” he says.
Samuel is fortunate that his father makes time to help them study, though he himself has only an elementary school education.
“I try, but it’s not the same as a teacher, because I’m a farmer,” says Agustín, 52.
He has 12 children, four of whom are school age. He was sick with COVID-19 and recovered. What worries him is the future.
“We aren’t afraid of the coronavirus,” he says. “What worries us a lot is education, which is being lost.”
__
Valdez reported from El Alto, Bolivia and Costa reported from Tobati, Paraguay. AP writers Tom Odula in Nairobi, Kenya and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, India and Christopher Sherman in Mexico City contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Kyrgyzstan's president announces his resignation amid unrest

MOSCOW ( AP ) — Kyrgyzstan ’ s president announced his resignation Thursday , bowing to the demands of protesters who have taken to the streets of this Central Asian nation to contest the results of a recent parliamentary election .
Protesters in the capital of Bishkek celebrated Sooronbai Jeenbekov ’ s decision , but it ’ s not clear it will quell the unrest that has gripped the country since last week .
The demonstrators quickly moved on to demanding that Parliament be dissolved and that the body ’ s speaker , who is next in line in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeenbekov had dismissed calls he step down just a day earlier .
But in a statement released by his office Thursday , he said that he feared violence if he stayed in power , noting that protesters were facing off against police and military .
“ In this case , blood will be shed , it is inevitable , ” Jeenbekov ’ s statement said .
“ I don ’ t want to go down in history as a president who shed blood and shot at his own citizens.
” Parliament must officially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Isayev , who was appointed earlier this week , told local media that the legislature would gather Friday to consider it .
Raising the possibility of further confusion and turmoil , Isayev told the Kyrgyz news outlet 24.kg that he doesn ’ t feel he has the right to take over the presidency since the current parliamentary term is about to end .
Jeenbekov ’ s announcement was hardly a surprising turn for the country of 6.5 people on the border with China : He is the third president to be chased from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The country was most recently plunged into chaos following an Oct. 4 vote that election officials say was swept by pro-government parties .
The opposition said the election was tainted by vote-buying and other irregularities .
Protesters have taken over government buildings , looting some offices , and the Central Election Commission nullified the election .
The opposition then announced plans to oust Jeenbekov and form a new government .
Jeenbekov kept a low profile in the first few days after the vote , using the infighting among protest leaders to dig in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Bishkek , which was endorsed Tuesday by Parliament .
Authorities deployed troops to the capital over the weekend and introduced a curfew .
The move eased tensions in the city , where residents feared the violence and vandalism that accompanied previous uprisings and began forming vigilante groups to protect property .
Stores and banks that were closed last week have reopened .
In an effort to stem the unrest , Jeenbekov on Wednesday endorsed the appointment of Sadyr Zhaparov , a former lawmaker who was freed from jail by demonstrators last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister .
He also approved Zhaparov ’ s new Cabinet .
Zhaparov promised his supporters to push for Jeenbekov ’ s resignation — but Jeenbekov continued to resist , saying he would stay in the job until the political situation in Kyrgyzstan stabilizes .
Hundreds of Zhaparov ’ s supporters rallied in the capital Wednesday , demanding the president ’ s resignation and threatening to storm his residence .
Zhaparov promised he would meet with the president again on Thursday to talk about his resignation .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protests continued .
As in the uprisings that ousted presidents in 2005 and 2010 , the current unrest has been driven by clan rivalries that shape the country ’ s politics .
Jeenbekov said in his statement that the situation in Bishkek “ remains tense ” and that he didn ’ t want to escalate those tensions .
“ For me , peace in Kyrgyzstan , the country ’ s integrity , the unity of our people and the calm in the society are above all else , ” Jeenbekov ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zhaparov and other politicians to get their supporters of the streets of the capital and “ bring peaceful life back to the people of Bishkek .
”

MOSCOW (AP) — Kyrgyzstan’s president announced his resignation Thursday, bowing to the demands of protesters who have taken to the streets of this Central Asian nation to contest the results of a recent parliamentary election.
Protesters in the capital of Bishkek celebrated Sooronbai Jeenbekov’s decision, but it’s not clear it will quell the unrest that has gripped the country since last week. The demonstrators quickly moved on to demanding that Parliament be dissolved and that the body’s speaker, who is next in line in the order of succession, also resign.
Jeenbekov had dismissed calls he step down just a day earlier. But in a statement released by his office Thursday, he said that he feared violence if he stayed in power, noting that protesters were facing off against police and military.
“In this case, blood will be shed, it is inevitable,” Jeenbekov’s statement said. “I don’t want to go down in history as a president who shed blood and shot at his own citizens.”
Parliament must officially approve his resignation, and Speaker Kanat Isayev, who was appointed earlier this week, told local media that the legislature would gather Friday to consider it. Raising the possibility of further confusion and turmoil, Isayev told the Kyrgyz news outlet 24.kg that he doesn’t feel he has the right to take over the presidency since the current parliamentary term is about to end.
Jeenbekov’s announcement was hardly a surprising turn for the country of 6.5 people on the border with China: He is the third president to be chased from power by popular uprisings since 2005.
The country was most recently plunged into chaos following an Oct. 4 vote that election officials say was swept by pro-government parties. The opposition said the election was tainted by vote-buying and other irregularities.
Protesters have taken over government buildings, looting some offices, and the Central Election Commission nullified the election. The opposition then announced plans to oust Jeenbekov and form a new government.
Jeenbekov kept a low profile in the first few days after the vote, using the infighting among protest leaders to dig in. He introduced a state of emergency in Bishkek, which was endorsed Tuesday by Parliament.
Authorities deployed troops to the capital over the weekend and introduced a curfew. The move eased tensions in the city, where residents feared the violence and vandalism that accompanied previous uprisings and began forming vigilante groups to protect property. Stores and banks that were closed last week have reopened.
In an effort to stem the unrest, Jeenbekov on Wednesday endorsed the appointment of Sadyr Zhaparov, a former lawmaker who was freed from jail by demonstrators last week, as the country’s new prime minister. He also approved Zhaparov’s new Cabinet.
Zhaparov promised his supporters to push for Jeenbekov’s resignation — but Jeenbekov continued to resist, saying he would stay in the job until the political situation in Kyrgyzstan stabilizes.
Hundreds of Zhaparov’s supporters rallied in the capital Wednesday, demanding the president’s resignation and threatening to storm his residence. Zhaparov promised he would meet with the president again on Thursday to talk about his resignation.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the meeting took place, but the protests continued.
As in the uprisings that ousted presidents in 2005 and 2010, the current unrest has been driven by clan rivalries that shape the country’s politics.
Jeenbekov said in his statement that the situation in Bishkek “remains tense” and that he didn’t want to escalate those tensions.
“For me, peace in Kyrgyzstan, the country’s integrity, the unity of our people and the calm in the society are above all else,” Jeenbekov’s statement said.
Jeenbekov has called on Zhaparov and other politicians to get their supporters of the streets of the capital and “bring peaceful life back to the people of Bishkek.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--House passes public works infrastructure bill, on to Senate

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - The Minnesota Senate easily passed a nearly $ 1.9 billion public works construction package Thursday , a day after the House finally broke months of partisan stalemate and approved the bill .
The package , known as a bonding bill , was the biggest piece of unfinished business left over from the 2020 regular session , which ended in May .
The Senate voted 64-3 to send the bill to Democratic Gov .
Tim Walz for his signature .
Twenty-five House Republicans crossed over Wednesday night to give the Democratic majority more than the 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That vote was 100-34 .
The bill failed to win enough House votes in two previous special sessions , when Republicans conditioned their support on an end to the emergency powers that Walz has used to fight COVID-19 , a demand they ultimately dropped .
“ There ’ s a lot of fixing up that need to be done , there ’ s a lot of investment that needs to occur .
And that ’ s what this bill does , ” said GOP Sen. David Senjem , of Rochester , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiate the final bill .
He said the projects will put a lot of people to work as the state tries to recover from the coronavirus pandemic .
However , several Republicans complained that the House decision to adjourn forced senators to take it or leave it , preventing them from offering amendments and sending the package back for further negotiations .
“ We have no voice , and no choice , ” said Sen. Carrie Ruud , of Breezy Point .
“ Because if we amend this bill , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no bonding bill at all.
” The bill includes $ 1.37 billion debt that will be repaid from the state ’ s general fund , plus some other funding sources .
It also includes a tax break for new equipment purchases that ’ s aimed at main street businesses and farmers , which Republicans had long sought .
And it also includes some spending to cover current shortfalls , including money to keep two small correctional facilities open in Togo and Willow River .
The projects include $ 624 million for transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Minnesota and Minnesota State higher education systems , and $ 100 million for affordable housing .
A sampling of specific projects includes $ 55 million for bus rapid transit routes in the Twin Cities , $ 29.5 million for a new state emergency operations center and $ 18 million to replace the deteriorating Lake Bronson Dam in northwestern Minnesota .
“ This bonding bill will touch every Minnesotan in our great state , ” said Sen. Sandy Pappas , of St Paul , the lead Democrat on the bonding committee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ preservation , on public health and safety - very important in these COVID days - on preserving and expanding essential infrastructure , preserving and enhancing our great outdoors .
”

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Senate easily passed a nearly $1.9 billion public works construction package Thursday, a day after the House finally broke months of partisan stalemate and approved the bill.
The package, known as a bonding bill, was the biggest piece of unfinished business left over from the 2020 regular session, which ended in May. The Senate voted 64-3 to send the bill to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for his signature.
Twenty-five House Republicans crossed over Wednesday night to give the Democratic majority more than the 60% supermajority the legislation needed to pass. That vote was 100-34. The bill failed to win enough House votes in two previous special sessions, when Republicans conditioned their support on an end to the emergency powers that Walz has used to fight COVID-19, a demand they ultimately dropped.
“There’s a lot of fixing up that need to be done, there’s a lot of investment that needs to occur. And that’s what this bill does,” said GOP Sen. David Senjem, of Rochester, who chairs the Senate bonding committee and helped negotiate the final bill. He said the projects will put a lot of people to work as the state tries to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
However, several Republicans complained that the House decision to adjourn forced senators to take it or leave it, preventing them from offering amendments and sending the package back for further negotiations.
“We have no voice, and no choice,” said Sen. Carrie Ruud, of Breezy Point. “Because if we amend this bill, it’s dead. And the state of Minnesota has no bonding bill at all.”
The bill includes $1.37 billion debt that will be repaid from the state’s general fund, plus some other funding sources. It also includes a tax break for new equipment purchases that’s aimed at main street businesses and farmers, which Republicans had long sought. And it also includes some spending to cover current shortfalls, including money to keep two small correctional facilities open in Togo and Willow River.
The projects include $624 million for transportation projects, $165 million for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State higher education systems, and $100 million for affordable housing. A sampling of specific projects includes $55 million for bus rapid transit routes in the Twin Cities, $29.5 million for a new state emergency operations center and $18 million to replace the deteriorating Lake Bronson Dam in northwestern Minnesota.
“This bonding bill will touch every Minnesotan in our great state,” said Sen. Sandy Pappas, of St Paul, the lead Democrat on the bonding committee. “The emphasis has been on asset preservation, on public health and safety - very important in these COVID days - on preserving and expanding essential infrastructure, preserving and enhancing our great outdoors.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Delaware sees a rise in coronavirus hospitalizations

DOVER , Del .
( AP ) - The number of people who are hospitalized with the coronavirus in Delaware @ @ @ @ @ State News reported Wednesday that the state has 116 COVID-19 hospitalizations .
The Delaware Division @ @ @ @ @ is the highest number since there were 117 hospitalized on June 5 .
DPH said @ @ @ @ @ are considered critical .
Hospitalizations rose by 11 over the previous two days and by @ @ @ @ @ of September .
The DPH also announced one additional death .
The state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ The death was of a 77-year-old New Castle County resident who was in a long-term @ @ @ @ @ underlying health condition .
Statewide , the total number of virus cases is 22,465 .
@ @ @ @ @ is 11,665 .

DOVER, Del. (AP) - The number of people who are hospitalized with the coronavirus in Delaware is rising.
The Delaware State News reported Wednesday that the state has 116 COVID-19 hospitalizations.
The Delaware Division of Public Health said that is the highest number since there were 117 hospitalized on June 5. DPH said that 22 of those hospitalizations are considered critical.
Hospitalizations rose by 11 over the previous two days and by 38 compared to the end of September.
The DPH also announced one additional death. The state’s total is now 660. The death was of a 77-year-old New Castle County resident who was in a long-term care facility and had an underlying health condition.
Statewide, the total number of virus cases is 22,465. The total number of recoveries is 11,665.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Illinois defends plan to send teen to Wisconsin in 2 deaths

WAUKEGAN , Ill. ( AP ) - Any claims about what happened in Wisconsin have no role in whether to extradite an Illinois teenager to that state to face charges in the killing of two protesters , prosecutors said Thursday .
The state ’ s attorney in Lake County , Illinois , filed a response to Kyle Rittenhouse ’ s attorneys , who are trying to stop him from being transferred to Kenosha , Wisconsin , The Daily Herald reported .
A court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30 .
Rittenhouse , 17 , is accused of fatally shooting two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during unrest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake , who is Black .
Rittenhouse , who is white , surrendered to police in his hometown , Antioch , Illinois .
Rittenhouse ’ s legal team is raising technicalities about typographical errors in documents , said prosecutors , who called it a “ red herring.
” “ The Illinois arrest citation had nothing to do with the governor ’ s grant of extradition nor is it relevant to this limited hearing on this matter , ” prosecutors said .
Illinois Gov .
J.B. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Wisconsin after a request from Gov .
Tony Evers .
Rittenhouse ’ s attorneys said extraditing him “ would be to turn him over to the mob.
” Prosecutors said the circumstances of the shootings have no role in whether to transfer Rittenhouse across the state border .
“ This is an extradition hearing .
It bears repeating : an extradition hearing , ” the court filing said .
If convicted of first-degree homicide , Rittenhouse would be sentenced to life in prison .

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) - Any claims about what happened in Wisconsin have no role in whether to extradite an Illinois teenager to that state to face charges in the killing of two protesters, prosecutors said Thursday.
The state’s attorney in Lake County, Illinois, filed a response to Kyle Rittenhouse’s attorneys, who are trying to stop him from being transferred to Kenosha, Wisconsin, The Daily Herald reported. A court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.
Rittenhouse, 17, is accused of fatally shooting two protesters and injuring another on Aug. 25 during unrest over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black. Rittenhouse, who is white, surrendered to police in his hometown, Antioch, Illinois.
Rittenhouse’s legal team is raising technicalities about typographical errors in documents, said prosecutors, who called it a “red herring.”
“The Illinois arrest citation had nothing to do with the governor’s grant of extradition nor is it relevant to this limited hearing on this matter,” prosecutors said.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a warrant to return Rittenhouse to Wisconsin after a request from Gov. Tony Evers.
Rittenhouse’s attorneys said extraditing him “would be to turn him over to the mob.”
Prosecutors said the circumstances of the shootings have no role in whether to transfer Rittenhouse across the state border.
“This is an extradition hearing. It bears repeating: an extradition hearing,” the court filing said.
If convicted of first-degree homicide, Rittenhouse would be sentenced to life in prison.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--New acting president at SUNY Oneonta after COVID-19 outbreak

ONEONTA , N.Y. ( AP ) - The State University of New York at Oneonta on Thursday announced its president had resigned to “ pursue other opportunities , ” following a coronavirus outbreak that forced the school to switch to all-remote classes for the rest of the semester .
The central New York school said in a statement Dennis Craig would temporarily take on the role formerly held by Barbara Jean Morris and that a search for a permanent president would be starting soon .
SUNY Oneonta was the first campus in the state ’ s 64-institution system that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It switched to all-remote learning on Sept. 3 , after hundreds of virus cases had broken out .
Student body enrollment is above 6,700 , according to the school ’ s website .
Five students were suspended in connection to large parties .
SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oswego have had two-week switches to virtual learning because of outbreaks .
Craig was most recently interim president of SUNY Purchase , and the SUNY statement credited him with a successful fall reopening there .
At a press conference on the Oneonta campus Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ decision to resign was of her own volition , ” The Daily Star reported .

ONEONTA, N.Y. (AP) - The State University of New York at Oneonta on Thursday announced its president had resigned to “pursue other opportunities,” following a coronavirus outbreak that forced the school to switch to all-remote classes for the rest of the semester.
The central New York school said in a statement Dennis Craig would temporarily take on the role formerly held by Barbara Jean Morris and that a search for a permanent president would be starting soon.
SUNY Oneonta was the first campus in the state’s 64-institution system that had to shut down because of virus cases.
It switched to all-remote learning on Sept. 3, after hundreds of virus cases had broken out. Student body enrollment is above 6,700, according to the school’s website. Five students were suspended in connection to large parties.
SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oswego have had two-week switches to virtual learning because of outbreaks.
Craig was most recently interim president of SUNY Purchase, and the SUNY statement credited him with a successful fall reopening there.
At a press conference on the Oneonta campus Thursday, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said Morris’ “decision to resign was of her own volition,” The Daily Star reported.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Asia Today: Sydney lifts quarantine for N. Zealand travelers

SYDNEY ( AP ) - Australia ’ s largest city Sydney lifted quarantine restrictions on travelers from New Zealand on Friday while the second largest city , Melbourne , marked the 100th day of one the world ’ s longest pandemic lockdowns .
More than 350 passengers are scheduled to take three flights from Auckland on Friday and will not have to undergo hotel quarantine on arrival in Sydney .
New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said : “ This is great news for tourism .
It ’ s also great news for family reunification and grateful businesses.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelers from Australia quarantine in hotels for 14 days on arrival .
The Victoria state government has resisted pressure from businesses and the federal government to relax a second lockdown that began when stay-at-home orders took effect in Melbourne on July 9 .
Victoria recorded only two new COVID-19 cases in the latest 24-hour period .
The state last recorded such a low number on June 8 , with daily tallies peaking at 725 on Aug. 5 .
Victoria Premier Dan Andrews said he will announce on Sunday conservative plans to relax Melbourne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday will be conservative because this is a wildly infectious virus , ” Andrews told reporters .
“ These are some of the most difficult decisions that I ’ ve made in 20 years in public life.
” New South Wales on Friday reported five new cases in Sydney , including four who were infected overseas and detected in hotel quarantine .

SYDNEY (AP) - Australia’s largest city, Sydney, lifted quarantine restrictions on travelers from New Zealand on Friday while the second largest city, Melbourne, marked the 100th day of one of the world’s longest pandemic lockdowns.
More than 350 passengers were scheduled to take three flights from Auckland on Friday and will not have to undergo hotel quarantine on arrival in Sydney.
New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: “This is great news for tourism. It’s also great news for family reunification and grateful businesses.”
New Zealand will continue to insist that travelers from Australia quarantine in hotels for 14 days on arrival.
The Victoria state government has resisted pressure from businesses and the federal government to relax a second lockdown that began when stay-at-home orders took effect in Melbourne on July 9.
Victoria recorded only two new COVID-19 cases in the latest 24-hour period. The state last recorded such a low number on June 8, with daily tallies peaking at 725 on Aug. 5.
Victoria Premier Dan Andrews said he will announce on Sunday conservative plans to relax Melbourne’s lockdown.
“The decisions on Sunday will be conservative because this is a wildly infectious virus,” Andrews told reporters. “These are some of the most difficult decisions that I’ve made in 20 years in public life.”
New South Wales on Friday reported five new cases in Sydney, including four who were infected overseas and detected in hotel quarantine.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
- India’s confirmed coronavirus fatalities jumped to 895 in the past 24 hours, a day after recording the lowest daily deaths of 680 in nearly three months. The Health Ministry on Friday also reported 63,371 new cases, raising India’s total to more than 7.3 million, second in the world behind the U.S. The worst-hit western Maharashtra state accounted for nearly 36% of the 112,161 total deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic. The country was seeing more than 1,000 deaths per day last month. According to the Health Ministry, India’s average number of daily cases dropped to 72,576 last week from 92,830 during the week of Sept. 9-15, when the virus peaked. It is recording an average of around 70,000 cases daily so far this month. Some experts say India’s tally of more than 7.3 million infections may not be reliable because of poor reporting and inadequate health infrastructure. India is also relying heavily on antigen tests, which are faster but less accurate than traditional RT-PCR tests. Health officials have also warned about the potential for the virus to spread during the religious festival season beginning later this month.
- South Korea’s daily coronavirus tally has dropped below 50 for the first time in more than two weeks despite reports of small-scale local infections. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Friday the 47 cases added in the past 24 hours took the country’s total to 25,035 with 441 deaths. It’s a decline from the 110 reported a day earlier, about half of them tied to a hospital for the elderly in the southeastern city of Busan. Health official Son Youngrae says South Korea’s caseload is currently showing a downward trend. But he says the public must stay vigilant as cluster infections have also been detected sporadically in hospitals and other high-risk facilities. Earlier this week, South Korea relaxed its social distancing rules, allowing high-risk venues like nightclubs and karaoke bars to reopen and spectators to return to sport stadiums.
- Authorities have completed tests on more than 10 million people in the northern Chinese port city of Qingdao after a hospital outbreak there blamed on “inappropriate disinfection. ” Testing is set to continue to cover 11 million people, including more than 9 million citizens as well as those lacking formal residency. A total of 13 cases have been discovered in the city, but none since the mass testing program was launched earlier this week. The cluster of infections, the first locally transmitted cases in China in about two months, appears to be linked to “inappropriate disinfection” in the CT room at the Qingdao Chest Hospital, Ma Lixin, a health official for surrounding Shandong province, told reporters. Ma said the possibility of community transmission outside the hospital had been ruled out. The National Health Commission on Friday reported 24 new cases, all of them imported. Chinese hospitals are currently treating 253 people for COVID-19, with another 381 people being monitored in isolation for having testing positive for the virus without showing symptoms or for being suspected cases. China has reported a total of 5,634 deaths from 85,646 cases recorded since the virus was first detected in Wuhan late last year.
- Sri Lankan authorities have ordered the closure all cinemas in a bid to contain an outbreak that has so far infected 1,791 people in the capital’s suburbs. The cluster in a garment factory in the densely populated Western province was discovered last week, and is the first in more than two months. Authorities also have tightened a curfew in parts of the country. More than 2,000 other people were asked to quarantine at home. The majority of the infected are co-workers of the first patient. Schools and key public offices are also closed, public gatherings banned and restrictions imposed on public transport. Sri Lanka has reported a total of 5,170 confirmed cases with 13 deaths.
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Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Correa hits walkoff homer to keep Astros alive in ALCS

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - Carlos Correa homered with one out in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 Thursday behind sensational pitching from five rookies to remain alive in the AL Championship Series .
Correa drove a pitch from Nick Anderson to straightaway center field , watched the ball for a few steps and then flung his bat .
He was greeted at home by his ecstatic teammates .
He ’ s only 3 for 18 in the series , but two of the hits are homers .
Houston won a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to starter Luis Garcia and four fellow rookies , who combined to hold the Rays to two runs and four hits through 6 2/3 innings before manager Dusty Baker finally turned to a veteran , Josh James .
Ryan Pressly , the seventh Astros pitcher , got the victory .
The Astros pulled to 3-2 and forced Game 6 on Friday .
In the ALCS for a fourth straight year , the Astros are trying to join the 2004 Boston Red Sox as the only teams to come back from a 3-0 deficit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sox beat the New York Yankees in the ALCS and went on to win their first World Series in 86 seasons .
Otherwise , big league clubs leading 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series are 37-1 .
The Astros , who got into the playoffs with a losing record , are trying to reach the World Series for the third time in four years .
They are trying to get there in a year when they have been criticized for their role in a cheating scandal en route to the 2017 title that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit a walkoff homer in Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS off Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees .
George Springer homered on opener John Curtiss ’ first pitch and Michael Brantley broke a tie with a two-run single .
Tampa Bay ’ s Ji-Man Choi tied the game with a homer to deep right leading off the eighth .
Rookie Randy Arozarena continued his remarkable postseason by hitting his sixth homer in 12 games and Brandon Lowe also connected for the Rays , who need one more win to reach the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ franchise history .
Springer led off the bottom of the first by sending Curtiss ’ first pitch onto the second balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left field corner at Petco Park .
On Wednesday night , he drove a two-run shot onto the third balcony to break a tie and lead the Astros to a 4-3 win .
It was his fourth homer this postseason and 19th of his career , the most in franchise history and tying Albert Pujols for fourth all-time .
After Lowe homered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third to tie the game , Brantley singled to right off Josh Fleming to bring in Josh Reddick , who singled , and Martin Maldonado , who doubled .
Lowe ’ s throw was off-line and the 230-pound Maldonado scored with a headfirst slide .
Arozarena pulled the Rays to 3-2 with an opposite-field shot to right-center off Enoli Paredes with one out in the fifth .
Arozarena homered for the second straight game , third time this series and sixth time this postseason , tying the rookie record set by Tampa Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His 20 postseason hits are two shy of Derek Jeter ’ s rookie record in 1996 .
Garcia held Tampa Bay hitless in two innings while striking out two and walking one .
Taylor allowed one hit and one run in two-thirds of an inning , Paredes allowed one run and one hit while striking out three in 1 2/3 innings , Andre Scrubb gave up two hits in 1 ½ innings and Brooks Raley worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts , including fanning Arozarena leading off the seventh .
Garcia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of a bases-loaded jam in the second .
Paredes got consecutive strikeouts with runners on first and second in the fourth .
Scrubb came on with a runner on first and one out in the fifth and struck out Yandy Diaz before allowing Ji-Man Choi ’ s single .
He got Manuel Margot to hit a grounder to third baseman Alex Bregman , who bare-handed it and threw him out to end the inning .
Baker ’ s instincts won out again when he decided to leave in Garcia even though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After walking Choi with one out and hitting Joey Wendle on the foot with a pitch , Baker sent pitching coach Brent Strom out for a chat with the 23-year-old Garcia .
The rookie proceeded to walk Willy Adames before getting Mike Zunino to fly out to the warning track in right .
Taylor took over opening the third and gave up Lowe ’ s leadoff homer .
On Wednesday night , Baker stuck with Zack Greinke even though he got into trouble in the sixth .
Greinke proceeded to load the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a 3-2 changeup to end the threat .
Curtiss allowed one run and one hit in 1 1/3 innings .
Houston matched the Marlins by using an MLB-high 15 rookie pitchers in 2020 .
They have nine rookie pitchers on their ALCS roster .
Rays : Gold Glove CF Kevin Kiermaier was out of the lineup a second straight day after getting hit by a pitch on the left hand on Tuesday night .
Astros : Framber Valdez was the most likely starter for Game 6 .
Rays : LHP Blake Snell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opener 2-1 .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Before Carlos Correa headed to the plate in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the AL Championship Series, he told Dusty Baker, “Walkoff.”
The 71-year-old manager replied, “Go ahead, man,” and then said a quick prayer to his father and brother.
If the Houston Astros had been forced to go extra innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, Baker thought, he’d have to burn Framber Valdéz, his projected Game 6 starter.
Baker’s prayer was answered with a loud crack.
Correa homered with one out in the ninth, and the Astros beat the Rays 4-3 Thursday behind sensational pitching from five rookies, closing to 3-2 in the series.
Correa drove a fastball at the letters from Nick Anderson just past the palm trees to the right of the batter’s eye at Petco Park, watched the ball for a few steps and then flung his bat. He was greeted at home by his ecstatic teammates and had a long hug with Baker.
“I don’t mean no disrespect when I call my shot,” said Correa, who added that he went to the indoor cage after his second and third at-bats to work with hitting coach Alex Cintron and make adjustments.
“We felt it and it was like, ‘Wow. This feels good,’” the shortstop said.
He passed on his positive view to teammate Altuve after the eighth.
“I told Altuve walking off the field, ‘I’m going to end it,’” Correa recalled. “I could feel that my swing was in sync, I could feel that my rhythm was good, I could feel that I wanted to drive the ball. When he threw me the fastball I swung good and got exactly what I wanted.”
Correa is only 3 for 18 in the series, but two of the hits are homers.
Houston won a second straight elimination game thanks in large part to starter Luis Garcia and four fellow rookies, who combined to hold the Rays to two runs and four hits through 6 2/3 innings before Baker finally turned to a veteran, Josh James. Ryan Pressly, the seventh Astros pitcher, got the victory.
The Astros forced Game 6 on Friday, a rematch of the first game started by left-handers Blake Snell of Tampa Bay and Valdéz.
In the ALCS for a fourth straight year, the Astros are trying to join the 2004 Boston Red Sox as the only teams to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. The Red Sox beat the New York Yankees in the ALCS and went on to win their first World Series in 86 seasons.
Otherwise, big league clubs leading 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series are 37-1.
“Boy, that will go down as one of greatest games in history and hopefully go down as one of greatest comebacks in history after two more games,” said Baker, the first manager to take five different teams to the playoffs. “That’s as big a game as I’ve been involved in. That’s one of the reason’s that I came back.”
The Astros, who got into the playoffs with a 29-31 regular-season record, are trying to reach the World Series for the third time in four years. They are attempting to get there in a year when they have been criticized for their role in a cheating scandal en route to the 2017 title that was uncovered last offseason.
Correa also hit a walkoff homer in Game 2 of the 2017 ALCS off Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees.
“I still made a good pitch, and he wasn’t coming off the heater,” Anderson said. “I don’t think anybody is worried.”
George Springer homered on opener John Curtiss’ first pitch and Michael Brantley broke a tie with a two-run single. Houston became the first team with a leadoff and walk-off home run in a postseason game.
“You go from feeling pretty good about our chances to knowing the game was over a short time after that,” Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier said.
Tampa Bay’s Ji-Man Choi tied the game with a homer leading off the eighth.
Rookie Randy Arozarena continued his remarkable postseason by hitting his sixth homer in 12 games and Brandon Lowe also connected for the Rays, who need one more win to reach the Fall Classic for the second time.
Springer led off the bottom of the first by sending Curtiss’ first pitch onto the second balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left field corner. On Wednesday night, he drove a two-run shot onto the third balcony to break a tie and lead the Astros to a 4-3 win.
It was his fourth homer this postseason and 19th of his career, the most in franchise history and tying Albert Pujols for fourth all-time.
After Lowe homered off Blake Taylor leading off the third to tie the game, Brantley hit a two-run single against Josh Fleming.
Arozarena pulled the Rays to 3-2 with an opposite-field shot to right-center off Enoli Paredes with one out in the fifth. Arozarena homered for the second straight game, third time this series and sixth time this postseason, tying the rookie record set by Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria in 2008.
His 20 postseason hits are two shy of Derek Jeter’s rookie record in 1996.
Garcia held Tampa Bay hitless in two innings while striking out two and walking one. Taylor allowed one hit and one run in two-thirds of an inning, Paredes allowed one run and one hit in 1 2/3 innings, Andre Scrubb gave up two hits in 1 ½ innings and Brooks Raley worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, including fanning Arozarena leading off the seventh.
Garcia, making his first postseason appearance, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second. Paredes got consecutive strikeouts with runners on first and second in the fourth. Scrubb came on with a runner on first and one out in the fifth and struck out Yandy Diaz before allowing Ji-Man Choi’s single. He got Manuel Margot to hit a grounder to third baseman Alex Bregman, who bare-handed it and threw him out to end the inning.
Baker’s instincts won out again when he decided to leave in Garcia with two on and two out in the second. After a visit by pitching coach Brent Strom, Garcia walked Willy Adames and retired Mike Zunino on a flyout to the warning track.
Taylor took over opening the third and gave up Lowe’s leadoff homer.
“We get to play another day,” Baker said. “Tomorrow is huge. I mean, we’re one step closer to getting over that mountain, and that hurdle that seemed way off in the distance a couple days ago.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: Kiermaier was out of the starting lineup a second straight day after getting hit by a pitch on the left hand on Tuesday night. He pinch ran in the ninth.
UP NEXT
Astros: Valdéz lost the ALCS opener 2-1.
Rays: Snell pitched five innings to win the opener.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Why tech giants limited the spread of NY Post story on Biden

OAKLAND , California ( AP ) - When Facebook and Twitter moved quickly this week to limit the spread of an unverified political story published by the conservative-leaning New York Post , it led to predictable cries of censorship from the right .
But it also illustrated the slippery hold even the largest tech companies have on the flow of information , particularly in the midst of a raucous presidential election campaign .
While Facebook and Twitter have often been slow to combat apparent misinformation and other violations of their rules , their response in this case shows how quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Misinformation frequently outpaces the truth on social networks , academic studies have found .
But if social media titans aren ’ t careful , their attempts to clamp down on a story can amplify it further .
And even when they exercise caution , they risk generating their own headlines with every move .
For the first time in recent memory , the two social media platforms enforced rules against misinformation on a story from a mainstream media publication .
The story in question , which has not been confirmed by other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s son that were reportedly discovered by President Donald Trump ’ s allies .
Trump ’ s campaign seized on the report , although it raised more questions than answers , including whether emails at the center of the story were hacked or fabricated .
Neither company responded when asked if they have previously taken similar action against a mainstream news article , although Facebook said demoting material while it awaits a fact check is common practice .
Facebook used the possibility of false information as the reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which means its algorithm shows it to fewer people , much the way you might not see as many posts from friends you don ’ t interact with often .
Twitter , meanwhile , blocked users from tweeting out the link to the story and from sending it in private messages .
Though they acted quickly , both companies stumbled on communicating their decision to the public .
In part because of this , and in part by the mere act of trying to limit the story , the tech platforms soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circles where purported bias from Big Tech is already a prime talking point .
The fact that a major , big-city newspaper was getting the treatment usually reserved for more fringe outlets added extra fuel to the fire .
“ I find this behavior stunning but not surprising from a platform that has censored the President of the United States , ” wrote Senator Josh Hawley ( R-Mo . )
in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey .
Republican lawmakers on Thursday announced plans to subpoena Dorsey to testify about his platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unusual move Wednesday morning , a Facebook spokesman took to Twitter to announce that the company was “ reducing ” the story ’ s distribution on the platform while waiting for third-party fact-checkers to verify it .
Facebook regularly does this with material that isn ’ t banned outright from its service , but that risks spreading lies or causing harm in other ways .
Later on Wednesday , Twitter began banning its users from sharing links to the article in tweets and direct messages because it violated the company ’ s policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t alert its users as to why they couldn ’ t share the link until hours later .
In a Twitter thread , the company ’ s safety group said that the images in the article included personal and private information in violation of its rules , and said it considered material included in the article to be a violation of its hacked materials policy .
Dorsey tweeted shortly afterward that it was “ unacceptable ” that the company had not provided more context around its action .
The Post followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tech platforms ’ purported “ censorship.
” And Thursday ’ s print cover of the tabloid shows a photo of Biden and his son with a big blue “ CENSORED ” stamp and the headline “ Facebook and Twitter block Post expose on Hunter Biden files.
” Associated Press Writer Amanda Seitz contributed to this story from Chicago .

OAKLAND, California (AP) - When Facebook and Twitter moved quickly this week to limit the spread of an unverified political story published by the conservative-leaning New York Post, it led to predictable cries of censorship from the right. But it also illustrated the slippery hold even the largest tech companies have on the flow of information, particularly in the midst of a raucous presidential election campaign.
While Facebook and Twitter have often been slow to combat apparent misinformation and other violations of their rules, their response in this case shows how quickly they can move when they want to. Misinformation frequently outpaces the truth on social networks, academic studies have found. But if social media titans aren’t careful, their attempts to clamp down on a story can amplify it further. And even when they exercise caution, they risk generating their own headlines with every move.
For the first time in recent memory, the two social media platforms enforced rules against misinformation on a story from a mainstream media publication. The story in question, which has not been confirmed by other publications, cited unverified emails from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s son that were reportedly discovered by President Donald Trump’s allies.
Trump’s campaign seized on the report, although it raised more questions than answers, including whether emails at the center of the story were hacked or fabricated. Neither company responded when asked if they have previously taken similar action against a mainstream news article, although Facebook said demoting material while it awaits a fact check is common practice.
Facebook used the possibility of false information as the reason to limit the article’s reach, which means its algorithm shows it to fewer people, much the way you might not see as many posts from friends you don’t interact with often. Twitter, meanwhile, blocked users from tweeting out the link to the story and from sending it in private messages.
Though they acted quickly, both companies stumbled on communicating their decision to the public. In part because of this, and in part by the mere act of trying to limit the story, the tech platforms soon became the story, especially in conservative circles where purported bias from Big Tech is already a prime talking point. The fact that a major, big-city newspaper was getting the treatment usually reserved for more fringe outlets added extra fuel to the fire.
“I find this behavior stunning but not surprising from a platform that has censored the President of the United States,” wrote Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Republican lawmakers on Thursday announced plans to subpoena Dorsey to testify about his platform’s actions.
In a somewhat unusual move Wednesday morning, a Facebook spokesman took to Twitter to announce that the company was “reducing” the story’s distribution on the platform while waiting for third-party fact-checkers to verify it. Facebook regularly does this with material that isn’t banned outright from its service, but that risks spreading lies or causing harm in other ways.
Later on Wednesday, Twitter began banning its users from sharing links to the article in tweets and direct messages because it violated the company’s policy that prohibits hacked content. But it didn’t alert its users as to why they couldn’t share the link until hours later.
In a Twitter thread, the company’s safety group said that the images in the article included personal and private information in violation of its rules, and said it considered material included in the article to be a violation of its hacked materials policy.
Dorsey tweeted shortly afterward that it was “unacceptable” that the company had not provided more context around its action.
The Post followed up Wednesday with an article focused on the tech platforms’ purported “censorship.” And Thursday’s print cover of the tabloid shows a photo of Biden and his son with a big blue “CENSORED” stamp and the headline “Facebook and Twitter block Post expose on Hunter Biden files.”
___
Associated Press Writer Amanda Seitz contributed to this story from Chicago.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--'Tarzan' actor challenges DA report in son's shooting death

SANTA BARBARA , California .
( AP ) - The attorney for “ Tarzan ” actor Ron Ely and his family has challenged a Santa Barbara County District Attorney report that the fatal shooting of his son was justifiable .
Attorney John Burris said in a news conference Thursday that Cameron Ely never claimed to have a gun before deputies opened fire in the 2019 confrontation .
He said Cameron Ely surrendered with his hands up .
An investigation found that Cameron Ely , 30 , stabbed his mother , 62-year-old Valerie Lundeen Ely , to death before he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Hope Ranch , a suburb of luxury homes outside Santa Barbara .
The Santa Barbara Sheriff ’ s Department said the deputies found Ely outside the home .
The agency said Cameron Ely told them he had a gun and that he moved his hands as if he were grabbing a weapon .
The deputies fired 24 rounds at Cameron Ely .
No weapon was found .
Last week , no charges were filed against the deputies who shot and killed Cameron Ely .
The district attorney described the deputies ’ actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Burris said the deputies “ engaged in the unjustified use of deadly force.
” “ If he didn ’ t have a gun or he didn ’ t have a weapon , what was the basis of shooting him ?
” Burris said .
“ They may have very well thought he was involved in some other activity involving the mom .
But that ’ s not a basis to shoot and kill him .
You have to have a lawful basis to do that.
” Ron Ely , 81 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series “ Tarzan , ” which ran from 1966 to 1968 .
He also hosted the Miss America pageant between 1980-81 .
The actor was home at the time of the stabbing , but there is no report that he was injured .

SANTA BARBARA, California. (AP) - The attorney for “Tarzan” actor Ron Ely and his family has challenged a Santa Barbara County District Attorney report that the fatal shooting of his son was justifiable.
Attorney John Burris said in a news conference Thursday that Cameron Ely never claimed to have a gun before deputies opened fire in the 2019 confrontation. He said Cameron Ely surrendered with his hands up.
An investigation found that Cameron Ely, 30, stabbed his mother, 62-year-old Valerie Lundeen Ely, to death before he was shot outside his father’s home in Hope Ranch, a suburb of luxury homes outside Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department said the deputies found Ely outside the home. The agency said Cameron Ely told them he had a gun and that he moved his hands as if he were grabbing a weapon.
The deputies fired 24 rounds at Cameron Ely. No weapon was found.
Last week, no charges were filed against the deputies who shot and killed Cameron Ely. The district attorney described the deputies’ actions in the shooting as a justifiable homicide.
But Burris said the deputies “engaged in the unjustified use of deadly force.”
“If he didn’t have a gun or he didn’t have a weapon, what was the basis of shooting him?” Burris said. “They may have very well thought he was involved in some other activity involving the mom. But that’s not a basis to shoot and kill him. You have to have a lawful basis to do that.”
Ron Ely, 81, played the title character on the NBC series “Tarzan,” which ran from 1966 to 1968. He also hosted the Miss America pageant between 1980-81.
The actor was home at the time of the stabbing, but there is no report that he was injured.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Mexican rights agency: marines executed 4 men near pipeline

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Mexico ’ s National Human Rights Commission said Thursday that marines illegally detained , beat and executed four people who were doing farm work near a government fuel pipeline in 2019 .
And in another case , the governmental commission said soldiers illegally detained and tortured three teenagers they believed were kidnapping suspects in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez in 2009 , and killed one boy , and raped and released another .
The governmental commission said the pipeline killings took place in February 2019 , in an area just east of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thefts .
State-owned pipelines in Mexico are plagued by thieves who frequently drill illegal taps into the ducts .
Marines and soldiers were massively deployed in 2019 to guard the pipelines .
The pipelines often run through fields and look-outs for the thieves frequently pose as farm workers .
The commission said evidence indicates a marine patrol stripped and beat men who were gathering forage , then took them to a remote area and killed them .
Their bodies were found days later .
The commission recommended the marines be investigated and prosecuted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be compensated .
The Navy said in a statement in 2019 that the marines had found the men stealing fuel , but acknowledged the marines appear to have “ acted against legal procedures ” and “ committed acts that violated their duty.
” The navy said at the time that the marines involved had been made available to prosecutors .
The Navy said Thursday it would comply with the commission ’ s recommendations .
In the 2009 case , witnesses said 45 or 50 soldiers pulled up in several trucks and took two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also illegally detained .
They were tortured with beatings and near-asphyxiation till one appeared to be dying and was finished off with a gunshot to the head .
His body was dumped in the desert and prosecutors allegedly failed to identify his remains or advise his family .
The other boy was raped by a soldier who held a gun to his head and released .
The third youth was turned over to prosecutors .
The Defense Department did not immediately respond to the accusations .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission said Thursday that marines illegally detained, beat and executed four people who were doing farm work near a government fuel pipeline in 2019.
And in another case, the governmental commission said soldiers illegally detained and tortured three teenagers they believed were kidnapping suspects in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez in 2009, and killed one boy, and raped and released another.
The governmental commission said the pipeline killings took place in February 2019, in an area just east of Mexico City that is known for fuel thefts. State-owned pipelines in Mexico are plagued by thieves who frequently drill illegal taps into the ducts.
Marines and soldiers were massively deployed in 2019 to guard the pipelines. The pipelines often run through fields and look-outs for the thieves frequently pose as farm workers.
The commission said evidence indicates a marine patrol stripped and beat men who were gathering forage, then took them to a remote area and killed them. Their bodies were found days later.
The commission recommended the marines be investigated and prosecuted, and the victim’s relatives be compensated.
The Navy said in a statement in 2019 that the marines had found the men stealing fuel, but acknowledged the marines appear to have “acted against legal procedures” and “committed acts that violated their duty.” The navy said at the time that the marines involved had been made available to prosecutors.
The Navy said Thursday it would comply with the commission’s recommendations.
In the 2009 case, witnesses said 45 or 50 soldiers pulled up in several trucks and took two boys away. A third teenager was also illegally detained. They were tortured with beatings and near-asphyxiation till one appeared to be dying and was finished off with a gunshot to the head. His body was dumped in the desert and prosecutors allegedly failed to identify his remains or advise his family.
The other boy was raped by a soldier who held a gun to his head and released. The third youth was turned over to prosecutors.
The Defense Department did not immediately respond to the accusations.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Joe Biden suggests he'll reveal court-packing position before election

Joseph R. Biden said Thursday that he might tip his hand before the election on whether he would support adding seats to the U.S. Supreme Court .
Voters “ do have a right to know [ where ] I stand , and they ’ ll have a right to know where I stand before they vote , ” he said at an ABC town hall in Philadelphia .
Moderator George Stephanopoulos then asked if he ’ ll come out with a clear position before Election Day .
“ Yes — depending on how they handle this , ” Mr. Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the high court .
Mr. Biden has repeatedly refused to engage on the subject , though he allowed in a recent interview that he ’ s “ not a fan ” of court-packing .
He has also said in recent weeks that voters don ’ t deserve to know his position and that they would find out where he stands after Nov. 3 .
Liberals are demanding that congressional Democrats push to add seats to the court if the GOP-led Senate confirms Judge Barrett before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House , Senate and White House .

Joseph R. Biden said Thursday that he might tip his hand before the election on whether he would support adding seats to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Voters “do have a right to know [where] I stand, and they’ll have a right to know where I stand before they vote,” he said at an ABC town hall in Philadelphia.
Moderator George Stephanopoulos then asked if he’ll come out with a clear position before Election Day.
“Yes — depending on how they handle this,” Mr. Biden said, referring to the GOP push to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the high court.
Mr. Biden has repeatedly refused to engage on the subject, though he allowed in a recent interview that he’s “not a fan” of court-packing.
He has also said in recent weeks that voters don’t deserve to know his position and that they would find out where he stands after Nov. 3.
Liberals are demanding that congressional Democrats push to add seats to the court if the GOP-led Senate confirms Judge Barrett before the election and if Democrats win control of the House, Senate and White House.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Ben Sasse warns blue tsunami, rips Trump as TV-obsessed, narcissistic

In a stinging rebuke of President Trump , Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska said it will be hard for the GOP revive the party ’ s brand after “ selling a TV-obsessed , narcissistic individual to the American people.
” The Washington Examiner reported Thursday that Mr. Sasse unloaded on Mr. Trump during a telephone town hall with voters on Wednesday , criticizing him for ignoring the coronavirus early on , kissing “ dictators ’ butts , ” and mocking “ evangelicals behind closed doors.
” “ His family has treated the presidency like a business opportunity , ” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the call .
“ He ’ s flirted with white supremacists.
” Mr. Sasse said Mr. Trump will likely lose to Joseph R. Biden and he has opened the door for a Democratic takeover of the Senate .
“ We are staring down the barrel of a blue tsunami , ” he said.. Mr. Sasse said the primary reason Mr. Trump won the 2016 election was that Hillary Clinton was “ literally the most unpopular candidate in the history of polling ” and he lamented that Mr. Trump could permanently turn young voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

In a stinging rebuke of President Trump, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska said it will be hard for the GOP to revive the party’s brand after “selling a TV-obsessed, narcissistic individual to the American people.”
The Washington Examiner reported Thursday that Mr. Sasse unloaded on Mr. Trump during a telephone town hall with voters on Wednesday, criticizing him for ignoring the coronavirus early on, kissing “dictators’ butts,” and mocking “evangelicals behind closed doors.”
“His family has treated the presidency like a business opportunity,” Mr. Sasse said, according to audio of the call. “He’s flirted with White supremacists.”
Mr. Sasse said Mr. Trump will likely lose to Joseph R. Biden and he has opened the door for a Democratic takeover of the Senate.
“We are staring down the barrel of a blue tsunami,” he said..
Mr. Sasse said the primary reason Mr. Trump won the 2016 election was that Hillary Clinton was “literally the most unpopular candidate in the history of polling,” and he lamented that Mr. Trump could permanently turn young voters and women away from the Republican Party.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Joe Biden: Mistake to support crime bill

Joseph R. Biden said Thursday that it was a mistake to support a crime bill he helped craft that many have blamed for the over-incarceration of people of color in subsequent decades .
His campaign then said Mr. Biden was actually talking about a different bill.Mr .
Biden had been asked by a voter about his view on the crime bill “ that you wrote in 1994.
” After he answered , moderator George Stephanopoulos asked Mr. Biden if it was a mistake to support it .
“ Yes it was , ” Mr. Biden said at an ABC town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s where the mistake came : the mistake came in terms of what the states did locally.
” He said maximum sentences were eventually reduced .
“ Black folks went to jail a lot less than they would have before , but it was a mistake , ” he said .
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and Mr. Biden ’ s role in writing it were major issues in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary contest .
It included other items , like an assault weapons ban and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Biden has continued to support .
His campaign later tried to walk his answer back .
“ VP Biden was talking about the ‘ 86 crime bill - that ’ s the one that included mandatory minimums for drug offenses ( in fact , the 1994 crime bill did not ) , which was what VP and George were discussing , ” Stef Feldman , the Biden campaign ’ s policy director , said on Twitter .

Joseph R. Biden said Thursday that it was a mistake to support a crime bill he helped craft that many have blamed for the over-incarceration of people of color in subsequent decades.
His campaign then said Mr. Biden was actually talking about a different bill.Mr. Biden had been asked by a voter about his view on the crime bill “that you wrote in 1994.”
After he answered, moderator George Stephanopoulos asked Mr. Biden if it was a mistake to support it.
“Yes it was,” Mr. Biden said at an ABC town hall in Philadelphia. “But here’s where the mistake came: the mistake came in terms of what the states did locally.”
He said maximum sentences were eventually reduced.
“Black folks went to jail a lot less than they would have before, but it was a mistake,” he said.
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and Mr. Biden’s role in writing it were major issues in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary contest.
It included other items, like an assault weapons ban and the Violence Against Women Act, that Mr. Biden has continued to support.
His campaign later tried to walk his answer back.
“VP Biden was talking about the ‘86 crime bill - that’s the one that included mandatory minimums for drug offenses (in fact, the 1994 crime bill did not), which was what VP and George were discussing,” Stef Feldman, the Biden campaign’s policy director, said on Twitter.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Protesters disrupt Kansas City eviction hearings

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - Protesters in Kansas City , Missouri , chained themselves to the doors of a downtown courthouse Thursday and shut down virtual eviction proceedings with online disruptions .
The protest , which drew about 100 people , was organized by the nonprofit group KC Tenants , the Kansas City Star reported .
Protesters holding signs saying “ eviction kills ” and “ court ’ s closed today ” called on Jackson County Judge David Byrn to halt eviction hearings and keep residents in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic and related economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily halted evictions this spring , but those resumed this summer .
Tenant advocates have been calling for another moratorium amid high unemployment brought on by the pandemic .
KC Tenants and the American Civil Liberties Union sued last month , alleging Byrn ’ s administrative order laying out procedures for eviction cases violated a federal halt of evictions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The court said in a statement that the judicial branch “ does not create laws , statutes or policy , ” but rather enforces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative branches .
It says it is and will remain in compliance with the CDC order .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Protesters in Kansas City, Missouri, chained themselves to the doors of a downtown courthouse Thursday and shut down virtual eviction proceedings with online disruptions.
The protest, which drew about 100 people, was organized by the nonprofit group KC Tenants, the Kansas City Star reported.
Protesters holding signs saying “eviction kills” and “court’s closed today” called on Jackson County Judge David Byrn to halt eviction hearings and keep residents in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic and related economic crisis.
The Jackson County Circuit Court temporarily halted evictions this spring, but those resumed this summer. Tenant advocates have been calling for another moratorium amid high unemployment brought on by the pandemic.
KC Tenants and the American Civil Liberties Union sued last month, alleging Byrn’s administrative order laying out procedures for eviction cases violated a federal halt of evictions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The court said in a statement that the judicial branch “does not create laws, statutes or policy,” but rather enforces and follows laws set by executive and legislative branches. It says it is and will remain in compliance with the CDC order.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Savannah Guthrie scolds Trump: 'You're the president. You're not like someone's crazy uncle'

NBC moderator Savannah Guthrie accused President Trump of acting like the proverbial “ crazy uncle ” of Twitter .
In @ @ @ @ @ , Ms. Guthrie was going after Mr. Trump ’ s Twitter habits citing , among @ @ @ @ @ of a baseless QAnon conspiracy-theory post .
Mr. Trump downplayed it as just a retweet @ @ @ @ @ that he doesn ’ t know much about the group .
A clearly frustrated Ms. @ @ @ @ @ and unpresidential .
“ You ’ re the president .
You ’ re not like @ @ @ @ @ who can just retweet whatever , ” she said .
The QAnon tweet in question @ @ @ @ @ staged Osama bin Laden ’ s death and , to cover up , had killed @ @ @ @ @

NBC moderator Savannah Guthrie accused President Trump of acting like the proverbial “crazy uncle” of Twitter.
In a town-hall meeting Thursday evening, Ms. Guthrie was going after Mr. Trump’s Twitter habits citing, among other things, his retweeting of a baseless QAnon conspiracy-theory post.
Mr. Trump downplayed it as just a retweet and not an endorsement and that he doesn’t know much about the group.
A clearly frustrated Ms. Guthrie called his response cavalier and unpresidential.
“You’re the president. You’re not like someone’s crazy uncle who can just retweet whatever,” she said.
The QAnon tweet in question said the Obama administration had staged Osama bin Laden’s death and, to cover up, had killed SEAL Team 6 members.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Small plane crashes in strip mall parking lot, pilot injured

PUYALLUP ( AP ) - Authorities say the pilot of a small plane crashed Thursday afternoon in the parking lot @ @ @ @ @ mall shopping center .
KOMO reports the male pilot was flying alone in what appeared @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities said the pilot was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor @ @ @ @ @ which occurred shortly after 4 p.m. No other injuries were reported .
The Pierce County @ @ @ @ @ investigating the crash and officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were said to be @ @ @ @ @ .

PUYALLUP (AP) - Authorities say the pilot of a small plane crashed Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of a Pierce County strip mall shopping center.
KOMO reports the male pilot was flying alone in what appeared to be a Cessna plane. Authorities said the pilot was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries after the crash, which occurred shortly after 4 p.m. No other injuries were reported.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office was investigating the crash and officials from the National Transportation Safety Board were said to be en route to the scene.


washingtontimes--2020-10-15--Savannah Guthrie, Donald Trump spar over white supremacy, antifa

President Trump on Thursday sparred with NBC ’ s Savannah Guthrie when she pressed him to denounce White supremacy .
“ I denounce White supremacy .
I ’ ve denounced White supremacy for years .
You always start with that question , ” Mr. Trump said in a TV town hall in Miami .
“ I denounce White supremacy .
What ’ s the next question ?
” He called out Ms. Guthrie and other reporters for not pressing Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden on antifa and left-wing radicals .
“ Why aren ’ t you asking me about antifa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden about antifa ?
He says it ’ s an idea , ” said Mr. Trump .
Ms. Guthrie said Mr. Biden was not on at the town hall .
Mr. Biden has made allegations that Mr. Trump supports White supremacists a cornerstone of this campaign .
The White supremacy question has been lobbed repeatedly at Mr. Trump , who has repeatedly denounced racism but sometimes fumbled the question , which keeps the controversy alive .
When Ms. Guthrie continued to prod him on what she described as his past reluctance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we go again .
I denounce White supremacy .
And you know something , I denounce antifa and I denounce the radical left that is burning cities , ” he said .
Asked about the conspiracy theory group Qanon , which idolizes Mr. Trump for fighting an alleged cabal of pedophiles within the federal government , the president said he didn ’ t know much about them .
“ They are strongly against pedophilia and I am against that , ” said Mr. Trump .

President Trump on Thursday sparred with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie when she pressed him to denounce White supremacy.
“I denounce White supremacy. I’ve denounced White supremacy for years. You always start with that question,” Mr. Trump said in a TV town hall in Miami. “I denounce White supremacy. What’s the next question?”
He called out Ms. Guthrie and other reporters for not pressing Democratic challenger Joseph R. Biden on antifa and left-wing radicals.
“Why aren’t you asking me about antifa? Why aren’t you asking Joe Biden about antifa? He says it’s an idea,” said Mr. Trump.
Ms. Guthrie said Mr. Biden was not on at the town hall.
Mr. Biden has made allegations that Mr. Trump supports White supremacists a cornerstone of this campaign.
The White supremacy question has been lobbed repeatedly at Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly denounced racism but sometimes fumbled the question, which keeps the controversy alive.
When Ms. Guthrie continued to prod him on what she described as his past reluctance, he rolled his eyes.
“Here we go again. I denounce White supremacy. And you know something, I denounce antifa and I denounce the radical left that is burning cities,” he said.
Asked about the conspiracy theory group Qanon, which idolizes Mr. Trump for fighting an alleged cabal of pedophiles within the federal government, the president said he didn’t know much about them.
“They are strongly against pedophilia and I am against that,” said Mr. Trump.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.