washingtontimes--2020-07-02--Judge: NY lockup's COVID-19 response lacked common sense

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A Manhattan federal lockup failed to implement common-sense measures to protect prisoners after a COVID-19 outbreak infected dozens of inmates at the facility , a judge said Thursday .
U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos said four inmates who sued over conditions at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on behalf of themselves and others were unlikely to prove deliberate indifference to their plight .
Still , the Manhattan jurist allowed their lawsuit to proceed in their quest to improve conditions at the jail and win release for vulnerable inmates .
Arlo Devlin-Brown , a lawyer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was notable that the judge cited the fact that the facility ’ s warden has promised to address shortcomings as he observed that “ the MCC may fall short in its efforts to improve its pandemic response.
” “ Time will tell whether the MCC practices what it preaches , ” Devlin-Brown said .
“ The lawsuit is not over , and we ’ ll continue our efforts to hold the MCC accountable should it fail to take necessary measures to minimize the spread of this deadly virus within its walls and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sickened by it.
” “ The inmates are likely to show that the MCC ’ s response to the pandemic was ad hoc and overlooked many gaps in its scheme to identify and isolate infected inmates - creating conditions that posed a substantial risk to the health of all inmates , ” Ramos said .
He noted that at least 5 % of the MCC ’ s more than 700 inmates contracted the coronavirus in March and April .
The federal Bureau of Prisons on its website continued to show Thursday that only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four have recovered even though a government lawyer admitted weeks ago that nearly three dozen inmates were believed to have had it .
Lawyers for inmates have estimated the true number of infections among inmates was more likely 75 to 150 .
“ Although no inmate died , many were debilitated by coughs that wracked their bodies , fatigue so extreme they could not rise from bed , and a host of other symptoms , ” Ramos said .
“ Even now , after the peak of the outbreak at the MCC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the disease.
” “ While the management of the MCC was well aware of the threat posed by the virus and of the guidance that was issued to address it , it failed to implement common-sense measures to stop the spread of the virus , ” the judge said .
He said the inmates may still be able to prove they should be released , but he stopped short of ordering court oversight of the facility where convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein killed himself last August as he awaited trial on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased scrutiny to the jail that has housed many famous mobsters , white-collar criminals and terrorists in recent decades .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

NEW YORK (AP) - A Manhattan federal lockup failed to implement common-sense measures to protect prisoners after a COVID-19 outbreak infected dozens of inmates at the facility, a judge said Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos said four inmates who sued over conditions at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on behalf of themselves and others were unlikely to prove deliberate indifference to their plight. Still, the Manhattan jurist allowed their lawsuit to proceed in their quest to improve conditions at the jail and win release for vulnerable inmates.
Arlo Devlin-Brown, a lawyer for inmates, said in an email that it was notable that the judge cited the fact that the facility’s warden has promised to address shortcomings as he observed that “the MCC may fall short in its efforts to improve its pandemic response.”
“Time will tell whether the MCC practices what it preaches,” Devlin-Brown said. “The lawsuit is not over, and we’ll continue our efforts to hold the MCC accountable should it fail to take necessary measures to minimize the spread of this deadly virus within its walls and treat with proper care those who are sickened by it.”
A spokesperson for government lawyers declined to comment.
“The inmates are likely to show that the MCC’s response to the pandemic was ad hoc and overlooked many gaps in its scheme to identify and isolate infected inmates - creating conditions that posed a substantial risk to the health of all inmates,” Ramos said.
He noted that at least 5% of the MCC’s more than 700 inmates contracted the coronavirus in March and April.
The federal Bureau of Prisons on its website continued to show Thursday that only one inmate currently has the coronavirus and four have recovered even though a government lawyer admitted weeks ago that nearly three dozen inmates were believed to have had it. Lawyers for inmates have estimated the true number of infections among inmates was more likely 75 to 150.
“Although no inmate died, many were debilitated by coughs that wracked their bodies, fatigue so extreme they could not rise from bed, and a host of other symptoms,” Ramos said. “Even now, after the peak of the outbreak at the MCC, a handful of inmates continue to test positive for the disease.”
“While the management of the MCC was well aware of the threat posed by the virus and of the guidance that was issued to address it, it failed to implement common-sense measures to stop the spread of the virus,” the judge said.
He said the inmates may still be able to prove they should be released, but he stopped short of ordering court oversight of the facility where convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein killed himself last August as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.
His death drew increased scrutiny to the jail that has housed many famous mobsters, white-collar criminals and terrorists in recent decades.
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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-07-02--Tennessee man indicted in deaths of ex-girlfriend, infant

MEMPHIS , Tenn. ( AP ) - A Tennessee man was indicted in the stabbing deaths of his former girlfriend @ @ @ @ @ Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said Thursday .
Enoch Zarceno Turner , 25 @ @ @ @ @ was charged with first-degree murder , aggravated child abuse , aggravated arson and especially aggravated @ @ @ @ @ office said in a news release .
Heather Cook , 32 , and her baby @ @ @ @ @ in an upstairs bedroom of their burning house Sept. 13 when sheriff ’ s deputies @ @ @ @ @ .
They had suffered multiple stab wounds .
A fire in the bedroom appeared to @ @ @ @ @ according to the fire marshal .

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee man was indicted in the stabbing deaths of his former girlfriend and their 5-month-old son, Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said Thursday.
Enoch Zarceno Turner, 25, of Shelby County, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated arson and especially aggravated burglary, Weirich’s office said in a news release.
Heather Cook, 32, and her baby, Bentley, were found in an upstairs bedroom of their burning house Sept. 13 when sheriff’s deputies were called to the residence. They had suffered multiple stab wounds. A fire in the bedroom appeared to have been intentionally set, according to the fire marshal.


washingtontimes--2020-07-02--Police: Indiana toll road worker struck by SUV, killed

SOUTH BEND , Ind .
( AP ) - A toll road maintenance worker has died after being struck by @ @ @ @ @ .
Ronald Smith , 61 , was in front of his truck about 1:50 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ right shoulder of the toll road in St. Joseph County when the SUV sideswiped the @ @ @ @ @ according to state police .
The SUV then rolled over in a ditch .
The @ @ @ @ @ maintenance truck were on at the time of the crash .
State law requires vehicles @ @ @ @ @ lane or slow to at least 10 miles under the speed limit when approaching emergency @ @ @ @ @ the road with lights activated , police said .
The 70-year-old driver of the SUV @ @ @ @ @ from Wayzata , Minnesota .
They were taken to a South Bend hospital with injuries @ @ @ @ @ minor .

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - A toll road maintenance worker has died after being struck by an SUV in northern Indiana.
Ronald Smith, 61, was in front of his truck about 1:50 p.m. Thursday sweeping debris from the right shoulder of the toll road in St. Joseph County when the SUV sideswiped the truck and hit him, according to state police.
The SUV then rolled over in a ditch.
The emergency lights on the red maintenance truck were on at the time of the crash. State law requires vehicles to move into an adjacent lane or slow to at least 10 miles under the speed limit when approaching emergency vehicles on the side of the road with lights activated, police said.
Smith was from Edwardsburg, Michigan.
The 70-year-old driver of the SUV and his 69-year-old passenger are from Wayzata, Minnesota. They were taken to a South Bend hospital with injuries that were believed to be minor.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Portland, Oregon, protest turns violent; several arrested

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - Several people were arrested after a demonstration turned violent in downtown Portland and @ @ @ @ @ government buildings , authorities said Friday .
Protests have occurred regularly in the city since @ @ @ @ @ Floyd in Minneapolis .
Police said in a statement that protesters broke into the Justice @ @ @ @ @ to the federal courthouse nearby .
They threw cans of food , large rocks and @ @ @ @ @ who responded to the scene .
Protesters also set a fire on the street .
@ @ @ @ @ a riot would be declared , a sign that harsher tactics would be employed , @ @ @ @ @ the area .
“ Because of the violent nature of the demonstrators while officers cleared @ @ @ @ @ munitions were used and several arrests were made , ” the statement said .
Demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ statement said , without specifying what type they were .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Protesters in this liberal, predominantly white city have taken to the streets peacefully every day for more than five weeks to decry police brutality. But violence by smaller groups is dividing the movement and drawing complaints that some white demonstrators are co-opting the moment.
As the Portland protests enter a second month, they have shifted on several nights from the city’s downtown core to a historically Black neighborhood in North Portland that’s already buckling under the effects of white gentrification and has the most to gain - or lose - from the outrage in the streets.
Late last week, some protesters barricaded the doors to a police precinct a half-block from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and set fire to the building, which also houses Black-owned businesses, including an Ethiopian restaurant and a barber’s school. Two nights later, a potluck at a park in the heart of the Black community morphed into another violent clash with police, who unleashed tear gas to quell the crowd of several hundred people.
On Friday, a Portland man was arrested for his role in an overnight attack on the Hatfield Federal Courthouse, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said. Rowan M. Olsen, 19, aka Kiefer Alan Moore, was arrested by Federal Protective Service officers early Friday morning, he said in a news release. Olsen is scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday, Williams said.
The change has angered and frustrated some in the Black community, who say a “white fringe element” is distracting from their message with senseless destruction in a city where nearly three-quarters of residents are white and less than 6% are Black.
“This is NOT the Black Lives Matter movement. This is chaos,” Kali Ladd, executive director of KairosPDX, wrote in a Facebook post. “These white actors are enacting dominance in a different form under the guise of equity … White supremacy has many forms.”
Demonstrations elsewhere in the city have also grown increasingly violent. Early Friday, someone broke the windows of a federal courthouse and threw fireworks that started a fire inside the building.
One prominent Black leader wrote to Mayor Ted Wheeler and said some clashes had unfolded three blocks from his house. He said the problem was with “elements” that were “99% white” and did not represent the Black Lives Matter movement.
“It has nothing to do with helping Black people. These hoodlums are needlessly scaring neighbors and their children,” said Ron Herndon, who has fought for racial justice in Portland for four decades and led a school boycott in 1979 after the city closed predominantly Black schools. “At some point, enough is enough.”
Newly appointed Police Chief Chuck Lovell, who is Black, said the violence in North Portland was “offensive and hurtful” and has cost the city at least $6.2 million in overtime for its officers.
“People in that neighborhood were upset. That’s not something they’re going to tolerate … and they came out and were very vocal,” Lovell said. “I think people sometimes look at the protest movement as one homogeneous group - and there’s definitely a segment here that is very violent.”
The tension over the protests comes amid increasing conflict within the movement itself. Rose City Justice, a coalition that for weeks galvanized thousands of people for peaceful marches and rallies every night, announced last week it will no longer do so after it was criticized, among other things, for sitting down with the police commissioner and mayor to discuss police reform.
The Rose City Justice marches and rallies attracted a diverse crowd of 10,000 people a night at one point. High school students marched arm-in-arm with the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard across the Burnside Bridge, and people gathered along the Willamette River to listen to hours of music and speeches. Aerial photos of the crowds, which filled the massive bridge from end to end, made national headlines.
“The purpose of making noise is to have a seat at the table, to be heard,” the coalition said in a statement announcing its decision to stop marching nightly. “As with every movement, we realize that there are people who actively work to discredit momentum and change.”
Now, as clashes with police have become more violent in the business district and moved toward the residential neighborhoods of North Portland, Black residents are watching in dismay. Many are concerned that those watching police precincts burn and businesses get vandalized will wrongly assume Black people are doing the damage.
Jerome Polk has operated his business, J.P.’s Custom Framing, for 26 years from a building he shares with the North Precinct police offices that were set ablaze. As he carried supplies into his business on a recent day, char marks, graffiti and police tape were still visible outside the building, and half of Polk’s own windows had been boarded up as a precaution.
“I don’t know the motivation of why people do what they do,” he said. “I know when the damage is done, they blame that on what the movement is supposed to be. And that’s unfortunate and unfair.”
A few blocks away, Carl Baskin sat next to his drive-up car wash station and worried that the message of racial justice was being taken away from the Black community by “young white children.”
“This is where they’re losing the narrative. In the midst of all this other stuff, they’re not really showing anyone sitting down with the police, actually talking and getting some of this stuff made into laws,” Baskin said. “That’s the stuff we should be talking about.”
The sting is made even deeper by the fact that the North Portland neighborhood has, over the years, seen an exodus of Black families and businesses as white people have moved in. On a recent day, just a few blocks from boarded-up buildings and anti-police graffiti, white families with strollers walked past food carts selling sushi burritos as fliers advertising micro-greens fluttered in the wind.
“Get to know us and get to know the pain that we feel with gentrification in this neighborhood,” said Elaine Loving, who has lived in her family’s North Portland home for 59 years. “Now it’s mostly white folks, and they don’t even speak to us half the time - and that hurts.”
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Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Police: 66 more charges in farm-related fraud case

Vermont State Police have filed dozens more fraud charges against a Shaftsbury man , accusing him of defrauding people in deals involving hay , maple syrup , farm equipment and collectible model cars .
Richard Blackmer , Jr. , 38 , was initially arrested in April , after a monthslong investigation involving police in Vermont , Massachusetts and New York .
He had pleaded not guilty to 30 charges , the Bennington Banner reported .
Police have filed 66 new charges against him .
They include 45 additional counts of false pretenses , 20 new counts of bad checks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Police said Thursday .
The charges have been filed with the Bennington County state ’ s attorney , police said .
Blackmer would get customers to buy additional deliveries of hay and require them to pay up front , often saying he was giving them deals and then fail to deliver the hay after he got the payment , police said .
He also defrauded people of maple syrup , maple syrup and farm equipment , and collectible miniature race cars , police said .
It was not immediately known if Blackmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No phone listing exists in his name .

BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) -
Vermont State Police have filed dozens more fraud charges against a Shaftsbury man, accusing him of defrauding people in deals involving hay, maple syrup, farm equipment and collectible model cars.
Richard Blackmer, Jr., 38, was initially arrested in April, after a monthslong investigation involving police in Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. He had pleaded not guilty to 30 charges, the Bennington Banner reported. He’s accused of defrauding at least two dozen people in eight states from around 2013 until early this year.
Police announced Thursday that they have filed 66 new charges against him. They include 45 additional counts of false pretenses, 20 new counts of bad checks and one count of identity theft, Vermont State Police said. The charges have been filed with the Bennington County state’s attorney, police said.
Blackmer would get customers to buy additional deliveries of hay and require them to pay up front, often saying he was giving them deals and then fail to deliver the hay after he got the payment, police said.
He also defrauded people of maple syrup, farm equipment and collectible miniature race cars, police said.
The alleged fraud deals are associated with the new charges started before Blackmer’s arrest in April but he continued to communicate with some of the alleged victims after his arrest, Trooper Nicholas Grimes told the newspaper.
Blackmer is out of jail on a $10,000 secured appearance bond, with conditions including that he not engage in business dealings through social media or enter into any contract greater than $500 unless he has court approval, according to court records.
The office of the Bennington County state’s attorney said it will review the police report and expects to file more charges against Blackmer.
It was not immediately known if Blackmer is being represented by an attorney. No phone listing exists in his name.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Disney suspends college internship program amid pandemic

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) - Walt Disney World has suspended the Disney College Program indefinitely amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic .
Disney said in a blog post on Thursday that the internship ’ s participants won ’ t be among those returning to work when it reopens its Florida theme parks later this month .
The company also said it doesn ’ t know when the Disney-owned apartments where the students lived will be reopened .
“ We understand this is not the news you were hoping to hear and we want to assure you this decision was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the post .
The company said it would refund students their fees and allow participants , including recent college graduates , to re-apply .
The program was initially suspended in mid-March when the theme parks and hotels closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Disney announced plans last month to reopen the Florida parks in phases , with the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opening on July 11 followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15 .
Universal Orlando and SeaWorld parks reopened in June .
Follow AP coverage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Walt Disney World has suspended the Disney College Program indefinitely amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Disney said in a blog post on Thursday that the internship’s participants won’t be among those returning to work when it reopens its Florida theme parks later this month.
The company also said it doesn’t know when the Disney-owned apartments where the students lived will be reopened.
“We understand this is not the news you were hoping to hear and we want to assure you this decision was not made lightly,” Disney said in the post. The company said it would refund students their fees and allow participants, including recent college graduates, to re-apply.
The program was initially suspended in mid-March when the theme parks and hotels closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Disney announced plans last month to reopen the Florida parks in phases, with the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opening on July 11 followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15. Universal Orlando and SeaWorld parks reopened in June.
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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Man arrested on murder charges related to human remains

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) - A Salem man is facing murder charges after police say they linked him @ @ @ @ @ a crawl space of a Salem duplex .
Alexander Mosqueda Rivera Burdette , 18 , @ @ @ @ @ County Sheriff ’ s Office detectives , the Statesman Journal reported .
He is accused @ @ @ @ @ .
Deputies found Bagnall ’ s body on June 10 after a family living there @ @ @ @ @ An autopsy conducted June 12 determined Bagnall ’ s cause of death as a homicide @ @ @ @ @ dead for weeks when his body was found .
It wasn ’ t immediately known @ @ @ @ @ to speak for him .
The identity of the man found underneath the home remained @ @ @ @ @ .
The Marion County Sheriff ’ s Office released a description of the clothes he @ @ @ @ @ sketch of a “ Baby Boy ” tattoo above his right knee .

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - A Salem man is facing murder charges after police say they linked him to human remains found in a crawl space of a Salem duplex.
Alexander Mosqueda Rivera Burdette, 18, was arrested Thursday by Marion County Sheriff’s Office detectives, the Statesman Journal reported. He is accused of killing 19-year-old Josiah Bagnall.
Deputies found Bagnall’s body on June 10 after a family living there reported a foul odor. An autopsy conducted June 12 determined Bagnall’s cause of death as a homicide and found he had been dead for weeks when his body was found.
It wasn’t immediately known if Burdette has a lawyer to speak for him.
The identity of the man found underneath the home remained a mystery for some time. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office released a description of the clothes he was found in and a sketch of a “Baby Boy” tattoo above his right knee.
Community tips helped investigators identify the young man as Bagnall.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Woman hit, killed along Interstate 635 in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY , Kan. ( AP ) - A woman walking on Interstate 635 in Kansas City , Kansas , @ @ @ @ @ and killed early Friday morning , authorities there said .
The woman was walking on @ @ @ @ @ interstate around 3:30 a.m. Friday when she was hit by a vehicle , the Kansas @ @ @ @ @ said they did not know why the woman was walking on the roadway .
Her @ @ @ @ @ by midmorning Friday .
The crash was in an area of the interstate currently under @ @ @ @ @ of the interstate near State Avenue remained closed several hours after the crash .

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - A woman walking on Interstate 635 in Kansas City, Kansas, was hit by a vehicle and killed early Friday morning, authorities there said.
The woman was walking on the northbound lanes of the interstate around 3:30 a.m. Friday when she was hit by a vehicle, the Kansas Highway Patrol said. Officials said they did not know why the woman was walking on the roadway. Her name had not been released by midmorning Friday.
The crash was in an area of the interstate currently under construction. The northbound lanes of the interstate near State Avenue remained closed several hours after the crash.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Motorcyclist dies in collision with box truck on turnpike

MILTON , N.H. ( AP ) - A motorcyclist has died in a collision with a box truck on the @ @ @ @ @ State Police said .
Police said the truck was traveling north at about 3:25 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ the motorcycle , which also was traveling north .
The crash happened at Exit 18 @ @ @ @ @ , Glenn Brewer , 71 , of East Wakefield , New Hampshire , died at @ @ @ @ @ .

MILTON, N.H. (AP) - A motorcyclist has died in a collision with a box truck on the Spaulding Turnpike, New Hampshire State Police said.
Police said the truck was traveling north at about 3:25 p.m. Thursday when it collided with the motorcycle, which also was traveling north. The crash happened at Exit 18 in Milton.
The motorcyclist, Glenn Brewer, 71, of East Wakefield, New Hampshire, died at the scene, police said.
The accident remains under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Woman given life for plot to blow up St. Paul's Cathedral

A woman was jailed for life , with a minimum sentence of 14 years , on Friday for plotting to blow up London ’ s St. Paul ’ s Cathedral , a nearby hotel and a subway train in a suicide attack .
Safiyya Shaikh , 37 , extensively researched how to cause maximum carnage at the historic church and visitor attraction .
Police said she had planned to leave a bomb in a bag at the cathedral before detonating a suicide vest on a London Underground train .
Her defense lawyers said she had doubts about the plot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she made to a friend from prison last week in which she said she “ didn ’ t get cold feet ” and “ was ready to go through with it.
” The Muslim convert , who was a supporter of the Islamic State group , pleaded guilty to creating a terrorist act and dissemination of a terrorist publication .
Shaikh , born Michelle Ramsden , was arrested in October after she sought help from an undercover officer who posed as a bomb-making expert .
“ She engaged with others , who she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to instigate and plan a terrorist attack involving the use of improvised explosives to attack St Paul ’ s Cathedral and a hotel nearby , ” prosecutor Alison Morgan said .
“ She visited the cathedral to assess its security arrangements and the best place to detonate a bomb.
” “ She stated that her intention was to kill herself and as many other people as possible , ” she added .
Police said Shaikh was also heavily involved in extremist propaganda posts online and inspiring others to fight .

LONDON (AP) -
A woman was jailed for life, with a minimum sentence of 14 years, on Friday for plotting to blow up London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, a nearby hotel and a subway train in a suicide attack.
Safiyya Shaikh, 37, extensively researched how to cause maximum carnage at the historic church and visitor attraction. Police said she had planned to leave a bomb in a bag at the cathedral before detonating a suicide vest on a London Underground train.
Her defense lawyers said she had doubts about the plot, but prosecutors disclosed details of a call she made to a friend from prison last week in which she said she “didn’t get cold feet” and “was ready to go through with it.”
The Muslim convert, who was a supporter of the Islamic State group, pleaded guilty to creating a terrorist act and dissemination of a terrorist publication.
Shaikh, born Michelle Ramsden, was arrested in October after she sought help from an undercover officer who posed as a bomb-making expert.
“She engaged with others, who she believed to be of a similar mindset, to instigate and plan a terrorist attack involving the use of improvised explosives to attack St Paul’s Cathedral and a hotel nearby,” prosecutor Alison Morgan said. “She visited the cathedral to assess its security arrangements and the best place to detonate a bomb.”
“She stated that her intention was to kill herself and as many other people as possible,” she added.
Police said Shaikh was also heavily involved in extremist propaganda posts online and inspiring others to fight.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Police release name of Providence shooting victim

PROVIDENCE , R.I. ( AP ) - Authorities have released the name of the contractor shot and killed at a @ @ @ @ @ on earlier this week .
Jorge Gonzalez Colon , 37 , was shot multiple times @ @ @ @ @ outside the home in the city ’ s Silver Lake neighborhood .
He was taken @ @ @ @ @ he was pronounced dead .
“ We spoke to some of the family members and @ @ @ @ @ who described him as a hardworking and very good person , ” Capt .
Timothy @ @ @ @ @ They can ’ t understand why something like this would happen to him.
” There @ @ @ @ @ The death was the city ’ s fourth homicide of 2020 .
Police asked anyone @ @ @ @ @ to come forward .

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Authorities have released the name of the contractor shot and killed at a Providence home he was working on earlier this week.
Jorge Gonzalez Colon, 37, was shot multiple times at about 11 p.m. Wednesday outside the home in the city’s Silver Lake neighborhood.
He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“We spoke to some of the family members and friends of the victim, who described him as a hardworking and very good person,” Capt. Timothy O’Hara. “They can’t understand why something like this would happen to him.”
There have been no arrests.
The death was the city’s fourth homicide of 2020.
Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Troopers: Man wounded in leg at Maryland house party

MIDDLETON , Md .
( AP ) - Authorities in Maryland are investigating after a man was shot in the @ @ @ @ @ party early Friday .
The Maryland State Police said in a news release that troopers @ @ @ @ @ 12:45 a.m. to a report of a loud house party in Middleton .
Shortly after @ @ @ @ @ dispatchers reporting a shooting .
Authorities said that upon arrival , they saw a crowd @ @ @ @ @ a three-story house .
Inside , officers found the gunshot victim with a wound to @ @ @ @ @ taken to a hospital .
Investigators who worked the scene found no gun .
They @ @ @ @ @ .
By morning , no suspect had been identified .

MIDDLETON, Md. (AP) - Authorities in Maryland are investigating after a man was shot in the leg during an apparent house party early Friday.
The Maryland State Police said in a news release that troopers and deputies were called around 12:45 a.m. to a report of a loud house party in Middleton. Shortly after, another call came to dispatchers reporting a shooting.
Authorities said that upon arrival, they saw a crowd of about 50 people leaving a three-story house.
Inside, officers found the gunshot victim with a wound to his leg. He was taken to a hospital.
Investigators who worked the scene found no gun. They are working to find witnesses. By morning, no suspect had been identified.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Liberal group plans protests against July 4th in 13 cities, tells members to 'take to the streets'

A progressive group is telling its followers to “ take to the streets ” on July Fourth in protest of America ’ s history , which it claims is a legacy of genocide and slavery .
The organization — Refuse Fascism — announced Thursday its protests across the country to oppose President Trump ’ s “ battle to save a heritage and history of slavery.
” “ In the name of humanity , we refuse to accept a fascist America !
” the group ’ s announced in a press release .
The activists have organized protests on Saturday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Detroit , Chicago , New York City , Los Angeles , Houston , San Francisco , Washington , D.C. , Philadelphia and Seattle .
Refuse Fascism is a political activist group that calls for the removal of the Trump administration .
It was founded in 2016 in New York City .
The group recently protested outside New York City ’ s city hall at an Occupy NYC gathering earlier this week where the city council made budget decisions , cutting the New York Police Department ’ s budget by $ 1 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the members called for autonomous zones to be set up across the nation , like the one in a downtown Seattle neighborhood where police were driven out and activists set up camp .
The Seattle activists , though , were recently disbursed following several weeks of vandalism and destruction to surrounding businesses and after two people were killed .
Progressives have called for the defunding of police departments across the country after the death of George Floyd , a Black man , by a White police officer in Minneapolis over Memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the group took to Route 101 in California during rush hour , stopping traffic on the freeway while holding a 50-foot sign that read “ Trump Pence Must Go !
”

A progressive group is telling its followers to “take to the streets” on July Fourth in protest of America’s history, which it claims is a legacy of genocide and slavery.
The organization — Refuse Fascism — announced Thursday its protests across the country to oppose President Trump’s “battle to save a heritage and history of slavery.”
“In the name of humanity, we refuse to accept a fascist America!” the group’s announced in a press release.
The activists have organized protests on Saturday in Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Honolulu, Detroit, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Seattle.
Refuse Fascism is a political activist group that calls for the removal of the Trump administration. It was founded in 2016 in New York City.
The group recently protested outside New York City’s city hall at an Occupy NYC gathering earlier this week where the city council made budget decisions, cutting the New York Police Department’s budget by $1 billion.
In a video on Facebook, one of the members called for autonomous zones to be set up across the nation, like the one in a downtown Seattle neighborhood where police were driven out and activists set up camp. The Seattle activists, though, were recently disbursed following several weeks of vandalism and destruction to surrounding businesses and after two people were killed.
Progressives have called for the defunding of police departments across the country after the death of George Floyd, a Black man, by a White police officer in Minneapolis over Memorial Day weekend.
In 2017, members of the group took to Route 101 in California during rush hour, stopping traffic on the freeway while holding a 50-foot sign that read “Trump Pence Must Go!”
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--New West Virginia State president is North Carolina provost

INSTITUTE , W.Va. ( AP ) - The West Virginia State University Board of Governors announced on Thursday it has chosen Nicole Pride to become the 12th president of the University .
Pride is the vice provost for academic strategy and operations at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University , according to a news release on the appointment .
She has also served as a member of the chancellor ’ s executive cabinet , the university ’ s chief of staff and its chief communications officer .
Prior to joining North Carolina A & T ; State University , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and communications for Child Care Services Association in Chapel Hill , North Carolina .
She also worked as at IBM as a manager and in public affairs for nearly a decade .
Speaking of the new appointment , Pride said in a news release , “ The opportunities for the University in the years ahead to continue to meet the economic development and prosperity needs of the state and region are immense and I am honored to be selected to lead this growth.
” Pride earned a bachelor ’ s degrees in business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University , a master ’ s in corporate and public communications from Seton Hall University , and a doctorate in leadership studies from North Carolina A & T ; State University .
She replaces Anthony Jenkins , who left to become President of Coppin State University in Baltimore , Maryland .
Charles Byers has served as interim president of the University since May 16 .

INSTITUTE, W.Va. (AP) - The West Virginia State University Board of Governors announced on Thursday it has chosen Nicole Pride to become the 12th president of the University.
Pride is the vice provost for academic strategy and operations at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, according to a news release on the appointment. She has also served as a member of the chancellor’s executive cabinet, the university’s chief of staff and its chief communications officer.
Prior to joining North Carolina A&T State University, Pride served as vice president for development and communications for Child Care Services Association in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She also worked as at IBM as a manager and in public affairs for nearly a decade.
Speaking of the new appointment, Pride said in a news release, “The opportunities for the University in the years ahead to continue to meet the economic development and prosperity needs of the state and region are immense and I am honored to be selected to lead this growth.”
Pride earned a bachelor’s degrees in business management and economics from North Carolina State University, a master’s in corporate and public communications from Seton Hall University, and a doctorate in leadership studies from North Carolina A&T State University.
She replaces Anthony Jenkins, who left to become President of Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland. Charles Byers has served as interim president of the University since May 16.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Kansas police: Missing woman's body found in storage unit

JUNCTION CITY , Kan. ( AP ) - The body of a northeastern Kansas woman reported missing last month has @ @ @ @ @ storage unit , Junction City police said .
Investigators positively identified the body as that @ @ @ @ @ , of Junction City , police said late Thursday in a news release .
Bennett @ @ @ @ @ 20 , police said .
Her remains were found June 26 in the otherwise empty @ @ @ @ @ did not identify the body until after an autopsy and fingerprint verification .
Police have @ @ @ @ @ , but said foul play is suspected .
No arrests had been reported in the @ @ @ @ @ Police asked anyone with information on Bennett ’ s disappearance or death to call Crime @ @ @ @ @ about 65 miles west of Topeka .

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) - The body of a northeastern Kansas woman reported missing last month has been found in a local storage unit, Junction City police said.
Investigators positively identified the body as that of Tina Bennett, 52, of Junction City, police said late Thursday in a news release.
Bennett was reported missing on June 20, police said. Her remains were found June 26 in the otherwise empty storage unit, but officials did not identify the body until after an autopsy and fingerprint verification.
Police have not said how Bennett died, but said foul play is suspected. No arrests had been reported in the case by Friday morning. Police asked anyone with information on Bennett’s disappearance or death to call Crime Stoppers.
Junction City is about 65 miles west of Topeka.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder of man

LONGVIEW , Wash. ( AP ) - A Longview woman charged with attempted murder in the shooting of her boyfriend @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
Cowlitz County sheriff ’ s deputies said Eden Taylor called 911 on June @ @ @ @ @ had shot her boyfriend in the arm and leg , The Daily News reported .
@ @ @ @ @ the home and arrested Taylor , who they say was intoxicated , according to court @ @ @ @ @ deputies that their relationship was going well and he didn ’ t know why she @ @ @ @ @ deputies she shot him because she was “ tired of his s– ” and that @ @ @ @ @ She added that she wouldn ’ t have shot him if not for her high @ @ @ @ @ to court documents .
Taylor ’ s bail is set at $ 500,000 , and @ @ @ @ @ the Cowlitz County Jail as of Thursday afternoon .
She is scheduled for trial on @ @ @ @ @ order is in place between her and the man .

LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) - A Longview woman charged with attempted murder in the shooting of her boyfriend entered a not guilty plea Thursday.
Cowlitz County sheriff’s deputies said Eden Taylor called 911 on June 15 to report that she had shot her boyfriend in the arm and leg, The Daily News reported. Responding deputies found him in the home and arrested Taylor, who they say was intoxicated, according to court documents.
The man told deputies that their relationship was going well and he didn’t know why she shot him. Taylor told deputies she shot him because she was “tired of his s—-” and that he was ignoring her. She added that she wouldn’t have shot him if not for her high level of intoxication, according to court documents.
Taylor’s bail is set at $500,000, and she was still held in the Cowlitz County Jail as of Thursday afternoon. She is scheduled for trial on Nov. 10. A no-contact order is in place between her and the man.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--3, inlcuding 15-year-old boy, killed in Boston in 1 day

BOSTON ( AP ) - A 15-year-old boy was shot and killed in Boston on Thursday night , the city @ @ @ @ @ the day , police said .
The teen was one of three people shot in @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood at about 10 p.m. , police said .
A man was also shot and @ @ @ @ @ Thursday in the Mattapan section , and a 45-year-old man was fatally shot at about @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s Dorchester section .
“ It ’ s been a busy and violent @ @ @ @ @ Commissioner William Gross said at the scene of the latest killing .
The teen was @ @ @ @ @ he died .
The two other victims drove themselves to the hospital .
Their names @ @ @ @ @ arrests were announced .
“ The violence is unacceptable , ” Mayor Marty Walsh said @ @ @ @ @ tragic , this violence is sad , this violence needs to stop .
”

BOSTON (AP) - A 15-year-old boy was shot and killed in Boston on Thursday night, the city’s third homicide of the day, police said.
The teen was one of three people shot in the city’s Roxbury neighborhood at about 10 p.m., police said.
A man was also shot and killed at about 8:15 p.m. Thursday in the Mattapan section, and a 45-year-old man was fatally shot at about 12:15 a.m. Thursday in the city’s Dorchester section.
“It’s been a busy and violent night folks,” police Commissioner William Gross said at the scene of the latest killing.
The teen was taken to the hospital where he died. The two other victims drove themselves to the hospital.
Their names were not released and no arrests were announced.
“The violence is unacceptable,” Mayor Marty Walsh said. “This violence is tragic, this violence is sad, this violence needs to stop.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Philippine president signs widely opposed anti-terror law

MANILA , Philippines ( AP ) - The Philippine president on Friday signed a widely opposed anti-terror law which critics fear could be used against human rights defenders and to muzzle dissent .
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Anti-Terrorism Act after weighing the concerns of different groups , demonstrating the government ’ s commitment to stamping out terrorism , presidential spokesman Harry Roque said .
Opponents say they will question the constitutionality of the law in the Supreme Court .
The law , which Congress sent to the president for signing last month , allows the detention of suspects for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ empowers a government anti-terrorism council to designate suspects or groups as suspected terrorists who could then be subject to arrest and surveillance .
Military officials have cited the threat of terrorism , including from Islamic State group-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines , as a reason why the country needs the law .
It replaces a 2007 anti-terror law called the Human Security Act that has been rarely used , largely because law enforcers can be fined 500,000 pesos ( $ 9,800 ) for each day they wrongfully detain a terrorism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new legislation , which increases the number of days that suspects can be detained without warrants from three to 24 .
Opposition to the law has been mounting , with Catholic bishops saying the definition of terrorism under the law is so broad it could threaten legitimate dissent and civil liberties .
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines , the largest group of lawyers in the country , and U.N. rights officials have also expressed concern along with nationalist groups and media watchdogs .
Opponents said the law violates the constitution , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific charges .
“ This administration has effectively crafted a new weapon to brand and hound any perceived enemies of the state , ” said Nicholas Bequelin , Amnesty International ’ s Asia-Pacific regional director .
“ In the prevailing climate of impunity , a law so vague on the definition of ‘ terrorism ’ can only worsen attacks against human rights defenders.
” “ Under Duterte ’ s presidency , even the mildest government critics can be labeled terrorists , ” Bequelin said .
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other security officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be misused , saying it won ’ t be used against government opponents .
The legislation states that terrorism excludes “ advocacy , protest , dissent , stoppage of work , industrial or mass action and other similar exercises of civil and political rights.
” For years , government troops have been battling Abu Sayyaf militants who have been listed as terrorists by both the United States and the Philippines for ransom kidnappings , beheadings and bombings in the restive south .
In 2017 , hundreds of militants affiliated with the Islamic State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the south .
Troops quelled the siege after five months in a massive offensive backed by the United States and Australia that left more than 1,000 people dead , mostly militants , and the mosque-studded city in ruins .

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippine president on Friday signed a widely opposed anti-terror law which critics fear could be used against human rights defenders and to muzzle dissent.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Anti-Terrorism Act after weighing the concerns of different groups, demonstrating the government’s commitment to stamping out terrorism, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
Opponents say they will question the constitutionality of the law in the Supreme Court.
The law, which Congress sent to the president for signing last month, allows the detention of suspects for up to 24 days without charge and empowers a government anti-terrorism council to designate suspects or groups as suspected terrorists who could then be subject to arrest and surveillance.
Military officials have cited the threat of terrorism, including from Islamic State group-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines, as a reason why the country needs the law. It replaces a 2007 anti-terror law called the Human Security Act that has been rarely used, largely because law enforcers can be fined 500,000 pesos ($9,800) for each day they wrongfully detain a terrorism suspect.
Lawmakers removed such safeguards in the new legislation, which increases the number of days that suspects can be detained without warrants from three to 24.
Opposition to the law has been mounting, with Catholic bishops saying the definition of terrorism under the law is so broad it could threaten legitimate dissent and civil liberties. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the largest group of lawyers in the country, and U.N. rights officials have also expressed concern along with nationalist groups and media watchdogs.
Opponents said the law violates the constitution, which restricts detention beyond three days without specific charges.
“This administration has effectively crafted a new weapon to brand and hound any perceived enemies of the state,” said Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific regional director. “In the prevailing climate of impunity, a law so vague on the definition of ‘terrorism’ can only worsen attacks against human rights defenders.”
“Under Duterte’s presidency, even the mildest government critics can be labeled terrorists,” Bequelin said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other security officials have played down fears the law could be misused, saying it won’t be used against government opponents.
The legislation states that terrorism excludes “advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action and other similar exercises of civil and political rights.”
For years, government troops have been battling Abu Sayyaf militants who have been listed as terrorists by both the United States and the Philippines for ransom kidnappings, beheadings and bombings in the restive south.
In 2017, hundreds of militants affiliated with the Islamic State group laid siege to Marawi city in the south. Troops quelled the siege after five months in a massive offensive backed by the United States and Australia that left more than 1,000 people dead, mostly militants, and the mosque-studded city in ruins.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Man sentenced for collecting dead mom's Social Security

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) - A Florida man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for @ @ @ @ @ Social Security payments after her death .
A federal judge in Orlando sentenced Bobby Morlen @ @ @ @ @ week , according to court documents .
The Deltona man pleaded guilty in January to @ @ @ @ @ Morlen ’ s mother was receiving Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefits when she died in @ @ @ @ @ court records .
Her death was never reported to the Social Security Administration , and @ @ @ @ @ Prosecutors said Morlen continued to access the funds , totaling $ 131,457 , and use @ @ @ @ @ expenses until last year .
As part of his sentence , Morlen must repay the @ @ @

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for collecting his mother’s Social Security payments after her death.
A federal judge in Orlando sentenced Bobby Morlen, 54, earlier this week, according to court documents. The Deltona man pleaded guilty in January to theft of government funds.
Morlen’s mother was receiving Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefits when she died in August 2014, according to court records. Her death was never reported to the Social Security Administration, and the benefit payments continued. Prosecutors said Morlen continued to access the funds, totaling $131,457, and use them for his own personal expenses until last year.
As part of his sentence, Morlen must repay the stolen money.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Police: Teen on bicycle run over, killed by mail truck

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - Police in Kansas City say a teenager riding a bike has @ @ @ @ @ by a mail truck .
The incident happened Wednesday morning as the 15-year-old boy was @ @ @ @ @ from an alleyway several blocks northwest of Blue Valley Park , the Kansas City Star @ @ @ @ @ out of the alley as a U.S .
Postal Service vehicle was traveling westbound on @ @ @ @ @ said .
Investigators believe the teen lost control of the bike and fell into the @ @ @ @ @ .
The teen was taken to a hospital , where he died .
Police have @ @ @ @ @ ’ s name .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Police in Kansas City say a teenager riding a bike has died after being run over by a mail truck.
The incident happened Wednesday morning as the 15-year-old boy was riding his bicycle and emerged from an alleyway several blocks northwest of Blue Valley Park, the Kansas City Star reported. The teen came out of the alley as a U.S. Postal Service vehicle was traveling westbound on East 20th Street, police said.
Investigators believe the teen lost control of the bike and fell into the path of the mail truck. The teen was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police have not yet released the teen’s name.
Police continue to investigate the fatality.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Body of kayaker from Quebec found

Body of kayaker from Quebec found

MONTPELIER , Vt. ( AP ) - Crews have found the body of a kayaker in Lake Champlain in Quebec @ @ @ @ @ for several days , Vermont State Police said .
The body of Laurent Messier , @ @ @ @ @ , was found about noon Thursday .
State police said they were notified by the @ @ @ @ @ , 79 , had left from his lakefront home in St-Armand , Quebec , via @ @ @ @ @ was reported missing that evening , and his empty kayak was seen early Tuesday in @ @ @ @ @ the mouth of the Missisquoi River , police said .
The Vermont State Police Scuba @ @ @ @ @ Bay .
The Quebec Provincial Police , the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service , @ @ @ @ @ , and the Highgate and Swanton fire departments were also helping in the search .

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Crews have found the body of a kayaker in Lake Champlain in Quebec, who was reported missing for several days, Vermont State Police said.
The body of Laurent Messier, of St-Armand, of Quebec, was found about noon Thursday. State police said they were notified by the Quebec Provincial Police.
Messier, 79, had left from his lakefront home in St-Armand, Quebec, via kayak on Monday. He was reported missing that evening, and his empty kayak was seen early Tuesday in Gander Bay in Vermont near the mouth of the Missisquoi River, police said.
The Vermont State Police Scuba Team was deployed on Missisquoi Bay. The Quebec Provincial Police, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Highgate and Swanton fire departments were also helping in the search.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--5 stabbed in dispute over illegal fireworks in NYC park

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Five men were stabbed Friday after a dispute over illegal fireworks in the Bronx @ @ @ @ @ .
Police said a man was setting off fireworks in a public park in the @ @ @ @ @ a.m. when he was confronted by someone who objected to the fireworks , sparking a @ @ @ @ @ had been setting off fireworks stabbed or slashed four men , and one of the @ @ @ @ @ stabbed him , police said .
All five men were hospitalized with wounds that police @ @ @ @ @ Charges were pending .

NEW YORK (AP) - Five men were stabbed Friday after a dispute over illegal fireworks in the Bronx turned violent, police said.
Police said a man was setting off fireworks in a public park in the South Bronx shortly before 1:30 a.m. when he was confronted by someone who objected to the fireworks, sparking a fight.
The man who had been setting off fireworks stabbed or slashed four men, and one of the men grabbed the knife and stabbed him, police said.
All five men were hospitalized with wounds that police said were not life-threatening. Charges were pending.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Jerome Adams, surgeon general: 'If you want college football in the fall,' wear a mask

U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Friday defended the Trump administration ’ s stance on not requiring masks at either of President Trump ’ s Fourth of July fireworks shows this weekend , while still urging the public to do so .
Dr. Adams argued that , while he supports local mask mandates , there is also a risk that comes with emphasizing compliance over education .
“ If you make something mandatory , particularly for the younger age groups we ’ re talking about , many of them will rebel and do the exact opposite , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand why they ’ re doing it they ’ re more likely to comply .
If it ’ s mandatory , they ’ ll only do it if someone is watching.
” The emphasis on mask-wearing from health officials comes as several states have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the past week as the economy began to lift lockdown orders .
Officials have said that younger demographics are less likely to die from COVID-19 , but have accounted for a significant portion of the new surge in cases as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen .
“ If you want college football in the fall , young people , please wear a face covering , ” Dr. Adams said .

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Friday defended the Trump administration’s stance on not requiring masks at either of President Trump’s Fourth of July fireworks shows this weekend, while still urging the public to do so.
Dr. Adams argued that, while he supports local mask mandates, there is also a risk that comes with emphasizing compliance over education.
“If you make something mandatory, particularly for the younger age groups we’re talking about, many of them will rebel and do the exact opposite,” he told NBC News. “If people understand why they’re doing it they’re more likely to comply. If it’s mandatory, they’ll only do it if someone is watching.”
The emphasis on mask-wearing from health officials comes as several states have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the past week as the economy began to lift lockdown orders.
Officials have said that younger demographics are less likely to die from COVID-19, but have accounted for a significant portion of the new surge in cases as local governments and economies have begun to reopen.
“If you want college football in the fall, young people, please wear a face covering,” Dr. Adams said.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--K-State players end threat of boycott over Floyd tweet

MANHATTAN , Kan. ( AP ) - Kansas State football players have called off a threatened boycott in response to an insensitive tweet by a student about the death of George Floyd .
The decision , announced on social media by several players , follows moves by the school to address diversity concerns .
“ We appreciate the diligent work of our university and athletics administration as we work through these important issues , ” according to the letter posted on Twitter .
“ The plans and action items released Wednesday are great first steps in our goal of defeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and therefore , we have decided to return to workouts with our teammates .
“ However , we know that this process is far from completed , and should it slow or diminish for any reason we would re-evaluate the situation and our options at that time.
” Kansas State players aren ’ t currently participating in any practices or workouts because team activities were suspended earlier this month after a coronavirus outbreak within the team .
Summer workouts are expected to resume July 13 .
Last week , one month after Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressed his knee on the Black handcuffed man ’ s neck , Kansas State student Jaden McNeil tweeted : “ Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month !
” Several football players immediately threatened to boycott if the university declined to take action , and basketball players and other athletes soon joined the push .
On Saturday , the football team issued a formal statement calling on university President Richard Myers and other administrative staff to make meaningful changes to the campus culture .
The school responded Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Among other initiatives , Kansas State also promised that athletes , coaches and staff would undergo mandatory diversity and inclusion training that includes monthly town hall sessions ; redouble efforts to recruit applicants from diverse backgrounds for staff and coaching positions ; utilize home games to support the Black Lives Matter movement ; highlight Black History Month ; and provide transportation to athletes to voting locations on Election Day .
“ The university has committed to developing meaningful , measurable action plans with concrete steps , ” Myers wrote in an open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take into account the reality that , as a governmental entity , we must operate within the law .
There have been many calls for us to expel a student who posted racist messages on social media , and while these messages are disrespectful and abhorrent , we can not violate the law.
” Football coach Chris Klieman , who is entering his second season , said he supported his players and that “ I am excited to help every player unite for the solution now , so that we can come together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Kansas State football players have called off a threatened boycott in response to an insensitive tweet by a student about the death of George Floyd.
The decision, announced on social media by several players, follows moves by the school to address diversity concerns.
“We appreciate the diligent work of our university and athletics administration as we work through these important issues,” according to the letter posted on Twitter. “The plans and action items released Wednesday are great first steps in our goal of defeating hate and racism on our campus, and therefore, we have decided to return to workouts with our teammates.
“However, we know that this process is far from completed, and should it slow or diminish for any reason we would re-evaluate the situation and our options at that time.”
Kansas State players aren’t currently participating in any practices or workouts because team activities were suspended earlier this month after a coronavirus outbreak within the team. Summer workouts are expected to resume July 13.
Last week, one month after Floyd died when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on the Black handcuffed man’s neck, Kansas State student Jaden McNeil tweeted: “Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month!”
Several football players immediately threatened to boycott if the university declined to take action, and basketball players and other athletes soon joined the push. On Saturday, the football team issued a formal statement calling on university President Richard Myers and other administrative staff to make meaningful changes to the campus culture.
The school responded Wednesday by launching a diversity and education fund. Among other initiatives, Kansas State also promised that athletes, coaches and staff would undergo mandatory diversity and inclusion training that includes monthly town hall sessions; redouble efforts to recruit applicants from diverse backgrounds for staff and coaching positions; utilize home games to support the Black Lives Matter movement; highlight Black History Month; and provide transportation to athletes to voting locations on Election Day.
“The university has committed to developing meaningful, measurable action plans with concrete steps,” Myers wrote in an open letter Wednesday. “These proposed steps take into account the reality that, as a governmental entity, we must operate within the law. There have been many calls for us to expel a student who posted racist messages on social media, and while these messages are disrespectful and abhorrent, we cannot violate the law.”
Football coach Chris Klieman, who is entering his second season, said he supported his players and that “I am excited to help every player unite for the solution now, so that we can come together stronger than ever. Black lives matter.”
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Police arrest woman suspected of killing ex-boyfriend

ALBUQUERQUE , N.M. ( AP ) - Albuquerque police say they ’ ve arrested a 19-year-old woman suspected of killing @ @ @ @ @ drug exchange last week .
Police say Erlynda Lucero is suspected in the fatal shooting @ @ @ @ @ 24 .
They say Guardado had been following Lucero ’ s car after she pulled @ @ @ @ @ a failed drug exchange attempt at a hotel parking lot .
Police believe Lucero fired @ @ @ @ @ of a car , striking Guardado , who was in a different car .
Lucero @ @ @ @ @ She faces one count of murder .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear if Lucero @ @ @ @ @ comment on her behalf .

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Albuquerque police say they’ve arrested a 19-year-old woman suspected of killing her ex-boyfriend after a failed drug exchange last week.
Police say Erlynda Lucero is suspected in the fatal shooting of Daniel Guardado on June 24.
They say Guardado had been following Lucero’s car after she pulled a gun on him during a failed drug exchange attempt at a hotel parking lot. Police believe Lucero fired shots from the passenger seat of a car, striking Guardado, who was in a different car.
Lucero was arrested Friday afternoon. She faces one count of murder. It wasn’t immediately clear if Lucero has an attorney who can comment on her behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Protesters return to St. Louis area where couple drew guns

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - Several hundred protesters made a peaceful return trip Friday to the St. Louis mansion owned by a white couple whose armed defense of their home during an earlier demonstration earned them both scorn and support from across the globe .
Protesters marched along the busy public boulevard called Kingshighway , which intersects with Portland Place , a private street that is the site of the Renaissance palazzo-style home of Mark McCloskey , 61 , and his 63-year-old wife , Patricia .
Chanting protesters on Friday stopped at the gate just outside the McCloskey ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The gate that closes the private street to non-residents and extra metal barriers blocked the entrance to Portland Place , where the protesters had walked earlier in the week on their way to the mayor ’ s home nearby .
Inside the gate , more than a dozen men in plain clothes walked the grounds and peered out from a second-floor balcony of the couple ’ s home .
One protester briefly straddled an iron gate as if he was going to jump over , but did not .
No one threw anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms or aggression .
One man on the McCloskey ’ s balcony clapped along with the chanting protesters .
The racially diverse crowd on Friday carried signs reading “ Black Lives Matter , ” “ Defund the Police ” and “ No Justice , No Peace , ” and chanted slogans including , “ when Black lives are under attack , what do we do ?
Stand up , fight back , ” and “ this is what democracy looks like.
” It was not immediately known if the McCloskeys were home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the busy boulevard lined with condominiums , upscale apartments and hospitals to Interstate-64 .
Police had closed that road to traffic in both directions and were allowing the protesters to march onto the highway , where they sat for several minutes in honor of George Floyd , who was handcuffed and died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for nearly eight minutes .
The latest rally organized by the group Expect Us is among several protests in St. Louis in the weeks since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopened longstanding concerns about police treatment of Black people in the region .
The McCloskeys are personal injury attorneys who suddenly became famous last Sunday .
As an estimated 500 demonstrators marched near their home , the couple heard a loud commotion and saw a large group of people break an iron gate marked with “ No Trespassing ” and “ Private Street ” signs , according to a police report .
Video posted online and viewed by millions showed Mark McCloskey wielding a long-barreled gun and Patricia McCloskey waving a small handgun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same video showed the protesters walking through the gate and it was unclear when it was damaged .
As days went by , photos of the incident evolved into memes on both sides of the gun debate - some supporting the McCloskeys as examples of people protecting their own property , some making fun of them for pulling guns during what many perceived as an otherwise peaceful protest .
The attorney for the couple , Albert Watkins , said they are longtime civil rights advocates and support the message of the Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their guns when two or three protesters - who were white - violently threatened the couple , and their property and that of their neighbors .
Protest organizer Darryl Gray said on Friday , “ Are we angry ?
Damn right we ’ re angry .
But we ’ re nonviolent.
” Demonstrators on Sunday were simply passing by the McCloskeys home on the way to the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson , a Democrat .
She drew their ire on June 26 when she read aloud the names and addresses of several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police force .
The group chanted , “ Resign , Lyda !
Take the cops with you !
” Krewson ’ s home is a few blocks from the McCloskeys ’ home .
A letter released Wednesday by more than three dozen neighbors of the couple condemned “ the behavior of anyone who uses threats of violence , especially through the brandishing of firearms , to disrupt peaceful protest , whether it be in this neighborhood or anywhere in the United States .
”

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Several hundred protesters made a peaceful return trip Friday to the St. Louis mansion owned by a white couple whose armed defense of their home during an earlier demonstration earned them both scorn and support.
Protesters marched along the busy public boulevard called Kingshighway, which intersects with Portland Place, a private street that is the site of the Renaissance palazzo-style home of Mark McCloskey, 61, and his 63-year-old wife, Patricia.
Chanting protesters on Friday stopped at the gate just outside the McCloskeys’ home for about 15 minutes. The gate that closes the private street to non-residents and extra metal barriers blocked the entrance to Portland Place, where the protesters had walked earlier in the week on their way to the mayor’s home nearby.
Inside the gate, more than a dozen men in plain clothes walked the grounds and peered out from a second-floor balcony of the couple’s home. One protester briefly straddled an iron gate as if he was going to jump over, but did not. No one threw anything and no one behind the gates showed aggression. One man on the McCloskeys’ balcony clapped along with the chanting protesters.
The racially diverse crowd on Friday carried signs reading “Black Lives Matter,” “Defund the Police” and “No Justice, No Peace,” and chanted slogans including, “when Black lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back,” and “this is what democracy looks like.”
It was not immediately known if the McCloskeys were home.
The marchers then left and walked along the busy boulevard lined with condominiums, upscale apartments and hospitals to Interstate 64. Police had closed that road to traffic in both directions and were allowing the protesters to march onto the highway, where they sat for several minutes in honor of George Floyd, who was handcuffed and died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes.
The latest rally organized by the group Expect Us is among several protests in St. Louis in the weeks since George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis reopened longstanding concerns about police treatment of Black people in the region.
The McCloskeys are personal injury attorneys who suddenly became famous last Sunday. As an estimated 500 demonstrators marched near their home, the couple heard a loud commotion and saw a large group of people break an iron gate marked with “No Trespassing” and “Private Street” signs, according to a police report.
Video posted online and viewed by millions showed Mark McCloskey wielding a long-barreled gun and Patricia McCloskey waving a small handgun. No shots were fired. That same video showed the protesters walking through the gate and it was unclear when it was damaged.
As days went by, photos of the incident evolved into memes on both sides of the gun debate - some supporting the McCloskeys as examples of people protecting their own property, some making fun of them for pulling guns during what many perceived as an otherwise peaceful protest.
The attorney for the couple, Albert Watkins, said they are longtime civil rights advocates and support the message of the Black Lives Matter movement. He said they grabbed their guns when two or three protesters - who were white - violently threatened the couple, and their property and that of their neighbors.
Protest organizer Darryl Gray said on Friday, “Are we angry? Damn right we’re angry. But we’re nonviolent.”
Demonstrators on Sunday were simply passing by the McCloskeys home on the way to the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson, a Democrat. She drew their ire on June 26 when she read aloud the names and addresses of several residents who wrote letters calling for defunding the police force. The group chanted, “Resign, Lyda! Take the cops with you!” Krewson’s home is a few blocks from the McCloskeys’ home.
A letter released Wednesday by more than three dozen neighbors of the couple condemned “the behavior of anyone who uses threats of violence, especially through the brandishing of firearms, to disrupt peaceful protest, whether it be in this neighborhood or anywhere in the United States.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Asia Today: 63 new cases in major cities in South Korea

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) - SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has reported 63 new cases of the coronavirus , continuing a weekslong resurgence as new clusters pop up in various parts of the country .
The figures announced by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday brought national totals to 13,030 infections , including 283 deaths .
Twenty-eight of the new cases were reported from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area , where about half of South Korea ’ s 51 million people live .
Infections were also reported in major cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Gwangju , where hundreds of schools have been shut and social restrictions elevated .
Twenty-seven cases were linked to international arrivals .
South Korea has enforced two-week quarantines on all overseas passengers since April .
While health authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to trace contacts and predict infection routes , the Seoul government has so far resisted calls to reimposed stronger social distancing measures after easing them in mid-April , citing concerns about hurting the economy .
Follow all of AP ’ s pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https @ @

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Australia’s Victoria state recorded 108 new coronavirus cases Saturday, forcing authorities to lock down nine public housing towers and three more Melbourne suburbs.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said 3,000 people in the housing towers will go into “hard lockdown,” meaning “there will be no one allowed in … and no one allowed out.”
Residents in the Flemington and Kensington housing units will receive deliveries of food and medicine, along with alcohol support.
The suburbs of Kensington, Flemington and North Melbourne will join 36 others in being subject to stage 3 coronavirus restrictions. Residents can only leave their homes for food or essential supplies, medical care or care-giving, exercise or for work or education.
After a recent flareup, Victoria has 509 active cases of COVID-19 with 25 people hospitalized, including three in intensive care.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
- India on Saturday recorded its highest single-day spike in new coronavirus cases, with 22,771 people testing positive in the last 24 hours. India has now confirmed 648,315 cases - fourth in the world behind the U.S., Brazil and Russia. It also has reported 18,655 deaths from the virus. Of the 442 deaths in the last 24 hours, 198 were in Maharashtra state.
- Tokyo confirmed 131 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, exceeding 100 for a third day in a row and hitting a new two-month high, prompting Gov. Yuriko Koike to urge residents to avoid nonessential out-of-town visits. The number of cases in the Japanese capital has been increasing since late June, triggering concerns of a resurgence in infections after a state of emergency was lifted in late May. Koike urged residents to avoid nonessential visits to neighboring prefectures, where new cases have also increased recently. Saturday’s new cases - the most since 154 were recorded on May 2 - followed 107 cases on Thursday and 124 on Friday. Tokyo now has 6,654 cases, including 325 deaths, about one-third of the national totals.
- South Korea has reported 63 new cases of the coronavirus, continuing a weekslong resurgence as new clusters pop up in various parts of the country. The figures bring national totals to 13,030 infections, including 283 deaths. Twenty-eight of the new cases were reported from the densely populated Seoul area, where about half of South Korea’s 51 million people live. Infections were also reported in major cities such as Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju, where hundreds of schools have been shut and social restrictions elevated. Twenty-seven cases were linked to international arrivals. South Korea has enforced two-week quarantines on all overseas passengers since April. While health authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to trace contacts and predict infection routes, the Seoul government has so far resisted calls to reimposed stronger social distancing measures after easing them in mid-April, citing concerns about hurting the economy.
- China’s government reported three new confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday and said the number of patients hospitalized for treatment declined to 402. One case was reported in Beijing. Cases that are believed to have come from abroad were confirmed in Shanghai and the southern province of Guangdong. That latest report raises the Chinese mainland’s total confirmed cases to 83,545 with 4,634 dead since the pandemic began.
___
Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--2 California death row inmates die; virus suspected

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - Two more California death row inmates died Friday from apparent complications of the coronavirus in the midst of an outbreak that has infected about 40 % of inmates at San Quentin State Prison , corrections officials said .
Scott Thomas Erskine , 57 , and Manuel Machado Alvarez , 59 , died at outside hospitals .
Erskine was sent to death row in 2004 for molesting and strangling Jonathon Sellers , 9 , and Charles Keever , 13 , who disappeared in 1993 while riding their bicycles to a riverbed area in San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Erskine , who had been in state prison since 1994 , serving a 70-year term from San Diego County for rape and other sex crimes , according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation .
The victim was a San Diego woman .
Alvarez was sent to death row in 1989 .
“ In a four-day period in May 1987 in Sacramento , Alvarez raped a 38-year-old woman , fled in a stolen vehicle , fatally wounded a 35-year-old man while trying to rob him , and knocked a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the corrections department said .
He fled and was arrested 12 days later in Mississippi .
There have now been two dozen deaths from COVID-19 in California ’ s prison system , according to state figures .
More than 2,600 inmates are listed as actively having the infection , along with nearly 500 employees .
Nearly 1,400 of the 3,500 inmates at San Quentin have tested positive for the virus since officials transferred 121 inmates from the heavily impacted California Institution for Men in Chino on May 30 without properly testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Quentin had been virus-free .
California lawmakers this week harshly criticized corrections officials , saying they botched their handling of the virus pandemic .
The corrections department says it has taken steps to ensure social distancing and testing for San Quentin prisoners , added additional health care staff , sent tens of thousands of masks and other safety equipment there , and established an “ ambulance strike team ” to quickly move patients to outside hospitals if needed .
Two other death row inmates have died in recent days .
Richard Stitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his cell .
He was found to have the virus although the cause of his death hasn ’ t been officially determined , authorities said .
Stitely was sentenced to death in 1992 for the rape and murder of Carol Unger , 47 , who left a Los Angeles bar with him in 1990 .
Joseph S. Cordova , 75 , died Wednesday after being found unresponsive in his cell , although authorities hadn ’ t determined the cause of death or whether he had COVID-19 .
Cordova had been on California ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was sentenced for the 1979 rape and murder of 8-year-old Cannie Melinda Bullock in San Pablo .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Two more California death row inmates died Friday from apparent complications of the coronavirus in the midst of an outbreak that has infected about 40% of inmates at San Quentin State Prison, corrections officials said.
Scott Thomas Erskine, 57, and Manuel Machado Alvarez, 59, died at outside hospitals.
Erskine was sent to death row in 2004 for molesting and strangling Jonathon Sellers, 9, and Charles Keever, 13, who disappeared in 1993 while riding their bicycles to a riverbed area in San Diego.
DNA samples linked them to Erskine, who had been in state prison since 1994, serving a 70-year term from San Diego County for rape and other sex crimes, according to a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The victim was a San Diego woman.
Alvarez was sent to death row in 1989.
“In a four-day period in May 1987 in Sacramento, Alvarez raped a 38-year-old woman, fled in a stolen vehicle, fatally wounded a 35-year-old man while trying to rob him, and knocked a 78-year-old woman unconscious and stole her car,” the corrections department said.
He fled and was arrested 12 days later in Mississippi.
There have now been two dozen deaths from COVID-19 in California’s prison system, according to state figures. More than 2,600 inmates are listed as actively having the infection, along with nearly 500 employees.
Nearly 1,400 of the 3,500 inmates at San Quentin have tested positive for the virus since officials transferred 121 inmates from the heavily impacted California Institution for Men in Chino on May 30 without properly testing them for infections. Until then, San Quentin had been virus-free.
California lawmakers this week harshly criticized corrections officials, saying they botched their handling of the virus pandemic.
The corrections department says it has taken steps to ensure social distancing and testing for San Quentin prisoners, added additional health care staff, sent tens of thousands of masks and other safety equipment there, and established an “ambulance strike team” to quickly move patients to outside hospitals if needed.
Two other death row inmates have died in recent days. Richard Stitely, 71, died last week in his cell. He was found to have the virus although the cause of his death hasn’t been officially determined, authorities said.
Stitely was sentenced to death in 1992 for the rape and murder of Carol Unger, 47, who left a Los Angeles bar with him in 1990.
Joseph S. Cordova, 75, died Wednesday after being found unresponsive in his cell, although authorities hadn’t determined the cause of death or whether he had COVID-19.
Cordova had been on California’s death row since 2007, when he was sentenced for the 1979 rape and murder of 8-year-old Cannie Melinda Bullock in San Pablo.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Protesters block road to Mt. Rushmore ahead of Trump's fireworks display

Protesters blocked a road leading up to Mt .
Rushmore Friday evening , ahead of President Trump ’ s Fourth of July fireworks event .
According to local news outlets , about 150 demonstrators began gathering several hours ago and removed wheels from their vehicles to make it harder to remove them .
Local authorities and National Guard were called on to clear the vehicles and start to disperse the protesters .
According to the Associated Press , the protest group was mostly Native Americans , who contest the monument itself , pointing out the mountains were taken from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mt .
Rushmore , showcasing Presidents George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Theodore Roosevelt , and Abraham Lincoln , has come under fire as a national monument because of the former two presidents ’ connection to slavery .
Meanwhile , Mr. Trump arrived in South Dakota around 6:40 pm local time .
“ Mount Rushmore is in great shape and it ’ s going to be in great shape for centuries to come , ” Mr. Trump told reporters before leaving Washington , D.C. “ I ’ ll be making a speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of people – a lot of different people – and I think it will be a fantastic evening.
” He also touted the recent unemployment rate , which fell to 11 % from May ’ s 13 % .
“ So a lot of good things are happening , a lot of very powerful things are happening , and our country ’ s doing very well .
I think we will have a V-shape if you look at what ’ s going on , if you look at the numbers all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to have a very strong V-shape , ” Mr. Trump said .
The president ’ s event has also faced backlash for bringing a massive crowd — which issues 7,500 tickets for the fireworks display — in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic as the country struggles to keep cases from spiking during the reopening phase .
South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem said that social distancing and masks won ’ t be required during the event , but organizers will provide masks for anyone who wants them and screen attendees for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were canceled about a decade ago due to concerns about its large population of Ponderosa pine trees and an infestation of pine beetles , which make the forest more susceptible to wildfires .
According to local news outlets , about 150 demonstrators began gathering several hours ago and removed wheels from their vehicles to make it harder to remove them .
Local authorities and National Guard were called on to clear the vehicles and start to disperse the protesters .
About 15 people were arrested .

Protesters blocked a road leading up to Mt. Rushmore Friday evening, ahead of President Trump’s Fourth of July fireworks event.
According to local news outlets, about 150 demonstrators began gathering several hours ago and removed wheels from their vehicles to make it harder to remove them. Local authorities and National Guard were called on to clear the vehicles and start to disperse the protesters.
According to the Associated Press, the protest group was mostly Native Americans, who contest the monument itself, pointing out the mountains were taken from the Lakota people in violation of previous treaties.
Mt. Rushmore, showcasing Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, has come under fire as a national monument because of the former two presidents’ connection to slavery.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump arrived in South Dakota around 6:40 pm local time.
“Mount Rushmore is in great shape and it’s going to be in great shape for centuries to come,” Mr. Trump told reporters before leaving Washington, D.C. “I’ll be making a speech there. I’ll be seeing a lot of people – a lot of different people – and I think it will be a fantastic evening.”
He also touted the recent unemployment rate, which fell to 11% from May’s 13%.
“So a lot of good things are happening, a lot of very powerful things are happening, and our country’s doing very well. I think we will have a V-shape if you look at what’s going on, if you look at the numbers all over. I think we’re going to have a very strong V-shape,” Mr. Trump said.
The president’s event has also faced backlash for bringing a massive crowd — which issues 7,500 tickets for the fireworks display — in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic as the country struggles to keep cases from spiking during the reopening phase.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said that social distancing and masks won’t be required during the event, but organizers will provide masks for anyone who wants them and screen attendees for COVID-19 symptoms.
Fireworks at Mr. Rushmore were canceled about a decade ago due to concerns about its large population of Ponderosa pine trees and an infestation of pine beetles, which make the forest more susceptible to wildfires.
According to local news outlets, about 150 demonstrators began gathering several hours ago and removed wheels from their vehicles to make it harder to remove them. Local authorities and National Guard were called on to clear the vehicles and start to disperse the protesters. About 15 people were arrested.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--5 killed, 3 injured in North Carolina highway crash

CHARLOTTE , N.C. ( AP ) - Five people were killed and at least three others seriously injured after a @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina , on Friday evening .
Emergency medical officials said the crash happened on @ @ @ @ @ , news outlets reported .
Officials did not immediately release the identity of the victims @ @ @ @ @ happened .

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Five people were killed and at least three others seriously injured after a highway crash in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday evening.
Emergency medical officials said the crash happened on Interstate 485 in north Charlotte, news outlets reported.
Officials did not immediately release the identity of the victims or say how the crash happened.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Mexico reverses some openings as virus cases continue high

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Mexico ’ s coronavirus outbreak rose by about 6,740 newly confirmed cases Friday for a second straight day , while 654 more deaths raised the country ’ s total to 29,843 .
The number of deaths is the sixth-highest highest in the world , and Mexico is just a few dozen from overtaking France for the fifth-highest death toll , though Mexico ’ s population is about double that of France .
The continued increase in cases and deaths has stalled Mexico ’ s planned re-opening .
The northern border state of Nuevo Leon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , declared a weekend curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m .
Given the spike in cases in the United States , several Mexican border states announced they would establish temperature checks for visitors coming from the U.S. , or require they show have hotel reservations or are engaged in some essential business or work activity .
The Mexico City government said Friday it will re-close some of the streets and businesses allowed to open during the week in the capital ’ s historic colonial-era downtown , after crowding and a lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While most customers and clients wore some form of face mask , many stores didn ’ t reduce the number of clients allowed in , provide foot-wiping pads or sanitizer gel .
Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the re-closing of the Centro area “ is not a punishment , it is simply a pause in the voyage.
” The joint plan required the active participation of the government , the public and store owners , and Sheinbaum said it will now be rethought .
“ We planned it together , we tried it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico’s coronavirus outbreak rose by about 6,740 newly confirmed cases Friday for a second straight day, while 654 more deaths raised the country’s total to 29,843.
The number of deaths is the sixth-highest highest in the world, and Mexico is just a few dozen from overtaking France for the fifth-highest death toll, though Mexico’s population is about double that of France.
The continued increase in cases and deaths has stalled Mexico’s planned re-opening. The northern border state of Nuevo Leon, home to the city of Monterrey, declared a weekend curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Given the spike in cases in the United States, several Mexican border states announced they would establish temperature checks for visitors coming from the U.S., or require they show have hotel reservations or are engaged in some essential business or work activity.
The Mexico City government said Friday it will re-close some of the streets and businesses allowed to open during the week in the capital’s historic colonial-era downtown, after crowding and a lack of sanitary measures were reported at some stores. While most customers and clients wore some form of face mask, many stores didn’t reduce the number of clients allowed in, provide foot-wiping pads or sanitizer gel.
Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the re-closing of the Centro area “is not a punishment, it is simply a pause in the voyage.”
The joint plan required the active participation of the government, the public and store owners, and Sheinbaum said it will now be rethought.
“We planned it together, we tried it and it got out of control,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Autopsy: Man died of drug overdose after fight with deputies

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. ( AP ) - A Black man died of an accidental drug overdose shortly after a confrontation with deputies at a Florida airport in April , according to an autopsy report released Friday .
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said in a statement that the county medical examiner has found that the deputies who took Kevon Todd , 29 , into custody did not contribute to his death .
The medical examiner ’ s report listed acute eutylone intoxication as the official cause of death .
Eutylone is a stimulant that officials consider a novel designer drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airport had stopped Todd on April 9 as he attempted to breach a security checkpoint , authorities said .
He had been yelling at JetBlue staff members before he rushed the security area , officials said .
Deputies said Todd had seemed irrational , but it wasn ’ t clear then what was causing the condition .
After a physical struggle , deputies detained Todd and brought him to the front of the terminal .
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue was evaluating Todd when he became unresponsive , officials said .
Rescue workers began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital , where he died .
Tony said he ’ s directing the Fire Rescue department to review is procedures to make sure everything was done to save Todd .
The State Attorney ’ s Office will review the case .

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A Black man died of an accidental drug overdose shortly after a confrontation with deputies at a Florida airport in April, according to an autopsy report released Friday.
Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said in a statement that the county medical examiner has found that the deputies who took Kevon Todd, 29, into custody did not contribute to his death. The medical examiner’s report listed acute eutylone intoxication as the official cause of death. Eutylone is a stimulant that officials consider a novel designer drug.
Deputies at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport had stopped Todd on April 9 as he attempted to breach a security checkpoint, authorities said. He had been yelling at JetBlue staff members before he rushed the security area, officials said. Deputies said Todd had seemed irrational, but it wasn’t clear then what was causing the condition.
After a physical struggle, deputies detained Todd and brought him to the front of the terminal. Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue was evaluating Todd when he became unresponsive, officials said. Rescue workers began life-saving measures and transported Todd to the hospital, where he died.
Deputies involved in the struggle sustained minor injuries.
Tony said he’s directing the Fire Rescue department to review is procedures to make sure everything was done to save Todd. The State Attorney’s Office will review the case.


washingtontimes--2020-07-03--Lawsuit by student against ex-OU official settled

NORMAN , Okla. ( AP ) - A lawsuit filed by a former University of Oklahoma student who accused a former top school administrator of groping and kissing him inappropriately on several occasions has been settled , a newspaper reports .
The Oklahoman reports that Levi Hilliard asked a judge Thursday to dismiss his civil lawsuit against former OU Vice President Jim “ Tripp ” Hall III and the university ’ s board of regents .
In the lawsuit filed last year , Hilliard alleged Hall groped him on multiple occasions in 2017 and 2018 when Hilliard was working at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on campus .
Hilliard ’ s allegations were first reported by the online news site NonDoc .
Details of the settlement were confidential .
The newspaper reports that , according to records , the university apparently did not pay anything .
Hilliard ’ s attorney , Rand Eddy , told the newspaper Friday , “ It ’ s resolved to the mutual satisfaction of all parties.
” Hall ’ s attorney , Clark Brewster , told the newspaper on Friday , “ The case has been resolved.
” Hall has not been charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation .
OSBI agents also have looked into sexual misconduct accusations made against former OU President David Boren .
The former governor and U.S. senator also has not been charged and denies the accusations .

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - A lawsuit filed by a former University of Oklahoma student who accused a former top school administrator of groping and kissing him inappropriately on several occasions has been settled, a newspaper reports.
The Oklahoman reports that Levi Hilliard asked a judge Thursday to dismiss his civil lawsuit against former OU Vice President Jim “Tripp” Hall III and the university’s board of regents.
In the lawsuit filed last year, Hilliard alleged Hall groped him on multiple occasions in 2017 and 2018 when Hilliard was working at the University Club, an upscale restaurant on campus. Hilliard’s allegations were first reported by the online news site NonDoc.
Hall denied that he sexually assaulted Hilliard.
Details of the settlement were confidential. The newspaper reports that, according to records, the university apparently did not pay anything.
Hilliard’s attorney, Rand Eddy, told the newspaper Friday, “It’s resolved to the mutual satisfaction of all parties.”
Hall’s attorney, Clark Brewster, told the newspaper on Friday, “The case has been resolved.”
Hall has not been charged with any crimes but has come under investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
OSBI agents also have looked into sexual misconduct accusations made against former OU President David Boren. The former governor and U.S. senator also has not been charged and denies the accusations.