washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Thai students rally for educational and political reforms

BANGKOK ( AP ) - Secondary school students in Thailand ‘ s capital rallied Saturday for educational and political reforms , defying government threats to crack down with legal action against the country ’ s high-profile protest movement .
The rally was called by a group that calls itself “ Bad Students , ” mocking their status as rebels against traditional school rules and authorities .
Reflecting their light touch toward protest actions , they used props including people in dinosaur suits and oversize beach balls standing in for asteroids .
Just as an asteroid hitting the earth is believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dinosaurs , they pointed out , the old-fashioned members of Thailand ’ s establishment impeding change will face a collision with the country ’ s pro-democracy movement .
Though the original goals of the Bad Students included abolishing outmoded regulations such as dress codes and reforming antiquated curriculums , they now also support the demands of Thailand ’ s broader pro-democracy movement , which seeks major political change .
Saturday ’ s rally , held in one of Bangkok ’ s busiest shopping areas , attracted a crowd of at least 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secondary school students .
Namfon Jaruk , a 21-year-old college student , said it was appropriate for demonstrators to discuss issues beyond education .
“ We are not just students .
We are citizens of this country , too , ” she said .
“ Students have rights to talk politics and anything that needs to be discussed.
” The rally came at the end of a week with two chaotic protests held by followers of the pro-democracy movement .
On Tuesday , protesters rallied outside Parliament to urge lawmakers to pass a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitution , including sections about the monarchy ’ s rights and privileges .
The lawmakers agreed to consider changes , but not to sections including the monarchy .
The three core demands of the movement are that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha step down , the constitution be amended to make it more democratic , and the monarchy be reformed to be made more accountable .
The movement believes the monarchy holds too much power for a constitutional monarchy .
But their challenge is fiercely opposed by royalists , who consider the royal institution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Efforts by Tuesday ’ s protesters to force their way onto the grounds of Parliament were pushed back by police using tear gas and water cannons firing a mixture that included chemical irritants .
At least 55 people were hurt , including six reported to have had gunshot wounds .
Police denied firing live rounds or rubber bullets .
On Wednesday , several thousand demonstrators gathered outside the national headquarters of the police in central Bangkok to protest the force used against protesters the night before .
The Wednesday rally was nonviolent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police ” sign outside its headquarters and scrawled graffiti and chanted slogans that could be considered derogatory to King Maha Vajiralongkorn .
Prime Minister Prayuth reacted by declaring that the protesters had gone too far and could now expect to be prosecuted for their illegal actions .
While protest leaders have faced dozens of charges over the past few months , they have generally been freed on bail , and none have yet come to trial .
On Friday , Prayuth made clear that the government would also employ the use of Thailand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls for a prison term of up to 15 years for anyone who defames the king or his immediate family .

BANGKOK (AP) - Secondary school students in Thailand’s capital rallied Saturday for educational and political reforms, defying government threats to crack down with legal action against the country’s high-profile protest movement.
The rally was called by a group that calls itself “Bad Students,” mocking their status as rebels against traditional school rules and authorities.
Reflecting their light touch toward protest actions, they used props including people in dinosaur suits and oversize beach balls standing in for asteroids.
Just as an asteroid hitting the earth is believed to have led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, they pointed out, the old-fashioned members of Thailand’s establishment impeding change will face a collision with the country’s pro-democracy movement.
Though the original goals of the Bad Students included abolishing outmoded regulations such as dress codes and reforming antiquated curriculums, they now also support the demands of Thailand’s broader pro-democracy movement, which seeks major political change.
Saturday’s rally, held in one of Bangkok’s busiest shopping areas, attracted a crowd of at least 1,000 people, many of whom were not secondary school students.
Namfon Jaruk, a 21-year-old college student, said it was appropriate for demonstrators to discuss issues beyond education.
“We are not just students. We are citizens of this country, too,” she said. “Students have rights to talk politics and anything that needs to be discussed.”
The rally came at the end of a week with two chaotic protests held by followers of the pro-democracy movement.
On Tuesday, protesters rallied outside Parliament to urge lawmakers to pass a bill to consider sweeping changes in the constitution, including sections about the monarchy’s rights and privileges. The lawmakers agreed to consider changes, but not to sections including the monarchy.
The three core demands of the movement are that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha step down, the constitution be amended to make it more democratic, and the monarchy be reformed to be made more accountable.
The movement believes the monarchy holds too much power for a constitutional monarchy. But their challenge is fiercely opposed by royalists, who consider the royal institution an untouchable bedrock of national identity.
Efforts by Tuesday’s protesters to force their way onto the grounds of Parliament were pushed back by police using tear gas and water cannons firing a mixture that included chemical irritants. At least 55 people were hurt, including six reported to have had gunshot wounds. Police denied firing live rounds or rubber bullets.
On Wednesday, several thousand demonstrators gathered outside the national headquarters of the police in central Bangkok to protest the force used against protesters the night before.
The Wednesday rally was nonviolent, though protesters defaced the “Royal Thai Police” sign outside its headquarters and scrawled graffiti and chanted slogans that could be considered derogatory to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Prime Minister Prayuth reacted by declaring that the protesters had gone too far and could now expect to be prosecuted for their illegal actions. While protest leaders have faced dozens of charges over the past few months, they have generally been freed on bail, and none have yet come to trial.
On Friday, Prayuth made clear that the government would also employ the use of Thailand’s lese majeste law, which calls for a prison term of up to 15 years for anyone who defames the king or his immediate family.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble postponed

HONG KONG ( AP ) - Singapore and Hong Kong on Saturday postponed the start of an air travel bubble meant to boost tourism for both cities , amid a spike in coronavirus infections in Hong Kong .
The travel bubble , originally slated to begin Sunday , will be delayed by at least two weeks , Hong Kong ’ s minister of commerce and economic development , Edward Yau , said at a news conference .
The arrangement is meant to allow travelers between the two cities to travel without having to serve a quarantine as long as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their destinations , and fly on designated flights .
“ For any scheme to be successful , they must fulfill the condition of securing public health , and also make sure that both sides would be comfortable and feel safe about the scheme , ” Yau said .
“ In light of the situation in Hong Kong , I think it ’ s the responsible way to put this back for a while , and then sort of relaunch it at a suitable juncture.
” Under the initial agreement , the air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of untraceable local infections in either Singapore or Hong Kong exceeded five on a seven-day moving average .
The current average of unlinked cases in Hong Kong is nearly four .
Although the average of five had not been reached in Hong Kong as of Saturday , the bubble was postponed after Yau and Singapore ‘ s transport minister , Ong Ye Kung , held discussions .
The postponement came after Hong Kong ’ s top health official said Friday that the city had “ probably entered ” a new wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections in the city have spanned taxi drivers , a dance studio and hotels .
Hong Kong has confirmed a total of 5,561 cases , including 108 deaths .
Singapore has reported 58,148 cases , but only 28 fatalities .
Prior to the postponement , Singapore said Saturday morning that travelers arriving from Hong Kong via the bubble would be required to take a coronavirus test on arrival .
Originally , only people landing in Hong Kong were to be required to be tested .
Ong said in a Facebook post that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 virus is still with us.
” “ I can fully understand the disappointment and frustration of travellers who have planned their trips .
But we think it is better to defer from a public health standpoint , ” he wrote .

HONG KONG (AP) - Singapore and Hong Kong on Saturday postponed the start of an air travel bubble meant to boost tourism for both cities, citing a spike in infections in the Chinese territory as a “sober reminder” of risks to public health.
The travel bubble, originally slated to begin Sunday, will be delayed by at least two weeks, Hong Kong’s minister of commerce and economic development, Edward Yau, said at a news conference.
The arrangement is meant to allow travelers between the two cities to enter without quarantine as long as they complete coronavirus tests before and after arriving at their destinations, and fly on designated flights.
Hong Kong reported 43 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, including 13 untraceable local infections.
“For any scheme to be successful, they must fulfill the condition of securing public health, and also make sure that both sides would be comfortable and feel safe about the scheme,” Yau said. “In light of the situation in Hong Kong, I think it’s the responsible way to put this back for a while, and then sort of relaunch it at a suitable juncture.”
Under the initial agreement, the travel bubble was to be suspended if the number of untraceable local infections in either Singapore or Hong Kong exceeded five on a seven-day moving average. The current average in Hong Kong is nearly four, prompting Yau and Singapore’s transport minister, Ong Ye Kung, to postpone the inaugural flight.
On Friday, Hong Kong’s top health official said that the city had “probably entered” a new wave of cases. Recent clusters have spanned taxi drivers, a dance studio and hotels.
Hong Kong has confirmed a total of 5,561 cases, including 108 deaths. Singapore has reported 58,148 cases, but only 28 fatalities.
Prior to the postponement, Singapore said Saturday morning that travelers arriving from Hong Kong via the bubble would be required to take a coronavirus test on arrival. Originally, only people landing in Hong Kong were to be required to be tested.
Ong said in a Facebook post that the postponement is a “sober reminder that the COVID-19 virus is still with us.”
“I can fully understand the disappointment and frustration of travellers who have planned their trips. But we think it is better to defer from a public health standpoint,” he wrote.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--She fled Ethiopia's fighting. Now she warns of 'catastrophe'

NAIROBI , Kenya ( AP ) - Shaken by the gunfire erupting around her town in Ethiopia ’ s northern Tigray region , the woman decided to get out .
She joined a long line at the local government office for the paperwork needed to travel .
But when she reached the official , he told her she had wasted her time .
“ This is for people who are volunteering to fight , ” he said .
As Ethiopia ’ s government wages war in its Tigray region and seeks to arrest its defiant leaders , who regard the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over power , the fighting that could destabilize the Horn of Africa is hidden from outside view .
Communications are severed , roads blocked and airports closed .
But as one of the few hundred people who were evacuated this week from Tigray , the woman in an interview with The Associated Press offered rare details of anger , desperation and growing hunger as both sides reject international calls for dialogue , or even a humanitarian corridor for aid , in their third week of deadly fighting .
The United Nations says food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhausted , putting millions at risk.
” With supplies blocked at the Tigray borders and frantic aid workers using a dwindling number of satellite phones to reach the world , it is extremely difficult to hear accounts from those suffering on the ground .
At least several hundred people have been killed , and the United Nations has condemned ” targeted attacks against civilians based on their ethnicity or religion.
” The woman , an Ethiopian aid expert who spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for herself and loved ones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet of a population of some 6 million short of food , fuel , cash and even water , and without electricity as Ethiopia ’ s army marches closer to the Tigray capital every day .
“ I am telling you , people will slowly start to die , ” she said .
Not all of her account could be verified .
But the description of her passage through the Tigray capital , Mekele , to Ethiopia ’ s capital , Addis Ababa , fit with others that have trickled out from aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official and some of the more than 30,000 refugees who have fled into Sudan after the fighting began Nov. 4 .
She was connected with the AP by a foreign evacuee .
As borders , roads and airports swiftly closed after Ethiopia ’ s prime minister announced that Tigray forces had attacked a military base , the woman felt torn .
She had family in Addis Ababa and wanted to be with them .
Banks had closed , but loved ones gave her enough money to travel to Mekele .
As she drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barriers of stones piled up by local youth .
She said she did not see fighting .
In Mekele , she met with friends around the university .
She was shocked by what she saw .
“ It was a panic , ” she said .
“ Students were sleeping outside the university because they had come from all over.
” There was little to feed them .
Supplies in the markets were running low .
While in Mekele , she said , she heard three “ bombardments ” against the city .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the city .
When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in televised comments told civilians in Tigray not to congregate for their safety , “ that was a big panic , ” she said .
“ People said , ‘ Is he going to completely bomb us ?
’ There was huge anger , people pushing and saying , ‘ I want to fight.
’ ” When she visited a loved one at a university hospital , “ a doctor said they have no medicine , no insulin .
At all !
” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( International Committee of the Red Cross ) would give them some.
” Seeking to travel on to Addis Ababa , she found fuel on the black market but was warned her car could be a target .
But the U.N. and other aid groups had managed to arrange a convoy to evacuate non-essential staffers to the Ethiopian capital , and she found a space on one of the buses .
“ I think I was quite lucky , ” she said .
But as the buses pulled out of the capital , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 20 vehicles made its way through the night to the capital of the arid Afar region east of Tigray , then through the restive Amhara region , going slowly from checkpoint to checkpoint , not all of the security forces manning them briefed on the evacuation .
“ It took four days in total , ” the woman said of the journey , which would have taken a day by the direct route .
“ I was really afraid.
” Tigray special forces watched over the convoy in the beginning , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police accompanied it .
They were “ very disciplined , ” she said .
Now , after arriving in Addis Ababa earlier this week , she adds her voice to the growing calls for dialogue between the two governments , which now regard each other as illegal after the once-dominant Tigray regional party and its members were marginalized under Abiy ’ s reformist two-year rule .
“ I think they should negotiate , ” she said .
“ And we really need a corridor so food and medicine can go in .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dialogue appears distant .
The U.S. Embassy this week told citizens remaining in Tigray to shelter in place if they could not get out safely .
Like other worried families in Ethiopia and the diaspora , the woman can not reach her relatives left behind .
Many foreigners are still trapped in Tigray too , she said .
“ No one knows who is alive , who is dead , ” she said .
“ This is a catastrophe for me.
” On Thursday , she said , she managed to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The university had been hit by an airstrike .
More than 20 students were wounded .
“ She was crying , ” the evacuee said .
“ She ’ s a strong woman , I know that.
” Her voice was shaking .

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Shaken by the gunfire erupting around her town in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, the woman decided to get out. She joined a long line at the local government office for the paperwork needed to travel. But when she reached the official, he told her she had wasted her time.
“This is for people who are volunteering to fight,” he said.
As Ethiopia’s government wages war in its Tigray region and seeks to arrest its defiant leaders, who regard the federal government as illegitimate after a falling-out over power, the fighting that could destabilize the Horn of Africa is hidden from outside view. Communications are severed, roads blocked and airports closed.
But as one of the few hundred people who were evacuated this week from Tigray, the woman in an interview with The Associated Press offered rare details of anger, desperation and growing hunger as both sides reject international calls for dialogue, or even a humanitarian corridor for aid, in their third week of deadly fighting. The United Nations says food and other essentials “will soon be exhausted, putting millions at risk.”
With supplies blocked at the Tigray borders and frantic aid workers using a dwindling number of satellite phones to reach the world, it is extremely difficult to hear accounts from those suffering on the ground. At least several hundred people have been killed, and the United Nations has condemned ”targeted attacks against civilians based on their ethnicity or religion.”
The woman, an Ethiopian aid expert who spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for herself and loved ones, gave one of the most detailed accounts yet of a population of some 6 million short of food, fuel, cash and even water, and without electricity as Ethiopia’s army marches closer to the Tigray capital every day.
“I am telling you, people will slowly start to die,” she said.
Not all of her account could be verified. But the description of her passage through the Tigray capital, Mekele, to Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, fit with others that have trickled out from aid workers, diplomats, a senior university official and some of the more than 35,000 refugees who have fled into Sudan after the fighting began Nov. 4. She was connected with the AP by a foreign evacuee.
As borders, roads and airports swiftly closed after Ethiopia’s prime minister announced that Tigray forces had attacked a military base, the woman felt torn. She had family in Addis Ababa and wanted to be with them.
Banks had closed, but loved ones gave her enough money to travel to Mekele. As she drove, she squeezed her car through makeshift barriers of stones piled up by local youth. She said she did not see fighting.
In Mekele, she met with friends around the university. She was shocked by what she saw. “It was a panic,” she said. “Students were sleeping outside the university because they had come from all over.” There was little to feed them. Supplies in the markets were running low.
While in Mekele, she said, she heard three “bombardments” against the city. Ethiopia’s government has confirmed airstrikes around the city. When Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in televised comments told civilians in Tigray not to congregate for their safety, “that was a big panic,” she said. “People said, ‘Is he going to completely bomb us?’ There was huge anger, people pushing and saying, ‘I want to fight.’”
When she visited a loved one at a university hospital, “a doctor said they have no medicine, no insulin. At all!” she said. “They were hoping the (International Committee of the Red Cross) would give them some.”
Seeking to travel on to Addis Ababa, she found fuel on the black market but was warned her car could be a target. But the U.N. and other aid groups had managed to arrange a convoy to evacuate non-essential staffers to the Ethiopian capital, and she found a space on one of the buses. “I think I was quite lucky,” she said.
But as the buses pulled out of the capital, she was scared.
The convoy of some 20 vehicles made its way through the night to the capital of the arid Afar region east of Tigray, then through the restive Amhara region, going slowly from checkpoint to checkpoint, not all of the security forces manning them briefed on the evacuation.
“It took four days in total,” the woman said of the journey, which would have taken a day by the direct route. “I was really afraid.” Tigray special forces watched over the convoy in the beginning, she said. Near the end, federal police accompanied it. They were “very disciplined,” she said.
Now, after arriving in Addis Ababa earlier this week, she adds her voice to the growing calls for dialogue between the two governments, which now regard each other as illegal after the once-dominant Tigray regional party and its members were marginalized under Abiy’s reformist two-year rule.
“I think they should negotiate,” she said. “And we really need a corridor so food and medicine can go in. What about the people?”
The prospect of dialogue appears distant. The U.S. Embassy this week told citizens remaining in Tigray to shelter in place if they could not get out safely.
Like other worried families in Ethiopia and the diaspora, the woman cannot reach her relatives left behind. Many foreigners are still trapped in Tigray too, she said.
“No one knows who is alive, who is dead,” she said. “This is a catastrophe for me.”
On Thursday, she said, she managed to speak with a university friend in Mekele. The university had been hit by an airstrike. More than 20 students were wounded.
“She was crying,” the evacuee said. “She’s a strong woman, I know that.” Her voice was shaking.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--AP Week in Pictures, Global

AP Week in Pictures, Global

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated @ @ @ @ @ .
The selection was curated by AP photo editor Courtney Dittmar in New York .

NOV. 14- 20, 2020
This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from around the world.
The selection was curated by AP photo editor Courtney Dittmar in New York.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Manatee poke lands Tampa boat captain in federal court

TAMPA , Fla. ( AP ) - It is a federal crime to harass a manatee .
As a charter boat captain , David Beede knows this .
He knows there are special laws to protect endangered species like the heavyset fauna which lounge in the warm waters off Florida ’ s coastlines .
He would never want to hurt one .
So as he sat Tuesday at a defense table in a Tampa federal courtroom facing possible prison time , Beede seemed perplexed as to how exactly he ended up here .
Beede , the proprietor of Shallow Point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ d used a fishing rod to touch a manatee off Weedon Island .
He said he was only trying to help the animal , which had a worm or a fishing lure stuck to its back .
The act was caught on video taken from an overhead drone and soon became social media fodder .
Armchair animal rights activists were outraged and called for Beede ’ s head .
Then came a criminal charge and a guilty plea .
His voice shaking at times , the beleaguered boat captain struggled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas Barber .
“ I never imagined that this would come to this , ” Beede said .
But the judge , who is used to dealing with much more serious offenses , also seemed flummoxed that such a seemingly minor case could end up before him .
“ Some of these criminal cases are drug conspiracy after drug conspiracy , ” Barber said .
“ It ’ s interesting to me to get something a little different.
” Even the government acknowledged that Beede ’ s mistake was not particularly terrible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most egregious kind of crime , ” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalie Adams .
“ Nor was it committed in the most egregious kind of way.
” But by touching the animal , Beede did break the law .
And he had prior citations for boating in “ manatee zones.
” The prosecutor did not seek jail time , but she asked for a $ 2,000 fine .
Defense attorney Norman Canella Sr. said even that was too much .
While not discounting the crime , the judge questioned whether a such an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for social media .
“ If we were living in rural Montana or some place , and this was something with a buffalo , nobody would care , ” he said .
“ I ’ m interested in wildlife , but I ’ m scared now getting anywhere near them.
” Barber ordered Beede to complete 50 hours of community service .
Beede must provide proof that he has completed the work by Jan. 12 , after which the judge will decide if further sanctions are appropriate .
Before announcing the sentence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He stood and leaned forward at the bench as court personnel called it up on a cell phone .
The 39-second clip was posted in February to Twitter , Facebook and YouTube by See Through Canoe , a watercraft manufacturer .
From the air , it shows Beede ’ s 26-foot boat as it drifts into the murky shallows near a dozen manatees .
Beede , wearing a red jacket , stands on the bow near four other people , stretching a rod toward one of the animals .
A white object @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s back .
As he rubs the rod against its skin , the startled beast dives down , creating a splash .
Almost in unison , the other manatees do the same .
Afterward , the video shows Beede giving a high-five to a man standing next to him .
In court , he explained that the water was so dark , he didn ’ t see the other manatees and was surprised when he saw their splashes .
The high-five was a reaction to that .
Barber said it looked like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s the big no , no , ” he said .
“ You drive over a manatee and chop them up.
” But Beede asserted the motor was off .
His boat was floating beyond what ’ s considered a protected area for wildlife , he said .
He also claimed the man who recorded the video had been following him with the drone .
A later portion showed Beede apparently trying to snag the drone with a fishing line .
“ I ’ ll be honest , I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barber said .
“ I don ’ t want someone flying a drone while I ’ m trying to fish.
” Since the incident went wild on social media , Beede said people have threatened to kill him .
People have also said hurtful things to his family .
He ’ s lost more than $ 68,000 in gross business , he said , and he ’ s had to take out loans to keep it going .
He had to cancel his health insurance .
He has trouble sleeping , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noises in the night .
He apologized , said he understood that manatees need special protection , but expressed dismay at all that has followed .
“ I ’ ve never been arrested , ” he said .
“ I have no reason to go down like this .
”

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - It is a federal crime to harass a manatee. As a charter boat captain, David Beede knows this. He knows there are special laws to protect endangered species like the heavyset fauna which lounge in the warm waters off Florida’s coastlines. He would never want to hurt one.
So as he sat Tuesday at a defense table in a Tampa federal courtroom facing possible prison time, Beede seemed perplexed as to how exactly he ended up here.
Beede, the proprietor of Shallow Point Fishing Charters, admitted that months earlier he’d used a fishing rod to touch a manatee off Weedon Island. He said he was only trying to help the animal, which had a worm or a fishing lure stuck to its back.
The act was caught on video taken from an overhead drone and soon became social media fodder. Armchair animal rights activists were outraged and called for Beede’s head.
Then came a criminal charge and a guilty plea. His voice shaking at times, the beleaguered boat captain struggled to explain himself Tuesday to U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber.
“I never imagined that this would come to this,” Beede said.
But the judge, who is used to dealing with much more serious offenses, also seemed flummoxed that such a seemingly minor case could end up before him.
“Some of these criminal cases are drug conspiracy after drug conspiracy,” Barber said. “It’s interesting to me to get something a little different.”
Even the government acknowledged that Beede’s mistake was not particularly terrible.
“We understand this was not the most egregious kind of crime,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalie Adams. “Nor was it committed in the most egregious kind of way.”
But by touching the animal, Beede did break the law. And he had prior citations for boating in “manatee zones.”
The prosecutor did not seek jail time, but she asked for a $2,000 fine.
Defense attorney Norman Canella Sr. said even that was too much.
While not discounting the crime, the judge questioned whether a such an offense would be viewed differently if not for social media.
“If we were living in rural Montana or some place, and this was something with a buffalo, nobody would care,” he said. “I’m interested in wildlife, but I’m scared now getting anywhere near them.”
Barber ordered Beede to complete 50 hours of community service. Beede must provide proof that he has completed the work by Jan. 12, after which the judge will decide if further sanctions are appropriate.
Before announcing the sentence, the judge wanted to see the video. He stood and leaned forward at the bench as court personnel called it up on a cell phone.
The 39-second clip was posted in February to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube by See Through Canoe, a watercraft manufacturer. From the air, it shows Beede’s 26-foot boat as it drifts into the murky shallows near a dozen manatees.
Beede, wearing a red jacket, stands on the bow near four other people, stretching a rod toward one of the animals. A white object can be seen on the manatee’s back. As he rubs the rod against its skin, the startled beast dives down, creating a splash. Almost in unison, the other manatees do the same.
Afterward, the video shows Beede giving a high-five to a man standing next to him.
In court, he explained that the water was so dark, he didn’t see the other manatees and was surprised when he saw their splashes. The high-five was a reaction to that.
Barber said it looked like the boat was still under motor power.
“That’s the big no, no,” he said. “You drive over a manatee and chop them up.”
But Beede asserted the motor was off. His boat was floating beyond what’s considered a protected area for wildlife, he said. He also claimed the man who recorded the video had been following him with the drone.
A later portion showed Beede apparently trying to snag the drone with a fishing line.
“I’ll be honest, I would have done that, too,” Barber said. “I don’t want someone flying a drone while I’m trying to fish.”
Since the incident went wild on social media, Beede said people have threatened to kill him. People have also said hurtful things to his family. He’s lost more than $68,000 in gross business, he said, and he’s had to take out loans to keep it going. He had to cancel his health insurance. He has trouble sleeping, he said, and is always on guard against noises in the night.
He apologized, said he understood that manatees need special protection, but expressed dismay at all that has followed.
“I’ve never been arrested,” he said. “I have no reason to go down like this.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Man sentenced for having Molotov cocktails at DCF office

OCALA , Fla. ( AP ) - A Florida man accused of trying to throw a Molotov cocktail at a @ @ @ @ @ sentenced to four years and seven months in federal prison .
Tommy Lee Holt , @ @ @ @ @ in Ocala federal court , according to court records .
He pleaded guilty in June @ @ @ @ @ destructive device in the form of an incendiary bomb .
According to the plea agreement @ @ @ @ @ bombs last November and brought them to the Marion County branch of the Florida Department @ @ @ @ @ Witnesses said Holt lit the wick of one device but dropped it before throwing it @ @ @ @ @ deputy who apprehended Holt said the man was holding a lighter and wreaked of gasoline @ @ @ @ @ had 18 previous interactions with the agency .
A criminal complaint said Holt has five @ @ @ @ @ whom have been placed in foster care by the agency .

OCALA, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man accused of trying to throw a Molotov cocktail at a child welfare office has been sentenced to four years and seven months in federal prison.
Tommy Lee Holt, 27, was sentenced Friday in Ocala federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in June to possession of an unregistered destructive device in the form of an incendiary bomb.
According to the plea agreement, Holt manufactured eight incendiary bombs last November and brought them to the Marion County branch of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Witnesses said Holt lit the wick of one device but dropped it before throwing it at the building. A deputy who apprehended Holt said the man was holding a lighter and wreaked of gasoline.
DCF records showed Holt had 18 previous interactions with the agency. A criminal complaint said Holt has five minor children, all of whom have been placed in foster care by the agency.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--G-20 summit opens with Saudi urging united response to virus

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates ( AP ) - Saudi Arabia ’ s King Salman opened on Saturday the Group of 20 summit as the coronavirus pandemic overshadows this year ’ s gathering of heads of state , transforming it from an in-person two-day meeting of the world ’ s most powerful leaders to a virtual gathering of speeches and declarations .
The pandemic , which has claimed more than 1.37 million lives worldwide , has offered the G-20 an opportunity to prove how such bodies can facilitate international cooperation in crises - but has also underscored their shortcomings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 85 % of the world ’ s economic output and three-quarters of international trade .
“ We have a duty to rise to the challenge together during this summit and give a strong message of hope and reassurance , ” King Salman said in his opening remarks .
The kingdom , which assumed the G-20 presidency this year , is the host of the virtual summit that is bringing together leaders from the world ’ s richest and most developed economies , such as the U.S. , China , India , Turkey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among others .
President Donald Trump is among those expected to participate in the closed-door virtual sessions that are taking place Saturday and Sunday .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented shock that affected the entire world within a short period of time , causing global economic and social losses , ” said the Saudi monarch , who convened G-20 heads of state for an emergency meeting in March as the coronavirus was fast-spreading around the world .
At the time , the recorded global death toll from the virus had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vowed to share information and the material needed for research , to exchange epidemiological and clinical data , and to strengthen health systems .
They also promised to work together to increase funding for vaccine research .
While quick research and sharing of scientific information for the development of COVID-19 tests and vaccines has happened , individual G-20 countries have mostly focused on securing their own vaccine supplies .
King Salman urged G-20 leaders to provide support to developing countries in a coordinated manner .
The Saudi monarch touted G-20 efforts to inject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global economy this year as stimuli to support businesses and the most vulnerable .
He also commended the group for extending protections to those most impacted by the global economic recession , including a G-20 decision to suspend debt payments for the world ’ s poorest countries until mid-2021 to allow those nations to focus their spending on health care and stimulus programs .
“ I am confident that the Riyadh summit will deliver significant and decisive results and will lead to adopting economic and social policies that will restore hope and reassurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” King Salman said .

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Group of 20 summit opened on Saturday with appeals by the world’s most powerful leaders to collectively chart a way forward as the coronavirus pandemic overshadows this year’s gathering, transforming it from in-person meetings to a virtual gathering of speeches and declarations.
The pandemic, which has claimed more than 1.37 million lives worldwide, has offered the G-20 an opportunity to prove how such bodies can facilitate international cooperation in crises - but has also underscored their shortcomings.
“We have a duty to rise to the challenge together during this summit and give a strong message of hope and reassurance,” Saudi Arabia’s King Salman said in the summit’s opening remarks.
While G-20 countries have contributed billions of dollars toward developing a vaccine for the virus, they have also mostly focused on securing their own vaccine supplies. Countries such as Britain, the U.S., France and Germany - all G-20 member states - have directly negotiated deals with pharmaceutical companies to receive billions of doses, meaning that the vast majority of the world’s vaccine supply next year is already reserved.
U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted what the U.S. has done to response to the coronavirus and rebuild the economy and work on vaccines, which are expected to become available soon, according to White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Trump, however, appeared not to have acknowledged that Joe Biden won this month’s presidential election.
“It’s been a great honor to work with you and I look forward to working with you again for a long time,” Trump said, according to audio obtained by The Guardian. The South China Morning Post reported similar comments.
A day before the summit, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that while $10 billion has been invested in efforts to develop vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, another $28 billion is needed for mass manufacturing, procurement and delivery of new COVID-19 vaccines around the world.
Guterres called on more G-20 nations to join COVAX, an international initiative to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to countries worldwide. The United States has declined to join under Trump.
The pandemic has had a far-reaching economic impact on developing countries and pushed millions into extreme poverty. It has also plagued the world’s wealthiest nations, with nine G-20 countries ranking highest globally for the most cases of COVID-19 recorded. The United States tops the list, followed by India, Brazil, France, Russia, Spain, the U.K., Argentina and Italy, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Three G-20 leaders participating in the summit have been infected by the coronavirus this year: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Trump.
The virus shows no signs of abating as major cities in the U.S. and Europe bring back lockdowns and curfews. The World Health Organization says more cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the past four weeks than in the first six months of the pandemic.
The International Labor Organization says an equivalent of 225 million full-time jobs were lost in G-20 countries alone in the third quarter of 2020. G-20 member-countries represent around 85% of the world’s economic output and three-quarters of international trade.
In a sign of the times, the traditional “family photo” of leaders in the summit was digitally designed and superimposed on a historical site just outside the Saudi capital, Riyadh, which would have hosted the gathering. The kingdom has presided over the G-20 this year.
As part of the summit, seven leaders released video messages on “Pandemic Preparedness and Response”. France’s President Emmanuel Macron warned of the challenges in obtaining “universal access to health technologies against COVID-19”. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for strengthening the World Health Organization and stressed the pandemic can only be overcome if an affordable vaccine is available to all nations.
In a video statement released ahead of the summit, Johnson appealed to global leaders to harness the resources of the world’s wealthiest nations to end the COVID-19 pandemic and tackle climate change.
“Our fates are in each other’s hands,” said Johnson, who plans to attend two virtual events at the summit while self-isolating at home in London after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Bolsonaro, who spent months downplaying the severity of the virus while deaths mounted rapidly inside Brazil, emphasized in a video message that world leaders “should take care of people’s health and of the economy at the same time.”
President Trump also participated in the closed-door virtual sessions that are taking place Saturday and Sunday. It does not appear that any leaders dropped out of the summit, despite calls by rights groups, lawmakers and EU parliamentarians for leaders to boycott the gathering to protest Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and war in Yemen.
G-20 heads of state last gathered virtually for an emergency meeting in March as the coronavirus was fast-spreading around the world. At the time, they vowed “to do whatever it takes to overcome the pandemic.”
G-20 nations have since agreed to suspend debt payments for the world’s poorest countries until mid-2021 to allow those nations to focus their spending on health care and stimulus programs. The U.N. secretary general, however, has called on the G-20 to extend debt repayments through the end of 2021 and expand the scope to middle-income countries in need.
“I am confident that the Riyadh summit will deliver significant and decisive results and will lead to adopting economic and social policies that will restore hope and reassurance to the people of the world, ” King Salman said.
___
Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London, Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem and Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Prosecutors to seek death penalty against MS-13 gang leader

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Prosecutors in New York say they will seek the death penalty against a mid-level @ @ @ @ @ street gang accused in a string of brutal slayings .
According to a new federal @ @ @ @ @ Department has given authorization to bring a capital punishment case against Jairo Saenz .
There @ @ @ @ @ Saturday to a message seeking comment from Saenz ’ s attorney .
The 24-year-old Saenz @ @ @ @ @ a gang clique based in central Long Island , court papers say .
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ seven murders , including those of two girls who were attacked with a machete and @ @ @ @ @ through their suburban neighborhood .
Authorities believe MS-13 , or the Mara Salvatrucha , has @ @ @ @ @ country , mostly Central American immigrants .

NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors in New York say they will seek the death penalty against a mid-level leader of the notorious MS-13 street gang accused in a string of brutal slayings.
According to a new federal court filing, the Justice Department has given authorization to bring a capital punishment case against Jairo Saenz. There was no immediate response on Saturday to a message seeking comment from Saenz’s attorney.
The 24-year-old Saenz was second in command of a gang clique based in central Long Island, court papers say. He’s charged in connection with seven murders, including those of two girls who were attacked with a machete and baseball bats as they walked through their suburban neighborhood.
Authorities believe MS-13, or the Mara Salvatrucha, has thousands of members across the country, mostly Central American immigrants.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Utah lawmakers weigh tightening rules for officer hiring

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - A legislative committee this week approved a bill designed to prevent police officers under disciplinary investigation from jumping to another agency without a paper trail .
“ This will shore up situations where , for lack of a better description , a bad player can ’ t be passed on from department to department without discipline , ” said Scott Stephenson , director of Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training , on Nov. 17 .
The sponsor , Sen. Jani Iwamoto , D-Salt Lake City , said the bill would close loopholes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , retires or otherwise separates from an agency while an investigation is in progress , an agency would have 30 days to report it to POST and provide all case files , she said .
“ These are just some of the things to close the loopholes , ” Iwamoto said .
“ It ’ s a balanced approach for transparency , accountability and good policy.
” Rep. Lee Perry , R-Perry , said Iwamoto ’ s bill improves upon his House Bill 43 , passed by the 2020 Legislature .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , minor , bad officers that we don ’ t want to continue in the profession , ” said Perry , a longtime Utah Highway Patrol trooper .
“ It ’ s not an attack on law enforcement , ” Perry said .
“ No officer wants a bad actor in the profession.
” Stephenson said it ’ s good to “ get out in the open ” on such cases .
“ We have a very good law enforcement community , ” said Stephenson , whose agency enforces police certification and sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We investigate less than 1 % of our officers.
” The Utah League of Cities and Towns supports the concept of Iwamoto ’ s bill but has yet to take a position on it , said Cameron Diehl , executive director .
“ Trust in police , public safety built on a foundation of trust - that ’ s the prism were looking through , ” Diehl said .
“ We still have concerns about the specific language .
We want to find the balance of trust in public safety and due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tom Ross , speaking for the Utah Police Chiefs Association , said it ’ s “ a very important issue that could have unintended consequences if not done correctly.
” He said chiefs want to “ keep bad actors out or identify them sooner in the process.
” Ross said better communication between agencies would bolster agencies ’ background investigations for new hires .
The Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee approved Iwamoto ’ s bill on a voice vote , forwarding it for consideration during the 2021 legislative session .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency received 232 complaints , opened 115 cases and referred 57 to the POST Council for disciplinary consideration .
The council revoked 18 officers ’ certifications and issued 36 other misconduct punishments .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A legislative committee this week approved a bill designed to prevent police officers under disciplinary investigation from jumping to another agency without a paper trail.
“This will shore up situations where, for lack of a better description, a bad player can’t be passed on from department to department without discipline,” said Scott Stephenson, director of Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training, on Nov. 17.
The sponsor, Sen. Jani Iwamoto, D-Salt Lake City, said the bill would close loopholes in current law.
If an officer resigns, retires or otherwise separates from an agency while an investigation is in progress, an agency would have 30 days to report it to POST and provide all case files, she said.
“These are just some of the things to close the loopholes,” Iwamoto said. “It’s a balanced approach for transparency, accountability and good policy.”
Rep. Lee Perry, R-Perry, said Iwamoto’s bill improves upon his House Bill 43, passed by the 2020 Legislature.
“We’re concerned about a very few, minor, bad officers that we don’t want to continue in the profession,” said Perry, a longtime Utah Highway Patrol trooper.
“It’s not an attack on law enforcement,” Perry said. “No officer wants a bad actor in the profession.”
Stephenson said it’s good to “get out in the open” on such cases.
“We have a very good law enforcement community,” said Stephenson, whose agency enforces police certification and sanctions officers found to have committed violations. “We investigate less than 1% of our officers.”
The Utah League of Cities and Towns supports the concept of Iwamoto’s bill but has yet to take a position on it, said Cameron Diehl, executive director.
“Trust in police, public safety built on a foundation of trust - that’s the prism were looking through,” Diehl said. “We still have concerns about the specific language. We want to find the balance of trust in public safety and due process for officers.”
Bountiful Police Chief Tom Ross, speaking for the Utah Police Chiefs Association, said it’s “a very important issue that could have unintended consequences if not done correctly.”
He said chiefs want to “keep bad actors out or identify them sooner in the process.”
Ross said better communication between agencies would bolster agencies’ background investigations for new hires.
The Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee approved Iwamoto’s bill on a voice vote, forwarding it for consideration during the 2021 legislative session.
According to POST statistics for 2019, the agency received 232 complaints, opened 115 cases and referred 57 to the POST Council for disciplinary consideration.
The council revoked 18 officers’ certifications and issued 36 other misconduct punishments.
POST certifies police officers, corrections deputies and emergency dispatchers.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Orioles baseman, wife donate $1M to fight child hunger

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - A January trip to the Dominican Republic provided Chris and Jill Davis a homecoming of sorts , a return to a country neither had visited since Chris played in the Dominican Winter League in 2010 .
It also laid the groundwork for the Orioles first baseman and his wife to make a global impact amid a pandemic that would shut down baseball two months later .
The visit was in partnership with Compassion International , a Christian humanitarian nonprofit focused on helping children in poverty , to see firsthand the impact of some of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming home , the Davises decided to make a donation specifically to Compassion ’ s efforts in the Dominican , but with the coronavirus pandemic leaving thousands of children in need , they ’ ve redirected their $ 1 million gift to Compassion ’ s “ Fill the Stadium ” initiative .
“ When I found out how many people and how many kids specifically were going to be affected by this - Jill and I had been talking about doing something globally on a large scale , ” Chris told The Baltimore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God just really put this on our hearts , in our lives.
” Much like the cancellations it prompted throughout sports , the pandemic canceled about 1,200 events Compassion had planned to connect children and sponsors .
Typically , the organization serves more than 2 million children in 25 countries , but the lost events left 70,000 children unsponsored .
Some athletes who work with the organization pointed out that the figure is about the number of seats in an NFL arena , and with the virus keeping fans out of most sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally spend hundreds on tickets , concessions and merchandise to attend games might instead support the children in need .
Other athletes involved in Fill the Stadium include former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Nick Foles , Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed .
“ In a time when stadiums are empty , it ’ s a stadium ’ s worth of children , ” said Ken McKinney , Compassion ’ s Director of Pro Athlete Partnerships .
“ It ’ s a stadium-sized problem , and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need .
So we ’ ve come up with this idea , let ’ s fill the stadium , and that means raising support really just to stand in the gap for these families to get through the COVID crisis.
” The Davises ’ gift will support 2,000 families , as every $ 500 provides a year ’ s worth of food , hygiene products and COVID-19 medical screenings to a child and his or her family .
In many communities where Compassion operates , workers make only enough money in a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then repeat the process , but the pandemic has caused the jobs , the markets , and sometimes both , to dry up , McKinney said .
The World Bank estimates that the pandemic could push as many as 115 million people worldwide into extreme poverty in 2020 alone , while a recent study from the United Nations Children Fund and others found that pandemic-related hunger could cause 10,000 child deaths every month .
McKinney is unsurprised by the Davises ’ desire to curtail that through Fill the Stadium .
“ Just getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really had a crisis-response focus , ” he said , pointing to their involvement in Compassion ’ s efforts regarding Burkina Faso , Rwanda and the Rohingya crisis .
The Davises began supporting Compassion shortly after Chris was traded from the Texas Rangers to Baltimore in 2011 .
They started by sponsoring a handful of children , sending them gifts and letters and getting notes and pictures in return .
“ After we had , like , seven or eight kids , finally Compassion was like , ‘ OK , we should probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit , ’ ” Chris said .
That led to involvement in larger projects and eventually the trip to the Dominican , after which they sponsored a child there .
They had planned to visit West Africa this offseason to meet several of their other children before the pandemic canceled those plans for the time being .
“ They really want to continue to use the resources that they ’ ve been able to build to really make a massive impact in the world , ” McKinney said .
“ He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s put them in the position that they ’ re in .
What they ’ re doing off the field is more the definition of who they are .
It reflects really who they are at the core .
They see what they have as something that they ’ ve been entrusted with and they want to use to help others.
” Chris , 34 , is the oldest and longest-tenured member of the rebuilding Orioles ’ roster , having signed a seven-year , $ 161 million contract after a 2015 season in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title in three years .
During that contract , though , he has struggled , with an overall batting line of .196/.291/.379 .
In 2020 , a season shortened to 60 games because of the pandemic , Davis batted .115 and ended the season on the injured list because of left knee tendinitis that has required physical therapy this offseason .
But that hasn ’ t stopped Davis from making an impact away from the field .
He was the Orioles ’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award , which recognizes a player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 2017 to 2019 .
Last offseason , he and Jill , a former children ’ s nurse , made a record $ 3 million donation to the University of Maryland Children ’ s Hospital for a hybrid catheterization suite that will be named for one of their three daughters , Evie .
“ Obviously , we try to do as much as we can locally , in Baltimore and the Dallas-Fort Worth area , but when you get to really step back and look at the global scale and see the impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big of a stage , it ’ s pretty humbling , ” Davis said .
“ It ’ s easy to sit at home and take for granted all the blessings that we have , but when you really look at other places throughout the world , you see there are a lot of places that there are people living in devastation , people living in hurt and people just living in need .
“ You realize that they don ’ t get to pick and choose where they ’ re born , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what circumstances they ’ re born in , so when you have a chance to help somebody who ’ s in need , you jump at the chance .
”

BALTIMORE (AP) - A January trip to the Dominican Republic provided Chris and Jill Davis a homecoming of sorts, a return to a country neither had visited since Chris played in the Dominican Winter League in 2010. It also laid the groundwork for the Orioles first baseman and his wife to make a global impact amid a pandemic that would shut down baseball two months later.
The visit was in partnership with Compassion International, a Christian humanitarian nonprofit focused on helping children in poverty, to see firsthand the impact of some of their previous donations to the organization. After coming home, the Davises decided to make a donation specifically to Compassion’s efforts in the Dominican, but with the coronavirus pandemic leaving thousands of children in need, they’ve redirected their $1 million gift to Compassion’s “Fill the Stadium” initiative.
“When I found out how many people and how many kids specifically were going to be affected by this - Jill and I had been talking about doing something globally on a large scale,” Chris told The Baltimore Sun, “and I feel like God just really put this on our hearts, in our lives.”
Much like the cancellations it prompted throughout sports, the pandemic canceled about 1,200 events Compassion had planned to connect children and sponsors. Typically, the organization serves more than 2 million children in 25 countries, but the lost events left 70,000 children unsponsored.
Some athletes who work with the organization pointed out that the figure is about the number of seats in an NFL arena, and with the virus keeping fans out of most sports venues, Compassion hoped those who would normally spend hundreds on tickets, concessions and merchandise to attend games might instead support the children in need. Other athletes involved in Fill the Stadium include former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Nick Foles, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed.
“In a time when stadiums are empty, it’s a stadium’s worth of children,” said Ken McKinney, Compassion’s Director of Pro Athlete Partnerships. “It’s a stadium-sized problem, and you can imagine 70,000 kids right now in need. So we’ve come up with this idea, let’s fill the stadium, and that means raising support really just to stand in the gap for these families to get through the COVID crisis.”
The Davises’ gift will support 2,000 families, as every $500 provides a year’s worth of food, hygiene products and COVID-19 medical screenings to a child and his or her family. In many communities where Compassion operates, workers make only enough money in a day to buy food for that night, then repeat the process, but the pandemic has caused the jobs, the markets, and sometimes both, to dry up, McKinney said.
The World Bank estimates that the pandemic could push as many as 115 million people worldwide into extreme poverty in 2020 alone, while a recent study from the United Nations Children Fund and others found that pandemic-related hunger could cause 10,000 child deaths every month.
McKinney is unsurprised by the Davises’ desire to curtail that through Fill the Stadium.
“Just getting to know them, they’ve really had a crisis-response focus,” he said, pointing to their involvement in Compassion’s efforts regarding Burkina Faso, Rwanda and the Rohingya crisis.
The Davises began supporting Compassion shortly after Chris was traded from the Texas Rangers to Baltimore in 2011. They started by sponsoring a handful of children, sending them gifts and letters and getting notes and pictures in return.
“After we had, like, seven or eight kids, finally Compassion was like, ‘OK, we should probably get to know these people a little bit,’ ” Chris said.
That led to involvement in larger projects and eventually the trip to the Dominican, after which they sponsored a child there. They had planned to visit West Africa this offseason to meet several of their other children before the pandemic canceled those plans for the time being.
“They really want to continue to use the resources that they’ve been able to build to really make a massive impact in the world,” McKinney said. “He’s had tremendous success, and it’s put them in the position that they’re in. What they’re doing off the field is more the definition of who they are. It reflects really who they are at the core. They see what they have as something that they’ve been entrusted with and they want to use to help others.”
Chris, 34, is the oldest and longest-tenured member of the rebuilding Orioles’ roster, having signed a seven-year, $161 million contract after a 2015 season in which he won his second home run title in three years.
During that contract, though, he has struggled, with an overall batting line of .196/.291/.379. In 2020, a season shortened to 60 games because of the pandemic, Davis batted .115 and ended the season on the injured list because of left knee tendinitis that has required physical therapy this offseason.
But that hasn’t stopped Davis from making an impact away from the field. He was the Orioles’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes a player’s humanitarian efforts, each year from 2017 to 2019. Last offseason, he and Jill, a former children’s nurse, made a record $3 million donation to the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital for a hybrid catheterization suite that will be named for one of their three daughters, Evie.
“Obviously, we try to do as much as we can locally, in Baltimore and the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but when you get to really step back and look at the global scale and see the impact that you’re having on that big of a stage, it’s pretty humbling,” Davis said. “It’s easy to sit at home and take for granted all the blessings that we have, but when you really look at other places throughout the world, you see there are a lot of places that there are people living in devastation, people living in hurt and people just living in need.
“You realize that they don’t get to pick and choose where they’re born, who they’re born to, what circumstances they’re born in, so when you have a chance to help somebody who’s in need, you jump at the chance.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Country rock band returns to Delaware for a new show

MILTON , Del .
( AP ) - The country rock band Triple Rail Turn , whose members come from Wilmington to Bethlehem , Pennsylvania , is no stranger to Downstate .
With multiple appearances at June Jam , Paradise Grill in Long Neck and Dover Downs , TRT is one of the most popular groups to play the area .
But it ’ s been a while since they ’ ve been here .
“ The last time we were at Dover Downs in January , I left my gear cart there in the green room area .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy , called me and said ‘ Dude you left your cart here.
’ I said ‘ We ’ ll be back in two weeks .
No big deal.
’ And it ’ s been there ever since .
It ’ s still in there , ” said TRT guitarist and co-founder Brian Hannon .
All these months later , TRT is finally back in Delaware Saturday night with a show at the Milton Theatre at 8 p.m. A limited amount of tickets are still available .
Of course , the reason the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is because of the coronavirus , which has severely limited the number of gigs TRT has played this year .
Normally they perform about 250 dates a year from New York to Virginia and as far west as Pittsburgh .
That hasn ’ t been the case this year .
“ We ’ re just trying to roll with the punches and be as much of a chameleon as we possibly can .
But it ’ s certainly taken a toll , ” Mr. Hannon said .
He and his bandmates are grateful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theatre , where they have consistently limited shows to 30 % capacity .
“ That is wonderful because they ’ re doing it the smart way .
They ’ re limiting capacity .
They ’ re keeping groupings of people in their bubble and separated from one another , ” Mr. Hannon said .
“ There is no physical interaction between us traveling performers and the people who are attending the performance .
So they ’ re doing it right and they are doing it smart .
I really applaud them for having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He said he ’ s glad to get back down to the area .
“ We haven ’ t been able to really play this summertime and that ’ s the majority of the time we play down in that area .
It ’ s going to be nice to be back there and see some familiar faces , ” he said .
“ A lot of people reached out to me directly saying like ‘ We ’ ve got tickets to your show .
We ’ re really excited to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t see a lot of these people because of code restrictions but just to be able to play in front of people that I call friends and just faces that I haven ’ t seen in such a long time - it ’ s going to be refreshing.
” Triple Rail Turn started life as Philbilly when Mr. Hanson , who is from Philadelphia , decided to form a band with drummer Mike Hostler about seven years ago .
’ It was a slow build .
We started with smaller club dates and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and put our noses to the ground and just worked .
And slowly it built and built and built and got some notoriety , ” Mr. Hannon said .
“ We were just always trying to one up the next stage and just be smarter about build it bigger and people started to notice , which is fun .
“ We never had any grandiose plans but it ’ s nice that it ’ s working and it ’ s just fun .
If you have fun doing what you do , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The majority of us came from touring national bands and record deals and all that stuff .
So it ’ s a little bit of an homage to that .
But we get to go home instead of being gone for six months out of the year sleeping in Walmart parking lots.
” Although he had spent years in heavy metal and pop punk bands and listened to bands such as The Beach Boys and The Beatles growing up , Mr. Hannon said putting together a country band filled a need in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there wasn ’ t really anybody doing it in the area .
Mike was from Wilmington .
I was living in Philadelphia .
It was almost like an untapped market .
And we love the music , and us being from more of a rock background , it was different .
It was fun for us to do it because it wasn ’ t what we were necessarily comfortable with .
So for us to step out of our comfort zone and do something that people really did respond to and didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fun and refreshing and just different .
And people liked it , ” he said .
These days , the band comes equipped with its own hard-driving sound and an expansive light show .
“ I was signed to a metal label and toured the U.S. doing like pop punk stuff , living on the Warped Tour forever .
Mike was in a Delaware-based band called Solitude .
It was fairly popular .
Again , record deal , touring , the whole nine yards .
So to have that juxtaposed to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Just by the nature of who we are , where we come from , is obviously going to be a little bit different from someone who ’ s more traditionally based in country.
” He said TRT has a new light show for the audience at the Milton Theatre Saturday night and he ’ s dying to try it out .
“ We ’ re going to be able to try some new stuff on Saturday and I ’ m really , really excited .
We got a whole bunch of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s going to be cool .
Six months in the making and we finally get a chance to do it , ” Mr Hannon said .

MILTON, Del. (AP) - The country rock band Triple Rail Turn, whose members come from Wilmington to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is no stranger to Downstate.
With multiple appearances at June Jam, Paradise Grill in Long Neck and Dover Downs, TRT is one of the most popular groups to play the area. But it’s been a while since they’ve been here.
“The last time we were at Dover Downs in January, I left my gear cart there in the green room area. And Jason, their front of the house guy, called me and said ‘Dude you left your cart here.’ I said ‘We’ll be back in two weeks. No big deal.’ And it’s been there ever since. It’s still in there,” said TRT guitarist and co-founder Brian Hannon.
All these months later, TRT is finally back in Delaware Saturday night with a show at the Milton Theatre at 8 p.m. A limited amount of tickets are still available.
Of course, the reason the six-piece band has been gone so long is because of the coronavirus, which has severely limited the number of gigs TRT has played this year. Normally they perform about 250 dates a year from New York to Virginia and as far west as Pittsburgh.
That hasn’t been the case this year.
“We’re just trying to roll with the punches and be as much of a chameleon as we possibly can. But it’s certainly taken a toll,” Mr. Hannon said.
He and his bandmates are grateful for a chance to play the Milton Theatre, where they have consistently limited shows to 30% capacity.
“That is wonderful because they’re doing it the smart way. They’re limiting capacity. They’re keeping groupings of people in their bubble and separated from one another,” Mr. Hannon said.
“There is no physical interaction between us traveling performers and the people who are attending the performance. So they’re doing it right and they are doing it smart. I really applaud them for having an avenue for us to perform in.”
He said he’s glad to get back down to the area.
“We haven’t been able to really play this summertime and that’s the majority of the time we play down in that area. It’s going to be nice to be back there and see some familiar faces,” he said.
“A lot of people reached out to me directly saying like ‘We’ve got tickets to your show. We’re really excited to see you.’ Of course you can’t see a lot of these people because of code restrictions but just to be able to play in front of people that I call friends and just faces that I haven’t seen in such a long time - it’s going to be refreshing.”
Triple Rail Turn started life as Philbilly when Mr. Hanson, who is from Philadelphia, decided to form a band with drummer Mike Hostler about seven years ago.
’It was a slow build. We started with smaller club dates and then just kind of worked from there and put our noses to the ground and just worked. And slowly it built and built and built and got some notoriety,” Mr. Hannon said.
“We were just always trying to one up the next stage and just be smarter about build it bigger and people started to notice, which is fun.
“We never had any grandiose plans but it’s nice that it’s working and it’s just fun. If you have fun doing what you do, it’s not really a job. The majority of us came from touring national bands and record deals and all that stuff. So it’s a little bit of an homage to that. But we get to go home instead of being gone for six months out of the year sleeping in Walmart parking lots.”
Although he had spent years in heavy metal and pop punk bands and listened to bands such as The Beach Boys and The Beatles growing up, Mr. Hannon said putting together a country band filled a need in the area.
“At the time, there wasn’t really anybody doing it in the area. Mike was from Wilmington. I was living in Philadelphia. It was almost like an untapped market. And we love the music, and us being from more of a rock background, it was different. It was fun for us to do it because it wasn’t what we were necessarily comfortable with. So for us to step out of our comfort zone and do something that people really did respond to and didn’t have a medium for, that was fun and refreshing and just different. And people liked it,” he said.
These days, the band comes equipped with its own hard-driving sound and an expansive light show.
“I was signed to a metal label and toured the U.S. doing like pop punk stuff, living on the Warped Tour forever. Mike was in a Delaware-based band called Solitude. It was fairly popular. Again, record deal, touring, the whole nine yards. So to have that juxtaposed to a modern country with our take on it. Just by the nature of who we are, where we come from, is obviously going to be a little bit different from someone who’s more traditionally based in country.”
He said TRT has a new light show for the audience at the Milton Theatre Saturday night and he’s dying to try it out.
“We’re going to be able to try some new stuff on Saturday and I’m really, really excited. We got a whole bunch of new lights, some new programming stuff. It’s going to be cool. Six months in the making and we finally get a chance to do it,” Mr Hannon said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Woman caught in flood gets rescued by 'good samaritans'

STAFFORD , Va. ( AP ) - Maria Edgar is adding two Good Samaritans to her Christmas list this year , after the pair brought her safely to shore last week along a flooded southern Stafford County road .
“ These men bent over backwards to help me , ” said Edgar .
“ I ’ m getting them a nice early Christmas present.
” In a heavy downpour Nov. 12 , Edgar , 74 , left her Marlborough Point home in her Toyota Prius at 10 a.m. for a doctor ’ s appointment .
As she traveled west along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orange “ road closed ” sign just before the low point in the road ’ s S-curves , where high water always accumulates during heavy rain .
Proceeding slowly , Edgar noticed pickup trucks and other vehicles making it through the high water and decided she ’ d give it a try herself .
“ I thought I ’ d try it real slow , ” said Edgar .
“ It ’ s like it sings out to you , ‘ come further , come further , you ’ re doing good , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , it ’ s way too late.
” Soon , Edgar ’ s 3,000-pound Prius was floating uncontrollably in the current .
“ I said , please God , let it turn around , ” said Edgar , hoping the car would change course away from the deeper pool of water , and float back to higher ground , but she wasn ’ t so lucky .
“ I realized the water was starting to come in .
I could hear it , and kept screaming for help , someone to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The water was so cold .
It was freezing cold.
” Edgar lowered her window and swam head-first out of her vehicle into the murky water .
As soon as she was out , the current began pulling her away from her car , but she grabbed the rear door handle and held on .
Unbeknownst to Edgar , she was followed into the flooded road by Joseph Sirko , an off-duty FBI agent .
Just moments before , Sirko had been traveling east on Brooke Road in his Toyota 4Runner , returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pickup truck and Edgar passed by him slowly heading west .
“ I saw her car and thought , she ’ s not going to make it , ” said Sirko .
“ I made a U-turn , and when I came back , I saw her vehicle was in the ditch , nose down , turned sideways .
I stopped and stood on my running board to call out to her as I saw her exit the vehicle.
” Sirko yelled to Edgar to check if she was OK , asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then ventured into the water to rescue her .
“ ( Sirko ) told me to stop , I ’ m coming in to get you , ” said Edgar .
“ He walked through that cold , filthy water to come get me .
He had a jacket to put on me.
” After Sirko got Edgar to safety , retired Army 1st .
Sgt .
Rick Rowell waded out to the Prius to recover her purse , vehicle registration and other personal items that he saw floating near the submerged car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Edgar .
Rowell , who lives nearby on Camp Geary Lane , owns a lifted Jeep and makes it a point each time Brooke Road floods to go to the area to assist stranded motorists .
During the summer , he helped pull a Mercedes from the water .
“ I ’ ve got nothing better to do to , ” said Rowell .
“ I just go hang out in my Crocs and board shorts.
” Once safely in Sirko ’ s vehicle , Edgar was put at ease , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the pair of men empathized with her during the entire ordeal as if they were lifelong friends .
“ ( Sirko ) was just thinking of me and my comfort and me not having to do anything , ” said Edgar .
“ It was like , I was his wife or a good friend .
Both of those men treated me like that.
” Sirko said , “ She ’ s a real sweet lady , and she was scared .
It ’ s just the right thing to do.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vehicle has been swept away on Brooke Road .
About 300 homes are situated along the flood-prone stretch that parallels Accokeek Creek , from Andrew Chapel Road to the canoe launch at Crow ’ s Nest Natural Area Preserve .
Even more residents live farther east at Marlborough Point and the road is frequently traveled by visitors heading to Aquia Landing Park .
Residents in the area say the roadway floods every time it rains , and the problem has gotten worse with each passing year .
Like clockwork , Brooke Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received more than 2 1/2 inches of rain .
Kelly Hannon , communications manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation ’ s Fredericksburg district , said VDOT regularly removes debris , leaves and soil buildup from drainage pipes and culverts in the area to help minimize flooding , but Edgar said those efforts are not enough .
“ We want something done meaningful , ” Edgar said .
“ It ’ s only a matter of time before something happens to someone down there.
” In mid-September , county supervisors tapped into reserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the culverts on Brooke Road , but Hannon said that work is still in the planning phase .
“ They ’ ve got to do something fast , ” said Edgar .
“ Whatever they did in the way of drainage didn ’ t do any good at all .
I ’ m afraid a mother is going to have a baby in there , or someone who is handicapped .
… At least I could get out through the window.
” Edgar said as a result of her experience last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area to permanently resolve the ongoing flooding situation on Brooke Road .
Already , more than 600 members of a social media group called Friends of Brooke Road are fighting the same battle .
Although Edgar ’ s Prius was written off by her insurance company as a total loss , she said one of her biggest fears the day of the incident was returning home and finding out if she had received a traffic citation as a result of passing through a “ road closed ” warning sign .
Edgar contacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the responding officer at the scene , to discover her fate .
“ I called , and that nice police officer told me , you have bigger problems than this right now to worry about , ” said Edgar .
“ He probably could have given me at least two tickets .
Those two men and that deputy were absolutely wonderful .
”

STAFFORD, Va. (AP) - Maria Edgar is adding two Good Samaritans to her Christmas list this year, after the pair brought her safely to shore last week along a flooded southern Stafford County road.
“These men bent over backwards to help me,” said Edgar. “I’m getting them a nice early Christmas present.”
In a heavy downpour Nov. 12, Edgar, 74, left her Marlborough Point home in her Toyota Prius at 10 a.m. for a doctor’s appointment. As she traveled west along Brooke Road, she came upon an orange “road closed” sign just before the low point in the road’s S-curves, where high water always accumulates during heavy rain.
Proceeding slowly, Edgar noticed pickup trucks and other vehicles making it through the high water and decided she’d give it a try herself.
“I thought I’d try it real slow,” said Edgar. “It’s like it sings out to you, ‘come further, come further, you’re doing good,’ and by the time you realize it, it’s way too late.”
Soon, Edgar’s 3,000-pound Prius was floating uncontrollably in the current.
“I said, please God, let it turn around,” said Edgar, hoping the car would change course away from the deeper pool of water, and float back to higher ground, but she wasn’t so lucky.
“I realized the water was starting to come in. I could hear it, and kept screaming for help, someone to call 911,” said Edgar. “The water was so cold. It was freezing cold.”
Edgar lowered her window and swam head-first out of her vehicle into the murky water. As soon as she was out, the current began pulling her away from her car, but she grabbed the rear door handle and held on.
Unbeknownst to Edgar, she was followed into the flooded road by Joseph Sirko, an off-duty FBI agent.
Just moments before, Sirko had been traveling east on Brooke Road in his Toyota 4Runner, returning to his Marlborough Point home, when a pickup truck and Edgar passed by him slowly heading west.
“I saw her car and thought, she’s not going to make it,” said Sirko. “I made a U-turn, and when I came back, I saw her vehicle was in the ditch, nose down, turned sideways. I stopped and stood on my running board to call out to her as I saw her exit the vehicle.”
Sirko yelled to Edgar to check if she was OK, asked a nearby motorist to call 911, then ventured into the water to rescue her.
“(Sirko) told me to stop, I’m coming in to get you,” said Edgar. “He walked through that cold, filthy water to come get me. He had a jacket to put on me.”
After Sirko got Edgar to safety, retired Army 1st. Sgt. Rick Rowell waded out to the Prius to recover her purse, vehicle registration and other personal items that he saw floating near the submerged car. He returned all of the items to Edgar.
Rowell, who lives nearby on Camp Geary Lane, owns a lifted Jeep and makes it a point each time Brooke Road floods to go to the area to assist stranded motorists. During the summer, he helped pull a Mercedes from the water.
“I’ve got nothing better to do to,” said Rowell. “I just go hang out in my Crocs and board shorts.”
Once safely in Sirko’s vehicle, Edgar was put at ease, and contacted her husband by phone. Edgar said the pair of men empathized with her during the entire ordeal as if they were lifelong friends.
“(Sirko) was just thinking of me and my comfort and me not having to do anything,” said Edgar. “It was like, I was his wife or a good friend. Both of those men treated me like that.”
Sirko said, “She’s a real sweet lady, and she was scared. It’s just the right thing to do.”
It wasn’t the first time a vehicle has been swept away on Brooke Road. About 300 homes are situated along the flood-prone stretch that parallels Accokeek Creek, from Andrew Chapel Road to the canoe launch at Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve. Even more residents live farther east at Marlborough Point and the road is frequently traveled by visitors heading to Aquia Landing Park. Residents in the area say the roadway floods every time it rains, and the problem has gotten worse with each passing year.
Like clockwork, Brooke Road flooded last week when the Fredericksburg region received more than 2 1/2 inches of rain.
Kelly Hannon, communications manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Fredericksburg district, said VDOT regularly removes debris, leaves and soil buildup from drainage pipes and culverts in the area to help minimize flooding, but Edgar said those efforts are not enough.
“We want something done meaningful,” Edgar said. “It’s only a matter of time before something happens to someone down there.”
In mid-September, county supervisors tapped into reserve money from the transportation fund to repair the culverts on Brooke Road, but Hannon said that work is still in the planning phase.
“They’ve got to do something fast,” said Edgar. “Whatever they did in the way of drainage didn’t do any good at all. I’m afraid a mother is going to have a baby in there, or someone who is handicapped. … At least I could get out through the window.”
Edgar said as a result of her experience last week, she will work with her neighbors in the area to permanently resolve the ongoing flooding situation on Brooke Road. Already, more than 600 members of a social media group called Friends of Brooke Road are fighting the same battle.
Although Edgar’s Prius was written off by her insurance company as a total loss, she said one of her biggest fears the day of the incident was returning home and finding out if she had received a traffic citation as a result of passing through a “road closed” warning sign.
Edgar contacted Stafford Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Walker, the responding officer at the scene, to discover her fate.
“I called, and that nice police officer told me, you have bigger problems than this right now to worry about,” said Edgar. “He probably could have given me at least two tickets. Those two men and that deputy were absolutely wonderful.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--W.Va. Org launches 'letters to Santa' initiative in pandemic

FAIRMONT , W.Va. ( AP ) - The Marion County Family Resource Network hosted Santa Claus for a breakfast event in Fairmont last year , but the 2020 coronavirus pandemic is preventing his return this year .
However , Frank Jarman , executive director of the Family Resource Network , said the nonprofit will serve as a liaison between Saint Nick and area families through its new Letters to Santa initiative instead .
“ Because of COVID , we weren ’ t able to do our Breakfast with Santa , ” Jarman said .
“ We just felt like people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that comes with Christmas , so our team came up with this great letter.
” According to Jarman , parents can send Santa letter requests to the FRN , by just including some information about their children .
He said those who send in letters should get replies from Santa in the beginning of December .
“ We ’ re just the conduit , ” Jarman said .
“ We just get the information from the parents , we send it to Santa , and he is going to send out a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialist for the Family Resource Network , said this idea came about when FRN staff were discussing possible ways to reward kids for their hard work this year .
“ It ’ s replacing Breakfast with Santa due to COVID being an issue , of course we can ’ t reasonably have kids meet Santa , ” Lehman said .
“ So we came up with the idea of having letters from Santa where these families with children will submit letters from their kids and ways their kids has succeeded in school or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are doing throughout the year , and a list of things the kids might want for Christmas.
” Lehman also said parents can keep these letters from Santa as keepsakes , in a similar way that they would keep a photo of their kids with Santa .
“ Usually people take their picture with Santa and people keep that for years to come , ” Lehman said .
“ This will be a little different and the kids will have a letter from Santa for years to come.
” Leslie Toothman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three kids to experience the excitement that normally comes with the holiday season , but in a safe way amid the pandemic .
That ’ s why she is sending away for a letter from Santa .
“ Kind of to kickstart the holiday season and boost morale , ” Toothman said .
“ It has been kind of a downer so I ’ m hoping to maybe get them in the spirit.
” Jarman said kids may be feeling a lack of Christmas joy this year , but getting a letter from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seeing that many families have a difficult time in any year during Christmas , Jarman said a letter from Santa could be a small boost .
“ The holidays are not happy for everybody , ” Jarman said .
“ For a lot of people and a lot of kids , Christmas is not a good time , and we are just trying to create positive , family memories as part of what we do .
”

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) - The Marion County Family Resource Network hosted Santa Claus for a breakfast event in Fairmont last year, but the 2020 coronavirus pandemic is preventing his return this year.
However, Frank Jarman, executive director of the Family Resource Network, said the nonprofit will serve as a liaison between Saint Nick and area families through its new Letters to Santa initiative instead.
“Because of COVID, we weren’t able to do our Breakfast with Santa,” Jarman said. “We just felt like people still needed that hope, that magic that comes with Christmas, so our team came up with this great letter.”
According to Jarman, parents can send Santa letter requests to the FRN, by just including some information about their children. He said those who send in letters should get replies from Santa in the beginning of December.
“We’re just the conduit,” Jarman said. “We just get the information from the parents, we send it to Santa, and he is going to send out a great letter.”
Melissa Lehman, community engagement specialist for the Family Resource Network, said this idea came about when FRN staff were discussing possible ways to reward kids for their hard work this year.
“It’s replacing Breakfast with Santa due to COVID being an issue, of course we can’t reasonably have kids meet Santa,” Lehman said. “So we came up with the idea of having letters from Santa where these families with children will submit letters from their kids and ways their kids has succeeded in school or in practicing social distancing and positive things they are doing throughout the year, and a list of things the kids might want for Christmas.”
Lehman also said parents can keep these letters from Santa as keepsakes, in a similar way that they would keep a photo of their kids with Santa.
“Usually people take their picture with Santa and people keep that for years to come,” Lehman said. “This will be a little different and the kids will have a letter from Santa for years to come.”
Leslie Toothman, of Fairmont, said she wants her three kids to experience the excitement that normally comes with the holiday season, but in a safe way amid the pandemic. That’s why she is sending away for a letter from Santa.
“Kind of to kickstart the holiday season and boost morale,” Toothman said. “It has been kind of a downer so I’m hoping to maybe get them in the spirit.”
Jarman said kids may be feeling a lack of Christmas joy this year, but getting a letter from Santa could help them find some joy. Seeing that many families have a difficult time in any year during Christmas, Jarman said a letter from Santa could be a small boost.
“The holidays are not happy for everybody,” Jarman said. “For a lot of people and a lot of kids, Christmas is not a good time, and we are just trying to create positive, family memories as part of what we do.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-21--Virginia student plays music for Alicia Keys on Instagram

RADFORD , Va. ( AP ) - Few people get to meet their idols .
Even fewer get the chance to converse and share their passions with them .
Terrance Shepherd - a Radford University graduate student majoring in musical composition - got to do both when he played the piano for singer-songwriter Alicia Keys , who also plays the piano .
The chance meeting happened on Instagram live when Shepherd was listening to Keys talk about her latest album , “ Alicia.
” He was one of thousands watching her stream when his comment stuck out to her , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said he was in disbelief , and proceeded to audibly yell before saying , “ Alicia…Oh my God.
” From there the two struck up a conversation about their similar tastes in music , and Shepherd talked to her about his passion for music , and how their styles were so similar in the way that they both love to combine the music of artists from different eras .
After impressing Keys with his musical knowledge , she asked him if he had a piano nearby that he could play for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat , Shepherd happily obliged and proceeded to play parts of two of her songs , “ Fallin ’ ” and “ Harlem ’ s Nocturne.
” Keys praised Shepherd ’ s performance , saying “ This is so , so fire what you just did.
” Shepherd thanked Keys and told her he looked forward to the day they could collaborate on some music together .
In an interview this week at the Covington Center ’ s piano lab on the Radford campus , Shepherd , 31 , recalled the experience of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world ’ s most well-known musicians .
“ I just hope that it brought some inspiration to people that may have needed it .
We need that right now , ” he said .
“ It ’ s way bigger than me… It ’ s more about sharing the story .
If this can happen to me , look what can happen to you.
” The Queens , New York , native grew up in Charlotte , where he studied music at Queens University of Charlotte .
He said he began playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wanted another outlet besides dancing to “ get more of himself out there.
” His Radford classmate and clarinet player , Megan Denslinger , said you can feel the passion in Shepherd ’ s music .
“ He inspires me… It ( his music ) is very personal .
It always portrays a message , ” she said .
“ He ’ s always portraying something within him , and I think that ’ s very clear in his compositions as well as his playing.
” Shepherd said he loves composing music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as different eras .
“ It ’ s fun to me to make music that encompasses a lot of different things , you know ?
I write things that will have some of Bach or Beethoven but also Tupac and Jay-Z .
Stuff like that , ” he said .
Bruce Mahin , Shepherd ’ s composition professor , said Shepherd and his music are unique .
“ His concept of music is very deep and goes down to the root of human expression… It ’ s a rare thing when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visceral way… I think that ’ s one thing I can say about his music .
It touches that deep emotion.
” When asked where Shepherd stands compared to other students he ’ s taught , Mahin said he hates to put a rating on his students , instead saying “ let me put it like this , he is primed for success , and I think whatever that means he ’ s going to be ready for it and something great is going to happen.
” While Shepherd said his goal is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has not given up hope on perhaps being a performing artist , something he said he is very comfortable doing .
He recalled the days when he was a teenager in Charlotte and would go to the piano store and play for hours .
He said the place meant so much to him that he had to call the owners and tell them about his experience with Keys .
“ That ’ s the place where the music kind of found me , ” he said .
“ They let me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is they had an Alicia Keys picture up in the store when it first opened and I said one day man , one day .
”

RADFORD, Va. (AP) - Few people get to meet their idols. Even fewer get the chance to converse and share their passions with them.
Terrance Shepherd - a Radford University graduate student majoring in musical composition - got to do both when he played the piano for singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, who also plays the piano. The chance meeting happened on Instagram live when Shepherd was listening to Keys talk about her latest album, “Alicia.”
He was one of thousands watching her stream when his comment stuck out to her, and she pulled Shepherd into her livestream.
He said he was in disbelief, and proceeded to audibly yell before saying, “Alicia…Oh my God.” From there the two struck up a conversation about their similar tastes in music, and Shepherd talked to her about his passion for music, and how their styles were so similar in the way that they both love to combine the music of artists from different eras.
After impressing Keys with his musical knowledge, she asked him if he had a piano nearby that he could play for her - and, without missing a beat, Shepherd happily obliged and proceeded to play parts of two of her songs, “Fallin’” and “Harlem’s Nocturne.”
Keys praised Shepherd’s performance, saying “This is so, so fire what you just did.”
Shepherd thanked Keys and told her he looked forward to the day they could collaborate on some music together.
In an interview this week at the Covington Center’s piano lab on the Radford campus, Shepherd, 31, recalled the experience of performing on the spot for one of the world’s most well-known musicians.
“I just hope that it brought some inspiration to people that may have needed it. We need that right now,” he said. “It’s way bigger than me… It’s more about sharing the story. If this can happen to me, look what can happen to you.”
The Queens, New York, native grew up in Charlotte, where he studied music at Queens University of Charlotte. He said he began playing music at 14, because he said he wanted another outlet besides dancing to “get more of himself out there.”
His Radford classmate and clarinet player, Megan Denslinger, said you can feel the passion in Shepherd’s music.
“He inspires me… It (his music) is very personal. It always portrays a message,” she said. “He’s always portraying something within him, and I think that’s very clear in his compositions as well as his playing.”
Shepherd said he loves composing music that includes different genres of music as well as different eras.
“It’s fun to me to make music that encompasses a lot of different things, you know? I write things that will have some of Bach or Beethoven but also Tupac and Jay-Z. Stuff like that,” he said.
Bruce Mahin, Shepherd’s composition professor, said Shepherd and his music are unique.
“His concept of music is very deep and goes down to the root of human expression… It’s a rare thing when you hear music that touches you in a visceral way… I think that’s one thing I can say about his music. It touches that deep emotion.”
When asked where Shepherd stands compared to other students he’s taught, Mahin said he hates to put a rating on his students, instead saying “let me put it like this, he is primed for success, and I think whatever that means he’s going to be ready for it and something great is going to happen.”
While Shepherd said his goal is to teach composition at the collegiate level, he has not given up hope on perhaps being a performing artist, something he said he is very comfortable doing. He recalled the days when he was a teenager in Charlotte and would go to the piano store and play for hours.
He said the place meant so much to him that he had to call the owners and tell them about his experience with Keys.
“That’s the place where the music kind of found me,” he said. “They let me do it, and a full-circle moment is they had an Alicia Keys picture up in the store when it first opened and I said one day man, one day.”