washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Pakistani police say armed men damage church in land dispute

LAHORE , Pakistan ( AP ) - A group of armed men vandalized a church in eastern Pakistan before fleeing the scene , a local police official said Monday .
The incident in the village of Kala Shahkaku in Punjab province took place on Saturday and was apparently not sectarian but connected to a land dispute involving the church , according to police official Shahid Akram .
An image from the attack , broadcast on social media showed a cross , which had originally hung above the entrance door of the church , lying atop a pile of rubble .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the church could not be determined from the photograph .
Akram said police have detained two suspects and were still conducting searches for the main culprits .
“ Our initial investigation shows that some local Muslims orchestrated this attack over a lingering land dispute , ” he said , adding that “ all those who are linked to this sad incident will be arrested.
” Human rights activists and local Christian leaders condemned the vandalism and urged the Punjab government to arrest all those linked to the attack .
Pakistan ’ s minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past .
Last month , Pakistan ’ s independent Human Rights Commission in its annual report gave the authorities a failing grade , saying too little was being done to protect the country ’ s minorities and other vulnerable segments of the population , including women and children .

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - A group of armed men vandalized a church in eastern Pakistan before fleeing the scene, a local police official said Monday.
The incident in the village of Kala Shahkaku in Punjab province took place on Saturday and was apparently not sectarian but connected to a land dispute involving the church, according to police official Shahid Akram.
An image from the attack, broadcast on social media showed a cross, which had originally hung above the entrance door of the church, lying atop a pile of rubble. However, the extent of damage to the church could not be determined from the photograph.
Akram said police have detained two suspects and were still conducting searches for the main culprits.
“Our initial investigation shows that some local Muslims orchestrated this attack over a lingering land dispute,” he said, adding that “all those who are linked to this sad incident will be arrested.”
Human rights activists and local Christian leaders condemned the vandalism and urged the Punjab government to arrest all those linked to the attack.
Pakistan’s minority Christians have faced such attacks in the past. Last month, Pakistan’s independent Human Rights Commission in its annual report gave the authorities a failing grade, saying too little was being done to protect the country’s minorities and other vulnerable segments of the population, including women and children.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Pandemic creates electoral uncertainty for Trump, Democrats

Presidential politics move fast .
What we ’ re watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign : President Donald Trump ’ s reelection is facing growing headwinds less than six months before Election Day .
Coronavirus has breached the White House walls .
The U.S. unemployment rate is at a 90-year high .
And the death toll in the U.S. has surged past 80,000 , far more than the Republican president ’ s projections .
Meanwhile , medical experts are warning of a major second wave of infections as states begin to reopen portions of their economies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden has political challenges of his own , but no incumbent president has faced anything like this in almost a century .
Has the U.S. economy hit bottom ?
Just a few short months ago , Trump planned to campaign for reelection on the back of a robust economy .
That ’ s a distant memory after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April , leading to an unemployment rate of 14.7 % , the highest since the Great Depression .
Economists suggest the genuine unemployment number is much higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their economies to help reverse the slide , even as health experts warn that reopening too soon could lead to a second wave that would wreak greater economic devastation .
The president needs things to start turning around quickly .
Can Biden ’ s campaign compete with the Death Star ?
High-profile Democrats have begun voicing public concerns over the direction of Biden ’ s presidential campaign as Trump enjoys major organizational advantages .
Trump has more money , a more sophisticated digital operation and a big staffing advantage .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plouffe , in addition to Pete Buttigieg strategist Lis Smith , wrote separate op-eds offering their own suggestions for Biden ’ s political strategy .
At the same time , the Trump campaign is unleashing a $ 10 million anti-Biden advertising blitz .
Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said the massive round of attack ads represents the first major shot for what he called a juggernaut “ Death Star ” campaign .
Biden ’ s team is supremely confident in his ability to compete , yet Democrats are decidedly playing catch-up .
Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll ?
Trump and his allies have repeatedly declared success in the fight against the coronavirus , even as the U.S. death toll blows past his own projections .
As recently as April 20 Trump predicted during his daily press briefing that between 50,000 and 60,000 Americans would ultimately die as a result of COVID-19 .
The number of deaths has already exceeded 80,000 .
Trump has been forced to adjust his projections on the fly .
He told a Fox News audience over the weekend that the final tally could reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to think about the political ramifications of such horror , but the death toll represents one of the few pieces of quantitative evidence of Trump ’ s job performance .
Former President Barack Obama called Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus an “ absolute chaotic disaster ” in a Friday conference call in which he encouraged his former team to embrace Biden ’ s presidential bid .
It was Obama ’ s latest step into the 2020 contest , albeit a modest one , having maintained regular private contact with Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet the former president ’ s 2020 political star , at least for now , may be overshadowed by former first lady Michelle Obama , who starred in a Netflix documentary released last week exploring her life and rise in politics .
Coinciding with the release , a new group emerged to encourage the former first lady to embrace a role as Biden ’ s running mate .
Michelle Obama has sent strong signals that she has no interest in returning to the White House .
But even if she stands firm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they still hold tremendous political power .
How do Democrats recalibrate their convention ?
Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee .
But the process of making it official is anything but settled .
First , it ’ s far from clear whether host site Milwaukee will be open for even a scaled-down convention , said Melissa Baldauff , a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers .
“ We are really just in a place where the disease sets the timeline , ” Baldauff said .
“ Everyone would love to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it ’ s in a limited capacity .
But from our perspective , it ’ s too soon to tell.
” A month ago , the state Supreme Court overruled Evers ’ order to reschedule the primary election , despite a shortage of election workers in Milwaukee that forced officials to slash the city ’ s 180 polling places to just five .
At least 67 Wisconsin residents were diagnosed with COVID-19 after voting in person or working at the polls April 7 , though it wasn ’ t clear how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , state officials said .
An important next step in the altered nominating process comes Tuesday , when the Democratic National Committee ’ s powerful Rules and Bylaws Committee meets - virtually , of course - to discuss granting waivers to states that missed deadlines by postponing their primaries due to the pandemic .
His campaign has massive organizational advantages , but they may not matter much if Trump can not effectively govern the nation when it matters most .
The death toll , unemployment and public confidence in his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress has passed multiple economic rescue packages already , but the president has yet to offer or execute a clear , comprehensive nationwide plan to take control of the health crisis .
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast , “ Ground Game .
”

Presidential politics move fast. What we’re watching heading into a new week on the 2020 campaign:
___
Days to general election: 176
___
THE NARRATIVE
President Donald Trump’s reelection is facing growing headwinds less than six months before Election Day.
Coronavirus has breached the White House walls. The U.S. unemployment rate is at a 90-year high. And the death toll in the U.S. has surged past 80,000, far more than the Republican president’s projections. Meanwhile, medical experts are warning of a major second wave of infections as states begin to reopen portions of their economies with Trump’s blessing.
Democrat Joe Biden has political challenges of his own, but no incumbent president has faced anything like this in almost a century.
____
THE BIG QUESTIONS
Has the U.S. economy hit bottom?
Just a few short months ago, Trump planned to campaign for reelection on the back of a robust economy. That’s a distant memory after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April, leading to an unemployment rate of 14.7%, the highest since the Great Depression.
Economists suggest the genuine unemployment number is much higher. Trump is encouraging states to reopen their economies to help reverse the slide, even as health experts warn that reopening too soon could lead to a second wave that would wreak greater economic devastation.
The president needs things to start turning around quickly.
Can Biden’s campaign compete with the Death Star?
High-profile Democrats have begun voicing public concerns over the direction of Biden’s presidential campaign as Trump enjoys major organizational advantages.
Trump has more money, a more sophisticated digital operation and a big staffing advantage. Last week, former Obama strategists David Axelrod and David Plouffe, in addition to Pete Buttigieg strategist Lis Smith, wrote separate op-eds offering their own suggestions for Biden’s political strategy.
At the same time, the Trump campaign is unleashing a $10 million anti-Biden advertising blitz. Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale said the massive round of attack ads represents the first major shot for what he called a juggernaut “Death Star” campaign. Biden’s team is supremely confident in his ability to compete, yet Democrats are decidedly playing catch-up.
Will voters hold Trump accountable for the rising death toll?
Trump and his allies have repeatedly declared success in the fight against the coronavirus, even as the U.S. death toll blows past his own projections.
As recently as April 20 Trump predicted during his daily press briefing that between 50,000 and 60,000 Americans would ultimately die as a result of COVID-19. The number of deaths has already exceeded 80,000. Trump has been forced to adjust his projections on the fly. He told a Fox News audience over the weekend that the final tally could reach 100,000 deaths. It’s uncomfortable to think about the political ramifications of such horror, but the death toll represents one of the few pieces of quantitative evidence of Trump’s job performance.
Are the Obamas back?
Former President Barack Obama called Trump’s handling of the coronavirus an “absolute chaotic disaster” in a Friday conference call in which he encouraged his former team to embrace Biden’s presidential bid.
It was Obama’s latest step into the 2020 contest, albeit a modest one, having maintained regular private contact with Biden and other Democratic candidates in recent months.
Yet the former president’s 2020 political star, at least for now, may be overshadowed by former first lady Michelle Obama, who starred in a Netflix documentary released last week exploring her life and rise in politics.
Coinciding with the release, a new group emerged to encourage the former first lady to embrace a role as Biden’s running mate. Michelle Obama has sent strong signals that she has no interest in returning to the White House. But even if she stands firm, the Obamas are reminding the political world that they still hold tremendous political power.
How do Democrats recalibrate their convention?
Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee. But the process of making it official is anything but settled.
First, it’s far from clear whether host site Milwaukee will be open for even a scaled-down convention, said Melissa Baldauff, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.
“We are really just in a place where the disease sets the timeline,” Baldauff said. “Everyone would love to have the convention here in Milwaukee, even if it’s in a limited capacity. But from our perspective, it’s too soon to tell.”
A month ago, the state Supreme Court overruled Evers’ order to reschedule the primary election, despite a shortage of election workers in Milwaukee that forced officials to slash the city’s 180 polling places to just five.
At least 67 Wisconsin residents were diagnosed with COVID-19 after voting in person or working at the polls April 7, though it wasn’t clear how many of the infections were direct results of the election, state officials said.
An important next step in the altered nominating process comes Tuesday, when the Democratic National Committee’s powerful Rules and Bylaws Committee meets - virtually, of course - to discuss granting waivers to states that missed deadlines by postponing their primaries due to the pandemic.
THE FINAL THOUGHT
His campaign has massive organizational advantages, but they may not matter much if Trump cannot effectively govern the nation when it matters most. The death toll, unemployment and public confidence in his administration is moving in the wrong direction. Congress has passed multiple economic rescue packages already, but the president has yet to offer or execute a clear, comprehensive nationwide plan to take control of the health crisis.
___
Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, “Ground Game.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Longtime pass-rushing tutor Teerlinck dies at age 69

INDIANAPOLIS ( AP ) - John Teerlinck loved teaching the art of pass rushing .
His top students considered him the best instructor in league history .
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay announced Sunday on Twitter that Teerlinck , who spent nearly a quarter-century creating mayhem for NFL quarterbacks , had died .
The Colts confirmed it was from Irsay ’ s account .
Teerlinck was 69 .
“ Rest In Peace , John Teerlinck , ” Colts owner Jim Irsay wrote on Twitter , announcing the death late Sunday .
“ One of our sport ’ s all-time greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , through-and-through.
” His prized pupils routinely showed everyone what they learned .
The late Chris Doleman , John Randle and Kevin Greene went on to have Hall of Fame careers .
Four more players - Al “ Bubba ” Baker , Neil Smith , Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney - all finished their careers with at least 100 sacks .
Thirty-one players made the Pro Bowl and at his final stop , Indianapolis , Teerlinck put together one of the most dynamic pass-rushing combinations in recent memory with Mathis and Freeney .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a defensive coordinator or head coach in the league .
But those who knew Teerlinck understood without his imposing presence , booming voice and demanding tackling dummy drills , they would not have become household names .
“ He was an innovator and his teachings were way ahead of his time , ” Freeney said in a statement released by the Colts .
“ He taught me so much and I definitely would not have had the career I had if it wasn ’ t for him .
I will miss him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ greatest d-line coach of all-time.
” The real genius of Teerlinck was his ability to adapt his style to whomever he worked with .
When he took over as Minnesota ’ s defensive line coach , under defensive coordinator Tony Dungy in 1992 , he inherited a proven pass-rushing demon in the late Chris Doleman and an emerging one in the previously undrafted Randle .
Doleman recorded 27 sacks over the next two seasons and Randle made his first two Pro Bowl appearances under Teerlinck ’ s tutelage .
In 1995 , Teerlinck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defensive end Robert Porcher and turned him into a three-time Pro Bowler .
Porcher finished his career with 95 1/2 sacks .
“ He was a great tactician , who taught me a lot , including telling me Brett Favre was going to get the snap when he opened his hands under center , ” Porcher recalled .
“ He also had a big personality and a big body.
” After surviving a controversy in Detroit over allegedly teaching his players to tackle quarterbacks low , Teerlinck landed in Denver .
There , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league ’ s top 10 for sacks in 1997 and 1998 - both Super Bowl-winnning seasons .
In 2002 , he left the Broncos to reunite with Dungy in Indy , where he won a third Super Bowl ring following the 2006 season with the help of Mathis and Freeney .
His career ended after the 2011 season .
Teerlinck ’ s influence didn ’ t just show up on the stat sheetm , either .
At least eight former players including Greene and Mathis went to become coaches .
So did one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After the younger Teerlinck landed the defensive line job at Virginia Tech in January , he called his father his hero and told reporters the only job he ever wanted was to coach .
“ RIP to THE GREATEST Passrush Coach OF ALL TIME !
!
!
!
# JohnTeerlinck , ” Mathis wrote on Twitter .
“ The man that taught the great Rod Marinelli and all believers of REAL PASSRUSH.
” Teerlinck was a fifth-round draft pick of San Diego in 1974 and went on to play 20 games with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injury .
He spent six seasons coaching teams before taking his first pro job under the late George Allen with the USFL ’ s Chicago Blitz .
Chicago produced the top-rated defense in each of the league ’ s three seasons .
He joined the Arizona Outlaws in 1986 before making his NFL debut with the Cleveland Browns in 1989 .
Teerlinck moved to the Los Angeles Rams in 1991 .
AP Sports Writers Larry Lage in Ann Arbor , Michigan , and Tom Canavan in East Rutherford , N.J. contributed to this @ @

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - John Teerlinck loved teaching the art of pass rushing. His top students considered him the best instructor in league history.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay announced Sunday on Twitter that Teerlinck, who spent nearly a quarter-century creating mayhem for NFL quarterbacks, had died. The Colts confirmed it was from Irsay’s account. Teerlinck was 69.
“Rest In Peace, John Teerlinck,” Colts owner Jim Irsay wrote on Twitter, announcing the death late Sunday. “One of our sport’s all-time greatest assistant coaches. And a Horseshoe guy, through-and-through.”
His prized pupils routinely showed everyone what they learned.
The late Chris Doleman, John Randle and Kevin Greene went on to have Hall of Fame careers. Four more players - Al “Bubba” Baker, Neil Smith, Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney - all finished their careers with at least 100 sacks. Thirty-one players made the Pro Bowl and at his final stop, Indianapolis, Teerlinck put together one of the most dynamic pass-rushing combinations in recent memory with Mathis and Freeney.
And yet, Teerlinck never served as a defensive coordinator or head coach in the league.
But those who knew Teerlinck understood without his imposing presence, booming voice and demanding tackling dummy drills, they would not have become household names.
“He was an innovator and his teachings were way ahead of his time,” Freeney said in a statement released by the Colts. “He taught me so much and I definitely would not have had the career I had if it wasn’t for him. I will miss him. Rest in peace my friend, the greatest d-line coach of all-time.”
The real genius of Teerlinck was his ability to adapt his style to whomever he worked with.
When he took over as Minnesota’s defensive line coach, under defensive coordinator Tony Dungy in 1992, he inherited a proven pass-rushing demon in the late Chris Doleman and an emerging one in the previously undrafted Randle. Doleman recorded 27 sacks over the next two seasons and Randle made his first two Pro Bowl appearances under Teerlinck’s tutelage.
In 1995, Teerlinck left for Detroit where he took promising defensive end Robert Porcher and turned him into a three-time Pro Bowler. Porcher finished his career with 95 1/2 sacks.
“He was a great tactician, who taught me a lot, including telling me Brett Favre was going to get the snap when he opened his hands under center,” Porcher recalled. “He also had a big personality and a big body.”
After surviving a controversy in Detroit over allegedly teaching his players to tackle quarterbacks low, Teerlinck landed in Denver. There, he helped the Broncos finish in the league’s top 10 for sacks in 1997 and 1998 - both Super Bowl-winnning seasons.
In 2002, he left the Broncos to reunite with Dungy in Indy, where he won a third Super Bowl ring following the 2006 season with the help of Mathis and Freeney. His career ended after the 2011 season.
Teerlinck’s influence didn’t just show up on the stat sheetm, either.
At least eight former players including Greene and Mathis went to become coaches. So did one of his five children, Bill.
After the younger Teerlinck landed the defensive line job at Virginia Tech in January, he called his father his hero and told reporters the only job he ever wanted was to coach.
“RIP to THE GREATEST Passrush Coach OF ALL TIME!!!! #JohnTeerlinck,” Mathis wrote on Twitter. “The man that taught the great Rod Marinelli and all believers of REAL PASSRUSH.”
Teerlinck was a fifth-round draft pick of San Diego in 1974 and went on to play 20 games with the Chargers before he suffered a career-ending knee injury.
He spent six seasons coaching teams before taking his first pro job under the late George Allen with the USFL’s Chicago Blitz. Chicago produced the top-rated defense in each of the league’s three seasons. He joined the Arizona Outlaws in 1986 before making his NFL debut with the Cleveland Browns in 1989. Teerlinck moved to the Los Angeles Rams in 1991.
___
AP Sports Writers Larry Lage in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Tom Canavan in East Rutherford, N.J. contributed to this report.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Pelosi urges Congress to 'go big' on next virus aid package

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is poised to unveil the next coronavirus aid package , encouraging Congress to “ go big ” on aid to help cash-strapped states and struggling Americans .
Voting is possible as soon as Friday .
But the bill is heading straight into a Senate roadblock .
Senate Republicans said Monday they are not planning to vote on any new relief until June .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there is no “ urgency ” to act .
“ Let ’ s get on with it , ” Pelosi said Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who would suggest a pause , I would say the hunger doesn ’ t take a pause , the rent doesn ’ t take a pause , ” she said .
“ We have a big need .
It ’ s monumental.
” The new package , the fifth since March , is expected to carry another eye-popping price tag .
President Donald Trump has signed into law nearly $ 3 trillion in aid approved by Congress .
Its centerpiece is likely to be money to states and cities that are struggling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care costs and plummeting tax receipts during the economic shutdown .
There will money for virus testing and another round of direct cash payments and unemployment benefits for Americans , Pelosi said .
She has not disclosed the cost .
On a conference call with House colleagues Monday , Pelosi urged them to “ go big , ” according to person unauthorized to discuss the private caucus call and granted anonymity .
With the Capitol still partly closed , Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Md.
, told lawmakers on the call there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington for the vote , which could come Friday , the person said .
But Senate Republicans are in no rush to spend what could be trillions more on aid .
“ I don ’ t think we have yet felt the urgency of acting immediately , ” McConnell told reporters at the Capitol .
McConnell said he has been in close contact with the White House , assessing the aid Congress has already approved in response to the virus outbreak and next steps .
The White House convened a call with Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ If we decide to go forward , we ’ ll go forward together , ” McConnell said .
His priority is to ensure any new package includes liability protections for health care providers and businesses that are reopening .
Senate Republicans are not expected to act on any further aid until after the Memorial Day recess , according to a senior Republican aide unauthorized to discuss the planning and granted anonymity .
The Senate is set to recess at the end of next week for a previously scheduled break , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Senate recently reopened its side of the Capitol while the House remains largely shuttered due the the health concerns .
Senators have been in session since last week , voting on Trump ’ s nominees for judicial and executive branch positions and other issues .
The Senate majority , the 53-member Senate Republican conference , is meeting for its regular luncheons most days , spread out three to a table for social distance .
Democrats are convening by phone .
Many senators , but not all , are wearing masks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other staff have tested positive for the virus , and at least one senator , Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , is in isolation at home after exposure from a staff member who tested positive .
Other lawmakers have cycled in and out of quarantine .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned that if Trump and congressional Republicans “ slow walk ” more aid they will be repeating President Herbert Hoover ’ s “ tepid ” response to the Great Depression .
“ It should be big and it should be bold , @ @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is poised to unveil the next coronavirus aid package, encouraging Congress to “go big” on aid to help cash-strapped states and struggling Americans. Voting is possible as soon as Friday.
But the bill is heading straight into a Senate roadblock. Senate Republicans said Monday they are not planning to vote on any new relief until June. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says there is no “urgency” to act.
“Let’s get on with it,” Pelosi said Monday night on MSNBC.
“To those who would suggest a pause, I would say the hunger doesn’t take a pause, the rent doesn’t take a pause,” she said. “We have a big need. It’s monumental.”
The new package, the fifth since March, is expected to carry another eye-popping price tag. President Donald Trump has signed into law nearly $3 trillion in aid approved by Congress.
Its centerpiece is likely to be money to states and cities that are struggling to avoid layoffs in the face of skyrocketing health care costs and plummeting tax receipts during the economic shutdown. There will money for virus testing and another round of direct cash payments and unemployment benefits for Americans, Pelosi said. She has not disclosed the cost.
On a conference call with House colleagues Monday, Pelosi urged them to “go big,” according to person unauthorized to discuss the private caucus call and granted anonymity.
With the Capitol still partly closed, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told lawmakers on the call there would be 72-hour notice before returning to Washington for the vote, which could come Friday, the person said.
But Senate Republicans are in no rush to spend what could be trillions more on aid.
“I don’t think we have yet felt the urgency of acting immediately,” McConnell told reporters at the Capitol.
McConnell said he has been in close contact with the White House, assessing the aid Congress has already approved in response to the virus outbreak and next steps.
The White House convened a call with Senate Republicans earlier Monday, senators and aides said. “If we decide to go forward, we’ll go forward together,” McConnell said. His priority is to ensure any new package includes liability protections for health care providers and businesses that are reopening.
Senate Republicans are not expected to act on any further aid until after the Memorial Day recess, according to a senior Republican aide unauthorized to discuss the planning and granted anonymity.
The Senate is set to recess at the end of next week for a previously scheduled break, with senators scheduled to return June 1.
The Senate recently reopened its side of the Capitol while the House remains largely shuttered due the the health concerns.
Senators have been in session since last week, voting on Trump’s nominees for judicial and executive branch positions and other issues. The Senate majority, the 53-member Senate Republican conference, is meeting for its regular luncheons most days, spread out three to a table for social distance. Democrats are convening by phone. Many senators, but not all, are wearing masks.
At least a dozen Capitol police officers and other staff have tested positive for the virus, and at least one senator, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, is in isolation at home after exposure from a staff member who tested positive. Other lawmakers have cycled in and out of quarantine.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned that if Trump and congressional Republicans “slow walk” more aid they will be repeating President Herbert Hoover’s “tepid” response to the Great Depression.
“It should be big and it should be bold,” Schumer said Monday.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Feds: Arsenal found in the home of Walmart threat suspect

HORIZON CITY , Texas ( AP ) - Federal agents found multiple firearms , including a machine gun , at the West Texas home of a man accused of making online threats that included a photo of a weapon and a reference to Walmart , federal officials said Monday .
The FBI said it received a tip Friday about a social media post with a picture of a weapon and some of the text reading “ # watchoutwalmartimcoming # droplikeflys.
” Agents obtained a warrant to search the Horizon City home of Alex R. Barron , 29 , which turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least one fully automatic firearm equipped with a suppressor , according to a joint statement from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office in El Paso .
Barron was arrested Friday evening and charged with a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and a charge of possession of a machine gun .
Barron had been convicted in El Paso County of a drug-related felony in 2012 .
Horizon City is located about 20 miles ( 32 kilometers ) southeast of El Paso , where a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened fire at a Walmart .
Twenty-three people were killed in the attack targeting Latinos , including a man who died last month from his injuries .
The suspect in that shooting is awaiting trial .
Barron was being held Monday in El Paso County jail .
Jail records did not list an attorney for him .

HORIZON CITY, Texas (AP) - Federal agents found multiple firearms, including a machine gun, at the West Texas home of a man accused of making online threats that included a photo of a weapon and a reference to Walmart, federal officials said Monday.
The FBI said it received a tip Friday about a social media post with a picture of a weapon and some of the text reading “#watchoutwalmartimcoming #droplikeflys.” Agents obtained a warrant to search the Horizon City home of Alex R. Barron, 29, which turned up the weapons cache, including at least one fully automatic firearm equipped with a suppressor, according to a joint statement from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in El Paso.
Barron was arrested Friday evening and charged with a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and a charge of possession of a machine gun. Barron had been convicted in El Paso County of a drug-related felony in 2012.
Horizon City is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of El Paso, where a shooter on Aug. 3, 2019, opened fire at a Walmart. Twenty-three people were killed in the attack targeting Latinos, including a man who died last month from his injuries. The suspect in that shooting is awaiting trial.
Barron was being held Monday in El Paso County jail. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Pentagon Arctic strategy lacks vision to counter China, Russia, critics say

The Trump administration is struggling to effectively counter Russian and Chinese naval and maritime moves in the Arctic , according to analysts and several lawmakers , who say Washington will need to commit more resources than initially thought if it seeks to outmaneuver Moscow and Beijing in the region over the decade to come .
The Pentagon rolled out a fresh “ Arctic Strategy ” last year , and a recent spending bill in Congress prodded the Defense Department to devote greater attention to the region , but critics say the U.S. posture remains largely reactive and lacks long-term vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are pushing strategies that portray the Arctic as key to their 21st-century economic blueprints .
Some on Capitol Hill say the Pentagon has been slow to recognize the strategic importance of the region and has ramped up operations and investment only after it was compelled by law .
With that as a backdrop , regional specialists say the White House has missed an opportunity over the past three years to more clearly educate the American public on why the Arctic matters to long-term U.S. national security , economic growth and global order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Our strategy ends up being a description of what Russia and China are doing in the Arctic because we are not really able to articulate what we are doing in the Arctic , ” said Heather A. Conley , senior vice president for Europe , Eurasia and the Arctic at the Center for Strategic and International Studies .
“ The U.S. does not know what it wants .
It does not know what it wants to accomplish .
It does not have a positive policy agenda .
And the problem is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ms. Conley told The Washington Times in an interview .
“ The [ American ] strategy is just reacting to what they can do.
” Trump administration officials have sought to push back against such sentiment in recent months .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a blistering speech to the eight-nation Arctic Council last year .
He decried Russia ’ s growing influence in the Arctic and China ’ s claim to be a “ near-Arctic ” state — a description the U.S. rejects outright .
Last summer , the Pentagon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region with a declaration that the Arctic “ represents a potential vector both for attacks on the homeland and for U.S. power projection.
” Few dispute the aggressiveness of the administration ’ s rhetoric , but critics say serious action to back it up has been lacking until recently .
Last week , the U.S. and U.K. took what many saw as a long-overdue step to counter Russia in the Arctic by dispatching a flotilla of five warships through the Barents Sea , which lies between Russia and Norway ’ s Svalbard archipelago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out by U.S. forces in the Barents Sea since the Cold War .
Moscow responded by dispatching its own ships to aggressively monitor the movements of the U.S. and British vessels .
At the Pentagon , Navy officials said the Barents Sea move was designed to ensure that the U.S. military is prepared to operate in even the most frigid , logistically challenging environments .
Analysts agree that the exercise represented a show of American military power , but many say it was a short-term move .
Questions are now swirling over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lasting impact on the evolving power dynamics in the Arctic .
The U.S. has seen no clear sign that such exercises will dissuade Russia and China from continuing to put their own imprints on the region .
Some in the Trump administration appeared to publicly acknowledge that reality .
“ The Chinese and the Russians are everywhere , ” Kenneth Braithwaite , U.S. ambassador to Norway and the president ’ s pick to be the next secretary of the Navy , told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearings last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy in the region , and senators across the political spectrum blasted what they described as the lack of an overarching American Arctic doctrine .
Sen. Angus S. King Jr. , a Maine independent who caucuses with the Democrats , said the Arctic “ has not been a serious focus of the United States government.
” Sen. Dan Sullivan , Alaska Republican , said the Pentagon is “ the last agency in town to realize ” the importance of the Arctic and the role it will play in national security .
Pentagon officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a top national security priority — as a potential battleground in broader “ greater power competition ” with Russia and China .
The U.S. approach , some specialists say , stands in stark contrast with the paths Russia and China are taking .
For Beijing , the Arctic represents a key economic opportunity .
China ’ s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative has included investments in major projects in Arctic nations , part of a vision Beijing has dubbed the “ Polar Silk Road.
” Analysts say China is eyeing the Northern Sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Suez Canal , which could make it easier , cheaper and faster to move goods all over the world .
To reach that goal , the Chinese government is ramping up investments in heavy icebreaker ships , which are needed to operate fleets in the Arctic ’ s frigid waters .
Beijing already operates research stations in Iceland and Norway , deepening its footprint in the Arctic Circle and giving it valuable firsthand information about the region .
At the same time , Russia has poured billions of dollars into bridges , ports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic .
Moscow has invested heavily in regional energy projects and hopes to further strengthen its footing in global oil and natural gas markets .
Like China , Russia sees expansion of the Northern Sea Route as a top priority .
“ This is a realistic , well-calculated and concrete task , ” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an Arctic forum in St. Petersburg last year .
“ We need to make the Northern Sea Route safe and commercially feasible.
” Russia also is building additional icebreakers to add to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian fleet already has a reported 40 icebreakers , compared with only two in the U.S. , and one is not even fully operational .
The Pentagon plans to build icebreakers , but officials say construction likely won ’ t be completed for at least several years .
Critics say the U.S. is lagging behind in other key areas as well .
Last year ’ s National Defense Authorization Act directed the Pentagon to study whether the U.S. should build a permanent port in the Arctic .
While there was universal agreement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some specialists said it was too late .
“ Come on .
Why does it take the NDAA to authorize this sort of thing ?
” said Luke Coffey , director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at the conservative Heritage Foundation .
“ Surely this is something that policymakers … would be thinking about anyway , ” Mr. Coffey told The Times .
“ It ’ s not like it ’ s a secret .
Everyone has known about this for a while .
Let ’ s get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the criticism , it ’ s clear that the Trump administration is well aware of the geopolitical implications of growing competition in the Arctic .
In his speech last year , Mr. Pompeo took direct aim at Russia and said Mr. Putin intends to use the region as a theater to project military power .
“ Moscow already illegally demands that other nations request permission to pass , requires Russian maritime pilots to be aboard foreign ships and threatens to use military force to sink any that fail to comply , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These provocative actions are part of a pattern of aggressive Russian behavior in the Arctic.
” Furthermore , some analysts say , it ’ s not necessarily wrong for the U.S. to adopt more of a defensive rather than overtly offensive posture in the region .
“ The status quo in many ways benefits the United States , ” said Mr. Coffey .
“ Although we ’ re proactive in many ways , maintaining the status quo is the goal .
”

The Trump administration is struggling to effectively counter Russian and Chinese naval and maritime moves in the Arctic, according to analysts and several lawmakers, who say Washington will need to commit more resources than initially thought if it seeks to outmaneuver Moscow and Beijing in the region over the decade to come.
The Pentagon rolled out a fresh “Arctic Strategy” last year, and a recent spending bill in Congress prodded the Defense Department to devote greater attention to the region, but critics say the U.S. posture remains largely reactive and lacks long-term vision.
In contrast, Russia and China are pushing strategies that portray the Arctic as key to their 21st-century economic blueprints. Some on Capitol Hill say the Pentagon has been slow to recognize the strategic importance of the region and has ramped up operations and investment only after it was compelled by law.
With that as a backdrop, regional specialists say the White House has missed an opportunity over the past three years to more clearly educate the American public on why the Arctic matters to long-term U.S. national security, economic growth and global order.
“There’s no coherence to it. Our strategy ends up being a description of what Russia and China are doing in the Arctic because we are not really able to articulate what we are doing in the Arctic,” said Heather A. Conley, senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“The U.S. does not know what it wants. It does not know what it wants to accomplish. It does not have a positive policy agenda. And the problem is our adversaries know what they want,” Ms. Conley told The Washington Times in an interview. “The [American] strategy is just reacting to what they can do.”
Trump administration officials have sought to push back against such sentiment in recent months.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a blistering speech to the eight-nation Arctic Council last year. He decried Russia’s growing influence in the Arctic and China’s claim to be a “near-Arctic” state — a description the U.S. rejects outright.
Last summer, the Pentagon spelled out the deep importance of the region with a declaration that the Arctic “represents a potential vector both for attacks on the homeland and for U.S. power projection.”
Few dispute the aggressiveness of the administration’s rhetoric, but critics say serious action to back it up has been lacking until recently.
Last week, the U.S. and U.K. took what many saw as a long-overdue step to counter Russia in the Arctic by dispatching a flotilla of five warships through the Barents Sea, which lies between Russia and Norway’s Svalbard archipelago.
The exercise was the first carried out by U.S. forces in the Barents Sea since the Cold War. Moscow responded by dispatching its own ships to aggressively monitor the movements of the U.S. and British vessels.
At the Pentagon, Navy officials said the Barents Sea move was designed to ensure that the U.S. military is prepared to operate in even the most frigid, logistically challenging environments.
Analysts agree that the exercise represented a show of American military power, but many say it was a short-term move. Questions are now swirling over the extent to which it will have any lasting impact on the evolving power dynamics in the Arctic.
The U.S. has seen no clear sign that such exercises will dissuade Russia and China from continuing to put their own imprints on the region. Some in the Trump administration appeared to publicly acknowledge that reality.
“The Chinese and the Russians are everywhere,” Kenneth Braithwaite, U.S. ambassador to Norway and the president’s pick to be the next secretary of the Navy, told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearings last week.
Lawmakers pressed Mr. Braithwaite on U.S. strategy in the region, and senators across the political spectrum blasted what they described as the lack of an overarching American Arctic doctrine.
Sen. Angus S. King Jr., a Maine independent who caucuses with the Democrats, said the Arctic “has not been a serious focus of the United States government.”
Sen. Dan Sullivan, Alaska Republican, said the Pentagon is “the last agency in town to realize” the importance of the Arctic and the role it will play in national security.
Pentagon officials have responded by saying the Arctic is a top national security priority — as a potential battleground in broader “greater power competition” with Russia and China.
Grand ambitions
The U.S. approach, some specialists say, stands in stark contrast with the paths Russia and China are taking.
For Beijing, the Arctic represents a key economic opportunity. China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative has included investments in major projects in Arctic nations, part of a vision Beijing has dubbed the “Polar Silk Road.”
Analysts say China is eyeing the Northern Sea Route as a potential alternative to the Suez Canal, which could make it easier, cheaper and faster to move goods all over the world.
To reach that goal, the Chinese government is ramping up investments in heavy icebreaker ships, which are needed to operate fleets in the Arctic’s frigid waters.
Beijing already operates research stations in Iceland and Norway, deepening its footprint in the Arctic Circle and giving it valuable firsthand information about the region.
At the same time, Russia has poured billions of dollars into bridges, ports, transport hubs and other infrastructure in the Arctic. Moscow has invested heavily in regional energy projects and hopes to further strengthen its footing in global oil and natural gas markets.
Like China, Russia sees expansion of the Northern Sea Route as a top priority. “This is a realistic, well-calculated and concrete task,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an Arctic forum in St. Petersburg last year. “We need to make the Northern Sea Route safe and commercially feasible.”
Russia also is building additional icebreakers to add to its already sizable advantage over competitors.
The Russian fleet already has a reported 40 icebreakers, compared with only two in the U.S., and one is not even fully operational.
The Pentagon plans to build icebreakers, but officials say construction likely won’t be completed for at least several years.
Critics say the U.S. is lagging behind in other key areas as well.
Last year’s National Defense Authorization Act directed the Pentagon to study whether the U.S. should build a permanent port in the Arctic. While there was universal agreement that including such language was a positive step, some specialists said it was too late.
“Come on. Why does it take the NDAA to authorize this sort of thing?” said Luke Coffey, director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at the conservative Heritage Foundation.
“Surely this is something that policymakers … would be thinking about anyway,” Mr. Coffey told The Times. “It’s not like it’s a secret. Everyone has known about this for a while. Let’s get a move on with this stuff.”
For all the criticism, it’s clear that the Trump administration is well aware of the geopolitical implications of growing competition in the Arctic.
In his speech last year, Mr. Pompeo took direct aim at Russia and said Mr. Putin intends to use the region as a theater to project military power.
“Moscow already illegally demands that other nations request permission to pass, requires Russian maritime pilots to be aboard foreign ships and threatens to use military force to sink any that fail to comply,” the secretary of state said. “These provocative actions are part of a pattern of aggressive Russian behavior in the Arctic.”
Furthermore, some analysts say, it’s not necessarily wrong for the U.S. to adopt more of a defensive rather than overtly offensive posture in the region.
“The status quo in many ways benefits the United States,” said Mr. Coffey. “Although we’re proactive in many ways, maintaining the status quo is the goal.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Tom Wolf threatens to cut funding for 'cowardly' Pennsylvania counties going rogue

Pennsylvania Gov .
Tom Wolf sought Monday to head off a growing revolt against his cautious coronavirus restrictions , threatening to withhold funding from counties and licenses from businesses that seek to reopen ahead of his timetable .
Mr. Wolf , a Democrat who also has feuded with the Republican legislature over the state ’ s COVID-19 response , warned “ cowardly ” and “ selfish ” politicians that the state would withhold discretionary state and federal CARES Act funding to counties that fail to follow his executive orders .
“ To those politicians who decide to cave in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consequences of their cowardly act , ” Mr. Wolf said .
“ The funding we have put aside to help with fighting this crisis will go to the folks who are doing their part , and that includes our CARES Act funding , which will be used to support counties that are following the orders to prevent the spread.
” He added : “ However , other discretionary funding won ’ t go to counties that put us all at risk by operating illegally.
” His stern warning came with a half-dozen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hasten their reopening , backed by sheriffs and district attorneys who have said that they will refuse to penalize or prosecute local businesses that leapfrog ahead of schedule .
“ Enough is enough , ” Jeff Haste , chairman of the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners , said Friday in a social media post .
“ It is time to reopen the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and return our state to the people ( as prescribed by our Constitution ) and not run it as a dictatorship.
” President Trump jumped into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commissioners , tweeting that the “ great people of Pennsylvania want their freedom now , and they are fully aware of what that entails.
” The Pennsylvania skirmish comes as the latest between better-safe-than-sorry Democratic governors and struggling constituents worried that the costs of lockdown have begun to exceed the public-health risks as the curve of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations flattens .
That dynamic has been most apparent in states with Democratic governors and GOP-controlled legislatures , including Louisiana , Michigan and Wisconsin , where Republicans have chafed against the gubernatorial executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if any legislative input .
In Michigan , legislative Republicans have sued Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer to overturn her strict stay-at-home orders , while GOP legislators in Wisconsin have asked the state Supreme Court to squelch Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers ’ “ safer at home ” order and his ability to extend it .
Louisiana Republicans erupted after Democratic Gov .
John Bel Edwards extended his stay-at-home order until May 15 , advancing legislation to limit his ability to enforce penalties on businesses that violate the shutdown .
Under pressure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Monday the state would begin its gradual reopening on Friday , adding that he would work with local leaders in more coronavirus-intensive Northern Virginia about allowing them to proceed at a slower pace .
The Virginia Republican Party responded by assailing his “ strict , authoritarian and draconian lockdown , ” accusing him of offering little in the way of data , details or transparency on how he plans to reopen the state ’ s economy .
“ At this point , Governor Northam ’ s lockdown is more of an exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said party Chairman Jack Wilson .
In Pennsylvania , Republican legislators lost two court fights to limit Mr. Wolf ’ s authority .
A bill to require the governor to adhere to the federal guidance on business shutdowns passed the state legislature without a single Democratic vote , but Mr. Wolf vetoed the measure .
What sparked the local outcry was the Mr. Wolf ’ s recent relaxing of restrictions in stages on some counties but not others .
Among those still under the “ red phase ” order are some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political bent .
“ There ’ s been a lot of pushback from counties that either have fewer cases , or they have more cases but almost all of the cases are in nursing homes , which they don ’ t think should apply to business and other reopenings , ” said Nathan Benefield , COO of the free-market Commonwealth Foundation in Harrisburg .
After allowing 24 counties in the state ’ s northern tier to move from the “ red phase ” to the “ yellow phase , ” the governor added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yellow list while extending the stay-at-home restrictions for the remaining red counties until June 1 .
Commissioners in Berks , Dauphin , Franklin , Lebanon and Schuylkill counties erupted , according to PennLive , declaring that they will begin moving to the yellow phase even without the state ’ s blessing .
“ We have heard the pleas of our residents who desire the ability to safely re-open their businesses and safely return to work , ” said the letter from Schuylkill County , where 437 people have tested positive and 13 have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , sheriffs in Cumberland and Perry counties said they would refuse to cite businesses in breach of the governor ’ s order .
“ Our Office will stand with the citizens in defense of all of our Constitutional Rights !
Our Office will not be enforcing any ‘ order ’ that violates our Constitutional Rights , ” said the Cumberland County Sheriff ’ s Office in a Facebook post .
“ Sheriff Anderson has stated ‘ I have no intentions in turning local business owners into criminals.
’ ” The Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would not prosecute reopened business as long as they comply with social-distancing , face masks , and sanitation requirements .
“ Law enforcement exists to protect and serve our communities ; we do not exist to enforce arbitrary regulations which rip away a roof over a family ’ s head or food in a child ’ s mouth , ” Lebanon County DA Pier Hess Graf .
“ Our police officers have tough enough jobs without the added duty of prosecuting local small businesses.
” Mr. Haste said that 25 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in nursing homes , as were 65 % of the deaths .
Remove them from the equations , he said , and just 0.2 % of the population has tested positive .
“ I have great sympathy for those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 , ” said Mr. Haste in his post .
“ I also have great concern for the families that now have to struggle with financial concerns , mental health stress , addiction and more because of the shutdown .
Again , our governor has pitted groups of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ And he has not included county commissioners in this process.
” At his Monday press conference , Mr. Wolf spoke directly to business owners , warning them not to “ follow the whims of politicians and ignore the law and welfare of the customers , ” saying they would put their health-department certification , liquor licensing and insurance coverage at risk .
“ All these depend on your doing everything you can to keep your patrons safe , and by opening before the evidence suggests you should , you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your customers , ” said Mr. Wolf .
“ That ’ s not only morally wrong , it ’ s also really bad business.
” Mr. Wolf also had a message for workers : Don ’ t feel any pressure to return to the job in counties where businesses are supposed to remain shuttered .
“ Let me be clear : Employees that fear for their safety because a business has opened illegally , well , they don ’ t have to go to work , ” he said .
“ They can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their unemployment benefits.
” The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported 57,154 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 3,731 deaths among the state ’ s population of 12.8 million , considerably fewer than the hotspots of neighboring New York and New Jersey .
Mr. Wolf said the state was “ showing signs of success in this fight , ” although the novel coronavirus “ has threatened to overwhelm our healthcare system and it hasn ’ t finished with us yet.
” “ Still , over this past weekend , some have decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , adding , “ These folks are choosing to desert in the face of the enemy in the middle of a war that we Pennsylvanians are winning and that we must win.
” ⦁ This article is based in part on wire service reports .

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf sought Monday to head off a growing revolt against his cautious coronavirus restrictions, threatening to withhold funding from counties and licenses from businesses that seek to reopen ahead of his timetable.
Mr. Wolf, a Democrat who also has feuded with the Republican legislature over the state’s COVID-19 response, warned “cowardly” and “selfish” politicians that the state would withhold discretionary state and federal CARES Act funding to counties that fail to follow his executive orders.
“To those politicians who decide to cave in to this coronavirus, they need to understand the consequences of their cowardly act,” Mr. Wolf said. “The funding we have put aside to help with fighting this crisis will go to the folks who are doing their part, and that includes our CARES Act funding, which will be used to support counties that are following the orders to prevent the spread.”
He added: “However, other discretionary funding won’t go to counties that put us all at risk by operating illegally.”
His stern warning came with a half-dozen Republican-led counties moving to take unilateral action to hasten their reopening, backed by sheriffs and district attorneys who have said that they will refuse to penalize or prosecute local businesses that leapfrog ahead of schedule.
“Enough is enough,” Jeff Haste, chairman of the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners, said Friday in a social media post. “It is time to reopen the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and return our state to the people (as prescribed by our Constitution) and not run it as a dictatorship.”
SEE ALSO: Trump supports Pennsylvania counties in ‘mutiny’ against Democratic governor’s closure orders
President Trump jumped into the fray Monday by siding with the county commissioners, tweeting that the “great people of Pennsylvania want their freedom now, and they are fully aware of what that entails.”
The Pennsylvania skirmish comes as the latest between better-safe-than-sorry Democratic governors and struggling constituents worried that the costs of lockdown have begun to exceed the public-health risks as the curve of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations flattens.
That dynamic has been most apparent in states with Democratic governors and GOP-controlled legislatures, including Louisiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, where Republicans have chafed against the gubernatorial executive mandates setting the coronavirus agenda with little if any legislative input.
In Michigan, legislative Republicans have sued Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to overturn her strict stay-at-home orders, while GOP legislators in Wisconsin have asked the state Supreme Court to squelch Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ “safer at home” order and his ability to extend it.
Louisiana Republicans erupted after Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards extended his stay-at-home order until May 15, advancing legislation to limit his ability to enforce penalties on businesses that violate the shutdown.
Under pressure from Republicans, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Monday the state would begin its gradual reopening on Friday, adding that he would work with local leaders in more coronavirus-intensive Northern Virginia about allowing them to proceed at a slower pace.
The Virginia Republican Party responded by assailing his “strict, authoritarian and draconian lockdown,” accusing him of offering little in the way of data, details or transparency on how he plans to reopen the state’s economy.
“At this point, Governor Northam’s lockdown is more of an exercise in raw power as opposed to policy,” said party Chairman Jack Wilson.
In Pennsylvania, Republican legislators lost two court fights to limit Mr. Wolf’s authority. A bill to require the governor to adhere to the federal guidance on business shutdowns passed the state legislature without a single Democratic vote, but Mr. Wolf vetoed the measure.
What sparked the local outcry was Mr. Wolf’s recent relaxing of restrictions in stages on some counties but not others. Among those still under the “red phase” order are some sparsely populated rural counties with a conservative political bent.
“There’s been a lot of pushback from counties that either have fewer cases, or they have more cases but almost all of the cases are in nursing homes, which they don’t think should apply to business and other reopenings,” said Nathan Benefield, COO of the free-market Commonwealth Foundation in Harrisburg.
After allowing 24 counties in the state’s northern tier to move from the “red phase” to the “yellow phase,” the governor added Friday another 13 southwestern counties to the yellow list while extending the stay-at-home restrictions for the remaining red counties until June 1.
Commissioners in Berks, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties erupted, according to PennLive, declaring that they will begin moving to the yellow phase even without the state’s blessing.
“We have heard the pleas of our residents who desire the ability to safely re-open their businesses and safely return to work,” said the letter from Schuylkill County, where 437 people have tested positive and 13 have died, according to the Morning Call.
Meanwhile, sheriffs in Cumberland and Perry counties said they would refuse to cite businesses in breach of the governor’s order.
“Our Office will stand with the citizens in defense of all of our Constitutional Rights! Our Office will not be enforcing any ‘order’ that violates our Constitutional Rights,” said the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post. “Sheriff Anderson has stated ‘I have no intentions in turning local business owners into criminals.’”
The Lebanon County District Attorney’s office said it would not prosecute reopened business as long as they comply with social-distancing, face masks, and sanitation requirements.
“Law enforcement exists to protect and serve our communities; we do not exist to enforce arbitrary regulations which rip away a roof over a family’s head or food in a child’s mouth,” Lebanon County DA Pier Hess Graf. “Our police officers have tough enough jobs without the added duty of prosecuting local small businesses.”
Mr. Haste said that 25% of the county’s 764 cases are in nursing homes, as were 65% of the deaths. Remove them from the equations, he said, and just 0.2% of the population has tested positive.
“I have great sympathy for those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19,” said Mr. Haste in his post. “I also have great concern for the families that now have to struggle with financial concerns, mental health stress, addiction and more because of the shutdown. Again, our governor has pitted groups of Pennsylvanians against one another.”
He added: “And he has not included county commissioners in this process.”
At his Monday press conference, Mr. Wolf spoke directly to business owners, warning them not to “follow the whims of politicians and ignore the law and welfare of the customers,” saying they would put their health-department certification, liquor licensing and insurance coverage at risk.
“All these depend on your doing everything you can to keep your patrons safe, and by opening before the evidence suggests you should, you’re taking undo risks with the safety of your customers,” said Mr. Wolf. “That’s not only morally wrong, it’s also really bad business.”
Mr. Wolf also had a message for workers: Don’t feel any pressure to return to the job in counties where businesses are supposed to remain shuttered.
“Let me be clear: Employees that fear for their safety because a business has opened illegally, well, they don’t have to go to work,” he said. “They can stay home and stay safe and collect their unemployment benefits.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday reported 57,154 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 3,731 deaths among the state’s population of 12.8 million, considerably fewer than the hotspots of neighboring New York and New Jersey.
Mr. Wolf said the state was “showing signs of success in this fight,” although the novel coronavirus “has threatened to overwhelm our healthcare system and it hasn’t finished with us yet.”
“Still, over this past weekend, some have decided to surrender to this enemy,” he said, adding, “These folks are choosing to desert in the face of the enemy in the middle of a war that we Pennsylvanians are winning and that we must win.”
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--US judge says new pipelines need more review

BILLINGS , Mont .
( AP ) - A U.S. judge on Monday revised a recent court ruling that threatened to hold up thousands of utility projects crossing streams and wetlands , but left in place a requirement for new oil and gas pipelines to undergo further environmental review .
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Brian Morris means the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can again use a disputed permitting program to approve electrical lines and other utility work through streams and wetlands .
Maintenance and repair work on existing pipelines also would be allowed , but not construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we asked for , so from our position this is great , ” said attorney Jared Margolis with the Center for Biological Diversity .
“ Constructing pipelines through rivers , streams and wetlands without analyzing the impacts on imperiled species is unconscionable.
” The Army Corps program , known as Nationwide Permit 12 , was blocked by Morris last month .
In a lawsuit over the Keystone XL pipeline , the judge sided with environmentalists who argued companies were using the program to skirt water protection laws and ignore the cumulative harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Attorneys for utility industries and the government said Morris ’ original ruling hampered thousands of construction projects across the U.S .
They urged him to reconsider .
In response , Morris agreed to limit the scope of his ruling but stopped short of a full reversal .
He said the Army Corps “ committed serious error ” in failing to adequately consult with wildlife agencies before reauthorizing the permitting program in 2017 .
“ To allow the Corps to continue to authorize new oil and gas pipeline construction could seriously injure protected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
The Army Corps has broad jurisdiction over U.S. waterways .
It uses the blanket permit to approve qualifying pipelines and other utility projects after only minimal environmental review .
Since Nationwide Permit 12 was renewed three years ago it has been used roughly 38,000 times , according to federal officials .
Army Corps spokesman Doug Garmin referred questions to the Justice Department , which did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment .
Industry supporters describe the program as crucial for timely decisions on projects that can stretch across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodies .
Analyzing each of those crossings would be costly and is unnecessary because most involve little disturbance of land or water , they said .

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A U.S. judge on Monday revised a recent court ruling that threatened to hold up thousands of utility projects crossing streams and wetlands, but left in place a requirement for new oil and gas pipelines to undergo further environmental review.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Brian Morris means the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can again use a disputed permitting program to approve electrical lines and other utility work through streams and wetlands. Maintenance and repair work on existing pipelines also would be allowed, but not construction of new pipelines.
“We got what we asked for, so from our position this is great,” said attorney Jared Margolis with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Constructing pipelines through rivers, streams and wetlands without analyzing the impacts on imperiled species is unconscionable.”
The Army Corps program, known as Nationwide Permit 12, was blocked by Morris last month. In a lawsuit over the Keystone XL pipeline, the judge sided with environmentalists who argued companies were using the program to skirt water protection laws and ignore the cumulative harm from thousands of stream and wetlands crossings.
Attorneys for utility industries and the government said Morris’ original ruling hampered thousands of construction projects across the U.S. They urged him to reconsider.
In response, Morris agreed to limit the scope of his ruling but stopped short of a full reversal. He said the Army Corps “committed serious error” in failing to adequately consult with wildlife agencies before reauthorizing the permitting program in 2017.
“To allow the Corps to continue to authorize new oil and gas pipeline construction could seriously injure protected species and critical habitat,” Morris wrote.
A spokeswoman for the gas industry said the ruling would quickly be appealed.
“Arbitrarily singling out certain new projects only prolongs the highly disruptive nature of this order,” said Amy Conway with the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.
She said the permit program allowed projects to be reviewed efficiently “with minimal environmental impacts.”
The Army Corps has broad jurisdiction over U.S. waterways. It uses the blanket permit to approve qualifying pipelines and other utility projects after only minimal environmental review.
Since Nationwide Permit 12 was renewed three years ago it has been used roughly 38,000 times, according to federal officials.
Army Corps spokesman Doug Garmin referred questions to the Justice Department, which declined to comment.
Industry supporters describe the program as crucial for timely decisions on projects that can stretch across multiple states and cross hundreds of water bodies. Analyzing each of those crossings would be costly and is unnecessary because most involve little disturbance of land or water, they said.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Commission delays decision on gun ban at Michigan Capitol

LANSING , Mich. ( AP ) - A commission that oversees Michigan ’ s Capitol delayed a decision Monday on banning guns from the building before a planned protest against the governor ’ s coronavirus restrictions , in a meeting that later ended abruptly due to racist and threatening messages posted in Zoom .
The State Capitol Commission voted to form a subcommittee to seek input from the Legislature , which is controlled by Republicans , and Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , who has a ceremonial office in the Statehouse .
The step - which was criticized by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than two weeks after some lawmakers said they felt intimidated by armed demonstrators who entered the building openly carrying assault rifles , including in a public gallery overlooking the Senate .
Another protest is scheduled for Thursday .
Commission members heard conflicting legal advice at their meeting .
It ended early when “ very racist and threatening ” comments were made in a chat room function of the video-conferencing platform Zoom , which was how the public could participate , said panel spokesman and vice chairman John Truscott .
State Attorney General Dana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formal opinion stating the panel has authority to prohibit firearms in the building .
Amy Shaw , a lawyer for the six-member commission who also works for a Republican senator , said it can only adopt rules and procedures related to the building ’ s upkeep .
“ A public policy-making decision of this magnitude rests with the law-making body of the state : the Legislature , ” she said , urging against a “ hasty and unlawful decision ” and recommending that the panel seek outside legal counsel .
Democratic legislators had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey urged the commission to meet with legislative leaders , state police , and House and Senate sergeants to “ discuss the best policy going forward.
” House Minority Leader Christine Greig , a Democrat , said she was “ appalled ” by the commission ’ s decision to “ shirk their responsibility .
… With very real threats of the continued presence of assault-style weapons at future meetings of the Legislature , and numerous and many specific threats of violence against legislators and statewide officials , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was a top aide to a Republican former governor , said he personally does not like seeing guns in the Capitol but does not want the commission to overstep its bounds by relying on “ people with political motivations to say one thing or the other.
” Thursday ’ s “ Judgment Day ” rally is being organized by Michigan United for Liberty , which recently sued to challenge Whitmer ’ s stay-at-home orders and other directives to limit the spread of COVID-19 , which has contributed to nearly 4,600 deaths and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization said Monday that Facebook erased its private , not public , group on Sunday .
A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the group was removed for violating the social media company ’ s policies , specifically organizing a protest to defy government guidance on social distancing .
The Detroit Metro Times reported the move came after the newspaper had asked Facebook about people threatening violence against Whitmer and others on four private Facebook groups .
Whitmer she said knows people are frustrated with her restrictions but added she was “ very disappointed ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep legislators safe.
” She said she was concerned about the safety of demonstrators who congregate without wearing masks .
“ I ’ m increasingly concerned about the violent nature of the extreme comments that are being made around these organizations and groups that are coming together - the violent , racist , extreme rhetoric that has already been connected to Thursday ’ s rally , ” said Whitmer , who called on GOP legislative leaders to denounce such threats .
Michigan law does not prohibit people from openly carrying a gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as courts and airports .
They can carry a concealed pistol with a permit unless in schools , day care centers and other specified places .

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A commission that oversees Michigan’s Capitol delayed a decision Monday on banning guns from the building before a planned protest against the governor’s coronavirus restrictions, in a meeting that later ended abruptly due to racist and threatening messages posted in Zoom.
The State Capitol Commission voted to form a subcommittee to seek input from the Legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who has a ceremonial office in the Statehouse. The step - which was criticized by the governor and Democratic lawmakers - came less than two weeks after some lawmakers said they felt intimidated by armed demonstrators who entered the building openly carrying, including in a public gallery overlooking the Senate.
Another protest is scheduled for Thursday.
Commission members heard conflicting legal advice at their meeting. It ended early when “very racist and threatening” comments were made in a chat room function of the video-conferencing platform Zoom, which was how the public could participate, said panel spokesman and vice chairman John Truscott.
State Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, wrote a formal opinion stating the panel has authority to prohibit firearms in the building. Amy Shaw, a lawyer for the six-member commission who also works for a Republican senator, said it can only adopt rules and procedures related to the building’s upkeep.
“A public policy-making decision of this magnitude rests with the law-making body of the state: the Legislature,” she said, urging against a “hasty and unlawful decision” and recommending that the panel seek outside legal counsel.
Democratic legislators had requested immediate action to ban guns. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey urged the commission to meet with legislative leaders, state police, and House and Senate sergeants to “discuss the best policy going forward.”
House Minority Leader Christine Greig, a Democrat, said she was “appalled” by the commission’s decision to “shirk their responsibility. … With very real threats of the continued presence of assault-style weapons at future meetings of the Legislature, and numerous and many specific threats of violence against legislators and statewide officials, this matter is not resolved.”
Truscott, who was a top aide to a Republican former governor, said he personally does not like seeing guns in the Capitol but does not want the commission to overstep its bounds by relying on “people with political motivations to say one thing or the other.”
Thursday’s “Judgment Day” rally is being organized by Michigan United for Liberty, which recently sued to challenge Whitmer’s stay-at-home orders and other directives to limit the spread of COVID-19, which has contributed to nearly 4,600 deaths and infected at least 47,500. The nonprofit group said Monday that Facebook erased its private, not public, group on Sunday.
A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the group was removed for violating the social media company’s policies, specifically organizing a protest to defy government guidance on social distancing.
The Detroit Metro Times reported the move came after the newspaper had asked Facebook about people threatening violence against Whitmer and others on four private Facebook groups. Whitmer she said knows people are frustrated with her restrictions but added she was “very disappointed” the commission “didn’t take action to keep legislators safe.”
She said she was concerned about the safety of demonstrators who congregate without wearing masks.
“I’m increasingly concerned about the violent nature of the extreme comments that are being made around these organizations and groups that are coming together - the violent, racist, extreme rhetoric that has already been connected to Thursday’s rally,” said Whitmer, who called on GOP legislative leaders to denounce such threats.
House Speaker Lee Chatfield tweeted that “those making physical threats (to both parties) are out of line and should be punished. It’s despicable. It’s wrong. It needs to stop.” Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey previously denounced some of the protesters and their tactics.
Michigan law does not prohibit people from openly carrying a gun in public, except in places such as courts and airports. They can carry a concealed pistol with a permit unless in schools, day care centers and other specified places.
___
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washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Noem: Drug will be sent to SD for COVID-19 treatment

PIERRE , S.D .
( AP ) - South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem said Monday a shipment of an antiviral drug will be sent to the state this week to help treat severe cases of the coronavirus .
Noem said the shipment of remdesivir is intended for South Dakota ’ s “ very worst cases ” of COVID-19 , the Rapid City Journal reported .
The Food and Drug Administration recently cleared the intravenous medication for emergency use .
South Dakota health officials on Monday reported 97 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus , raising the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death toll remains at 34 .
Minnehaha County , home to a Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls that was the site of a coronavirus outbreak , is nearing 3,000 cases .
The southeastern South Dakota county reported 85 new cases Monday , bringing its total to 2,952 , the Argus Leader reported .
Lincoln County , with the second-highest total in the state , reported three more cases for a total of 191 , according to the state Health Department .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Monday a shipment of an antiviral drug will be sent to the state this week to help treat severe cases of the coronavirus.
Noem said the shipment of remdesivir is intended for South Dakota’s “very worst cases” of COVID-19, the Rapid City Journal reported.
The Food and Drug Administration recently cleared the intravenous medication for emergency use.
South Dakota health officials on Monday reported 97 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, raising the state’s total to 3,614. South Dakota’s death toll remains at 34.
Minnehaha County, home to a Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls that was the site of a coronavirus outbreak, is nearing 3,000 cases. The southeastern South Dakota county reported 85 new cases Monday, bringing its total to 2,952, the Argus Leader reported. Lincoln County, with the second-highest total in the state, reported three more cases for a total of 191, according to the state Health Department.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Criminal defense attorneys plea for officials to stop throwing virus shutdown violators in jail

The nation ’ s criminal defense attorneys issued a plea Monday to states , counties and cities to stop throwing coronavirus-shutdown violators in jail , saying authorities are overcriminalizing the pandemic .
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers approved a set of principles over the weekend that includes discouraging criminal charges or incarceration across-the-board for coronavirus crimes .
They said the push to put people behind bars seems odd at a time when many of the same officials are emptying prisons and jails to try to stop the spread of the virus in those facilities .
And when behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering more , the NACDL said .
Their stance comes at a critical time in the coronavirus response .
Two months of shutdown orders have begun to wear on many Americans , and folks across the political spectrum are increasingly suggesting it ’ s time to relax some of the penalties .
“ As the nation confronts a raging virus and a collapsing economy , the misguided reliance on criminal law enforcement must be avoided , ” said Norman L. Reimer , executive director of the NACDL .
Better to rely on civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the organization said .
Their stance puts them on the same side as Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott , who last week rewrote his shutdown orders to make clear nobody should be sent to jail for violating them .
He moved after a salon owner in Dallas drew national headlines for refusing to shutter her business , and getting tossed in jail for seven days by a judge who found her in contempt of court .
“ Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will not allow it to happen , ” Mr. Abbott said .
He and the NACDL both said it seemed ridiculous to be adding to the jail population with coronavirus offenders .
The NACDL also said the average American can ’ t figure out what the rules are , with so many patchwork policies out there .
Sometimes that means different guidance from state and local officials .
Other times the officials themselves aren ’ t clear , such as in the District of Columbia , where WAMU reported that the mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in stores , but her written policy only requires that stores post notices — not that they enforce the rule .
John Malcolm , director of the Heritage Foundation ’ s Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies , said he is sympathetic to some of the concerns over criminalizing coronavirus shutdown conduct .
And with coronavirus tensions are at an all-time high , he said it behooves those in authority to help cool things down .
“ Judges and law enforcement officers need to use some common sense and calm nerves , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could also help by making clear whether they really do want to see people tossed in jail over violations .
“ If governors want to attach potential criminal penalties but don ’ t want it to include a period of incarceration they should say so up front because judges are then in the positions of enforcing these edicts and if you have people who flout them on a repeated basis you have to have some way of enforcing them , ” Mr. Malcolm said .
There are no comprehensive lists of coronavirus-related crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have drawn national attention .
In Maryland , Charles County made headlines when the sheriff ’ s department in March arrested Shawn Marshall Myers on charges of failing to comply with the governor ’ s emergency shutdown orders .
He reportedly held two parties larger than the limit Gov .
Larry Hogan had set .
Mr. Myers faces up to a year in prison and a $ 5,000 fine on each count .
He ’ s already spent three weeks in jail , according to court records that show he was held without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when he was released on his own recognizance .
Other notable arrests include Shakeem Sanders , who was attacked last month while operating a recording studio in Paterson , New Jersey .
Police at the time hadn ’ t caught Mr. Sanders ’ attackers , according to local reports , but charged Mr. Sanders with running a non-essential business — his studio — during the shutdown .
He faces up to 6 months in jail and up to $ 1,000 in fines .
In California , sheriff ’ s deputies issued citations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were watching the sunset or having picnics near the beach in Encinitas .
The citations carry penalties of up to six months in jail and up to $ 1,000 in fines .
The NACDL said criminalization goes beyond violating shutdown orders .
The lawyers criticized the Justice Department for pursuing terrorism charges against people they accused of claiming to have spread the virus .
One Florida man is accused of spitting in the mouth of a police officer who was arresting him , while another posted to Facebook that he ’ d paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores in Texas .
The NACDL said using criminal penalties to enforce social norms usually hurts minority communities , with police and prosecutors more likely to pursue cases against them than against whites .
ProPublica , an investigative nonprofit , said it reviewed early data from Ohio and saw evidence that black people were “ being disproportionately arrested ” for violating the state ’ s stay-at-home and social distancing orders .
What happened in Texas suggests the press plays a role in highlighting cases .
The white salon owner in Dallas drew national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Abbott and the state ’ s lieutenant governor and attorney general .
But a few weeks earlier , when two Hispanic women in Laredo were cited for operating their beautician businesses during the shutdown , they drew scant attention .
Mr. Abbott , in revising his executive order , made sure to note that those two women were also covered by his new policy erasing jail time for violations .

The nation’s criminal defense attorneys issued a plea Monday to states, counties and cities to stop throwing coronavirus-shutdown violators in jail, saying authorities are overcriminalizing the pandemic.
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers approved a set of principles over the weekend that includes discouraging criminal charges or incarceration across-the-board for coronavirus crimes. They said the push to put people behind bars seems odd at a time when many of the same officials are emptying prisons and jails to try to stop the spread of the virus in those facilities.
And when behavior is criminalized, minority communities end up suffering more, the NACDL said.
Their stance comes at a critical time in the coronavirus response.
Two months of shutdown orders have begun to wear on many Americans, and folks across the political spectrum are increasingly suggesting it’s time to relax some of the penalties.
“As the nation confronts a raging virus and a collapsing economy, the misguided reliance on criminal law enforcement must be avoided,” said Norman L. Reimer, executive director of the NACDL.
Better to rely on civil education to combat “socially undesirable conduct,” the organization said.
Their stance puts them on the same side as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who last week rewrote his shutdown orders to make clear nobody should be sent to jail for violating them. He moved after a salon owner in Dallas drew national headlines for refusing to shutter her business, and getting tossed in jail for seven days by a judge who found her in contempt of court.
“Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault of their own is nonsensical, and I will not allow it to happen,” Mr. Abbott said.
He and the NACDL both said it seemed ridiculous to be adding to the jail population with coronavirus offenders.
The NACDL also said the average American can’t figure out what the rules are, with so many patchwork policies out there. Sometimes that means different guidance from state and local officials.
Other times the officials themselves aren’t clear, such as in the District of Columbia, where WAMU reported that the mayor said people are required to wear masks in stores, but her written policy only requires that stores post notices — not that they enforce the rule.
John Malcolm, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, said he is sympathetic to some of the concerns over criminalizing coronavirus shutdown conduct.
And with coronavirus tensions are at an all-time high, he said it behooves those in authority to help cool things down.
“Judges and law enforcement officers need to use some common sense and calm nerves,” he said, adding that governors could also help by making clear whether they really do want to see people tossed in jail over violations.
“If governors want to attach potential criminal penalties but don’t want it to include a period of incarceration they should say so up front because judges are then in the positions of enforcing these edicts and if you have people who flout them on a repeated basis you have to have some way of enforcing them,” Mr. Malcolm said.
There are no comprehensive lists of coronavirus-related crimes, but there have been some that have drawn national attention.
In Maryland, Charles County made headlines when the sheriff’s department in March arrested Shawn Marshall Myers on charges of failing to comply with the governor’s emergency shutdown orders. He reportedly held two parties larger than the limit Gov. Larry Hogan had set.
Mr. Myers faces up to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine on each count. He’s already spent three weeks in jail, according to court records that show he was held without bail from March 28 until April 22, when he was released on his own recognizance.
Other notable arrests include Shakeem Sanders, who was attacked last month while operating a recording studio in Paterson, New Jersey. Police at the time hadn’t caught Mr. Sanders’ attackers, according to local reports, but charged Mr. Sanders with running a non-essential business — his studio — during the shutdown. He faces up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
In California, sheriff’s deputies issued citations in early April to 22 people who were watching the sunset or having picnics near the beach in Encinitas. The citations carry penalties of up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
The NACDL said criminalization goes beyond violating shutdown orders. The lawyers criticized the Justice Department for pursuing terrorism charges against people they accused of claiming to have spread the virus.
One Florida man is accused of spitting in the mouth of a police officer who was arresting him, while another posted to Facebook that he’d paid people to spread the virus at grocery stores in Texas.
The NACDL said using criminal penalties to enforce social norms usually hurts minority communities, with police and prosecutors more likely to pursue cases against them than against whites.
ProPublica, an investigative nonprofit, said it reviewed early data from Ohio and saw evidence that black people were “being disproportionately arrested” for violating the state’s stay-at-home and social distancing orders.
What happened in Texas suggests the press plays a role in highlighting cases.
The white salon owner in Dallas drew national headlines and sparked statements of support from Mr. Abbott and the state’s lieutenant governor and attorney general. But a few weeks earlier, when two Hispanic women in Laredo were cited for operating their beautician businesses during the shutdown, they drew scant attention.
Mr. Abbott, in revising his executive order, made sure to note that those two women were also covered by his new policy erasing jail time for violations.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-11--Stitt says he plans to veto key piece of state budget plan

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) - Gov .
Kevin Stitt said Monday he plans to veto a key piece of the Republican Legislature ’ s budget plan , setting up a showdown with lawmakers of his own party who appear increasingly frustrated with the first-term governor .
Stitt announced at a press conference that he would veto two bills that temporarily divert about $ 111 million from going to various state pension funds in order to help ease cuts to public schools .
The funds being diverted from the pension systems are additional payments the state has been making to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to repay the diverted funds once the economy rebounds .
“ We have made great progress shoring up our retirement systems in the last few years , ” Stitt said .
“ Now is not the time to undo that progress.
” House and Senate leaders said a veto override is one of the options they ’ re considering .
Although Republicans have enough votes in each chamber to override the governor ’ s veto , neither bill passed the Senate with a veto-proof margin .
Sen. Roger Thompson , chairman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ architect of the Legislature ’ s budget plan , said he believes the Senate will “ rise to the occasion ” and vote to override the governor ’ s veto .
“ If those vetoes stand , there will be a $ 111 million cut to public education , ” Thompson warned .
The Legislature ’ s relationship with Stitt , a former CEO who ’ s never held public office before , has grown particularly contentious in recent weeks .
House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Kevin Wallace said the governor ’ s key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers in March after they wouldn ’ t agree to some of the governor ’ s budget demands .
House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat then sued the governor last month , asking the Supreme Court to force the governor to convene a meeting to declare a revenue failure .

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Kevin Stitt said Monday he plans to veto a key piece of the Republican Legislature’s budget plan, setting up a showdown with lawmakers of his own party who appear increasingly frustrated with the first-term governor.
Stitt announced at a press conference that he would veto two bills that temporarily divert about $111 million from going to various state pension funds in order to help ease cuts to public schools. The funds being diverted from the pension systems are additional payments the state has been making to improve their solvency, and the plan is to repay the diverted funds once the economy rebounds.
“We have made great progress shoring up our retirement systems in the last few years,” Stitt said. “Now is not the time to undo that progress.”
House and Senate leaders said a veto override is one of the options they’re considering. Although Republicans have enough votes in each chamber to override the governor’s veto, neither bill passed the Senate with a veto-proof margin.
Sen. Roger Thompson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a key architect of the Legislature’s budget plan, said he believes the Senate will “rise to the occasion” and vote to override the governor’s veto.
“If those vetoes stand, there will be a $111 million cut to public education,” Thompson warned.
The Legislature’s relationship with Stitt, a former CEO who’s never held public office before, has grown particularly contentious in recent weeks. House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Kevin Wallace said the governor’s key budget negotiator walked out of discussions with lawmakers in March after they wouldn’t agree to some of the governor’s budget demands.
House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat then sued the governor last month, asking the Supreme Court to force the governor to convene a meeting to declare a revenue failure.