washingtontimes--2020-09-21--China uproots ethnic minority villages in anti-poverty fight

CHENGBEI GAN ’ EN , China ( AP ) - Under a portrait of President Xi Jinping , Ashibusha sits in her freshly painted living room cradling her infant daughter beside a chair labeled a “ gift from the government.
” The mother of three is among 6,600 members of the Yi ethnic minority who were moved out of 38 mountain villages in China ’ s southwest and into a newly built town in an anti-poverty initiative .
Farmers who tended mountainside plots were assigned jobs at an apple plantation .
Children who until then spoke only their own tongue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , China ’ s official language .
While other nations invest in developing poor areas , Beijing doesn ’ t hesitate to operate on a more ambitious scale by moving communities wholesale and building new towns in its effort to modernize China .
The ruling Communist Party has announced an official target of ending extreme poverty by the end of the year , ahead of the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2021 .
The party says such initiatives have helped to lift millions of people out of poverty .
But they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities .
They fuel complaints the party is trying to erase cultures as it prods minorities to embrace the language and lifestyle of the Han , who make up more than 90 % of China ’ s population .
At a time when the party faces protests by students in China ’ s northern region of Inner Mongolia over plans to reduce the use of the Mongolian language in schools , officials want to show they are sensitive to minority cultures .
They invited reporters to visit Chengbei Gan ’ en and four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daganyi and Xiaoshan - that are part of what authorities see as a successful development project for the Yi in Sichuan province ’ s Liangshan prefecture .
The initiative is one of hundreds launched over the past four decades to spread prosperity from China ’ s thriving east to the countryside and west .
Mass relocations still are carried out because some mountainous and other areas are too isolated , said Wang Sangui , president of the China Poverty Alleviation Research Institute of Renmin University in Beijing .
“ It is impossible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relocation , ” he said .
In Sichuan , which includes some of China ’ s poorest areas , 80 billion yuan ( $ 12 billion ) has been spent to date to relocate 1.4 million people , according to Peng Qinghua , the provincial party secretary .
He said that included building 370,000 new homes and over 110,000 kilometers ( 68,000 miles ) of rural roads .
In Chengbei Gan ’ en , 420 million yuan ( $ 60 million ) was spent to build 1,440 apartments in 25 identical white buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a center for the elderly .
Craftspeople sell silver jewelry , painted cow skulls and traditional clothing that are popular with Han tourists .
Yi women can study to become nannies , a profession in demand in urban China , in classes taught with pink plastic dolls .
Roadside signs call on people to speak the official language .
“ Mandarin , please , after you enter kindergarten.
” “ Speak Mandarin well , it ’ s convenient for everyone.
” “ Everyone speaks Mandarin , flower of civilization blooms everywhere.
” Murals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Han majority in amicable scenes .
One shows a baby holding a heart emblazoned with the ruling party ’ s hammer-and-sickle symbol .
In one village , Xujiashan , annual household income has risen from 1,750 yuan ( $ 260 ) in 2014 to 11,000 yuan ( $ 1,600 ) , according to its deputy secretary , Zhang Lixin .
Development initiatives can lead to political tension because many have strategic goals such as strengthening control over minority areas by encouraging nomads to settle or diluting the local populace with outsiders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classes this month over plans to replace Mongolian-language textbooks with Chinese ones .
The party faces similar complaints that it is suppressing local languages in Tibet and the Muslim region of Xinjiang in the northwest .
Xinjiang ’ s Han party secretary said in 2002 the language of the Uighurs , its most populous ethnic group , was “ out of step with the 21st century ” and should be abandoned in favor of Mandarin .
The party boss for Liangshan prefecture acknowledged its initiative isn ’ t purely economic .
Authorities want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the official , Lin Shucheng .
He listed complaints about extravagant dowries , too many animals butchered for funerals and poor hygiene .
“ We are fighting against traditional forces of habit , ” he said .
At the same time , ruling party officials say they are preserving Nuosu , a Yi language , through bilingual education in schools and government support for a Nuosu newspaper and TV show .
“ We protect and promote the learning , use and development of the Yi language , ” the provincial party secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party might be willing to promote Nuosu because , unlike in Tibet or Xinjiang , the Yi demand no political change , said Stevan Harrell , a University of Washington anthropologist who has spent more than three decades visiting and studying the region .
“ There is no ‘ splittism ’ in Liangshan , ” Harrell said , using the party ’ s term for activists who want more autonomy for Tibet and Xinjiang .
“ So it is kind of safe to have the Yi language as a medium of education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scores points for the government against those people who rightly point out that Uighur and Tibetan languages are being severely suppressed.
” The region , like the rest of China , reeled from the coronavirus outbreak , said Lin , the Liangshan party boss .
But he said anti-poverty work was back on track and authorities were confident they could meet official deadlines .
Older villagers welcome the jump in living standards .
“ You can eat whatever you like now , ” said Wang Deying , an 83-year-old grandmother of five .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” AP researchers Yu Bing in Beijing and Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report .

CHENGBEI GAN’EN, China (AP) - Under a portrait of President Xi Jinping, Ashibusha sits in her freshly painted living room cradling her infant daughter beside a chair labeled a “gift from the government.”
The mother of three is among 6,600 members of the Yi ethnic minority who were moved out of 38 mountain villages in China’s southwest and into a newly built town in an anti-poverty initiative.
Farmers who tended mountainside plots were assigned jobs at an apple plantation. Children who until then spoke only their own tongue, Nuosu, attend kindergarten in Mandarin, China’s official language.
“Everyone is together,” said Ashibusha, 26.
While other nations invest in developing poor areas, Beijing doesn’t hesitate to operate on a more ambitious scale by moving communities wholesale and building new towns in its effort to modernize China. The ruling Communist Party has announced an official target of ending extreme poverty by the end of the year, ahead of the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2021.
The party says such initiatives have helped to lift millions of people out of poverty. But they can require drastic changes, sometimes uprooting whole communities. They fuel complaints the party is trying to erase cultures as it prods minorities to embrace the language and lifestyle of the Han, who make up more than 90% of China’s population.
At a time when the party faces protests by students in China’s northern region of Inner Mongolia over plans to reduce the use of the Mongolian language in schools, officials want to show they are sensitive to minority cultures.
They invited reporters to visit Chengbei Gan’en and four other villages - Xujiashan, Qingshui, Daganyi and Xiaoshan - that are part of what authorities see as a successful development project for the Yi in Sichuan province’s Liangshan prefecture.
The initiative is one of hundreds launched over the past four decades to spread prosperity from China’s thriving east to the countryside and west.
Mass relocations still are carried out because some mountainous and other areas are too isolated, said Wang Sangui, president of the China Poverty Alleviation Research Institute of Renmin University in Beijing.
“It is impossible to solve the problem of absolute poverty without relocation,” he said.
In Sichuan, which includes some of China’s poorest areas, 80 billion yuan ($12 billion) has been spent to date to relocate 1.4 million people, according to Peng Qinghua, the provincial party secretary. He said that included building 370,000 new homes and over 110,000 kilometers (68,000 miles) of rural roads.
In Chengbei Gan’en, 420 million yuan ($60 million) was spent to build 1,440 apartments in 25 identical white buildings, a clinic, a kindergarten and a center for the elderly.
Craftspeople sell silver jewelry, painted cow skulls and traditional clothing that are popular with Han tourists. Yi women can study to become nannies, a profession in demand in urban China, in classes taught with pink plastic dolls.
Roadside signs call on people to speak the official language. “Mandarin, please, after you enter kindergarten.” “Speak Mandarin well, it’s convenient for everyone.” “Everyone speaks Mandarin, flower of civilization blooms everywhere.”
Murals on buildings depict the Yi with members of the Han majority in amicable scenes. One shows a baby holding a heart emblazoned with the ruling party’s hammer-and-sickle symbol.
In one village, Xujiashan, annual household income has risen from 1,750 yuan ($260) in 2014 to 11,000 yuan ($1,600), according to its deputy secretary, Zhang Lixin.
Development initiatives can lead to political tension because many have strategic goals such as strengthening control over minority areas by encouraging nomads to settle or diluting the local populace with outsiders.
In Inner Mongolia, students boycotted classes this month over plans to replace Mongolian-language textbooks with Chinese ones.
The party faces similar complaints that it is suppressing local languages in Tibet and the Muslim region of Xinjiang in the northwest. Xinjiang’s Han party secretary said in 2002 the language of the Uighurs, its most populous ethnic group, was “out of step with the 21st century” and should be abandoned in favor of Mandarin.
The party boss for Liangshan prefecture acknowledged its initiative isn’t purely economic.
Authorities want to eliminate “outdated habits,” said the official, Lin Shucheng. He listed complaints about extravagant dowries, too many animals butchered for funerals and poor hygiene.
“We are fighting against traditional forces of habit,” he said.
At the same time, ruling party officials say they are preserving Nuosu, a Yi language, through bilingual education in schools and government support for a Nuosu newspaper and TV show.
“We protect and promote the learning, use and development of the Yi language,” the provincial party secretary, Peng, told reporters.
The party might be willing to promote Nuosu because, unlike in Tibet or Xinjiang, the Yi demand no political change, said Stevan Harrell, a University of Washington anthropologist who has spent more than three decades visiting and studying the region.
“There is no ‘splittism’ in Liangshan,” Harrell said, using the party’s term for activists who want more autonomy for Tibet and Xinjiang.
“So it is kind of safe to have the Yi language as a medium of education,” said Harrell. “And it scores points for the government against those people who rightly point out that Uighur and Tibetan languages are being severely suppressed.”
The region, like the rest of China, reeled from the coronavirus outbreak, said Lin, the Liangshan party boss. But he said anti-poverty work was back on track and authorities were confident they could meet official deadlines.
Older villagers welcome the jump in living standards.
“You can eat whatever you like now,” said Wang Deying, an 83-year-old grandmother of five. “Now even the pigs eat rice.”
___
AP researchers Yu Bing in Beijing and Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Joe Biden claims 200 million U.S. coronavirus deaths

About 200,000 Americans have died of the novel coronavirus , but Democratic presidential candidate Joseph R. Biden says it ’ s closer to 200 million .
“ If Donald Trump has his way , the complications from COVID-19 , which are well beyond what they should be — it ’ s estimated that 200 million people have died , probably by the time I finish this talk , ” said Mr. Biden in a Sunday speech in Philadelphia .
The Census Bureau reports that the U.S. population is about 331 million , meaning that a 200 million death count would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This isn ’ t the first time Mr. Biden has misstated the U.S. coronavirus death count .
In a Sept. 9 speech in Warren , Michigan , he said there had been “ 6,114 military deaths ” from the virus , although the Defense Department said there had been seven .
The Biden campaign told PolitiFact that he meant to say “ Michigan deaths.
” In June , Mr. Biden said that 120 million Americans had died from the virus , as opposed to 120,000 , prompting a retort from President Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortifyingly stupid , the Fake News would come down on me with a vengeance , ” tweeted Mr. Trump on June 25 .
Mr. Biden said at last week ’ s CNN town hall that “ all the people would still be alive , ” if only Mr. Trump had “ done his job .
”

About 200,000 Americans have died of the novel coronavirus, but Democratic presidential candidate Joseph R. Biden says it’s closer to 200 million.
“If Donald Trump has his way, the complications from COVID-19, which are well beyond what they should be — it’s estimated that 200 million people have died, probably by the time I finish this talk,” said Mr. Biden in a Sunday speech in Philadelphia.
The Census Bureau reports that the U.S. population is about 331 million, meaning that a 200 million death count would represent nearly two-thirds of the population.
This isn’t the first time Mr. Biden has misstated the U.S. coronavirus death count. In a Sept. 9 speech in Warren, Michigan, he said there had been “6,114 military deaths” from the virus, although the Defense Department said there had been seven.
The Biden campaign told PolitiFact that he meant to say “Michigan deaths.”
In June, Mr. Biden said that 120 million Americans had died from the virus, as opposed to 120,000, prompting a retort from President Trump.
“If I ever said something so mortifyingly stupid, the Fake News would come down on me with a vengeance,” tweeted Mr. Trump on June 25.
Mr. Biden said at last week’s CNN town hall that “all the people would still be alive,” if only Mr. Trump had “done his job.”
If I ever said something so mortifyingly stupid, the Fake News Media would come down on me with a vengeance. This is beyond a normal mistake. Why isn’t the media reporting it? pic.twitter.com/KkuWLkMfp7 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2020
200 million deaths? That’s most of the US population.
I have mixed feelings on Trump, but Biden doesn’t seem to know what day it is. He’ll be a puppet for the hard left. Really hope he doesn’t win. pic.twitter.com/Bz2wHQIkiy — MIKE (@ExInfanteer) September 20, 2020
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--AOC, Marjorie Taylor Greene trade insults in fiery Twitter fight

Marjorie Taylor Greene and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are both women who go by three names … and don ’ t have much else in common .
The two women have spent the last two days jawing on Twitter , accusing each other of stupidity .
Mrs. Greene , the Republican candidate for a U.S. House seat in Georgia , began Sunday by “ thanking ” the New York Democrat for deflecting all the “ dumb ” jokes away from blondes like herself .
“ As a blonde woman , I would like to take a moment to thank Congresswoman @ AOC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end to all ‘ dumb blonde ’ jokes .
Blondes everywhere appreciate your service and your sacrifice !
” Mrs. Greene wrote .
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez fired back Monday and noted that the Republican had committed an intellectual faux pas while accusing someone else of stupidity .
“ Don ’ t worry Mrs. Greene , I completely understand why you need to swing + miss at my intellect to make yourself feel better .
You seem to have some trouble spelling your own insults correctly .
Next time try ‘ single-handedly , ’ it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote back at her .
She did “ encourage ” Mrs. Greene , who is almost certain to win her race and make it to the House because her Democratic opponent has dropped out of the race .
Mrs. Greene wasn ’ t impressed , beginning her reply with “ @ AOC please … no one cares about typos.
” And she said she won ’ t need help writing when it comes to Ms. Ocasio-Cortez ’ s Green New Deal .
“ While you were growing up in socialist boot camp , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 250 million in revenue in 11 different states .
Your Marxist GND will destroy millions of jobs .
And I ’ m going to put it through the paper shredder , ” she concluded .

Marjorie Taylor Greene and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are both women who go by three names … and don’t have much else in common.
The two women have spent the last two days jawing on Twitter, accusing each other of stupidity.
Mrs. Greene, the Republican candidate for a U.S. House seat in Georgia, began Sunday by “thanking” the New York Democrat for deflecting all the “dumb” jokes away from blondes like herself.
“As a blonde woman, I would like to take a moment to thank Congresswoman @AOC. She has single handily put an end to all ‘dumb blonde’ jokes. Blondes everywhere appreciate your service and your sacrifice!” Mrs. Greene wrote.
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez fired back Monday and noted that the Republican had committed an intellectual faux pas while accusing someone else of stupidity.
“Don’t worry Mrs. Greene, I completely understand why you need to swing + miss at my intellect to make yourself feel better. You seem to have some trouble spelling your own insults correctly. Next time try ‘single-handedly,’ it’ll work better,” she wrote back at her.
Don’t worry Mrs. Greene, I completely understand why you need to swing + miss at my intellect to make yourself feel better.
You seem to have some trouble spelling your own insults correctly.
Next time try “single-handedly,” it’ll work better.
Good luck writing legislation! https://t.co/y33JXVfxDc — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 21, 2020
She did “encourage” Mrs. Greene, who is almost certain to win her race and make it to the House because her Democratic opponent has dropped out of the race.
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez concluded her tweet with “Good luck writing legislation!”
Mrs. Greene wasn’t impressed, beginning her reply with “@AOC please … no one cares about typos.”
.@AOC please … no one cares about typos.
While you were growing up in socialist boot camp, I was creating 1000s of jobs, $250 million in revenue in 11 different states.
Your Marxist GND will destroy millions of jobs.
And I’m going to put it through the paper shredder. https://t.co/ahNICgGHvQ — Marjorie Taylor Greene For Congress🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) September 21, 2020
And she said she won’t need help writing when it comes to Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal.
“While you were growing up in socialist boot camp, I was creating 1000s of jobs, $250 million in revenue in 11 different states. Your Marxist GND will destroy millions of jobs. And I’m going to put it through the paper shredder,” she concluded.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Fox News apologizes for using debunked coronavirus story

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Fox News Channel ’ s Steve Doocy apologized on Monday “ for any confusion ” in reporting a now-debunked story about the mayor of Nashville , Tennessee , supposedly concealing the number of coronavirus cases linked to bars and restaurants in that city because they were so low .
But on Monday night , Fox ’ s Tucker Carlson said that “ we don ’ t know the truth ” about the Nashville case .
The story came from a Thursday report by Nashville ’ s Fox affiliate WZTV on “ leaked emails ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning that they didn ’ t mean what its reporter thought they did .
The story spread among national conservative commentators as a supposed example of the harm of coronavirus restrictions .
It was the lead segment on “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” on Thursday night and “ Fox & Friends ” devoted time to it the following morning .
A fact-check done Friday by The Nashville Tennessean debunked the WZTV reporting , which was retweeted by Donald Trump Jr. and led to Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn , a Republican , to publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper , a Democrat .
The station ’ s story quoted an exchange between a Nashville health official and a representative of the mayor ’ s office , where the health expert sought and received assurance that coronavirus data linked to specific bars and restaurants would not be released to the public .
The mayor ’ s office later said that data was kept private for fear that it could inadvertently lead to the names of people who test positive for COVID-19 being revealed , a violation of federal privacy laws .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bars and restaurants in Nashville - about 80 in August - was actually publicly revealed at the time , contrary to the WZTV story .
WZTV ’ s news director , Bryan McGruder , did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Monday .
But the station told CNN that “ we incorrectly asserted that Mayor Cooper ’ s office withheld COVID-19 data from the public , which implied that there had been a coverup .
We want to clarify that we do not believe there was any coverup , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our reporting.
” In his opening segment Thursday , Carlson called the station ’ s initial report a “ remarkable ” story offering “ conclusive proof ” that political leaders were lying about the coronavirus .
“ Hide all good news - that ’ s the policy , ” Carlson said , offering his opinion of political strategy .
“ Otherwise , the fear might subside and our power along with it.
” “ Fox & Friends ” host Brian Kilmeade said the next morning that Cooper “ has to resign yesterday.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if Joe Biden wins the presidency , would “ hand the keys back to every bar and restaurant on Nov. 4.
” On Monday , Kilmeade ’ s co-host Steve Doocy , noted that the station Fox based its report upon had retracted the story .
“ We wanted to apologize for any confusion , ” he said .
Yet later Monday , Carlson told viewers that WZTV had removed its story from the station ’ s website “ under pressure from the mayor ’ s office.
” Carlson said because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails involved in the story , “ we don ’ t know the truth ” about it .

NEW YORK (AP) - Fox News Channel’s Steve Doocy apologized on Monday “for any confusion” in reporting a now-debunked story about the mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, supposedly concealing the number of coronavirus cases linked to bars and restaurants in that city because they were so low.
But on Monday night, Fox’s Tucker Carlson said that “we don’t know the truth” about the Nashville case.
The story came from a Thursday report by Nashville’s Fox affiliate WZTV on “leaked emails” that the station retracted late Friday upon learning that they didn’t mean what its reporter thought they did.
The story spread among national conservative commentators as a supposed example of the harm of coronavirus restrictions. It was the lead segment on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Thursday night and “Fox & Friends” devoted time to it the following morning.
A fact-check done Friday by The Nashville Tennessean debunked the WZTV reporting, which was retweeted by Donald Trump Jr. and led to Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican, to publicly call for an investigation into Mayor John Cooper, a Democrat.
The station’s story quoted an exchange between a Nashville health official and a representative of the mayor’s office, where the health expert sought and received assurance that coronavirus data linked to specific bars and restaurants would not be released to the public.
The mayor’s office later said that data was kept private for fear that it could inadvertently lead to the names of people who test positive for COVID-19 being revealed, a violation of federal privacy laws.
Meanwhile, the total number of cases linked to bars and restaurants in Nashville - about 80 in August - was actually publicly revealed at the time, contrary to the WZTV story.
WZTV’s news director, Bryan McGruder, did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Monday. But the station told CNN that “we incorrectly asserted that Mayor Cooper’s office withheld COVID-19 data from the public, which implied that there had been a coverup. We want to clarify that we do not believe there was any coverup, and we apologize for the error and oversight in our reporting.”
In his opening segment Thursday, Carlson called the station’s initial report a “remarkable” story offering “conclusive proof” that political leaders were lying about the coronavirus.
“Hide all good news - that’s the policy,” Carlson said, offering his opinion of political strategy. “Otherwise, the fear might subside and our power along with it.”
“Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade said the next morning that Cooper “has to resign yesterday.”
He suggested that many Democratic leaders, if Joe Biden wins the presidency, would “hand the keys back to every bar and restaurant on Nov. 4.”
On Monday, Kilmeade’s co-host Steve Doocy, noted that the station Fox based its report upon had retracted the story. “We wanted to apologize for any confusion,” he said.
Yet later Monday, Carlson told viewers that WZTV had removed its story from the station’s website “under pressure from the mayor’s office.” Carlson said because he hadn’t seen all of the emails involved in the story, “we don’t know the truth” about it.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Trump imposes Iran 'snapback' sanctions as Tehran scolds U.S.

The U.S. clash with Iran escalated anew Monday , with the Trump administration vowing to use America ’ s global economic reach to reimpose sweeping U.N. sanctions aimed at blocking Tehran ’ s nuclear programs , while Iran said an isolated and spurned Washington was taking “ irresponsible ” steps without any backing from the international community .
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wagged his finger at the screen as he scolded the White House during a Council on Foreign Relations webinar , claiming the Trump administration is violating international law and insisting Iran would not “ renegotiate ” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s major powers — including America ’ s European allies — still support .
While Mr. Zarif taunted the U.S. , President Trump issued an executive order designed to implement a wide slate of U.N. “ snapback ” sanctions against Iran , including a ban on military imports and exports , that were due to be lifted under terms of the 2015 nuclear deal with the Islamic republic .
“ My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
“ The United States will not allow the Iranian regime to further advance capabilities to directly threaten and terrorize the rest of the world.
” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo followed the executive order by telling reporters at the State Department that the administration was imposing penalties on more than two dozen Iranian individuals and institutions and was specifically targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ’ s socialist government for bolstering economic ties with Iran in recent years .
Arguing that the U.S. has the right to demand the snapback measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforce them , Mr. Pompeo argued that “ the country that ’ s isolated today is not the United States but rather Iran.
” Officials said the sanctions will freeze assets in U.S. states or banking systems , bar Americans from doing business with sanctioned people and , perhaps most important , open up foreign governments , companies and individuals to U.S. penalties if they engage in any transactions with the Iranians .
But France , Germany , Britain , China and Russia , the other key players in the 2015 deal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. actions because Mr. Trump lost his right to weigh in when he took the U.S. out of the deal unilaterally in 2018 .
The Trump administration announced over the weekend that the U.S. had officially triggered a “ snapback ” provision in the Iran nuclear deal to reimpose U.N. sanctions that had been eased when the deal was inked in 2015 .
Under the deal , Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programs in exchange for the eventual lifting of international economic and security sanctions .
Mr. Trump said Iran has repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballistic missile tests , supporting terrorism across the Middle East and continuing to enrich atomic material needed for a nuclear bombs beyond the limits set in the accord .
The administration asserted Monday that Tehran has likely violated the U.N. weapons purchasing ban .
“ For nearly two years , the corrupt Iranian and Venezuelan regimes have flouted the U.N. arms embargo , ” said Mr. Pompeo , who was joined at the State Department by Defense Secretary Mark Esper , Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin , Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , U.N @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adviser Robert O ’ Brien .
Caracas and Tehran have “ exchange [ d ] defense delegations and have spent significant resources to develop plans , which likely have progressed to include arms sales , ” Mr. Pompeo said .
“ No matter who you are , if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran , you risk sanctions , ” he said .
“ Our actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide.
” There was no sign that the formal U.S. announcement will change the global dynamic toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. officials identified — including the Iranian Defense Ministry , its procurement arm , Iran ’ s atomic energy agency , several Iranian scientists and Mr. Maduro — are already subject to U.S. sanctions .
Britain , Germany and France , all of which have resisted Mr. Trump ’ s efforts to end the deal , indicated that they are openly siding with China and Russia on the snapback issue .
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , citing an overwhelming vote against Washington in the Security Council last month , said over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support the U.S. move .
Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said in a Twitter post that it was “ very painful to see how a great country humiliates itself like this , opposes in its obstinate delirium other members of U.N. Security Council.
” Still , Mr. Pompeo asserted that all U.N. member nations should “ fully comply ” with the reimposed sanctions .
“ That certainly includes the United Kingdom , France and Germany , ” he said .
“ We will have every expectation that those nations enforce these sanctions.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the sanctions are illegitimate .
“ It flows from this that any decisions and actions which would be taken based on this procedure or on its possible outcome would also be incapable of having any legal effect , ” said the vaguely worded statement signed by British , German and French officials .
The Trump administration ’ s moves , meanwhile , are ratcheting up tension with Tehran ahead of the U.S. presidential election .
Mr. Trump has accused Tehran of favoring his Democratic opponent , former Vice President Joseph R. Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not renegotiate the 2015 deal even if Mr. Biden wins the White House .
Mr. Biden has said he will attempt to move quickly to bring the U.S. back into the 2015 nuclear deal .
The Trump administration has been betting in part that the agreement will be so badly damaged that Iran itself will repudiate it , but the head of Iran ’ s nuclear agency said Monday that Tehran believes the accord is worth preserving .
The Associated Press reported that Ali Akbar Salehi told delegates at a conference of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deal has been “ caught in a quasi-stalemate situation ” since the U.S. withdrawal .
Mr. Zarif said Washington “ must come back to be a lawful member of the international community , start implementing its obligations and then talk about the rest of the deal.
” Mr. Esper called on Iran to “ act like a normal country ” and said the Pentagon was “ ready to respond to future Iranian aggression.
” How far the U.S. military will go to enforce sanctions such as the arms sale embargo on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies and partners to counter Iran ’ s destabilizing behavior , ” Mr. Esper said .
“ In doing so , we will protect our people and our interests and maintain the security of like-minded nations across the region.
” ⦁ This article is based in part on wire service reports .

The U.S. clash with Iran escalated anew Monday, with the Trump administration vowing to use America’s global economic reach to reimpose sweeping U.N. sanctions aimed at blocking Tehran’s nuclear programs, while Iran said an isolated and spurned Washington was taking “irresponsible” steps without any backing from the international community.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wagged his finger at the screen as he scolded the White House during a Council on Foreign Relations webinar, claiming the Trump administration is violating international law and insisting Iran would not “renegotiate” a deal that most of the world’s major powers — including America’s European allies — still support.
While Mr. Zarif taunted the U.S., President Trump issued an executive order designed to implement a wide slate of U.N. “snapback” sanctions against Iran, including a ban on military imports and exports, that were due to be lifted under terms of the 2015 nuclear deal with the Islamic republic.
“My actions today send a clear message to the Iranian regime and those in the international community who refuse to stand up to Iran,” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “The United States will not allow the Iranian regime to further advance capabilities to directly threaten and terrorize the rest of the world.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo followed the executive order by telling reporters at the State Department that the administration was imposing penalties on more than two dozen Iranian individuals and institutions and was specifically targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government for bolstering economic ties with Iran in recent years.
Arguing that the U.S. has the right to demand the snapback measures and the U.N. has a duty to enforce them, Mr. Pompeo argued that “the country that’s isolated today is not the United States but rather Iran.”
Officials said the sanctions will freeze assets in U.S. states or banking systems, bar Americans from doing business with sanctioned people and, perhaps most important, open up foreign governments, companies and individuals to U.S. penalties if they engage in any transactions with the Iranians.
But France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia, the other key players in the 2015 deal, said they won’t honor the U.S. actions because Mr. Trump lost his right to weigh in when he took the U.S. out of the deal unilaterally in 2018.
The Trump administration announced over the weekend that the U.S. had officially triggered a “snapback” provision in the Iran nuclear deal to reimpose U.N. sanctions that had been eased when the deal was inked in 2015. Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programs in exchange for the eventual lifting of international economic and security sanctions.
Mr. Trump said Iran has repeatedly violated the 2015 deal by carrying out ballistic missile tests, supporting terrorism across the Middle East and continuing to enrich atomic material needed for a nuclear bombs beyond the limits set in the accord. The administration asserted Monday that Tehran has likely violated the U.N. weapons purchasing ban.
“For nearly two years, the corrupt Iranian and Venezuelan regimes have flouted the U.N. arms embargo,” said Mr. Pompeo, who was joined at the State Department by Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft and National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien.
Caracas and Tehran have “exchange[d] defense delegations and have spent significant resources to develop plans, which likely have progressed to include arms sales,” Mr. Pompeo said.
“No matter who you are, if you violate the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, you risk sanctions,” he said. “Our actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide.”
Global resistance
There was no sign that the formal U.S. announcement will change the global dynamic toward Iran.
Nearly all of the targets U.S. officials identified — including the Iranian Defense Ministry, its procurement arm, Iran’s atomic energy agency, several Iranian scientists and Mr. Maduro — are already subject to U.S. sanctions.
Britain, Germany and France, all of which have resisted Mr. Trump’s efforts to end the deal, indicated that they are openly siding with China and Russia on the snapback issue.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, citing an overwhelming vote against Washington in the Security Council last month, said over the weekend that he would take no action to support the U.S. move.
Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said in a Twitter post that it was “very painful to see how a great country humiliates itself like this, opposes in its obstinate delirium other members of U.N. Security Council.”
Still, Mr. Pompeo asserted that all U.N. member nations should “fully comply” with the reimposed sanctions.
“That certainly includes the United Kingdom, France and Germany,” he said. “We will have every expectation that those nations enforce these sanctions.”
But the European nations stood together in saying the sanctions are illegitimate. “It flows from this that any decisions and actions which would be taken based on this procedure or on its possible outcome would also be incapable of having any legal effect,” said the vaguely worded statement signed by British, German and French officials.
The Trump administration’s moves, meanwhile, are ratcheting up tension with Tehran ahead of the U.S. presidential election. Mr. Trump has accused Tehran of favoring his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, but Mr. Zarif said Iran would not renegotiate the 2015 deal even if Mr. Biden wins the White House.
Mr. Biden has said he will attempt to move quickly to bring the U.S. back into the 2015 nuclear deal.
The Trump administration has been betting in part that the agreement will be so badly damaged that Iran itself will repudiate it, but the head of Iran’s nuclear agency said Monday that Tehran believes the accord is worth preserving.
The Associated Press reported that Ali Akbar Salehi told delegates at a conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna that the deal has been “caught in a quasi-stalemate situation” since the U.S. withdrawal.
Mr. Zarif said Washington “must come back to be a lawful member of the international community, start implementing its obligations and then talk about the rest of the deal.”
Mr. Esper called on Iran to “act like a normal country” and said the Pentagon was “ready to respond to future Iranian aggression.”
How far the U.S. military will go to enforce sanctions such as the arms sale embargo on the ground is still uncertain.
“We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies and partners to counter Iran’s destabilizing behavior,” Mr. Esper said. “In doing so, we will protect our people and our interests and maintain the security of like-minded nations across the region.”
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Guy Taylor can be reached at gtaylor@washingtontimes.com. • Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Hollywood unions, studios agree on rules to start production

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Hollywood ’ s unions announced Monday that they have reached an agreement on pandemic protocols with major studios that will allow the broad resumption of production of films and television after six months of stagnant sets and widespread unemployment .
The Directors Guild of America , the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees , the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , the Basic Crafts unions and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists jointly announced the deal reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after months of planning and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprehensive use of personal protective gear and testing of cast and crew members , and a dedicated coronavirus supervisor to oversee it all .
It requires the use of a “ zone system ” that strictly limits interactions between people on sets based on their job ’ s requirements .
Those who must deal with more people will be tested more frequently and have more strict protective equipment and spacing requirements .
Actors will be tested especially often because their on-camera work won ’ t allow for many protective measures .
The agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sick leave per employee , which can be used after positive tests or when quarantine is necessary , and says that employees who use the leave must be reinstated so long as their jobs still exist .
“ The protocols pave the way for creative workers , who have been hard hit by the pandemic , to resume their crafts and livelihoods in workplaces redesigned around their health , ” the unions said in a joint statement .
Some film and television productions have already resumed based on smaller separate agreements , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produced films and television shows have been repeatedly delaying going back to work as they waited for the pandemic to subside and for this deal to be reached .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hollywood’s unions announced Monday that they have reached an agreement on pandemic protocols with major studios that will allow the broad resumption of production of films and television after six months of stagnant sets and widespread unemployment.
The Directors Guild of America, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Basic Crafts unions and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists jointly announced the deal reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers after months of planning and negotiating.
The deal includes mandatory and comprehensive use of personal protective gear and testing of cast and crew members, and a dedicated coronavirus supervisor to oversee it all.
It requires the use of a “zone system” that strictly limits interactions between people on sets based on their job’s requirements. Those who must deal with more people will be tested more frequently and have more strict protective equipment and spacing requirements. Actors will be tested especially often because their on-camera work won’t allow for many protective measures.
The agreement also gives 10 days of paid COVID-19 sick leave per employee, which can be used after positive tests or when quarantine is necessary, and says that employees who use the leave must be reinstated so long as their jobs still exist.
“The protocols pave the way for creative workers, who have been hard hit by the pandemic, to resume their crafts and livelihoods in workplaces redesigned around their health,” the unions said in a joint statement.
Some film and television productions have already resumed based on smaller separate agreements, but most of the largest and most elaborately produced films and television shows have been repeatedly delaying going back to work as they waited for the pandemic to subside and for this deal to be reached.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Suspect in Tucson double homicide turns himself in to police

TUCSON , Ariz. ( AP ) - A suspect has been arrested in connection with a double homicide in Tucson @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
They said 19-year-old Raul Corrales turned himself in to police on Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ said Corrales was booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of two counts of @ @ @ @ @ possible added at a later time .
Police didn ’ t disclose a possible motive @ @ @ @ @ it was unclear Monday in Corrales has lawyer yet .
They said 21-year-old Manaury Acevedo @ @ @ @ @ night on midtown Tucson street near a stopped SUV and 20-year-old Javier Araiza Lugo was @ @ @ @ @ alley as officers canvassed the neighborhood for evidence .
A handgun was found near Acevada @ @ @ @ @ and Lugo were both in the SUV when the shooting occurred .

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - A suspect has been arrested in connection with a double homicide in Tucson last week, police said Monday.
They said 19-year-old Raul Corrales turned himself in to police on Sunday.
After being interviewed, police said Corrales was booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder with additional charges possible added at a later time.
Police didn’t disclose a possible motive for the double homicide and it was unclear Monday in Corrales has lawyer yet.
They said 21-year-old Manaury Acevedo was found mortally wounded Friday night on midtown Tucson street near a stopped SUV and 20-year-old Javier Araiza Lugo was found fatally shot in an alley as officers canvassed the neighborhood for evidence.
A handgun was found near Acevada and detectives determined that he and Lugo were both in the SUV when the shooting occurred.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--2 off-duty EMTs killed in car collision with another driver

SUFFERN , N.Y. ( AP ) - Two off-duty emergency responders were killed when the car they were in collided @ @ @ @ @ New York State Thruway early Monday , authorities said .
New York State Police said @ @ @ @ @ of Spring Valley , New York , was driving southbound on the roadway shortly before @ @ @ @ @ passenger David Schneebalg , 26 , of Monsey , New York .
Herzog was in @ @ @ @ @ collided with the tractor-trailer when he tried to get into the right lane , authorities @ @ @ @ @ the roadway from the impact , and police said Herzog ’ s car caught on @ @ @ @ @ were pronounced dead at the scene .
The men were part of ambulance corps in @ @ @ @ @ driver had to be taken out of the tractor-trailer and was hospitalized .

SUFFERN, N.Y. (AP) - Two off-duty emergency responders were killed when the car they were in collided with a tractor-trailer on the New York State Thruway early Monday, authorities said.
New York State Police said Moshe Herzog, 27, of Spring Valley, New York, was driving southbound on the roadway shortly before 2 a.m. Monday, with passenger David Schneebalg, 26, of Monsey, New York.
Herzog was in the center lane, and collided with the tractor-trailer when he tried to get into the right lane, authorities said.
Both vehicles left the roadway from the impact, and police said Herzog’s car caught on fire. He and Schneebalg were pronounced dead at the scene. The men were part of ambulance corps in Rockland County.
The other driver had to be taken out of the tractor-trailer and was hospitalized.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--California man guilty of putting semen in co-worker's water

SANTA ANA , Calif. ( AP ) - A California man who put his semen in a co-worker ’ s water bottle and on her computer was convicted Monday of assault and battery for sexual purposes .
Stevens Millancastro , 30 , of Palmdale was convicted of misdemeanors by an Orange County judge and must register as a sex offender , the Orange County Register reported .
Millancastro was obsessed with his co-worker and stared at her incessently after she turned him down for a date , prosecutors said .
After she filed a formal human resources complaint , Millancastro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water bottle - which she noticed as a cloudy substance - in a jar of honey she used for tea and on her computer keyboard , prosecutors said .
Millancastro ’ s attorney , Michael Morrison , agreed that his client engaged in “ highly inappropriate behavior ” but said it was retaliation for the woman ’ s complaint and wasn ’ t based on sexual gratification .
Millancastro was afraid he might lose a promotion or his job , the attorney said .
The events took place in La Palma in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face up to two years and six months behind bars .

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - A California man who put his semen in a co-worker’s water bottle and on her computer was convicted Monday of assault and battery for sexual purposes.
Stevens Millancastro, 30, of Palmdale was convicted of misdemeanors by an Orange County judge and must register as a sex offender, the Orange County Register reported.
Millancastro was obsessed with his co-worker and stared at her incessently after she turned him down for a date, prosecutors said.
After she filed a formal human resources complaint, Millancastro placed semen several times in her half-full water bottle - which she noticed as a cloudy substance - in a jar of honey she used for tea and on her computer keyboard, prosecutors said.
Millancastro’s attorney, Michael Morrison, agreed that his client engaged in “highly inappropriate behavior” but said it was retaliation for the woman’s complaint and wasn’t based on sexual gratification.
Millancastro was afraid he might lose a promotion or his job, the attorney said.
The events took place in La Palma in November 2016 and January 2017.
Millancastro could face up to two years and six months behind bars.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Storm heading northward toward Japan packing winds, downpour

TOKYO ( AP ) - A tropical storm developing in the Pacific Ocean , was slowly sweeping toward Japan on @ @ @ @ @ island of Honshu with heavy rainfall and harsh winds .
Tropical Storm Dolphin had sustained @ @ @ @ @ miles per hour as of Tuesday morning .
Heavy rainfall have set off mudslides and @ @ @ @ @ Japan recently , and the Japan Meteorological Agency warned even weak storms can wreak havoc @ @ @ @ @ bring turbulent seas , wind and rain on a projected course over southern Honshu , @ @ @ @ @ Osaka and surrounding areas in central Japan , by Wednesday .
It will then move @ @ @ @ @ then to Sendai and nearby areas in northern Japan later in the week , the @ @ @ @ @ month , some parts of Japan and the Korean Peninsula were slammed by Typhoon Haishen @ @ @ @ @ flooded roads .

TOKYO (AP) - A tropical storm developing in the Pacific Ocean, was slowly sweeping toward Japan on Tuesday, threatening the main island of Honshu with heavy rainfall and harsh winds.
Tropical Storm Dolphin had sustained winds of up to 51 miles per hour as of Tuesday morning.
Heavy rainfall have set off mudslides and flooding in wide areas of Japan recently, and the Japan Meteorological Agency warned even weak storms can wreak havoc.
Dolphin is forecast to bring turbulent seas, wind and rain on a projected course over southern Honshu, including the major city of Osaka and surrounding areas in central Japan, by Wednesday. It will then move northeast over Tokyo, and then to Sendai and nearby areas in northern Japan later in the week, the agency said.
Earlier this month, some parts of Japan and the Korean Peninsula were slammed by Typhoon Haishen, which damaged buildings and flooded roads.
___
Yuri Kageyama on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Police: High school football coach fatally shot in home

MIAMI ( AP ) - A South Florida high school football coach was fatally shot at his home Monday morning @ @ @ @ @ officers found Miami Senior High School football coach Corey Smith , 46 , suffering from @ @ @ @ @ to a Miami-Dade police news release .
Fire rescue responded and pronounced him dead at @ @ @ @ @ year-old boy was inside the West Little River neighborhood home at the time of the @ @ @ @ @ ’ t harmed , police said .
Police didn ’ t identify the boy or @ @ @ @ @ in the shooting .

MIAMI (AP) - A South Florida high school football coach was fatally shot at his home Monday morning, authorities said.
Responding officers found Miami Senior High School football coach Corey Smith, 46, suffering from several gunshot wounds, according to a Miami-Dade police news release. Fire rescue responded and pronounced him dead at the scene.
A 15 year-old boy was inside the West Little River neighborhood home at the time of the shooting, but he wasn’t harmed, police said. Police didn’t identify the boy or say whether he was involved in the shooting.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Seattle Council to vote on policing change budget vetoes

SEATTLE ( AP ) - The Seattle City Council will take action Tuesday on Mayor Jenny Durkan ’ s vetoes of council bills meant to scale back the police department and ramp up community-led programs starting this year .
The mayor may mostly get her way , The Seattle Times reported .
With seven votes , the nine-member council on Tuesday could override Durkan ’ s vetoes and cement 2020 budget adjustments passed in August after months of debate and massive protests against police violence .
That ’ s what Council President M. Lorena González said Monday she would prefer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council members have indicated they are likely to side with the mayor .
Because of that , González has unveiled a substitute budget proposal .
The substitute proposal would nix many of the public safety changes advanced by council members under pressure to redirect mass police dollars to social services .
The outcome would be a major departure from the defunding aim that seven council members adopted in July .
The August bills would take only about $ 3 million from the Police Department ’ s $ 400 million budget this year but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down payment ” on future reductions .
The substitute proposal , González said , would reflect “ our sincere efforts to bridge past divides , to chart a path forward and to turn a page and find a way for the leadership of the city to come together.
” Councilmembers Tammy Morales , Kshama Sawant and Teresa Mosqueda signaled they may vote to override Durkan ’ s vetoes and remain committed to bills that had nearly unanimous support .
None of the other council members stated their intentions .
In a joint statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressing City Hall to defund the police described the substitute proposal as “ unacceptable ” and as “ anti-Black.
” “ This new bill represents an utter capitulation to the Mayor , who has shamelessly not moved from her anti-Black , pro-police position , ” said the statement by King County Equity Now and Decriminalize Seattle .

SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle City Council will take action Tuesday on Mayor Jenny Durkan’s vetoes of council bills meant to scale back the police department and ramp up community-led programs starting this year.
The mayor may mostly get her way, The Seattle Times reported. With seven votes, the nine-member council on Tuesday could override Durkan’s vetoes and cement 2020 budget adjustments passed in August after months of debate and massive protests against police violence.
That’s what Council President M. Lorena González said Monday she would prefer. However, she said, other council members have indicated they are likely to side with the mayor. Because of that, González has unveiled a substitute budget proposal.
The substitute proposal would nix many of the public safety changes advanced by council members under pressure to redirect mass police dollars to social services. The outcome would be a major departure from the defunding aim that seven council members adopted in July.
The August bills would take only about $3 million from the Police Department’s $400 million budget this year but council members described them as a “down payment” on future reductions.
The substitute proposal, González said, would reflect “our sincere efforts to bridge past divides, to chart a path forward and to turn a page and find a way for the leadership of the city to come together.”
Councilmembers Tammy Morales, Kshama Sawant and Teresa Mosqueda signaled they may vote to override Durkan’s vetoes and remain committed to bills that had nearly unanimous support. None of the other council members stated their intentions.
In a joint statement, two community coalitions that have been pressing City Hall to defund the police described the substitute proposal as “unacceptable” and as “anti-Black.”
“This new bill represents an utter capitulation to the Mayor, who has shamelessly not moved from her anti-Black, pro-police position,” said the statement by King County Equity Now and Decriminalize Seattle.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Amy Coney Barrett, Supreme Court candidate, meets with Donald Trump at White House

President Trump met at the White House Monday with Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court @ @ @ @ @ one of his potential Supreme Court picks .
The president is expected to announce later @ @ @ @ @ to fill the vacancy following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death .
He is @ @ @ @ @ or five women for the seat .
She sparred with the top Democrat on the @ @ @ @ @ hearing for her appeals court seat .
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California questioned the judge @ @ @ @ @ saying the “ dogma ” lived loudly within her .
Conservatives believe the anti-Catholic bias @ @ @ @ @ voters .
Judge Barrett graduated from Notre Dame Law School and also taught there before @ @ @ @ @ 7th Circuit .
She is described as a “ textualist ” and an “ originalist @ @ @ @ @ Justice Antonio Scalia , who she clerked for after she graduated from law school .

Dave Boyer, Alex Swoyer and Alex Swoyer, Dave Boyer

President Trump met at the White House Monday with Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who is one of his potential Supreme Court picks.
The president is expected to announce later this week who he wants to fill the vacancy following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. He is set to be weighing four or five women for the seat.
Judge Barrett is a favorite of social conservatives.
She sparred with the top Democrat on the Jusicary Committee during her confirmation hearing for her appeals court seat. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California questioned the judge’s Catholic faith, saying the “dogma” lived loudly within her. Conservatives believe the anti-Catholic bias could backfire on Democrats with voters.
Judge Barrett graduated from Notre Dame Law School and also taught there before taking her seat on the 7th Circuit.
She is described as a “textualist” and an “originalist” similar to the late Justice Antonio Scalia, who she clerked for after she graduated from law school.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Report: California unemployment agency does less with more

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - The California unemployment agency ’ s two call centers to field questions about jobless benefits had two major problems as millions of people sought help due to the pandemic : One had nobody on site to answer calls and the other had hundreds of untrained new hires who didn ’ t know how to help callers .
The result was about 600,000 callers each month “ waiting on hold for hours without a statistically significant chance of being served , ” according to a review of the Employment Development Department that found widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with record jobless claims .
The report detailed the problems that have plagued the agency since March , when the government suddenly ordered businesses to close and people to stay in their homes to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
To date , more than 13 million claims have been filed and the agency has doled out about $ 86 billion in benefits .
The problems at the call centers are indicative of the outdated technology and lack of oversight the review found .
One of the call centers is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be forwarded .
So when the pandemic hit and employees began to work from home , there was no one to answer millions of calls at the office .
The phone number that routed callers to the center averaged 6.7 million calls per week in July .
A recorded message sent callers to a second call center for help , but that center was staffed by the new hires who did not have the training or the experience to help them .
Frustrated claimants are finding and sharing other agency phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the phone line for the hearing or speech-impaired .
“ If this pattern continues , every employee with a telephone will be overwhelmed with calls , ” the review noted .
Meanwhile , about 1.6 million people are waiting for EDD to process their claims - a number that is growing by about 10,000 claims per day .
The agency had set a goal to resolve that backlog by the end of this month , but now says it won ’ t happen before the end of January .
“ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late for Californians experiencing extreme financial stress as a result of EDD ’ s failures , ” Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu said Monday .
The review , ordered by Gov .
Gavin Newsom in July , showed how the agency made things worse as it tried to make things better .
The agency either hired or redirected more than 1,300 people to process claims .
But the agency pulled away its most senior employees to train the workers , causing productivity to decline .
Plus , it takes years to train workers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims .
The agency has hired 515 new workers to recalculate disputed claims , but so far none of them have had any work to do .
EDD has a computer system to automatically process claims .
But the agency is diverting about 40 % of those claims to a much slower manual review process to identify and stop fraud .
The agency can handle about 2,400 manual claims per day , but it ’ s getting more than 20,000 .
Meanwhile , the manual reviews are not stopping fraud .
Most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sail right through the computer system and are never marked for manual review .
The team reviewing the agency urged them to turn off conditions that would unnecessarily flag claims for manual review .
But the agency delayed , worrying it would be inappropriate to do that when the risk of fraud was so high .
If the agency had followed the recommendation , it “ could have avoided sending hundreds of thousands of claims to manual processing during the spikes in new claims that occurred at the end of August.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of allowing fear for fraud to trump all other considerations , ” according to the review that was made public Saturday night .
About 60 % of the state ’ s unemployment claims are automated .
The review team said if the agency can improve that number to 94 % , it would reduce the number of claims requiring a real person to review it to about 3,622 per day - “ a number which it has the capacity to complete.
” The agency is already working on this , announcing a two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during which the agency would halt processing all new claims until it can install a new identity verification system by ID.me , a Virginia-based company .
The review said once this system is in place “ potentially hundreds of thousands ” of unemployment claims will have their identity verified immediately without being flagged for a manual review .
Newsom on Monday said the reset won ’ t cause a delay for people applying for benefits for the first time .
“ You otherwise would have gone into a manual process that can take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Newsom said .
“ This reset will not only make this process better in medium and long term but begin to substantially address the backlog over the next 90 to 100 days.
” Republicans criticized Newsom for releasing the report on a Saturday night , with Assemblyman Jim Patterson saying it “ smacks of a political effort to basically try and bury some of the tougher points in all of this.
” Shannon Grove , the Republican leader in the California Senate , said the “ mismanagement ” at the agency is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and failures at the EDD highlight Governor Gavin Newsom ’ s inability to properly prepare for shutting down California ’ s economy , ” she said .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The California unemployment agency’s two call centers to field questions about jobless benefits had two major problems as millions of people sought help due to the pandemic: One had nobody on site to answer calls and the other had hundreds of untrained new hires who didn’t know how to help callers.
The result was about 600,000 callers each month “waiting on hold for hours without a statistically significant chance of being served,” according to a review of the Employment Development Department that found widespread problems that greatly hindered its ability to deal with record jobless claims.
The report detailed the problems that have plagued the agency since March, when the government suddenly ordered businesses to close and people to stay in their homes to slow the spread of the coronavirus. To date, more than 13 million claims have been filed and the agency has doled out about $86 billion in benefits.
The problems at the call centers are indicative of the outdated technology and lack of oversight the review found.
One of the call centers is in a field office with phones that can’t be forwarded. So when the pandemic hit and employees began to work from home, there was no one to answer millions of calls at the office.
The phone number that routed callers to the center averaged 6.7 million calls per week in July. A recorded message sent callers to a second call center for help, but that center was staffed by the new hires who did not have the training or the experience to help them.
Frustrated claimants are finding and sharing other agency phone numbers not meant for the public, including the phone line for the hearing or speech-impaired.
“If this pattern continues, every employee with a telephone will be overwhelmed with calls,” the review noted.
Meanwhile, about 1.6 million people are waiting for EDD to process their claims - a number that is growing by about 10,000 claims per day. The agency had set a goal to resolve that backlog by the end of this month, but now says it won’t happen before the end of January.
“I am concerned this is too little, too late for Californians experiencing extreme financial stress as a result of EDD’s failures,” Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu said Monday.
The review, ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsom in July, showed how the agency made things worse as it tried to make things better. The agency either hired or redirected more than 1,300 people to process claims. But the agency pulled away its most senior employees to train the workers, causing productivity to decline.
Plus, it takes years to train workers to do the specialized work required to process claims. The agency has hired 515 new workers to recalculate disputed claims, but so far none of them have had any work to do.
EDD has a computer system to automatically process claims. But the agency is diverting about 40% of those claims to a much slower manual review process to identify and stop fraud. The agency can handle about 2,400 manual claims per day, but it’s getting more than 20,000.
Meanwhile, the manual reviews are not stopping fraud. Most of the fraudulent claims are so sophisticated they sail right through the computer system and are never marked for manual review. The team reviewing the agency urged them to turn off conditions that would unnecessarily flag claims for manual review. But the agency delayed, worrying it would be inappropriate to do that when the risk of fraud was so high.
If the agency had followed the recommendation, it “could have avoided sending hundreds of thousands of claims to manual processing during the spikes in new claims that occurred at the end of August.”
“There has developed at EDD a culture of allowing fear for fraud to trump all other considerations,” according to the review that was made public Saturday night.
About 60% of the state’s unemployment claims are automated. The review team said if the agency can improve that number to 94%, it would reduce the number of claims requiring a real person to review it to about 3,622 per day - “a number which it has the capacity to complete.”
The agency is already working on this, announcing a two week “reset” on Saturday, during which the agency would halt processing all new claims until it can install a new identity verification system by ID.me, a Virginia-based company. The review said once this system is in place “potentially hundreds of thousands” of unemployment claims will have their identity verified immediately without being flagged for a manual review.
Newsom on Monday said the reset won’t cause a delay for people applying for benefits for the first time.
“You otherwise would have gone into a manual process that can take upwards of 60 days. Unacceptable,” Newsom said. “This reset will not only make this process better in medium and long term but begin to substantially address the backlog over the next 90 to 100 days.”
Republicans criticized Newsom for releasing the report on a Saturday night, with Assemblyman Jim Patterson saying it “smacks of a political effort to basically try and bury some of the tougher points in all of this.”
Shannon Grove, the Republican leader in the California Senate, said the “mismanagement” at the agency is “insulting.”
“The constant delays and failures at the EDD highlight Governor Gavin Newsom’s inability to properly prepare for shutting down California’s economy,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-21--Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death reshapes competitive Senate races

Sen. Susan M. Collins ’ already iffy chances of reelection suffered another blow after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , with a new opening on the Supreme Court adding to still-simmering anger in Maine over her previous vote for Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh .
The possibility of filling Justice Ginsburg ’ s seat has upended Senate races from North Carolina to Arizona , giving an already deeply polarized electorate a new focal point .
Ms. Collins , a Republican , has already said she will oppose any effort by President Trump to rush a nominee through .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Democrat-leaning voters , many of whom say she bungled by voting to confirm Justice Kavanaugh in 2018 .
In other states , though , Republican incumbents figure the prospect of a court battle will energize their voters , perhaps rescuing seats that had been in doubt .
“ The way people look at it in , say , Susan Collins ’ race in Maine is different than how it will be looked at in Tommy Tuberville ’ s race in Alabama and say the Colorado race with Sen. Cory Gardner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Republican .
“ The dynamics will be different in different states .
There is no doubt about that.
” Mr. Allen said the high-stakes drama that surrounded the 2018 confirmation battle over the Kavanaugh pick could pale in comparison to fireworks to come as the Senate GOP pushes to fill the Ginsburg seat before the next Congress is sworn in .
“ You can imagine what a battle royal this one is going to be , ” Mr. Allen said .
The general consensus is that fights over judicial openings have done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left .
Analysts said Mr. Trump ’ s move in the 2016 campaign to release a list of conservative names he would consider for Supreme Court openings won over some Republicans wary of their candidate , helping him secure victory over Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton .
And in the 2018 midterm congressional elections , even as Democrats were rolling up big victories in the House , four incumbent Democratic senators lost their reelection bids just a month after voting against Justice Kavanaugh .
Sen. Joe Manchin III , the sole Democrat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six-year term in West Virginia .
The map is different two years later , and Democrats believe they can close that enthusiasm gap with the GOP .
“ In recent years , judicial nominees have energized the Republican voters much more so than Democrats , ” said Jim Manley , a Democratic strategist who as a Senate aide was part of a number of confirmation battles .
“ My hope this time , especially given what is at stake when it comes to such things as abortion rights and access to health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more ” than Republicans .
“ Republican put all this time and attention and money toward confirming judges , while Democrats oftentimes just barely pay attention , ” he said .
Activists are determined to make their base care this year , with warnings that the next court will determine whether Obamacare is struck down and the 1973 Roe v. Wade case making abortion a constitutional right remains the law of the land .
In Maine , House Speaker Sara Gideon , the Democrat challenging Ms. Collins , is making that case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate under Mitch McConnell ’ s control is virtually just rubber-stamping almost every one of Trump ’ s judicial nominees , ” she says in a recent television ad .
“ They are going to affect us and our children and our grandchildren .
We have to change the people who make him majority leader and that includes Sen. Susan Collins.
” Ms. Gideon says that the election could determine the direction of the Supreme Court on health care , civil rights , and reproductive rights .
Ms. Collins was a central figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically ended by outlining her reasons for backing him in a memorable speech on the Senate floor .
The University of Virginia ’ s Center for Politics on Monday switched its prognostication for the Maine Senate race , moving it from toss-up to leaning in Ms. Gideon ’ s favor .
The analysts said Ms. Collins and Sen. Cory Gardner , Colorado Republican , face “ an added burden ” thanks to the Ginsburg seat fight .
But the analysts said the fight could “ save ” Sen. Lindsey Graham , a South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate Judiciary Committee , would shepherd any Trump nominee through the chamber .
It could also help candidates running in Arizona , Georgia , Iowa , Montana and North Carolina , where the electorates tend to be more Republican than the rest of the nation , they said .
“ If the Court battle further polarizes the electorate and reduces ticket-splitting , that could help Republicans in the Senate , ” the Center for Politics analysts said .
The opening could prove to be the nail in the coffin for Democratic Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ At this point , Tuberville is the likely winner given that Trump is on the ballot , ” said Sam Fisher , a political science professor at the University of South Alabama .

Sen. Susan M. Collins’ already iffy chances of reelection suffered another blow after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with a new opening on the Supreme Court adding to still-simmering anger in Maine over her previous vote for Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.
The possibility of filling Justice Ginsburg’s seat has upended Senate races from North Carolina to Arizona, giving an already deeply polarized electorate a new focal point.
Ms. Collins, a Republican, has already said she will oppose any effort by President Trump to rush a nominee through. But that may not be enough for Maine’s Democrat-leaning voters, many of whom say she bungled by voting to confirm Justice Kavanaugh in 2018.
In other states, though, Republican incumbents figure the prospect of a court battle will energize their voters, perhaps rescuing seats that had been in doubt.
“The way people look at it in, say, Susan Collins’ race in Maine is different than how it will be looked at in Tommy Tuberville’s race in Alabama and say the Colorado race with Sen. Cory Gardner,” said former Sen. George Allen, Virginia Republican. “The dynamics will be different in different states. There is no doubt about that.”
Mr. Allen said the high-stakes drama that surrounded the 2018 confirmation battle over the Kavanaugh pick could pale in comparison to fireworks to come as the Senate GOP pushes to fill the Ginsburg seat before the next Congress is sworn in.
“You can imagine what a battle royal this one is going to be,” Mr. Allen said.
The general consensus is that fights over judicial openings have done more to animate the right than the left.
Analysts said Mr. Trump’s move in the 2016 campaign to release a list of conservative names he would consider for Supreme Court openings won over some Republicans wary of their candidate, helping him secure victory over Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
And in the 2018 midterm congressional elections, even as Democrats were rolling up big victories in the House, four incumbent Democratic senators lost their reelection bids just a month after voting against Justice Kavanaugh. Sen. Joe Manchin III, the sole Democrat to side with the GOP, won another six-year term in West Virginia.
The map is different two years later, and Democrats believe they can close that enthusiasm gap with the GOP.
“In recent years, judicial nominees have energized the Republican voters much more so than Democrats,” said Jim Manley, a Democratic strategist who as a Senate aide was part of a number of confirmation battles. “My hope this time, especially given what is at stake when it comes to such things as abortion rights and access to health care that this will drive out Democratic voters much more” than Republicans.
“Republican put all this time and attention and money toward confirming judges, while Democrats oftentimes just barely pay attention,” he said.
Activists are determined to make their base care this year, with warnings that the next court will determine whether Obamacare is struck down and the 1973 Roe v. Wade case making abortion a constitutional right remains the law of the land.
In Maine, House Speaker Sara Gideon, the Democrat challenging Ms. Collins, is making that case to voters.
“The United States Senate under Mitch McConnell’s control is virtually just rubber-stamping almost every one of Trump’s judicial nominees,” she says in a recent television ad. “They are going to affect us and our children and our grandchildren. We have to change the people who make him majority leader and that includes Sen. Susan Collins.”
Ms. Gideon says that the election could determine the direction of the Supreme Court on health care, civil rights, and reproductive rights.
Ms. Collins was a central figure in the Kavanaugh fight, which she basically ended by outlining her reasons for backing him in a memorable speech on the Senate floor.
The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics on Monday switched its prognostication for the Maine Senate race, moving it from toss-up to leaning in Ms. Gideon’s favor.
The analysts said Ms. Collins and Sen. Cory Gardner, Colorado Republican, face “an added burden” thanks to the Ginsburg seat fight.
But the analysts said the fight could “save” Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, would shepherd any Trump nominee through the chamber.
It could also help candidates running in Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Montana and North Carolina, where the electorates tend to be more Republican than the rest of the nation, they said.
“If the Court battle further polarizes the electorate and reduces ticket-splitting, that could help Republicans in the Senate,” the Center for Politics analysts said.
The opening could prove to be the nail in the coffin for Democratic Sen. Doug Jones’ reelection hopes in Alabama.
“At this point, Tuberville is the likely winner given that Trump is on the ballot,” said Sam Fisher, a political science professor at the University of South Alabama.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Man sentenced to prison for drug, sex trafficking operation

BURLINGTON , Vt. ( AP ) - A Vermont man was sentenced Monday to 22 1/2 years in prison for @ @ @ @ @ described as a violent sex and drug trafficking operation in the Burlington area .
Brian @ @ @ @ @ U.S. District Court in Burlington .
During the trial , prosecutors said that in addition @ @ @ @ @ that sold heroin and cocaine base , Folks forced forced young , drug-addicted women to @ @ @ @ @ say Folks manipulated his victims ’ addictions .
He also beat his victims , often @ @ @ @ @ .
Four victims testified during Folks ’ May 2019 trial .
Folks ’ lawyer didn @ @ @ @ @ seeking comment .

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont man was sentenced Monday to 22 1/2 years in prison for charges stemming from what prosecutors described as a violent sex and drug trafficking operation in the Burlington area.
Brian Folks was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Burlington.
During the trial, prosecutors said that in addition to the drug trafficking operation that sold heroin and cocaine base, Folks forced forced young, drug-addicted women to serve as prostitutes.
Prosecutors say Folks manipulated his victims’ addictions. He also beat his victims, often in front of other victims.
Four victims testified during Folks’ May 2019 trial.
Folks’ lawyer Mark Kaplan said by email Tuesday that Folks would be appealing his conviction.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Pennsylvania launches new virus exposure notification app

HARRISBURG , Pa. ( AP ) - Pennsylvania ’ s new coronavirus exposure-notification app is now available on app stores .
The release of the app Tuesday is part of Pennsylvania ’ s effort to more quickly break chains of transmission by using the new technology to notify people who may have been exposed .
The state has a $ 1.9 million contract , using federal grant dollars , to deploy and maintain the app with software developer NearForm Ltd , an Ireland-based company whose app there has been downloaded by more than one-fourth of that country ’ s residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technology developed by Apple and Google .
The app is interoperable with the state of Delaware ’ s app , which released last week , and it will be interoperable with those of other states when they launch on the NearForm platform , state officials say .
Use will be limited to people 18 and over .
It is designed to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus , and state officials say the app does not store location information , personal information or the identify of anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly be exposed .
In addition to exposure notification , the Pennsylvania app has a data feature that allows the user to see up-to-date information on case numbers , hospitalizations and deaths by county , as well a feature that helps the user to monitor their symptoms even if they have not tested positive .

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania’s new coronavirus exposure notification app became available in app stores Tuesday and could soon be compatible with those of three neighboring states, including New York.
The release of the app, named COVID AlertPa, is part of Pennsylvania’s effort to more quickly break chains of transmission by using the technology to notify people who may have been exposed.
The state has a $1.9 million contract, using federal grant dollars, to deploy and maintain the app with software developer NearForm Ltd., an Irish-based company whose app there has been downloaded by more than one-fourth of that country’s residents.
Gov. Tom Wolf, at a news conference in Philadelphia, and state and city health officials urged people to download the app and stressed that it keeps users anonymous.
Wolf used the example of someone contracting the virus from someone else on a bus who later tests positive.
“This app will be able to anonymously, anonymously notify the other person of their potential exposure,” Wolf said.
The app is based on smartphone technology developed by Apple and Google. It is similar to the app rolled out by Virginia last month, when it became the first U.S. state to use new pandemic technology created by Apple and Google. A handful of other states have also launched apps using the Apple and Google technology.
The app will work with Delaware’s, which was released last week, and it will also be compatible with those of other states when they launch on the NearForm platform, state officials say. New York and New Jersey are expected to release a compatible app soon, Wolf said.
It is designed to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus, and state officials say the app does not store location information, personal information or the identity of anyone who is in close enough range to possibly be exposed.
Use is limited to people 18 and over.
In addition to exposure notification, the Pennsylvania app has a data feature that allows the user to see up-to-date information on case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths by county and a feature that helps the user to monitor their symptoms even if they have not tested positive.
It relies on Bluetooth to detect when someone who downloaded the app has spent time near another app user who later tests positive for the virus.
As a threshold, the app uses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline of being within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes, state health officials have said.
The identity of app users will be protected by encryption and anonymous identifier beacons that change frequently, the companies have said.
Someone who tests positive in Pennsylvania is reported to either the Department of Health or a municipal health department agency and contacted by a case investigator.
That case investigator will ask the infected person if they have the app and if they are willing to use it to notify any mobile phone users who have been in close contact with them in the past 14 days, state officials said.
If they are willing to use it, they are given a six-digit code to enter to then issue a notification, state officials said.
A person who receives a notification will get something like an alert to check the app, with instructions from the Department of Health on how to protect themselves and others, including information about staying at home, quarantining and seeking medical help.
The identity of the person who was infected is shielded from people receiving a notification, and vice versa, they said.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Prosecutor will probe mayor's removal of Confederate statues

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - A judge in Virginia has appointed a county prosecutor to investigate whether Richmond ’ s mayor broke any laws when his administration hired a company to remove the city ’ s Confederate monuments .
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Monday that Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Taylor has appointed Augusta Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Timothy Martin .
The Levar Stoney administration originally authorized a $ 1.8 million contract with the company NAH LLC for the removal of Richmond ’ s Confederate monuments in July .
The company is linked to a Newport News-based contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Stoney ’ s campaign and political action committee since 2016 .
Administration officials said that other firms had declined to take the project .
They also said the administration had the authority to take the memorials down because they had become a threat to public safety as protests erupted across the nation .
Richmond Councilwoman Kim Gray had requested an investigation last month , saying that the contract ’ s cost and the project ’ s ties to the mayor ’ s donor raised “ troubling questions.
” She is running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been coming down throughout the southern United States in the wake of protests against racism and police brutality .
The demonstrations were sparked by the death of George Floyd , a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis .

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A judge in Virginia has appointed a county prosecutor to investigate whether Richmond’s mayor broke any laws when his administration hired a company to remove the city’s Confederate monuments.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Monday that Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Taylor has appointed Augusta Commonwealth’s Attorney Timothy Martin.
The Levar Stoney administration originally authorized a $1.8 million contract with the company NAH LLC for the removal of Richmond’s Confederate monuments in July. The company is linked to a Newport News-based contracting firm whose owner has donated $4,000 to Stoney’s campaign and political action committee since 2016.
Administration officials said that other firms had declined to take the project. They also said the administration had the authority to take the memorials down because they had become a threat to public safety as protests erupted across the nation.
Richmond Councilwoman Kim Gray had requested an investigation last month, saying that the contract’s cost and the project’s ties to the mayor’s donor raised “troubling questions.” She is running for mayor against Stoney.
Stoney’s administration has denied wrongdoing.
Confederate statues have been coming down throughout the southern United States in the wake of protests against racism and police brutality. The demonstrations were sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Dartmouth College endowment up to $6 billion during pandemic

CONCORD , N.H. ( AP ) - Dartmouth College President Philip Hanlon said Tuesday he is pleased with the school ’ s endowment return given how volatile the markets were in the second half of the year because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The endowment has grown to $ 6 billion after generating a return of 7.6 % for the fiscal year that ended June 30 .
The endowment contributed about 30 % , or more than $ 270 million , to the college ’ s annual operating budget last year , officials said Tuesday .
That helped fund a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diversity and inclusivity initiatives and scholarly research .
The Ivy League school provides full tuition scholarships to families earning $ 100,000 or less .
This year , 22 % of the incoming first-year students received that aid .
As of Monday , 7,952 people in New Hampshire had tested positive for the virus , an increase of seven from the previous day .
The number of deaths stood at 438 .
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Hampshire has risen over the past two weeks from 29 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases per day on Sept. 21 .
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 or death .

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Vice President Mike Pence briefly and indirectly lamented a “heartbreaking moment” in the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, referring to the 200,000 U.S. lives lost without mentioning the actual number.
The milestone was reported by Johns Hopkins University, based on figures supplied by state health authorities. The real toll is thought to be much higher, however, in part because many COVID-19 deaths probably were ascribed to other causes.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Gilford, Pence devoted about 6 minutes of his speech to the pandemic, for the most part praising efforts to manufacture ventilators, conduct widespread testing and develop a vaccine.
“We’re slowing the spread, we’re protecting the vulnerable, we’re saving lives,” he said.
He mentioned the dead only briefly before pivoting back to praise.
“In the midst of this pandemic we’ve come to a heartbreaking moment. It’s a heartbreaking milestone. There’s not a day gone by that I haven’t thought of families that have lost loved ones in the midst of this pandemic. Know that you’ve always been in our hearts and you’ll remain in our prayers,” he said.
“But I truly do believe because of what we’ve all done together, because of the president’s early action putting the health of America first, because of what our first responders and doctors and nurses have done all along the way, because of the compassion, and care and cooperation of the American people, I know in my heart that we have saved hundreds of thousands of American lives,” he said.
In other coronavirus-related developments:
___
TESTING COSTS
U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan and eight of her colleagues are raising concerns about people being charged for coronavirus tests.
Under federal law enacted this year, insurers are required to cover costs associated with testing for the virus. But Hassan, a New Hampshire Democrat, and other senators said they have heard from constituents who have received unexpected bills.
In a letter to top health plan executives Tuesday, the senators asked nearly a dozen questions about their testing policies and requested answers by Sept. 30.
Hassan took the lead in sending the letters, which were also signed by fellow New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
___
THE NUMBERS
As of Monday, 7,990 people in New Hampshire had tested positive for the virus, an increase of 38 from the previous day. The number of deaths stood at 438.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Hampshire has risen over the past two weeks from 29 new cases per day on Sept. 7 to 33 new cases per day on Sept. 21.
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 or death.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Police shoot, injure man in Massachusetts mall parking lot

KINGSTON , Mass .
( AP ) - Police shot and injured a man armed with a knife and acting @ @ @ @ @ the parking lot of a Massachusetts mall early Tuesday morning , authorities said .
Officers @ @ @ @ @ mall at about 3 a.m. after getting 911 call from a security guard about a @ @ @ @ @ ” according to a statement from the office of Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz .
@ @ @ @ @ 25 years old , allegedly threatened officers and shots were fired .
The male was @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
The man was taken by ambulance to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital @ @ @ @ @ to a Boston hospital .
His name was not released .
The officer who shot @ @ @ @ @ the department for about 15 years , Cruz said .
One officer was treated at @ @ @ @ @ as a precaution , Cruz said .
No other details were released .

KINGSTON, Mass. (AP) - Police shot and injured a man armed with a knife and acting in a threatening manner in the parking lot of a Massachusetts mall early Tuesday morning, authorities said.
Officers responded to the Kingston Collection mall just before 3 a.m. after getting 911 call from a mall security guard about a man acting “erratically,” according to a statement from the office of Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz.
Two officers located the man, Kingston Police Chief Maurice Splaine told The Enterprise of Brockton.
“The man who is 25 years old, allegedly threatened officers and shots were fired. The male was struck,” Cruz said.
The man was taken by ambulance to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth before being flown to a Boston hospital. His injuries are not considered life threatening, Cruz said. His name was not released.
The officer who shot the suspect has been with the department for about 15 years, Cruz said.
He was treated as a precaution but was not injured, Cruz said.
No other details were released.
The shooting remains under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Police in Missouri shoot, wound man accused of pointing gun

BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS , Mo .
( AP ) - Police say detectives have shot and wounded a suspect in suburban @ @ @ @ @ a handgun at them .
St. Louis County police said in a news release that @ @ @ @ @ an armed fugitive attempted to stop a vehicle Monday afternoon , but the driver sped @ @ @ @ @ tired-deflating stop sticks to disable the vehicle , three people fled .
Police say the @ @ @ @ @ suspect they had been seeking under the back porch of a home and ordered him @ @ @ @ @ The release says two officers fired after the suspect displayed a handgun , striking him @ @ @ @ @ transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries , and the other two people who had @ @ @ @ @ him were taken into custody without incident .
Police didn ’ t immediately release the @ @ @ @ @ or why he was wanted .
No officers were physically hurt .

BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. (AP) - A man who was shot by St. Louis County detectives after allegedly pointing a handgun at them died Tuesday, hours after a violent confrontation in the town of Bellefontaine Neighbors.
The man killed was identified as Patches Holmes, 26. Police spokesman Tracy Panus said Holmes’ gun was recovered and it was determined that the weapon had not been fired.
The shooting happened Monday afternoon. Panus said officers searching for an armed fugitive attempted to stop a vehicle, but the driver sped away. Police used tire-deflating stop sticks to successfully disable the vehicle, and three people ran from the scene.
Police said two detectives found Holmes, the fugitive who was being sought, under the back porch of a home and ordered him to show his hands. The man pointed a handgun at officers, who responded by shooting him, police said.
Holmes was taken to a hospital and died Tuesday morning. The other two people in the vehicle were taken into custody without incident.
The names of the detectives involved in the shooting, ages 28 and 36, were not released. They were uninjured.
Panus, at a news conference after the shooting, said the suspect was a felon with a violent history who was wanted for a parole violation.
The Missouri Department of Corrections said Holmes had convictions for second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and theft, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Huffington teams with book publisher on wellness guides

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A “ behavior change ” company founded by Arianna Huffington is teaming with Hachette Book Group on a series of wellness guides .
The first release , “ Your Time to Thrive , ” comes out in March .
“ With ‘ Your Time to Thrive , ’ we ’ ve brought together the latest science , storytelling and ancient wisdom to create a behavior change system that ’ s both timeless and tailored to our moment , ” Huffington said in a statement Tuesday .
“ Creating meaningful , sustainable behavior change isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from A to B in a mechanical way .
It ’ s about tapping into what ’ s best in us - the wisdom , creativity and strength we all have.
” The books are being written by a team at Thrive Global , started in 2016 by Huffington with the mission to “ end the stress and burnout epidemic and help individuals and companies unlock their greatest potential.
” The series will be published through Hachette Go , a new imprint specializing in books which help people “ change their lives for @ @ @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - A “behavior change” company founded by Arianna Huffington is teaming with Hachette Book Group on a series of wellness guides. The first release, “Your Time to Thrive,” comes out in March.
“With ‘Your Time to Thrive,’ we’ve brought together the latest science, storytelling and ancient wisdom to create a behavior change system that’s both timeless and tailored to our moment,” Huffington said in a statement Tuesday. “Creating meaningful, sustainable behavior change isn’t just about helping people move from A to B in a mechanical way. It’s about tapping into what’s best in us - the wisdom, creativity and strength we all have.”
The books are being written by a team at Thrive Global, started in 2016 by Huffington with the mission to “end the stress and burnout epidemic and help individuals and companies unlock their greatest potential.” The series will be published through Hachette Go, a new imprint specializing in books which help people “change their lives for the better.”